Finders Keepers Edie Baylis (phonics readers .TXT) 📖

fuck? For the first time in a very long time Jonah was rendered speechless. The man didn’t even have a gun – he had nothing. Just these. And he’d thrown them on the desk, just like that?

A grudging and unexpected sense of admiration for Robert Adams washed over Jonah.

Robert twitched with frustration. ‘We’re wasting time. You’ve got what you wanted, now release Teagan.’

Jonah lowered his gun. ‘Teagan? Who the fuck is Teagan and where did you get these from?’ He nodded at the jewels.

‘Like I said – my mother. Dulcie Adams. I’m sure you’re aware of her? You or one of you broke into her home to retrieve them.’ Robert jerked his head at the diamonds. ‘I thought it was you who killed my sister, but now I know it was her. I have found out a lot of things recently - the diamonds being one of them. You’ve got them back, so give me Teagan.’

He dragged his hands through his hair in agitation. ‘Look, I have no argument with you. I didn’t know anything about these until two days ago. A bit like I didn’t know anything about my father being Michael Pointer either. I believe he stole these from your family and I presume that’s why you were at the house?’ His eyes narrowed. ‘But I will have a problem if you don’t give me Teagan. I know that’s why you snatched her and why you’re holding her, but she’s got nothing to do with this. She doesn’t even know about them, so be a man and let her go.’

Jonah’s face was outwardly neutral, but inside his blood was boiling - his mind a seething mass of conflicting emotions and confusion. This was one hell of a mind fuck and he was wary of how much he was prepared to believe. It could be an elaborate plan? ‘And what do you know about Heath Pointer?’

‘Who?’ Robert roared. ‘Stop pissing about. I know you’ve got Teagan because I have someone with one of your henchmen at this very moment. They think they’re getting the diamonds, but I diverted them as I wanted to speak to you. I want this done and I want Teagan back. As much as I don’t like the prick who’s dealing with your men, they’ll probably rip him to pieces when they find out he hasn’t got the jewels and I don’t think that’s very fair, do you?’

Jonah’s eyes flashed menacingly. ‘I haven’t got your girl, whoever she is. I don’t know what you’re talking about with henchmen either. All my men are all accounted for. Now get the fuck out of my face.’

‘One of you has her!’ Robert raged, his fist slamming down on Jonah’s desk.

Jonah moved forward at the speed of light, grabbing Robert, the two men equally matched in size.

Suddenly a horrible thought flashed into Nero’s mind. ‘Saul?’

Jonah froze, his head swinging around to Nero. ‘What?’

‘Saul and Keith...’ Nero continued, his voice clipped. ‘They could have her...’

A wave of cold washed over Jonah. Could Saul have lifted the girl to use as collateral to get the diamonds behind his back? His head flicked back to Robert. ‘This man you say has been in contact with one of ours. Who is he?’

‘Some idiot that used to go out with Teagan. Joe. Joe Singleton – that’s his name. He gave you keys to my mother’s house, apparently,’ Robert snarled.

Jonah’s eyes narrowed. That was the stoner – the one he’d given instructions not to bother with anymore. The bastards. He’d been right all along. Saul and Keith had been working behind his back... His teeth clenched. He would have Saul for this, the lying cunt. And to snatch a woman? For fuck’s sake.

‘The flat,’ Nero muttered. ‘They must be holding her at the flat.’

Robert shrugged Jonah’s hand off the shoulder of his tuxedo. ‘Tell me where the fucking flat is!’

Jonah had to give this guy credit – he had balls, that much was certain. And Nero could be well on to something there. ‘Have you seen either of them?’

‘Not for a while, no,’ Nero answered.

‘We need to get there now!’ Robert cried, moving towards the office door. ‘We need to get to her before they do. Once your men realise Joe hasn’t got the diamonds, they’ll take it out on Teagan, I’m sure they will.’

Nero thought this Joe person would be the first casualty, but didn’t bother voicing it. It was pretty bloody obvious. It was also feasible that Saul and Keith had this girl – more than feasible. And if they had, then they would be keeping her at that flat he’d seen them coming out of. His nerves fizzed. Unease stirred and gained pace.

Jonah shoved his pistol in his waistband. ‘We’ll check it out.’

‘I’m coming with you,’ Robert barked, his eyes showing that he was deadly serious. ‘Once I’ve got Teagan, then I’ll tell you everything I know.’

‘STOP!’ GWEN YELLED, pushing through the front door of Jonah’s house, glad she remembered that unless it was deadlocked it opened from the handle like a standard internal door. ‘Stop Saul! Lena’s pregnant.’

Eyes locking onto Gwen, Saul’s fist remained poised in mid-air, his other hand still holding Lena tightly by the jaw.

Gwen looked from Lena to Saul. She had to bring this down. She would blow the rest as to who Lena really was in a moment, but she couldn’t stand by whilst Saul punched a pregnant woman in the face. Even if that face was Lena’s.

Lena blinked rapidly. Through her fear, the ever present certainty of winning overriding logic. Even knowing Saul could smash her face beyond recognition was not enough to dampen her drive to get the last word in. She wanted to have the last laugh and get one over on this prick. This prick who deemed himself above her charms. And as for Gwen, why the bloody hell did she feel the need to come steaming in here like Maid Marion. The old bitch had told Saul she wasn’t pregnant