Page 20 of The B-Team
Now Rachel was just getting irritated. “You’re talking about Stephan Prentice. The man who kidnapped Ryan and his wife before dumping them underground. I doubt his testimony would carry much weight with anyone other than Fitzwater.”
“You threatened, and I quote”—DI Singh consulted her notes—“‘testicular atrophy’ if you injected him.”
DC McManus made a whining sound before turning beet red.
Rachel couldn’t help but smile. “First, there is no such drug. Second, my company doesn’t manufacture any chemical castration drugs. And third, the man knew where my colleague was being held, and time was running out. I didn’t hurt him. I didn’t even raise my voice. I simply put an idea into his tiny mind and waited for it to cause a reaction.”
“You took matters into your own hands,” DI Singh said. “You should have brought the matter, and the man, to the police.”
An icy calm washed over Rachel as she leaned on the table in front of her. “You mean the same police who were working with the James Syndicate and almost got two of my security specialists killed? Why on earth would I trust any of you after that?”
“Tessa Sharp doesn’t represent all of us,” DI Singh said.
“No. But her successor doesn’t exactly instill confidence either.” Rachel sat back in her seat. Her back was aching now, and she desperately needed a massage. She made a mental note to find out whether the birthing suite at St. Mary’s provided a massage service or if she’d have to bring in her own masseuse.
There was another sharp pain low in her back. “Would you mind terribly contacting my husband and telling him that his offspring is ruining my well-thought-out plans for its arrival?” she asked DI Singh.
For a second, she looked slightly panicked before turning to the constable. “Please ensure that Mr. Michael Carter is informed of the situation.”
“Also,” Rachel said, “Michael primarily works for TayFor and rarely with Benson Security these days. I would appreciate it if you could postpone his questioning until after the baby arrives. If I’m going to be in pain, I’d like very much for him to be there to share it.” She’d bloody well hook him up to a TENS machine and see howhismuscles coped with contractions.
“Mr. Carter is barely a part-time contractor with Benson Security,” Ms. Patel added. “He is, however, a former CIA operative who is still in good standing with his government. I’m sure that the lawyer I assigned to represent him will have already put in a call to the American Embassy. I believe Mr. Carter is a personal friend of the ambassador.”
DI Singh sighed. “Is there anybody in your organization who doesn’t have friends in high places?”
“Megan,” Rachel said immediately. “She has plenty of friends in low places though. She’s also barely house-trained. You might want to tell your officers to be careful of her teeth.”
“Do you have any other evidence of illegal behavior?” Ms. Patel asked.
The DI consulted her notes again. “We know that Ms. Ford-Talbot often pays for hotels for the Benson Security team. Once or twice, those hotels were booked while the police were interested in talking to some of her colleagues in relation to other crimes. Essentially, you were harboring criminals and impeding investigations. Do you have anything to say to that?” she asked Rachel.
“Yes. I don’t have colleagues. I have staff.”
“Do you deny you hid your team when the police were eager to question them?”
“I deny having any knowledge of the police wanting to question anyone. As far as I’m concerned, Benson Security has always been the company the police turn to when they need help. Also, any information we uncover that may help an investigationis promptly turned over to the police. I do believe we handed over enough evidence to close down the James Syndicate for good. And then there was that terrorist group we detained—for the police—in Scotland. Not to mention the human traffickers we gift wrapped for you when the London office first opened.” She spread her hands. “It would seem that, if we’re keeping score, the police are far more indebted to Benson Security than we are to them. After all, you were the ones working in league with the James Gang.” She rubbed her back again, and her lawyer sat forward.
“It’s clear that Ms. Ford-Talbot’s pain is increasing. I suggest we postpone the rest of this interview so we can get her to the hospital—with her husband,” she added pointedly. “Also, from what you’ve given us today, I suggest you take the time to get your facts in order before questioning her again. Your so-called evidence is flimsy at best.”
“We still have several questions,” DI Singh said. “Especially concerning illegal hacking and dangerous driving.”
“I don’t hack, and my driving has never caused me any problems,” Rachel said.
Her lawyer shot her a pointed look, signaling that it was time for her to stop talking. “I’m sure Benson Security’s computer specialist is better placed to answer any hacking-related questions you may have. And as Ms. Ford-Talbot is up to date with paying any speeding tickets, I’m not sure what else there is to discuss here. Are we free to go?”
Rachel almost felt sorry for the detective; then she remembered that the woman hadn’t stood up to her delusional boss and, therefore, didn’t deserve her sympathy. If someone had taken action to stop Fitzwater’s vindictive pursuit, Rachel wouldn’t be sitting in a room that had housed thousands of unwashed criminals before her.
Which reminded her. “Please tell me this room is cleaned thoroughly every day. I will sue if the baby contracts a bacterial infection from my having been in there. You do employ cleaners, don’t you?”
“May we go?” Ms. Patel asked drolly. “Unless you’re ready to charge my client?”
DI Singh leaned into the microphone. “Interview suspended at 11.30 a.m. You can go, but please don’t leave the city. We will need to question you further.”
As soon as the cameras and sound recording stopped, she signaled to her DC to leave the room. Once he was out of hearing, she leaned in to speak to Rachel’s lawyer. “Does your uncle still work for the Met?”
Ms. Patel nodded.
“You might want to give him a call,” the DI said.
