Takedown by Heather Atkinson (latest books to read txt) 📕

“I want to compare this footage to the footage of the robbery at the vault,” said Vance.

“Good idea,” said Faith, sliding her hand across his backside as their siblings made their way to the door, Jason with his laptop tucked under his arm.

Faith locked up the office, feeling a little sad. Their security had been breached so easily and by a bunch of firefighters of all people. She had to up her game or one day she’d get her family killed.

Rose was washing up when she heard the front door go and all her children pile in, eagerly chatting.

“Hello dears,” she smiled, walking into the front room, drying her hands on a tea towel. “I’ve saved some tea. It’s keeping warm in the oven but I didn’t expect you all to come back.”

“What have you made?” said an eager Jason.

“Shepherd’s pie.”

“Brilliant. I’ll have some.”

“Me too,” said Kevin. “I’m starving.”

“There’s enough for Vance, Caleb and Abi too but you boys will have to have less,” she replied, making Jason and Kevin pout. “Sorry Faith, it’s not vegan.”

“Not to worry,” she replied. “I’m not hungry anyway.”

“Are you all right dear?” Rose asked her. “You look a bit pale.”

“Fine,” she sighed. “Life’s just hectic at the moment.”

“Even more reason for you to eat. I can do you some beans on toast. I know it’s not much but it was always your favourite when you were a little girl.”

“It still is one of my favourites but I don’t think I could manage anything.”

“Mum’s right,” Vance told her. “You do look pale and I bet you haven’t eaten anything since breakfast.” The way she avoided his gaze told him he was right. “You need to eat Faith. We can’t have you falling ill, not now.”

“All right, I give in. I’ll have beans on toast without butter.”

“Good.”

“Do the rest of you want the shepherd’s pie?” Rose asked them.

“Yes please,” the five of them chimed in unison.

“Coming right up,” she smiled before returning to the kitchen.

“Right,” said Faith. “Let’s compare the footage of the robbery to the footage taken at the club.”

Vance brought the robbery footage up on his phone and sat beside Jason so everyone could compare the two screens.

“That definitely looks like the same man,” said Caleb, pointing from the image of the lead firefighter to one of the robbers who was eagerly subduing one of their men. “He’s wearing a balaclava but he’s the same build and he moves the same way.”

“And those two are the same,” said Vance, gesturing from one screen to the other. “That walk is really distinctive. He struts more than walks.”

“Greg wasn’t wrong when he said that woman went to town on him,” said Faith as she watched the woman kicking the crap out of one of their toughest men. “And she does look to be enjoying it.”

They agreed that all four robbers matched the four firefighters.

“Okay Jason,” said Faith. “Print off copies of their images.”

“How will we identify them?” said Abi.

“I can give them to Matthew, he should be able to help and look up the Blackpool Fire Service online Jason. You never know, there might be a news article about one of them.”

“On it,” he said, fingers flying across the keyboard.

“I never thought you’d be a computer nerd,” Abi told him.

Jason stopped typing to glare at her. “I am not a nerd.”

“Course you are. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with it,” she added. “It’s come in really useful. I just didn’t expect you to be one.”

“Because I’m too thick?”

“I used to think you were but obviously not.”

“Abi,” said Faith. “Let him get on with his work.”

“I was only trying to pay him a compliment,” she muttered, examining her nails.

“Bloody hell, that was easy,” said Jason.

“What was?” said Faith.

“I went onto the fire station’s social media page and there’s a photo of the whole crew at some charity event.”

They all gathered round to look and found themselves staring at the faces of those who had robbed them. Not all the firefighters in the photos were the robbers. Five of them had nothing to do with it.

“We still don’t know who they are,” said Faith. “There’s no names.”

“Young will be able to find out,” said Vance. “Coppers get to know the fire crews.”

“He might not be comfortable with this but he’ll be relieved it’s none of his officers. Speaking of which, I need to call him and let him know.”

“Where are you going?” said Vance when she made for the door.

“I’m going outside to call Matthew.”

“You’re better staying in the house,” he replied, shoving away the pang of jealousy. “We don’t know when these people will strike again.”

“But I can’t hear myself think in this house.”

“We’ll all stay quiet while you make the call.”

“Okay.”

Vance was soothed by how easily she’d relented. His jealousy made him feel ridiculous. He knew she loved him and only him but he couldn’t shake the niggling feeling that if he hadn’t been around she might well be involved more deeply with DI Young.

“Matthew, I’ve got good news for you,” she said when he answered.

More jealousy poured through Vance’s veins when she giggled coquettishly.

“No,” she continued. “Now listen. The people who robbed us aren’t police officers. They’re firefighters. We caught them on camera at Pulse. They set off the fire alarm so the club would have to be evacuated and then searched the office, picking the locks on the filing cabinet and desk drawers. I know fire crews have to do a thorough sweep of a building for fire but I’m pretty sure they don’t need to check every individual drawer. Is that