Chapter Twenty
Haze
The offices for Unique Events were on the top floor of a warehouse in Islington.
When the lift doors opened, Danny was waiting for me.
“Haze!” He held out his arms and drew me into a tight hug. His scent of Hugo Boss and cigarettes triggered memories of times I’d rather forget.
I patted his back and waited for him to release me.
“Follow me,” he said. Danny was wearing a pale blue fitted shirt and chinos. His brightly colored garish trainers were, perhaps, an attempt to fit in with the much younger staff members who were buzzing around the office. “Pretty cool place, huh?”
The only way to get one up on The Chameleon was to be one step ahead of him. We needed to know what he had planned for us. And this dipshit was currently the best chance we had of finding out.
Danny led me down a series of corridors until we got to a large corner office with “Brainstormin” on the door.
He ushered me inside. In front of the large window was a metal sideboard filled with cans of energy drinks and a large cafetière of coffee.
On the rectangular glass meeting table was a laptop and a few A4 booklets.
He settled me into a neon plastic chair and then took the one next to me.
The door opened and a woman with cropped pink hair popped her head around the door. “Hi! I’m Razia.” She stared at Danny and then me.
“Haze,” I offered.
“Can I—”
Danny cut her off. “We’re okay for drinks, so we’re good.”
“Okay, shall I—”
“Thanks, Razia, bye!”
Razia nodded and closed the door.
Danny rolled his eyes at me. “My PA. She’s annoying, but she’s got a great typing speed.”
I tried to remember if Danny was always a prick to people to whom he felt superior. I was struggling to recall anything about the nights out we’d had together other than there being a lot of alcohol. I liked to think that his rudeness was one of the many reasons I’d never particularly liked him.
“Working in events must suit you,” I said. “You were always the party boy.”
“I turned doing what I love into a job!”
“How’s it going with the big Balgray Hall event?”
“Pretty much sorted!” Danny tapped the pile of booklets on the table. “The Balgray Hall lot are, like, a hundred years old and only ever want printouts. They don’t give a shit about the environment.”
“Do you?” I tried not to stare at the booklets. I needed one.
“Fuck, no. It’s just annoying having to print everything.”
“It’s a charity event, right?”
Danny shrugged. “Yeah, something about saving old posh houses.”
I got up and went to the sideboard to pour myself a coffee. I felt him stand up and lean behind me.
“You’re looking good, Haze.” He ran a hand down my back. “Considering.”
I turned round to face him. “Umm…considering what?”
“You know what I mean. You’re older. Had a kid.”
I gritted my teeth. “Two, actually.”
“Cool.” He stared down at me.
I was already three steps ahead. When he finally reached out and grabbed my right breast, I kneed him hard in the balls.
When he keeled over groaning, I slammed my elbow into his back and had the satisfaction of him letting out an actual squeal.
I reached for one of the Balgray booklets on the table and headed for the door.
Even without him laying a nonconsensual hand on me, I still would’ve hurt him for the “considering” comment.
I wasn’t an idiot. I knew what he’d been hoping for when he’d asked me here.
I’d planned to lean into it enough to get me into the office.
But he’d misread the signs so badly that he thought some teenage pawing at my breast was going to lead to me cheating on my husband, cheating on my family. Tragic.
I couldn’t tell Fox. I wasn’t in the mood for a resounding “I told you so.” I was well aware of the weaknesses of men, but was it too much to ask that I could just plunder one for a bit of useful information without being sexually assaulted?
I thumbed through the booklet in the lift. A confirmed guest list, a running schedule, and even a list of auction prizes. Not a bad prize for a tit grope.
I sent Jenny photos of everything.
My phone pinged. The Chameleon.
An envelope is waiting for you at home.
Jenny had been unable to get any trace on his mobile. It wasn’t surprising. He was a professional. He wasn’t going to risk texting me unless he knew it was completely safe.
Enough of this shit. What do you want with us?
His reply was instant.
I like your bluntness.
Great, don’t kill us then.
I don’t want to kill you. But you’re making it difficult. My bosses want you dead.
A hired gun who couldn’t own his actions. I’m doing bad things, but it’s not my fault! Pathetic. If he was leaning into that, I’d lean into this.
We’re just a family trying to live our lives as best we can.
You aren’t a normal family.
Lols. Who is? Everyone has their quirks. Everyone has their secrets.
A pause.
That is very true. Maybe one day you’ll find out mine.
You’re actually a very nice assassin who’s just misunderstood?
It was a bit of a thrill. Chit-chat with the man tasked to end us.
That sounds as realistic as a morally righteous serial killer.
I typed back with a smile.
I kill who I want to. Can you say the same?
Touché.