END GAME a gripping crime thriller full of breathtaking twists

by Charlie Gallagher

  ‘Nine months in prison looking for changes in those patterns. Because that’s when you know there’s trouble coming. Basic survival.’

  Emily interjected. ‘Jesus, George. Don’t be so fucking dramatic! This is Darren Lewis. He’s assistant chief constable but he’s effectively running the joint following recent events. He just wants to buy you breakfast and talk to you, that’s all. You can listen or not. No one’s here to make you do anything.’

  ‘Anything to avoid paying, eh?’ George shot a smile at Emily.

  ‘And he’s buying mine too.’

  George turned to the ACC. ‘What could you possibly want to talk to me about?’

  ‘You’re a sharp man, George, you’ve proven that already this morning. What do you think I want to talk to you about?’

  ‘Oh I don’t know. This cop killer problem you got? Or the fact that the highest ranking officer in the division appears to have been working with him and is now missing in action?’

  ‘You’re well informed.’

  ‘You only need to pick up a paper. Your police service is a running joke.’

  ‘It is. I have a lot of problems right now. And the biggest one is the ordinary coppers out on the street who need some direction from the ranks above them.’

  ‘Are they not quite so trusting these days?’

  ‘Who’d blame them? We’ve rolled from one disaster to another. Their colleagues and their mates getting wiped out, and then the most senior officer, after chasing the wrong man, goes and does a flit. And we still can’t give them any answers about how Helen was involved. So you have hundreds of uniformed men and women sitting around making up their own stories.’

  ‘And coppers do tend to believe the worst.’

  ‘Of course they do. It’s what we see all the time.’

  ‘And they’re probably right.’

  ‘They might just be.’

  George sat back. The Italian appeared. He placed a black coffee on the table and flipped his order book open.

  Emily nodded at him. ‘Three of your special breakfasts, please.’

  ‘Any extras?’

  Emily peered at her menu. The ones in front of George and the ACC were untouched. ‘I don’t think so, no. As they come.’

  The waiter walked away.

  George slurped at his tea. ‘So. On the day I get released from prison, you go to the trouble of driving all the way up here to sit in a greasy café with me and Ryker. And what for? So you can tell me that no fucker trusts you? Is that it? It’s not exactly a bolt from the blue.’

  ‘I did go to some trouble to get here, it’s true. I wanted to speak to you personally.’

  ‘You want to know who you’re chasing? And you think I must, seeing as how he picked me out as some sort of nemesis. Is that right? Well, I hate to disappoint you but this man, he ain’t stupid. He knows that the case against me has folded because he meant for it to. He has people inside your force that are constantly feeding him information. And while he has that, he has total control over your environment. Total. I could tell you everything I know about him but it wouldn’t cause him one iota of discomfort. Not one, because he wants you to find out. He controls what you know and when. You can chase him all you like but he’ll always be three steps ahead of you.’

  ‘You think that’s all I want? For you to tell me what you know, then me and Emily here can go off and do some media appeals. Lean on some sources, maybe.’

  ‘If you don’t want that, what do you want from me?’

  ‘I want you to deliver him to me, George.’

  ‘I don’t follow.’

  ‘Maybe you’re not as sharp as I thought you were. You’re still a serving detective sergeant, right?’

  ‘I am not.’

  ‘Did you give your warrant back?’

  George looked confused. ‘No, I mean I’m still on the payroll but you people have been looking to get me out for over two years.’

  ‘You want out?’

  ‘Of course I fucking do. Once your employer nicks you, beats you and sends you to rot in a four-sided hell hole, the working relationship takes a bit of a hit. You know what I mean?’

  ‘Yeah. I thought you’d say that. This is an opportunity though, George, for both of us. This fella is out there and he isn’t finished yet, you agree with that at least. He left us a trail to follow and so far we’ve been merrily doing just that, but it’s going to end with more officers dead. The area commander is missing in action, presumed to have some part in the whole thing, and is now wanted on conspiracy to murder — if she isn’t dead herself by now.’ Darren Lewis lowered his voice. ‘I go into Langthorne nick and the whole place is full of shell-shocked coppers. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s not that there’s a lack of loyalty. They just don’t know whose orders to follow. They’re like a pack of lost dogs down there, George.

