Harder They Fall by Solomon Carter

Author:Solomon Carter [Carter, Solomon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Amazon, Thriller
Amazon: B07HNHRNCP
Publisher: Great Leap
Published: 2018-09-23T22:00:00+00:00

***

After the rolling green hills, flowering hedgerows and ocean views of North Devon, Barnstaple almost felt like civilisation. There was a comfort to be had in a chain-store coffee shop, drinking from oversized cups just like back in Southend. But whatever respite it gave them was over the moment Carl Proberty walked in. Dan raised his arm from his seat at the back of the shop. Eva picked up her coffee and sipped and offered no greeting at all.

Looking at the man as he approached., they saw he’d taken Dan’s Father Christmas lines to heart. His beard had been cropped short since the morning, but he didn’t look much better. Proberty’s hollow, dark-ringed eyes, landed on Eva with a jolt. He scratched his chin and stood still before them. He nodded Eva’s way.

“I thought you weren’t bringing the redhead,” said Proberty.

“Actually, we didn’t agree on that part,” said Dan. “Besides, we’re sightseeing today. I wanted to show Eva the town.”

Proberty looked at Eva. She sipped her coffee again and stared right back.

“This is a sensitive issue, Bradley,” said Proberty. “I don’t want to discuss it in front of people.”

Eva gathered her handbag and her coffee and stood up.

“If it makes you feel better, I’ll drink at another table,” said Eva. “But for the record, I don’t like us getting messed around. You could have told us what you knew this morning.”

Proberty offered a cynical smile, but he seemed too nervy to back it up. Eva turned to Dan. “Ten minutes, then we go, okay?”

Dan said nothing as Eva moved away.

“Taking your orders from the redhead now, are you?”

Dan stayed seated and gave Carl Proberty a cool look.

“She’s right, Carl. This rearranged meeting doesn’t make much sense. Just like your little gym fire doesn’t make sense. You’re not being straight with us and she knows it.”

“Knows it, does she?” said Proberty, turning to stare at Eva’s back.

“Don’t take this out on anyone else, Carl. If you’re bullshitting people that’s on you. But… if I were you I’d look on this as an opportunity. I’m here to find out what’s happening to everyone. I might be able to help you.”

Proberty dropped his wiry frame deep into Eva’s empty chair. “And when you find out what’s happening to us all, what exactly are you going to do about it?”

“A darn sight more than you.”

“Ha. But look at you,” said Proberty. “You look skinny. You’ve had your guts shot out. What can you do about anything?”

“I’m getting stronger by the hour, Carl. And get this. I could still knock your arse straight through this coffee shop window, European titles or not, so watch your damn mouth.”

Proberty grinned, but he wasn’t happy.

“What is this about?” said Dan.

“Okay. Okay,” said Proberty. “You had me right about the fire. I didn’t know what else to say, so I lied.”

“But it wasn’t a spur of the moment lie, Carl. You fed the same bull to the police and the newspapers. It was a rehearsed, premeditated lie. That crap might work with the reporters in the sticks, but it was obvious you were lying.

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