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"He's got his legs back, of course, or his leg;
he's always had one but now he's got two."
Bobby Robson, former England manager
Flynn let Katy drag him out of the room.
“I can’t talk right now, I need to go to my place and find out what’s happening.”
“Do you promise to talk later?”
“Aye.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Say the words.”
“I promise to talk to you later.”
“You didn’t cross your heart.”
Flynn glared at her. “Cross my heart and hope to die, I promise I’ll talk to you later about whatever crazy topic you’re concocting in your tiny, evil mind. Good enough for you?”
“Okay,” Katy said. “It isn’t a crazy topic. I want to make a deal for a sister. You better talk to me later, Flynn. I won’t forget.”
“Kid, elephants have a better chance of forgetting than you do.” He put up a hand to ward off more questions. “I don’t have time. I need to go see what’s happening outside.”
“As though you don’t already know,” Victoria snapped from behind him.
“No,” Flynn said with all the patience he could muster. It wasn’t much. “I don’t know what’s going on.”
“A leopard can’t change its spots, Flynn Boyle. I suspect you’re playing Abby while you pretend to reform. It would be entirely too easy for you to string her along while you carry on living the debauched life you normally lead.”
Flynn counted to ten and told himself the woman was Abby’s sister. And you had to make allowances for family. He frowned at Matt, who leaned beside the front door. You had to make allowances for all family members. He ran a hand through his hair.
“I don’t have time to argue this with you. I’ve got people setting up equipment on my lawn. I have no idea who they are or what they’re doing. There are two camera crews out there and I need to keep them away from Abby. If you want to help, that’d be great. If you don’t, then stay out of my way.”
Victoria’s cheeks flushed red as she started to bluster. Lawrence put a hand on her shoulder.
“He’s right,” Lawrence said to Victoria before turning back to Flynn. “I can help. I don’t work for Abby’s mother anymore.”
“Great, call Mitch Harris. He’s an entertainment lawyer...”
“I know who he is,” Lawrence said.
“Good. He’s probably staying at the castle with Josh. Or in the hotel rooms above the pub. He’s got to be somewhere. I know he’s still in town. He dealt with this the last time the camera crew invaded Abby’s privacy. If the two of you get together and build a legal wall around Abby and the kid, that would be great. Bill me.” He turned to Victoria. “I know she’s laughing right now, but it’s hysteria. It could turn to tears at the snap of your fingers. This is a lot to cope with. Can you look after Abby while I deal with this? I know you aren’t close, but...” He looked around, searching for the words. He felt a tug at his hand as Katy slipped her fingers into his.
“Don’t worry, Flynn. I’ll look after Muma while you sort out the circus.” She gave him a wide-eyed smile meant to reassure him and he felt his chest clench.
He ruffled her hair, making her frown. “Thanks, kid.”
“Want me to call Lake?” Matt said. “Get some extra muscle out here in case we need it to clear your place? If we wait for police reinforcement it could be hours. This isn’t high priority, and they would have to come from Fort William.”
“Lake’s guys are great.” He felt relief just thinking about backup. “Tell him to bill me. Can you get someone to come here, keep an eye on Abby’s house too? I don’t know what’s happening, but better safe than sorry.”
Matt nodded. He already had his phone to his ear. The noise outside grew louder. Cars revved. Music blared. Someone spoke over a sound system, testing it. Flynn clenched his jaw, worried about how terrified his animals would be. He hoped like hell the goat was eating her way right through the crowd—the mob deserved it.
“Let’s go.” Matt hung up. “Lake and the boys will be here soon.”
“Right.” Flynn crouched down to face Katy. “Watch your mum. Give her chocolate. Chocolate always helps women when they’re upset. And don’t let her do anything stupid.”
“Okay,” Katy said solemnly.
Flynn rolled his eyes. “What am I doing? You wouldn’t know stupid if it bit you in the a—”
“Time to go.” Matt hauled Flynn back to his feet.
“Wait.” Victoria rushed forward. “You really do care about Abby, don’t you?”
Flynn felt something shift within him. He looked at Katy, who was staring up at him with unwarranted faith in her eyes. “Aye, I really do.”
“And this new leaf of yours, it isn’t pretend?”
