The Hearts Series

  “Fine, put it on and shut up. I’m trying to drive here.”

  Tony tapped a few buttons on his iPod, and seconds later the opening chords to “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC came blasting through the speakers. Don’t laugh. The very first time we were in a high-speed chase, this song had come on the radio, and it had been so appropriately badass that we’d made a tradition out of putting it on when chasing down a stolen vehicle ever since.

  It also had a strange way of helping me concentrate, kind of like how surgeons listened to “Stayin’ Alive” during operations. I pressed harder on the gas pedal.

  Whoever was behind the wheel of the BMW had some mad skills, though, and even I had a hard time keeping up when they made a sharp left turn. If the music wasn’t so loud, I was sure I’d hear tires squealing. I almost lost control of the wheel, but Tony launched himself forward in time to grab it. Before long we were on the motorway, and I swore loudly, because it was going to be harder to catch him now. Or her.

  The assailant dipped dangerously in and out between vehicles, causing several drivers to swerve, almost leading to an accident. It was moments like these that I wondered if we should continue chasing him, because if he kept up the dangerous driving, people were going to get seriously injured, or worse, killed.

  Tony was on the radio, reporting our location and proximity to the stolen car, while I tried my best to get closer. I saw the vehicles up ahead start to slow, traffic building up. The BMW pulled left to drive in the empty bus lane, and I followed suit. Unfortunately for him, about half a mile ahead there were a number of buses using the lane, and what with the traffic on the other side, he had nowhere else to go.

  I had to brake suddenly when the BMW screeched to a halt and the driver’s-side door flew open. A man exited, and Tony was already out of the patrol car, running after him as I spoke into my radio.

  “The perp is now on foot. Male, about 5 feet, 9 inches, wearing jeans and a black hoodie, white trainers. PC Pollard is in pursuit.”

  Slamming the door closed behind me, I went after Tony. Thirty or forty yards ahead of me, he chased down the thief, who had jumped over the metal railings separating the road from the area beyond. I was out of breath as I ran, my legs pumping to catch up with them. Tony closed in on him, kicking his foot out to trip him up, and the guy went flying face first into the grass. As I reached them, I heard him swear and try to get back up, but Tony grabbed his arm to stop him as he ordered, “Hands above your head, now!”

  The thief began raising his hands as Tony quickly pulled out his cuffs, locking his wrists together and lowering them behind his back. Next he instructed him to turn around, and that was when I came face to face with Liam Cross.

  Ten

  Liam was just twenty years old. I found this out when I accessed his file back at the station so I could fill in my incident report. He was looking at a court date within the next few weeks, and most likely prison time. The scary thing was, I didn’t know how to feel about that. Stealing cars was like a job to him, and, growing up in his family, he saw it as a means to an end. Steal so you can put food on the table, or don’t, and go hungry.

  Lee and his brothers weren’t little kids anymore; they could get out of this racket and make an honest living for themselves if they really wanted to. The problem was, I had no idea how deep in they were, who they had ties to, and if those people would ever let them get out.

  I was still sitting at my desk, filling out the report, when Lee strode confidently into the station, all tousled hair and cocky swagger. He wore jeans and a white T-shirt with oil stains down the front, a work shirt tied around his waist. Clearly, he’d just come from the garage. Probably been working on a ringer, I thought to myself disgruntledly.

  After that first glance, I refused to look at him again, staring intently at the papers in front of me and listening just as intently to his voice as he spoke. It quickly became apparent that he was there to post bail for Liam. The constable he spoke to scurried off, and Lee stood by the reception. I allowed myself one more glance at him and found him leaning back against the wall, his eyes scanning the space before they found me. I looked away again.

  Jumping when my phone buzzed in my pocket, I dropped my pen and pulled it out.

  Lee: You arrested my brother?

  Oh, he had some nerve. I shouldn’t have responded, but I couldn’t seem to help myself.

  Karla: I didn’t arrest him. Tony did.

  Lee: But you were there.

  A second went by, and my anger flared. He was acting like I should have, what? Convinced Tony to let Liam go with a gypsy’s warning and a slap on the wrist?

