“That’s my girl,” he said, kissing her. “Now let’s get out there and mess up Jeremy’s life some more. After I’ve been inside you that is,” he added, pulling her thighs around his waist.
“Steady,” said Aidan as Raven stared down the sniper scope.
“I am steady,” she retorted.
“Just take it easy.”
“I’m perfectly calm.”
“Breathe deeply, feel the shot.”
“If you don’t be quiet,” she said, never taking her eye from the scope. “This bullet is going up your arse.”
“Maybe later,” he said, drawing from her a smile.
“Just be quiet. I can’t concentrate with you wittering on.”
“Sorry. I won’t say another word.”
“That would be a miracle.”
Aidan bit his lip when the target emerged from the building across the street, forcing himself not to speak. Not that he needed to. Raven pressed the trigger, there was a dull thud and the bullet hit its target with perfect precision. She was an even better marksman than himself, a natural. His wife. He swelled with pride.
“That’s our cue to leave,” he said when screams echoed up from the street below.
Raven expertly dismantled the sniper rifle, packed it away in the case and slung it over her shoulder.
Keeping low, they descended the stairs leading down from the roof into the deserted office block, heading through a fire door and down two flights of stairs to the ground floor, exiting into the street around the back of the building. The sound of shouting and general chaos echoed across to them from the other side of the building.
Ignoring it, they headed down an alleyway, entering a block of flats by the back door, walking down the long corridor to the front door that led out onto another street where their car was parked. They’d thoroughly examined this area and picked this route as it avoided all CCTV cameras and was sparsely populated, the buildings here rundown and predominantly empty.
Aidan got into the driver’s seat of the Landrover while Raven tossed the bag into the boot before jumping into the passenger seat.
Rather than approach the sounds of chaos and sirens, they drove further from them.
Raven noticed Aidan’s hands grip the steering wheel tighter, knuckles turning white when a police car came at them in the opposite direction but it passed right by them, the officers inside not even glancing their way.
“Nervous?” she asked him, amusement in her tone.
He relaxed and smiled. “Me? Never.”
“You look it.”
“It’s the adrenaline.” His grip relaxed the more distance they put between themselves and the scene of the shooting.
“I wish I could see Jeremy’s face when he learns about this one,” smiled Raven.
Jeremy was appalled when Tom landed on his doorstep with the Chief Inspector, the Chief Constable, two detectives and four scenes of crime officers.
“What’s going on?” he said.
“We need to talk to you,” said the Chief Constable, pushing his way inside, the others following. Even Tom’s gaze was hard, for once.
“Mind if we take a look around?” said the Chief Constable.
Jeremy knew it must be really bad if he’d deigned to leave his ivory tower. “Yes I do actually, Sir. It’s not my flat.”
“Where’s your friend, Alan Frost?”
So they’d done some digging. “Away on holiday.”
“Where can he be contacted?”
“He can’t, he’s gone travelling off-grid, he likes to do that. What’s going on Sir?”
“A shooting took place two hours ago outside the White Rose Shopping Centre.”
“It did?”
“Surely you’ve heard about it, it’s been all over the news.”
“I haven’t had the telly on.”
“The victim was shot in the leg. Fortunately the injury wasn’t life-threatening.”
“That is good news.” He didn’t like the way they were staring at him. “What’s it got to do with me?”
“The victim was the first person to make the allegation of paedophilia against you.”
Jeremy felt sick. “What?”
“Bit of a coincidence, don’t you think?” said the Chief Constable. “A woman alleges you abused her son and suddenly she’s shot.”
“I didn’t do it,” he shrieked. “I’m being set up.”
“So you keep saying but so far we’ve found no evidence of that and believe me PC Elias, we’ve been trying.” He nodded to one of the detectives, who thrust a piece of paper into his hands. “A search warrant for these premises.”
“What do you expect to find?”
“Hopefully nothing.”
“I don’t believe this, I haven’t done anything wrong.” Thank Christ he’d nipped out earlier to stash his guns in a lock-up he owned. If he hadn’t taken that precaution he’d be well and truly in the frame.
“Then you’ve nothing to worry about,” said the Chief Constable.
As the team began systematically pulling apart the flat, the Chief Constable, Inspector and Tom standing around him, on guard duty, an idea popped into his head. It was tenuous, as well as a huge risk but if he didn’t do something then he could end up going to prison. He was even willing to forgo his revenge, for a little while anyway, to stop that from happening. “I know who’s doing this,” he exclaimed.
“Doing what?” said the Chief Constable in a bored tone, watching his team tear apart the flat.
“Setting me up.” He pointed at Tom. “His date.”
“What do you mean, his date?” frowned the Chief Constable.
“Raven Gallagher.”
“Who?” said the Chief Constable, looking to Tom for an explanation.
“She’s the private sector bounty hunter we often employ to track down illegal immigrants,” he replied. “She brought in Nino the Ear Muncher.”
“That was the same woman you escorted to the ball? The one in the lilac dress?”
“Yes Sir.”
