Page 66 of Better the Devil

He hesitated, not yet walking away. Not yet ready to leave them.

‘There’s something you all need to know.’

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

They all sataround in the Incident Room in stunned, slack-jawed silence. With the exception of Dave, who didn’t seem all that fussed.

But then, he hadn’t been there. Tied up. Helpless. Facing death on hands and knees. He hadn’t been through it, endured it, survived it, like the rest of them.

‘So, he’s an arsehole then, from what I’m hearing?’ Dave asked. He looked around at the ashen faces of the others. ‘That’s the vibe I’m picking up.’

‘Out? How can he be out?’ Ben asked, brushing past Dave’s remarks. ‘He shouldn’t be out. He doesn’t bloody deserve to be out!’

‘You don’t have to tell me that,’ Logan said.

Ben didn’t stop there. ‘He got twelve years. Twelve! What’s it been? Three?’

‘Four,’ Sinead said. She clasped her hands between her knees, shoulders hunched. ‘Four in March just past.’

‘Nowhere near long enough!’ Ben protested.

Sinead looked up at Logan, who stood in front of the Big Board, coat off, arms hanging limply by his sides.

‘Are we safe, sir?’

‘Aye. We’re safe,’ Logan assured her.

‘How do you know that, boss?’ Tyler asked. ‘He could be anywhere, up to anything. He could be watching us right now. Planning God knows what. We’ve got kids!’

‘I spoke to him,’ Logan said.

The words seemed to resonate through the silence that followed, like the fading echo of a bell.

‘You spoke to him?’ Hamza asked. ‘When?’

‘Today. This afternoon. Just before Forres,’ Logan said. ‘He came to my house.’

Tyler jumped to his feet. ‘To your house? He knows where you live? Does he know where we live?’

‘No. I don’t think so. I don’t know.’

‘You don’t know?!’

Sinead slipped her hand into her husband’s, anchoring him.

‘I get it, son,’ Logan said. ‘You’re worried.’

‘I’m more than worried. I’m scared. If that fucker tries anything?—’

‘He won’t.’

‘How do you know, sir?’ Sinead asked.

‘Because…’

Logan stopped. He didn’t want to say it. He didn’t want to face the possibility that it might be true. His gut told him it was bullshit, but some more rational part of him was putting up a strong counterargument.

‘Because he’s changed,’ Logan said, and the words tasted wrong in his mouth.