Glynn started his engine. There was no point hanging around any longer. The job was done. He just hoped Peter ended up serving time. With him out of the picture he’d soon have Adele doing as she was told. Then he’d be running things his way at last.

Chapter 57

Adele was worried. She’d been managing the club herself for the past hour and hadn’t seen any sign of Peter, Glynn or Mike. Fortunately, nothing of any magnitude had occurred inside the Golden Bell and the staff seemed to have everything under control.

But that wasn’t the main source of her worry. Her concern was for her brother. She knew something bad was going on; she just didn’t know what. She’d tried ringing Peter’s flat a few times, even though she doubted that he’d be there. As she’d predicted, the phone just rang out, unanswered. And the longer she waited, the more anxious she became.

Eventually she spotted Glynn walking into the Golden Bell. Despite her feelings about Glynn, she was relieved to see him. Perhaps he could tell her what had happened to her brother.

She rushed up to him. ‘Glynn, what the hell’s going on?’ she asked.

‘What d’you mean?’ he countered, brusquely.

‘You know very well what I mean!’ she said. ‘Where the hell is Peter? And why did you all leave the club at the same time when Mike was supposed to be looking after things here?’

‘Too much for you to handle, was it?’

‘No, it bloody well wasn’t!’ she snapped, annoyed that he was being so offhand with her. ‘I wasn’t worried about the club but I am worried about Peter.’

‘There’s nowt to worry about. He’s out on business,’ he said.

‘What business? Where is he?’

‘Ask your brother. Let him decide how much he wants you to know.’

He turned to walk away from her but she grabbed his arm. He stopped, glared at her and wrenched his arm free from her grasp. Then he dusted down his sleeve where she had held it, as though her hand was contaminated.

‘I can’t ask him when he’s not here, can I?’ she yelled. ‘You’re all I’ve got at the moment and I need to fuckin’ know what’s happened to my brother!’

Glynn grinned. ‘Feisty one, aren’t you?’ he said.

Her anger wasn’t helping so she tried pleading with him instead. ‘Glynn, please tell me where Peter is.’

‘Stop worrying. There’s nowt to worry about.’

‘Well, why won’t you tell me then? And why did Mike leave the club?’

‘He’s out on business too. He had to take my place, if you must know. I’ve had to visit my sick aunty in hospital. That’s why there was a change of plan.’

‘Then why didn’t you tell me?’