Ethan Justice: Origins (Ethan Justice #1) by Simon Jenner Page A

metal-skinned door with the side of her fist, a look of grim determination and anger on her face.
    “Amy, open up.”
    “I’m busy,” came the muffled reply.
    Savannah’s lips narrowed and she pounded even harder this time. “If you don’t open the door, I’ll set the fucking place on fire.”
    John couldn’t believe the change in Savannah, from the girl who always looked like she was about to cry to ... this! The door battering continued until Savannah’s arm ran out of steam and she stopped to catch her breath.
    “Go away,” the voice said from inside.
    “Did you sell me out to Christos?” Savannah asked, leaning on the wall, still a little out of breath. John reckoned it was the emotion more than the exertion that was draining her. Her teeth clenched and she drove her fist against the solid surface as she slowly and deliberately spoke with every blow.
    “Did you ...” thump, “sell me ...” thump, “out to ...” thump, “Christos?” Double thump.
    “You don’t get it do you?” the voice, now most definitely nervous and defensive, came back. “I’m thirty-eight. There’s no thousand quid punters for me no more.”
    “What’s that got to do with anything?”
    “Christos pays me to recruit new talent. Why do you think I got you the bedsit? As long as I bring in new girls, he lets me stay here and throws me extra. Keeps me off me back.”
    Savannah took long and deep breaths. John could see she was barely holding it together. John considered the extent of Amy’s betrayal. This woman had lured Savannah into a world where your word meant nothing and human life was no more valuable than an animal’s and sometimes probably less.
    Savannah’s voice trembled as she spoke. “How much did he throw you for me?”
    John shook his head. There was no point to this conversation and they were taking a risk by just being there. Who was to say that this heartless whore hadn’t already texted Christos and tipped him off that she was here? Savannah looked away from John, avoiding his eyes and banged on the door with renewed vigour. John could see the knuckle of her little finger had begun to swell. He grabbed her hand and pulled her around to face him. “Let me try something,” he whispered.
    For a moment she looked like she might vent her anger on John for interrupting her business but the tension leaked from her body like air from a balloon and she nodded, defeated and exhausted.
    John put his mouth to the cold steel door and spoke in a deep Jamaican voice.
    “Amy, you don’t know me but Savannah works for me now. I’ll be paying your protector for her services but I need her passport. I’ll give you ten seconds before I set light to your walls. Be a good girl and shove the passport underneath the door. Ten, nine, eight...”
    A UK passport appeared beneath the door.
    “How...?” began Savannah.
    John put his forefinger to his lips and shook his head to hush her. “Sensible girl. Now the cash you received for recruiting Savannah. I reckon I’ll use it to pay your protector.”
    No reply. John pressed his ear to the door and swore he could hear beeps from the buttons of a mobile phone. He picked up the countdown again. “Three, two... He’s not close enough to save you from burning to death, honey... One.”
    Savannah stared at John in disbelief.
    “You could help me out here,” he mouthed almost silently.
    Her eyes lit up.
    “No, Calvin, don’t burn her! Christos made her do it I’m sure. Put the lighter fluid down, please.”
    No Oscars anytime soon but it might just work if Amy was already scared enough. There was a shuffling sound from behind the door and the sound of a phone being placed on a table.
    “All right!” Amy bellowed. “I’m getting it. Don’t burn me. It’s coming.”
    John kept his ear pressed to the door. No more beeps. A stream of crumpled notes began to arrive under the door, mainly tens and twenties. John motioned for Savannah to pick up the money and the passport.