The Devil Among Us, Ramsay Sinclair [black books to read .txt] 📗

make heads nor tails of it. Even Rebecca had paused her scribbling. DCI Reid struggled to clamber ungracefully to his feet, starting the same familiar pacing technique he’d used in Flynn’s hospital room.

“Are you trying to say it’s a conspiracy, Cooper? And you believe this information from where? A homeless guy living underneath a dirty bypass.”

When it was put like that, it did sound crazy.

“No, Guv,” DC Taylor spoke up, fixated to the computer screen still. “I’ve typed it in on the internet. DI Cooper’s telling the truth. There are online news reports dating to a couple of months back for the one in Edinburgh. Take a look.”

Ah, the brilliance of modern policing.

We all gathered around the screen collectively to skim through the article over DC Taylor’s trimmed shoulders. Sure enough, it was all there in black and white.

“Well, bugger me,” DCI Reid inhaled and struggled to articulate much else. “Tip-offs, shootings, then what? I’m struggling to understand what the point of all this is. What happened after they took possession of the cocaine?” He looked to DC Taylor. “Well, keep digging, lad.”

DC Taylor skimmed the pages with a morbid interest. “The drugs were disposed of, then nothing. The cases were sidelined. Dead leads, according to this.”

Tony frowned, digesting the facts we were faced with. Surprisingly enough, Cillian came up with the most logical conclusion as he wiped royal icing away with the back of his hand.

“Do you reckon they’re trying to kill off the petty criminals for a reason? Maybe someone’s got a grudge against them?”

“Criminals with a history, yes,” I heartily agreed. “It’s the only connection between these cases. Injustice perhaps, that they were given a second chance at living in society.” These were all theories, of course. “A carefully constructed revenge act. But why would people like Sam, Robin and Flynn agree to doing it?”

McCall exhaled shakily, almost in disbelief. She’d taken a turn for the worse and grabbed a chair to sit upon. “Because someone was going to die either way.”

We watched McCall carefully. I’d never seen her so… pensive.

“Care to explain what that’s supposed to mean, DS McCall? I feel like I’m deaf in one ear today, and I’m only getting half of a story,” Reid grumbled irritably.

“You’re not going to like it, Guv,” she admitted and stared at the dirty carpet, with crumbs trodden underfoot from their cake.

“Go on…” he said hesitantly. What was she talking about?

“I went to visit Flynn again last night, after hours. I know you said not to, but it proved necessary.” She rubbed her thighs as if willing herself to continue. DCI Reid’s stony face said more than any spoken words could. “Flynn told me that these criminals, the real ones, threatened both his and his daughter’s lives. He could either do the shipment or watch his daughter die. That’s why he told us the story about his little girl and the fact she’d be able to visit the prison at least.”

I joined in helpfully. “Because he was supposed to die too.” It clicked into place. “The same way as Sam and Robin, pronounced dead on the scene. It would get rid of any trace or mention of their threats. Living was an unexpected luxury for Flynn in the end.”

“But he’s still certain they’re out to get him. To kill him. I stayed at the hospital last night, to keep an eye out,” she revealed meekly.

“That wasn’t sensible, sarge,” Rebecca’s gentle tone chastised. “You could’ve been hurt.”

“I know.” McCall flung her small hands up erratically into the air, “but I couldn’t leave him frightened and alone. We need surveillance posted at their family home, as well as tightened security at the hospital. He’s the last one alive. We need him to stay that way,” she spat forcefully, not angry at us but the entire debacle.

DCI Reid towered over her seated body. “I’ll send a uniform team to watch over the home. But Flynn’s got a police guard there. He’ll be fine. I’ll alert them to the situation at hand. Meanwhile, I’d like a word in private. My office, now.”

12

McCall

“Please, take a seat,” DCI Reid offered politely, now that we were alone. It was obvious who’s office we were in, due to the number of trophies with his name inscribed on the bases and photographs of the police award ceremony that decorated him as a DCI.

“Right.” I had a feeling this wasn’t going to be a particularly pleasant meeting. Everyone knew what this was about, and I was just waiting for the telling off.

“Well, then. Let’s get on with it, so we can all get back to work…” He trailed off, leaving us two in uncomfortable silence. “It’s obviously going to be a busy few weeks ahead of us.”

“Yes, Guv.”

The clock ticked and increased in volume with every second that passed us by. DCI Reid stared, and I shifted under the intense leer.

“I’m not against you, McCall,” he finally revealed his true intentions. “We’re on the same page, I think? The same team?” His ragged eyebrows lifted, awaiting a response.

“I know, Sir,” I replied, licking my suddenly dry lips.

“Do you, though?” Entwining his hands together, I felt that every move was tactically planned out beforehand. This felt to me like a staged conversation, one designed to reveal our weaknesses and air our dirty laundry in private.

“Me visiting the hospital last night was purely out of sympathy for Flynn. It wasn’t a statement to prove myself as better than you, or more knowledgeable for that fact. I asked you politely when we were there together, but you didn’t take my idea on board,” I fired off, perhaps a wee bit too defensively to start with.

DCI Reid hushed me with a simple gesture. “Woah. I didn’t think any of the above was true, to begin with.”

“You didn’t?”

“No.” He reached for a silver flask. “I merely called you in here to ask if you were alright. By the looks of things, you’ve been through the wars and back.”

“Sorry.” My heart thudded