45% Hangover [A Logan and Steel novella]
Page 9
Deep breath.
He stepped over the threshold. ‘Stephen? Stephen Bisset? It’s OK, you’re safe now; it’s the police.’
Bloody hell – it was actually colder inside the shack.
The torch picked out a stack of poles and saws and chains. Then a heap of logs and an old tarpaulin. Then a cast-iron stove missing its door. Then a pile of filthy blankets.
‘Stephen? Hello?’
Logan reached out and picked one of the poles from the stack. Smooth and shiny from countless hands over countless years. A bill hook rattled on the end, the screws all loose and rusted. ‘Stephen? I’ve come to take you home.’
He slipped the hook under the nearest blanket and lifted.
Oh Christ …
Outside. The cold air clawed at the sweat peppering his face. Deep breath.
Logan rested his forehead against a tree, bark rough against his skin. The smell of pine nowhere near strong enough to wash away the shack’s corrupt stench.
Don’t be sick.
Be professional.
Oh God …
Deep breath.
‘I …’ His throat closed, strangling the words. Pressed his forehead into the bark so hard it stung. Tried again. ‘I should kick the living shit out of you.’
Stirling’s voice oozed out from the darkness. ‘He’s beautiful, isn’t he?’
The phone trembled in Logan’s hands as he dug it out and called Steel. ‘I’ve found Stephen Bisset.’
There was a whoop from the other end. Then, ‘Laz, I could French you. Is he …?’
‘No.’ Though if he ever woke up, he’d probably wish he was. ‘I need an ambulance, and an SEB goon-squad, and a Crime Scene Manager, and someone to stop me stringing Graham Bloody Stirling up from the nearest tree.’
Coming 15 January 2015…
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About the Author
Stuart MacBride is the No.1 bestselling author of the DS Logan McRae series and the Ash Henderson novels.
His novels have won him the CWA Dagger in the Library, the Barry Award for Best Debut Novel, and Best Breakthrough Author at the ITV3 Crime Thriller awards. In 2012 Stuart was inducted into the ITV3 Crime Thriller Hall of Fame. He was crowned World Stovies Champion 2014.
He lives in the north-east of Scotland with his wife, Fiona, and cat, Grendel.
For more information visit StuartMacBride.com
By Stuart MacBride
The Logan McRae Novels
Cold Granite
Dying Light
Broken Skin
Flesh House
Blind Eye
Dark Blood
Shatter the Bones
Close to the Bone
The Missing and the Dead
The Ash Henderson Novels
Birthdays for the Dead
A Song for the Dying
Other Works
Sawbones (a novella)
12 Days of Winter (short stories)
Partners in Crime (Two Logan and Steel short stories)
The Completely Wholesome Adventures of Skeleton Bob
The 45% Hangover (A Logan and Steel novella)
Writing as Stuart B. MacBride
Halfhead
About the Publisher
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
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Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
http://www.harpercollins.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Canada
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New Zealand
HarperCollins Publishers (New Zealand) Limited
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http://www.harpercollins.co.nz
United Kingdom
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
1 London Bridge Street
London, SE1 9GF
http://www.harpercollins.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
195 Broadway
New York, NY 10007
http://www.harpercollins.com