Page 41 of Better the Devil

‘A hundred and thirty million.’

Tyler shook his head, like he couldn’t get the number to make sense, like his brain was flat out rejecting it.

‘Oh, wait! That’s dollars, though, you said. That might not be that much.’

He took out his phone and typed the figure into Google as they turned onto the main road and headed south towards Inverness.

‘No, no. It’s still an absolute shitload,’ he said, returning the phone to his pocket. ‘So, she could’ve paid for someone to do him in, then?’

‘With that bank balance, she could’ve paid to have him exiled to the fucking moon,’ Logan replied. He sniffed, sighed, and shook his head. ‘But I’m not feeling it. I still need to figure out just what the relationship between them all is, but my gut says she didn’t do it.’

‘Maybe he was coming for her money, though, boss.’

‘Maybe,’ Logan conceded.

‘Or maybe she was protecting the kids.’

The way Tyler said it made Logan turn to him again. ‘What makes you say that?’

So Tyler told him. About the LEGO. About the boy. About Goldie, the bad man’s dog, and how little Jack had seen both the dog and the man when Victor had taken him on a detour on the way home from the shops.

They’d argued, apparently. Victor had told the man he was sorry. Told him he had things under control. Promised to do better.

And little Jack had sat in his booster seat, watching and listening to it all.

‘When was this? Where?’ Logan asked.

Tyler winced. ‘Not sure. He was a bit vague on that. Within the last few months, though. His mum was in the hospital having the baby, or maybe she’d not long had it. Around then, anyway.’

‘Sounds like a boss of some kind. Someone higher up the chain.’

‘That’s what I thought,’ Tyler said. ‘The dog was nice enough, though, apparently, so I suppose that’s something.’

‘I suppose it is, aye,’ Logan agreed. He checked the mirrors, indicated, then pulled past a slow-moving Vauxhall Corsa. ‘Good work, son.’

Tyler brightened at that. ‘Cheers, boss!’

The steering wheel creaked as Logan adjusted his grip. ‘How you feeling about this interview tomorrow?’

‘Pretty good, aye. Pretty decent.’

‘You, eh, got any questions or anything? Anything you want any advice on?’

Tyler blew out his cheeks. ‘Don’t think so, boss. Think I’m good.’

Logan’s brow furrowed. ‘What? You don’t wantanyadvice?’

Tyler stared blankly ahead for a few seconds, giving the offer some more thought.

‘No. No, I think I’m good. Think I’m all set, boss.’

Logan raised his eyebrows, shook his head, and then replied with a slightly bewildered, ‘Fair enough.’

They rode on in silence. Tyler checked his watch, then checked his phone, then tapped his thumbs together as they continued down the road.

‘Like,no questionat all?’ Logan asked. ‘You don’t want any input from me?’

‘No, I really think I’m good, boss,’ Tyler told him. ‘Unless…’