I know Harry may have been granted bail regardless, but I needed to make sure. I made a promise to Lilly.
“Always a pleasure, Ellis.” He says. I step out of the car and close the door behind me.
I climb back into the Aston. The Mercedes pulls away and quickly blends into the night again. Gregory and I sometimes bump into each other at functions, but as a whole, we can’t be seen together publicly, not with my track record.
I’m almost home when my phone rings. I answer it, and Claudia’s sharp voice comes over the blue tooth system. “I have bad news.” She says quickly.
“What now?” I grumble.
“The police have found the evidence they needed. They’ve traced forged papers stating that Harry was Lilly’s Legal guardian. They may well try and charge him with fraud as well now.” Fuck.
“What can you do?” I ask. Claudia always has a way out, a loop-hole.
She sighs. “Nothing. I can probably get him off when pleading to a jury…if I can use Lilly’s story, and call her as a witness.”
“Not happening.” I growl.
“Well then darling, you had best find a way to make these charges go away. You’re good at making problems disappear. Apply yourself.” She drawls. I know exactly what she’s implying. It’s a drastic step.
“Do what you can. I’ll get a team on it.” I bark and hang up. Shit. To make these charges disappear, I’m going to have to go to the source. Jane. Persuading her won’t be easy, but if she can’t be persuaded…well, I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to protect Lilly, that includes keeping her brother out of jail.
The next morning, I set about the task of tracking down Jane Sampson.
I dial the security office.
“Hey.” Miles is unprofessional and refuses to adhere to the job role in pretty much anyway, but I don’t give a shit because he is amazing at what he does.
“Hi. I have a job for you.” I tell him.
“Oh, is it good?” He asks.
“It’s more exciting that security software.”
“Well that’s not difficult.” He grumbles. I laugh. Miles is ex-military and is used to working in military security. I hired him for an astronomical amount of money, to ensure that all our computer systems are impenetrable. This is just one aspect of what he does though. Miles can hack computer systems, including hijacking cameras and high level government files. Essentially, if you need to find someone, he can turn over every rock and find them. There is nowhere he cannot reach. He should be able to find her easily.
“I need you to track down Jane Sampson again.”
He huffs. “Okay, I should have the location within half an hour.”
“It might not be so easy this time. I think she’s gone to ground, possibly changed her name. I’m going to email you the number of a bank account that I know she has access to. Other than that, I have nothing.” I say.
“Okay, I’ll call you when I find something.” He says easily.
“Thanks Miles.”
“Oh, and Theo…do you need a guy this time?” Miles doesn’t just organise security. He can organise anything, no matter how questionable.
“Not just yet. I need to talk to her. If she can’t be reasoned with, then we may need someone.”
“Okay. Speak to you later.” He hangs up the phone as though he hasn’t just been discussing killing someone off. It’s not a step I want to take. Regardless of the fact that she’s a monumental bitch, she is still Lilly’s mother. I’m pretty sure Lilly would pull the trigger herself if she could, but that’s not something that you can take back.
If I can’t get her to back down, then I will resort to threats and violence. Would I have her killed? I don’t know, but I do know that there are few things I will not do for Lilly.
The next morning, I find myself staring numbly at my computer screen. I can’t fucking focus on these bullshit sales projections. I decide to leave the house. I’m not even really sure where I’m going, but I end up at Hugo’s apartment.
If you need your mind taken off something then Hugo is the guy. I check my watch. It’s gone ten on a Friday morning. Hugo always starts his weekend early. There’s no way he’ll have made it out of the house yet.
I have a key to his flat. He gave it to me years ago, back when he used to quite like a cheeky line, as he used to call it. He used to party and get so fucking messed up, I was pretty sure his brain was going to fall out his nose. He gave me a key for when, not if, he OD’d. He actually never did. Fucking shocker.
I open the door to his flat. Walking into Hugo’s flat post party is like something out of the hang over. You never know quite what shit you’re going to find…literally. I found a turd floating in the hot tub one morning.