"You are gonna be there, ain't ya?"
Katy sighed, running a hand over her eyes. "I said so, didn't I, Tiff?"
"Yeah, but you've been a bit… you know… not around…"
Lowering her mobile from her ear for a moment, Katy exhaled sharply. It wasn't that she didn't want to join the others in the pub for the moment when, hopefully, Whitney would arrive after being given bail. Katy was just worried that this hearing would have the same outcome as the last. She felt so useless not being able to do anything to help her best friend and wasn't sure she'd handle another disappointment well.
"I promised I'd be there, so I'll be there." She told her cousin firmly.
"Alright, well… just make sure you are, yeah? Whit'll be devastated if you ain't."
"Yeah, OK."
Time ticked slowly until Katy finally gave up and headed over to the Vic. Everyone else already seemed to be there when she walked in, so she moved to stand with Tiffany and Sonia, both of whom looked incredibly sombre.
"If they've gone against Whit again… I don't know if she can keep fighting." Tiffany murmured, looking between Katy and Sonia nervously.
"Well we just need to trust in the system." Sonia told her.
Katy snorted. "Sure."
The older woman was stopped from answering by the sound of the pub doors opening. Everyone's eyes immediately flicked towards them, disappointment sparking in everyone as Gray entered the Vic on his own. Katy's grip on her glass tightened and she fought to keep her expression under control.
There was a long pause before Gray spoke. "They gave Whitney bail on the grounds of new evidence."
A cheer erupted from everyone gathered around as Whitney herself walked into the pub. Tiffany was the first to reach her, throwing herself into her sister's arms and hugging her tightly. Katy wasn't far behind, feeling herself being pulled into the embrace as she pressed a kiss to the side of the brunette's head.
"I missed you so much, Whit." She admitted, closing her eyes and resting her forehead against the side of her friend's head. "Thank god they saw sense and let you out."
She didn't reply, but she tightened her grip on her friend, closing her eyes.
As things settled a little, Stuart mentioning something to Callum about Ben distracted Katy. She continued to watch as Ruby joined the conversation, before deciding that something didn't feel right. Debating whether to get involved for a couple of moments, her Mitchell side kicked in and she couldn't help herself.
"Ben's paid to use your office?" Katy asked, moving to stand beside Ruby and frowning at her curiously. "Why?"
"Like I said, I didn't ask too many questions." She replied with a shrug. "Should I have?"
The blonde snorted. "No, you're probably better off not knowing."
"You think it's dodgy?" Callum asked innocently.
"I dunno… maybe he just wanted a bit of space. Can't be easy being him at the moment."
"What's this? Sympathy for Ben from Katy Mitchell?"
Arching an eyebrow at her cousin's boyfriend she shrugged. "I ain't completely heartless."
Callum smiled and nudged her gently in the side. "I was kidding. I know you ain't. Look… what d'you know about Danny Hardcastle?"
Katy fixed him with a serious look. "Why?"
"Lola said he wouldn't be stupid enough to meet him without Phil, but–"
"You think he would?" When he didn't answer, Katy downed the rest of her drink and banged the glass on the bar. "I'll go and check on him." When Callum made to follow, she shook her head. "I really wouldn't, if I were you."
Hurrying towards Ruby's, Katy headed down the steps and into the bar. She completely ignored the well-built man who looked her up and down before she pushed through the double doors. Ben and Danny Hardcastle were seated at the bar, her cousin's associate immediately going silent as she walked in.
"Don't get up on my account, boys." Katy told them, shooting Ben a hard look. "Just got some things to be getting on with." Seeing the expression on Danny's face, she smirked. "Don't worry, I'm a Mitchell… I know how this works."
Recognition bloomed over the older man's countenance and he pointed at her. "Katy, right?"
"That's me." She agreed, moving behind the bar. "Has my cousin here even offered you a drink? On the house, of course."
"He hasn't actually." Danny told her, swivelling on his stool to follow her progress along the optics rack. "I'll have a vodka, if you're offering. Straight."