“No, it isn’t a ruse. I’m trying really bloody hard here and it keeps getting screwed up.”
Victoria stared at him for a moment before nodding.
“We need to go. More cars have arrived.” Matt tugged Flynn away from Victoria and they headed out of the house.
The minute they set foot outside the door, a camera crew rushed forward, followed closely by the woman who accused him of fathering her child. Flynn cast a nervous glance back towards Abby’s house, but saw someone had the presence of mind to shut the curtains.
“No comment,” he said as a microphone was thrust in his face.
“Back off,” Matt growled. As he was dressed in full police uniform, people did as they were told. “Who organised this?”
Flynn cocked an eyebrow at him. “You mean you actually believe it wasn’t me?”
“I never said it was.”
“You never said anything. You hit first. No questions asked.”
“And I’ll hit you again, once this is over. It’s the least I can do for Abby. You can’t screw around with her. She’s a mother. She’s serious about everything. She doesn’t do casual anything. You crossed a line seducing her.”
“What makes you think I seduced her?”
Matt shot him an angry glare. “Do you want me to hit you again? We’ll deal with the Abby thing again later. Right now, we need to sort this mess.”
“We need to find the weasel. He hates me and wants to make his mark. This has got to be him.”
“Got it.”
They scanned the crowd. It was barely nine a.m. and already alcohol was flowing. There were cars parked everywhere. Vans near the road were being unloaded by tattooed men. A stage was being set up near the stream. People were tramping over everything. Strangers were coming out of his home. Flynn clenched his jaw at the sight.
“There.” He pointed to the woman cowering beside his van. “That’s Julia, the production assistant. She’ll know what’s going on.”
They headed straight for her. People shouted out to Flynn, praising him for staging such an “epic party.” Yeah, he was being set up, all right. Even though there were attempts to waylay them, they cut a straight line to Julia. Mainly because the crowd parted like the Red Sea for Matt’s police uniform.
“What’s going on, Julia?” Flynn said as soon as they were in front of her.
“I didn’t know.” She spoke to her shoes. Her voice so quiet he had to strain to hear it.
“What didn’t you know?” He put a finger under her chin and tipped her head up to look at him.
“He called everyone. He told them you wanted to burn the town up. Show them how to live right.” She leaned forward. “I think there are people with drugs in your motorhome.”
Flynn clenched his jaw as he watched Matt morph into super cop.
“You find out the rest,” Matt ordered. “I’ll clear the van.” He disappeared inside.
Drugs were the last thing Flynn needed to be associated with. He never touched the damn things, and he sure as hell didn’t want them in his house.
“What else?” He worked to keep his focus on Julia instead of his rising anger. She was like one of his animals. The slightest scare could spook her into running.
Her eyes welled up. “He booked Royal Flush.”
“Royal Flush?” The name rang a bell in the back of his mind, but he couldn’t come up with anything solid. “I need more info, honey.”
“They’re the band that were arrested last year. Really anti-women. Nasty music. Nasty people.” She pointed a shaky finger to the vans being unloaded. “He promised them plenty of publicity and said you’d pay double their appearance fee if they played today.”
Flynn ground his teeth together so hard he was sure he’d need a dentist as soon as this was cleared up.
“Where’s the weasel?” His voice was cold, harsh, angry.
“Weasel? You mean Brian?”
Flynn nodded tersely.
“There.” She pointed to the fence beside a swath of parked cars. The man was on the phone and he looked smug. Flynn took a step towards him.
Small fingers curved around his arm. Julia held him tight. Her eyes were wide.
“Remember, everything you do will be filmed. Everything. Think carefully. He wants you to blow. He wants to ruin you on film. Don’t play into his hands.” She was shaking by the time she stopped talking. Her hand dropped from his arm and she wrapped her arms around herself.
The woman was right. He couldn’t give the weasel what he wanted. He needed to think. He needed a plan. And he needed to get Julia out of the line of fire.
“Do me a favour,” he said. “Take the donkeys and the goat to Abby’s place. Tie them up on the other side of the house. Then I need you to come back with two cardboard boxes. There’s a duck in the van. She needs to be moved to Abby’s.” He ran a hand through his hair. “And, um, there are three baby hedgehogs in the compartment under the van. I want them safe too.”
