Free Unfinished Business by Heather Atkinson

won’t hurt anyone.”
    Sarah looked to Brodie, wondering if she should mention The Carver. Divining what she was thinking he almost imperceptibly shook his head. Maggie and Lauren missed the gesture but Seth didn’t. His dark eyes slanted, flicking between the two of them, but he said nothing.
    “The truth is Maggie,” said Sarah, well aware of Seth’s eyes burning into her and trying to ignore him, “you have an ugly, violent past and I don’t like it.”
    “I’m sorry if us being beaten every day of our lives upsets your delicate sensibilities,” yelled Maggie with such sudden savagery that both Sarah and Lauren jumped. “Bryan tortured us as much as he could because he liked it, he enjoyed seeing his wife and children bleeding and crying and begging him to stop. We never knew happiness or normality. All we could do was wake up every morning and pray we’d get through the day without being hit. That’s the beast Mark destroyed.”
    “Theo,” said Sarah.
    “Mark,” yelled Maggie. The word rolled about the room like a giant metal marble, hitting them all with its force and some of the fight drained out of Sarah. “He is Mark Creegan because that is who he is - a good, gentle man. Theo died with his father. We were all reborn that day.”
    Sarah wasn’t swayed by this passionate speech. “I’m sorry for everything you went through but I’m more concerned with the here and now and my kids and I don’t want you lot anywhere near them.”
    “Sarah…”
    “No Maggie. I’ve spoken and that’s that,” she said with surprising firmness. “Please leave.”
    “You can’t keep my grandkids from me,” growled Maggie in what Brodie thought was a very butch way.
    “I can and I have. They’re not here anyway. I’ve sent them away with my mum and dad.”
    “Where?”
    “As if I’m going to tell you. Now get out before I call the police.” Sarah’s shoulders lifted before settling again, as though it was taking everything she had to stand up to her in-laws.
    “You can’t throw us out,” said Seth.
    “I can do what I like because this is my house, mine and Mark’s.”
    “I bet all the money’s a nice consolation,” countered Seth.
    “Get out.”
    “Brave now you’ve got your little friend,” he said, advancing on her like an angry storm cloud. “What’s the plan, kick Mark out and move the Jock in?”
    Brodie put himself before Seth again, blocking his view of Sarah. “Back off.”
    “There’s nothing going on between me and Brodie, we’ve only just met,” added Sarah.
    “Who is he anyway?” said Maggie, waving a hand in Brodie’s direction. “Where’s he come from?”
    “Glasgow,” replied Brodie with a sly smile.
    “I mean why are you here sticking your nose in our business?”
    “I was hired by a client to tell Mrs Creegan the truth about her husband.”
    “What client?”
    “That’s confidential.”
    “You’re a private dick,” said Seth, putting the emphasis on the word dick.
    “Not really.”
    “What are you then?” he roared when Brodie failed to elaborate.
    “You’re a very angry man, aren’t you Seth? I know that sometimes your temper gets violent.”
    Seth prowled up to Brodie, darkness seeming to surround him. From the corner of his eye Brodie could see Lauren shaking quite badly, her whole body vibrating. She seemed most scared when Seth was angry. Was he at the root of her terrible nerves?
    “His business is unfinished business,” explained Sarah.
    “That your motto, is it?” sneered Seth.
    Why did everyone say that? “Yes,” sighed Brodie.
    “We’re unfinished business then?”
    “Aye ya are,” said Brodie casually.
    The fact that Brodie wasn’t quivering in his boots infuriated Seth, who unfurled himself, the darkness surrounding him gaining in proportions, taking over the room. Brodie fully realised that Seth was a man who was capable of literally anything. Fortunately people like him were his speciality.
    Lauren’s trembling increased