  Lee: Not gonna come over and say hello?

  Okay, that did it. Without thinking, I pushed up from my chair and strode across the room. I’d inherited my temper from my dad, and sometimes I just didn’t have the strength to hold it back. Lee smirked when he saw me coming, but there was a hardness behind it. I cursed myself for giving him a reaction. I should have just continued ignoring him.

  Checking to make sure nobody was watching, I grabbed his hand, yanking him around the corner and into an empty corridor.

  “You’ve got some cheek,” I hissed.

  Lee held his arms out as he asked sardonically, “What? No hug? No kiss?”

  I slapped down one of his arms. “Quit being a smart-arse. Your little brother could go to prison. He could do a seven-year stretch, and he’s just a kid.” My throat constricted with worry. I didn’t even know Liam, but he looked so much like a younger version of Lee. Maybe that was why the idea of him doing time stressed me out so much.

  Lee’s eyes flickered between mine, his mouth firm as he studied me. It obviously surprised him to realise that I actually cared about what happened to his family. He took a step forward so that there was barely an inch between us.

  “You think I don’t know that?” he gritted out, voice low.

  “I had no idea it was him in that car. I was doing my job. So don’t you dare try to lay the blame on me.”

  Lee scowled. “When did I ever lay blame?”

  “Your text.”

  “I asked you a question. I never blamed you. Liam’s actions are his own, but I practically raised that kid. I’m allowed to be angry.”

  “I never said you weren’t, but it’s your own fault for leading him down this path in the first place, so don’t go directing your anger at me. It could have been any number of officers chasing him. He still would have been caught.”

  Lee shook his head and turned away for a second. His shoulders rose and fell sharply, like he was trying to gain some composure. Finally, he swiped a hand down his face and turned back to me, one eyebrow arched, “Were you behind the wheel?”

  I bristled. “I don’t see how that has anything to do with it.”

  “Liam’s driving is second to none. No ordinary cop would have caught him.” He paused, some sort of interest lighting his eyes. “You must have some skills, Snap, chasing down a Gran Coupe in a Vauxhall Corsa.” He actually seemed impressed.

  “Yeah, maybe I should pack it all in and come work for you, huh?” I deadpanned, cynicism lacing my every word.

  We locked eyes for a long moment, a silent battle of wills. He didn’t like me insinuating he was a thief. Few people enjoyed the sight of their true reflection.

  “Be real careful about what you say next, Karla,” he warned me.

  “Or what? Will you have some thugs come and rough me up? That’s generally how it works with people like you, right?”

  He neared me again, and my back hit the wall. His voice was low and measured when he spoke. “You have no clue what you’re talking about. And, just so we’re clear, I would never hurt you, never. If any man tried to lay his hands on you, I’d make sure that was the last thing he did.”

  I stared at him, not sure how to feel. I’d been all geared up for a fight, and then he went and said something that was so protective, but equally so wrong. It took me a long time to reply, and when I did, my tone w
as a good deal softer.

  “I know what I’m talking about.”

  “No, you don’t,” he said, snapping his fingers over the material of my shirt. “When you put this uniform on every morning, you see a woman working to make the streets a safer place. To you, the law works to keep good people from hurting bad people, but ever since I was a kid, I knew that wasn’t true. The police were just a bunch of pricks in black and white threads and a stupid fucking hat, trying to stop me from feeding my family.”

  His words hit deep, and I was just about to say something, anything, when I heard footsteps approaching. Immediately, I turned and walked back to my desk, picking up my pen and pretending like our conversation never happened. Lee went back to the reception area to wait for Liam, and all the while his words rang in my ears.

  To you, the law works to keep good people from hurting bad people, but ever since I was a kid, I knew that wasn’t true.

  I was almost finished my shift and on my way back from a house call later that day when Keira texted asking if I’d pick up some drinks and sandwiches for the station. Making the mistake of stopping at a shop in a rough neighbourhood, I went in, threw a few things in my basket, checked out, and left to find a gang of young men waiting for me.

