The Robert Finlay Trilogy

by Matt Johnson

  ‘It’s complicated. You might say I’m married to the job.’

  ‘Kids?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘That’s a pity. It might make it easier for you to understand.’

  ‘Understand what?’

  ‘I’ve had more excitement in my life than most people even read about. I’m forty-eight years old and I’ve got a child and a wife that I love. I’m not a hero, just an ordinary bloke. I just want a quiet life now. Is that too much to ask?’

  ‘Guess not.’ Grahamslaw paused for a few moments, as if running something through in his mind. ‘OK, leave the press to me. I’ll see what I can do. Like the press officer said, though, this is a big story. It’ll take something pretty major to bury it.’

  Chapter 96

  Grahamslaw headed back to New Scotland Yard shortly afterwards. On the way, word reached him from the paramedics at the scene that Webb had died. MI5 would arrange for disposal of the body and would soon be over to talk to the Finlays about re-location.

  He told the driver of his car to turn the radios off so he could concentrate on starting his report.

  ‘Thought Mr Parratt said we were going to be arresting that chap?’ said his driver.

  Grahamslaw just smiled. That had been his intention. Then, when he’d seen Finlay taking care of his wife and the way they were together, he’d began to question that decision. Despite professional success, he was in a loveless marriage and had now lost the woman he wished he’d met when younger. Finlay, despite his problems, had a relationship that he envied, something he felt he had no right to destroy. Something worth preserving.

  He was pleased that Finlay hadn’t seemed hostile to his offer. With his background and experience, the inspector would be an asset to any enquiry team. With everything that had happened, Finlay was dreaming if he thought he could stay in the police and go back into his old job at Stoke Newington.

  On the journey, Grahamslaw scribbled notes onto a jotter book. There would have to be an inquest. He would have to find the means to justify giving Finlay and Jones immunity from prosecution. It could be done. The two men were heroes. The public interest would never be served by putting them in front of a court.

  He wouldn’t have noticed if his driver hadn’t commented, but at every television shop they drove past there were crowds gathered, looking in the shop windows.

  At New Scotland Yard, Grahamslaw left his driver to park the Volvo and entered the building through the front foyer. He was surprised to see that it was deserted apart from the security staff, most of whom were in a side room watching the television. It was the same in the lift area and on reaching the ‘Special Operations’ floor, the corridors outside the Anti-Terrorist Squad offices were empty.

  As he dropped the notes he had written onto his desk, curiosity got the better of him. He headed into the squad briefing room, where the whole of his team were stood with their eyes glued to the television screen. There was a film showing. A disaster movie.

  He looked more closely. It wasn’t a movie. It was CNN live news. A passenger jet was flying into one of the towers at the World Trade Center, the second tower was on fire.

  Grahamslaw watched in silence as events unfolded. He didn’t bother to contact the press liaison officer.

  The story of Robert Finlay would never make the papers.

  Acknowledgements

  Three years ago, as I typed the final words of the first draft of this book, I had no idea what changes it was going to bring about in my life.

  Not only had the mechanics of writing improved my mental health, but the novel itself was about to launch me into a new and unfamiliar world.

  I started writing as a result of a suggestion from an enlightened, forward-thinking PTSD counsellor called Jane Watling. Jane worked with Dr Sam at the Orchard Surgery in Buntingford, Herts. Sadly, I am no longer in contact with either Jane or Sam, but if they happen to read this, please accept my sincere thanks for everything you did for me.

  Writing a book takes a great deal of time and effort. Not only did I learn that an author must exercise personal discipline, but that a task cannot be completed without the support of those around them. And so, I must extend enormous thanks to my partner, Heather, who has not only helped me, guided me and sympathised with me, but read, re-read, proofed, checked and encouraged, as I struggled to commit this story to paper.

  My brothers, Steve and Simon, I thank for encouraging me to write and for giving me the nudge when I needed it. My mum, Maggie, I thank for being the meals-on-wheels when I needed it and my driving force when the energy levels dropped.

  A special thanks to ‘Hawkeye’, more correctly known as Sian Phillips (@_Sians) whose ability to spot typos is so amazing.

  Thanks to two special ladies, Julie Williams and bare-foot runner, Lynne Allbutt (LynneAllbutt.co.uk). All three of you listened to me, checked wording, read, counselled and advised me. You encouraged me when things were tough and I needed that help.

  From the literary world, I wouldn’t be writing this if author Antony Loveless hadn’t read a first working of the book and recommended me to his agent, James Wills from Watson Little. James introduced me to Karen Sullivan from Orenda Books, who turned out to be just the kind of exciting, motivated publisher that a debut author would dream of meeting. To Antony, James and Karen I extend a special thanks.

  When the editing process started, I was introduced to West Camel. A more talented and patient editor I couldn’t have wished to meet. Over the last few months I have gone through a crash-course in creative writing that has taught me a great deal. Thank you, West, for your skill, diplomacy and counsel.

  I save my – almost – final thank-you for, possibly, the most important people in this equation – my readers. These are the people who have given up their valuable time to read and to review the fruits of my labours. You have reassured and encouraged me, embarrassed and humbled me. To you all, I am most grateful.

