Matilda's Game: A gripping spy action thriller from the author of SERPENT'S TOOTH by Denis Kilcommons

Author:Denis Kilcommons [Kilcommons, Denis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Silvertail Books
Published: 2024-09-26T00:00:00+00:00

18

The Haystack Motel was named after the third largest free-standing monolith in the world. It said so in the complimentary copy of the Cannon Beach Magazine that was in Lacey’s room.

Haystack Rock rose two hundred and thirty-five feet out of the sea offshore from the town and was a protected wildlife sanctuary. Judging by the pictures in the magazine, it was also one of the most painted and photographed pieces of natural history in the area.

The motel was less imposing than the rock but more than adequate after the stretched day of surprises that Lacey had endured. The first-floor room even had an ocean view, when it became light enough to see, if you counted looking across Hemlock Street and the carpark of the Tolovana Inn.

They had booked into the Haystack at Mattie Purcell’s suggestion, after she had finally accepted that they really were interested in the truth about her husband’s death.

Lacey hadn’t liked to tell her that it was unlikely anything would be done even if they did discover why Jimmy Russell had died and who had killed him. Maybe it was enough that she had shared her secret and her anger after all these years, with people who believed her.

It was too late to telephone Charing Cross Road. In London, it would be the early hours of the morning and the only person in the office would be the retired hooligan on duty. He didn’t even want to leave his number; he would prefer to remain uncontactable until tomorrow, after they had talked to Mattie Purcell again.

Then he would go home, because there would be nowhere else for him to go, and he would take with him another piece of the mystery: Frank Briggs, Man from the Ministry . . . or MI5?

Maybe someone else would be commissioned to track Briggs down after Lacey’s disobedience. Maybe not. Maybe Lacey knowing was one too many already, which meant that Lacey would keep the job of tidying up loose ends.

Another reason he didn’t want to phone was that he didn’t know what to tell Bryson about Ben Miller.

The young American was personable, friendly and very confident. He reminded Lacey of how he would like to have been himself at that age.

Instead, when he had finally been let off the leash, Lacey had been past forty, past his best condition, and with an in-bred inferiority complex from not having the right school tie.

But he was off the leash now and had no intention of going back to fetching and carrying at Century House. He still had the feeling that this case would reach a make or break point. He was looking forward to it, when it arrived.

He and Miller drove into town, which was quiet this early in the year, and had dinner in a log cabin restaurant with blazing fires, attendant waiters, excellent Oregon wine, and a very comfortable lounge with the sort of leather armchairs that encourages Jim Beam to sneak up on you.

Jim Beam did, and made a wicked combination with the jet lag.

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