by Sue Brown
Josh took the opportunity to grab his notebook and bag. “I’m leaving.”
“Josh…wait.” Cal tried to grasp his arm but he dodged past him.
“Not now. Not fucking now.”
Josh stalked past Stephen and down the hallway toward the elevators.
“Josh? Mr. Cooper?”
At the sound of Stephen’s concerned voice, Josh reluctantly turned around. There was no sign of Cal.
Stephen rushed up to him. “Mr. Cooper, are you all right?”
“No, Stephen, I don’t think I am. I’m a gullible idiot.”
“I’m sure that’s not true.”
Josh sighed and rubbed his eyes. “I’m going back to the hotel for a while. I’ve got to call Landry. I don’t even know which hotel to go to.”
“I’ll text you the address and tell Mr. Waldron you’re taking a couple of hours,” Stephen said. He furrowed his brow. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
Josh stabbed the down button and to his relief the doors opened instantly. “Not unless you have a time machine.”
“Huh?”
“I wanna erase the past two years, Stephen.” Josh smiled wryly. “Can you do that?”
Stephen shook his head. “Sorry sir, miracles aren’t my forte.”
“In which case, I’m gonna find a bottle of Jack and use that to forget.” Josh watched the doors close on the concerned face of Jesse’s assistant. “And then, when I’ve got over my hangover, I’m going pluck out every hair from Callum-fucking-David-fucking-Ross’s chest and pubes.”
The miracle of forgetfulness would have to wait. As the elevator doors opened on the ground floor, Josh spotted Jesse’s concerned face.
“How the hell did you get down here so quickly?” Josh demanded.
Jesse’s lips twitched. “I was already here. I got a call to head you off.”
“Cal or should I say, Charlie?”
“He’s a fucking moron,” Jesse said.
“You got that right.”
“I didn’t know about him and you.” Jesse sounded sincere but Josh wasn’t convinced.
Josh sidled out of the elevator as two men leapt for the open doors. “You weren’t his handler?”
Jesse shook his head. “Hell no. I’ve only just started that role. I’d never want to handle Callum.”
“His handler knew about me.”
“Cal told me. She’s going to do her nut.”
“What do you want, Jesse?” Josh just wanted to vanish, not discuss his… what the hell was he?
“You’re going to have to put the sulk on hold.”
Josh didn’t bother to deny he was working up to a sulk. “What’s happened?”
“We’ve found the Merc. Rick and Dave are watching it, but they’ve got something else to do.”
“What about Gil and Landry?” He hadn’t seen them in a couple of hours.
“I sent them to tail Eric Adlington. Dominic’s convinced he’s involved.”
“You want me to watch the Merc?”
“You and Cal.” Jesse looked apologetic.
Josh stared at him. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me?”
“Dominic—”
“Can go—”
Jesse held up his hand. “Whatever you’re about to say, you’ve still got to work with Cal. I’m your handler. You’re a professional, and he’s your boss.”
“Fine,” Josh spat. “I’ll be waiting down here for him.”
Jesse looked to his right and Cal stepped into view. He looked as enthusiastic as Josh about the plans.
“Send Rick and Dave back when you get there,” Jesse said. “I need them here.”
He left Josh and Cal in the lobby, looking anywhere but at each other.
Josh followed Cal silently to the underground parking lot, only raising an eyebrow when they reached a pale gray compact car, rather than the usual SUV.
“This is less conspicuous than the SUV,” Cal said gruffly.
“Okay.” Josh slid into the passenger seat and waited for Cal to ease into the afternoon traffic before snapping, “Where are we going?”
“The Merc is parked at the back of Lambeth Palace, just over the river. It was dumped there last night and local LEOs called it in. Susan’s pulling the traffic cam footage.” Cal cursed as a black cab veered across his path.
“Do you think someone is going to come back for it?”
“I don’t know, but Eric Adlington’s mother lives in the flats near there.”
“Another spider in the web,” Josh said. “Did you know Adlington used to be Michaels’ PA?”
Cal grunted. “Why did he change to Barton?”