  Finally, may I pay a special tribute to the soldiers and cops who I have worked with and known throughout my service life, some of whom are still my friends and many of whom are no longer with us.

  And now, it’s time to return to the keyboard, as Finlay has more experiences to share with you.

  About the Author

  Matt Johnson served as a soldier and Metropolitan Police officer for twenty-five years. Blown off his feet at the London Baltic Exchange bombing in 1992, and one of the first police officers on the scene of the 1982 Regent’s Park bombing, Matt was also at the Libyan People’s Bureau shooting in 1984 where he escorted his mortally wounded friend and colleague, Yvonne Fletcher, to hospital. Hidden wounds took their toll. In 1999, Matt was discharged from the police with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. While undergoing treatment, he was encouraged by his counsellor to write about his career and his experience of murders, shootings and terrorism. One evening, Matt sat at his computer and started to weave these notes into a work of fiction that he described as having a tremendously cathartic effect on his own condition. Wicked Game is the result. Matt is currently working on a sequel, Deadly Game.

  You can visit him at: mattjohnsonauthor.com

  Or follow him on Twitter @Matt_ Johnson_UK

  PRAISE FOR MATT JOHNSON

  Longlisted for the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger

  ‘Terse, tense and vivid writing. Matt Johnson is a brilliant new name in the world of thrillers. And he’s going to be a big name’ Peter James

  ‘Utterly compelling and dripping with authenticity. This summer’s must-read thriller’ J S Law, author of Tenacity

  ‘From the first page to the last, an authentic, magnetic and completely absorbing read’ Sir Ranulph Fiennes

  ‘Out of terrible personal circumstances, Matt Johnson has written a barnstormer of a book in Wicked Game – one that fans of Chris Ryan, Andy McNab and Peter James will drool over. His first-hand experience of police work and counter-terrorist operations gives this page-turner a chilling authenticity that few others in the ge
nre can hope to rival. But despite his police pedigree, Johnson also gets inside the terrorists’ heads to give them credible motivation. Nothing is clear-cut in a labyrinthine plot, which is gripping and which – despite thrills and spills aplenty – never falls short of believable. The ending is neatly tied up, but leaves the reader eager to follow lead character Robert Finlay’s further adventures’ David Young, author of Stasi Child

  ‘The magic mix of jeopardy, emotion and action. I could not put it down’ Louise Voss

  ‘Matt Johnson shows he’s been there, done it and worn the T-shirt in his first novel. Entertaining and gripping throughout, it is authentic writing at its very best. His ability to overlap reality with the fictional characters, from both a soldier’s and cop’s perspective is uncanny. Top-quality entertainment from a first-class writer’ D.N. Ex-22 SAS Regiment

  ‘A book by an ex-cop and -soldier has the potential to go wrong and fall flat due to it being all about inside knowledge that is tough to decipher by the public. This book isn’t like that. It is a genuine page-turner, very well written, and just flows from one scenario to the next. It is clear the author lived through these times and this is evident in knowledge and description. Excellent’ Ian Patrick

  ‘A former SAS officer finds himself a target of a terrorist cell years after he has left the forces, creating a fast-moving storyline. I was so gripped that I could not put it down. I loved the main protagonist, Robert Finlay, but I particularly loved his feisty wife, Jenny. I’ll be looking out for the sequel’ Segnalibro

  ‘The writing is direct: facts and histories stated, not left for the reader to pick over: there isn’t time to stop and sift the finer aspects of motivation – to do so would only slow the plot. Events cascade, ruthless killers spill into the open, and the agencies who should be tackling them are far less united and coherent than one might expect … You’ll enjoy this book if you’re into thriller and action: even if you think you’re not, the pace of the writing will carry you away. Robert Finlay’s not a man who gives up easily’ Blue Book Balloon

  ‘From the first page through to the last, the reader is completely hooked and drawn in by the writing and the descriptions; this is such an absorbing and thrilling read. The authenticity of the writing, and the knowledge of what happens in particular situations raises this above other thrillers. Wicked Game really does give you flash, bang, wallop, and, like bullets, no words are wasted, but hit the target every time. Matt Johnson is a new name in thriller writing and with his brilliant writing we have a new star’ Library Thing

  ‘A real cracker of a book and I have no hesitation to give it five stars. I look forward to reading more books from this gifted writer’ Bookworm

  ‘Finlay is an older male who is settled down with a wife and child and is feeling his age a little. He’s not some fit, handsome superhero. He’s an ordinary man, who has made career choices that have put him in extraordinary situations, which in turn have led him down a path where he has to face difficult decisions. It’s this normality about Finlay that appealed to me and kept me reading. The believability of the story. The authenticity’ Rebecca Bradley

  ‘An action thriller of the highest order that deserves to be read widely. It is hard to believe such an accomplished work is a debut’ Never Imitate

  ‘Despite having read hundreds of thrillers, it’s rare to find one with this level of authenticity and with some real passion behind the writing … I would describe Wicked Game as a thriller with a heart, and the story behind it and Matt’s own experiences are what makes it beat’ Book Addict Shaun

