Pop Goes the Weasel

55

Helen stopped in her tracks the moment she saw her. Anger flared inside her as she saw Emilia Garanita leaning casually against her Kawasaki in the bike park outside the station.

‘You’re in a restricted area and currently obstructing police business, Emilia, so if you wouldn’t mind?’

It was said politely, but without warmth. Emilia smiled – always that same Cheshire Cat smile – and slowly peeled herself off the bike.

‘I’ve tried calling you, Helen, but you won’t answer. I’ve talked to a number of my uniform friends, I even had a quick heart-to-heart with your boss, but nobody seems to know what’s going on. Are you clamming up on me again?’

‘I don’t know what you mean. I gave you the tipoff about the DNA and much more besides.’

‘But that’s not the whole story, is it, Helen? Harwood feels it too. Something’s going on in that team of yours and I want to know what it is.’

‘You want to know what it is?’ Helen replied slowly and with maximum sarcasm.

‘Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten our little deal already? I said I wanted exclusive access on this story and I meant it.’

‘You’re getting paranoid, Emilia. As soon as there are any new developments, I’ll let you know, ok?’

She moved to get on her bike, but Emilia grabbed her arm.

‘No, not ok.’

Helen looked at her as if she were mad – did she really want to be charged with assaulting a police officer?

‘I don’t like being lied to. I don’t like being looked down on. Especially by a degenerate like you.’

Helen shrugged her off angrily, but was unnerved. There was real venom and a new-found confidence in Emilia’s tone.

‘I want to know, Helen. I want to know everything. And you’re going to tell me.’

‘Or?’

‘Or I tell the world your little secret.’

‘I think the world knows everything about me already. I don’t think you’ll shift any papers rehashing that old stuff again.’

‘But they don’t know about Jake, do they?’

Helen froze.

‘I see you don’t deny knowing him. Well, I’ve had a long chat with him and – after a little gentle persuasion – he told me everything. How he beats you up for money. What is it with some women that they just have to give men the upper hand?’

Helen said nothing – how the hell did she know all this? Had Jake really spoken to her?

‘So here’s the deal, Helen. You will tell me everything, you will give me exclusive access. I want to be ahead of the nationals every step of the way on this and if I’m not… then the whole world will know that heroic Helen Grace is actually a dirty little pervert. How do you think Harwood would like that?’

Her words hung in the air, as Emilia walked off. Helen knew instinctively that she wasn’t bluffing and that for the first time she was in her thrall. Emilia had dangled the sword of Damocles over Helen’s head and would take great pleasure in dropping it.