The Lipstick Killers

prepared to cut our losses.’
    This time Margaret hit him with the barrel of the Colt. ‘Our sister, remember? Our dead sister.’
    Saint Cyr was almost in tears by then. The urbane, cocky man of the world was gone, leaving a scared child in his place. ‘So what do you want?’
    ‘You, Haywood, and whoever else was involved.’
    ‘Are you going to call the police? I mean, you’ll be in trouble yourselves after what you’ve done to me. Kidnap, assault, false imprisonment.’
    ‘You’ve been watching The Bill again Peter’, said Margaret. ‘Trouble is, I’m already up to my neck in trouble.’
    ‘Me too,’ said Roxie. ‘Besides, I haven’t had so much fun in years. You can’t imagine how boring it is doing another Paris Hilton cut and colour.’
    ‘Christ,’ Saint Cyr said again, but under his breath this time.
    ‘So we’re all going to have a quiet night in,’ said Margaret. ‘And tomorrow we’re going into work with you and we’re all going to sort this out – one way or another.’

74
     
     
     
    Margaret and Roxie kept Saint Cyr cuffed on the couch all night, just allowing him one toilet break and he complained bitterly at Roxie staying with him in the bathroom. ‘You wanted to show it to me last night badly enough,’ she said. ‘Just do what you have to do, and shut up.’
    The next morning Margaret drove the Lexus up to Kensington with Saint Cyr on the front passenger side with his hands free, Roxie behind him, with the big Colt .45 jammed into the back of his seat. ‘I’ll blow your spine through the windscreen if you get any ideas,’ she said when they got moving. ‘I promise you I will.’
    ‘I believe you,’ he said. ‘But you don’t have access passes to get inside.’
    ‘Busk it,’ said Margaret. ‘You’re the big security boss. Surely you give out the passes?’
    ‘I’ll do my best, I run a tight ship here,’ he started, but stopped quickly when Mags glared at him.
    ‘You’d better,’ said Roxie. ‘Or you’re going to make one hell of a mess on your nice leather upholstery.’
    They got to the building about nine-thirty and Margaret swapped places with Saint Cyr in the street opposite, and he drove into the entrance to the underground car park. Roxie was now sitting behind the driver’s seat, gun in position.
    ‘Make it convincing,’ Margaret hissed at Saint Cyr as he lowered the driver’s side window. ‘And don’t get smart, or you’re dead.’
    ‘Visitors for Mr Haywood, Charlie,’ Saint Cyr said to the uniformed attendant in the glass-fronted booth.
    The man picked up a clipboard and examined it. ‘Nothing here,’ he said in a bored tone.
    ‘That can’t be right,’ said Saint Cyr, a light sweat breaking out on his brow. ‘Didn’t Gina, his PA call down?’
    The man shook his head. ‘I’d better call up,’ he said.
    Margaret looked at Saint Cyr and bared her teeth, and Roxie dug the gun deeper into the upholstery, keeping it well out of the security man’s sight.
    A car drew up behind them. ‘Come on Charlie,’ said Saint Cyr. ‘You’re holding up the traffic. Soon as I get inside I’ll get authorisation.’
    ‘If you say so Mr Sincere,’ said Charlie. ‘But remember it’s me who gets all the aggravation if people don’t have the right clearance and I let them in.’
    ‘I know. Just a glitch mate. Five minutes and I’ll have it sorted.’
    The car behind sounded its horn and Charlie looked over at it, a scowl on his face.
    ‘ Charlie ,’ said Saint Cyr. Then to Margaret. ‘I told you we have strict rules about who comes and goes.’
    ‘No problem. We’re early anyway.’ Then she smiled at Charlie through the open window. ‘It is an important meeting. Short notice. You know how these things are.’
    Charlie probably didn’t, but his face softened and then hardened again as the car behind sounded its horn again. ‘OK,’ he said. ‘But I want authorisation soon as.’
    ‘No problem,’ said Saint Cyr, as Charlie hit a button and the barrier rose.
    ‘Thanks,’ said Margaret and Saint Cyr in unison, and he let the car drift down the ramp towards the parking area.

75
     
     
     
    ‘You did well there Peter,’ said Margaret. ‘Don’t worry, this will be all over soon.’
    ‘You’re crazy. There’s people with guns up there.’
    ‘Yep, and there’s people with guns down here,’ smiled Roxie.
    ‘The odds are against you.’
    ‘Your sister isn’t dead. Revenge is a hell of an incentive to