As the black sedan slid to a graceful stop in front of the house, Simon Devlin looked out the disappointment clearly visible on his thin face.
Devlin; one time accountant to the rich and powerful was now reduced to this small, ordinary looking residence. He was not a pleasant man. Small and wiry with a pinched face and large spectacles that made his eyes look twice as large as they actually were. But this was a misconception. Actually, Devlin’s eyes were rarely still; darting and searching like a fox. The fox-like trait didn’t stop there. His entire personality was sly and cunning. There was no doubt that there was one person that Simon Devlin looked out for – Simon Devlin.
He knew though that this latest predicament was purely of his own doing; in his search for further wealth he had helped himself to the funds of some particularly unsavoury clients. Who would miss a few hundred thousand off the top, he had asked himself? Of course his clients had missed the money and they were not best pleased. Devlin had quickly found himself with a price on his head and there seemed only one way out.
“Doesn’t look too bad.” Devlin lied turning to his wife and smiling weakly.
Not for the first time, Maria Devlin turned away from her husband and looked out of the opposite window ignoring him resolutely. She had no wish to converse with anyone at this time, let alone her worthless husband.
The other person in the vehicle was the driver, detective Bill Anderson.
“Well, this is it.” He said opening the drivers’ door and alighting cautiously. “We’d better get you inside quickly.”
Anderson opened the rear door and ushered the couple smoothly into the house. His eyes flitted from rooftop to alleyway; taking in the surrounding danger areas in his usual professional manner. He was relieved to see the second sedan pull up behind his car – his back up – the cavalry have arrived, he thought with a half smile!
Once inside the small suburban house, Anderson lost no time in explaining the ground rules. He looked at Devlin disdainfully. He had seen his type many times before; greedy and arrogant and had taken an instant dislike to the man. But his job was to protect him and not necessarily to like him. Long ago he had sworn an oath to uphold the law and Simon Devlin was blowing the whistle on some very nasty law-breakers.
“This will be your home until after the trial.” Anderson explained. “We all know that our case against the Minelli brothers hinges entirely on the evidence that you’re going to give. We also know that the brothers in question are likely to stop at nothing to see that you don’t give that evidence. That’s why these guys here will be staying very close to you for the next few weeks.”
As the three burly black detectives stood forward, Anderson could not help see the smile that appeared on Maria Devlin’s face or the grimace that materialized on her husbands’. It was a well-known joke back at the station that Mrs. Devlin had an obvious attraction to the three detectives. She was a good-looking woman – considerably younger than her husband - and Anderson was well aware that the attraction was mutual.
“Wonderful!” Devlin said, the sarcasm dripping off his tongue. “That’s all I need! A bunch of sex-starved cops sniffing round my wife!”
“It’s for your own protection.” Anderson answered tersely. “Don’t you want to be safe?”
“I’m bloody sure that Maria won’t be safe with them around!”
Devlin span around as he heard his wife mumble something incoherently.
“What was that?”
“Oh, nothing.” Maria said with a sigh. “Lets just have some coffee shall we?”
Devlin fumed as he made the coffee and watched his wife flirting outrageously with the three black detectives. Anderson had made his excuses and returned to the station and Devlin was thankful for that at least. Anderson might have been an old man but the way that Maria was acting recently he felt that she would have preferred anyone to himself.
As Devlin carried the drinks through he was met with a resounding blast of raucous laughter – with Maria at the centre.
“What’s so fucking funny?”
“Oh nothing. Danny just told a good joke about an accountant.” Maria replied. She was smiling broadly at detective Danny McCoy.
“Danny now is it?” Devlin spat. “Well, I’m glad that you can all find something to laugh about. It may have escaped your attention, but we are in fear of our lives here. The Minelli’s could come through that door at any moment!”
“And whose fault is that?” Maria’s voice was shrill and piercing, her anger rising. “You’re the stupid fuck who decided to start all this. Just because you couldn’t keep your sticky fingers to yourself!”
Devlin recoiled from his wife’s vicious verbal assault. He knew that he should say something witty or cutting at this point but, as usual, words failed him.
“I’m going for a fucking walk!” was all he could think of saying.
“That’s not a good idea Mr. Devlin.” Detective Jim Kane said quickly.
“Oh, let him go if he wants!” Maria interrupted. “I’m sure the four of us can find something to do here without my husband.”