She wasn't sure how long she'd been asleep, but when she finally woke, it was getting dark again. She wasn't even sure it was the same day. As she struggled to open her eyes, she saw the nurse, sitting in her usual spot. No, wait it wasn't the same nurse. This one was far older, far less kind looking.
"You're awake then." She said with no small degree of irritation. "I better inform Mr Roper. Don't get out of bed. Actually, don't move at all, ok?" She stood and looked at Kate for a minute. "You don't look like a spy."
Kate was shocked. This was no local nurse, this was someone in Roper's employ.
"I'm not" she managed to mumble, her face still a swollen mass. "I just... work for... the civil service."
"Yeah, and I'm Florence Bloody Nightingale!" She sneered and left the room.
Slowly, awkwardly, Kate sat up. She was still in the small room, the only thing that had changed was she was now handcuffed to the bed. Her left hand dangled above her head, her wrist caught up in the metal restraints. It was already aching, heaven only knew what would be the next level. The one small consolation was that her head no longer pounded. Just her face, her shoulder, her ribs and pretty much every other soft tissue area of her body where she'd been comprehensively beaten by Price. She was terrified he would come back. The beating was a hazy memory she didn't want a repeat of.
The door opened again and in walked the nurse and, strangely to her relief, Frisky. He actually seemed genuinely pleased to see her. She looked at him with cold hatred. No way was she giving this man an inch. He'd stood by and watched her pulverised.
"Glad tae see ye Katy. Thought that wee Gobshite Price had done fur ye. Ach well, he got what he deserved. " Frisky came a sat on the bed, taking her hand. She instantly pulled it back, feeling anger, nausea and curiosity rising.
"What do you mean? Got what he deserved?" She had a vague recollection of a gunshot but she really couldn't tell drugged hallucination from fact at the moment. Her face must have registered her genuine bewilderment as Frisky smiled and patted her leg beneath the covers.
"Ah well, if ye hadn't decided to go an' pass out, you'd know. " he looked smug and she wanted to slap him so much. "Price is dead."
"Wh-what?" She could hardly believe it. "How? Who?"
Frisky smiled, enjoying the memory of seeing that jumped up little arse-wipe hitting the deck and bleeding out.
"Roper shot him." The tone he said it in suggested he regretted not doing it himself.
"Oh." She said in a small voice. Would this killing never end? "Oh well. Pity I missed it" she added, the joy at his death numbing the pain of her injuries for a few minutes.
"So what now?" She asked him, "is Roper gone again ? Is that why you're here?"
"Nope. He's dealing with some other business. He'll be in to see you soon. " Frisky turned to the nurse. "Could you fetch Ms Dempster some clean clothes please? There are plenty in the master bedroom in the main house , right hand wardrobe."
The nurse looked at him like he was something she'd scraped off her shoe.
"Do I look like a FUCKING MAID?" She yelled at him.
"No, but you'll look like someone in need of a fucking kneecap if you defy me again." He countered with no trace of humour, half standing. The nurse scowled and slammed the door on her way out.
"Listen to me." He sat back down and bent over her whispering. "He's only got 36 hours to get here. After that Roper will be gone and you'll be..."
"Dead." She countered flatly. "So why should I care about ANYTHING you have to say?"
"Because, little Miss Smartarse, I'm trying to save your life - both of you."
"Why?" He looked genuine, but she couldn't help being suspicious. "You expect me -us- to trust you? Of all people?"
"Ah well, there's the rub. Ah've been working with Roper for fifteen years, and what has it got me? A one way ticket to Belmarsh and more ulcers than I have fingers. Oh yeah, and a pension that won't even pay for a trip to Largs never mind a world cruise. You know how these civil service pensions work." he nodded and stood up. Walking away he put a finger to his lips as her mind reeled. He opened the door, checked the corridor then shut it again.
"what?" was all she could say. This hardly seemed possible. Frisky walked back, leant in close again and whispered in her ear.
"Aye, turns out we're on the same side eh? Bet ye didnae see THAT comin'. The only reason they let it go on so long is he was giving them almost enough but not quite. When he started with the arms dealing that wiz a step too far, even fir them." he stood and she watched him as he finally walked to the door.
"You Lady, are gonnae keep that pretty mouth shut though. I've nowt to lose - I'm a dead man walking anyway and your silence is easy to keep." he left her in no doubt how. "Remember now, one hint of a word and you're gone. Not gonnae spoil the ship for a hape'th o' tar now lassie." he looked at her with the familiar cold stare of a killer.
"He better get here, 36 hours and it's all over. One way or another." he closed the door behind him and she lay back on the pillows, shell shocked. Did Jonathan know? She doubted it, did Angela? Now, that was a different story but her gut told her to give her the benefit of the doubt. There was something about Angela that seemed trustworthy. This seemed to go higher than any of them ever suspected.
Frisky worked for River House? Was he playing her or was it true? One thing was for sure, he didn't plan on walking away from this one and she had to make sure Jonathan and her did. She lay and looked at the sky, inky blue and dotted with a few stars as evening fell. Was he on his way? Now she really wasn't sure what to hope for.
It must have been an hour or two later when Roper walked in. She was sitting in the chair by the window, still trying to make sense of the conversation with Frisky. As he entered, he dismissed the nurse with a curt "Leave". No pleasantries this time, no need for pretence.
"So, you're up and about again. Must say, you look like shit my dear." he smirked and folded himself into the chair opposite.
"Feel like it too" she countered, staring him down. "no thanks to Price"
"Ah yes, well, that won't be happening again. I believe Frisky appraised you of the situation?" he stared at her, fingers clasped under his chin. "In fact, I believe Frisky appraised you of alot of things today Katherine."
She nearly wet herself.
"Don't know what you mean" she mumbled, thankful her injuries allowed for a little ambiguity in her voice.
"Oh I think you do." he leant forward and touched her knee. "He told me you know there's a mole in my organisation."
"He did?" the fear on her face was genuine. What the hell had Frisky said.
"Yes, and I know you're going to tell me who. Oh, and before you start to deny it - or better yet accuse Frisky - forget it. I've been had like that once, thanks to your lover so it's old hat. Try a new tune." he sat back, smug and self satisfied. She began to get an inkling he really had no idea.
She looked at him steadily, for once being completely truthful. "I don't know what you want to hear. I can't give you a name." the fact the only name she could give him was the one he refused to hear wasn't her fault. Why was Frisky doing this? Deliberately putting her under the spotlight? In trying to cover his tracks, he was throwing her under the very bus he claimed to be getting her a seat on. Had he lost his sense of reason after all these years or had he really just been playing her?
"Oh well, why don't I give you the rest of the night to think about it. About your options. I'm sure you'll come to the right conclusions about all this. Remember, I always get what I want in the end. I really do. And you've heard the old phrase, this will hurt me more than you? Nonsense. This is going to hurt you. Alot. " He stood and smiled like a snake eyeing up it's meal. "sleep well."
As the door closed behind him, the nurse resuming her vigil, she sagged back into the seat. She had the horrible feeling things were about to get a whole lot more uncomfortable.
YOU ARE READING
Dangerous Liaisons
FanfictionJonathan Pine was always a reluctant hero. He just saw it as doing what he knew was right. Except once. Then he did what he knew was unthinkably wrong. But even that too, had been for the best of reasons. Now he had to confront what he'd done...
