Terror's Reach by Tom Bale

anyway: locked.
He peered through the glass at the dimly lit interior. Spotting movement
inside, he knocked. A moment later a face swam into view. They
heard a key in the lock.
The door opened and Merrion Junior greeted them. He was a
plump, glossy man in his forties, more car dealer than a jeweller:
sharp suit, hair perfectly waxed and parted, and the neatest fingernails
Joe had ever seen on a man.
He ushered them inside and locked the door behind them.
Embarrassed, Cassie apologised for their lateness.
'Oh, we’re always here for a while after locking up. It’s really not
an issue, Mrs Nasenko.’
Anything for a client as wealthy as Valentin. Joe watched the jeweller
scurry behind the counter, unlock a drawer and produce a small velvet
case. Cassie was concentrating on Jaden, who was busy planting sticky
finger marks on the glass-fronted cabinets.
“I’ll keep an eye on him,’ Joe said. He beckoned Jaden towards a
display of watches. 'Let’s see if you can tell the time.’
With obvious reluctance, Cassie approached the counter. Merrion
Junior had opened the case and removed something from inside. He
held it out to Cassie, who made no move to accept it.
'Nice,’ she said, her voice flat.
The jeweller coughed politely. 'Made to Mr Nasenko’s exact specification,
it’s a platinum eternity ring with sapphires, diamonds and
the most exquisite centrepiece. A Paraiba tourmaline.’ Breathless with
excitement, he gushed, 'Isn’t it fabulous?’
Cassie said nothing. Joe glanced round and saw the jeweller struggling
to hide his dismay.
'I believe Mr Nasenko intended it to be a surprise. I imagine you’re
somewhat. . . overwhelmed.’
Cassie nodded, finally taking the ring from him.
'How much did it cost?’
'I, uh, I don’t think it would be appropriate to divulge . . .’ He
exchanged a panicked look with Joe. 'Our instructions were — '
'I know. You can’t tell me.’ She sounded so forlorn, it was as though
she’d suffered a bereavement rather than received a present that, in
Joe’s inexpert judgement, had to have cost around ten thousand pounds.
By now Merrion Junior also appeared to be on the verge of tears.
'Would you like to wear it?’ he said.
Cassie shook her head. 'No. Leave it in the box, please.’
    When they were outside Cassie acknowledged Joe’s anxious look.
'I’m a spoilt little bitch, right?’
'I don’t think that,’ he said. 'But Merrion Junior certainly will.’
A beat of silence, then laughter.
Cassie said, 'Do you think he’d have waited there all night for us?’
'Possibly. Valentin’s an important customer.’
'He must be, the way they suck up to him.’ She grew thoughtful.
'I wonder what else he’s been buying lately.’
'He can afford it, can’t he?’
'That’s not what I’m worried about. Not this time.’ She indicated
that she didn’t want Jaden to hear, so Joe took his hand as they walked
through the Lanes, while Cassie pushed Sofia in the buggy. They
looked for all the world like a perfect family unit, Joe thought.
'It seems like a lovely gift, but it’s not,’ said Cassie. 'For a start, a
gift is something you give to someone. In person. You don’t just send
them along to collect it.’
'True. I guess Valentin isn’t the romantic type.’
And think about it. An eternity ring. What does “eternity” mean?’
Catching Joe’s frown, she said, 'It’s all right, I’m not that thick. It
means for ever. That’s the message Valentin wants me to get. He’s
going to own me for ever.’
She picked up her pace, moving a couple of steps ahead of him.
Joe might have caught up, asked why Valentin would need to send
such a message, but the answer was already there if he cared to look
for it.
When he’d taken the job with the Nasenkos he’d never imagined
the extent to which he would become bound up in their problems.
He’d reached the point now where he took active steps to avoid knowing
more than was necessary. It went against his nature, because he’d
spent years in a