Emma Clancy had regained her composure by the time Tess visited her temporary office in a civic building on Cumberland Avenue, not more than half a mile from her apartment. But then it had been almost two months since the events at the Macedon. Emma again exuded an air of confidence, strength, and surety, and dressed in a pristine trouser suit, her hair sleekly styled once more, she looked like a woman who could take anything on the chin and come back fighting. Tess suspected it was a veneer, because what Emma had gone through was enough to permanently disturb anybody. It transpired that after Sower’s group had snatched her, she’d been held prisoner in the confines of the Macedon until the return of the mutilator. As Tess suspected, Emma was never without her cell phone and one of her captors had emailed her office, purporting to be her, giving her superior an excuse to divert any search for her while they planned their next move.
Richard Jackson had been accepting bribes from Sower, but his final payment for assisting in Emma’s abduction had been paid in flames. Her captors – among them Vasilis Katsaros – had proved to be thuggish bullies and molesters, but they were kittens compared to the monster that’d arrived to reap payment on his brother’s behalf. Once Hector, the elder brother, had ruled their Bolivian empire, until he was almost killed by a rival outfit, and Albert had stepped in, not only to save his life, but to take the business reins with both hands while Hector recovered from his wounds. Having sworn a pledge of honour, to serve the man to whom he owed his life, Hector Suarez had taken a position below him, but one to which he was ideally suited. He enforced the strict rules and regulations of the family criminal empire and doled out punishment when and where necessary.
After Alberto had relocated his enterprise to Maine, Hector had continued to ply his trade to the highest bidders in Bolivia, but it was inevitable he’d travel north when learning of his brother’s arrest and detention. From his cell, by word of mouth of intermediaries, Sower had directed his brother at his enemies, or those perceived to be potential witnesses. But when the finger was pointed at Emma Clancy was it purely hatred that drove both men to attack the one they deemed their prime nemesis or something more? With Hector dead, they’d never know for certain, though it had been intimated that Hector was planning a coup that would return him to his original position of power. The burning of Emma’s office was simply a convenient start, and a precursor to worse to come: Hector intended making an unforgettable spectacle of Clancy. He’d begun his work, cutting and nipping, delighting in her debasement, and he planned to make her torment last.
Enter Nicolas Villere and latterly Teresa Grey.
Tess had heard the story from Po, though he’d delivered his tale without any hint of bravado or histrionics. When the opportunity arose, he’d moved to gain entry to the Macedon, still hoping to find Emma Clancy alive. A man had tried to stop him, and the fool made the mistake of shooting at Po. He’d no option but stop him, and yes, it had to be with finality. He denied deliberately snapping the man’s neck, but also added that he wasn’t responsible for the way the clumsy fool fell on his head. Kenneth ‘Welshy’ Jones was Po’s conduit to Clancy, and yes, he’d taken a little persuading to admit the investigator was being held in the food-preparation area behind the restaurant. Stupidly Welshy had attempted to stop Po attempting a rescue, and Po had shown him the error of his ways. Leaving the man in a state of unconsciousness, bleeding from a nasty cut to his lip, Po had gone in search of the prisoner. By then the bullets were flying, and things had grown deadly. He’d cut the throat of the fool who tried to intervene when he found Hector dragging his naked captive for the stairs. After a mop handle was proven an ineffective weapon, the idiot tried to brain Po with a steel bucket he’d been using to sluice away Clancy’s spilled blood, so cutting his throat with an available meat cleaver had been an act of self-defence. Giving chase to Hector, he’d kicked open the door in time to find the murderer with his knife to Clancy’s throat in the dusty attic. It was his duty to free the woman from her abuser, wasn’t it? Tess knew what had transpired after that, and there were images captured during those events that plagued her dreams for nights afterwards, but not all of them were disturbing.
Discounting Albert Sower, the key players were dead, or incarcerated awaiting trial. Hector Suarez, John ‘Jacky’ Torrance, and Kenneth ‘Welshy’ Jones had all been identified as the abductors and murderers of both Crawford Wynne and Officer Mitchel Delaney, and the extra charges of conspiracy to murder – and the kidnapping and assault of Emma Clancy – were added to the roll call of accusations damning Albert Sower. With his organization broken, his chief mutilator slain, and the testimonies of four witnesses in the shape of Tess, Po, Alex, and Emma, Sower was relegated to making empty threats from his cell.
