Locked In by GB Williams

Author:GB Williams [Williams, GB]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Thriller
ISBN: 9781912175932
Google: 03ZFswEACAAJ
Goodreads: 37902125
Publisher: Bloodhound Books
Published: 2018-02-10T07:00:00+00:00

21

Piper could hardly blame Teddington for her anger, but it was harder still not to laugh at the black humour he found in the fact that while she hadn’t been using speakerphone, he had been at his end. And ‘the bitch’ was listening in.

He controlled his features as he sat at the rear of the van, and turned to the woman in question. Her pinched reaction was obvious, as was the barely controlled amusement of both Andrews and Wymark, both of whom were safely behind Sheldrake, and out of her line of sight.

‘Apparently,’ Sheldrake grated, ‘the Prison Service needs to learn some respect.’

‘Perhaps, ma’am.’ Piper was suddenly less amused. Sheldrake’s lack of empathy for the hostages was a serious concern. ‘But it’s not necessarily the lesson one learns when there’s a gun pointed at one’s head.’ Sheldrake clearly wasn’t open to the message so Piper ploughed on. ‘The point is, we may seem to have the situation contained right now, but we’re losing what little control we may have had. We have to give them the van.’

Sheldrake’s eyes were cold dark spots. ‘We have to get the hostages out.’

Piper barely controlled the clenching of his jaw. Open insubordination wasn’t going to help the situation. ‘The best way,’ he said calmly, ‘to get the hostages out is to let the robbers think they’re getting away. We have a tracker in place on the van. We let them go, get the hostages back, follow the van discreetly and pounce once they stop.’

Sheldrake just looked back at him, utterly resistant. ‘No.’

Locked in determined opposition, there didn’t seem to be much either of them could do.

‘Andrews, Wymark,’ Sheldrake didn’t look behind her as she spoke, ‘get out.’

The two moved quietly from the van, Andrews carefully closing the sliding door after them. Piper felt ridiculously vulnerable. He understood the theory of elected commissioners, but with Sheldrake as the reality, the practice was less appealing. Less appealing again was the memory of seeing her at County Hall for a Chamber of Commerce evening drinks party with Rhys Mansel-Jones.

Sheldrake studied him like he was something unpleasant under a microscope. He supposed to her, he was. He looked back, attempting not to show the contempt he felt. He wasn’t backing down but he knew he couldn’t disobey a direct order from the commissioner.

‘You don’t like me do you, Detective Chief Inspector Piper?’

He didn’t like the way she expanded his title with such chilling civility. Still, if that was the game she wanted to play, sod it. ‘No.’

‘Good.’

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