Shot of Silence (Justice Again Book 3) by M Comley (the unexpected everything .txt) 📕

to track him down. We had your husband under surveillance, two police officers were with him at the time.”

“What? Are you telling me you’ve got the bastard or that you’ve let him go?”

“He used a sniper rifle to carry out the shootings. His only targets appeared to be your husband and Steve Abbott.”

“Why? My husband isn’t the type to fall out with people. Why is Boyd doing this?”

“We’ve yet to uncover a plausible motive. We’ve got a possible idea that it might be because of the promotion which he was overlooked for.”

“Really? People take umbrage at something as silly as that?”

“We won’t know the truth until we bring him in for questioning.”

The front door opened, and a grey-haired woman wearing leggings and a long fluffy grey jumper burst into the room and smothered Jo. “My darling, it’s such terrible news. Is he okay?”

“I’m just questioning the officer now, Mum, be patient.”

“I’m afraid I can’t answer your question,” Charlie said. “What I can do is either take, or accompany you, to the hospital. Which do you prefer?”

“I’d rather go in my car, you know I don’t trust other people driving me,” Sue was quick to reply.

“She’s right. She’s a nightmare, you’d be a nervous wreck after having her as a passenger. You’ll come with us? Be there with us at the hospital?”

“Yes. All right, I suggest we go now in that case.”

The three of them headed out of the house. In the hallway, on the half-moon-shaped console table was a framed photo of Jo and Ben. Jo threw her coat on and then ran her hand over her husband’s face in the photo.

A lump appeared in Charlie’s throat that she cleared with a subtle cough on the way out to the car. “It shouldn’t take us too long. Try and stick close behind me if you can. If I lose you, I’ll pull over to allow you to catch up. We have a number of traffic lights to contend with on the way.”

“I’ll keep up, don’t worry. It’s not like a jobsworth copper is going to pull me over, is it?” Sue pointed out.

Charlie couldn’t argue with her logic. The three women set off in their respective cars, and before long they were within spitting distance of the hospital. Charlie’s phone rang. She glanced down at the caller ID. It was Katy.

“Hi, I’m driving.”

“Sorry, want me to call you back?”

“No, I just wanted you to be aware in case I lost my signal. How are things?”

“I’m heading home for the night, leaving hospital now. Things seem to be going okay with Georgie. The doctor is pleased with her progress, which is a blessing. Why are you in the car and not tucked up at home revising?”

“I was at home. I got called out. You don’t want to hear.”

“You’re wrong. What’s going on, Charlie? I order you to tell me. There, I’ve said it!”

Charlie sniggered. “Briefly, because the hospital entrance is up ahead. Ben Thompson and Steve Abbott were both shot tonight. Abbott didn’t make it, but I’m on the way to the hospital now, taking Ben’s wife and mother-in-law with me, and no, they’re not in the car before you ask.”

“Shit, what a bummer. Hey, I caught you on TV on the early evening news. You did good, girl.”

“Thanks. Roberts forced me into a corner. Now I feel guilty. Did I push Boyd into going after Ben and Steve?”

“Like hell! Don’t even go there. Boyd has got an agenda, he won’t stop until he’s fulfilled it. Let’s face it, there’s no one left now, is there?”

“Ben, if he survives. What if he calls the hospital to check how he is and then shows up to finish the job?”

“Crikey! There’s every possibility he’d do that. You need to put Ben under guard at the hospital.”

“Already tried that. Both Ben and Steve were being accompanied by uniform when they got shot earlier. It wasn’t a deterrent for Boyd, far from it.”

“You’re going to have to make the call, put an armed officer on the door if necessary, love.”

“I was wondering about that. I’ll run it past Roberts.”

Katy tutted. “Where is he? He should be out there with you.”

“He is, well, sort of. He’s gone to break the bad news to Abbott’s wife. Get this, then he’s going to head home.”

“Whoa! That’s the last time you and I pull an all-nighter in the future then. What a…never mind. I’ll sort it out with him in the morning. Did you get anything from the press conference?”

“A lady rang in telling me that she’d seen Boyd in Croft Road close to where we last spotted his latest stolen car.”

“Excellent news. All right, I’ll let you get on. Send me a text later, let me know how you get on at the hospital.”

“Will do.”

“And Charlie, good luck for tomorrow. You’ve got this.”

“Thanks, Katy.”

Charlie ended the call and found a parking spot. She waited outside her vehicle for Sue to go back and forth in the place she’d found, only to leave the space and park in a different one a little farther away. Oh God, she’d do my head in! Come on, woman!

She pinned a smile in place as Jo and Sue joined her. “We can go straight in, we’ll pick the ticket up when we leave.”

They raced through to the Accident and Emergency department, and Charlie asked at the reception desk if it would be possible for them to see the doctor treating Ben Thompson.

“Can I ask you to wait in the family room? It’s over there, on the right. I’ll see what I can find out after I’ve dealt with the queue.”

“Of course.” Charlie led the way.

The three of them took a seat. Sue flicked frantically through a magazine, not bothering to read any of the articles, while Jo and Charlie were lost in their own thoughts. Charlie was unsure what to say for the best.

Fifteen minutes later, the doctor came to see them. “Ben Thompson’s family, I presume?”

Charlie introduced them all. “His wife and