  ‘And you think I can help?’

  ‘They’d follow you.’

  George laughed. Too loudly. ‘Don’t be ridiculous! Last time I entered that nick every one of them wanted to tear me apart.’

  ‘Well, now all they have is doubt. I see the way they look at me — they don’t trust me. They’re waiting to work out why I took on this job. The last two area commanders down there got involved with criminals for their personal gain. One’s dead and the other’s done a bunk. I need the officers to get together behind someone’s leadership. And the only person that has come out of all of this without any suspicion hanging over them is you.’

  ‘I went to prison for murdering police officers. The crown offered no evidence against me and I was released. I’ve not been proven innocent. They just couldn’t prove me guilty.’

  ‘No one thinks you’re guilty. They see you as a martyr, made to suffer while everyone else was getting away with it. I know it’s quite a turnaround from a year ago, but you’re the only one they’ll follow.’

  George laughed. ‘So now everyone thinks I’m some sort of fucking hero!’

  ‘No.’ Emily butted in. ‘You won’t have everyone’s support the moment you walk back in there. You’ll have to work on a fair few people. But they will get behind you. They’ll listen to you and do what you ask. As long as you are chasing this fucker that killed their mates. And going after Helen Webb. We all want answers from her.’

  George looked at her. ‘You think this is a good idea then, Ryker? You didn’t just bring me here because you were ordered to?’

  ‘I didn’t think so at first. Just like you don’t right now. But eat your breakfast, finish your tea and I’ll drop you at your hotel so you can have a comfortable night’s sleep for the first time in fuck knows how long. Then you can have a bit of a think about it. Who knows? You might just see that this isn’t as stupid as it first sounds.’

  George looked at Darren Lewis. ‘What exactly would you want from me?’

  ‘You come back to work as a DS, but your primary task will be to search for the man who murdered the chief and all those other officers. Then, when you have him, you can turn your attention to finding Helen Webb. If you want to, that is.’

  ‘If I want to?’

  ‘Yes. The cop killer is the most immediate threat to us. Helen Webb will turn up. I just thought you might want to be involved in making sure she does.’

  ‘Is that why you’ve not put it out that Helen is wanted?’

  ‘We will. The press will hammer us. They’ll demand enquiries and resignations. All those things can happen later, but I can’t have that circus going on while we’re running a major investigation. I have a huge incident room running at headquarters looking for both, much has been done, but in nine months we haven’t made any real headway. You can run independent, and from Langthorne House with a select few. You don’t answer to the press or follow the structures of a Major Crime investigation, you only report to me. But I want our cop killer as a priority. Helen Webb is running away. My concern is the man who has been running straight at us. It cannot happen again.’

  ‘And then?
’

  ‘Into the sunset with your full pension. If that’s what you want. I’ll write the agreement in blood if you need it.’

  ‘Now who’s being dramatic? So how’s it going to work? I just walk back in, announce I’m back on the case and get someone to put the kettle on? You have to understand that I have some rather serious trust issues with some of our people.’

  ‘You can choose your team. Keep it small. Be the only investigator for all I care. But some elements are already in place. Emily here will run intelligence gathering and Barry Lance is running the tactical side. He’ll head any arrest teams, run any warrants—’

  ‘Barry Lance?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘He and his team are the ones responsible for dragging me out of my car and beating me in the street. I have no intention of standing in the same room as that man ever again, let alone working with him. Or anyone from Lennockshire Police, come to that. This is a bad idea.’ George sat back.

  ‘We can talk about Barry. Emily’s right, we should give you some space. I would have liked to have given you a bit of time before meeting you and giving you my pitch, but time is not a luxury we have at the moment. I know you’ll understand that, at least.’

