COFFIN COVE a gripping murder mystery full of twists (Coffin Cove Mysteries Book 1) by JACKIE ELLIOTT (books for new readers .TXT) 📕

now. Then call Nikos and tell him as much as you can. Tell him he must go along with Adrian. Tell him to tell Hilstead he needs to talk to his lawyer or something. Enough to get Hilstead out of there without anyone getting hurt.”

Terry and Harry waited. They watched Adrian get in Hilstead’s truck and pull out of the parking lot. They listened, hoping that Adrian wouldn’t open his mouth and put them all in danger. But neither Hilstead nor Adrian said much. Adrian, sensing that Hilstead was on to him, maybe, hadn’t argued.

Harry’s phone pinged.

“Dyke Road,” he said to Terry, “just near the private marina at the end. I know where it is. Don’t follow the truck, go this way.”

Harry recognized the house as soon as he saw it. Nikos and Iris had invited him once to an end-of-fishing-season barbeque. Nikos had proudly shown Harry around. It was a big, sprawling building with countless bedrooms. Nikos and Iris had wanted more children and eventually grandchildren. It wasn’t to be. Iris died far too soon, and Adrian hadn’t even married, let alone presented any grandchildren to proudly carry on the Palmer name.

Set back from the road, their large stuccoed rancher had a partial faux-rock facade that had seen better days. It was set on three acres, and Harry remembered that the back yard extended down to the Fraser River. Iris had kept a meticulous garden, but judging from the overgrown driveway, Nikos had let all that go after her death.

“Have you been here before?” Terry asked, as they parked away from the driveway entrance, their presence obscured by large rhododendron bushes and the fading evening light. They could see Hilstead’s truck in the driveway.

“I’ve been here once, years ago,” Harry said.

“Where in the house would they go?” Terry asked. “Left or right side?”

“Left,” Harry said, trying to remember the layout. “Left, as we are facing it from here. I think the bedrooms are on the right. When you walk in through the front door — yes, I remember now — there’s an open-plan living room on the left-hand side. Does that microphone thing still work?”

“Yeah, think so,” Terry said. “Look, if this all goes to shit, we should try to get Nikos and Adrian out. Do you think there’s a way in round the back?”

Harry nodded. “Just thinking the same. You see if you can listen in, text me ‘GO’ if I need to break in, right? Get my number punched in and ready.”

“I’m phoning Andi now,” Terry said. “I think we should notify the police. But it’s her call. She’s paying.”

* * *

Harry got out of the car and Terry watched his bulky figure disappear around the corner until he was consumed by shadows. He made a call to Andi. Then he reset the audio app. He waited, and with relief he heard Adrian’s voice.

“So, Dad, Steve and I would like to run something by you . . .”

Good, Terry thought, they only just got here. Now, if Adrian can keep it together and just leave the documents with Nikos and get them out of there . . .

He heard an older man speak. Nikos, he guessed.

“You want tea? Adrian, I make you and your friend Steve some tea, yes?”

“No, Dad . . .”

“I make tea. It’s no trouble. Sit down, make yourself at home.”

The audio was breaking up a bit. Terry needed to be a little nearer for his phone to pick up the signal. He leaned into the back seat of his car and pulled out his camera.

You never know, he thought.

He got out of the car and already could hear Nikos’s voice much more clearly.

“The kettle is on. Now, what is all this about?”

“Dad, Steve and I have a new plan for the business . . .”

Adrian sounded calm, Terry thought, as he listened to him lay out a plan for transferring Nikos’s interest in the company to Adrian.

Then he heard Hilstead.

“Actually, Mr Palmer, Adrian has it wrong. You have to transfer the shares to me. Right now. Sign the papers.” He sounded desperate, Terry thought.

He edged nearer the house and could see Adrian and Hilstead sitting with their backs to the window. He wondered where Harry was.

“Wait a minute, Mr Hilstead.” Nikos’ voice was firm. “First, we will have tea.”

What’s going on? Terry thought. Has the old guy lost his marbles or something?

“Oh, fuck,” he said out loud a moment later. He simultaneously watched and listened as Nikos came back into the living room, not carrying tea, but a handgun.

“You’ll not be taking my business, Mr Hilstead. And you are not blackmailing my son. I know all about you and your illegal fish and your drugs. You’ve manipulated my son, but you’ll not outsmart me.”

There was a moment of silence and Terry thought he’d lost the audio. Then he heard Hilstead chuckle.

“Oh, I see now. Brenda was spying for you. I thought she was just a nosy old bat. Well, here’s the deal, old man. You’re going to sign over your shares to me. Otherwise, Adrian here will be in a world of trouble.”

“I don’t think so, Mr Hilstead. Adrian will explain everything to the authorities. He’s made mistakes, but he’ll be fine. Now I’d like you to leave.”

Through the window, Terry saw Hilstead stand up and lean over Nikos.

“You don’t fucking understand. Adrian won’t be around to explain to the authorities. Now, sign the fucking papers or I’ll fucking kill you myself.”

Terry watched in horror as Hilstead grabbed Nikos around his throat. Terry grabbed his phone and texted ‘GO GO GO’ to Harry, as Nikos struggled and Adrian tried to pull Hilstead off his father.

Terry heard some glass shatter on the audio. Harry.

Hilstead must have heard it too, because he hesitated for a split second. “What the fu—?” Terry heard, and then Harry was