“Barton’s PA went on maternity leave. Supposedly Michaels offered his PA to Barton, knowing Barton needed organizing.”
“Planning for this in advance?” Cal was quiet for a moment then he thumped the steering wheel, making Josh jump. “But why? Jonathan was a good guy. He was one of the best. Why is he doing this?”
The pain in Cal’s voice cut through the anger Josh had been feeling since the moment he’d realized Cal’s true identity. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I’m sure it’s tied up with the syndicate.”
“Damn him to hell. Damn him.” Cal smacked the steering wheel again.
Josh was about to say something when his phone rang. “It’s Gil. Hey, Gil.”
“Where are you?”
“Hold on.” Josh turned to Cal. “Where are we?”
“Near Lambeth Palace.”
“Near Lambeth Palace,” Josh repeated.
“We’re following Eric Adlington. He left work and we think he’s on his way to his mom’s.”
“We’ll be there in five minutes.”
“Stay out of sight,” Gil said. “We’ll meet you there.”
“Will do.” Josh disconnected the call. “Adlington is on his way to his mom’s. Gil says to stay out of sight.”
“’Kay. There’s the Merc, and his mum lives over there. I’ll park round the corner.”
Cal turned the car and parked in an empty space from where they could see Barton’s car and the walkway to the apartments where Adlington’s mother lived. A few moments later, Eric Adlington got out of the Merc and strode toward the building. Josh studied him carefully. He looked a very different man from the immaculately dressed, slightly prissy, assistant they’d met only five days ago. He looked tired, and his hair was lank and greasy. As he hurried up the path, he looked around him. He was definitely spooked. A car backfired as it drove past and the man nearly shed his skin. Adlington dropped his keys once, but finally managed to let himself into the outer door of the building.
“He’s jumpy,” Cal observed.
Josh hummed in agreement. “He looks like shit.”
“There’s Gil and Landry.”
A black Audi drove past the end of the road and disappeared. It returned about three minutes later and took a spot on the other side of the road, in sight of the back of the building.
Josh hated stake-outs. “I wish we’d brought some coffee.” After the morning he’d had, Josh could feel the need for caffeine thrumming through his veins.
“It’s a good thing I brought this then.” Cal reached into the back and brought out a flask.
Josh stared at the silver flask with greedy eyes. “Is that coffee?”
“Green tea. It’s better for you.”
“Tell me you’re joking.”
Cal unscrewed the cap and poured dark liquid into the cup. “I’m joking. I value my balls. Here.”
Josh took the cup, but before he took a swallow he looked over the rim of the cup. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Josh took a long swallow and groaned as the dark brew slipped down his gullet. He didn’t feel any friendlier toward Cal, but at least his nerves could settle.
“Wh—Hey—Adlington’s on the move again,” Cal said.
Josh knocked back the last of the coffee as the young man exited the building. “He could’ve w
aited until I’d finished the coffee.
Cal tightened the top on the flask. “He didn’t spend long at his mum’s.”
“I wonder where he’s going next.”
“Gil and Landry can follow him,” Cal said. “You and I are going to get dinner.”
“We’re supposed to be working.”
Whatever Cal said was lost in waves of heat, noise and metal, as the Merc exploded. Cal threw himself over Josh, pushing him down as the windows of the compact shattered. It felt like ice picks plunged in both of Josh’s ears from the blast and his body resonated with pain. It seemed an eternity before Cal sat up, pulling him upright.
“Are you okay?” Cal asked, picking something out of Josh’s hair. He sounded muffled and Josh realized his ears were still ringing.
Josh pressed his ears and shook his head. “’M okay.” He coughed as he inhaled black smoke.
“What about you?” He looked at Cal, picking some of the glass out of his hair. Blood trickled out of one of Cal’s ears.
Cal coughed and spat. “I’m fine.”
“What about Adlington?”