Officer Alex Grey had been hailed as a hero, though out of sight and hearing of the media, he’d been on the receiving end of a dressing down from his superiors and warned that any further breech of protocol would be severely dealt with – but the only adulation he cared for was that shown him by Emma. Officially Tess and Po’s vigilantism had suffered a similar berating, but it was leavened with handshakes and congratulations away from the media circus. Their actions were rash and illegal, but nobody was prepared to hold anything against them after risking their lives to save an abducted woman from murder and bringing down Sower’s empire in the process. Police in Louisiana had made some noise about their activities in the south, but when all came to all, they’d helped clear up the murders of the Cottonmouth Motorcycle Club members slain at their clubhouse, and Crawford Wynne. It helped when the survivor of the massacre came forward and identified Torrance, Jones, and Hector Suarez as the men responsible for the killings. They’d also assisted in shutting down Rutterman Logistics, when Tess presented the evidence of the transponder device, directly tying the company to Albert Sower’s murderous henchmen and their activities in Louisiana. A search warrant turned up further evidence that the transportation company acted as a portal through which Sower was bringing narcotics, firearms, and illegal immigrants into the country. It proved an incredible coup for the local PD, not to mention the wider law-enforcement community where the ATF, FBI, and even Customs all took a slice of the praise pie. No charges were raised against either Tess or Po under the circumstances, and – again off the record – they were congratulated for their exemplary work.
On a rare visit back to her old stomping ground at the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Tess received a slow clap from her past colleagues. It was even suggested that she’d been missed and would be welcomed back to duty at a heartbeat. ‘No thanks,’ she’d told them. ‘I have a new job.’
And that was her reason for visiting Emma Clancy’s office now.
‘Hi. Take a seat.’ Emma offered a comfortable chair across the desk from her.
The first time she’d been in Clancy’s presence, seated across from her in her office, Tess had been ashamed of her scars and the wrong impression they might present. Now she didn’t care a bit, and actually sat with her hands in her lap, the right cupped in the left with her scar proudly displayed. Emma Clancy had her own scars now, though she’d made an attempt at covering those still visible on her face and hands with makeup. Tess felt she should encourage the woman to wear her survivor scars as badges of honour, but it was too soon for Emma to accept that distinction. For now they’d remain reminders of the horrifying ordeal she’d gone through. Guiltily, Tess thought it might be for the best. It helped her when it came to negotiating the terms of her employment. Emma must feel that she owed Tess more than a career, and probably her life. But to be fair, Tess owed Emma as much. It was Emma who’d pushed the Uzi into Tess’s hand when Welshy had them cornered and at his mercy, of which he had none, and it was Emma who’d put a bullet in the brain of Hector Suarez when he’d launched himself at her and Po. Injured as he was from their previous clash of blades, Po might have stopped him, or he might not, so Tess felt she owed Emma his life too.
But this wasn’t about who owed who.
It was about mutual respect, and there was plenty of that between both women now. Perhaps when she’d been seeking a trustworthy investigator, Alex had initially placed the suggestion in Emma’s mind, but Tess had proved that the recommendation was solid.
‘You’ve considered my offer?’ Emma asked.
‘I’ve given it a lot of thought.’
‘But it’s not to your satisfaction.’ Emma looked crestfallen. It wasn’t an image she was comfortable with, and she squirmed in her seat, forcing a smile of acceptance on her face. ‘As you know, I’m trying to rebuild this agency’s reputation and need people I can trust. I was hoping to engage your services on a permanent basis. Tess, if the terms don’t suit your needs, tell me and we can renegotiate.’
‘The terms are fine,’ Tess said. In fact she was more than happy with the remuneration and benefits package she’d been offered to work for the newly promoted Emma’s office – they exceeded her expectations in many respects. But she was uncomfortable about the job’s official status, feeling it would hamstring her methods, forcing too much accountability on her. ‘But I would prefer to be a free spirit.’
‘You wish to remain self-employed?’ Emma lit up. ‘That isn’t a problem, Tess. What exactly are you suggesting as an alternative?’
