PANIC BUTTON a gripping crime thriller full of twists by CHARLIE GALLAGHER

Author:CHARLIE GALLAGHER [GALLAGHER, CHARLIE]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Joffe Books
Published: 2017-02-04T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER 19

‘DC Appleby, Force Intelligence Unit,’ Bryan Appleby, known as Granny, said.

‘Still on the same number then, Granny,’ George replied.

There was a pause. ‘George Elms! I heard you were dead, or dying!’

‘Almost, mate.’

‘And how can I help you?’ Bryan Appleby had lowered his voice. George could almost see his old friend leaning into his phone and checking round the office in case anyone could hear him.

‘What makes you think I want something? Can’t I just phone an old mate for a chat?’ Another strained pause. ‘Bryan, I didn’t shoot those people. I don’t kill innocent people, just the guilty ones. With lasers from my eyes!’ George tried a little chuckle.

‘You laugh, Elms, but a lot of people are saying that you did.’

‘You need me to tell you again?’

‘No, no, of course I don’t. If you hear something often enough, I guess you start to listen. My little girl’s been banging on about how good One Direction are and I found myself turning them up on the radio the other day.’

‘Well, now you know. I’m not going round killing cops, and . . . what’s One Direction?’

They both laughed.

‘So where the hell have you been? I was hearing that you were all in the clear, but you never turned up back at work. You milking it for the sick money, or what?’

‘Kind of. If only it was that simple. I got cleared of any criminal allegations but the internal investigation goes on. Quick summary, they’re never going to have me back, but while I’m still being paid I’ll make it as difficult as possible for them to get rid of me. Plus, I’ve still got this damned ringing in my ears. Does my head in.’

‘Well, I hope you’re being a right pain in the arse. Would you want to come back?’

‘No.’ George was emphatic.

‘So what do you need?’

It took a second for George to recall why he’d called. ‘Ah, yes. All right I confess that I need your help. I need some information, and who better than the country’s leading intelligence officer?’

‘Flattery will usually get you everywhere.’

‘Usually?’

‘Usually. We’ve all had the talk, mate. According to them just answering the phone to you could put officers’ lives in danger, maybe even our own.’

‘I see. To be expected, I suppose.’ George was in his living room. He went to the window, where he tugged at a greying net curtain and looked down at the street below. ‘Well, let me just ask you a question and you can choose whether you answer it or not.’

‘Go on.’

‘Do you know Helen Webb’s movements?’ George let the question sink in, ‘And would you be able to keep me informed of them?’

‘Are you mental? Now you sound like a crazed cop killer! Why on earth would you need to know that?’

‘Mate, Helen holds the key to me getting my life back together. I need to speak to her, but she’s not exactly going to organise an official meeting or chat to me on the phone.’

‘Perhaps you should stay away from her right now.

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