  They fell silent. Darren Lewis seemed to come to a decision. He stood up, scraping his chair. A business card dropped onto the table in front of George.

  ‘It’s a stock card. I don’t have one of my own. But I’ve written my contact details on the back. Call me with any questions.’ Darren paused. George didn’t look up. ‘Or with any answers.’

  Darren tossed two twenties on the table. Clearly not a man who frequented breakfast cafés.

  And then he was gone.

  George looked at the phone number. He flipped the card over and snorted at the tagline. ‘Lennockshire Police: protecting those who cannot protect themselves.’

  The waiter arrived with three plates. George smiled and indicated for him to put the third plate down. ‘It’ll get eaten, don’t worry.’ He pointed at the forty quid. ‘And keep the change.’

  * * *

  Barry Lance leant against the slab of teak that crowned their kitchen island. It was all Shelley had wanted — a damned island. It had taken the removal of a load- bearing wall and the installation of two steel struts to make it possible. Barry still wasn’t sure of the overall cost. His wife had even insisted on new plates and cutlery to go with it. Suddenly the old stuff just wouldn’t do.

  He went first to the cupboard where they kept Shelley’s medication. There was a lot of it. She had chemotherapy medicines that fought the disease and other drugs to fight the side-effects. These made her sick so she took more drugs to lessen the nausea and still others to prevent her kidneys or liver giving out. The doctors had assured him that the only way to deal with something as aggressive as cancer was to match that aggression, and more. The doctor had smirked at this point and told Barry that being a police officer, he should understand this.

  Barry didn’t think that was funny.

  All the medication was still there, even the painkillers. The bastard hadn’t taken any of it. Barry searched the rest of the house. There was nothing out of place, nothing disturbed, nothing taken. Apart from his wife.

  Barry’s phone rang, making him jump. He saw the ACC’s name on the screen. Barry’s first instinct was to ignore it. But then, if anyone had the power to help him it might just be Darren Lewis.

  ‘Boss?’

  ‘Barry, I just got out of the meeting with George.’

  ‘Okay.’

  ‘Okay? That’s all you have to say? Don’t you have any questions?’

  ‘It’s not for me to ask questions, boss.’

  ‘You still don’t think this a good idea, do you, Barry?’

  ‘Is he in?’

  ‘I don’t know, to be honest. I really don’t know. You may well get your wish, Barry, and he’ll walk off into the sunset.’

  ‘Or you get yours and he ends up involved in the most important investigation we’ve ever had.’

  ‘Well, when you put it like that . . .’

  ‘Are you sure he’s right to be back, boss?’

  ‘No, to be honest. But there’s no one else who can do it.’

  ‘You still think he’s going to flush our man out?’

  ‘Our man’s got unfinished business. He’ll come for him again, especially if we build George up as the returning hero.’

  ‘And make him the prime target for our cop killer.’

  ‘As long as he’s shooting at George Elms, he’s visible. And he’s not shooting at anyone else. He wants George, so we need to make him accessible.’

  ‘I’m still not convinced of his innocence, boss. Where there’s smoke, sir. . . and George is made of it.’

  ‘We just need to manage him while he’s useful to us, which could be a very short time.’

  ‘It’s going to piss people off. A lot of the others won’t see the returning hero thing at all.’

  ‘I get that. It’s a gamble, and George isn’t going to be easy to work with. He’s not exactly in a trusting mood.’

  ‘The feeling’s mutual.’

  ‘The official investigation continues from headquarters, nothing’s changed there, I said I’d do everything in my power to find this man. George Elms is just another option. Look, we’ll talk more when I know more about George’s decision. In twenty-four hours this could all be academic, anyway.’

  ‘Is that how long you gave him?’

  ‘We didn’t talk about that, but George won’t be hanging around when it comes to deciding about his future.’

  ‘I see.’

  ‘Are you sure you’re okay, Barry? If you need to say something, I’m all ears. I want you to be as candid as possible about this. I know it’s a gamble.’

