Chapter Text
Charles lay on an abandoned warehouse floor. He felt the warm, wet blood pooling around his cheek. Fighting to stay conscious, he focused on the men's footsteps that grew fainter each moment. Believing they were gone, Charles with great effort stood to his feet. Leaning on the wall with his shoulder slowly making his way toward sunlight streaming in the entryway to this hell. He had to take care not to let the hand that had been crushed under Walter Sykes wheelchair touch anything as the pain shot up his arm. This warning was to send a message. Pay back the money or die. He had no choice. He would say goodbye and try and disappear.
"Charles you could have warned me," Helena opened the door to the gruesome sight that was her brother barely able to stand on the stoop, Charles leaning against the door frame for support. A large gash across his forehead, one of his eyes swollen shut. A handkerchief held to his nose trying to capture a rushing stream of blood. Helena threw an arm around his waist trying to steady and also lead her brother to the kitchen. "What happened, Charles, you need a doctor."
" Helena I don't need a doctor, I really don't think you even want to know what happened, please just let me stay here tonight," Charles said.
A stunning young girl that mirrored her mother's looks bounded into the room as only a six-year-old can. "Uncle Charles, Uncle Charl--," As she rounded the door, Christina's eyes grew wide as she saw the state of her Uncle.
"Darling Uncle Charles is not feeling well, would you please go back upstairs and play you can see him in the morning, I will be up and tuck you in."
"Is he going to be alright Mummy," Christina said.
"I got kicked by a horse, don't worry about me I am all aces my Cricket," Charles said.
"A horse, what kind of horse, was it really a horse Uncle Charles," Christina looked from her Uncle to her Mother processing the thought.
"Christina, it is time for you to go to bed, let your Uncle Charles rest he will tell you all about it in the morning," Helena said.
Christina walked up the stairs, Helena reached in the cabinet for the first aid kit and sat it down on the table in front of Charles. She took a cloth and ran it under the cold water and began cleaning the gash over his forehead,
"Kicked by a horse; that is the same lie father always told us when he came home beat up by bookies. I never believed it when I was her age, and I doubt she will either. I prayed when he died I would never hear those words again, how bad are you in for," Helena asked.
Helena's hands worked with a calculated precision as she tended her brother's wounds, she did not pull back when he winced in pain, "This serves you right, you of all people I expected more of you."
Helena handed him a small mirror, "I don't think they broke your nose."
"Thank you, Helena, I am not sure what I would do without you, You and Christina would be better off, " Charles looked at the floor, "I don't want you to worry about any of this, I --wanted to tell you and Christina goodbye before I left."
"Don't talk like that," Helena said.
"It is bad this time I don't want you to worry; this is my own doing, I have to leave tomorrow morning," Charles said.
"You're going to run." Helena shot him a cold look.
"Yes, there is no way for me to pay it back and these people will kill me."
"How much could you owe," Helena asked.
" Seven hundred fifty thousand pounds,"
"Seriously Charles, seven hundred fifty thousand pounds, Helena ran her hand through her long dark hair and let out a long sigh, seven hundred fifty, how did you get in that far."
" My art talent caught the eye of one of the bosses who was willing to lay out large advances,"
"Oh Charles not that old con,''
"Let's just say they broke this hand for a reason." Charles tilted his head and looked down at his broken hand.
"Charles, we had to do a lot to survive growing up, but I thought you gave it up for good," Helena started packing up the first aid kit,
"The gambling I never understood, You hated father for that, and yet your doing the same," Helena said.
" I hated father so much for everything he put us through," Charles said.
Helena looked at her brother she leaned in and hugged him; "You're not just like father you always protected and looked after me," a reminiscent kindness came to her eyes as she regarded Charles.
Charles looked up at his sister, "I couldn't let anything happen to you, we were all each other had."
"Helena smiled, "You also have Christina, who adores her Uncle. Charles, please let me take you to the doctor your hand will never heal. We are going to find a way to get you out of this.
"I will go if it will make you feel better," Charles said.
"I am going up to take care of Christina; I will call my neighbor to sit with her, and I am taking you to the doctor."
Helena came down the stairs from tucking Christina in and heard a knock on the front door. She was startled when she opened the door, and it was not Sarah, her neighbor it was a very authoritative-looking woman and an aristocratic bald man with a dark brow standing in front of her.
