The Hard Way Duncan Brockwell (romance book recommendations .TXT) đ
- Author: Duncan Brockwell
Book online «The Hard Way Duncan Brockwell (romance book recommendations .TXT) đ». Author Duncan Brockwell
âYeah, itâs me. I didnât feel safe at home last night, so I phoned Sam and told him to take the girls to a hotel for a couple of nights⊠No, he doesnât know whatâs going on⊠Sure, Iâll meet you outside Neelkanth Safe Deposit⊠Uh-huh⊠Please try to find Richard. Heâs in a bad place right now, I know it. I can feel it⊠If we donât get him out soon, Iâm afraid we might never get him out. Thank you so much. When you find him, call me, okay? Iâll see you outside Neelkanth, half three. Yeah, bringing backup might be a good idea. They could be anywhere. See you later, and thanks for your help. I really do appreciate it.â
Knowing the detectives were on the case felt better. Without their help, she might never see Richard again. The charges were bullshit; they had to be. The elusive enemy were doing a good job of burying the product, but she wasnât about to let that happen.
The first thing she had to do: find out where she was. Then, she would drive to a service station somewhere, pick up some breakfast, go to the loo. Charlotte was counting down the minutes until she opened the safe.
61
Hayes held out her hand, as Inspector Gillan handed her two files, one for each of their suspects in custody. Her supervisor grabbed the nearest chair to him and wheeled it over to her. She took the top file and flipped it open. âBrendan Marlowe. Born March 31st 1986.â She read the boring general information about him, noting the photo on his record was an arrest picture. When she turned the page over, large swathes of writing were blanked out.
âThis looks like a special forces job if you ask me. It seems our suspects might have extensive military backgrounds.â
Turning her attention to the main doors, she noticed Miller rush in, flustered, flapping. When her partner reached her desk, she apologised for being late, mouthed that she would explain later, and went about getting her things together.
Hayes held out the second file. âHere, take a look through this for me. We now know our suspects are ex-special forces.â
Miller pulled a face that told her she didnât believe it. âThose guys? Not a chance. Theyâre both dumb as a post; thereâs no way theyâre special forces. Do you think weâd be able to take them down just like that?â
âI donât know what Iâm supposed to say, Miller, but we did. Look, the insignia on top of the formâs blacked out, but I can tell you what it says. âBy Strength and Guileâ, and below it reads, âSpecial Boat Serviceâ.â
Reaching over, Miller took the file. âI donât believe it! Heâs in the SBS? Thatâs ridiculous. But we took him down so easily.â
âHe is ex-special forces. Maybe he wasnât very good?â
Gillan got up. âMy guess is, heâs into something altogether different now. Special forces donât have their files redacted, as a rule. No, someone else has reached out and requested this. I think itâs time to go talk to your guys, what do you say?â
âWait! Whatâve you got in that other file, Miller?â Hayes waited for her partner.
âJason Nye, born January 16th 1988,â Miller read. âGrew up all over the place by the look of it. His dad was in the marines. He grew up with four brothers; he was the youngest.â She turned the page, stopped, and turned the folder around so she could read the writing.
âIâm sorry! I donât know what thatâs supposed to say.â Hayes shrugged.
âLook closely, youâll be able to read it.â
âI can read the numbers 63, and UKSF, but thatâs it. Sorry!â
âThis guy was a member of the 63 Signal Squadron,â Gillan clarified. When she shrugged again, he continued. âSignal Squadron are the top of the top in communications, far in advance of the army. That means he knows his way around comms.â
âSo? Why is that important?â Hayes looked to Gillan for guidance, feeling stupid for not knowing. But why should she? She wasnât ex-army. âPlease help me fill in the blanks here. Donât make me beg.â
âThereâs no earthly reason why these two should be together, okay? The SAS, the SBS, Signal Squadron, theyâre all part of Special Forces. But they hate each other. An SAS guy would like to think they would eat an SBS guy for breakfast, right? Do you get it? They assist one another on the surface; deep down they loathe each other.â
âExactly, like they tried to tear into each other in the back of our car.â Hayes thought back to the previous night. âSo, why were they tailing us together in the van, then?â
âThatâs the million-dollar question,â Gillan said, hurrying them to follow him. âTravis, Iâm helping Hayes and Miller in an interview.â
Following Gillan and Miller into the interview room, the first thing Hayes noticed was how handsome he was in the daylight. She hadnât even noticed the previous night. Brendan Marlowe was a looker, with a head full of dark hair, a strong chin, and all over stubble. He looked like he worked out. She closed the door behind her.
âItâs about bloody time! What the hell are you lot waiting for?â Handcuffed to the table, which in turn was screwed to the floor, Hayes and Gillan were taking no chances with him. âIâve already told you Iâm ready to deal. What more do you want?â
âYouâre SBS, yes?â Miller sat on a chair opposite him.
Marlowe smiled. âYouâve read my file, huh? I mean, what you can read of it. I should imagine thatâs not a lot.â
Hayes stood at the back of the room, observing. She wanted to give Miller the chance to lead for once. âJust answer the questions, okay?â
âYes, Iâm ex-SBS.â He rolled his eyes. âLook, the longer you keep me here, the more likely theyâre going to send someone in to execute me. You need to get me into witness protection, or something.â
âAnswer me this,
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