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Back The Satsuma Complex Save as PDF
Chapters (36)
  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Dedication
  4. PART ONE
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. PART TWO
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. POSTSCRIPT
  35. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  36. More from the Author

I sat down at my table and tried to sort out in my mind the current state of events. It seemed to be something like this:

  1. Brendan is dead
  2. Don’t panic… you didn’t kill him
  3. Emily is missing
  4. The dongle is very important to McCoy. Maybe it contains evidence against him or financial details he wants to get hold of
  5. The real police are going to question me
  6. McCoy will hurt me, Grace or Emily if the police find out about the dongle. This might not be an empty threat. Brendan may well have been killed by McCoy or Tommy
  7. Emily is missing and she doesn’t have her phone
  8. Don’t panic; you haven’t done anything wrong
  9. Best bet is to tell the police everything
  10. or maybe not

I went next door to see Grace. She was still searching the flat. I sat her down and gave her the news that Brendan was dead.

‘But I was just speaking to him,’ she insisted.

‘No, Grace, that was a man pretending he was Brendan so that he could get you to confirm the dongle was lost,’ I replied.

‘Well, why did you let him deceive me like that?’ she asked in her disappointed voice.

‘Because he’s a scary bloke and I don’t want either of us getting into any trouble.’

‘Jesus, Gary, you really are such a shithouse. And what do you mean Brendan is dead? You only just told me he was alive and kicking.’

‘He was found dead somewhere in Peckham early this morning. I don’t know anything more about it.’

‘That is just so mad. Just a few days ago you were told he was dead and it turned out he wasn’t. Now it turns out he is actually dead. Are you in trouble?’

‘I don’t think so. The detectives investigating his death are going to want to speak to me, but my conscience is clear. Listen, if you do find that dongle, tell me straight away.’

‘So, who was that bloke, then?’

‘It was the bloke that Brendan works for – sorry, worked for. I think the dongle must have something incriminating or valuable on it because he wants it very badly.’

‘If I find it, will you give it to him?’

‘No. I think I will give it to the police.’

‘Good lad.’

I stepped over and gave her a great big family-style hug. For the first time ever she reciprocated. I could feel a small slice of worry and fear leave my body. It wasn’t Mum but it was as near as dammit.

‘That’s enough, you’re going to crumble my bones,’ she said as she released her grip. ‘Is it okay for me to use the money he gave me?’ she asked sheepishly.

‘Yeah, I reckon.’