LITMIR.BIZ

       CHAPTER 9

      Amelia turned the key and let herself into her flat. She reached for her mobile phone which she’d left on the kitchen worktop and dialled the number she knew off by heart.

      Calling G flashed across the screen before she put it to her ear. It seemed an eternity but finally her call was answered.

      ‘Is it done?’ the voice said.

      ‘It is. He won’t be bothering me any time soon, but I get the feeling it won’t be the last time we’ll be dealing with him.’

       ‘What did you do?’

      ‘I used my…persuasive charms.’

      There was a long pause.

       ‘You didn’t hurt him, did you?’

      ‘Just a scratch… Did I do wrong?’

       ‘No, but we must focus on our goal.’

      ‘He’ll keep up the rent-side of the deal. He won’t get my body in return, if that’s what’s bothering you.’

      The quietness on the line told Amelia this was pleasing news.

      ‘When can I see you?’ she said.

      ‘Soon.’ There was another long pause. All Amelia could hear was soft breathing on the line.

       ‘I loved you, since the moment you first came into my life. Remember that.’

      Amelia bit her bottom lip hard. Every time she heard those words it all but stopped her heart right there and then. ‘I know,’ she said at length.

      The phone clicked before going dead.

      Amelia placed her phone back on the counter top and took the flick knife from her pocket, pulled back the blade and smiled.

      ***

      Adrian Brown looked down at his blood-soaked shirt sleeve.

      Bile began to rise in his throat, but he suppressed the urge to vomit. He applied pressure to the wound, fighting back the urge to scream.

      He doubled over in pain, and blood seeped through his fingers.

      He remembered the look on Amelia’s face as she’d plunged the knife into his upper arm, and how her other hand had pressed firmly over his mouth as he had screamed.

      He’d felt like he would pass out but he had fought against it when they had heard Mary approach the office. Under duress he’d told her through the door that he was fine.

      He’d waited with bated breath until he’d heard footsteps leading away, Mary’s curiosity shot down in an instant.

      He’d sighed and shut his eyes.

      When he had looked back at Amelia, her attention was on the blood seeping through his shirt. His gaze had followed down to her right hand, fingers gripping the handle of the knife firmly, her knuckles white. In that moment he had tried to think back to where it had all started to fall apart.

      Then she had wrenched the blade from his arm.

      Her eyes had never left his as she wiped the knife clean with a tissue. The perks he’d got from their financial agreement were over. She’d made that crystal clear.

      He waited until she’d left his office before removing his tie and securing it tightly around his shoulder, pulling it tight. He then put his suit jacket on. He would wait half an hour before risking going to A&E.

      He waved Mary away when she tried to enter his office. She looked hurt but he didn’t care.

      Amelia had been a worthwhile distraction at the time but now she was a threat, an inconvenience.

      She had to be dealt with as quickly and discreetly as possible.