Chapter 10 NOTICED
Jan sorted through for his wallet as the cashier placed a tray with a large cappuccino and tall hot chocolate on the counter, and a smile came his way.
“With lunch, that’s thirty pounds, please,” said the woman.
He resisted sighing. Sat back by the restaurant windows, Monique was to blame for the extras at dinner today. Forget the main course of cod and chips, she’d added a mountain of cream and marshmallows to her second hot chocolate, not to mention the empty plate that called out a gluten-free pancake that had been topped with cacao nibs, jam, and cocoa shavings.
Not that he minded. It was his turn to pay, and boy did she grin over, knowing it.
“Here, put Mr Richard’s bill on my tab, Clare.”
Buffeted slightly, Jan frowned to his left. The downside with this place was that they couldn’t escape some of the work crowd that raided the café and its fine mix of restaurant. London barely saw a tree or greenery for miles, and this place had that escape to the country feel with everything they offered.
But MC staff also meant… Chris.
Chris and the grinning baboon behind him.
“Ben.” Jan gave the man a nod. He got a wink back, then Jan glanced at Chris before he handed over his own card. “We’re all good, thanks.” Jan looked at Clare. “But you can add whatever these two have had onto mine.”
Chris hardened his look, and Jan hated how good it looked on him. He had that wilder, Keanu Reeves cut to his hair: long, with matching black beard, although behind his sunglasses, blue eyes always seemed to smirk. He wore a charcoal grey Brioni Vanquish Ii suit, one of only one-hundred and fifty made. Gray had five of them amongst other designs, but Chris always seemed confined to just two, this and a blue one, showing the difference in pay grades. Jan wore a Vivienne Westwood, one of many as well. His choice, but they were Jack’s, sometimes Gray’s gifts over the years. Chris’s long look at him seemed to size wage packets up and call out just who had paid for Jan’s, then threw on top how Jan was now offering to pay for Chris and Ben’s meals too.
“So long as you’re sure?” said Chris, still holding out his card to Clare. “We’ve had steak.”
Christ. They would have done. Jan nodded at Clare. “It’s fine.” He winked at Chris. “Working lunch. It all goes on the tax breaks, right?”
Chris snorted. “Yeah, yeah they do.” A smile. “But thanks. The offer’s… sweet of you.”
Didn’t that just ooze with mail boy condescension? Jan ignored it as Ben tugged the tray over to Jan now Chris slipped his card and wallet away and Clare rang up the bill.
“Hot chocolate, hm?” Ben tilted his head, seemingly taken with the tall glass as he cocked a brow. He was a little bulkier, more round at the shoulders, enough his suit never really looked like it fit over his bouncer body type. “Nice marshmallows there, Jan. Cream and cheap fluffy bits before bedtime. That a council thing? Classy.”
Chris shot Ben a look. “Ease off. Jan’s one of us. Don’t matter where he came from.” Jan got a look. “Right, kid?”
The chocolate was Monique’s and the dig not entirely meant just for Jan. That pissed him off. “Apparently so,” he said as he turned away. “I mean, all that private London schooling you two had, and here you are, going head-to-head with two council wallers.” He glanced back at Chris, more Ben. “Gotta bite at your so-called posh-boy balls that. Or maybe they just don’t grow as tough on your side of the fence. Afterall, this is you and your piss-taking over—” He snorted at his drink. “—a hot chocolate. That as ballsy as you get?”
Chris lost his smile along with Ben as Clare snorted a small grin, and Jan left them to it as he went over to Monique. He’d long since gotten over beating around the bush when it came to verbal foreplay. That or he’d been around Jack far too much. But most suits did back off when talk got rough and… unofficelike.
Head down in her iPad and the test Jan had set for her, Monique didn’t even look up as Jan put the tray down on their table.
“Dick and his trick giving you grief?”
Jan sat down and pulled her iPad over to see where she was on the test. “I’ve dealt with worse.” He snorted a smile. “Much worse, believe me.”
“Hm. Maybe.” Monique took her hot chocolate and rested an elbow on the table before putting her chin on her hand as she looked him over. “You thought of having a word with Gray and Jack? Fit Chris and Ben up in a scene? A few pictures of Chris in a BDSM swing, all his wares on display and ass all—” She lowered her tone. “—wanton with Ben pushing the swing from the side, because Christ knows he always stands around with no clue how to find the glory hole despite all the signs in front of him.”
Jan nearly choked on his coffee. “And do what with the evidence?”
