Operation Sage by Youngman Colin

Author:Youngman, Colin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Seaward Partners
Published: 2021-10-12T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Two uniformed officers led a handcuffed Pavel Maric to the rear passenger side of the unmarked vehicle. Once the Macedonian was settled in the seat next to Lyall Parker, one of the uniforms fed the seatbelt to Parker who buckled Maric in.

Sam Maynard half-turned and offered Maric a reassuring smile. ‘Sorry about the handcuffs,’ she said, ‘But until you tell us more, I’m not taking any chances. Imagine my paperwork if we lost you.’

‘I do not wish you to lose me.’ Maric peered out the window, eyes darting back and forth as if he expected an Orc to appear at any moment.

One of the uniformed officers returned to the station, while the other slipped into the driver’s seat of a marked car which already held Todd Robson and Lucy Dexter. Maynard had allowed the Prince Bishop constabulary to have a token presence and the driver – PC Joey Brooks – was it.

Brooks pulled the patrol car in front of the unmarked Vectra. Its radio crackled into life.

‘You lead us out of the town. Once clear, let us pass and we’ll take our lead from Mr Maric. You follow,’ Superintendent Maynard instructed.

‘Excuse me, ma’am – Sunderland’s a city, not a town,’ the constable shot back.

Todd Robson stifled a laugh.

‘Just follow instructions, PC Brooks.’

‘Yes ma’am. Understood.’

Brooks steered the car out of the compound, the Vectra close behind. From the Southwick station, the mini convoy passed the Stadium of Light and took the A1018 northbound.

From there, Maynard instructed PC Brooks to take the B1299 until they reached the point where Maric had been found wandering.

‘Okay, PC Brooks. We’ll take over from here,’ Maynard announced over the radio.

Brooks allowed the Vectra through and drew the patrol car up behind it. Both cars waited with their engines idling.

‘It’s over to you now, Pavel,’ Maynard said.

Maric said nothing. Maynard tried to catch his eye in the mirror, but Maric stared resolutely ahead.

‘Okay. Have it your way. Let’s just drive, DC Trebilcock. Let’s see where we end up.’

Trebilcock slid the car into gear, with no clue where to go. The Cornishman began with a loop of Boldon Golf Course. Maric gave no glimmer of recognition. They took the main road through East Boldon via the Grey Horse. Still the Macedonian remained silent.

‘Och, we could be here all day and night, man,’ Lyall Parker said. ‘Ye must recognise somewhere.’

‘I do not want to say anything. I must not help you. They will find me and kill me.’

‘Not if we find them first. Help us oot here. They killed your cousin. Do you want to spend the rest o’ your life hiding from them?’

Maric stayed silent. Parker harrumphed and folded his arms as Trebilcock meandered the streets. All the while, Maynard studied the prisoner; his face pinched and drawn, expressionless and resigned.

Trebilcock reached a decision. A murder was unlikely to happen on an open road. He steered the vehicle onto a country lane heading south-east. Trebilcock slowed until he was sure the patrol car followed. He crawled down the lane.

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