More than ten years earlier a man who went by the name Schilling had challenged Morrison for preeminence in the pakalolo business. Things had gone badly for Schilling.

“They were going to go in with Schilling. Morrison didn’t take them out afterwards, and this is how they say thanks.”

“What’s up with the navy thing?” Kim asked.

“At a guess,” said Coutinho, “somebody is moving something by water, and somebody else is messing with business. Fill in the blanks with Morrison and Trondheim. And pakalolo.”

“Okay,” said Tanaka. “We have a place to start. Rivera and Siegel. And we know where Morrison and Trondheim danced last time.”

That told Coutinho how seriously Tanaka was taking this. He meant the northern valley called Honoke’a, which was easily accessible only by water or air, either of which would cost a fearsome amount by the hour.

“We probably need more of an indication that they’re going back there,” said Coutinho, feeling weird as the voice of financial prudence. “Probably cheaper to try Isaac Hale first.”

“Go,” said Tanaka.

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Preview from Northern eX by Colin Campbell

Here is a preview from Northern eX, the original Vince McNulty thriller by Colin Campbell.

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One

Once a cop always a cop. Vince McNulty thought about that as the woman massaged scented oil into his shoulders, leaning so close that her naked breasts teased his shoulder blades. Once a cop always a cop. Except this was the UK not the USA, so for cop you’d have to read policeman. Or, more accurately, this was Yorkshire not the UK, so maybe it should be copper instead of policeman. Copper, or any number of other, more colourful things that McNulty had been called during the last eighteen years. But somehow the phrase only worked with cop. Had a certain rhythm to it. Rolled off the tongue. So, whenever it crossed his mind, it was always once a cop always a cop.