Chapters (79)
- Cover
- Also by Anthony Riches
- NEMESIS
- Copyright
- Dedication
- Contents
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- 49
- 50
- 51
- 52
- 53
- 54
- 55
- 56
- 57
- 58
- 59
- 60
- 61
- 62
- 63
- 64
- 65
- 66
- 67
- Acknowledgements
- Read on for an exclusive preview of the next Mickey Bale thriller Target Zero
- Prologue
- 1
- About the Author
- An Invitation from the Publisher
‘Apologies for calling on a Sunday afternoon. Please believe that I wouldn’t be disturbing you if I didn’t have any choice in the matter.’
‘No problem, sir.’
Perhaps the biggest single lie he’d ever told. But Mickey was working hard at making it sound believable. Just another boring Sunday afternoon.
‘How can I help you?’
A slight pause. Ye gods, Mickey mused, Inspector Phil actually didn’t want to ask whatever it was he was going to ask for. Which meant it could only be one thing.
‘We have a problem, Michael. Well, in point of fact it’s me who has the problem. But it’s one I’d very much like to share with you.’
Mickey laughed softly, despite himself. ‘Let’s halve that problem, shall we, sir?’
‘You’re a good man, Michael. The problem is this…’ Straight to business then. ‘I have to organise a very sensitive principal move from Beaconsfield to South-West London and back. Nine Elms. The principal in question being one you’re very familiar with.’
Meaning it could only be one person. And one destination.
Green continued. ‘And it has to happen tonight. No ifs, no buts. And, with one of the team having gone sick, I need someone to pair up with the remaining officer on duty. Someone experienced. Ideally a skipper, since the man on the spot is a constable. Major Cavendish will brief you however fully he feels appropriate. If you feel you can help, that is.’
You bastard, Mickey thought. Recognising the hook Phil Green had sunk into him. Respecting the man for the pro he was at reeling in the potentially unwilling.
‘Under the circumstances, I think it would be churlish to refuse. Count me in, sir.’
‘Good man.’ And straight to business. ‘Right, there’s no time for you to come into LX, arm yourself and then drive out. Make your way to the Hall and I’ll send one of the armourers over with something appropriate. The Special Escort Group team will be on site at 19.00 hours, and the package has to be on the move an hour after that. That’s…’ a pause, presumably to look at the clock in his office ‘…just under three hours from now. Think you can make it to the Hall in time?’
Mickey shot a glance at the Black Bay. Just past five. ‘I can be there by 19.00, or soon after.’
‘In which case, with thanks for your invaluable assistance, I’ll leave you to get on the road.’