Read Online Blackwater (DI Nick Lowry) by Henry James - Free Book Online

this fight many times before. Bugner was one of several bare-chested fighters, along with Henry Cooper and stars from his own police team, whose framed portraits adorned the walls of the chief’s attic office.
    ‘Twenty-one.’
    Sparks nodded, then decided to try a change of tack. ‘Listen, Nick,’ he soothed, ‘maybe you just need to have a rest, take a break?’
    ‘I’m fine – I just fancy doing something different . . . I — ’
    ‘I’ve got it. Perhaps you’re going through a mid-life crisis?’ Of course, that was it! He remembered those years vividly himself – that difficult, restless transition into middle age, full of regret and self-doubt. Sparks reached for his Embassy, pleased to have found a logical explanation.
    Lowry frowned. ‘Wha — ?’
    ‘Yes, that’s it. Explains all that shit about giving up smoking, too.’
    ‘I hardly think . . . Anyway, never mind all that. The headless corpse on the Strood – I think it could be a German.’
    Sparks’s expression relaxed. ‘The Hun, eh?’
    Lowry cringed at the term. It was something Sparks’s adversary Brigadier ‘the Beard’ Lane might say. Not that Sparks would ever accept he’d been influenced.
    ‘So what makes you think that?’
    ‘German coins in his jeans.’
    ‘Aren’t we jumping to conclusions somewhat?’ Sparks replied. ‘Maybe he’d just come back from holiday.’
    ‘Maybe, but some of the clothing has what look to be foreign labels. One, I’m pretty sure, is made in Germany.’ He paused, then added, ‘So, do we notify Interpol before we make a statement? Sergeant Barnes has checked up and down the coast, and no accidents have been reported . . .’
    Sparks pondered. ‘Call Special Branch first. See if you can squeeze any missing-persons info from those slippery bastards. It would be a first, but go through the motions. And the soldier?’
    Lowry hesitated before speaking. ‘The kid’s lying. He knows who chased them.’
    Sparks frowned. ‘Of course he does.’ He stood up and turned to the window. ‘This is a delicate case: I need it wrapped up pronto and slipped past the press. Otherwise, the Beard will cause merry hell.’
    ‘You may want to ask him why he moved the surviving boy so swiftly.’
    Sparks turned. ‘Ah. Didn’t I tell you he would do that? That’s why I told you to get over there last night. Fuck it, I don’t care. If he’s moved him, he can hardly expect us to find out who’s responsible. Pompous git.’
    The two men looked at one another.
    ‘Okay, get on to the Red Caps. They’ll know where the little shit’s been moved to.’
    ‘Will do. The boy gave the name of witnesses, though: two girls. I’ve given it to WPC Gabriel – who found them – to check out.’
    ‘Good. Keep me posted.’
    Lowry made as if to go, but the chief held up his hand to detain him. ‘Listen, Lowry. Go on holiday, or have an affair – I don’t care which – anything to get your mojo back. Frankly, I don’t give a toss what you do, but I want you back in the ring.’
    2 p.m., Great Tey
    Jacqui woke in the early afternoon. Usually at the end of a row of nights, she would follow a set routine: a couple of hours’ catnap, get up at noon, mooch around a bit, take it easy and try to slip into conventional hours. But today was Saturday and she was off now until Monday, so, like ordinary people with a whole weekend to relax, she’d allowed herself to sleep in. And what was more, tonight – Saturday night, New Year’s Day – she was going out.
    Slipping out from under the eiderdown, she slunk lazily downstairs to make a coffee. She glanced at the kitchen clock: ten past two. At four o’clock her mother would appear with her son, and at half six Nick would be back to take over, so she could be ready in good time for her night on the town. Propped against the kettle was a note from Nick: Will call at 4. x
    She knew there were plenty of things she should be doing, but if nobody was going to trouble her until