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

“What now?” said Faith.

“Now we wait,” replied Vance.

“I get the feeling this is going to be long and boring and we can’t even snuggle to keep ourselves warm and entertained.”

“You can get some shut eye while I keep watch.”

“It’s only nine o’clock, I can’t sleep this early. I wish I’d brought a book. How did you stave off boredom when you were in the police?”

“We’d chat, do puzzles.”

“I’ve got one on my phone…”

“You can’t use that. The light from the screen might attract attention.”

She sighed, folded her arms across her chest and slumped further into the seat. “I thought being all cosy in a car with you would be fun but it’s not.”

“Looks like you won’t have to put up with the torment for long,” said Vance, sitting up straighter in his seat. “Someone’s coming out of the house.”

Although it was dark and they were at a distance, the glow from the streetlights was enough to tell them that the person exiting the Cooper home was Ben himself.

“Why aren’t you starting the engine?” Faith asked Vance as they watched Ben climb into the Audi.

“Because he might hear us. I’ll start it when he’s started his own engine.”

“Sorry, I’ll shut up.”

He winked at her and started the engine, only setting off once Ben’s taillights were in the distance.

“It’s difficult tailing someone this time of night when the traffic’s so light,” said Vance. “It’s very easy to be spotted.”

“He could be going to the fire station.”

“By the way he’s driving it can’t be an emergency.”

“He might be about to start his shift.”

“Possibly.”

“Should I call the others?”

“Let’s see where he’s going first. We don’t want to drag them out because he’s going to the all-night supermarket.”

“He’s headed towards Stanley Park. His station’s not far from there.”

They continued to follow as Ben drove past the park and joined onto the busier B5124, giving them a little cover.

“Wherever he’s going, he’s heading north,” said Vance. “Meaning he isn’t going to work.”

He allowed another car to pull out in front of them, giving them cover, hanging back a little.

“Shit,” said Vance when Ben turned right into a petrol station. “I’ll turn right after the petrol station. There’s a few parking spaces outside a row of shops.”

He made the turn and pulled into a space. As it was getting late all but two of the spaces were empty.

“Wait here,” he told Faith, unfastening his seatbelt. “I’ll see what he’s up to.”

He jumped out of the car, eyes bright with eagerness. He was enjoying himself but this was the type of work Vance loved to do, it was what had attracted him to the police force in the first place.

Vance jogged over to the fence dividing the edge of the car park from the petrol station. From this vantage point he could see Ben filling up at one of the pumps. He appeared calm and casual, not as though he was up to anything. Vance watched him remove the hose from the petrol tank and head into the shop to pay. As he exited, Vance rushed back to the car, jumped in, started the engine, left the car park and swung back onto the main road.

“Can you see him?” Faith asked him.

“Yes, he’s indicating right. He’s coming this way,” he replied before steering the car into the next lane that would allow him to turn right. Fortunately the lane was empty.

“This junction is controlled by four-way lights,” said Faith as she watched Ben’s Audi roll up to the lights on their left. “So they’ll take forever to change.”

“It looks like he’s going straight on. Let’s hope our lights change first.”

They did and Vance put the car into gear, turning right, driving as slow as he dared without attracting attention.

“He’s set off,” said Faith, turning in her seat to keep watch. “But he’s quite a way behind us. At least he drives a big vehicle. It makes it easier to spot him.”

“We need to let him get ahead of us,” he said, slowing down the car even more and indicating left.

“You can’t do that,” she said when he pulled onto the drive of a large Victorian semi-detached house.

“Don’t worry, I’m not staying here,” he said, watching Ben’s car pass them in his rear-view mirror. When it had gone, he reversed off the drive and followed. There were two cars between them and Ben. They passed a biscuit factory and headed under a bridge before driving past more houses and shops.

When they reached a roundabout, Ben turned left and they followed at a safe distance.

“He’s heading to the north shore,” said Faith. “He must be.”

Sure enough, they turned onto the promenade where the traffic was a little heavier.

“Well,” said Vance. “Things are getting a little clearer. He’s pulling into a casino.”

“A gambling problem would explain why he robbed us.”

They drove past the casino and turned right onto the street running down the side of it. Vance turned the car around and pulled up at the kerb so they could watch Ben get out of the car and stride inside.

“He doesn’t look like he’s dressed for the casino,” commented Faith. “He’s only in jeans and a jumper. They might not let him through the door.”

“The way he’s walking says he won’t give them a choice.”

“Things aren’t as they seem. He just doesn’t look like a man out for an evening of roulette.”

“I think you’re right.”

Less than a minute later Ben exited the casino escorting a slender blonde by the arm who was dressed to the nines in a cocktail dress, hair piled up on top of her head.

“That looks like his wife,” said Faith.