Page 42 of The Thief

I took a breath; the little information I’d burnt into my brain was now ready to be pulled out.

“Two was the worst. The most violent.”

“That’s who we go for first then,” Colton replied, but Ishook my head.

“He’s dead.”

Adam huffed as he put a cross through his number, and under his breath, he muttered, “Too bad. I’d have liked to meet him. Show him the kind of reception he gave you... only a million times worse.”

“He was shot by Number One,” I went on, and Adam moved to that section of the board, turning his head and waiting for me to elaborate. “He was the leader, but there was something about him, he protected the hostages.” Adam started to write notes on the board, and I added, “He knew who I was. He used my name.” Adam stopped instantly and turned to face me.

“He knew you? Do you know how?”

“No. Maybe he’d just heard of me. Of us. I didn’t recognise him. I know he was wearing a balaclava, but nothing was familiar about him or how he spoke. He was a local. It could’ve been anyone.”

He nodded, deep in thought. “So, Number One is the leader. Anything else?”

“Three had a tattoo on his wrist. Some black, barbed wire design.”

Adam continued to make his notes on the board. “We could check in with local tattoo artists, see if they remember doing something like that.”

“That could be a long shot,” Will chipped in. “I’ve seen some of the designs done at Bryony’s shop, and that’s a pretty common one.”

“On the wrist though?” Adam challenged. “We might hit lucky with where he’s had it.”

“Maybe,” Will replied, but he didn’t sound hopeful.

“Four and Five,” I said, nodding to the board. “They were Scottish.”

“Can’t be many Scottish around here,” Adam stated. “I’ll ask around. See if any of our associates have heard anything.”

“They weren’t a tight group. Not like us. I heard Number One say he regretted having Number Two there. Two was a new guy, recommended by someone called Holmes. He said that Holmes, whoever he is, didn’t do that kind of work anymore. He wasn’t one of the gunmen on the job, but he’d vouched for Number Two.”

Adam wrote the name Holmes in capital letters underneath Number One. “That’s where we start, then. Number One’s guy in the know...Holmes.” He circled the name, staring intently at the board. “Someone’s gonna know who he is. He’s not from Brinton Manor, otherwise we’d already know the name. But someone will.” He tapped the board. “That’s our strongest lead so far. Devon...”

Devon shot up from where he was sitting. “Already on it. Leave it with me,” he said, and beckoning Will and Colton to join him, he left the room.

At that moment, Liv, Adam’s wife, walked in, came over to hug me, then headed to the kitchen area to make a cup of tea. As she switched the kettle on, she turned, and asked me, “Do you want a cuppa?”

I shook my head.

“Ty,” Adam said in a gentler tone. “If there’s anything you need, anything... just let me know. We’re here for you.”

“I’m fine.” I sat forward, my hands balled together as I stared at the floor.

“You don’t look fine,” Liv interjected. “And that’s okay.You’ve been through a lot.”

“It’s nothing I can’t handle,” I told her, peering up at her as she leaned back against the kitchen counter. “I work with these guys.” I smiled, nodding over to Adam. “I’ve been through a lot worse and come out the other end laughing.”

“You’re not laughing now,” Liv replied sadly as she poured hot water into a mug.

“I’ve got stuff on my mind.”

“We’ll catch them,” Adam assured me, taking my melancholy mood for something that it wasn’t, and I shook my head.

“I know we will. I’m not worried about that.”

“But you are worried.” Liv picked up a mug of tea that she’d made and walked over to place it on the coffee table in front of me, even though I’d refused one. “Talk to us. We might be able to help.”