Contents ( 84)
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- SIXTY-FIVE
- SIXTY-SIX
- SIXTY-SEVEN
- SIXTY-EIGHT
- SIXTY-NINE
- SEVENTY
- SEVENTY-ONE
- SEVENTY-TWO
- SEVENTY-THREE
- SEVENTY-FOUR
- SEVENTY-FIVE
- SEVENTY-SIX
- SEVENTY-SEVEN
- SEVENTY-EIGHT
- SEVENTY-NINE
- EIGHTY
- EIGHTY-ONE
- EIGHTY-TWO
- EIGHTY-THREE
- Acknowledgements
‘Why don’t you keep your damn eyes on the road. That’s where you’re gonna see Dempsey. Not back here.’
‘Don’t worry about me spotting Dempsey, sweetheart. Cobb’s got my back for that, ain’t you, Cobb?’
‘We can take it in turns.’ Cobb turned his head just enough to eye Grace as he said the words. His leer made it clear that the double-meaning was intentional. ‘That be OK with you, little lady?’
‘Go fuck yourself, Cobb.’ Grace practically spat the insult at him. ‘No one else will.’
Cobb looked unconcerned. Braddock, though, was a little taken aback. Grace’s aggression surprised him. Maybe there was more to her than he had thought.
‘You got a lot more spunk in you than you usually show, lady,’ he said with a smile. ‘Knowles might be right after all. Could be you’re good for this thing.’
‘I’m good for whatever it takes.’
‘Didn’t look that way back in the briefing.’ The momentary friendliness in Braddock’s voice was gone. ‘Looked more like you were gonna break down and cry.’
‘And you reacted better when you found out the world wasn’t black and white, did you?’
‘As a matter of fact, yeah, I did. More money and time off the leash? Best news I ever got.’
‘Then that’s where we differ. Don’t worry. I’ve got my orders and I’ll follow them.’
‘That easy, is it?’ Braddock wasn’t sure he bought it. ‘One minute you’re telling the boss it’s murder, the next you’re on board?’
‘What else can I do? I took an oath. Might mean nothing to you, but it means everything to me. My job is to do what’s right for the president and for the country. And if it’s this . . . well, then it’s this. I don’t have to like it. But I do have to do it.’
For the first time, Braddock found himself being persuaded.
‘Missy, if you’re acting then you’re damn good at it. I’m starting to think you really believe in all of this “oath of office” bullshit.’
‘I do believe in my oath. And I don’t think it’s bullshit.’
‘You’re young, gorgeous. You’ll learn.’
‘Don’t call me that.’
‘What?’
‘You heard me. We have to work together. That doesn’t mean I have to let you talk to me like a piece of meat.’
‘Hell, Grace, I was complimenting you.’
‘You thought you were complimenting me. That’s not the same thing. Keep it to yourself.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’
Braddock said nothing more. Their final exchange had sealed it. If Grace was pretending, why would she pick that fight? Braddock could see no good reason.
No, the girl believed what she was saying.
She believed in her oaths. To her country and to her president.
However she felt about what they were here to do, she would play her part.
THIRTY-EIGHT
In the High Security Unit at Belmarsh, the standard day is made up of twelve hours in the cell and twelve hours out. A mind-numbing routine of mealtimes, outdoor exercise, gym use and association time.