The Affectionate Player - Part2

Chapter 1

"Okay. So...?"

"So he reckons if Jonny King believes he's not suspected then he'll move him."

"Where does Gracie fit in?"

"Steve knew about the cheque and that I'd told her to cash it. He came up with a plan."

"Christ! It gets worse! But you just sat there while she begged you to say something!"

"Yes, and it was horrific. I'd known she would be angry and upset but I hadn't banked on her retaliating. You don't think she hurt herself in the struggle, do you?"

"Probably!"

"Fuck sake! If they've hurt her I'll... " Soph looks at me in disbelief, stopping me in my tracks. Taking a deep breath I try to gather my thoughts.

"Steve convinced me that if we asked her to cooperate she would either take too long to decide or simply refuse. He couldn't take the risk, Soph. I couldn't take the risk. All I want is for my son to be home as quickly as possible, unharmed and once that happens, Gracie will be released. She's not in any danger."

"So, let me get this straight. The police have arrested Gracie under false pretences? Can they even do that?" I say nothing, confirming her thoughts.

"You bastard!" Her chair screeches the marbled floor as she leaps up, incensed.

"Come on, Soph! You can't tell me you wouldn't have done the same in my position!"

"Maybe not but I'd have had a conversation with my fucking husband before I'd have let the police drag him from his home in cuffs. You didn't see her, Max. She was devastated!"

"It had to be authentic. If she was going to go quietly appearing composed it would have looked like she was cooperating. Jonny would never fall for that. He's a shrewd bastard, Soph."

"Oh, I think she was far from composed, so congratulations! Your efforts to have her running like a deer in the headlights have paid off no end. She was trembling and frightened."

"Soph, don't. I didn't have a choice and I feel bad enough."

"Oh, do you? Thing is, Max, I actually understand your motive and why you thought it was a good plan and if I'm honest, Josh and I would have done exactly the same because our girls mean the world to us. There's nothing we wouldn't do for them, personal suffering included but you've totally misjudged this."

"I don't know what you mean."

"Have you forgotten that Gracie's temporarily lost her memory, not to mention been attacked? You've completely taken advantage of that and not only have you sacrificed her reputation but you've called into question how much you trust her; for the umpteenth time, I might add!"

"But surely that makes it even more obvious that she would have refused."

"Maybe, but you'll never now, will you? She loves Monty like her own child." She pauses for a second. "And do you know what's even more galling? You haven't once considered that she'd have gone along with it anyway, if you'd just asked her. You should have talked to her first."

"But..."

"But nothing. Wasn't that the one thing that pissed her off the most? You going off and doing shit without consulting her. Have you learnt anything this last year?" I glare at her. Why the fuck is she making so much sense?

"You do know the pap's are outside? Didn't you see them when you came in?"

"I saw two guys hanging around but nothing out of the ordinary. Steve tipped off one of his decent contacts and there's usually one or two about. I hate to say it but if you need to spread news fast they're the best source for that shit."