Screen of Deceit Read Free

outskirts of Blackpool.
    â€˜The Lexus has come off at junction four and is heading into Blackpool on the A583.’
    â€˜Roger,’ Rik said unsurely, then, ‘Shit!’ as the doors of the Focus opened and both occupants climbed out. He relayed this development to all the other participants in the operation and told them all to stay put. ‘Not good, not good,’ he said to Henry.
    The two guys split up, one crossing the street, then they started walking slowly down the street towards the Astra.
    â€˜If they are mixed up with this and they spot us, cover’s blown and maybe the operation,’ Rik said bleakly. Henry’s thoughts entirely.
    â€˜And there’s no doubt about it, they’re gonna spot us.’
    The men were getting closer.
    Henry and Rik were rigid in their seats, nowhere to go, nowhere to hide.
    â€˜Whaddaya reckon, pal?’ Rik said through the corner of his mouth.
    â€˜I think our goose is cooked and we’ve about ten seconds to make a decision.’
    â€˜One way or the other, they need to be neutralized, because if they are spotters or even rivals, this op will go tits up if we don’t get them off the street like now. You up for it?’
    â€˜Shiny-arsed I may be—’ Henry began, but didn’t finish.
    Rik was speaking hurriedly into his PR: ‘For info of patrols, Alpha One is challenging occupants of the Ford Focus … Alpha Six, get yourself on to the street now … intention is to get these two out of play now, no messing …’ He was uttering these words as he opened his door, Henry following suit just a fraction of a second behind him. They would have to work quickly to deal with the two men, get them off the plot and get everything back to normal.
    The two detectives were out of the car speedily, Henry approaching the man making his way down the left side of the street, Rik moving diagonally across to the other, each cop reaching for his warrant card; Henry also curled his fingers around his extendable baton which hung from the belt of his jeans.
    He glanced over at Rik, seeing his hand extended with his warrant card in it. Henry turned his attention back to the man he was going for, seeing him more clearly now as they closed on each other, although the guy’s face was still a mix of shadow and light.
    â€˜Police,’ Henry said, ‘need to have a word, please.’
    Across the road, Henry was aware of a similar confrontation taking place.
    The man Henry had challenged stopped in his tracks, but did not speak.
    At the far end of the street, a vehicle swung in, headlights blazing: Alpha Six.
    Henry breathed an inner sigh of relief. Now they had these two jokers, whoever they were, whatever they were doing, outnumbered and boxed in and could take them off the plot quickly and efficiently.
    Just as long as it all went swimmingly …
    Suddenly there was a ‘crack’ from the other side of the street. Henry knew immediately what he had heard – a gunshot.
    He ducked instinctively.
    Rik groaned and went down, clutching his thigh.
    These two were not going to be easy.
    The man in front of Henry reacted. He lunged at him, taking him by surprise. He was a big guy, as was Henry, but he barged Henry aside and pushed him roughly against the wall of a house. Henry crashed painfully against the brickwork, but bounced straight back and launched himself at the man who had begun to run. Henry’s warrant card skittered away (never to be found) as both his hands grabbed the man, who twisted into him and powered a big fist up into Henry’s guts.
    Even in the darkness, Henry saw it coming, although there was little he could do to prevent it connecting other than to tense his stomach muscles and try to pull back.
    It was still a good punch. Henry’s breath shot out of him. He curled double, holding himself.
    The police car raced down the street.
    Henry – ashamed he’d taken such an early punch