Hard Case by Elizabeth Lapthorne Page A

distant, so he knew they’d likely have to settle for a quick wash in the basin. But it was certainly an idea for later. He put it aside and focused on setting the bed to rights again before Steve passed out on him.
    Plenty of time for more when they’d both had a bit of a rest.
     
    * * * *
     
    Troy watched Fin refill the teapot. He gave it a good stir then let it sit on a coaster to steep a bit more. Fin’s kitchen nook smelled of toast, butter and condiments. Fin’s bachelor flat was by no means tiny, but it was a space meant to occupy one or two people.
    With four of them seated around the small table, the usually cozy area was a bit cramped. No one seemed to mind, though.
    “Are we even certain this man James is behind everything?” Steven took another slice of toast.
    “Well I’d guess he could be acting on behalf of another corporation,” Emily placed her teacup back in its saucer. “But there’s little point in questioning or arresting James until we know more of what’s going on. Right now we have no leverage and there’s not a great chance we could make James spill any details. Taking James out of the picture won’t change much at all. I’d assume someone like him would be easily replaceable.”
    “How deep into this conspiracy theory are we going to go?” Fin asked with a cheeky grin. “For my part, I’d like to go all the way. I say James’ ultimate goal is to assassinate the PM.”
    “What?” Emily whipped her head around to stare at him.
    Troy smirked and buried his gaze into his cup. Fin might outwardly appear like an idle playboy, interested only in his next score and the latest fashions, but he had a wicked sense of humor sometimes. He enjoyed using his sharp intelligence to keep people off balance. Troy was interested in the ‘overblown’ theory he’d come up with. It might be closer to the truth than anyone realized.
    “Well why go to all this trouble for small potatoes?” Fin hypothesized. “Clearly this secret organization has been working underground, behind the scenes and gathering power. They’ve got highly placed people in their pocket, money to throw around and more ambition than’s healthy. I’m not saying offing the PM is their immediate goal, but groups like this always end up with that in their sights. Normally it starts with the murder of a high level politician, probably some stuffy old prig who put a bee up the butt of some nitwit in the House of Lords. From there you move onto assassinating Marshall, and it’s only a few short steps to the PM from there. It’s not that outlandish.”
    “No, it’s not,” Troy agreed. “Jumping the gun a little, but certainly not out of the realms of possibility. But let’s start with reality. Why do these people want Marshall dead? What does that gain them?”
    “Who would replace Marshall?” Emily asked. “Could it be they’ve got someone they want to replace him, all lined up ready to succeed him and usurp his position?”
    “Now that’s not a bad idea,” Troy chewed over the thought.
    “Since we’re discussing way out there theories,” Fin said. “There’s been one percolating in my mind through the night. It’s crazy, but we’re already in the land of certifiable paranoid delusions. What the hell, right? Now, if my actual goal was to get a hold over Marshall, ordering a hit on him, then turning around and killing the assassin—thereby saving Marshall’s life—I’d have Marshall in my pocket, now, owing me a favor.”
    “Keyton struck me as a genuinely good person. He’d feel honor bound to repay James,” Emily agreed.
    “If we’re all going to jump on the bandwagon, then I’ll add another theory. Maybe this isn’t to do with Marshall owing James, but a double blind. Once James has successfully saved Marshall, he could hire another assassin, still have Marshall killed and be completely above reproach,” Steven spoke in his deep, calm manner. “No one would think to question him or look at him