Monique shrugged. “Keep it.” A slow smirk came over her spoon as she licked at the cream stolen from her hot chocolate. “Sometimes the threat of it is enough, right?”
“You been taking notes from Gray?”
Monique grinned, then spooned at her cream and winked at Chris as he passed by. He gave her mouth a glance, and she slipped the spoon in with the longest, seductive. “Hmmm.”
Chris snorted and looked away. Four times he’d tried his luck with her, failing to notice Monique’s smile only softened when she spoke Andrea’s name. Her lover’s.
And as for Ben…
“Fuck.” Ben stumbled, knocking into Chris, in turn making Chris knock into a waitress who carried some plates. Chris just managed to save the woman and silverware as he threw Monique a glare.
“Jesus, Ben .” Monique sat rubbing at her ankle as she scowled at how her drink spilled a touch. “You still reading that How Not To Get Laid book as well as having no balls? You don’t ever mess with a woman and her chocolate, got it?”
Ben flustered as a few chuckles from a nearby table drifted over. The café wasn’t that busy, and it showed. Jan tried so hard not to react, instead opting for grabbing a napkin off the tray and cleaning the chocolate up as Chris threw them both a look.
Seemed Monique had heard the comment over the hot chocolate and council shit. She’d been brought up in the Eastend, the rougher side of London too, only her look never called it. Like Jan lately, she’d never followed the in-crowd, even in dress code. Where most women wore a suit in the MC account’s department, she opted for a beige and cream maxi length summer dress that finished just above the ankle. Adjustable detachable shoulder straps let her customise the look, but with lace-up Roman sandals, beige wide brim felt Panama cap, and matching beige crouched cardigan that had that styled oversized look, she was better placed walking a field of tall grass, dragging delicate fingers through it as her long blonde hair called out country girl. It never went unnoticed how she’d opted to sit in a restaurant called the Farm Retreat. But where she had that sensual country look, it came with a country girl attitude that was ready to fight in the hay bale as much as roll around in it with Andrea. Monique had one tough bite, but then he’d heard it ran in her family with her older brother, Jason.
Monique eyed Chris up, more Ben, then waited for them to leave before easing back into her chair and scowling at her hot chocolate.
“What’s up? Well… besides losing a few marshmallows?”
Monique kicked him under the table as she smirked. “Jay’s not replied to my text I sent over the weekend. Fuck Wales and him moving there. I swear he did it deliberately to get out of putting up my Ikea furniture. And as for a few marshmallows?” She sniffed. “They’re this girl’s favourite.”
“Maybe you should check where you put your foot in future, huh?” Jan started running over Monique’s work, but Monique pinched the tablet back off him.
She lowered her look, all innocence. “I think the word you’re looking for is… accidently leave said slender offering.” She tutted as she scanned over her own work. “I never put… deliberately. I just happened to have needed a stretch.”
“As they were walking by. I saw what you did,” said Jan. “Christ, you’re what? Five foot one?” He tossed the napkins back on the table as the cashier who’d Chris knocked into smiled down on them as she passed by. “Chris is five-eight, Ben six foot, and you still….”
“What?” She tapped at the iPad.
Jan gave up. “Nothing,” he said with a shake of head and a smile. “But I maybe see why Jason moved to Wales. You really ought to get to know Jack a little more. What with your ‘accidental’ foot play and his mukka tipping…?”
Monique raised a brow, and Jan waved her off. “Private joke. Mukka… Jack’s nickname for Gray.”
“Really.” She offered a heebie-jeebie shiver. “Your Mukka looks like he’ll eat me….” A scowl. “And not in a flattering, you bat for the same LGBT side, so I’ll cut you some slack with the noose I’ll slip around your throat .”
“Gray’s… just Gray.” Jan plucked at his mobile phone but hid it discretely in his lap as he started to text. “So long as you behave—” He buried a grin. “He will too.”
“Oh I bet.” Monique put her iPad on the table and she sat back. She had damn good instincts. Jan couldn’t deny her that, but then she’d been spot on about Ben and Chris’s mean streaks. “When you asked me to drive up to the manor to get you,” she said over to him, “both of them stood there, all smiles with you, but as soon as your back was turned…?” She winced. “ Children of the Corn , I know where you sleep at night stares from both Gray and Jack. I double-checked the locks on the doors and windows that night. Christ, even the neighbour’s cat flap in case Jack sent his mean Maine in after me.”