“Oh yes, very nice,” he said, eyes twinkling. “I couldn’t help but think how lucky you were Sergeant…” He cleared his throat and turned his attention back to Jeremy. “Are you suggesting she’s responsible for all this?”
“Yes Sir. She got Cerise Williams to allege I attacked her, she slashed my tyres and vandalised my house, she spread those false rumours about me being a paedophile and she shot that woman at the shopping centre.”
“Why on earth would she do all that?” said the Inspector, looking as puzzled as the Chief Constable. “Raven’s record is exemplary.”
“Because I’ve learnt things about her recently, disturbing things.”
“Such as?”
“That she’s an assassin-for-hire.”
“Ridiculous,” said the Inspector. “Don’t you think we vet everyone we work with?”
“It’s true. I did some digging after I heard some disturbing rumours from the local underworld and all the evidence points to her being a killer.”
“That’s a load of rubbish,” said Tom.
“Calm down Sergeant,” said the Chief Constable. He looked back to Jeremy. “What evidence do you have?”
“None yet but I can get it.”
“How?”
“I don’t know but if you lock me away for something I’ve not done you’re going to allow a cold-blooded murderer to stay on the streets.”
“This is a load of crap,” said Tom, furious about the slurs on Raven. “She is not a murderer.”
“You don’t think that woman is hiding secrets?” he challenged, triumphant when Tom went silent. “Course she is and believe me, those secrets are very dark.”
“She is not a killer.”
“You find that so hard to believe about her but you find it so easy to believe I’m a paedo?”
Tom sighed and looked down at the floor. “I don’t know what to think anymore.”
“I do,” said the Chief Constable. “Bring Rave
n in.”
Tom nodded, looking troubled.
“Sergeant?” he called as he made for the door.
Tom stopped. “Sir?”
“I trust you to remain professional about this.”
“Sir,” he said before leaving.
Once he was outside the flat, Tom sighed and took out his phone, scrolling through the phonebook until he found Raven’s professional number. What Jeremy had said made his head spin but he got the feeling he was only trying to save his own skin. But why pick on Raven? Things were just getting murkier.
“Raven,” he said when she answered. “Could you come to the station? We’ve a job for you. Thanks,” he added when she agreed.
He hung up, feeling like a complete shit, not liking deceiving her. Still, he wasn’t too proud to admit that he was excited about seeing her again.
CHAPTER 33
Aidan lifted his head from Raven’s bare breasts. “Who the hell was that and couldn’t it have waited?”
“I wish I hadn’t answered. It was Tom.”
“The copper you went on a date with? What the fuck does he want?”
“He wants me to go into the station. They’ve got a job for me.”
“Just as we set up Jeremy?”
“Exactly. I don’t like it but surely Jeremy wouldn’t grass me up? If he did he’d land himself in it too. Plus it would mean he wouldn’t get his revenge.”
“Maybe he panicked?”
“Perhaps.”
“Are you going in?”
“If I don’t it’ll look suspicious.”
“What if they don’t let you go?”
“I’ll just have to make sure they do.”
“If they don’t, I’ll burn the fucking place to the ground.”
“That won’t be necessary. I need you to take it easy while I’m doing this, please Aidan.”
He nodded. “Promise.”
“And call One Eye. Let him know what’s happening.”
“I will.”
She kissed him before rising and dressing.
Seventy minutes later Raven walked into the police station, put at ease by the friendly smile of the desk sergeant. “Alright Raven?” he grinned. “You come to cheer up this grey place?”
“Sergeant Carter summoned me but I’ll work on that while I’m here,” she winked.
“You looked mighty fine at the ball pet. You and the sergeant getting close then?”
“We’re just friends.”
“Good, I was starting to get jealous,” he grinned.
“Raven,” said Tom, appearing through a side door leading deeper into the station. “Thanks for coming in.”
“No worries.”
He held the door open wider. “Come on through.”
“See you later Pete,” she said to the desk sergeant before following Tom.
“Looking forward to it,” he called after her.
“You have a lot of fans around here,” said Tom as they walked.
“Just being friendly. So what’s this about? You needing me to track someone down?”
“No, not this time,” he said, coming to a halt outside an interview room.
She glanced at the door before looking back at him with a frown. “Should I have brought a lawyer?”
“You tell me,” he said, opening the door to reveal the Chief Constable and Chief Inspector.
“The big boys,” she said. “I guess this discussion isn’t going to be about parking tickets?”
He shook his head, gaze troubled.
Raven walked inside, Tom following, closing the door behind him. While Raven took the empty seat across the table from the Chief Constable and Inspector, he took up position at the door.
“Thank you for coming Raven,” opened the Chief Constable.
“Anytime. So, is someone finally going to tell me what’s going on?”
“The Sergeant didn’t appraise you of the situation?”
“I thought it best to allow you to do it Sir,” he replied.
“Right, very well then.” He looked to Raven. “I’m afraid we asked you here to discuss a very delicate matter.”
“Who do you want me to bring in?”