"Good choice; man after my own heart."
"I heard you'd opened a bar. This your place?"
"Nah, mine's the one up the road. R&R."
"I'll have to check it out sometime."
"You do that." Katy replied with a smirk.
"What do you want?" Ben demanded, scowling at her.
"Like I said, I've got things to do." She shot back, handing the older man his drink. "I'm not here to interfere with your meeting, Ben. You know I have no idea about cars. Just forget I'm here… I won't overhear anything, don't worry."
"Thanks, Katy." Danny raised his glass and nodded at her. "Good to see you again."
"Yeah, you too." She lied, making her way into the office.
She paused out of sight, eavesdropping on the conversation, despite what she'd said. Just as the tone was turning more heated, Ben clearly out of his depth and not having any idea what his associate was saying to him, Katy decided enough was enough.
'You need to say something. He's gonna start thinking there's a problem in a minute. It sounds like a solid idea, but tell him you need to know more. Ask for specifics.' Katy sent the message, shaking her head at the silence that had followed Danny's words. She watched the screen, relieved when the ticks beside her message turned blue.
Then another voice joined the conversation and Katy's heart sank to the pit of her stomach.
"I'm Mr Mitchell's assistant." Callum was saying. "I'm sorry I'm late. I've got the, uhh, figures that you asked for. I can tell you what you need to make this work."
"Right, well… finally!" Ben exclaimed. "Shall we."
Gathering some random files from the office, Katy headed back into the main room. She completely ignored Ben's furious scowl, but returned Danny's smile as she settled herself in a booth just close enough to be able to hear what they were saying, but out of sight enough that they would forget she was there.
She listened as Danny outlined what he was hoping to achieve and what Ben's part in it would be. As far as Katy could tell, Ben would be taking all of the risk and getting a comparatively small share of the profit for his trouble. Hoping that Callum had enough sense to realise that as well, she tapped at the conversation thread with Ben on her phone hastily telling him everything that he needed to know.
"And that is the proposition." Danny ended his pitch, with the air of someone who was confident on sealing a deal. "Simple enough. We split the profits. I don't think it takes any additional investment from us. All cars come from outside the area, mint condition. They pass through your car lot. You give the nod to your contact. We split the profits." There was a pause. "It's a yes or no, Mitchell."
'You need to press for a bigger share of the profit – all the risk on your side. Say something before he questions why you ain't done already.'
"I think Mr Mitchell is thinking whether the price split is fair, considering he'll be the one taking the risk and using his premises." Callum replied before Ben could.
"Does Mr Mitchell ever get to speak for himself these days?" Danny asked, proving Katy's assumption correct.
"Our car lot, our risk." Ben pointed out.
"Fifty-five, forty-five. I'll go no lower."
'55/45. Still not worth it.'
"And before you say yes to my very generous offer, perhaps you'd like to tell me exactly what the Old Bill is doing in here?"
Katy swore under her breath as the tension rocketed in the room. She kept her head down, trying to think of a way around the very big problem that had just developed.
"You seriously underestimate me."
Ben stood up hastily. "This isn't what you think!"
"He saw him at the station!" Danny shouted, jabbing his finger between his heavy and Callum.
"I was trying to get on the training course, but I'm not here as police!" Callum tried to defend himself desperately.
"Outside."
"No! No, no, no!" Callum protested as he was grabbed and dragged roughly towards the door. "I'm not police! Ben! Just tell them!"
"I'm deaf!" Ben exploded suddenly. "I… I'm deaf. It's temporary, alright? It's from the boat crash. He's here to help me understand what you want me to do."
"Like a translator." Callum added quickly. "Look, he can't hear. He needs help."
"You, mini Mitchell, have been wasting my time." Danny told him darkly.
"This don't change nothing."
"I wouldn't let you drive my car, let alone fence high-end."
"I can drive." Ben argued desperately.
"You've been playing me and I don't climb into bed with anyone I don't trust, Benjamin." He shook his head. "Bizzies get one whiff of this and we will be on your doorstep. In your nightmares."