  I counted them all, five in total, and clenched my fingers tighter around the plastic bag I was carrying.

  “Your lot aren’t welcome round ’ere,” one of them called over, and I kept walking. I was outnumbered, so there was no point in responding. I didn’t think they’d get physical, since I wasn’t trying to stop them from doing anything, but then one of them stood in front of me, sucking on a smoke and exhaling right into my face.

  “Good-looking for a copper, though. Hey, red, why don’t you stick around and have some fun with us?”

  “Look, lads, there doesn’t need to be a problem here, so if you could quit the side show, I’ll be on my way.”

  I knew instantly that my tone didn’t sit well with the ringleader, as he flicked the butt of his smoke to ground and shot me a dirty look. He had tattoos on his neck and face, and, by the look of them, they’d been done in prison. This bloke obviously had some sort of chip on his shoulder about law enforcement.

  “Side show?” he said, and glanced back to his boys. “This stupid bitch has a mouth on her.”

  He took a step closer. Quickly shifting my shopping bag into my other hand, I pulled out my Taser and held it at arm’s length.

  “Back off now,” I ordered him, and he stared at me cockily, like he wasn’t scared. Lifting his T-shirt, he revealed a gun tucked inside the waistband of his pants.

  “You’re not the only one who’s packing, cunt,” he spat, but I stood firm.

  “Do you really want to pull a gun on an officer right out in the open? I’m pointing this Taser directly at you, so who do you think is going to be quicker?”

  “Come on, she’s not worth it,” one of his mates said. A few seconds passed before he threw a few more ugly words at me and slunk off. Letting out a slow breath, I returned to the car, dropped my shopping bag in the back seat, and pulled out my phone to call the station. I made a report on the incident, described what the guy with the gun had looked like, and then hung up.

  By the time I arrived home that evening I was exhausted, but I’d still managed to pick up some groceries for dinner – in a better neighbourhood this time. Turning my key in the lock, I heard Alexis chuckle, and stepped inside to find she had company. Needless to say, I wasn’t too happy when I found out her company was Lee.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked irritably, too tired to even pretend to be polite.

  “I’m here to visit Alexis, see how she’s doing with the baby and everything.”

  “Lee’s offered to drive me to the hospital if I ever need to go when you’re working,” Alexis put in, eyeing me curiously. She had no idea about the stuff that’d been going on between me and man sitting across from her these last few weeks.

  “How kind,” I muttered, throwing the groceries in the kitchen before shutting myself inside my bedroom. I leaned back against the door and let out a long, weary sigh, really needing this day to be over. A knock sounded above my head, and I startled when Lee called, “I unpacked your stuff, Snap. Why don’t you go relax for half an hour, and I’ll get dinner started?”

  Was he shitting me? And God, I just remembered that there was a packet of tampons in with the groceries. Wonderful. Not wanting to alert Alexis to any weirdness, I replied in an even tone, “That’s quite all right. I can make my own dinner.”

  “Let him make it,” Alexis called. “No offence, but Lee’s a better cook than you.”

  “That’s lovely.”

  “You know it’s the truth!”

  I grabbed a change of clothes and swung the door open. Lee, who’d been leaning his hand against the wood, fell forward slightly, and I suppressed a smirk.

  “Fine, you can cook. I’m going to take a shower.”

  And with that I strode to the bathroom, affecting a casual demeanour and not giving either one of them a second glance.

  “I put your tampons in the top cabinet if you’re looking for them,” Lee called after me, a smile in his voice.

  Cringing, I resisted the urge to respond, my skin prickling as I undressed, knowing he was in the next room. I spent longer than necessary washing myself, not wanting to go back out into the apartment and wonder why exactly Lee was there. I knew for a fact that he hadn’t come just to be all chivalrous and offer Alexis help while she was pregnant. No, he was there for me, and I hated how I couldn’t seem to escape him, not even in my own home.

  I spent time putting on body lotion and braiding my wet hair into a plait. I’d put on the T-shirt and shorts I usually wore to bed, but couldn’t go braless like I normally did. Lee was standing in the kitchen when I came out, and the place smelled great. He’d taken the ingredients I’d bought and turned them into a chicken stir fry.