‘That you employ me as a private consultant to your office.’
Emma jumped at the offer. ‘I’ll have Monica redraft the terms and … there’s something wrong?’
‘No. It’s just that my services come as a dual package.’
‘Sorry? Can you explain?’
‘Po.’
‘Nicolas Villere?’
‘We’ve agreed to work together,’ Tess said. ‘But Po has a past that might come back to negatively influence the outcome of some cases. You know how criminal defence teams work; they look for anything that can throw doubt on the value of evidence. They could point out that Po’s an unreliable witness, or has a personal agenda, considering that he was a convicted murderer.’
‘There’s nothing I can do to clear his name. After what he did for me, I would love to, but it’s beyond my influence to have him pardoned, Tess.’
Tess chuckled. ‘That’s not what I’m asking. No. All I want is an agreement that Po’s involvement is kept off the books. He’s my partner, but he must remain a silent partner.’
Emma grinned: she clearly understood that concept, although her relationship with Alex was now fully in the open since her divorce had been finalized. ‘I’m sure that can be arranged. We can engage you, and leave the running of your private business to you. Who you employ – or don’t for that matter – is down to you. But of course, I also understand what you’re saying. The remuneration package must be large enough to accommodate both of you.’
Tess shrugged. ‘That’s about it.’
Emma thought a moment, but really there was no argument. She stood up, reached across the table, and offered her hand. ‘Deal?’
Tess accepted her hand. She held on to Emma. ‘There’s one other thing.’
‘Oh?’
‘I can’t start immediately. I need a fortnight’s grace before starting.’
‘Of course, take whatever time you need to set up,’ said Emma. ‘Just drop Monica a line and let her know the revised contract date.’
Beyond signing contracts there was little Tess needed to do to launch her consultancy business. The time she’d requested was for personal reasons.
‘Po still has some healing to do,’ she explained. He’d undergone surgery on the wound to his abdomen, with successful results, though she knew he was still pained by his injuries and might be for a while yet.
‘Then he deserves some well-earned time off to recover, and a gentle hand to nurse him better.’ She smiled and her officiousness slipped some more as she leaned forward conspiratorially. ‘I trust you and Alex have that in common. I’m not sure I’d’ve recovered as quickly without him.’
Tess grinned, then squeezed Emma’s hand.
‘Glad to have you aboard, both of you,’ Emma said, and with another smile, she sat back in her chair, shooing Tess away. ‘Now go tell Po the good news, and give him a kiss from me, will you.’
Tess left the office and found Po waiting for her in the parking lot. He leaned one elbow on the open window of his Ford Mustang; he touched the gas pedal and the muscle car gave a throaty cough. ‘Everything good?’
‘Everything,’ Tess said, and he offered a subtle nod.
‘You still up for this?’
‘How could I turn down a road trip?’ Tess slid on to the passenger seat.
Her luggage was already packed in the trunk, alongside Po’s. It was a long way to Louisiana, but they’d agreed to share the driving. Po had promised a different trip this time, and she was looking forward to sampling the delights of the Old French Quarter, the Garden District and Bourbon Street, of New Orleans. He wished to show her the city as her guide instead of her guard. Po had also suggested a tour of his old stomping ground in New Iberia. His enthusiasm for returning to his homeland had altered since first they met; it was reinvigorated, and not only to catch up with old friends like Pinky Leclerc. She knew there were others he wished to catch up with, and if it happened then so be it. Tess wondered if he still carried a blade pushed down his boot, but barely felt any aversion to the idea. Sometimes you just have to walk into the cave, she reminded herself. And if Po wanted to laugh in the faces of the Chatards, then she’d be right beside him, laughing just as hard.
She leaned across and bussed him on the cheek.
‘That’s from Clancy,’ she said.
‘I think I’m going to like our new boss,’ he smiled.
‘Well, before you grow too fond of her, don’t forget who the actual boss is.’ She kissed him long and hard on the mouth. ‘That one’s from me.’
Little outward emotion was writ on his face, but Po’s eyes sparkled, expressing everything she needed to know.
‘Let’s do this,’ Tess said breathlessly, and Po peeled out with a squeal of rubber.