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

it, one of them a map of London which she opened up.

‘You won’t find any indication on that map,’ Saleem said.

Bethan sorted through the other documents.

‘You’ll find nothing here.’

‘There’s a clue in here somewhere,’ Gunnymede said. ‘There always is. And you know it too, don’t you. Empty out your pockets.’

Saleem did as he was told, placing items on the table. There wasn’t much. Bethan went through them. She unfolded a piece of paper. ‘It’s an invoice for ten tons of quick dry cement.’

Gunnymede looked at Saleem for an explanation.

Saleem shrugged.

‘That’s got to be a clue to something, right?’ Gunnymede said. ‘Ten tons of quick dry cement.’

Bethan found nothing else of interest.

‘Since this is the only chance I’ll get, what I’d like to do is start shooting you through your limbs while you try and remember anything relating to the attack,’ Gunnymede said, aiming the pistol at one of his knees.

Bethan glanced at him, wondering if he was serious.

‘I’ll have to send the lady out for some tea of course,’ Gunnymede added.

‘I’ll tell you nothing,’ Saleem said. ‘But if you must torture me then go ahead.’

Bethan nosed around the room, inspecting a picture on a wall, flicking through a copy of the Koran on a window ledge.

‘Bethan. Would you give us a moment, please.’

‘You’re not serious, are you?’

‘Of course I am.’

‘I can’t tell if you’re bluffing or not.’

‘That’s supposed to be his line.’

‘I’m sorry, Devon, but I can’t be a party to you torturing him. Not like that at least.’

‘Which is why I’m asking you to go and get a cup of tea.’

She frowned at him as she pushed on a wooden panel below the sloping ceiling that followed the shape of the roof. It moved easily. She leaned on a chair in front of it and pulled at the panel. It slid to one side. ‘One moment,’ she said as she removed it completely to reveal a small safe on a stand.

‘What have we here?’ Gunnymede exclaimed.

Bethan picked up the chair, moved it to one side and stepped on the wooden floorboard. As she did so there was a subtle click from beneath the floor.

‘Don’t move,’ Saleem said to Bethan. ‘Please stay perfectly still.’

Gunnymede instantly flicked the end of his pistol towards him.

‘No, please. You’re standing on a boobytrap. A pressure release trip. If you step off that floorboard we’re all dead.’

Bethan froze to the spot, a hand on the sloped ceiling to keep her balance. Gunnymede was unsure what to do for a moment, expecting some other surprise to follow. ‘Your turn to bluff, is it?’

‘I’m not bluffing, I assure you, mate.’

Gunnymede knelt beside her, keeping the gun on Saleem. She was twisted slightly and turned her foot a little to straighten up.

‘Easy,’ Gunnymede warned.

Saleem slowly got to his feet.

‘Give me the slightest excuse to kill you and I will,’ Gunnymede said.

‘You know how fond we are of boobytraps. There’s a pound of plastic underneath her. I’m a little nervous myself. It’s a Russian device and a bit sensitive.’

‘Stay exactly where you are,’ Gunnymede said threateningly. He inspected the floorboards either side of the one she was on. One of them was loose. He dug a finger under an edge and eased it up.

He checked to ensure Saleem was still then used the light on his phone to see under the floorboard. The mechanism was clear. An igniferous device with the detonator fixed directly to it and wrapped in what looked like a large slab of plasticine.

‘Very deceitful,’ Gunnymede said as he inspected it.

A sudden loud crash and Gunnymede rolled to his side and aimed his gun towards Saleem who was no longer there. Saleem was halfway through the window. Gunnymede fired but Saleem was already through. Gunnymede scrambled up and went to the broken window frame hanging off its hinges to see Saleem drop over the side of the flat roof.

He pulled himself through the window, onto the roof, aiming his gun as he hurried to the edge in time to see Saleem leap from a small balcony back into the house through another window. Gunnymede hurried back into the room, out the door as Bethan watched anxiously, and down the stairs several at a time. On reaching the bottom he sprinted out the back but Saleem had already made it across the yard and was in the alleyway. Gunnymede ran into the alleyway and spun in both directions, gun outstretched, but Saleem was gone.

‘Shit!’

Moments later Gunnymede came running back into the room where Bethan was standing. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said.

‘I take it he got away.’

‘He’s a swift little bastard.’

‘You should be after him.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous. What if something happened to me. It could take hours before someone found you here.’

‘I have my phone.’

‘I didn’t think about that.’

‘I’m touched.’

‘Attention seeking.’

‘I was kind of joking.’

‘I do care.’

‘Yes, but I meant in a more personal way.’

‘For God’s sake.’

‘Let’s not have a row,’ she said, still trying to be amusing.

Gunnymede considered her position. ‘This is what we’re going to do. I’ll put my foot beside yours and keep the weight down and you step off.’

‘I’d rather not if you don’t mind.’

‘It will work.’

‘I don’t care to try. It sounds dodgy’

‘It’s only a little dodgy.’

‘You have called someone I take it.’

‘Of course. They’ll be here soon. I’ll wait right here with you.’

She moved slightly.

‘Easy.’

‘I’ve got cramp in my foot.’

‘Ignore it. Try and relax. Breathe. What would your father say if he could see you now?’

‘He’d probably be quite philosophical about it. Part of the job and all that. My mother on the other hand would be hysterical.’

She moved again, grimacing as she dealt with the