BLOOD DRAGON by Freddie Peters (books to get back into reading .TXT) 📕

Andy nodded in approval. “A good old-fashioned trap.”

“Why not?” Pole grinned briefly. “You’ll be there, I’ll be there, and Mandy can join us disguised as a nurse.”

“I can set up an alert to inform us when this woman enters Balham tube … I think.” Andy tapped his fingers a few times on his upper lip. “Yes, I think I have got enough on her to set up a programme and monitor her.”

“That’s worth trying in any case. We’ll have a team at the hospital no matter what, to give us a decent amount of warning.”

Andy was already standing up. Pole shot a hand forward to hold him back. “Can someone else do the monitoring for you?”

“You mean … once I’ve set up the programme? Yes, sure.”

“Good, I’d like you on site at the hospital. I’m a known face there but you’re not.”

“Be great to be part of that.” Andy ran a hand over his left cheek. “Although I recall the last time I was posted to a hospital, I ended up needing treatment there myself.”

“I certainly won’t forget that.” Pole’s mind flashed back to the case.

“That’s OK, Guv … I’ve toughened up considerably since then. Up to date on my self-defence these days.” Andy took up a mock defensive position and tried to look fierce.

No matter what Andy did, he always looked like a nice guy. Pole approved. No one would suspect he was a copper in disguise.

Chapter Thirty-Three

“Go away.” Nancy was determined not to sound scared. Even if the receptionist had heard her before her phone went dead, the security guard would not arrive on time. The door had become still again. The man on the other side had not given up, but was bracing himself for another harder push.

Nancy looked around in despair. She moved away from the door. Perhaps if he crashed into it expecting resistance, finding none, he would overshoot and fall into the room. She might then have time to run for it.

Her back bumped into something solid and unexpected. A small fire extinguisher was fixed to the wall.

She tried to yank it out of its holder. It resisted her first attempt, came out at the second and, without thinking, she hurled it towards the door as it crashed open. The extinguisher flew from her hands. The impact was fierce. She heard the crack of bones on impact. A body crashed backwards into the corridor.

Nancy leaned down towards the extinguisher. She retrieved it from the floor and waited. The door was still ajar. Hurried knocks startled her.

“Ms Wu … are you alright … may we come in?”

She hesitated. But no, the man she had just slammed in the face would not sound so polite.

“I’m fine.” She approached the door still holding her weapon, and pulled it fully open with her foot.

Two security guards stood in front of her. She looked into the corridor. There was blood on the carpet. The man she had just hit had disappeared. Nancy slumped against the frame of the battered door.

One of the security guards called the hotel manager. Nancy surveyed the damage still leaning against the wall. There was no way she could remain in this room.

Nancy gave a quick account of what had happened to the manager when he arrived. Already two maids had appeared to help Nancy pack her suitcase. The police had been called and Nancy’s attempt not to attract attention had just failed.

“We will move you into one of our suites. There is one available just a few floors up with the same view. You will be very comfortable there and …” The woman hesitated. “… there is additional security. We have selected a suite that is made available for high profile clients or public figures that require additional protection.”

Nancy thanked her. “I’m very grateful but I’m not sure that is necessary.” She would have been worried if the manager had taken her at her word. A secure door and a video camera at the entrance might be a good addition after all, if she were to get any sleep that night.

It was almost midnight when Nancy closed the door of her new suite. The place was more luxurious than she had expected but she was not in the mood to enjoy it.

The police officer who came had been professional, taking notes, asking the right questions. She had convincingly told them she was on a short break in Hong Kong, a place where she had often done business as a lawyer. Mentioning her profession had the desired effect, prompting a mixture of concern and respect.

She stood in the middle of the vast lounge cum dining room overlooking the Bay. It was no longer just a bedroom; it was a small apartment. Her head was aching, and her body clock had been tricked into telling her it was no longer time to go to bed. She’d moved from suitably tired and relaxed to being wired up by the adrenaline of fear.

She thought about calling Pole, but he would know something was up. He didn’t need the additional burden at the moment.

Nancy moved to the small bar that looked well stocked up. She decided against anything stronger than a cup of tea. She chose a simple chamomile from the large selection of teas offered by the hotel. Her phone was now fully charged. She checked her messages. There was nothing of importance. Nancy picked up the mug and settled onto the sofa. She stood up again to check she had activated the security at the door, and returned to drink her tea gazing absentmindedly at the view.

A new email had just come through, it was from Cora. Nancy read it, sipping her tea, and smiled. Now she had an excuse to call Pole.

* * *

The security guards were not at the door and the doorman looked unusually distracted. Jack wondered how he could get a scruffy looking Randy through the door of the five-star luxury hotel. Randy assured him