Blood Money

Blood Money Read Free

Book: Blood Money Read Free
Author: Maureen Carter
Ads: Link
it.
    Mac’s hesitation was barely detectable. “Said I’d hook up with her there, guv.”
    Byford detected both the delay and the divided loyalty. “Sure about that?” He suspected Mac Tyler was a lifeguard when it came to hauling Bev out of professional deep water. And he
was pretty sure the DC had dipped a toe already this morning. She’d not shown at the early brief, chasing a lead – according to Mac. The big man watched and waited in silence, observed
beads of sweat appear above the DC’s top lip.
    Mac lifted a palm, started backing towards the door. “I’d best make tracks, guv. I’ll get it in the neck if I’m late.”
    He watched Mac lumber down the corridor, jabbing numbers into a mobile’s keypad as he went. Byford sighed, got up to close the door. Clearly, Tyler’s skills only extended to opening
the damn things. He’d no doubt who Mac was trying to call. He clenched his jaw, hoped if Bev needed saving the water wasn’t too hot or too deep.

4
    “Took your time, didn’t you?” Detective Sergeant Bev Morriss pushed herself up from the bonnet of a black MG Midget, and flicked a butt in the gutter where it
joined another also ringed with crimson lipstick. Riled, Mac bit back a barb, then stared open-jawed as she hoisted a bag the size of Surrey on her shoulder and strode off casting a caustic,
“Come on, mate, we ain’t got all day,” in her wake.
    Her five-six-size-12-ish frame was encased in ankle-length leather coat and knee high boots. The gear wasn’t black, or Mac reckoned he’d be goose-stepping to keep up. The coat, he
noted, was dark blue. Her entire work wardrobe was blue, every shade in the solar system, though none matched the vibrancy of her eyes, even when she was well knackered, like now. Dark circles and
drawn features were easily discernible under the warpaint. And Bev had clearly daubed it on. Talk about heavy. It was like a bloody mask these days.
    Mac switched focus as they strutted down the damp pavement. The snow had melted and though the wide tree-lined road wasn’t exactly bathed in light, a watery sun was doing its best.
Blenheim Avenue, like much of Moseley, was neat verges, clipped hedges, manicured lawns. Imposing double-fronted redbrick Victorian properties were detached – and then some. Milton House had
company: three police motors were parked outside, though only one was marked.
    Bev reached the metal gates first, bowed ostentatiously as she ushered him in. “So what kept you?”
    He tightened his lips. “I was on the job, boss. How about you?”
    “You could say that.”
    It was her wink that did it. The proverbial straw on Mac’s already buckling back. “Grow up,” he hissed. “I’m telling you, sarge, I’m not happy.”
    “Get over it.”
    “I had to lie to the guv this morning to cover your back.”
    “What d’you want? A gold star?” Childish, churlish. She didn’t need telling she was in the wrong.
    He kept pace as she headed towards the door. “A bit of communication would do. I hadn’t a clue where you were. I called the house, left voice mail, tried your mobile a
million...”
    “Yeah, sorry ’bout that, mate. Phone’s gone AWOL.”
    As if. He stayed her hand as she made to ring the bell, forced her to make eye contact. “Don’t Bev. Not that. Please.” The ‘Bev’ was a rare enough personal touch to
know he meant business.
    “What?” The defiant glint in her eye was a warning. Maybe he couldn’t read it.
    “Lie to me.” His pause was deliberately long. “We’re partners. I have to know you tell me the truth.”
    “Moral high ground?” she snapped. “Get off your sodding stilts, mate.”
    “Shall I leave it on the latch – or are you coming in?” The young officer who’d opened the door looked like a member of a boy band wearing the uniform for a bet:
dark-haired, smooth-skinned, clean-cut, PC Danny Rees was only a couple of years out of Hendon, but fancied himself as son of Morse. Given Danny’s

Similar Books

A Vagrant Story

Paul Croasdell

The History Boys

Alan Bennett

Resilient (2)

Nikki Mathis Thompson

Walking the Labyrinth

Lisa Goldstein

Blackett's War

Stephen Budiansky

Masquerade

Nyrae Dawn