Heist: BookShots by James Patterson

Author:James Patterson [Patterson, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2016-06-29T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

DETECTIVE INSPECTOR HILL sprinted across St Pancras station’s concourse, the uniformed sergeant beside him struggling to match the pace.

‘Can’t they stop it?’ Hill demanded of the man as the pair flashed identification at the border officials.

‘We’ve got no cause, sir,’ the sergeant told Hill for the third time. ‘Three robbery suspects is not enough to hold an already delayed international train. We’re not even sure they’re on there.’

‘They’re on there,’ Hill declared, trusting his gut and pushing his way through a group of startled tourists.

‘Where are your officers? How many are on the train?’

‘Well, none, sir,’ the sergeant told him, fighting for air. ‘They can’t go to Europe.’

Hill swore beneath his breath, scanning the scene about him. Whistles rang along the platform. Hill knew the train’s doors would close in a second, and with them his chances of catching the thieves.

‘My car’s pulled up across the front!’ he shouted at the sergeant, tossing him the BMW’s keys as he leapt through the open door and onto the train. The closing door cut off the sergeant’s shocked reply.

‘You can’t do this, sir,’ Hill lip-read. He smiled as he waved the man goodbye.

The train lurched forwards. There was no turning back now. Either he would come out of this a champion or a disgrace. He knew he was placing his redundancy package – and therefore the future of his business – in jeopardy, but Hill believed in bold strokes, and he trusted his gut. The thieves, and Slate’s diamonds, were on this train.

After a few moments to collect his thoughts, Hill pulled out his phone.

‘Now, don’t get angry,’ he said into it after Vaughn answered, ‘but I’m on the Eurostar.’

‘Yes, I just bloody heard from the sergeant! What the hell are you doing, Hill? Get yourself off there at the first stop. If you’re lucky, maybe we can keep the IPCC out of this.’

‘I’m going to Amsterdam, boss, but I’ll be back tomorrow.’

‘You’ve got no jurisdiction to operate on the Continent, you stupid git!’

‘I know that, boss. That’s why I’m calling you to let you know I’m taking tomorrow off as leave. Pretty sure I’ve got a couple of days left in the bank, and I was already pushing into overtime today. This is just an above-board day break across the Channel.’

‘Right, but all that goes to shit when you find these thieves of yours.’

‘Exactly. When I find them,’ Hill smiled. ‘These thieves scream amateur to me, boss, and they’ve bitten the hand of one of the shadiest men in London. If I don’t find them before his crew does, then we’ll have an international murder enquiry on our hands.’

‘Christ. OK. I’ll call ahead to a friend of mine in Amsterdam. I’ll write it up as a familiarisation visit.’

‘You’re a good bobby, boss,’ Hill told Vaughn, and meant it.

‘Save the arse-kissing, Hill. Just find those thieves before they’re corpses.’

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