“No one. This isn’t about a contract. I don’t know if you’ve heard about the shooting this morning that happened near the White Rose Shopping Centre?”
“Oh yes, I did hear something on the radio on the way over here. Have you caught the person responsible?”
“We were hoping you could help us with that.”
“Oh yes, how?”
“An allegation’s been made that you may be responsible.”
Her eyebrows went up. “For the shooting? Are you serious?”
“Unfortunately yes. The information came from a reliable source.”
“Why would I shoot someone in a shopping centre? Who was the victim by the way?”
“A local school teacher.”
“So let me get this right. You’re accusing me of shooting a teacher in a shopping centre in broad daylight. Is that correct?”
Her tone made the Chief Constable feel foolish but he was determined to forge ahead. “Not accusing, no but you do understand that when such a serious allegation is made we have to follow it up?”
“Of course I understand but I don’t know what to tell you except I didn’t do it.”
“Where were you this morning at ten thirty?”
“At home.”
“Alone?”
“Yes. I didn’t leave until Sergeant Carter called me, asking me to come over here.”
“So you’ve no alibi?”
“No but I am innocent. Why would someone accuse me? I don’t understand.”
Both the Inspector and Chief Constable appeared to be swayed by her wide-eyed innocence.
“Do you know how to handle a gun?” said the Inspector.
“Yes. My father took me shooting out on the moors.”
“Shooting what?”
“Pheasant and grouse. Not people if that’s what you’re asking,” she said with a sweet smile.
“No, of course not,” chuckled the Chief Constable, the Inspector rolling his eyes at his superior’s soppy grin.
“What sort of weaponry have you used?” continued the Inspector.
“Just the standard twelve bore shotgun.”
“You must be a quick shot if you shoot grouse, they’re fast birds.”
“If I had to hunt my food to survive, I wouldn’t go hungry. But there’s a big difference between that and shooting some poor person out shopping.”
“You have a licence?”
She nodded.
“Have you any enemies?” said the Chief Constable. “Anyone who would like to see you blamed for something you didn’t do?”
“Well, people in my line of work don’t tend to be popular. Maybe it was someone from an old contract of mine?”
“Have you ever encountered PC Elias?”
“Who?”
“Jeremy,” interjected Tom. “You met him at the police ball.”
“Oh yes, he spilt lager down your shirt,” she said, turning in her seat to look at him, eyes twinkling. He didn’t return her smile.
“That was better than what I got spilt down me that night,” muttered the Chief Constable.
“So what’s Jeremy got to do with this?” she said.
“He’s the one who made the allegation against you.”
Raven sighed and dragged her fingers through her hair. “Now it’s starting to make sense. I was hoping this wouldn’t come out.”
The Inspector and Chief Constable leaned forward in their seats. “What do you mean?” said the latter.
She glanced up at Tom, who stared back at her stonily. “I do believe PC Elias has a thing for Sergeant Carter.”
“What?” exclaimed Tom. “Sorry Sir,” he added when the Chief Constable glared at him.
“After PC Elias spilt lager down Tom…I mean Sergeant Carter’s shirt in what appeared to me to be a deliberate manner, I was
left alone with him while the Sergeant went to dry himself off. PC Elias tried to warn me off. He said I wasn’t good enough for the Sergeant, that no one was and he would do everything in his power to come between us.”
“Really?” said the Chief Constable. “And what was your reaction to such a statement?”
“Naturally I was shocked and I thought he must be drunk. With all the chaos that ensued that night I forgot all about it.”
There was a moment of silence, broken by the Inspector. “Well that was…unexpected.”
“The question is, where does this take us?” said the Chief Inspector.
“I don’t know,” she said. “But I do know that I’m innocent and one of your officers has a vendetta against me simply because I went on a date with another of your officers.”
The Chief Constable nodded. “Thank you Raven for your time. You’re free to go.”
She nodded and got to her feet. “If you need to speak to me again, I’m happy to help.”
“Hopefully that won’t be necessary. Sergeant Carter, escort Raven back to reception.”
He nodded, opening the door for her to pass through first.
“Was it true what you said in there?” he asked her as they made their way back through the station.
“PC Elias made me deeply uncomfortable at the police ball,” she replied. Well, it wasn’t a lie.
“Why didn’t you tell me at the time?”
“Because I hadn’t been out on a date in years and truth be told, I was enjoying myself. I didn’t want to spoil things. And like I said, I just thought he was drunk. I’d no idea it would end up with him accusing me of attempted murder.”
When he came to a sudden halt in the middle of the corridor, she stopped too.
“Something funny’s going on,” he said. “And trust me, I’m going to get to the bottom of it.”
“I hope you do, I don’t like being accused of things I haven’t done.”
“And you’re completely innocent of those things, are you?”
“Yes, of course. What are you insinuating?” she said, quick to spot the suspicion in his eyes.
“Like I said at the ball, you’re a woman with secrets.”
She took a step closer to him, enjoying the uncertainty in his eyes. He was torn between kissing her and arresting her. “Why, are you going to find them out?”
Raven Page 27
