A Tangled Web

by A L Fraine

  “I don’t think so,” Jon replied, weighing the options in his head. “I think that was a coincidence.”

  A quizzical look passed over her face. “So, only one question remains.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “What did Russell do that was so bad, he paid millions to keep Sydney quiet?”

  Jon sighed. “I don’t know.”

  33

  Jon lay on his bed in the hotel room, holding his phone above him, scrolling through his notifications. He looked over the email from the estate agent and smiled. His offer had been accepted on the house.

  Finally, I’ll have a home, he thought, as the phone suddenly vibrated in his hand.

  He dropped it in surprise and it landed on his face with a thunk.

  “Aaah, shit. Stupid bloody phone.” Removing the device from his face, he saw a number he didn’t recognise and was about to decline the call, but then reconsidered.

  He answered.

  “Hello?”

  “Good evening, Jon,” Sydney said.

  “You again…”

  “Naturally,” she replied whimsically. “It’s always lovely to hear your voice. I’ve taken quite the shine to you, you know.”

  “I’m so lucky,” Jon replied sarcastically, a shiver running up his spine. A thought occurred to him. “I have a question.”

  “Ask away, handsome.”

  Jon’s eye twitched. “When we arrived at Russell’s house, he was being attacked by the missing girl’s boyfriend. Did you know he was going to do that?”

  She snorted. “Ha! No. I didn’t. Fascinating. Deserved though, I think.”

  “I’m not sure I agree with you, Sydney.”

  “I think you should.”

  “Is Sydney even your real name?”

  He could hear the smile in her voice as she replied. “You really are a true detective, aren’t you, Pilgrim?”

  “Well, is it?”

  “No, it’s not.”

  “Are you going to tell me your real name?”

  “No, not yet. You’ll have to earn that privilege, Jon. I’m not one to give away information for free. I think you should know that about me by now.”

  “Oh, I’m well aware. So why call?”

  “I just wanted to offer my thanks. Russell turned out to be very profitable for me, in part because of you. So, thank you.”

  “I’m not sure I really want those thanks, so instead, maybe you can tell me what Russell did? Why’d he happily hand over millions to you?”

  “Aaah, no. That one stays with me, I’m afraid. Sorry,” she replied, apparently enjoying this verbal sparring match from the tone of her voice.

  “I had to ask.”

  “Of course you did. I would expect nothing less from a consummate professional like yourself. Anyway, I’ve said what I wanted to. So, bye, Jon. I think I’ll be seeing you soon enough.” She hung up.

  “Ugh, I hope not,” Jon muttered and stared at his phone. On a whim, he then saved the contact, typing in Evil Bitch, as the name.

  With a sigh, he let the phone fall to the bed as he stared up at the ceiling. As he considered her words, he spotted a spider in the corner of the room, busily wrapping a fly up in its web.

  Why did he get the feeling that he was the fly, and Sydney was the spider?

  THE END

  Book 3

  Silence of the Dead

  On Amazon, here:

  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08WPCWH56

  Author Note

  Thank you for reading book two of the Pilgrim Crime Thriller series, I really appreciate you taking the time to read my crazy stories.

  Coming up with book two after finishing book one is never easy. I need to follow on from the previous book, continue the story, live up to what happened in the first, and also dive deeper into the characters. I hope I’ve managed to do that and deliver an engaging story.

  Something that I’m keen to show is Jon’s journey, and the differences he experiences as a northerner living down south, and I’ll likely drip-feed these things in as the series progresses. But it is fun to write, especially as it’s something I have personally experienced.

  One of the big things in this book is the introduction of Sydney as an ongoing side character. I really enjoyed writing the scenes between her and Jon, and I really want to have her pop up from time to time in future books. She’s fun to write.

  As I write this, I’ve not yet come up with a plan for book three, but I’m sure by the time you’re reading these words, there will be a third book ready for pre-order.

  If you enjoyed this book, one thing that really helps is a review. It doesn’t need to be anything more than just a quick sentence about how much you enjoyed it, but these small things help in a huge way.

  Thanks again for reading A Tangled Web.

  Kindest Regards,

  A L Fraine.

  www.alfraineauthor.co.uk