Page 55 of Cruel Salvation

“Then tell us what you do know and maybe we can help you out.”

“Maybe?”

“Well, right now, we all have to work together. But if we don’t get anywhere with this, and if you’re still being less than forthcoming, we may have to change our stance.”

“What do you want from me?”

“New information. Why would she target Tim?”

Simon frowned and Damon crossed his arms over his chest.

“I don’t know of a Tim at the centre.”

Damon caught Naz’s eyes. “Does he have a nickname?”

“Yeah, they call him Popeye.”

Simon’s head shot up. “Popeye did this?”

“Yeah, you know who I mean now?”

“Yeah. Popeye is the last person who’d hurt someone, especially Kathleen. She was like a mother to him.”

“Well, he did, so any idea why or how he managed to get the drugs, which I’m assuming caused his episode?”

“Yeah, maybe.”

Naz rolled her hand impatiently. “Well?”

“Kelly and I, or should I say Andrea, weren’t exclusive. I was just fucking her.”

“Are you saying she was sleeping with other men at the centre?”

“Yeah, but I can’t say who for sure. I saw her hanging with Popeye a few times, and Johnson.”

“Eric Johnson?”

“Yeah.”

“And you didn’t tell me this before, because why?”

“My head’s fucked up, Lotus. I lost everything again. You know what we went through, you were there.”

Damon saw her soften and wasn’t totally comfortable with the way Simon Dorsey was playing with her guilt, but he kept quiet, knowing stepping in would only lead to him ending up in the firing line.

“I do know, and I hate that it’s happening again.”

His gaze roamed over Naz and something about it flipped his instincts to red.

“I need out of here, Lotus. I need air. I need to train or see my kids. I’m going crazy locked in this box.”

“It’s a tough one, Simon. You’re a wanted man and I don’t think putting you where Andrea can get at you again is wise.”

“Please? I can hide or go into a safe house with one of your team. I just need to see my kids.”

“I’ll see what I can do but no promises. Now, have you got any more information I can use as leverage?”

Naz wasn’t stupid, she was using his desire to get out to try and gain as much information as she could. He knew her well enough now to know that her ability to be two things at once with him wasn’t due to some skill she’d learnt along the way. No, the first time he’d laid eyes on her, he recognised her as a person who could compartmentalise.