Dying For LA by Ian Jones (top fiction books of all time .txt) 📕

then the three men filed out. They returned to the MP office where Reed briefed the corporal and Louisa on what was happening and what he needed them to do.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Colonel General Rostov slowly lowered the phone handset back into its cradle and then sat back in his chair looking at it.

He couldn’t believe it.

Everything is under control they had said. Repeatedly. And as the date got closer, they had maintained the same stance. Eventually they admitted that there are problems. It is taking longer than anticipated but it will be done.

But Rostov had started to have doubts and had taken his own course of action. He was a soldier, he would do what was needed.

But now it seemed as if this had also failed, the money that had been spent was inconceivable, and he was expected to wait.

He had run out of trust.

He looked at the calendar on the wall behind him and dug out his mobile phone.

He would make a call.

Rostov did not lose.

***

Magnanimously Leo had ordered a second round of beers, much to the delight of Rico and Sal who made their first ones last as long as possible.

The elderly barman brought the fresh drinks over to the table.

‘Thanks Leo, this is great,’ Sal said warmly, which got a shark-like smile in return.

‘Yes. I do not think that staying in that place all the time was good idea. It was feeling little bit like the prison yes?’

‘Yes,’ Greg agreed.

Rico and Sal did also but said nothing. Greg had only been there a day or so, they had four months stuck in the shitty apartment in Mount Pleasant to think about. Mount Pleasant? Whoever thought of that name needed shooting first.

Leo dug his mobile phone out of his jacket pocket and laid it on the table.

‘I wait. For one call. I wait yesterday, and today. I am calling but am told to wait. I do not understand.’

‘Er … that’s what Yann told us Leo, he said he was waiting for a call,’ Rico said, unsure as soon as he finished speaking if there would be an explosion hearing it.

But Leo pursed his lips and nodded, then took a drink of his beer.

‘Yann was useless. Incompetent. But yes, is possible we wait for same call. Is possible.’

‘How long do you think we will be here Leo?’ Rolf asked nervously.

Just as they were all thinking Leo would assume he meant the bar and as Leo went to answer the phone rang, shrill in the quiet room. Leo looked at the number on the front and snatched it up, uncoiling from the stool and stalking away listening intently with his mobile pressed against his ear.

The four men watched, each one wondering what would happen now.

Whoever Leo was speaking to was obviously somebody important, he was listening and occasionally making a comment but he was not his usual combative self, there was no arm waving or scowling.

Eventually he hung up the call and headed back over, sliding back onto the stool and taking a drink of beer.

The others waited, looking at him expectantly. He looked all around the table, for the first time he did not look at all comfortable, he seemed to be wondering what to say. Then he crossed his arms and sat up straight.

‘Well, there is being a change. I am in charge. There is one more call I need. Soon I will know for sure what is happening. We drink these beers then we go back, and we make plans. Then we can all go home.’

***

The LAPD arrived at Fort Indigo less than twenty minutes after their meeting with Mathews ended, two cars with roof lights flashing plus an unmarked white SUV which followed them in.

Reed got the call and he collected Louisa then they went to the gate and escorted the police through to the MP station.

John watched as Keane was brought up from the cell. Initially he was all smiles as he walked into the lobby but then froze when he saw four policemen waiting for him.

‘Wait …’ he said, looking at Major Turner who impassively returned his gaze.

‘What?’ he asked. ‘Did you think you’d walk out of here?’

‘Look, I can help. But I need to be on the ground. You need me.’

Now Keane was looking pleadingly at Reed, who shook his head.

‘No, we don’t. We know where Pinsky is and we are acting on it, as are the LAPD. So now it’s time to pay for what you’ve done.’

A policeman stepped forward with cuffs, Keane tried to move away but the corporal pushed him forward.

‘Do you know what they did? They kept me prisoner here! I was locked up! I’m a policeman, a civilian, locked up in an army cell!’ Keane shouted, to nobody in particular.

Chief Brady walked through the group of police officers, John had not noticed he was there before. He walked across to Keane and gestured to the officer to put on the cuffs, which he did briskly.

‘No, they didn’t Ron. None of that happened. We’ve just detained you at your house, I believe I am correct?’ Brady announced.

The officers with him all looked at each other then nodded, and Keane was led out. John followed them and watched him being put in the back of a car and then shook Chief Brady’s hand.

‘It would be useful to keep the army well clear of this Chief,’ John said earnestly.

Brady smiled.

‘Don’t worry. He was never here.’

‘You suspected him, didn’t you? I wish I had realised it at the time, looking back I can see you didn’t trust him.’

Brady sighed.

‘Well, yeah, I didn’t understand why he’d get involved. It didn’t make a whole lot of sense, as far as I knew he was just a pencil pusher. But there have been issues in the past. I never liked Ron Keane, things seem to get tidied away way too neatly. But of course the administration do like that, less work to do, keep the outstanding list shorter. So he was never called to task over