Jan laughed. “No you didn’t.” He sobered a little. “Did you?” He thought it over. “Ah, your new car. Routine.” Jan winced. “They’re just used to you turning up in an MC Merc.”
Monique waved him off, then pinched some cream and licked at her finger. “Never did understand why we all get the same ones with the MC.” She shook her head and a long blonde strand drifted over her lips. “I mean, I like the offer, I’d just, y’know, wanted to choose my own.”
She’d done just that, instead taking the money and purchasing a smaller engine. Jack would have been able to name the make, model, and tyre-size numbers, but a car was a car to Jan. Nothing more. She’d forgotten to let Jan know the car had come through, so having a new one turn up outside Gray’s manor gates hadn’t gone down well, certainly not with Ray, and they’d both gotten an earful over making sure they phoned ahead with any changes.
Gray hadn’t really been pissed off that day, nor Jack, just more… “It’s just goddamn Monique” in their looks. They knew she didn’t run with the crowd either, but also didn’t run with crossing the ts, or more the security checks of Ray’s when it came to pulling up outside the gates. Jan had learned to long ago, and still kept with the habit despite Jack forcing Gray’s hand to back off a little.
Jan smirked as he tried to finish his text message. If what Monique said was true, though, it was funny how Jack had stayed as quiet as Gray over Monique turning up in a new car, especially as Jack had been the one to call quit it on all “unnecessary” security check-ins. Oh the irony there.
“Forget it. I’m sure they’re both big pussycats in bed, even if that damn cat looks set to take up most of it.” Monique shifted her hat and ran a hand through her hair, taking the long blonde strand off her lips. “And that’s us done. I think we’ve done all we can for tomorrow,” she added with a sigh. “And.” Quiet. “ Jan , really? Are you seriously texting someone else at the dinner table? Jesus, can’t a lady get some attention here?”
“Weren’t you just texting your brother?” Jan looked up quickly, more hid his phone with a grin. “I mean, erm… no, I’m not?”
Monique narrowed stunning hazel eyes. “Can’t you manage half a day without texting either one of them?”
Jan quickly sent the message, a Did you manage to not kill Sam today? “Just one for Jack,” he said sliding her a look. “Promise I’ll do Gray later.” He was away for the day on Nottingham business, so he wouldn’t disturb him unless it was vital.
Monique choked a cough as she slipped her handbag off the back of the chair. “Who you do is your business, sweetcakes.” She stood and nodded towards the door. “Just make sure Dick and his trick overhear the name dropping. You know it upsets their dear little foreskins.”
Jan slipped his phone away when he got no message, then got to his feet. “Evil.” He held the door open for her. “Anyone tell you you’re pure half-pint evil?”
She scooted past. “Andrea, multiple times when we’re cuddled in bed together and I make her get out of bed and do the coffee. All… nekkid and still hot to the touch.”
Jan laughed, grateful the café door had closed behind them as Monique cheekily rested her head to his shoulder for a moment as they headed towards her car. Jan pulled her in close. She brought a taste of playing out in the streets until well after dark to fight off hunger. And that same fight came in her eyes, so they handled everything as those kids on the street corner, sitting on the curb and telling stories to pass the time and ignore the dicks in life.
Sidelights flashed yellow as Monique unlocked her car, and Jan got in checking his phone again before he did up his seatbelt. He’d not received a reply yet, but that was okay. Jack staggered his hours at work, so dinnertime didn’t always mean… dinner time. Not Jan’s anyway.
“At least those assholes have gone,” said Monique, as she got in and checked her mirror. With fixing her lipstick, she made her look around the car park look natural, and Jan snorted a smile. She’d missed her calling as a copper. “It sucks they like this place too.” She did up her seatbelt and put the key in the ignition.
“Technically, we followed them here.”
“Yeah.” Monique turned the engine over. “I didn’t say they didn’t have taste. They’re just assholes with it.”
He laughed, but as the engine choked once, twice, spluttered, then cut to nothing, he frowned her way.
“Don’t….” Monique tried again. “Oh don’t do this now, baby. Not with what’s going down tomorrow with the FRC. We need to get back and clear our workload.”
Another choke, two splutters, then a whole lot more made the car sound like it was trying to cough up blood with the thick barking.
“Careful you don’t flood it,” said Jan. “Watch your foot on the clutch.”
“I am.”
“No.” Jan reached to undo his belt. “Stop. It really doesn’t sound right.” He’d been around them and Jack enough to know this one sounded off.