  We made brief eye contact as I passed him by, his gaze dipping to my face, then dropping and lingering on my bare legs. I huffed a breath and went into my bedroom, dumping my clothes in the laundry basket before coming back out. Alexis sat by the TV, flicking through the channels, and I came to sit beside her.

  “Oh, Tony called, by the way. He’s been trying to get a hold of you, but your phone was off. He sounded worried.”

  “Yeah, my battery died. I had a run-in with a few thugs earlier. He must have heard about it and wanted to check if I was okay.”

  I didn’t even realise Lee had been listening until he asked in a tight voice, “What did they look like?”

  I turned to him for a second, finding his eyebrows drawn together. He looked pissed. I waved him away. “It’s fine. I’ve already made a report about it.”

  “What did they look like, Karla?” He repeated his question, this time more firmly. I noticed he was holding a chopping knife.

  Alexis motioned for me to tell him, like I had no reason not to, so I finally said, “Tall guy, shaved head, neck tattoo of some sort of bird. An eagle, I think. He was the main one who put it up to me. I didn’t get a proper look at the others.”

  “When you say ‘put it up,’ what exactly do you mean?”

  “He was just running his mouth, calling me a bitch. He had a gun, though.”

  Lee kept nodding, taking it all in, but I could see the cogs in his head turning. He went back to cooking dinner and I turned to the TV, trying to concentrate on the show Alexis had put on. Unfortunately, I couldn’t seem to focus, and I kept wondering why Lee wanted to know what the guy looked like so badly. Did he plan on doing something about it? I remembered his words at the station earlier.

  I would never hurt you, never. If any man tried to lay his hands on you, I’d make sure that was the last thing he did.

  This guy hadn’t exactly put his hands on me, but I had no doubt that he would have if I hadn’t been so quick to pull out my Taser. A few minutes later dinner was ready, and Lee served us each a huge plate of st
ir fry. I was too hungry not to dig in right away, and he seemed pleased by my eagerness. He shot me a grin from where he sat on the armchair, and I rolled my eyes.

  “Oh, my God, Lee, this is amazing!” Alexis enthused. “Jamie Oliver in da house.”

  He shot her a wink. “I’m more of a Gordon Ramsey type.”

  “Oh, yeah, I can definitely see that. You in the kitchen, swearing your head off at the staff because you can’t bear to send out second-rate risotto to paying customers.”

  Lee chuckled. “That’s the plan.”

  “No, seriously, you should chuck in all this car business and open up your own restaurant. I’m not joking.”

  Shaking his head, Lee settled his attention on the television. I noticed he hadn’t made anything for himself, which left me feeling sort of guilty, but perhaps he’d already eaten. Once Alexis was finished, she declared she was going to bed. She seemed a little too quick to announce it, and I wondered if she’d sensed something between me and Lee and wanted to give us privacy to talk.

  A few beats of silence passed before I asked, “How’s Liam doing?”

  “He’s angry. We all are.”

  I didn’t know how to respond to that. I mean, Tony, one of my closest friends, had arrested him, so if Lee was angry, then I didn’t really understand why he was here in my flat, acting like everything was normal.

  “If he can cut a deal, maybe he can avoid a stretch,” I said finally.

  “Already thought of that,” Lee replied, his voice tight.

  “And?”

  “And it probably won’t come to it. I’ve got a good solicitor.”

  My curiosity piqued. “And who would that be?”

  His eyes sharpened. “William Dunning.”

  I blinked at him, my mouth agape. “You do realise how much that tells me about you, right?”

  Lee shrugged, but his expression was fierce. He wouldn’t make any apologies for who he was.

  Dunning was a snake, and he represented some of the most powerful individuals in London. If he had Lee on his books, it meant that the man sitting before me was far more dangerous than I’d thought. I was suddenly anxious about having him in my home. Was he being monitored by the NCA? They tended to keep an eye on all the big players, but being so low in rank, I wouldn’t know anything about it.