Unfinished Business (32 page)

“Is this man bothering you Gentlemen?” said a voice.

Matt paled when he heard
that
voice. Slowly he turned to see Cass approaching. “I’ve a right to be here…,” he began weakly.

“I believe the gentleman asked you to leave,” she said in what Brodie thought was a bizarre but very wonderful parody of the traditional man-protecting-woman situation.

“This is a public building…” He trailed off, sweat shining on his large forehead as she stared back at him coldly. He released a yelp when her hand shot out, grabbed his crotch and twisted.

“You had your chance,” she said, twisting harder.

Matt’s whole body shook and his skin turned white at the enormity of the pain. Both Brodie and Clarke grimaced but made no move to stop her.

“Clarke…please…,” begged Matt. “Help.”

“Finally you’re getting what you deserve,” he cheerfully replied, enjoying the show. “But maybe you’d better stop now Cass. This is a busy hospital and I’m sure they don’t have time for extra bollock surgery today.”

With one final twist Cass released Matt, who slumped to his knees, cupping his genitals.

“Do one before I get really angry with you,” she hissed.

Matt shuffled away, doubled over, drawing curious looks from passers-by.

Both Brodie and Clarke gazed at Cass adoringly as she glared at Matt’s retreating back, ready to intervene should he decide to change his mind and come back. The two men caught the other’s soppy look and frowned at each other.

“Do you need us for anything else or can we go back to Glasgow?” Brodie asked Clarke, eager to get going.

“You can go, for now. I might need you to return to give evidence as to what Lauren said in there but we’ll see.” Clarke’s eyes flicked to Cass, who was waiting for them in the corridor. “Are you going back to Glasgow too?” he asked her.

“I am. It’s my home.”

“Oh,” he said, disappointed. “Well, if you’re ever in the area again look me up.”

“I just might.”

When they smiled at each other Brodie turned his back on the pretext of giving them some privacy, when in truth the old jealousy was rearing its ugly head. “We’d better get going,” he muttered.

“Coming Boss,” she said cheerily.

When Brodie turned back round, Clarke held his hand out to him. “Thanks for all your help.”

Brodie just nodded as he shook his hand, giving it a macho squeeze.

“Bye Cass,” Clarke said.

“Bye Daniel,” she replied with a flirtatious smile, giving him a peck on the cheek.

“Daniel is it?” said Brodie as they wandered out of the main doors. “I was beginning to think he was called Clarke Clarke. Still, at least he’s an improvement on Mr Hair Gel in Hawkshead.”

“You’re not wrong there. By the way, I had a call from Greenacre while you were in with Lauren.”

“Let me guess, he’s happy with the result.”

“Over the fucking moon would be more precise,” she smiled. “He’s finally been vindicated. He didn’t have much sympathy for Maggie though.”

“I don’t blame him and neither would you if you’d heard what Lauren had to say.”

“What did she say?”

“I’ll tell you on the flight home. I need to think it over first.”

Cass nodded, it was just another of Brodie’s ways.

“So, going to see Clarke again?” he asked, trying to sound casual.

“Who knows?” she replied enigmatically.

Brodie kicked himself for analysing her cryptic answer as they stood outside waiting for the taxi that would take them to the airport. Why couldn’t he stop being so pathetic? He hated himself for his sad crush.

Cass glanced up at Brodie and her smile broadened when she saw his brow was furrowed in concentration. He was lost in thought again, he did that a lot. No doubt he was mulling over the Creegan case. He looked so cute when he was brooding over something, those unusual eyes of his turning dark and hard. When he started to come out of his own little world she hastily averted her eyes. She didn’t want him to catch her staring but she found it hard not to, ever since she’d first seen him in that bar in Glasgow. But then he’d hired her to work for him even though she’d made it clear that would preclude any relationship between them, which had made it plain where he stood on that matter. He didn’t want her.

“This looks like our taxi,” he commented as a car meandered towards them.

“Yes Boss,” she said, putting that barrier up between them again. It was safest to keep it there. Giving in to what she really wanted would only ruin what they already had and that she could never allow.

THE END