Free Betrayed (Powell Book 4) by Bill Ward Page A

you called me,” she said, perking up. “I’d been really missing you.”
    “We should do this more often. I promise I’ll call you at least once a week.” 
    “That would be nice.”
    “So tell me about this private investigator. I’ve never met one in real life. What’s he like?”
    “I’ve only met Powell once but he seems very nice. Angela Bennett worships him.”
    Hattie was momentarily lost for words. “Powell is the man you hired?”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER TWELVE
     
     
     
    Powell was pleased to accept Hattie’s suggestion to accompany her shopping. The more time he spent with her, the better for his investigations. He also felt a duty to protect her and if the two drug addicts turned up again, she could be in danger.
    He was beginning to discover a darker side to life at the house. Carol had pointed the finger at Hattie, accusing her of being part of Scott’s inner circle, which by default implicated her in the drug dealing. Of course, there was the possibility Carol was acting out of jealousy, blaming Hattie for taking her place in Scott’s bed.
    However, the evidence Hattie was involved with drug dealing was starting to stack up. Powell had seen first-hand, Hattie pass drugs to Lucy in the pub and she’d admitted providing drugs to the two addicts in the supermarket car park. Powell was fairly confident she wasn’t a big user herself but in the eyes of the police, dealing was a far bigger crime than smoking a little weed.
    Powell enjoyed the idea of getting away from the house, even if it was only a trip to the supermarket, which in itself seemed slightly absurd. How his life had changed in a very short time, if he found the idea of going food shopping exciting!
    At Tintagel, he felt cut off from the rest of the world. He hadn’t realised how much he would miss having his phone and computer, even for what was so far a relatively short time. Within the next couple of days, he was going to have to find a way to place a call to Hattie’s mother and give her an update. He imagined her sitting by the phone, desperate for news.
    The longer Powell spent at Tintagel, the more concerned he became for Hattie’s safety. There was an undercurrent of friction in the house between different members of the commune. On the surface, everyone smiled but underneath, there was the full range of human emotions on display, including plenty of anger and jealousy.
    Hattie probably thought she was in control of her life but Powell suspected, Scott could be quite manipulative. They seemed very close but whether they had anything approaching a serious relationship was impossible to tell. It could well be a relationship based on physical desire and convenience. It certainly wasn’t an exclusive relationship. Hattie had made it very clear she would sleep with Powell if he was interested.
    It appeared Scott had involved Hattie with his drug business, in the same way he used Carol. Powell believed Scott was behind Hattie selling drugs in the pub and to the addicts at the supermarket. It was an indicator of the influence Scott exerted. What Powell didn’t yet know, was how deeply Hattie was involved in Scott’s business.
    Powell believed drugs and violence were never far apart, which had been proved on their previous trip to the supermarket. If he hadn’t been present, Hattie could have been stabbed. Powell felt he had good reason to be worried for her safety.
    Tommy was a particularly loose cannon, who spelled potential danger to anyone who crossed his path. Powell had made an enemy for life and would have to be on his guard. If Hattie was Scott’s favourite, then Tommy would hopefully have the sense to steer clear of her, rather than risk upsetting his employer.
    Tintagel was definitely not a place Powell would have wanted Bella to live and he would have dragged her away kicking and screaming if necessary. Fortunately, his daughter had not been the type of girl to want to join a