Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 121871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
“It’s the Walsh’s MO,” DC McCubbins had explained grimly. “When they lock in on a target, they find ways to infiltrate their lives and use threat and intimidation to get vulnerable people to work for them. You … however, this is a big move for them. Usually, they target individuals to take over their homes so they can deal out of them. Targeting a business … they’re attempting to expand.”
“By however means necessary. I need to protect my family and the people who work for me. Tell me what I need to do.”
What I hadn’t expected the officers to suggest was that my company work with them. With a crew of their undercover officers, to be precise. They wanted me to hand-select two fishermen I trusted to work a boat with a crew of undercover police officers and go through with the shipment but only to entrap the Walshes and their associates. The officers needed me to meet with Hughes to get the exact details of the pickup and delivery plan. For now, they asked us to add their officers to my roster immediately, backdated on the system, so if or when the Walshes investigated the chosen crew, it would look like they’d worked for me for ages.
Fraser had left with the list of officers to get started on that right away.
I’d wanted to refuse their plans, and I’d tried, but the officers had bluntly explained to me how the Walsh brothers dealt with their enemies. It was gruesome to say the least.
DI Smith had shaken his head impatiently. “This isn’t an impossible operation. Dorian and his brother Aaron are a drop in the bucket compared to some of these gangs working out of London and Manchester. This is our opportunity to end their operation before it becomes a monster.”
Therefore, I’d agreed. Before I did, I asked them to investigate this Connor bloke Kelly had mentioned to London. I wanted that wannabe pedophile found and locked up. The police agreed to look into him.
I sucked in a deep breath of sea air as I stood on the steps of the police station, trying to shake off the rage I felt every time I mentally replayed Kelly’s words from Monday. As grateful as I was that she’d confided in London, I hated that she’d needed to.
The sound of Leth Sholas alive and awake shattered through my thoughts—boat horns and traffic, the shouts of the harbor master and his staff in the near distance.
It occurred to me I shouldn’t linger outside the station just as a familiar blond strode out of the homeware boutique next to it.
Cameron McQuarrie abruptly halted at the sight of me, her bagged purchase swinging into her thigh with the movement with an unpleasant rattle. “Shit.” She peeked into the bag and sighed in relief. “It’s fine. Glass lamp.” She explained. Then her eyes moved to the police station before returning to me. “Everything all right?”
“Fine.” I moved toward my Discovery that was parked behind her old Defender. “You all right?”
Cammie sauntered over, cocking her head in thought. “Seriously, is everything okay?”
“Everything is fine, Cammie.”
She didn’t appear to believe me. “Have you told London?”
“Told her what?”
Cammie made a face, gesturing to where we were. “I mean, you don’t have to tell me, but maybe you should tell your wife.”
“Tell her what?” I repeated.
She rolled her eyes. “Murray, you’re a terrible liar. I don’t know how you and London have gotten away with this fake sham of a marriage. But … maybe if you were more honest with her, it could be something real.” She shrugged like she hadn’t dropped a bomb.
My heart thudded in my chest. I’d spent the last few days avoiding the one person I wanted to be around the most. Especially after I witnessed the way she was with Kelly. But I was trying to be good. Not give in to temptation.
However, if Cammie was telling me … had London mentioned something? That she was open to a real relationship?
Fuck, it was the worst timing ever, if so.
“London’s stronger than some people think.” Cammie continued, “It would do London a world of good to feel like she was needed, that she was relied upon, trusted. She thinks so poorly of her own judgment that I think the people who care about her need to let her know they trust her judgment. They trust her to be able to take care of them. A relationship is give and take, you know. Each partner’s shoulders are metaphorically able to withstand equal burdens.”
Hadn’t I been the one to tell London that, if only through a song?
Was I failing to show her that through my actions?
But before I could question Cammie any further, my phone rang. I pulled it out of my back pocket: Ramsay. Thinking he was calling about the Walsh brothers, I gestured with it to Cammie apologetically. “I need to take this. It was nice to see you, Cam. And thanks.” I think.