Blood Line (A Tom Rollins Thriller Book 1) Paul Heatley (10 best novels of all time .txt) 📖

Harry is surprised by this request. It wasn’t what he expected. Steve has never shown any interest in going beyond his position. “That ain’t up to me,” he eventually manages to say. “I’ll have to run it by the rest of the council. It’ll be put to a vote.”

Steve nods along.

“But once we reach a decision, I’ll let you know.”

“Okay. Great. Thanks. Like I say, it’s what Peter would’ve wanted, and right now all I can do is try to honor his memory and find whoever it is who’s responsible for killing him.”

Harry leaves, goes back to his car, still thrown.

It feels off. It all feels off. It doesn’t sit right with him. Steve’s mourning feels fake, forced, as does his sudden ambition.

Harry doesn’t leave straight away. Puts the keys in the ignition but doesn’t move, just sits in his car, mulling over the conversation they have just had, how Steve was acting. He glances up at the house one more time as he goes to start the engine. He sees a curtain twitch, drawn back into place.

Steve was watching him.

37

Carly is in her apartment. In the kitchen. She makes coffee, though she knows she shouldn’t have another mug. She’s already on edge. Her hands are shaking. It’s a nervous time. She chews her lip.

Her phone rings, and she almost drops what she’s holding. She puts the filter down. It leans to the side, and some of the grains spill out over her counter. She glances at the screen. It’s an unlisted number. There are two people it could be. One of them is Eric. She doesn’t think it’s going to be Eric, not so soon after seeing him.

The first thing the voice says is, “How was your trip?” It sounds smug, condescending, as if it knows exactly how her trip was, exactly what Eric said to her.

“It was fine,” she says, matching the tone. “Thanks for asking. I appreciate your concern.”

There’s a chuckle, then, “I understand you have a new assignment.”

“Yes. Soon.”

“What about the current one?”

He’s referring to Ben. “What about him?”

“What do you think? I’m not interested in his thoughts and feelings, his deepest desires. I want to know how it’s going.”

“Not great. He’s secretive. I’m spending as much time with him as I can, but I’m not getting anything. It’s turning into a waste of time.”

“It’s not a waste. It keeps him distracted.”

“Eric tells me I’m too distracting. In the wrong way.”

The voice chuckles again.

“I think Ben’s running his own private investigation again,” she says, refusing to be patronized in such a manner, determined to have something to show for her efforts.

“How so?”

“I’ve seen him make some private phone calls – not just at home, at the office, too. He leaves the building a lot, goes to his car. Always looks around, makes sure no one’s near.”

“Being furtive is in the job description, Agent Hogan.”

“You know exactly what I mean, so don’t try to piss me off. This is more than that. He’s always distracted.”

“He has a lot on his plate.”

“I get the impression, like last time, that he’s not being totally honest with what he’s doing. He’s going off the books again. I was right the last time around. I don’t see any reason why I should be dismissed now.”

“Have you considered the possibility he’s maybe talking to another woman?”

She can hear the mockery in the voice’s tone. She doesn’t appreciate the quip. “I don’t care if that’s what he’s doing. The only reason I’ve gotten close to him is because that’s what you and Eric told me to do. I’m doing it because it’s my job, and nothing else. You don’t sound like you care he’s potentially running another operation off the books.”

“Of course I care, and of course he is. Tell me something I don’t know. In fact, you know what I don’t know? Who it is he’s got working for him, and how many there are. Tell me that. That’s something that would interest me, interest all of us. Did you hear what happened in Harrow?”

“Of course I did.”

“And I’m sure you suspect he has a hand in it.”

“I’d be a fool not to.”

“Have you mentioned it to him?”

“I’d be a fool to do that, too. We’re not supposed to know about Harrow, remember?”

“We can’t just let him send operatives to run around unchecked in Harrow, Carly. Not now.”

“I understand that, but I don’t know what you expect me to do, damn it. Listen to me, he’s paranoid, he doesn’t trust anyone in the department, and I think his trust in me is starting to slip, too. With this new unofficial investigation he’s running, he could find out about me.”

The voice is silent for a moment.

“You hear me?”

“If that happens, Carly, then you know what to do. We can’t let him ruin this. We’re too close.”

She sighs. “Are we done here?”

“For now. I’ll check in again soon.”

“I can hardly wait.” Carly hangs up the phone. Her hands are shaking worse now. She finishes making the coffee. She knows drinking so many cups of it isn’t good for her, but it’s the only thing that calms her down.

38

Tom goes to the reception to meet Beth when she finishes her shift. They stroll back to his car; then she directs him to the diner. They take a booth in the back, away from the windows, and Tom wonders if it’s so she avoids being seen with him. By Harry, or someone who would report back to Harry. They order their food – a burger and fries for him, a tuna melt for her – and while they wait, Tom leads the conversation into questions about the town, just a curious tourist passing through.

“So, I heard something about the bar that burned down,” he says.

Beth sips on her soda. “Oh yeah? You sure hear a lot, don’t you?” She winks at him.

“I like to talk to people. It comes with the job.”

“What is it you do? I don’t think you’ve said.”

“You