Blood Lines. Grace Monroe

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СКАЧАТЬ corridors were quiet. I checked my phone for messages. Ten texts from Lavender, every one of them telling me she had been right about something or other. I deleted the ones from Joe, as I had seen him since he had sent them, and cautiously opened the one from Jack.

       meet u in the drs after court

      What harm could it do?

      The Doctors was a famous pub near the court and even nearer to the old hospital, hence the name. I pushed the door open. Jack was standing at the bar getting a round in; his wallet was open and he waved his hand expansively towards a motley crew of journalists who occupied an alcove.

      ‘Stranger!’ he said as he caught sight of me. ‘You were the last person I expected to see here.’

      ‘Cut the dramatics, Jack, you invited me.’

      ‘I know, but I didn’t think you would come. Hang on a minute – you want something, don’t you?’

      He stopped and allowed his eyes to rake over me.

      ‘Enjoying the view?’

      ‘Brodie, we both know that I do, and I’m not going to hide it.’

      ‘Except when Joe’s there?’

      ‘Well, that’s a given. What do you want to drink?’

      I hesitated; Kailash’s voice ringing in my ears.

      ‘Diet Coke.’

      ‘Are you sure?’

      ‘I’m driving.’

      I banged my battered black bike helmet down onto the bar.

      ‘Fair enough. I’ll be back in a minute – they turn nasty if you’re slow with their drink,’ he said, tipping his head towards his fellow waiting hacks.

      I watched him walk away. He’d been working out and definitely was a different man to this time last year.

      ‘You were checking me out,’ he stated on his return.

      ‘I was not. I was wondering who was with you.’

      ‘You were checking out my arse. I could feel your eyes, Brodie. My bum felt quite hot with your lust.’

      I knew he was joking, but I still felt mortified.

      ‘In your dreams.’

      ‘Yep. What do you want my wise counsel on?’

      I reached out and took his right hand, grasping his wrist with my fingers, intertwining our thumbs. He stepped back as if I had bitten him. I couldn’t tell if it was the frisson of excitement that ran down both our bodies, or if it was the significance of the gesture. More worryingly, I didn’t know which one I wanted it to be.

      ‘Mahabone,’ said Jack.

      ‘I wouldn’t have come to see you if I had a clue what that meant.’

      ‘Okay, it’s part of a Masonic ritual. It’s the Master Mason’s word. It developed in Scotland in the mid-sixteenth century and involves the shake of the Master Mason. It’s also known as the “lion’s paw”; whoever shook your hand like that is pretty high up. He was extending the hand of continuing brotherly love – a bit different to the sort I’d like to extend to you. Did this guy do you a favour?’

      I nodded.

      ‘I thought so. A big one?’

      I nodded again.

      ‘Well, I hope it was worth it, because it might be called in.’

      ‘How many judges are in the Masons, Jack?’

      ‘Who knows how many judges, police officers, tax inspectors or anything are in the Masons? They try to keep their secrets.’

      I had a nasty taste in my mouth. Sure I’d got a great result for Tanya, but at what cost? I was disgusted with myself, using my blood line to oil the wheels of justice, even if I had bought myself some time.

      ‘Jack! Jack! You haven’t finished your story!’

      Some blonde floozy in the corner was jumping up and down trying to get his attention.

      ‘Your bimbo’s wanting you, Jack – and by the glazed look in her eyes, you’ve invested quite a bit in her.’

      ‘Are you going?’

      He stroked my arm, urging me to stay.

      ‘How did you guess?’

      ‘You’re a big girl now, Brodie. You’ll wake up one day and no one will be there.’

      ‘I can always join the Masons,’ I shouted at his back.

      He turned for a moment and looked at me.

      ‘I thought you already had.’

       Chapter Nine

      I walked in and realised that I’d kill for a cup of tea.

      It hit me hard that I had no one to make it for me.

      I slammed the front door shut in disappointment. The noise ricocheted off the old walls, and drew my attention to the damp patch on the ceiling. I meant to get a man in to see to that. I’m sure Tanya would say that I needed a man for a lot of things, as long as I didn’t put my trust in them.

      Black tea didn’t hit the spot I wanted it to. Cup in hand, wandering through the hallway to the drawing room, I was uncomfortably aware of the dust lying on the thick Georgian skirting boards. Even the smell of the house was unlived-in. I wondered for a moment if I needed a housemate. The company would be welcome and the money would help keep this old pile of stones habitable. I just didn’t need one anything like the last. Fishy had more than put me off flatmates for a while.

      The doorbell rang.

      I placed my empty mug down amongst the other dirty dishes on the coffee table. The bell continued to ring. Whoever wanted to see me was impatient. Was it Joe or Jack? Either would be welcome. But the face I saw when I opened the door wasn’t one I’d hoped for.

      ‘Are you Brodie McLennan?’

      ‘Christ, Duncan, you know I am – what game are you playing today?’

      ‘Brodie McLennan – I am arresting you under Section Fourteen of the Criminal Procedure Act.’

      ‘Is this a joke, Duncan? What are you talking about? On what grounds could you possibly arrest me?’

      I tried not to raise my voice because I didn’t want the neighbours to hear. This wasn’t the kind of area where the polis came calling.

      He ignored СКАЧАТЬ