Ta muchly for the kind reviews to the last chapter. It's cheering to know that people found this one again and are still reading and enjoying. Without further ado …

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Chapter 12

Two weeks later

A preoccupied Lorraine gazed unseeing out of the living-room window, and Jason could tell by the set of her shoulders that she was stressing about the imminent arrival of David and the news he had to impart. He slipped his arms around her, kissing the top of her head, and she leaned into him with a sigh. His low growl sent a frisson of pleasure skittering down her spine.

"Relax, love. Whatever the outcome, I'll accept it. I promised you I won't go searching for revenge and I meant it. I'm looking to the future from now on. Our future."

She blew out a long breath, turning slowly in his embrace.

"You've no idea what a relief it is to hear that. But you must be hoping for some kind of a result, surely?"

He shrugged, his brows furrowed.

"Obviously I'd love to see O'Malley go down, but more for what he put those girls through to be honest, specially Jacks. She still blames herself for what happened to me, even though I've told her that's ridiculous. It's all down to that slimy low-life bastard."

He almost spat the words out, his intense blue-eyed gaze holding hers.

"I offered her a job when I get the club up and running. Hope that's OK with you."

Lorraine reached up to cup his cheek.

"If it wasn't for her evidence the police would have virtually nothing to go on. A decent job is the least you can do in return."

He leaned down to peck her on the lips.

"I'm glad you feel that way because I've been thinking about offering jobs to some of the other girls too, give them a chance to turn their lives around …"

"Oh, really? And what are you planning on calling the place, 'Turning Tricks'?"

Lorraine gave him an arch look, but there was a twinkle in her eye. Jason pretended to give it some serious thought.

"Actually, that has a certain ring to it."

She pouted, gazing up at him from under her lashes as she ran a finger slowly down his chest.

"Anyway, I'm not sure I like this plan. Every single one of those girls fancies you something rotten. First chance they get they'll be on their knees. Or their backs …"

She felt the rumble of his chuckle through his chest.

"Then I'll just have to tell 'em that both of those 'positions' are already catered for. And several others I've got planned once these ribs finally recover."

She moved in closer, her lower body flush against his.

"I like the sound of that. I'm getting tired of doing all the work nowadays."

He grinned wickedly

"Shame. I've just got used to lying back and thinking of England."

Rocking her hips wantonly against him, she let her hands slide down to squeeze his firm backside.

"Plus I'm really looking forwards to digging my fingernails into this while you give me a good old-fashioned seeing to."

He groaned, dropping his head to her shoulder for a moment before shifting out of her embrace.

"Now look what you've done. They'll be here any second and I'm battling a raging bloody hard-on."

The front door slammed and she sniggered at his pained expression.

"Put the kettle on. It'll give you an excuse to lurk in the kitchen for a while …"

xxxxx

Jason was seated in his usual place on the sofa, Lorraine perched next to him nervously clutching his good hand in both of hers. DCI Walsh looked from one expectant face to the other and opened his mouth to speak, but Jason got in first.

"David, whatever you've got to tell us, we appreciate that you've done your level best. If that slippery bastard O'Malley's wriggled out of it, neither of us will hold it against you. I just wanted you to know that."

The other man nodded slowly.

"Thanks, that's good to hear." He looked down at his feet for a moment before continuing. "In the end I'm afraid I couldn't make anything stick regarding the assault, so I had little option but to pass it over to Vice."

There was an audible sigh from Lorraine, but he ploughed on regardless.

"But only with the strict proviso that they kept me very much in the loop. To be honest, they had little choice in the matter. Jacks insisted that I act as liaison, being understandably nervous given her recent employment history."

"I bet she did …"

Faye narrowed her eyes, huffing and crossing her arms defensively when he gave her a warning glance.

"Anyway, Jacks managed to get in touch with a couple of the girls on the inside and to cut a long story short, Vice set up a sting. It went down last night, so I thought it only fair to fill you in."

All three of them leant forwards in their seats, eager to hear more.

"Spill, DCI Walsh. We're all ears."

Faye again, but this time she flashed him an encouraging smile. David took a sip of coffee before continuing.

"So. Two coppers went in undercover posing as punters. Not only was O'Malley arrested for living off immoral earnings, but the two heavies we suspect carried out the assault on Jason were found ... well, lets just say 'in flagrante', shall we? And Jacks' two friends took the photos to prove it."

Lorraine's eyes widened and her hand went to her mouth.

"Have you seen the evidence?"

David suppressed a smile.

"I might have."

"Details, and I'll make it worth your while later."

Faye batted her eyelashes at him and his lips twitched with amusement.

"OK. But you didn't hear this from me."

"Hear what, DCI Walsh?"

Jason flashed him a grin.

"Well, heavy number one was cuffed to a bed. Wearing stockings, suspenders and a rather fetching basque. And heavy number two was enjoying a good spanking from a woman clad in full dominatrix gear. Rumour has it there may also have been a butt plug involved."

Lorraine's eyes widened and Faye snorted.

"Oh my god!"

Jason just shrugged in the manner of a man who'd seen it all before.

"As happy as that makes me I'm not sure its grounds for arrest, unfortunately."

"Doubtful, I admit. However, we have confiscated all of O'Malley's books and several of the girls are prepared to testify, so hopefully we'll have enough evidence to prove they were in his employ … "

David looked between the three of them.

"And that's not quite the end of the story. It seems O'Malley wasn't keen on going quietly. By all accounts he worked himself up into quite a lather and collapsed while they were taking him into custody. Massive heart attack, apparently. As of this morning he's in intensive care fighting for his life."

Faye was the first to respond.

"Wow. I'm not usually a believer in divine intervention, but I might just make an exception in this case."
Jason huffed out a long breath and Lorraine squeezed his hand, putting into words what they were all thinking.

"Serves the lousy effing bastard right …"

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Hope you enjoyed – if so, do let me know. That's pretty much the end, but if you want to know how life worked out for our two couples, I can promise you an epilogue very soon.