The Becket Approval by Falconer Duncan (best big ereader .TXT) 📗

‘Megan?’ he said softly.

He hoped she’d look up at him, spring to her feet and with a broad smile leap into his arms as she so often did. He could taste her soft lips, feel her fingers in his hair, look into those big brown eyes. But she didn’t move. Not a stir. As if she was locked into position.

‘It’s Devon,’ he said, pulling a chair around to sit in front of her.

There was no response. Her eyes were open. It was as if she’d been switched off or he wasn’t even there. He took a hold of her hand. Her fingers were warm and limp. Lifeless, like her eyes.

Gunnymede was startled by sudden loud voices. They were the amplified drones of a soap opera coming from a television high on a wall. A nurse headed across the room, took the remote control from a patient and turned it down.

Megan hadn’t flinched, as if she were deaf. Gunnymede kissed her hand and placed it against his cheek. He’d never felt so helpless in his life.

When he eventually left the ward, Aristotle was waiting for him in the reception hall. Gunnymede stopped beside him without looking at him, still in a mild state of shock. ‘Stuporous catatonia with mutism, according to the nurse,’ Gunnymede said. ‘Probably permanent. She’ll never be normal again.’ He walked away, lost in thought, out of the building.

A man climbed out of a car as Gunnymede walked past it. ‘Gunny,’ he called out.

Gunnymede didn’t hear him. The man called out again, jogged over and grabbed his shoulder. Gunnymede spun around, pushing the man’s hand away, his face locked in a menacing grimace, fists ready to strike.

‘Easy, Gunny!’ the man exclaimed, putting his hands in the air in a sign of non-aggression. ‘It’s Charlie. Charlie Gibson.’

It took a few seconds before Gunnymede recognised him.

‘We used to work together,’ Charlie said. ‘Down at the Fort. I was with 22 back then.’

Gunnymede put the name and face together. ‘Right. Charlie. Sorry. I was somewhere else.’

Charlie seemed to understand. ‘That’s alright, mate.’

‘This isn’t a great time.’

‘I know. I’m sorry about Megan.’

‘You knew Megan?’

‘Before you,’ Charlie said. ‘Not in the same way a’course. Her dad, Jack, was my sergeant major in ‘G’ squadron. I’m a civvy now. Got out a few years ago.’

Gunnymede looked past Charlie to a lump of a man he recognised climbing out of a car.

Charlie followed his gaze. ‘You remember Boris the bull. One of your lot.’

Gunnymede knew of Boris. Beyond his Neanderthal physique, an unimpressive man.

‘You and Boris’ve got somethin’ in common,’ Charlie said with a smirk. ‘He was also kicked out for a little extra curricular while on task.’

Gunnymede remembered the story. Boris learned of a cash shipment flying into Kabul International bound for the United Nations HQ while he was assigned to the British Embassy in Afghanistan. A couple of hundred thousand US dollars. He tossed CS into the vehicle while it was passing through the city and grabbed the money box. What Boris didn’t know was that it was standard procedure to include a tracker in amongst the bills. Boris was a thick twat. When the transit team reported the robbery, UN security sent up a tracking drone and they found the money inside the British embassy where Boris had hidden it. He got three years.

‘He couldn’t resist the insider knowledge either. Not in your class a’course,’ Charlie added with a cheeky wink.

‘What do you want?’ Gunnymede asked.

‘Is there somewhere we can ’ave a chat?’ Charlie asked.

‘Not a good time,’ Gunnymede said.

Charlie could sense Gunnymede’s irritation. ‘Look, I appreciate your situation but I just wanted to chat about something.’

‘I don’t mean to be rude but I do have to get going.’

‘I’ll get to the point. Don’t you want to see it put right?’

‘What put right?’

‘This. What happened to Megan.’

‘I don’t understand,’ Gunnymede said, his irritation increasing.

‘No-one’s paid the price.’

‘What are you talking about?’

Charlie had to take a moment. ‘What happened to Megan. The rape. I ’eard a rumour the police know who did it but they’re not doing anything about it.’

Gunnymede could only stare at Charlie, disturbed by everything he was hearing.

‘What would you do if that was true?’ Charlie asked. ‘If you knew who did it?’

Gunnymede continued to stare at him.

‘Did you hear me? It’s a simple enough question, Gunny – what would Megan want?’

Gunnymede became suddenly angry and took an aggressive step towards Charlie. ‘If you and that retard go anywhere near Megan, I’ll rip both your faces off. Do you understand me?’

Boris took an aggressive step towards them. Charlie held out his hand, commanding Boris to stay. Charlie stood his ground, not the type to back away from an aggression. ‘Alright. Bad timing. But whatever happens, it isn’t up to you. Get in touch with Jack. Alright. Something needs to be done.’

Charlie walked back to the car, climbed in with Boris and they drove away.

Aristotle joined Gunnymede, who sighed heavily as he fought to unravel his brain. ‘I can’t think right now,’ Gunnymede said.

Aristotle watched the car drive away and put it out of his thoughts as he held out a phone to Gunnymede. ‘I’m in the contacts,’ he said. ‘Take a walk. Think about things. You don’t have much time. Jail or the game. Decide which one you want.’

Gunnymede put the phone in his pocket. ‘You got any money?’

Aristotle took out his wallet and handed Gunnymede a few twenties. ‘Harlow must know by this evening. Things are moving quickly.’

‘That quickly?’ Gunnymede asked, wondering what things.

‘Yes.’

Gunnymede wondered who the man was. He nodded and walked away.

Gunnymede made his way aimlessly through the City, crossing roads barely mindful of traffic. The sun was setting when he finally came to a