48. Millie
Millie
Afigure stood behind Strike’s tumbling body.
Millie tried to get out the side of the car and escape, but the man reached her as she toppled out. He was dressed in black with a low cap hiding half his face. His thick black beard revealed he wasn’t Hugo.
Liss had taught her a couple of self-defence moves. She screeched as she ran at him, repeating a new mantra.
Kick him in the balls.
She pulled back her foot and swung at his crotch, but he seized her ankle, squeezing it like a vice and jerking so hard she tumbled, landing on her back. She held her cry, not giving him the satisfaction.
With a sneer, he leaned over her and gripped her shoulder. “I’ve searched for you, but you’re an elusive little thing. I’m taking you to the Dankworth’s.”
She sucked in air as he yanked her to her feet.
She stumbled across fallen branches as he dragged her through the forest surrounding Bear’s house. Her ankle cried out in pain, making her hesitate, but he pulled her along as if she was nothing.
She glanced behind her, stalling and screaming for Strike, or for anyone, to hear.
The man’s gloved hand slapped her across the face before covering her mouth, the taste of leather turning her stomach.
“I knew you weren’t in Plymouth. That old lady lied too easily. All it took was cutting a couple of wires at the house and using a mobile phone blocker, and Strike came running and brought you with him because he’s so scared of you getting hurt. You’re his weakness.”
“He’s a good man.” She shook violently as she looked over her shoulder again to where Strike had fallen.
But he’d disappeared.
“He’s a fucking idiot. You don’t let anyone get in the way of a job. He knows better. I’ve finally met someone who’s broken Strike’s control.” The guy shoved her in her back to keep her walking. “I bet all you had to do was open your legs and—”
“If you don’t get your fucking hands off her right now, I’m going to show you exactly what I look like when I lose control,” Strike snarled at the man beside her, wrapping his arm around his neck. “I’m going to slaughter you, Finshaw.”
Finshaw tightened his hold on Millie’s hand. “They’re paying me double to bring her to them,” he said between choking coughs.
Millie looked between Strike’s darkening stare and Finshaw’s bulging eyes. Even with the pain in her hand, she wasn’t scared.
“Take,” Bear shouted. Jeff and Roy ran at Finshaw. Roy sank his teeth into his leg, while Jeff snapped at the wrist where he held Millie.
“Get them off me. Get them off.”
“Bear, let’s fuck this guy up,” Strike said as Finshaw released Millie. “Liss is in the doorway of the house. Go to her, Millie.”
Millie ran until she was in Liss’s arms. “I’ve got you, Mills. You’re safe now.”
“What are they going to do to him?” Millie asked between pants. “Strike wants to kill him.”
“I’ve never seen Strike like this, but Bear won’t let him do anything that could get him in trouble, and they need Finshaw for information. Come with me.”
An hour later, they were sat at the table inside Bear and Liss’ kitchen. Finshaw was tied to a chair. Blood trickled from various cuts, and purple and blue bruises bloomed on his cheek and around his eye.
Millie wanted to go to Strike, but every time she tried, he hunched his shoulders and told her to stay with Liss. She was finally seeing the part of him he kept hidden, but at what cost?
Stal had left with Strike’s parents and Jenny as soon as he’d arrived. None of them had known a man had been waiting for Millie and shutting off their communications.
“Randolph,” Strike barked into the phone between him and Bear. “We’ve got Finshaw.”
“I don’t know who you mean,” Randolph replied.
Strike slammed his palm against the table. Bear touched his shoulder briefly. “Randolph, we’re not in the mood to piss about. We want to make an agreement.”
“I’m listening.”
“We’ll meet you and Hugo at your house.”
“And you’ll bring Millie so I can speak to her? She knows my son didn’t do anything.”
Millie walked toward the phone, but Strike held up his hand to stop her.
“We’ll bring Millie,” Bear said.
“On one condition,” Strike added. Millie tilted her head. “We don’t meet for three days, and you don’t send anyone else to find us.”
“Three days? Why three days?”
“I can’t trust you, Randolph. Everything involving your family this week has risked Millie, and now it’s threatened my team. I need time to ensure the safety of the people around me.”
Millie rubbed the hand that Finshaw had hurt. Strike stared at the movement, gripping the table and gritting his teeth.
“I’m a politician with a reputation as a family man. You can trust me. I will leave you alone until you visit our house.”
Strike scowled at the phone. “I can’t take your word after everything.
If Millie or any of my people feel unsafe for even one second, I’ll go to the press.
We’ve given you and your family the benefit of the doubt, but you’ve fucked with us multiple times.
” His arms shook. “Three days where you don’t come near us, or you’ll suffer the consequences. ”
“Don’t threaten me, Strike.”
“It’s not a threat. It’s an assurance. Tell Hugo to stay away as well. We’ll see you both at Speavington House at eleven a.m. Sunday morning.”
“I look forward to it.”
The phone went dead.
“You heard him, Finshaw,” Strike groused as he untied him, and he and Bear dragged him out of the house, Roy behind them.
A few minutes later, Bear returned alone. “Finshaw’s gone.”
“I’ll go to Strike,” Millie said, walking to the door.
“Leave him for a second.” Bear squeezed her shoulder. “I’ve not seen him like this in a long time.”
Millie stared at the doorway, her chest tightening. “Why three days until I see Randolph?”
“Because Luke thinks he’s close to retrieving the video, and what we said about preparing the team was true,” Bear replied. “Also, I heard today that the victim might be improving.”
Three days with Strike like this. Her future was blurry, but it wouldn’t be for much longer.