03 Going Back by Neil Lancaster

Author:Neil Lancaster [Lancaster, Neil]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781912946143
Google: TmTazQEACAAJ
Publisher: Burning Chair Publishing
Published: 2020-08-19T23:00:00+00:00

*

They found a small diner just off the main road back into Sarajevo. It was a pseudo American style place with bench booths, plastic menus, and a flashing “Coke” sign outside. They sat opposite each other; Pet had a single earbud in her left ear so she could continue to monitor Cerović’s phone. Her smartphone lay on the table with a map open and a pulsing blue dot in the centre of the screen in the middle of Sarajevo. As soon as Cerović moved they’d know.

The diner was empty apart from a dour waitress who bore a badge that stated her name to be “Thelma”. ‘What can I get you good folks?’ she said in heavily accented English, a bored smile on her brightly-painted lips. Her hairstyle was a Dolly Parton bubble perm that simply had to be a wig.

‘Burger, fries and a Coke, please, Thelma,’ said Tom, a broad grin splitting his face.

Thelma cocked an eyebrow in the direction of Pet, her mouth gyrating with some unseen gum.

‘Same please,’ said Pet.

‘You want Mom’s special apple pie too?’ Thelma said without a trace of irony.

‘Why not,’ said Tom.

Thelma turned without a word and returned to the counter where she bellowed the order out in Serbo-Croat to the unseen chef.

‘I know I’m going out on a limb, here, but I am going to hazard a guess that her name isn’t Thelma,’ grinned Tom.

‘Wow, Detective, I can see why you get the big bucks. Is this place for real?’

‘Perfect for me. I could murder a burger. I hope it’s good.’

‘So, are we ready?’

‘As we can be, bearing in mind we have no idea what is coming next. I have weapons of a quality I’d probably struggle to get back home, which I didn’t expect, if I’m honest. I still don’t understand that angle or how Pavlović came to be in possession of them. It doesn’t make sense.’

‘They’re American-owned and they were stolen from a store in Bosnia. US advisers have been helping train Bosnian security forces. All part of the US helping Bosnia and Herzegovina improve its security and counter terrorism capabilities.’

‘What? You’re just telling me now? When did you find this out?’

‘When you were testing the kit in the woods.’

‘So why now?’

‘You mentioned food. Plus, it doesn’t make any difference right now. Also, I can’t be absolutely certain, but there were definitely a number of MP5SDs with attached optics and Sure-fire torch mounts stolen.’

‘Evidence enough for me. Anything else?’

‘Just a load of 9mm parabellums from this particular raid.’

‘Stolen from where?’

‘A secure transit store not too far from here. They were being transported to the Bosnian anti-terror police for a training detail after they had all been modified with the torches. Someone broke into the store with explosives and stole the lot.’

‘How many?’

‘Twenty-five. Plus, a whole shit-load of parabellums.’

‘What else?’ Tom asked.

‘What else from where?’

‘You said from this particular raid. I take it from that there have been others,’ said Tom.

‘There have been a few thefts or misappropriation of military equipment over the last year, between here and Serbia.

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