The Front by Mandasue Heller

Author:Mandasue Heller [HELLER, MANDASUE]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Hewer Text UK Ltd
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Published: 2007-09-19T16:00:00+00:00

13

When Paul entered the main bar of The George, the first people he saw were DCI Jackson and his fat friend. They were sitting at a wonky table facing the door and he felt himself blushing as they simultaneously looked his way. Thankfully, they didn’t seem to recognize him. He breathed a sigh of relief. One meeting with Jackson had been enough of an unnerving experience. The last thing he needed was to feel self-conscious in his social time.

He went to the bar to get himself a pint and looked around for Eddie. Spotting him in a crowded booth overlooking the pool table – out of Jackson and Mac’s view – he made his way over and slid onto the bench seat beside him, nodding hello to the others already seated.

‘We’re not staying long, are we?’ he asked quietly. ‘Jackson’s round there. I feel funny having him watching me.’

Eddie laughed. ‘I’ve just invited them to come with us. I didn’t think you’d mind.’

Paul nearly choked on his beer. ‘Tell me you’re joking!’

Eddie slapped him on the back and said, ‘Do me a favour! Do I look like a brown-noser? They always come in here for a couple when they’ve finished for the day. What you so nervous of him for, anyway?’ he asked teasingly. ‘What you been doing, you naughty lad?’

‘Nothing,’ Paul said. ‘It’s just that I spoke to him this morning and – I don’t know.’ He shrugged. ‘He just made me feel a bit weird.’

‘Scared you shitless, you mean?’ Eddie grinned. ‘Ah, don’t worry about the old Dragon Master. He’s all right – if you avoid him like the plague!’

‘I intend to,’ muttered Paul.

‘Anyway, never mind them,’ Eddie went on, pushing himself to his feet. ‘We’ve time for another pint before we set off. What you having?’

‘Lager, thanks.’ Paul drained his glass quickly and handed it over.

‘How are we getting there?’ he asked when Eddie came back a few minutes later.

‘Cab,’ Eddie said. ‘I don’t know about you, but I’m planning to get well and truly plastered before the night’s through, and there’s no way I’m driving with that pair of dykes, Nesbitt and Wotserface, on drunk-driver watch!’

‘Fake-Man Blake?’ Paul volunteered, having heard the unflattering term being bandied around the station.

‘That’s the one!’ Eddie laughed. ‘Shit! Wouldn’t they just love to pull us in for driving under the influence? They’d have us in cuffs and down at the station faster than they could turn that vibrating truncheon of theirs on!’

Laughing along with the others at the table, Paul began to relax. Maybe tonight wasn’t going to be so bad after all.

An hour – and two drinks – later, the group made their noisy exit.

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