Ex-Kop by Warren Hammond

Author:Warren Hammond
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Space Opera, Crime, Fiction, Science Fiction, Thrillers, General
ISBN: 9780765351371
Publisher: Macmillan
Published: 2009-11-01T04:00:00+00:00

It was Friday night and Bangkok Street was hopping. Roby's had a line outside the door, mostly offworlders, steam fogging out of the gaps in their slickers. I walked past them and cut ahead of the line despite their protests. The bouncer ushered me in as they clamored at my back. They'd probably assume I was there to clean the toilets. How else would a raggedy old local get in before them?

I forced my way through the crowd. I couldn't even see the floor show because there were so many bodies packed in. The crowd thinned as I made it past the bar and into the side room. I scanned the room and picked up the wave of Ian's hand from the far side, where he was sitting with a group of cops. Again, I tallied the names, putting together a mental roll call of Ian's crew. They dispersed as I approached, and I took the seat opposite Ian at a table designed to look like a huge razor blade.

“Hey, boy-o, have a drink,” and before I could say no, he poured some brandy into one of those damn goblets.

“Cheers,” I said and took a swig of brandy that tasted like it had been infused with aluminum foil. Cheap-ass goblets. “Where's your girlfriend?”

Ian ignored the question altogether. “So you think I should tell you about Raj Gupta?”

“It's up to you, Ian. I'm just saying that it'd make my job a lot easier.”

“And you think I can trust you?”

I looked across the room toward the door that led back to the bar. Hoshi was standing there with Freddie Lumbela, the two of them yukking it up. “It's up to you, Ian.” I glanced at the fire exit; two more hommy boys swapping stories. A hinky feeling crept up from my gut. Standard KOP procedure—cover the exits. I kept my voice level. “Give me the lowdown on the kid, or don't. It's your choice.”

“Tell me why I should trust you,” he said with his jaw clenched, sinewy neck muscles buttressing down to his shoulders.

Adrenaline was already pumping through me. The urge to flee dominated my senses. I saw the waitress walk out and saw an opportunity. “Quit the third degree already. Either tell me or don't. I don't give a shit.” I took a swig from my goblet and made a sour face. “I can't drink this garbage. Where did that waitress go? I'll be right back,” I said. “You can think about it while I run to the bar to get a glass. Want anything?”

He shook his head.

I was up out of my seat, moving for the door that led to the bar. I weaved around tables toward the blaring demonic screech of music pulsing from the main room. Hoshi and his cop buddy saw me approaching and straightened up, their conversation suddenly over.

My fingers twitched as I looked for signs of aggression in their body language. My vision narrowed. The room got smaller. The walls closed around me, and I could feel the hollow stares of the skull sconces.

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