LITMIR.BIZ

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leaving through the front entrance at those times, and then getting into their cars and driving away.’

      Grace gnawed at her lip while she pondered. ‘Do we have other ideas about what his death could be linked to, outside of the gym?’

      ‘Apart from the ongoing investigations into racketeering, importing of illegal steroids and theft of anything they can lay their hands on, there’s been a spate of cash-and-grabs increasing over the past few months. It’s possible Josh was involved. Alex can tell you more about that.’ Perry held up his hand as his colleague came back from a cigarette break. ‘Grace wants to know about the cash-and-grabs.’

      ‘Public being robbed at cash machines.’ Alex perched on the end of Grace’s desk. ‘Either someone behind grabs their money after they’ve withdrawn it from the ATM, with force if necessary, or someone rides past on a scooter and grabs it.’

      ‘What a pleasant bunch they are in Stoke,’ Grace muttered. ‘Almost the same as the lot I left back in Salford. So, you’re saying that the Steeles run this operation?’

      Perry shook his head. ‘We think it’s likely to be Trent Gibson. He’ll be working for Leon, who doesn’t get his hands dirty.’

      ‘Oh!’ Grace said. ‘Does that put a different perspective on things?’

      ‘Possibly.’ Alex nodded. ‘Of course, we don’t have enough proof yet. But it seems likely Trent pays them a percentage of what his boys bring back. He also doesn’t like anyone who thinks they can steal the money and not give him his fair cut. We’ve questioned two members from the boxing gym over the recent months after their parents complained they’d been beaten up, but they wouldn’t press charges, and there wasn’t enough for us to put forward to the CPS.’

      ‘So how does Trent keep tabs on that?’ Grace asked.

      ‘Who knows? He doesn’t act like he can count past how many fingers and toes he has,’ Alex explained. ‘We think his girlfriend might be the brains behind it.’

      ‘Name of?’

      ‘Clara Emery. She works at the gym too, on reception. We don’t think Eddie has anything to do with it, and we reckon he’d be pissed off about it, in fact. He’s always having to bail Leon out of trouble. But this is small fry compared to other things we hope to one day get them on once the evidence is stacked up. So, although we’re looking into it, it’s on the back burner.’

      ‘They can’t be making that much money from it.’ Grace shook her head. ‘Wouldn’t their hit rate be so high that people would be on the lookout? And cameras on ATM machines would pick them up?’

      ‘Not necessarily,’ Alex said. ‘Often, they watch where the money is put and then they steal bags, phones and wallets. Sometimes they’re shifting larger things too. It’s lucrative.’

      ‘In a city this size?’ Grace shook her head.

      ‘You’re a bit quick to dismiss our local knowledge, aren’t you?’ Perry raised his eyebrows in disbelief. ‘You’re doubting us already?’

      ‘No, I was merely saying—’

      ‘You want to learn about this patch then I suggest you listen to us. We’ve been here a long time before you. We know the people and what they get up to.’

      ‘I wasn’t suggesting otherwise, but—’

      ‘If you’re that amazing, Grace,’ Perry butted in, ‘you would have researched all this before you came here.’

      ‘I don’t have to know everything. That’s why I manage a team, so that I can delegate.’

      Silence fell amongst them.

      ‘We’re supposed to be on the same side,’ she added. ‘I’d appreciate it if you’d work with me, rather than against me.’

      As Alex went back to his desk and all heads went down again, Grace held in her annoyance. Inside she was shaking, unaccustomed to raising her voice, but she had to show them she was boss. She wouldn’t be walked over by Perry, nor anyone else for that matter.

       TWELVE

      Alone that evening in his office, while everyone else raised a glass to a fallen friend in the Windmill pub, Eddie rested his head on the desk and let out his emotion. Here on his own he felt he could. Once he got home, there would be questions from his wife, Georgina, who had come to the gym for most of the day until picking up Harry, their youngest son who was twelve, from school. Thankfully, Harry would be in bed when he did eventually get home, and sixteen-year-old Charlie would most likely be out with his friends, so the house would be quiet.

      He leaned back in his chair and sipped at his whisky. It was the only one he’d have. He wasn’t a drinker, not after he’d seen what it did to his father, and then Jade. He wanted to keep his wits about him rather than be taken by surprise by anyone. In his line of business there was always someone ready to pounce. This time it happened to be Josh who had suffered.

      They’d managed to get back into certain parts of the building once the car park had been cordoned off, but the death of his friend meant that the gym had been shut, so their takings would be down. The gym membership was fine; most regulars paid monthly and the few who paid per visit wouldn’t be worth mentioning. But it was more than that. He hadn’t been able to do any of the regular behind-the-scenes stuff. There had been no money loaned, no stolen goods coming through the doors. Some of the boys had phoned to see what the score was, but he’d told them to steer clear. The blues being here was bad for trade in every respect. People would go elsewhere.

      He cursed himself. What was he thinking? Josh was his friend. Business didn’t matter at the moment, apart from keeping everything under wraps. He wiggled the mouse so the computer woke up again. The Facebook page for the gym had been alight with comments once news had begun to spread. Josh had been well liked, a brilliant instructor and motivator, as well as a valued member of staff. Eddie hadn’t even begun to think of what he was going to do without him. It was too painful to contemplate.

      He couldn’t trust anyone the way he’d trusted Josh. He was the only one who knew what George had been like to live with. Eddie had put his trust in Josh and, to his knowledge, his friend had told no one what had been going on in the Steele house. Their bond had strengthened because of this.

      And now he was left with an empty space to fill, in more ways than one. With Josh out of the equation, he knew that Leon would want to step up into his place. It wasn’t possible; his brother was too hot-headed, and Eddie knew it was going to cause friction between them, but tough, he was used to it. Brother versus brother had been the norm since they were young, and their earlier years of hell would always be something that stayed between him and Leon.

      Eddie scrolled through the messages that were still coming in. As well as his right-hand man, Josh had been a joker. Many would remember him for his sense of humour and his ability to play really silly practical jokes. Josh hadn’t minded if anyone wanted to get him back either. He had always been game for a laugh.

      He was also pretty big on YouTube, having his own channel and promoting Steele’s Gym with his charisma as much as his advice. Eddie pressed on a video clip now, tears of anger welling in his eyes as he listened to Josh’s voice. Seeing him racing around the screen as he threw right hooks at a punchbag, it was hard to think that he was dead.

      He took another sip of whisky and gazed through the office window into the empty gym behind it. Rows and rows of exercise machines stood as if on duty. Not a murmur could be heard except from the hum of the drinks machine. The emergency lights were on, giving the whole place an eerie glow.

      A noise startled him. He turned, standing quickly. It sounded like a door closing, but he knew he was in the building alone. He reached for the baseball bat he kept by the side of his desk and went out into the corridor. Stepping slowly along it, he made his way into the gym, glancing around in

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