Read Online A Shot In The Night (John Harper Series Book 2) by Edward Holmes - Free Book Online

the
other end of a frank assessment like that since it was usually me delivering it
but I’d been in this sort of situation before.
    “Who
are you and what the hell doing in my gym?” Fraser said in an accent that
contained some Scottish and some Scouse but was still rather intelligible.
    “I’m
John Harper and I’m here to see if I could have a moment of your time Mr
Fraser,” I said offering my hand.
    Fraser
didn’t shake it but stood there with his arms folded in his faded blue jogging
top that was so old the lettering of the brand had fallen off and now just
showed its presence in the form of darker material, “I don’t know you and you
ain’t from round here so I have no time for you.  How about you just turn
around and leave and you won’t get hurt.”
    “I
wish I could sir but this is important.”
    “Are
you a copper?”
    “No,”
it was technically true.
    He
took a step closer to me within my personal space and looked up at me, “You
smell like a pig to me.”
    “I
should buy better deodorant then.”
    “Funny
man.  You’re also brave coming in here or maybe it is just stupidity.  Maybe
you don’t know who I am.  I built this gym from the ground up.  When riots
happened all I had to do was stand outside here and not a man came close, you
got more sanctuary in here then you would have if you had gone to church.  So I
don’t speak to anyone I don’t want to and you’re lucky I have kids in here at
the moment or I’d be tearing you a new one,” he said in a low tone that was
extremely intimidating.
    Now
aware that I should watch my language more than ever I smiled and tried to act
more confident than I felt, “Unfortunately this is in regards to a young man’s
life so I kind of need to talk to you.”
    Fraser
stared at me with narrowed eyes, “Tell me what you want to know and then I’ll
decide what the price will be.”
    “I
want to know what you know about the Boulton shooting.  Directly I want to help
make sure that Tommy Morrison doesn’t go to prison for a murder he didn’t
commit.”
    He
rubbed his jaw line for a moment, “You last three rounds in the ring and I’ll
answer your questions.  When you lose I’ll ring you an ambulance and you don’t
come back.  That sound fair?”
    “Guess
that is how we are going to sort this,” I said my confidence returning as I
looked at the smaller man.  I could tell the years of fighting had taken their
toll on him the way he held his hands suggested pretty severe arthritis and I
had range, speed and relative youth on my side, “So when do we start?”
    “You
start when my boy Micky gets back from his run.  Ha ha ha you didn’t think our
deal was to fight an old man like me was it copper.  No, you get to fight the
pride of Fraser’s Gym.”

Chapter Fourteen
    The
glee in Fraser’s voice as he said those words did little to prepare me for the
sight of his champion.  The lad was only a couple of inches taller than his trainer
but was barely in his twenties.  His shoulders looked pure muscle and when he
stripped off his sweat soaked shirt I was astounded at the definition.  I’d
never seen someone that fit in real life and I’d been in the police, served
with the army and met a number of security agents in my time.  He was tanned
with a darkness of skin that showed some of the melting pot of cultures and
diversity that Liverpool was famous for.  His hair was mere stubble and his
eyes had the same searching look that Fraser had but keener and in brown.
    I
expected him to question who this old fella wearing jeans and boots was
considering he was supposed to fight me but he merely nodded when Fraser told
him to get ready.  I on the other hand did have something to say, “Mr Fraser I
don’t have any gear with me surely you don’t want me going in your ring wearing
this gear.”
    “No,
you’re right, I’ll get you a pair of our fighting shorts; you can wear them,
that’s all you need,” he said not even bothering to