KILL SHOT: The DCI tackles organized crime in this English murder mystery (Detective Chief Inspector Jack Harris Book 8) by John Dean

Author:John Dean [Dean, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: THE BOOK FOLKS crime fiction publishers
Published: 2020-10-24T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter seventeen

Having left the M6, Matty Gallagher drove a short distance along the side road that ran behind the motorway services, then turned his vehicle into the car park next to the small hotel. After getting out and glancing round to make sure that they were not being watched – both he and Harris were on high alert now that the stakes seemed so much higher – the two detectives walked over to the building.

‘Not looking forward to this,’ said Gallagher.

‘Why not?’

Gallagher hesitated, wondering whether he should have spoken given their recent disagreement. Harris stopped walking and looked at him.

‘Well?’ said the inspector. ‘Why not?’

‘Because it smacks of politics,’ said Gallagher. ‘And you’ve never been good at politics.’

‘What is this?’ said the inspector. ‘Open season on Jack Harris?’

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…’

‘But you’re right.’ Harris started walking again. ‘And I’m sure you’ll keep me correct. That big city experience you keep telling me about.’

The quip brought forth a small sigh of relief from Gallagher and he followed his boss out of the bright summer sunshine into the shade of the building. They headed through the reception area, casting a glance at the bored-looking receptionist reading a magazine behind the desk, and walked along one of the ground floor corridors towards room eleven, as instructed by Rutherford. Harris knocked on the door, which was opened by Jenny Armannsson.

‘Hello, love,’ she said.

She gave Harris a peck on the cheek as he entered the room. The inspector did not reciprocate, embarrassed at the gesture and determined to keep things professional. Gallagher noticed his discomfort and he and Armannsson exchanged amused glances.

‘No kiss for me then?’ said Gallagher.

‘Behave yourself,’ said Armannsson.

Gallagher chuckled, walked over to the man sitting at the low table in the window and extended a hand in welcome. ‘Detective Sergeant Gallagher, sir, good to meet you.’

‘Sergeant.’ Rutherford stood up and shook the hand then awkwardly extended a hand of welcome to Harris as well. ‘Long time no see, Jack. Never thought it would take Lynton Jago to bring us back together.’

‘Indeed. How did you explain our presence to the receptionist?’

‘She thinks we’re a double-glazing sales team.’ There was a knock on the door. Rutherford tensed and gave the Levton Bridge detectives a sharp look. ‘Were you followed? Because if you were…’

‘Relax, we weren’t followed,’ said Harris calmly.

He opened the door and a slim, smartly dressed, dark-haired woman in her mid-thirties walked into the room.

‘Hello, Susan,’ said Harris.

‘Hello, Jack.’

Rutherford glowered at Harris.

‘What the hell is she doing here?’ he asked suspiciously.

‘And hello to you, Ged,’ said Peters.

‘You never change, do you, Jack?’ said Rutherford. He gave an angry shake of the head. ‘Always playing by your own rules. You should have told me that MI5 were involved.’

‘And me,’ said Armannsson. She gave Harris a reproachful look. ‘You should have told me.’

‘It was on a need-to-know basis,’ said Harris.

‘Well, if that’s the way you want to play it,’ said Rutherford. He picked his file up off the table and stood up to leave.

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