Double Tap by Hania Allen

Author:Hania Allen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Freight Books

Chapter 20

Von was on Lothian Road, slouching outside a kebab shop, her mobile phone to her ear. It was late afternoon and she had things to do. If Steve didn’t pick up, she’d have to abandon it because this wasn’t a message she intended to leave on voicemail.

She yawned, feeling the tiredness settle in her limbs. The baby had woken several times in the night. In the morning, she’d run into a narrow-chested young man who smelt of hair gel and cheap cologne, and had a towel wrapped round his waist. They stared at one other, and then the towel slipped, exposing the man’s nakedness. But she’d long since lost the ability to blush. He grinned, informing her his name was Norrie, and then had the cheek to ask her when breakfast would be ready. She emerged from her shower to the smell of frying bacon. He laid the table for three and, to her amazement, set down a cooked breakfast of bacon, eggs, mushrooms, and tomatoes.

As they chatted, he told her he worked in construction as a surveyor. The job was good and so was the money. She knew enough not to pump him about his intentions regarding her daughter, and was impressed by the readiness with which he helped move the cot into the living room, and the gentleness with which he lifted out the baby. She left for work before Georgie wakened, having extracted a promise from Norrie that he would make sure her daughter went shopping for food because she’d not be back until late.

‘Von?’ Steve had picked up the phone. ‘How are you doing?’

‘I’m fine, and I’ve got some intel for you. I’ve been to the Calder Rifle and Pistol Club. They have several types of firearm that take a .45 ACP cartridge. The chief instructor told me most of the members have fired with it.’

There was a pause. ‘What’s the security like?’

‘Forget it, Steve. For a gun to go missing, there’d have to be a big conspiracy. The firearms are signed in and out and the list double-checked against their collection before the place closes.’

‘What about the ammo?’

‘Both the guns and ammo are stored in windowless rooms in the centre of the building. At night, you’d have to go through several locked doors. And the place is heavily alarmed. Anyway, give up the idea of finding the ammo there. You won’t get expanding ammunition in British clubs.’

She could hear the frustration in his voice. ‘But you can buy expanding for shooting deer and vermin.’

‘Yes, but I’ve never heard of .45 ACPs being used for killing animals. It’s usually smaller calibre. I think the ammo used to kill Jamie and Bruce was brought into the country illegally.’

‘Okay, but from where?’

‘Most likely the States. It’s widely available. A propos that, Steve, I have a lead for you. The owner of the gun club is none other than Dewey Croker. As an American, he’ll have access to firearms that shoot .45 ACPs as well as the ammo itself.

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