Divided Loyalties Read Free Page A

were interrupted by a knock at the door.
    “What?” snapped Danny, annoyed by the interruption.
    The door opened and to both their surprise an elderly woman hobbled into the room.  Danny frowned but Rachel recognised her as Mrs Dawson off the Montford, a formidable old lady with a brood of tearaway grandchildren.
    “Sorry, am I interrupting?” she said, blinking myopically through thick glasses.
    “Of course not,” smiled Rachel, seating her in a chair, accompanied by a creaking of joints.  “What can we do for you?”
    Mrs Dawson grasped Rachel’s hand fervently.  “I’ve come to beg you for justice.  My eldest granddaughter, Tiff, was raped by Bill Morley’s lad, Gavin.  The police said there’s not enough evidence to prosecute, it’s just her word against his and Bill won’t believe his son capable of doing something like that.”
    “Tiff’s sure it was Gavin?”
    Mrs Dawson nodded.  “Positive and my Tiff never lies.”
    “I know Gavin Morley,” interjected Danny.  “He’s been causing a lot of trouble on the estate since Jez moved off it.”
    “He’s a pain in the arse and he needs sorting out,” spat Mrs Dawson vehemently, the anger inside her belying her frail frame.
    Rachel glanced at Danny, who nodded.
    “We’ll sort it out for you,” said Danny reassuringly.
    “Bless you lad.  You’ve no idea what this means to my family.”
    “How can we be sure Gavin’s guilty?” Danny asked Rachel after Mrs Dawson had left.
    “She was telling the truth, I’m sure of it.”
    “Of course she was but it doesn’t mean Tiff is.  What if she’s trying to get him back for something?”
    “I’ll speak to her first.  She’s more likely to open up to another woman but I know Tiff and I can’t imagine her making up something like that.”
    “You do realise we’ve opened the floodgates?  They’ll all be asking us to sort people out for them.”
    “It’s good PR,” she replied, wrapping her arms around his neck, “and having people owe you a favour can only be a good thing.”
    He patted her on the bottom.  “Mrs Maguire you are so smart it scares me.”
    As they kissed there was another knock on the door.
    “Oh for Christ’s sake what now?” yelled Danny.
    Joe the pub manager, a scrawny dark haired man who always put Rachel in mind of a meerkat, popped his head around the door.
    “Sorry Danny but there’s someone to see you in the bar.”
    “Who?”
    “Richard Spencer.”
    Danny rolled his eyes and kissed Rachel on the tip of the nose.  “To be continued.”
    Taking her hand they walked into the bar to find a tall, distinguished-looking gent with salt and pepper hair and a very expensive suit pacing angrily.  Naturally Danny and Rachel recognised him instantly, given his high profile in the city.
    “Danny Maguire?”
    Danny nodded.  “What can I do for you?”
    “I’m here about my boy, you know, the one you left without the use of his legs and who the doctors tell me will never walk properly again.”
    “Sorry, I’m not with you.”
    Richard laughed.  “Bullshit.”
    “Has your son made an accusation against me?”
    “No but everyone knows you’re responsible.  There’s only one family around here psycho enough to pull a stunt like that.”
    “Your son ran over a little girl and left her for dead.  Sounds like he got what he deserved.”
    Richard’s eyes narrowed.  “You took everything from my son.  Now I’m going to take everything from you,” he said, jabbing a finger at Rachel.
    Danny thrust his face into his angrily.  “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
    Richard shoved him roughly in the chest.  “Despite the fancy suit you‘re just a common thug.  I‘m not scared of you.”
    “You should be,” spat Danny, grabbing him by the shirt front and pushing him backwards through the door. 
    Richard fell, landing painfully on the pavement outside.  Danny loomed over him, face like thunder, Rachel watching curiously.
    “If you want