Cal quickly brushed Josh’s lips with his and got out of the car. Josh followed on shaking legs, his gaze widening at what he saw. Around them looked like—well—like a bomb had gone off. Car alarms shrieked from badly damaged cars on all sides and the Merc was little more than a burning twisted metal corpse in a blackened crater. Windows in the apartments had blown out, and people stood where they’d been, staring out, open-mouthed in shock.
To Josh’s amazement, Adlington was on his knees staring at the remains of the vehicle. Blood trickled into his eyes from a long cut across his forehead.
Josh watched as Gil and Landry bolted over to him. Landry said something to him but Josh was too far away and his ears rang too much to hear.
Adlington stared at Landry, his mouth moved but no words came out. Gil and Landry helped him to his feet.
“He’s in shock, boss,” Gil said to Cal as he and Josh joined them.
“He’s not the only one. How the hell did he survive the explosion?” Josh muttered.
“It’s unbelievable, but he pressed the remote to the Merc and stepped back inside the flats at the same time. The building shielded him.” Landry sounded as shocked as Adlington looked.
Cal grimaced at the sound of sirens in the distance. “Dinner’s going to have to wait. Is anyone else hurt?”
“It’s a fucking miracle no one was driving or walking past,” Gil said. “Small blast area. Couldn’t have been a large bomb.”
“I’ll call DCI Walters. Hopefully she can get us out of the explanations,” Josh said.
“I can’t stay here.” Adlington took three steps before Gil gripped his bicep firmly.
“You’re not going anywhere until the paramedics have looked at you.”
Josh stepped to one side and dialed Susan’s number.
“Walters.”
“DCI Walters, it’s Josh Cooper.”
“Mr. Cooper, what can I do for you?” She didn’t sound particularly friendly. “Is that police sirens I can hear?”
“Long story short, Eric Adlington had Philip Barton’s car. It’s just blown up behind Lambeth Palace.”
“Adlington—?”
“He’s fine aside from cuts and bruises.”
“Shit, did you say Lambeth Palace?” Susan groaned. “This is going to be on the news as religious terrorism. For heaven’s sake don’t mention the T-word.”
“Don’t Kings and Queens live in a palace?” Josh’s knowledge of monarchy was limited to BBC America and Downton Abbey, but he watched Disney and the Princesses always lived in palaces.
“What? Not this one. The Archbishop of Canterbury lives there.”
“Why doesn’t he live in—wait no, I don’t care. Can you get the LEOs off our backs?”
“I’ll be there in fifteen.” She disconnected the call without saying goodbye.
Cal and the others were surrounded by cops. For a moment Josh thought about slipping away to Threadneedle Street, but Cal spotted him and smiled. Josh held up his phone and mouthed, “Jesse.” Cal nodded and focused again on the officer who was talking at him.
“Waldron.” His voice was muffled as if he was talking through several layers of wool.
Josh squeezed his ear several times to try and hear better. “Jesse, it’s Josh. We’ve got a problem.”
“What is it?” Jesse asked, his voice calm as ever.
“Can you talk up? Adlington’s—Barton’s—car just exploded and I can’t hear jack shit.”
“Everyone okay?” Now Jesse sounded as though he was covered in one layer rather than ten.
Josh stared over at the small group of men. They’d been so close to not being okay. “We’re all fine, including Adlington, but there’s a big hole by Lambeth Palace. I’ve called Susan Walters. She’s gonna fix things with the LEOs.”
“Good move,” Jesse agreed. “I’ll talk to upstairs and get you all out of there. Don’t let Adlington out of your sight.”
Josh shook his head again, trying to clear his ears. With the sirens and car alarms he could barely hear Jesse. “What should we do with him?”
“Put him in a hotel. Cal will know which one. Convince him he’s in danger and needs a guard.”
“I think what’s left of the burning car in the middle of the road will convince him better than me,” Josh observed dryly.
“He was bloody lucky to survive,” Jesse said. “I’ve got to go. I’ll see you back here once you’ve got Adlington settled.”
Josh sighed as he disconnected the call. No chance of a quiet evening with Cal sorting out their issues.
An officer tried to prevent him rejoining the group but Cal barked, “He’s with me,” and they let him through.
