Read Online Live Fire by Stephen Leather - Free Book Online Page B

moved to France and then to London. The authorities know nothing of your background, of course.’
    ‘Of course,’ said Hakeem. ‘It seems you have me at something of a disadvantage, as I know nothing about you.’
    ‘Who I am is of little importance,’ said Bradshaw. ‘What matters is what I have done and what I have yet to do.’
    ‘The people who entrust me with their money will need proof that you are indeed working for jihad .’
    Bradshaw reached into his jacket pocket and took out a small white thumb-drive. He gave it to Hakeem. ‘Photographs of the car bombs being constructed. The drive is password-protected. You must enter your family name as the password. Failure to do that will erase everything on the drive.’
    Hakeem pocketed it. ‘And they will need to know what you plan to do with the money.’
    Bradshaw leaned forward and in a whisper he told Hakeem what he planned to do.
    As he listened, Hakeem smiled.
    Shepherd climbed out of his car and sighed. It had been two months since he had last mown the lawn in the front garden and even longer since he had done any weeding. It showed. The door opened and his son hurtled down the path towards him. ‘Dad!’ shouted Liam. Shepherd picked him up and hugged him. ‘Dad, I’m twelve, I’m not a kid!’ he protested.
    ‘You’re almost twelve and, anyway, I figure that until you’re actually a teenager I can pick you up and hug you whenever I want to.’
    ‘Did you get me anything?’
    Shepherd lowered his son to the ground. ‘Is it me you’re happy to see or your present?’
    ‘Tough call,’ said Liam. ‘But that means you did get me a present, right?’
    Shepherd grinned and pulled a Virgin bag from his pocket. ‘Two games for your Xbox,’ he said. ‘Shoot-’em-ups, lots of blood and gore, just the way you like them.’ Shepherd had given up trying to stop his son playing violent video games. When Liam had been younger Shepherd had banned them from the house but his son simply went to his friends’ homes and played there. Eventually Shepherd had capitulated. At least if Liam played at home he’d be able to keep an eye on him, though he’d never understood why anyone, least of all a child, would take pleasure from murder and mayhem.
    ‘Thanks, Dad!’
    ‘Don’t blame me if you end up as a psychopathic killer,’ said Shepherd.
    ‘If I do, it won’t be the video games.’
    ‘What do you mean by that?’
    ‘Joke,’ said Liam.
    Shepherd took his suitcase from the back of the car. ‘Have you been a good boy while I was away?’ he asked.
    Liam looked up from the computer games. ‘What have you heard?’ he asked.
    ‘Nothing,’ said Shepherd.
    Liam grinned. ‘Then I’ve been good,’ he said.
    ‘When’s the next parent-teacher meeting?’
    ‘Next year maybe. Katra’s cooking dinner.’
    Shepherd noted the change in subject but didn’t comment on it. ‘What’s she making?’ he asked, heading for the front door.
    ‘Pigs’ testicles,’ said Liam. ‘It’s a Slovenian speciality.’
    Shepherd stopped walking, horror on his face.
    Liam laughed. ‘Got you,’ he said. ‘Joke. It’s shepherd’s pie.’
    ‘Yeah, right.’
    ‘I’m serious, Dad.’
    ‘With real shepherds, no doubt.’ He carried the suitcase into the house and left it by the hall table. There was a stack of unopened mail on the table. Katra was sitting in the kitchen reading Hello! , a mug of tea in front of her. She looked up in surprise when he walked into the kitchen. ‘Dan!’ she said. ‘You’re back!’
    ‘It is my house,’ he said.
    ‘I just meant I wasn’t expecting you, I thought you were coming tomorrow.’ She got up from the kitchen table and moved towards him as if she was about to hug him, then appeared to change her mind and headed for the kettle instead. ‘Coffee?’ she asked. She was wearing a short denim skirt that was frayed at the bottom and a pink Diesel T-shirt. She had her hair tied back in a ponytail, her usual style when she