Read Online Fogarty: A City of London Thriller by J Jackson Bentley - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: J Jackson Bentley
Ads: Link
her hormones for the unsettling effect this client was having on her professional demeanour.
“So are you!” he quipped, looking at her bump. They both laughed.
“Mrs Hammond, I need to speak to my grand mother as a matter of urgency.”
“Call me Dee, please. Why, may I ask, do you need to see her so urgently? You haven’t seen her for twenty years, have you?” Dee was a little taken aback by the fear in his voice.
“No, I haven’t, but I believe that she is the only person who knows about my tw in sister and her whereabouts.”
“Your father never mentioned a sister and, to be honest, we didn’t find any mention of a twin sister in the records. Although, it has to be said, we weren’t looking specifically.” Dee paused. “What makes you think you have a twin sister?”
“My biological father told me,” he answered simp ly. Dee was shocked
“Ben, you went onto The Farm without back up? Do you have an y idea how dangerous that was?”
“I know, I know. I just wanted to beat the crap out of the sociopathic old tyrant, and any of his mates who got in the way.”
“And did you? You know that assault is a crime in the old country?”
“I had to defend myself, and it’s possible a couple of thugs will need hospital treatment, but I don’t think they will be call ing the police any time soon.”
Dee shook her head. “Probably not, but next time you want to confront someone who has a record like Dennis Grierson you must promise me you will have us back you up.”
He nodded. “OK. All’s well that ends well. I do need your help now, and this time it’s to find a little old lady. I think I should be safe confronting my gran, although she could be a dab hand with poisoned knitting needles.” Ben’s attempt at humour did not distract Dee from her promise to Ben’s father to watch out for him. She was worried that perhaps he felt invincible. Despite a career ending injury, he had been blessed with good fortune throughout his life and especially in his rugby playing days, and such good luck can bring with it complacency.
The two sat down and Ben explained what had happened. D ee tried not to show either surprise or revulsion as he described the violence that had exploded just a couple of hours earlier.
With in thirty minutes the two were talking like old friends. Dee herself had a reputation for wading into situations that were dangerous and violent.
“We don’t know with absolute certainty where your grandmother is now, but we are quietly confident that she is a resident at the Northern Cross Care Home in Bootle, on Merseyside. The reason for our belief is that the occupant of her old house remembers being asked to forward any mail to Riverview House, a Northern Cross home for the elderly and infirm. According to the report, May Fogarty left her own home two years ago after her husband, Roy, died. There was a rumour that she remarried, but we couldn’t get confirmation from the care home.”
“OK, so how do I get to Boot le? What is the fastest route?”
“What? You don’t mean right no w?” Dee asked, faintly alarmed.
“Yes, today. I want to get to my twin sister before that psychopath father of ours decides to take r evenge for my visit.”
Dee checked the train times for Euston to Liverpool Lime Street and wrote them down for Ben to look at.
“Can I get there more quickly? By plane, maybe?” Ben asked, expressing an urgency that Dee understood.
“Ben, a plane would be much slower. The trains run from Euston Station, which is just a few minutes away in a taxi.” Dee pondered and then picked up the phone , pressing a speed dial number.
“Hi Phil, this is Dee Hammond from Vastrick. I know it’s quite an impossible ask, but can you possibly fly someone to Bootle today?” There was a period of silence as she awaited an answer. “OK, thanks, Phil, you’re a star. My client is called Ben Fogarty and he will be with you inside an hour.”
She hung up and turned to her
“So are you!” he quipped, looking at her bump. They both laughed.
“Mrs Hammond, I need to speak to my grand mother as a matter of urgency.”
“Call me Dee, please. Why, may I ask, do you need to see her so urgently? You haven’t seen her for twenty years, have you?” Dee was a little taken aback by the fear in his voice.
“No, I haven’t, but I believe that she is the only person who knows about my tw in sister and her whereabouts.”
“Your father never mentioned a sister and, to be honest, we didn’t find any mention of a twin sister in the records. Although, it has to be said, we weren’t looking specifically.” Dee paused. “What makes you think you have a twin sister?”
“My biological father told me,” he answered simp ly. Dee was shocked
“Ben, you went onto The Farm without back up? Do you have an y idea how dangerous that was?”
“I know, I know. I just wanted to beat the crap out of the sociopathic old tyrant, and any of his mates who got in the way.”
“And did you? You know that assault is a crime in the old country?”
“I had to defend myself, and it’s possible a couple of thugs will need hospital treatment, but I don’t think they will be call ing the police any time soon.”
Dee shook her head. “Probably not, but next time you want to confront someone who has a record like Dennis Grierson you must promise me you will have us back you up.”
He nodded. “OK. All’s well that ends well. I do need your help now, and this time it’s to find a little old lady. I think I should be safe confronting my gran, although she could be a dab hand with poisoned knitting needles.” Ben’s attempt at humour did not distract Dee from her promise to Ben’s father to watch out for him. She was worried that perhaps he felt invincible. Despite a career ending injury, he had been blessed with good fortune throughout his life and especially in his rugby playing days, and such good luck can bring with it complacency.
The two sat down and Ben explained what had happened. D ee tried not to show either surprise or revulsion as he described the violence that had exploded just a couple of hours earlier.
With in thirty minutes the two were talking like old friends. Dee herself had a reputation for wading into situations that were dangerous and violent.
“We don’t know with absolute certainty where your grandmother is now, but we are quietly confident that she is a resident at the Northern Cross Care Home in Bootle, on Merseyside. The reason for our belief is that the occupant of her old house remembers being asked to forward any mail to Riverview House, a Northern Cross home for the elderly and infirm. According to the report, May Fogarty left her own home two years ago after her husband, Roy, died. There was a rumour that she remarried, but we couldn’t get confirmation from the care home.”
“OK, so how do I get to Boot le? What is the fastest route?”
“What? You don’t mean right no w?” Dee asked, faintly alarmed.
“Yes, today. I want to get to my twin sister before that psychopath father of ours decides to take r evenge for my visit.”
Dee checked the train times for Euston to Liverpool Lime Street and wrote them down for Ben to look at.
“Can I get there more quickly? By plane, maybe?” Ben asked, expressing an urgency that Dee understood.
“Ben, a plane would be much slower. The trains run from Euston Station, which is just a few minutes away in a taxi.” Dee pondered and then picked up the phone , pressing a speed dial number.
“Hi Phil, this is Dee Hammond from Vastrick. I know it’s quite an impossible ask, but can you possibly fly someone to Bootle today?” There was a period of silence as she awaited an answer. “OK, thanks, Phil, you’re a star. My client is called Ben Fogarty and he will be with you inside an hour.”
She hung up and turned to her
Similar Books
