Finders Keepers Edie Baylis (phonics readers .TXT) 📖

mixture of anger and frustration. How many times had Saul jacked up this poor cow in the last few days? Countless times by the looks of it.

Teagan’s eyes suddenly fluttered open, her eyes struggling to focus, her head thrashing from side to side.

Keith grimaced. Fuck’s sake – this shit was cruel. The sooner he got the diamonds off the stoner the sooner this was over and the sooner this girl could get out of here.

His stomach lurched as the girl let out an eerie high-pitched moan, her legs pulling up towards her chest and he felt himself panic a little. ‘Do you want some water?’ He eyed the plastic bottle on the side which had been barely touched. How was she supposed to drink when she couldn’t move her hands? This was bad shit. Bad shit...

‘No water,’ Teagan croaked. ‘I need... I need... My head... Please...’

Keith frowned. He knew what she wanted, but he wasn’t doing it. ‘There’s no more. You’ll have to wait.’ Shit. What a fucking mess this was.

‘I can’t!’ Teagan wailed, her voice nearing fever-pitch. ‘Please! I can’t stand it! It’s there. Look! There!’ Her frantic gaze fell to the syringe on the side along with a small bag of brown and the rest of the kit.

‘I’m not here for that. I...’

‘You’ve got to. Please!’ Teagan screamed. ‘I can’t stand it. I don’t know what’s happened, but I hurt and I can’t cope. It hurts...’

Keith felt torn. He wanted to turn on his heels and get out of here. He didn’t want to be responsible for putting a needle into this girl’s vein. Saul had made that decision and it was fucking wrong. This was his fault. If he hadn’t grabbed her – if he’d refused, then she wouldn’t be here. She wouldn’t be in this position and neither would he. If he’d have known this was what Saul had on the cards, he wouldn’t have done it.

Keith suddenly felt even worse. Deep down he knew that even if he had been aware what Saul was planning to do, he’d have gone along with it because he always did what Saul wanted, but not anymore. Not after this. This was one step too far.

Teagan’s groans got louder. They sounded almost unholy. Creepy. Possessed. ‘Please...’ she wailed.

Keith snatched up the syringe and shuddered. He’d go to hell for his, but it was like watching a lamb in a mantrap. He’d give her a small hit and then get the hell out of here to meet the stoner. This would have to be over tonight one way or the other.

Thirty Eight

GWEN DROVE ALONG THE ROAD, for once not caring if she was going over the 30mph speed limit. It was more important dealing with Lena than getting points on her licence.

Tutting impatiently as the set of traffic lights ahead turned to red, she drummed her fingers on the steering wheel, then used the opportunity to dial Jonah on her mobile. She would tell Jonah to come home as a matter of urgency. Whatever happened, Jonah would hear the truth either from her or Lena today.

There was no point in pretending to think there was anything Lena could say which would suffice as a valid reason why she hadn’t disclosed her real name. And there was no point, even for a second, contemplating whether Jonah was aware. None whatsoever. The concept of him willingly becoming involved with one of the O’Hara’s was not something that he would ever consider – baby or not.

He would be furious, but also devastated. Although it had never been his plan or wish to marry Lena, Gwen knew Jonah had come round to the prospect of being a father. That was the only thing driving the marriage, but now there was no escaping the sinister and disturbing undercurrent of Lena’s intentions.

Gwen clenched her teeth at the audacity of the woman. Lena must be planning to publicly unveil who she really was during the marriage to cause the utmost uproar, embarrassment and humiliation. Lena, along with the rest of the O’Hara’s would be forever attached to the Powells, both in name, blood and money and she was relying on Jonah honouring the wedding to save face and uphold his morals.

Lena was certainly a lot cleverer than anyone had given her credit for and she despised the woman four-fold. She’d planned this all along. Planned to combine the two families through marriage and joining with a family who had been part of that godforsaken heist was the ultimate insult.

Frowning as Jonah’s phone rang out, Gwen ended the call, not waiting to leave a message.

The light changing to amber, she wasted no time putting her foot down and chewed her lip as she continued along the road. Her heart pounded in her chest.

What a mess.

Perspiration built under Gwen’s clothes and she stabbed at the electric window for fresh air, unable to see any acceptable way out of this. If Jonah let Lena live, the woman would make it her life’s work using that poor child as leverage. She’d bleed every single penny, as was her intention from the off, but now, Jonah would also be cut out of his child’s life.

Another issue hung heavily in the air in Gwen’s car. Her past with Jacky Powell would undoubtedly be exposed, but so be it.

Dialling Jonah’s number again, hearing it ring out and then click to voicemail, Gwen felt like throwing the phone into the footwell with frustration. Come on, Jonah! Where are you? He very rarely didn’t answer his phone. She’d try him again once she’d parked up.

Rounding the corner into Jonah’s road, nerves mounted. She turned into the long drive to the house seeing another car parked up by the property.

Parking next to the black BMW, she frowned. This was Saul’s car... What was he doing here?

Hurrying from the car, Gwen rushed towards the house.

‘YOU’VE DONE WHAT?’ Mike gasped, staring at the proud expression on his son’s