Read Online Critical Threat by Nick Oldham - Free Book Online Page B

the bluff, angry figure of Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Anger and his sidekick, a DI called Carradine who had been seconded to FMIT recently and who, Henry knew, was the man that Anger wished to replace Henry with. All three of them went back a long way, but it was Anger and the DI who were best mates.
    Behind them trotted a helpless Rik Dean, making tiny gestures to Henry with his hands and shoulders, which said, ‘Sorry.’ He looked pained.
    Anger barged in, Carradine by his shoulder like a parrot.
    â€˜Almost pulled a fast one there, Henry,’ was Anger’s opening gambit.
    Henry swung the desk chair round, instantaneously on the defensive. ‘What do you mean?’
    â€˜How did you get this job?’ Anger demanded.
    â€˜What job?’
    â€˜This murder!’
    â€˜I was called out to it – it is on my patch, after all.’ He was responsible for covering Blackpool Division, on which the body had been found.
    â€˜Well, you shouldn’t have been.’
    â€˜Not my problem.’
    â€˜You’ve been relieved of the job.’
    The chair flew backwards on its casters as Henry shot to his feet. ‘What?’
    â€˜You heard. DI Carradine is taking it on, so you can hand over everything to him.’
    â€˜
What?
’ Henry was flabbergasted.
    â€˜But there is some good news in it for you,’ Anger smirked. Henry waited, not daring to open his mouth lest what came out of it totally destroyed his career. ‘You’ve been transferred off FMIT as of today,’ Anger said, and let the words hang there for effect. Henry’s mouth dropped open with a little bubble of spit on his lips. ‘Yeah – transferred on to Special Projects at HQ.’ Anger smiled winningly. ‘Hadn’t you heard? No? I’m surprised FB hasn’t called you.’
    Admittedly Henry knew he had a series of missed calls on his mobile which he had been studiously avoiding. One of them could have been FB.
    â€˜But then again, why would he call you? It’s usually your divisional commander or department head who gives you that sort of news these days.’ Anger’s smile turned into a snarl. ‘Unfortunately, the transfer comes with a promotion to chief inspector, which completely mystifies me.’ He shook his head and looked as though this news was enough to make him vomit. ‘So you can get lost.’ The smile returned – venomously. ‘DI Carradine is now temporary DCI and despite the fact that I said you’d never make chief inspector as long as I’ve got a hole where the sun don’t shine, I’m a happy man. You know what I think of you, so I won’t go over old ground.’ He gave Henry a little wave.
    Henry was tempted to knock the beam off Carradine’s face as he crossed the room, and was glad to see the DI cringe back slightly as he came within striking distance. Obviously Henry’s body language was pumping out ‘beware’ vibes. However, he did nothing nor said anything, but pushed past the three of them, getting a muted ‘Sorry, mate’ from Rik, and stalked into the corridor. He had only gone a few yards when Anger called, ‘Henry.’ He stopped abruptly and revolved slowly as Anger strolled up to him, a half-smile on his twisted lips.
    â€˜You don’t seriously think you’d have won, do you?’ he said derisively. ‘I’m part of a gang, you know.’ His eyebrows arched. ‘You, on the other hand, are just a minion, a nobody, nothing.’
    â€˜Whatever,’ Henry said.
    â€˜So let’s let bygones be bygones, eh? There’ll be no need for us to cross paths any more. Let’s keep it that way, shall we?’
    â€˜I don’t think so.’
    Anger’s face froze. ‘I’ll fuckin’ crush you, Henry,’ he said almost conversationally, ‘if you don’t let this go. I promise you.’
    â€˜Your little army going to do