Draco closed in. “Kerridges is a city finance house.”
Sean was none the wiser. “And?”
“And I might know someone who might know someone... inside.”
Sean’s tensed. “Too dangerous.”
Rory and Draco exchanged glances.
Rory quirked an eyebrow. “Draco’s got friends in high places these days, bro.”
“I can’t promise anything,” Draco butted in, “but give me a couple of hours to see what I can find out about the target.”
Sean’s frown deepened. “Like what?”
“Like…how tight they are, as in how likely is it you’ll be thrown back in the clink once you log on to their network, okay?”
Draco meant Bona fide IT stuff.
Sean reluctantly nodded. “Guess it might help to know.”
He didn’t want to involve any of them. Even the bare bones of this discussion went against his better judgment. The weight bearing down on him was a burden he couldn’t share more than a few words of. Nevertheless, he could do with any insight Draco could offer. Even a sliver of knowledge might offer a glimmer of hope at this point. If there was no way through, he’d take Delahane’s gopher down, send a message to Delahane, loud and clear. If it landed him back in jail, so be it.
The darkness surrounding him crowded in, and at the end of the tunnel a light—Rowan’s face, as it always had been, his beacon. It was even more powerful a beacon now because alongside it he carried Pixie’s image too. Their baby girl. Together they symbolized the possibility of his redemption. If he didn’t come out of it alive or ended up in jail again, at least they were safe in Wales.
Chapter Thirteen
London might as well be the biggest maze in the world, for someone who had grown up in a small Welsh coastal resort. Rowan was, however, determined to handle the big city. The pace, the glamour, the buzz—it all heightened her restless mood, making her feel edgy and ready to pounce.
She’d left North Wales early in the morning, two trains journeys later and she still had the underground to negotiate. There was no way she was giving up and going home, although it did briefly occur to her when she hit Euston Station during the evening rush hour chaos. It took the best part of the day, but she made it to Sky’s new home before dusk. Now she just had to work out how to get inside.
According to her GPS it was definitely the right location, but the house was surrounded by hedges and trees, and she couldn’t find the entrance. With a frustrated sigh, she gave in and phoned Sky. “I’m outside. How the hell do I get into this place?”
At the other end of the phone, her sister, Sky, chuckled. “I’ll come out and get you. I could’ve met you at the station. You should’ve called me when you reached Euston. I told you to.”
“No, stay where you are, I’ll figure it out.” Rowan’s stubborn streak grew bigger by the moment, fixated as she was on hunting Sean down and setting his world to rights, single-handedly.
“Yeah, but call back if you give in.”
“Wait…Come on, at least give me a clue.” Rowan stared at the wall of green foliage, annoyed. She’d endured the train and tube journeys, using the GPS to guide her through the maze that was London, and she wasn’t about to let herself down at the last minute by having to be shepherded into the house.
“Follow the hedge until you find a gate.”
Rowan looked along the hedge. There was no sign of a gate. “What is this, fuckin’ Narnia?”
“Language, Rowan.” Sky chuckled.
She clearly loved this. “Don’t mess with me, Sky, I’m not in the mood to play games.”
“It’s not a game, really. It’s the only way you’re going to get in. Turn to your left and follow the hedge round until you get to a gate. I’ll meet you there to make sure you don’t miss it.”
Rowan pocketed her phone and carried her backpack in one hand as she skirted the perimeter. If Sean had found his way in here, she damn well could. It was a pretty odd set up though. She’d never seen the likes of it before. Just when she was about to give up and call Sky again she heard a dog barking close by, and then Sky’s voice.
“Here you are.”
“Here? Where.” She stared at the green mass.
Part of the hedge sprung back and there was Sky standing in the gateway, smiling. Rowan peered at the gate. It was virtually invisible if you didn’t know it was there. Foliage shielded it from left and right and the gate itself was pinned with branches. Touching them, she figured they were artificial. Like camouflage. It gave the effect of a solid wall, when the gate was shut. Looking beyond Sky she saw a garden and a pretty cottage.