Cuts Both Ways by Solomon Carter

Author:Solomon Carter [Carter, Solomon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Great Leap
Published: 2019-11-24T22:00:00+00:00

Sixteen

The office was empty. Dan scratched his head and looked around as if waiting for Eva to appear from the upstairs apartment, or from behind the kitchen door, but the office stayed silent except for the shrill ring of the bell. Alma Poulter looked around the office interior. She didn’t look too impressed, but then, from the standard look on her face Dan reckoned she never did. The woman closed the door behind her. Without saying a word, Mark locked the deadbolt and Dan didn’t tell him to unlock it. Alma folded her arms and looked around at the neat painted walls, the big wall clock, the desks, and the endless files on the wall at the back.

“So this is what a private investigator’s office really looks like.”

Dan picked up the useless Chrysler car repair manual from his desk. He grimaced and tossed it towards the waste paper bin. The book landed with a slap on the floor.

“It looked better a while back, just after we had it done.”

“It’s an office,” said the woman with a shrug. “It looks better than what’s outside.”

“It probably does. Hamstel Road isn’t exactly Barcelona.” Dan looked around the desks for an explanatory note detailing Eva’s whereabouts, but there was nothing. She must have been in a rush. It wasn’t hard to guess why. Miss Needy of Basildon must have been in a hurry again. That one was always pushing, always wanting more than could be offered. Clients like her were annoying at the best of times, but money was money – it couldn’t be turned down easily. Dan pulled a charger cable from his desk drawer and plugged his phone into the wall socket. In the meantime, he needed to call Dawson. Mark switched his computer on and got busy at the front desk, while Alma’s gaze followed Dan with a moody look which was difficult to ignore. He thumbed towards the kitchen behind his back.

“You like coffee. Get yourself a coffee,” he said, putting the phone to his ear.

“I don’t want a coffee,” she said.

“Then get me a coffee,” he said, with a smile.

“Get it yourself,” said Alma. “I’ll have some water.” She marched past him into the kitchenette as Dan’s call was connected to the police station. He used the same behind-the-scenes number as Eva, the number which should have been off limits to the public. Thankfully, this time PCSO Gill Penner didn’t pick up. Dan struck lucky. Dawson’s voice came on the line, with a typically businesslike greeting. The big constable sounded busy.

“PC Dawson speaking.”

“Dawson, this is Dan Bradley.”

“Dan Bradley, eh? What’s the matter?”

“You know me too well. You haven’t had any reports of any gunshots fired in Westcliff? No trouble reported around the Nelson Street, North Road area?”

“Gunshots around there? No. There’s been nothing like that since the drive-by near Blackdown. Why? Have you got some intel for me?”

“Actually, Rob, I’m afraid it’s the other way around.”

Dawson sighed quietly. Dawson was used to the phone calls and the frequent favours. But it still didn’t mean he liked them.

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