The Hard Way by Duncan Brockwell (most popular ebook readers txt) 📕

Mr Marlowe, if you’re ex-SBS, why were you with Jason Nye? Huh? On what planet would you be working with a member of Signal Squadron?”

He grinned. “Ah, so you really don’t know what’s going on at all, do you? You have no idea the shitstorm that’s about to rain down on you.” He leaned back in his chair. “It’s going to cost you: get me in a safe house somewhere, and I’ll tell you everything you need to know. I’ve been covering my arse since I started with The Company. I have enough intel on them to put them away. If you get me into witness protection, I’ll show you where that intel is, and you’ll be able to bring them all down. What do you say?”

Crossing her arms, Hayes was getting restless. “First, tell us what Richard Fisher’s product is. What is it you’re trying to destroy, hmm?”

“You want me to do your job for you, is that it? If I give you all this intel now, what do I get, huh? Nothing. Screwed, that’s what. No way! You get me a deal, and I tell you everything, or we go our separate ways.”

Miller turned and smiled at Hayes, before turning back to Marlowe. “Go our separate ways? No, you’re going to prison for the murder of four people, that we know of. In a couple of hours ballistics will confirm your gun was that used to shoot Colin Fisher, Brandy Reid, and Kurt Austin. Then we have the comparisons of your boot sole impression, which I’m sure will match those found on Fisher’s chest. We have trace all over the place in Henry Curtis’ home. The muzzle mark on the back of Curtis’ head will match your pistol, or your partner’s. Basically, all this adds up to a bad diagnosis for you.”

Glad to see the fear in his eyes, Hayes stepped up to the table. “You’re going to have to give us something pretty big if you want our help. Right now, we have our suspects. You guys go to prison, we’ve done our jobs; we’ve brought two murderers to justice. I’m happy with that. Are you, Miller?”

“Oh, I’m ecstatic. I don’t understand why we’re even talking to him. He’s already confessed. This is a slam-dunk case if ever I saw one.”

“You’d better give them something, Mr Marlowe,” Gillan chirped. “I’ve seen them like this before. They’ll just walk out any minute if you don’t start helping us.”

“What is the product you’re trying to destroy?”

“You’ll have to find out for yourself, won’t you? But when you do, be sure to come and find me, and I’ll tell you what you’re up against. Shit, the way you’re going about this, you’ll be lucky to live past lunchtime. Give me a deal and I’ll tell you now.”

Hayes turned at a knock on the door. Travis poked his head in, gestured for her to join him outside in the corridor. Making her excuses, she stepped into the hallway, closed the door, then waited for Travis to speak.

“I’ve just heard, Richard Fisher’s dead.”

She gasped. “What? How?”

“According to the NCA officer, he committed suicide using his bed sheet and the handle on the cell door. He died of asphyxiation. I’m sorry! I know this is a blow to your case.”

Not knowing how to feel, Hayes stepped back into the interview room. “Richard Fisher’s dead. He committed suicide in his cell.”

“What? No fucking way! Don’t you see? How can you be so blind? The Company’s just had him killed. How did he commit suicide?”

“With his bedsheet tied to the door handle.”

Marlowe laughed. “And you believe that? You must be dumber than you look. They sent someone in there to silence him. It’s what they do; it’s how they operate.”

“Right, I’m sick of this! You tell us what you know, or I swear we’re going to throw you in prison and leave you there to rot, you horrible piece of shit.” Hayes glared down at him, hands on the table. “What’s The Company you keep mentioning?”

Marlowe sighed. “Okay, I’ll give you this in good faith. Me and Jay, we’re both ex-special forces, hired by The Company to carry out various tasks. Every member of The Company is ex-armed forces, and we’re put into units. There are six units of six in total. The colonel chooses the operations, we go where the money is. Is that enough for you?”

“So, you’re mercenaries? Is that what you’re saying?” Miller looked her way.

“Hired guns, mercenaries, whatever. It doesn’t matter now, does it? I’m a dead man. My best chance of getting out of here is a deal with you guys. So, please, I’ve told you what you’re up against. You’ve got ten ‘mercenaries’ out there looking for that product, ready to take out anyone, and I mean anyone, who gets in their way. These guys won’t hesitate in taking out a cop, trust me. They’ll shoot you where you stand, leave your brains sliding down a wall, and be gone before your body hits the ground.”

“Why only ten? I thought you said there were thirty-six of you?”

“There are, but the colonel only assigned two units to this operation. The rest are overseas on other ops. But, if the colonel sees this op going south, he won’t hesitate in deploying the entire Company. Bottom line, the colonel doesn’t lose.”

Hayes unfolded her arms. “Guess what? He’s going to have to learn. This colonel of yours isn’t going to get away with this.”

62

Walker kept an eye on Vodicka in the rear passenger seat. She was busy on the comms, working the radio, while his front passenger, Sarge, sat stony faced next to him. It was lunchtime, the streets were quiet, or so it seemed, yet he caught Vodicka’s stare every so often. Nothing was said about the previous night/that morning.

Walker left Rachel’s place under the illusion of having reported his team to the Independent Office of Police Conduct. While he’d gone as far as typing out his report, Rachel went to