Angels and Apostles

by Tony Hutchinson

  Reynolds and DC Jimmy Bell had retired about the same time.

  Blind loyalty, an ingrained hatred of certain types of criminal and a vicious willingness to inflict serious pain made him the perfect recruit to Reynolds’ and Archibald ‘Cat’ Leach’s no mercy mission.

  He was in the nick with a ‘fuck you’ attitude that wouldn’t survive when the remand cell was locked behind him.

  Reynolds himself was playing the dying detective card, but he had taken pride in demonstrating his planning throughout his admissions.

  Both prisoners knew the covert recordings were enough to convict them.

  Saturday, 20th December

  The wedding was in full flow when Ed walked into the seafront hotel.

  The order of the day was suits for the men and lavish ball-gowns for the women.

  The hotel management had quickly contacted a local security firm who now had burly personnel positioned by the stairs and lifts. Only guests with key cards were allowed to pass.

  Declan Doherty strode over to Ed. ‘You found us then?’

  ‘Not too difficult Declan. Followed the pony and trap.’

  Doherty laughed, slapped Ed’s back. ‘A fox just like Ray. We’re honoured that you’ve come.’

  ‘Thanks’

  ‘Now enjoy yourself,’ Declan grinned. ‘It’s a free bar.’

  Ed let his eyes scan the crowded dance floor.

  ‘Who’s the lad with the bandaged arm, dancing with the girl in the purple dress?’ he asked as he watched the pair move together to the music.

  ‘That girl is my granddaughter,’ Declan said with obvious pride. ‘The lad is another one who wasn’t sorry to learn about the Skinners’ change of fortune.’

  The two men watched as the girl turned and wiggled her hips with something unspoken behind her smile while her partner drank from a bottle he held in his good hand.

  ‘A lad whose starting to fancy our way of life I reckon,’ Declan said, grinning again. ‘Goes by the name of Pixie.’

  Afterword

  If you enjoyed ‘Angels and Apostles’ do check out Tony Hutchinson's other Dark Tides books, ‘Be My Girl’ and ‘Comply or Die’.

  And keep up to date with forth-coming titles by visiting Tony's website:

  www.tonyhutch.com

  Acknowledgments

  No work of fiction is ever completed without the help and guidance of a great team of people.

  My first thanks are to my family for their love and support: Saphron for her encouragement, Ben for his humour and Flynn for his permanent smile. Without you guys I wouldn’t write a word.

  I am indebted to Cheshire Cat Books for having the faith to publish.

  Thanks to Paul Jones, Head of Publishing, who is my biggest critic and continues to succinctly highlight weaknesses in the narrative.

  Thanks to Garry Willey, Head of Editorial, for sprinkling little pieces of magic dust across the pages.

  Without either of you this book would not be what it is.

  Thanks to Adam Maxwell, Head of Digital at Cheshire Cat Books, for formatting the books ready for digital and print and always involving me in the process.

  My thanks go to my son, Ben, for providing the cover photograph and of course Laura Swaddle for designing the cover.

  As ever my final thanks are to you, the reader. A book that is not read is just words on a page.

  To Saphron.

  My very own guardian angel.

  Copyright © Tony Hutchinson 2018

  Tony Hutchinson has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1984 to be identified as the author this book.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication maybe reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission of the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons living or dead, or to actual events is purely coincidental.

  Cover photograph copyright © Ben Hutchinson.

  The book is published by Cheshire Cat Books Ltd

  Suite 50-58 Low Friar Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 5UD.

  ISBN 9781916445741