Cal hauled Josh to his side, provoking some odd looks from the police officers. “Josh, this is PC McMahon.”
McMahon was probably late forties. A gruff-looking man with gray hair and dark brown eyes.
“And you are…?” McMahon had a voice to match his appearance.
“Josh Cooper. He works for me,” Cal said before Josh could respond.
Josh scowled at Cal. He was more than capable of answering for himself. “Josh Cooper. I work with him.”
“You’re American.” McMahon’s tone was almost accusing. “I thought you worked for Mr…er…Ross.”
Josh resisted the urge to clap his hands and congratulate the police officer on his powers of observation. “I’m based in Seattle.”
“Why are you over here?”
“Mr. Cooper and Messrs. Grover are here on business,” Cal said smoothly.
“What kind of business?” McMahon asked, suspicious.
“CDR is a security firm.”
One look at Landry and Gil, and it was obvious they weren’t flipping burgers.
“Where’s the incident commander?” Cal asked.
“They’re on their way with the bomb squad.” McMahon barked at two police officers standing at the door of the apartments as one of the doors opened. “Keep the residents in the building!” The police officers quickly ushered two women back inside.
“There isn’t going to be another bomb,” Cal explained. “This was aimed specifically at Adlington.”
“How do you know that?”
Cal pressed his lips together.
“Mr. Ross?”
Josh looked at Cal curiously as he stopped talking. “Cal, are you okay?”
Cal had gone a peculiar gray color and he touched the back of his neck, blinking as his fingers came away covered in blood. “I’m…”
His knees buckled and Josh fought to hold him up. PC McMahon grabbed Cal’s other side. “Lower him to the ground before he takes us all down. I need the paramedics here now!” he shouted as they got Cal to sit on the curb.
The green-suited paramedics looked over from the ambulance where they’d been treating Eric Adlington. One of them hurried over to kneel beside Cal. He gently pushed Cal�
��s shirt collar aside and blanched.
Josh held onto Cal’s hands. “What’s the matter? Why is he bleeding?”
“He’s got a piece of metal embedded in his neck,” the paramedic replied calmly. “I don’t know how deep it is so I’m going to leave it where it is. I can’t put a collar on right now so I need you to remain as still as possible, sir. What’s your name?”
“Cal,” he mumbled.
“Okay, Cal, let’s get you to hospital so they can X-ray your neck.”
“I’m coming with you,” Josh said.
Cal tried to shake his head, subsiding when the paramedic barked at him to stop. “You need to stay here.”
Josh held onto Cal’s hands. “I’m coming with you. Gil, call Jesse. Get him here now and follow us to the hospital. Landry, stay with the Merc. Don’t let anyone take anything until Jesse and Susan Walters are here.”
Gil dug in his pocket for his phone as McMahon swallowed audibly.
“Detective Chief Inspector Walters?”
Josh furrowed his brow. “Yes, do you know her?”
“Why do you know her?” McMahon asked suspiciously.
“She’s working a case with us.” Josh didn’t have the patience to discuss exactly how he knew the policewoman but she obviously came with a reputation.
“We need to get you into the ambulance, Cal,” the paramedic said. “We’re going to take you in this chair.”
“I can walk,” Cal said, trying to sound authoritative.
Josh interrupted his objections. “Shut up and do as they tell you.”
The paramedic grinned at Josh. “Are you his partner?”
Josh wanted to say yes, but it wasn’t true. He didn’t know anything about Cal beyond how he liked a blowjob. With most men that was all Josh cared about. It wasn’t enough where Cal was concerned. “He’s my boss.”
“Well, this is the one time you get to boss him around.”
Cal snorted derisively and Josh told him to shut up again.
“Jesse’s on his way,” Gil said. “Rick and Dave will be here in two.”
“We have to go.”
Both paramedics assisted Cal into the chair and wheeled him to the ambulance.
As Josh went to climb in the paramedic stopped him. “There’s not enough room in here.”
Josh looked at him steadily. “I’m coming.” He pointed to Adlington. “I can’t let him out of my sight.”