Page 107 of Convict's Game

“And where is that?”

She extended a hand. Her fingers shook. “The drink first.”

Cassie laughed and flicked the bottle to spill a couple of shots’ worth. “You have to be kidding.”

“Fuck you, you stupid slut. You’re a nasty bitch. Okay, okay. He does business from his office in Stanholm Yard. You’ll never get him, though. Esther said there were so many escape routes. It’s a rabbit warren. She never liked to stay long.”

I swapped a glance with Cassie and Convict, and both nodded. We were done.

But Cassie gave one last parting word. “We’ve gone easy on ye today. I am not above ending the life of an old drunk because you’ve pissed me off. Say a word about being here or what we asked, and I’ll drown ye in a fucking vat of the alcohol ye find so precious. Understand me?”

Tracey nodded frantically and snatched for the bottle. She sucked down the vodka like she’d die without it.

“Thanks for the information. I’m sorry about Esther,” I murmured, my instinct to close out the meeting in the way I would at work, but she wasn’t listening anymore.

Outside, I breathed in a lungful of clean air.

To Cassie, I said, “You’re scary. I’m glad we’re on the same team.”

The woman preened. “I aim to please.”

“In a way, you’re right. That was like a board meeting. Just with more honest emotions. We got what we needed, right? Or as much as we could.”

Convict pressed a kiss to my hair. “You did good, little gangster.”

I had no excuse for the burst of pride his words gave me.

Back at the office, Tyler and Kane had clearly listened in and had been joined by Arran, Shade, and Riordan. Someone had pulled up a map on a screen. They scrutinised it, phones in hands.

“Can’t find it on any of the industrial estates.” My brother’s usual scowl deepened.

Arran swore. “I know this city like the back of my hand. But that name rings no bells.”

Cassie cleared her throat, plucked out her phone, and dialled a number, putting the call on loudspeaker.

Lovelyn answered. “Hey!”

“I’m calling in an official capacity of the Skeleton Girls Detective Agency.”

Lovelyn laughed. “Are you assigning us roles? Can I be the sassy hacker type? I make a mean spreadsheet.”

“Deal! Love that for us. How about starting by locating Stanholm Yard in Deadwater?” Cassie asked.

Lovelyn made a sound of interest. “I’ve heard that name somewhere. Hold, please, caller.”

All gazes fell on Cassie’s phone, then Lovelyn spoke again.

“It came up in an informant interview about six months ago. I knew it was familiar. The location is the Scotsdale Trading Estate, the last plot. It used to be a pet food warehouse. Is that helpful?”

Kane stared at the phone, Shade slapped Arran’s chest, then they commenced a frantic discussion, all the men leaning in. Weapons appeared then vanished under clothes.

Cassie tipped an imaginary hat. “You’re literally the best researcher I ever met. Want to come by for breakfast?”

Still on the line, Lovelyn laughed. “It’s closer to dinnertime, but yes, why not.”

Cassie hung up and linked her arm through mine. “While the boys play, want to come up to mine? I can catch ye and Lovelyn up on Richard Yelland.”

I’d put the disgusting pervert who’d bought Becky in the auction to the back of my mind having passed all I’d learned over to the skeleton girls. “I’d love that. I have some work to do, though. Is that okay? The exploding ship needs to be handled.”