Double Blind (A DCI Morton Crime Novel Book 7) by Sean Campbell

Author:Sean Campbell [Campbell, Sean]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: police procedural, Murder, forensics, psychological thriller, Crime, british detective, Murder mystery
Publisher: De Minimis
Published: 2018-08-29T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22: A Dirty Deal?

Morton had just begun to undress when there was a soft knock at the front door. Had one of the boys forgotten a mobile? He shrugged his shirt back on, doing up the top and bottom buttons only, and eased towards the door. The frame on the other side of the door wasn’t big enough to be one of the lads, and Morton felt his muscles tense with anticipation. He undid the deadbolt and then opened the door cautiously in case of a rush.

There, on the doorstep, was Lucy Reed.

‘Detective Morton, I need to talk to you urgently. Turn the lights off, I don’t want to be seen.’

Morton froze. Was this a trick? Or was the case about to break all on its own? Sod it. He flicked the light off and then allowed Lucy to pass before slowly shutting the door.

‘Further in,’ she whispered, ‘in case someone sees us through the window.’

Her paranoia was extreme, and, if she was about to betray the cult, understandable. When they had made it into the middle of the hallway with all the doors closed so nobody could see them, Morton heard her breathe a sigh of relief.

‘I have not been completely honest with you, Mr Morton,’ Lucy said in a low tone that was barely audible. ‘And I’m sure you have suspected.’

‘You’re the killer?’ Morton asked.

‘Heavens no!’ Lucy cried.

‘Then what?’ Morton demanded. ‘We know you never entered the country under the name “Lucy Reed”, and you’re obviously an American.’

‘It’s true,’ she said. ‘Lucy Reed isn’t my real name. I’m a journalist with The Objective. I trust you’ve heard of us. I’ve been undercover with the cult now for nearly six months, and I know everything you need to know to break this case, and you can’t do it without me.’

Morton arched a disbelieving eyebrow. He had heard of The Objective. It was a sensationalist rag with links to London’s The Impartial, the latter of which had once been run by a man convicted of orchestrating the most complicated murder Morton had ever investigated.

‘Or more precisely, should I say you can’t do it in the timeframe you need without my help. We both know you shouldn’t be on this case.’

‘So why are you talking now? What’s changed?’

‘Sozler’s disappearance and Rosenberg’s death changed things,’ Lucy said. ‘Sooner or later the press here are going to be all over you. You’re not the most discrete of men. You didn’t even notice when I lurked beneath the window to listen in on your discussions.’

Aha! He had heard someone at the window. For a brief moment, his biggest problem in the world was making a mental note to say “I told you so” to Ayala, then reality bit back.

‘And your involvement in this is...?’

‘I deserve this story,’ she said fiercely. ‘I’ve worked this story. I’ve lived this story. I will not let some British hack swan in at the last moment and steal my limelight. I want an exclusive, and I want you to help me.

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