An Outlaw's Reprieve (Connor Reed Series Book 6) by Quentin Black

Author:Quentin Black [Black, Quentin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-06-28T16:00:00+00:00

9

Tom drove through the Horsforth as the sun began to rise over the civil parish of Leeds.

Sat beside him, Luke asked, “Any ideas what they want?”

Tom shook his head. “Them requesting to meet isn’t a good sign in the first place. Them calling that late last night, leaving a voicemail to meet this early isn’t good at all.”

Luke asked, “How does he contact you?”

“I have a separate phone I check in with,” said Tom. “I presume he has too. When we get back, I’ll show you where I keep it.”

“I see,” said Luke. “Aren’t they going to be fucked off you’re bringing me?”

Tom shrugged. “I’ll hide you around the corner and give them the heads-up. They can only say ‘no’.”

He turned into Scotland Lane, rural but with intermittent houses on either side, and parked a short way down.

“It’s around the back of house that’s being renovated. Let’s go.”

After a two-minute walk, Tom cut them both across the road to an isolated house caged in scaffolding.

They entered the gate with a low clang.

Tom turned to his younger cousin. “Wait here until if and when I call you around.”

Luke nodded.

The Ryder family leader rounded the corner to be confronted by two men, one he knew and one he didn’t.

Though backchannel communications between the Ryder family and local law enforcement went back nearly two decades, the faces—on both sides—had changed for these meetings a few times. This was due to the freedom of movement of a police officer becoming restricted as he ascended rank, and they usually passed the baton once they had obtained the level of DCI (Detective Chief Inspector).

However, Tom had known Arthur Berry of the local CID (Criminal Investigation Department), back when the Policeman was Detective Constable several years ago.

Berry was now a DI (Detective Inspector) within the HMET unit. Tom, through other contacts, knew Berry liaised with the Yorkshire and Humber regional organised crime unit named ODYSSEY that supported the NCA.

Around a similar age to Tom, Arthur stood four inches taller at six-feet. He sported a heavy black beard matching his hair in colour and thickness. The short-hemmed tweed jacket wrapped around his beige cord trousers.

“Thomas, thank you for meeting me at short notice,” said Arthur.

The Leeds gangster noted the unusual formality in his voice. Whether it was to do with the gravity of the meeting’s purpose or his companion’s presence, he could not be sure.

Tom simply nodded, and Arthur introduced the man on his left.

“Tom, this is a colleague of mine.”

He didn’t give his name—thought Tom.

The man stood between Tom and Arthur in height and looked nearer forty. Around fourteen stone with a tightness in the shoulders, the cropped-haired man reminded Tom of a bulldog.

“Good to meet you,” said Tom, before turning to Arthur. “My cousin is around the front. I’ve brought him so you know who to liaise with should anything happen to me.”

There were a few moments of silence, and Arthur asked, “Which one?”

“Luke.”

“Luke?” Arthur frowned.

“Yes, Luke,” said Tom. “I left him around the corner to give you the respect of asking first.

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