No Time to Lose: A Matt Flynn Thriller
Page 26
‘Good plan. I don’t think it would be easy travelling on public transport at the moment with the stiffness you have in your movements.’
‘No, I think you’re right.’
‘We brought a prisoner back from Antigua with a big dressing on his thigh, and the way he grimaced and moaned every time the plane hit turbulence, or when someone bumped his shoulder, I was almost starting to feel sorry for him.’
‘How was Antigua?’
‘Really good. I managed to grab a couple of days on the beach. It’s the first break I’ve had all year.’
‘What? It’s September! Here was me thinking the film industry worked us like dogs.’
‘Have you ever been to the Caribbean?’
‘I went to Barbados with my parents when I was about fourteen. I remember it was hot as hell in the morning and rained every afternoon.’
‘Yeah, it rained a couple of times while we were there, but it didn’t detract from the relaxing way of life. You can’t help but slow down to their speed. Everything the locals do, like bring you coffee, walk along the beach, even the laundry service, it all takes place at a slower pace.’
‘It doesn’t sound like you. These last few months you’ve done nothing but chase after bad guys.’
‘That’s the way it feels sometimes. Does it give you ideas for a new screenplay?’
‘With what you do and what I’ve been through, there’s enough material for a dozen stories. Every time you’re in the paper, I cut the article out.’
‘How do you know it’s me? We never talk to journalists, and make sure we’re never in their pictures.’
‘Except for appearing on the front page of Wednesday’s.’
‘Don’t mention that one!’
‘I just know from the tone of the story; police exchange fire with terrorists, a car chase through the suburbs, or a man was shot today after a stand-off.’
Matt might have suggested those sorts of operations were carried out by Met officers from SO19, their armed response section. Armed police cars patrolled many of the UK’s biggest cities 24/7, and the Met claimed an armed response unit would be on-site at a major incident in the capital within nine minutes.
The Americans who had been debating what beer to drink, were seated close by. Judging by the high level of laughter and chatter emanating from their table, they must have selected one with a high ABV.
‘Another?’ Matt asked, as he drained his pint and gathered up the empties.
‘No, thanks. I think I’d like to go home.’
Matt was disappointed to hear this, as he was enjoying being among people who weren’t trying to kill him. In addition, for the last couple of months, he had nothing much to go home for. He hid his frustration.
‘I expect you get tired easily,’ he said.
‘I do, but it’s not that.’ She turned to face him. ‘I’m sorry Matt, but I’ve decided I don’t want to go out with you anymore. You’re a lovely guy, and in other circumstances it might have worked, but your world is way too violent for me.’
‘You might feel different when you’ve recovered from your injuries.’
‘I might, but I don’t think so. I come from, not quite a sheltered background, but one where guns were used by farmers and fights took place on a Friday after the pubs closed. I just can’t handle it and I don’t think things will change much moving forward.’ She stood. ‘I’ll make my own way home, don’t worry.’ She stretched over and kissed his cheek. ‘Goodbye Matt. It’s been good knowing you.’
Matt sat there stunned. He didn’t expect thanks for extricating Suzy from her kidnappers, as it was through him that she ended up in a bad situation in the first place, but he didn’t expect this. He liked Suzy, believed they had a future together.
He walked to the bar and bought himself another pint. Maybe next week, he would go and see Gill and find out more about the new solo role.
The End
About the Author
Iain Cameron was born in Glasgow and moved to Brighton in the early eighties. He has worked as a management accountant, business consultant and a nursery goods retailer. He is now a full-time writer and lives in a village outside Horsham in West Sussex with his wife, two daughters and a lively Collie dog.
For more information:
Visit my website at: www.iain-cameron.com
Where you can also download a FREE copy of the first book in the DI Henderson series, One Last Lesson
Follow him on twitter: @iainsbooks
Follow him on facebook @iaincameronauthor
Also by Iain Cameron
Matt Flynn Thrillers
The Pulsar Files
Deadly Intent
No Time to Lose
DI Angus Henderson Crime Novels
One Last Lesson
Driving into Darkness
Fear the Silence
Hunting for Crows
Red Red Wine
Night of Fire
Girls on Film
Black Quarry Farm
Blood Marked Pages
Audiobooks
One Last Lesson
Red Red Wine
Box Set
The Essential DI Angus Henderson Box Set
ALL BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE FROM AMAZON
A Small Request
If you have enjoyed this Matt Flynn book, I would be grateful if you could leave a review on Amazon. By sharing your opinion, you help others to make informed buying decisions.
If you have really enjoyed this Matt Flynn book, there are two more novels in the series for you to enjoy:
The Pulsar Files
A hot air balloon crashes and kills everyone on board, mainly the Anderson family. Matt is not convinced it was an accident. If so, was the intention to kill someone on board, or Chris, the only member of the family not to go on the flight?
Deadly Intent
An Irish dissident group are planning to derail the Good Friday Agreement. Matt intercepts an arms shipment, but the terrorist leader escapes. The hunt is on to capture him before he lays his hands on other arms shipments and starts a civil war.
Each book is a stand-alone story and can be read out of order.