"Hello, Ms. Wells," the woman said looking over her dark rimmed glasses.
"Yes," Helena said.
"My name is Irene Frederic, and this is Mr. Adwin Kosan of International Gaming Corporation, I assume your brother is here.
"I think you have the wrong house," Helena said as she backed up and started shutting the door, Adwin Kosan put his foot forward stopping her from closing it.
"Ms. Wells I assure you we have the right house, do not be alarmed we are not here to harm your brother or you, in fact, we want to offer you a way to help your brother by helping us," Adwin Kosan said.
Irene pulled out her badge and Helena stepped back and opened the door.
"Since I have no choice, won't you come in," Helena gestured with an outstretched arm toward the living area with its couch and two chairs, "I would offer you tea, but I hardly think this is a social call, Are you going to arrest Charles."
"That all depends on you Ms. Wells, I am in a position to assist your brother with the debt he owes which would in effect save his life the legal issues of his entanglement are up to Mrs. Fredrick."
"As Mr. Kosan said it depends on you Ms. Wells, We need your assistance with an old associate of yours. "
"How am I even involved in any of this," Helena asked.
"I believe you're familiar with my Vice President James MacPherson, You and your brother grew up in the same neighborhood with him, in fact if I am not mistaken he has always been fond of you, Ms. Wells.
"James MacPherson, I have not seen or spoken to him in years."
"Yes but your brother has been working for one of his close associates Walter Sykes and his gang, in fact, he has managed to put several of his people in position at one of our most lucrative Casino's, The Aztec Racetrack and Casino, and this is where we need your help.
"Since you know all the players why don't you just arrest them all," Helena said.
"Because we need to know the end game, they have an international ring they are running; Sykes started out with stolen art worth millions, now he is about to up the stakes, and we need to know in what direction they are expanding. We have to catch them with the goods. It has to be on an Aztec property. If not they all walk away with people like your brother taking the fall, Irene shifted in her chair and looked at Adwin Kosan.
"You wish to save your brother's life, that is possible, but if you help us you could be saving your daughter's life and many other peoples lives if our intel is correct. Kosan's eyes grew dark as he voiced those last words as if to emphasize that a great horror was about to unfold.
"What is it that you think I can do exactly," Helena asked
"We need you to get close to James MacPherson, so far he is our best shot at getting the leverage we need. We need you to infiltrate and gain as much information as you can on what is truly transpiring at Aztec Racetrack and Casino," Mrs. Fredrick pulled out a manilla folder and laid it on the coffee table.
"First, off I have not said I would do it, You forget my daughter. I also doubt James is going to let me walk in and have a look round to see what dreadful business he has gotten up to." Helena sat back and folded her hands retreating from the idea of it all.
"You have a history with James, he will not suspect you, he also is fond of you; women are always the best spies. Our plan is to have you contact MacPherson about the unfortunate situation with your brother. We believe James will shift funds to take care of the debt; Mr. Kosan has made sure that there is more than an adequate amount to cover it."
"As for you getting access, you will have a cover. After you have contacted James you will ask about a job; Your degree is in Marketing, and the Social Networking Director for International Gaming, who officed out of Aztec was dismissed. Since I have the final say on Director level hiring, I feel sure you will land the job, Ms. Wells". Mr. Kosan said.
"Helena, don't do this James MacPherson is one thing but Sykes is gang is another, he doesn't make a bet he does not win," Charles had been standing at the kitchen door to listen and just made his presence known.
"Ms. Wells you will not be alone, I have people on the inside that are on the Aztec staff. They will assist, or protect should you need it, You will have more access because James has a history with you. You will be safe and so will your brother and Christina," Irene said.
Irene shoved the manila folder toward Helena. "I need you to see these it may help you make the decision," Irene said. These are the photos of the last victims we recovered that owed money to Sykes, I don't want to bring a picture of your brother like this, Helena opened the envelope and tugged at the first picture till half of it was sticking out. The peek at the gruesome corpse in its twisted form was enough she did not need to see anymore, "Oh God," Helena dropped it to the table.
"Charles, I have to do this, what do I need to do next," Helena said.
"You will call James tonight, be frantic, and drop the part of being unemployed. With any luck, you should be working at Aztec by Derby weekend After that it is up to you Ms. Wells and your considerable charm.
Helena ran her hands through her hair and sighed.