Page 74 of Red Retaliation

Promising Reporter Identified as Hatchet Attack Victim

Following yesterday’s coverage of an unidentified man found in an alleyway, it is with great sadness that we report that the man who suffered the execution-style murder was one of our very own London Echo reporters.

Harry Taylor, (28), has worked for the Echo for five years and was set to become a top and sought-after journalist, thanks to his unique reporting style. His ability to ask questions that many wouldn’t, showed prowess for his craft.

Mr Taylor was formally identified late last night from dental records - sadly, the only means available due to the ferocity of the brutal attack.

Although known to many as a journalist who exposed things some would rather remain private, Harry Taylor wasn’t known to have any enemies.

I chew my lip. Harry Taylor? I know that name.

I carry on reading.

Mr Taylor was last spotted walking along the Lombard Road around 9:30 PM on 13th November, having previously attended a press conference at the Scorpio Lounge casino where Mr Bateman announced his surprise marriage.

Having suffered an extreme assault with what we can now confirm to be a hatchet, Mr Taylor’s body was discovered early the following morning by a member of the public. The dog walker is being treated for shock by professionals.

Police urge any other sightings or information concerning Mr Taylor’s whereabouts after 9:30 that evening to get in touch urgently.

At present, the perpetrator of this particularly horrific murder is unknown...

My hand flies to my mouth. Red. It wasRed!

Red killed Harry Taylor? He killed a man on our wedding night?

I throw the newspaper to one side, unable to continue looking at it.

Oh my God! That’s where he went that night, saying he had something to take care of.

Chopping up a reporter with a hatchet!

Perspiration breaks on my brow, and I rush to the en-suite, the orange juice I drank leaving my body to spray into the toilet.

CHAPTER

52

Red

“WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?” Arianna bursts into my office and slams a newspaper on my desk.

I mask my surprise that she thinks she can come in here whenever she likes and speak to me in this tone of voice. She’s furious - look at her eyes! They’re almost completely purple, rather than that beguiling mixture of blue and violet.

Even though she’s grossly misjudged this situation by assuming she has the right to demand anything, let alone pull me up about God knows what in front of people, I still want to take her to my bed.

And more to the point, I want to do it now because she’s even more ravishing when she’s angry.

I glance at Del, not needing to give him the nod to leave because he’s already out of his seat and halfway to the door. I’m glad Oscar and Liam aren’t here. They’d love this. And had Keith not left with them, it wouldn’t give a great impression of how tight a control I keep on everyone around me.

Arianna swings around as the office door closes behind Del. “You think I give a shit if someone else is here? It’s hardly like your lot don’t know what you’ve done!” She prods the front-page article. “Are you mad?”

Ah, so they’ve identified Harry Taylor?

But I won’t have this - thisinsolence.

I grab Arianna’s wrist, the rest of me following before she gets chance to blink. I pull her towards me so her face is inches from mine. “You dareto question me?” I hiss. “You think you can take liberties now you’ve taken my name?”

“I’llnevertake your name! Not here!” Her hand slaps against her chest.