The woman stared at him for a minute. She was still shaking, but now she looked dumbfounded. “Duck? Hedgehogs?”
“Babies.” He smiled at her. “Can you do this for me, honey?”
She cast an anxious glance in the weasel’s direction. Flynn pursed his lips.
“I’ll deal with him. You don’t have to worry. Once the animals are safe away from here, you go into Abby’s house and have her make you some tea. Okay?”
She nodded, wary but relieved.
“One more thing,” Flynn said. “You’ll want to start looking for another job. This one isn’t good for you.”
“I know.” Her shoulders slumped further as she headed for the donkeys. The sight renewed Flynn’s need to hit the weasel.
“Hey, hey, Boyle Boy,” a voice called out.
Michael was heading towards him. Flynn clasped the man’s hand and patted his shoulder.
“What’s going on?” Michael’s eyes were on the crowd. “I thought you were keeping a low profile. I thought that was why you sent the Ball Babes to me.”
“I am. I was. The weasel is playing with me. He wants me to lose the plot on air and make his career for him.”
“Hell.” Michael toed the grass in front of him. “You didn’t arrange this?”
“Nope.” Flynn clenched his fists.
Michael went tense. “If I’d known, I wouldn’t have come. This situation isn’t good. It won’t take much to set off the crowd. What can I do to help?”
Flynn patted him on the back. “Hang around. I’ll let you know. In the meantime, you could spread the word to the guys we trust. I don’t know half this mob. Talk to the ones we do know. Tell them it’s a setup. Matt’s in the van. The asshole brought drugs into my house.”
Michael shook his head. “I’ve got your back.” He headed off to a cluster of players from his old team.
Flynn watched the crowd. He didn’t like the atmosphere. It simmered with violence. Matt came out of the van a minute later.
“I’ve cuffed them. I had to call for a pickup. The van will take time to get here from Fort William.” He let out a growl. “This is why we need another officer here. I keep putting in requests. This town sees too much trouble for one man to deal with. I can’t keep pulling in civilians.”
“Even if they are ex-special forces?” Like most of Lake Benson’s security team.
“Aye.” Matt looked out over the crowd. “How many of them do you know?”
“About a quarter.”
“Damn.”
Flynn folded his arms. He noticed a camera pointed in his direction and angled his body so they couldn’t film his conversation with his cousin. “I spoke to Julia. The weasel wants me to blow my top. This event is staged to make me lose it on tape. The band were chosen specially. They’ve already been arrested this year. I’ve never heard of them. Apparently their thing is misogyny.”
Matt cocked his eyebrow. “With your reputation, no one would believe you’d book that band.”
“Aye, I love women. I have the tabloid reports to prove it.”
“I don’t like the look of the guys setting up the band.”
Flynn followed his gaze. Tattoos, leather, patches and skinheads.
“This whole thing is primed to blow.”
Julia came up to them. “Can I go into the van?” she asked Matt.
“Why?” He narrowed his eyes.
“Relax,” Flynn said. “I want her to get the duck to safety.”
Matt stared at him for a minute. “The duck?”
“Hey, don’t judge me. You wanted me to be a good guy. Good guys are nice to animals. The duck is nursing a broken wing. She doesn’t need the stress of this situation. Julia’s going to take her over to Abby’s for me.”
“Fine.” Matt sighed and waved Julia on. “Get the bloody duck.”
She scurried away.
“She’s in the wrong business,” Flynn said.
“No kidding.” Matt kept his eyes on the crowd. “Got any ideas?”
“I’m worried if we start to strong-arm people out of here, things will blow. We need to defuse the situation. We need to do something that won’t cause violence. I especially don’t want to do anything to give the weasel what he wants. We need to turn the crowd around, make them leave on their own.”
In the distance, Flynn spotted Lake’s car arrive. Whatever they did, they had to do it soon, before Lake and his muscle inadvertently started a riot. What he needed was a miracle.
A miracle?
Flynn grinned slowly. He turned to his cousin, pleased to see the black eye he’d given him was filling out nicely. “I have an idea.”
Matt was suspicious. “Is this like the ideas you used to have when we were teenagers?”
“Better. Hold the fort with Lake. I need to make some calls. I know exactly how to defuse this bomb.”