  ‘A gripping and quite frantic story of espionage, misplaced loyalties, revenge, retribution and double-crossing. With twists and turns, and red herrings at every corner, Wicked Game is an impressive debut’ Random Things through my Letterbox

  ‘The case is so intriguing, full of red herrings and twists, highlighting years of service by Finlay and his team, the trail of potential enemies left behind. This is in some ways a spy novel, with tantalising glimpses of M15 and Home Office interference. Above all else, though, Wicked Game is a tense, exciting thriller that presents Finlay’s gigantic effort to keep his family safe, trying to rediscover physical and military skills long put to rest, and facing seemingly insurmountable odds. The ending is stunning!’ For Winter Nights

  ‘Talk about a kick-ass novel! From the very first page, I was shocked into holding my breath. It reads like an action movie, but with all the bubbling tension in between, some of it so quiet and subtle that Matt lulls you into a sense of false security. Then BANG, he thumps you, shocks you, jolts you into submission, before doing it all again’ The Book Trail

  ‘This book oozes authenticity … when barely a week goes by without us hearing about terrorist attacks somewhere in the world, on behalf of some cause or other, it reminded me of the thanks and respect these men like Matt Johnson – some of whom pay a heavy toll; some of whom pay the ultimate price – are due from us’ Crime Worm

  ‘The sheer dogged determination of Robert Finlay provides one hell of an exhilarating ride, as he dodges bullets, explosives, and the shadows of his past, in this Wicked Game of cat and mouse. Expect nothing less than a thrilling journey, where secrets and revenge are delivered with guts and precision and the stakes are as high as they get – Finlay gives new meaning to the SAS motto of “Who dares, wins”’ Little Bookness Lane

  ‘It’s the first-hand experience of terrible events that really gives Wicked Game an unshakeable feeling of authenticity, which is woven deep into the fabric of the story’ Espresso Coco

  ‘I’ve always been a fan of thrillers, with the build-up of tension, the action-packed heroics and insane bravery. Wicked Game is a stonkingly accessible British thriller, with its roots firmly set in recent UK history and a strong sense of authenticity running through it’ Northern Crime

  ‘The story itself is a complex web that the police, security services and Finlay himself are all trying to untangle. It is never clear who can be trusted and what agendas they are trying to move forward, except for Finlay, whose fight for survival we follow most intimately through his own thoughts. The tension takes hold early on and never lets up as the danger gets closer to home and Finlay realises that only he can secure his family’s safety as he is forced to face his past up close and personal’ Live Many Lives

  ‘Matt Johnson has a very real talent and gift for thriller writing. Wicked Game cracks along at a great pace, with plenty of gripping and original plot twists and turns, and a finale that wouldn’t be out of place in a book with a protagonist called Reacher’ Mumbling about…

  ‘This is a breathtaking debut novel that will have you on the edge of your seat’ Thrillers, Chillers & Killers

  ‘Wicked Game builds the tension in an intelligent and emotional way, has many layers to both time, place and sense of character, and is basically a top notch “thriller” that has a dark heart and an emotional soul. It is not a book that will be read and then forgotten – this one will stay with you. Excellent, thought-provoking, clever and beautifully written’ Liz Loves Books

  ‘With his first-hand real-life experience Johnson has an understanding of what was going on in the minds of his friends, superiors and even terrorists. This is translated into excellent psychological portraits of the main characters. Facts mixed with fiction and unclear boundaries between both are bases for moving authentic narration and brilliant storytelling’ Crime Review

  ‘Wicked Game is an absolutely brilliant new thriller, and the plot is fast-paced, twisted and exciting. Finlay is a man who is prepared to break all the rules to protect his family, but he is also very human and likable. I can’t praise Matt Johnson and Wicked Game too highly’ Promoting Crime Fiction

  ‘On every page, tension is carefully built, as a portentous revelation is offered or a memory smothered. Johnson litters his tale with the plotting equivalent of incendiaries: cops we don’t quite trust, a career that came abruptly to an end, a secret needing to be kept … Gripping stuff’ New Welsh
Review

  ‘Matt Johnson delivers characters that feel pain, emotion and fear. There are some pretty sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat moments because you know certain events are unstoppable and you can’t avoid watching them unfold. A cracking book right to the end’ From Dusk till Dawn

  ‘Fall headlong into a gripping and absolutely cracking story, featuring an ex-SAS, turned Met police officer, battling for his life … Johnson turns his knowledge into the most fabulous and readable story that just zings along with authenticity and exhilarating attitude. I’m excited to be in at the start of what promises to be a fabulous new series, and honestly can’t wait for the next!’ Love Reading

  Deadly Game

  Matt Johnson

  For Hannah, a special daughter and friend.

  And for Harley.

  To appreciate harmony, we must know war.

  To value freedom, we must know slavery.

  To find peace, we must vanquish the Devil at his chosen game.

  Prologue

  1999. Romania

  The wind can kill.

  Relia Stanga recalled her father’s words clearly as she huddled against the stone garden wall for shelter.