The car cut out before she did, and Monique hunched over the wheel. “Well fuck,” she mumbled. “Being back late today ain’t gonna look good.” She looked at her watch. “Fuck. Not being back today at all really isn’t gonna look good.”
Jan thumbed in a number as Monique pulled the key from the ignition.
“I’ve got breakdown cover,” she said, looking his way.
“I know.” A Can’t answer your call at the moment came through off Jack, and he frowned. “But this might get you faster service and let you keep your no claims discount. Let me call a… Child of the Corn friend.” He gave her a wink, then tried again. “Bosses’ lover, plural. Gets us certain… bedside assistance.”
Monique chuckled, but as his call to Jack stayed unanswered, Jan frowned. Well, hell. “Lend me your phone.” On his, he kept trying Jack’s.
“Huh?”
“Your phone,” said Jan. “I’ll hit the garage, see if he’s on the shop floor and not picking up.” Because it was unusual that he wasn’t, unless he really did hate MOTs on Cherokees after his appointment with Halliday, and had gone Texas Chainsaw Massacre without the earplugs to really enjoy the torture.
The vibration to Gray’s phone cut in, and he stopped his swipe at his lip as he stared at his whiteboard and the notes he’d added over the Wales’ murder case. He played with distraction, he knew that as he did everything he could to ignore any notes on Jude and the impact he was going to have.
But then seeing Monique’s number come up on his phone….
Shaun.
Had he spoken to her over Jason’s murder?
He answered. “Miss Tucker?”
“No. Jan here, Gray.” Quiet. “And you recognise Monique’s number without it being stored in yours, huh?”
Gray said nothing and frowned. Jan sounded… harassed. Harassed but still carrying a smile in his tone with that last comment. “Everything okay?” asked Gray. Jan sounded too light to be weighed down over Jason’s death, and beyond that, he usually didn’t make personal calls on MC time. The clock touched 3:00 pm. Lunch was over an hour ago. He should be back at work.
The sound of traffic from Jan’s end drifted over, then a hand muffled the mobile phone and talk his end was smothered.
“Sorry, Gray, yeah.” Jan came back on through. “We went out to get lunch, but Monique’s car cut out. We’re running late.” Something else was said, almost as if Jan held two phones and was caught between either one. “Aid over at Jack’s garage is arranging a breakdown truck. I was calling Ray to maybe come and pick us up after work, but Steve put me through to you.”
“Jack didn’t offer?”
More talking, but the mention of Monique’s name called Jan’s distraction. “Erm, no,” said Jan, back with him. “Aid said he was over at his other garage with Steve, and he didn’t answer, so Aid said he’d handle it all for us. Monique’s covered, but I wanted to avoid the car being off the road for too long with everything going on tomorrow. I was hoping to get us—” A laugh. “—I mean her back on the road ASAP, get her a replacement car so she can run about. With Aid, I just didn’t want to push my luck and ask him for a lift to and from work as well. We’ve called a taxi in.”
Shaun wouldn’t have been able to talk to them, not yet, and with no contact from Jack, that left Jan on his own with Monique, with a family member who’d lost a brother to serial killer play. “Where are you?”
“Farm Retreat, back carpark.”
“Notting Hill?”
“Brixton.”
Farm Retreat owned a chain of restaurants all over London. This one wasn’t far from the manor. Notting Hill, however, was in the opposite direction. “I’m closer. Cancel the taxi.”
“You’re home? Of course you are. That’s why Steve put me through to you, not Ray. Everything okay?”
Christ, that lad was sharp. “Business call close by.” He left it at that.
“You absolutely sure you’re okay to pick us up in that case? It’s no big issue, really. I know how busy you are. Honestly.”
Jan tried every which way to not mention MI5 and beyond but still managed to use a red neon sign with it. “Not an issue,” he said back to him. Not with Jan being stranded with Monique. “I’m on my break anyway.”
No lie there, not completely.
After a moment, a relieved sigh drifted over. “Thank you. I mean that. It’s gonna be hard enough letting Jill know at the MC.”
“I’ll—”
“No.” It came a little sharp, but there was a smile in his voice as well. “I can handle my boss. It’s enough that you can pick us up. I’ll call Ray to get us after work.”
“No need. I’ll let him know,” said Gray. “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
The call went dead, and as he filled Ray in via the internal comm, Gray thumbed in Jack’s number.
After a Caller unavailable notification, Gray cut the call.
Sometimes it happened: busy lines. Yet with Jack’s quiet at the table this morning…?
Gray’s skin crawled a little, especially as it left Jan alone on the street corne r .