Whisper For The Reaper by Jack Gatland (best motivational books for students txt) 📗

‘I have something else to tell you,’ he leaned forward now, taking Jess’ hand, stopping her from bundling any more sheets of paper. ‘But it’s between us, okay? No telling mum. She’ll only worry, and you don’t want that.’

Jess turned to face her father now, her face a mask of concern. ‘What is it?’

Declan took a deep breath and, over the next half hour told his daughter about the conversation he’d had with Karl Schnitter earlier that day, including the information he’d been passed about the possible murders of his parents, her grandparents, and what had eventually happened to the murderer.

When he finished, neither of them were in the mood for pizza anymore.

‘Two catch ups in one week? I am feeling spoiled,’ Billy smiled as he sat down opposite Anjli in the upstairs bar of The Old Crown on Fleet Street. ‘I got the impression from the text that something important was going down.’

‘You’d know if you’d read your email,’ Anjli sipped at her drink as she watched her friend’s reaction. ‘But it seemed to bounce from your City Police address. Any reason?’

‘They’re changing the emails,’ Billy lied smoothly. ‘More of a cybercrime domain. Your email must have gotten lost in the moving.’

‘Awesome,’ Anjli pulled out a notebook and pen, passing it over to Billy. ‘Write your new email down then, please.’

Billy stared at the notebook as if it was a poisonous viper and, with no comment coming from him, Anjli continued.

‘I mean I’d love to see how you have an email considering you gave in your notice and walked out,’ she said, crossing her arms. ‘All ears.’

Billy groaned. ‘How did you find out?’ he asked.

‘Monroe tried to contact you,’ Anjli’s expression didn’t waver as she faced her friend. ‘Christ, Billy, what the hell are you playing at?’

‘I don’t think the force is for me,’ Billy muttered, looking out of the window beside them, looking out onto the lamp-lit street. ‘I’m just not the running, jumping, climbing trees type, you know?’

‘But that’s why you asked for cybercrime!’ Anjli exploded, finally unable to hold back her anger. ‘When they said we were being seconded, you asked for it!’

‘I asked for it because I needed space!’ Billy snapped back.

‘Space from what?’

‘Space from you!’

There was a silence in the upstairs bar. The other drinkers were now looking at Anjli and Billy, their drinks paused mid rise. Anjli pulled her warrant card out, waving it around before speaking.

‘Anyone want to comment on our conversation? Happy to have a chat.’

The other drinkers returned to their own conversations, and Anjli looked back to Billy, who looked appalled at his own outburst.

‘I didn’t mean it like that,’ he explained. ‘I mean all of you. The Last Chance Saloon. I… Look,’ he leaned forward. ‘I came from cyber, I was a desk jockey. And then, under Monroe, I’m out in the field. That’s fine, but then I have SCO 19 rifles aimed at me outside Devington House, we’re racing red lights to save Monroe from an execution, I’m going undercover with a murderer, one that tried to shoot me and was brutally shot down in front of us…’ His voice trailed off.

‘I could have died, Anjli,’ he whispered. ‘Frost wanted to kill me. I was so cocky, so ‘ah gotcha’ and he was going to execute me. He could have killed Declan. He almost did.’

‘Don’t be a drama queen,’ Anjli smiled. ‘He grazed Declan’s shoulder. I’ve had worse playing rugby. Well, obviously not worse than a gunshot, but you get the idea.’ She grabbed at Billy's hand, holding it tight. ‘You’re a good copper, Billy Fitzwarren. You’re an excellent copper, even. Nobody I know is better than you with a laptop and a wireless connection. We need you.’

‘Who’s the we here?’ Billy murmured. ‘Mile End still looking for a computer whizz after Sonya Hart was arrested?’

‘Actually, I’m not at Mile End anymore,’ Anjli replied. ‘I’m taking some time off for personal reasons.’

‘Wait, is your mum okay?’ Billy looked concerned for Anjli; he knew that her mother had been battling cancer for a while now. Anjli patted his hand.

‘She’s super fine,’ she assured Billy. ‘We think the chemo did its job. I owe… well, let’s say that I owe some people for getting her the best care, but we look to be kicking it into remission.’

‘So why the personal reasons?’

‘It’s a term I could use when talking to DCI Espinosa and guarantee him not asking questions,’ Anjli replied. ‘I’m heading up to Hurley tomorrow to help Declan with a case.’

‘Declan has a case?’ Billy leaned back now, confused. ‘I thought he was suspended? Or on some kind of injury list that was as good as being suspended?’

‘For City Police duties, but not Thames Valley,’ Anjli picked up her drink again, sipping at it. ‘He’s got an old serial killer case of his dad’s that’s come back. The police are claiming it’s some kind of suicide game, not murder, but they’ve allowed Declan to get a small team together and look into it.’

‘Let me guess,’ Billy chuckled at this. ‘The team is basically the Last Chance Saloon?’

‘Pretty much,’ Anjli nodded. ‘And his daughter, Jess. Don’t ask.’

Billy looked around the bar in realisation. ‘This isn’t a drink, is it?’ he asked cautiously. ‘This is a sodding recruitment session! You knew I wasn’t with the police anymore and you’re trying to poach me back!’

‘I’ll admit, we could use you,’ Anjli admitted. ‘Declan and Monroe are one step above primates when it comes to computers.’

‘I’d love to, but I can’t,’ Billy looked away. ‘I can’t go out in the field. It’s too much to ask.’

‘Actually, I didn’t want you in the field,’ Anjli shrugged. ‘To be honest, I’m always holding your bloody hand. I was thinking you could hold the fort at the hotel, maybe use the spa—‘

‘Hotel?’

‘Well yeah, we’re using a meeting room at The Olde Bell on the high street,’ Anjli continued. ‘More of a vacation than a crime