  ‘I’m fine. I’ll do what I can to make it work.’

  ‘I appreciate that. We’ll speak soon.’

  Barry threw his phone onto the teak. He hadn’t dared mention his situation. As long as only he knew what was going on, his wife would remain unharmed. As soon as he told someone else, he risked losing control. Barry didn’t know anyone he trusted enough for that. He exhaled loudly, and his eyes went to the chalkboard hanging on their kitchen door. They often used it to exchange romantic messages. Now it was covered in someone else’s scrawl.

  Nothing Stupid Now.

  Chapter 3

  Finally she appeared from between two cars, with her head down. She had a bag over her shoulder, the strap gripped tight. She was on her own.

  Fuck! She was on her own.

  George looked out across The Leas. He was at the end furthest from the town centre. There was a wide stretch of grass between the bench he sat on and his wife, who was walking slowly towards him. He desperately wanted their daughter to be sprinting behind her in the late summer sun, her mousy hair catching its rays. But she was alone. She was looking at the ground, her arms by her sides, definitely not keeping an eye on any mischievous child.

  George turned from her to face the sea. ‘Be calm,’ he muttered to himself. ‘You never know.’ She might be just around the corner, sitting in McDonalds with the in-laws. It was mid-afternoon, the quiet time of day between lunch and dog walking. The benches were occupied by Langthorne’s retired, come to enjoy the elevated view of the English Channel.

  ‘Hey!’ His wife was calling to him.

  George swallowed. He pretended to be surprised, and stood up. Their embrace was stiff. Neither of them seemed to know how to act.

  ‘How have you been?’ George said.

  ‘Good.’

  ‘It is so good to see you, Sarah. It feels like a lifetime.’

  ‘It does.’

  ‘You look great.’

  They sat down, Sarah on the edge of the bench, her hands together in her lap. ‘You’ve lost weight,’ she said.

  ‘You don’t tend to eat too well where I’ve been.’

  ‘I’m sure you don’t.’ There was a silence.

  ‘I w
as really hoping to see Charley. I thought that was the agreement.’

  ‘I know, I guessed you were. I’m sorry I didn’t bring her. It’s been really hard on her, you know. I didn’t want to bring her out here and think everything’s all right again when, well . . . it isn’t.’

  ‘Does she even know I’m out?’

  ‘No. I haven’t figured out what to say yet. I’m waiting for the right moment.’ She wouldn’t look at him.

  ‘But everything is clear now, isn’t it? I got acquitted and released. What more are we waiting for?’

  ‘We’ve been here before, George. We thought everything was good, that it was all over, and look what happened! I just need to be sure. We both need to be, so we don’t cause that girl any more distress.’

  ‘You mean, so I don’t cause her any more distress.’

  ‘Take it how you like. She idolises you. You’re her dad, of course she does. But how was I supposed to explain why you had to go to prison?’

  ‘I know it must have been hard.’

  She shook her head. ‘You don’t know. You can’t.’

  ‘It wasn’t a walk in the park for me either, Sarah.’

  Sarah spun round and faced him. ‘But you put yourself there, and you stayed! I spoke to your solicitor any number of times at the start and it was pretty clear that you could have ended it any time you wanted. They only kept you there because you said you did it. Why?’

  ‘I did it for you. For you and Charley. Do you think I wanted to be in there? But I knew you were safe while I was in prison.’

  ‘Why didn’t you tell me that?’

  ‘Because you’re bloody-minded and viciously intelligent and if I’d told you just a little, you would have made it your job to find out the rest. And that would have put you in real danger.’

  Sarah sniffed. They looked away from each other, out at the view.

  ‘And what about now?’ she said.

  ‘Now I don’t know.’

  ‘So that explains the message about me disappearing.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Do you have any idea how difficult that is with a seven-year-old girl? With our seven-year-old girl? I can’t keep dragging her out of school, moving her from house to house on vague bits of information, just because you keep assuring me that we’re in danger. You need to tell me what’s going on.’