Read Online No Holds Barred by Lyndon Stacey - Free Book Online

you’ve heard about that, then?’
    â€˜I told you, it’s a small village. Everybody knows everything.’
    â€˜Including who did it?’
    â€˜I don’t know about that. Most people are saying it must have been kids. There’s not a lot for them to do round here of an evening or weekend. They hang around the rec usually. It wouldn’t be surprising if they got up to a bit of mischief, and everyone knew that Forester’s was standing empty.’
    â€˜It looked like someone might have been up there before.’ Daniel told her about the beer bottles and cans. ‘Maybe if they’ve been hanging out there, they might have been annoyed that I was moving in.’
    Sue pursed her lips. ‘S’pose so. Never heard tell of anyone up there. It’s a bit remote.’
    â€˜Oh, well, Taz’ll keep anyone away now,’ Daniel said.
    In due course, he paid the bill. After exchanging pecks on the cheek, they went their separate ways, Sue on foot, explaining that she only lived a few houses away from the pub, and Daniel returning to his car and the waiting dog.
    As he entered the dark alleyway that led from the road to the pub car park, a deeper shadow detached itself from the wall of the building and stepped into his path.
    Daniel’s heart rate stepped up a notch.
    â€˜Evening, Boyd. Were you looking for me?’
    He sensed a momentary hesitation from the other man and guessed he’d wrong-footed him.
    â€˜Just a word, Whelan. That’s all.’
    Daniel kept walking, unhurriedly but without altering his course, and Boyd gave way and stepped aside. In the lamp-lit car park, even though he was aware that Boyd was following, Daniel walked across to his car before turning round.
    â€˜Now? Can’t it wait until the morning?’
    â€˜It could, but we’re both here now, so why wait, eh?’
    â€˜All right.’
    In the car, Taz was barking at Boyd, his muzzle scraping the glass and affording an impressive view of his teeth. Daniel quietened him with a sharp command.
    â€˜Big dog like that must cost a lot to feed,’ Boyd observed. ‘You interested in making a bit more money?’
    Daniel played the innocent.
    â€˜What? Overtime, you mean?’
    Boyd shrugged. ‘In a manner of speaking. Only you’d be working for me.’
    â€˜Doing what?’
    â€˜A bit of driving, amongst other things, maybe.’
    â€˜Does Mrs Summers know about this?’
    â€˜It’s nothing to do with her. Call it a bit of private enterprise, if you like. No harm done to anyone and a little extra cash in your pocket. What do you say?’
    Daniel could see the gleam of Boyd’s eyes in the muted light. He was watching intently, as much for Daniel’s reaction as for his answer, he guessed. He deliberately kept his tone non-committal.
    â€˜I’ll have to think about it. Let you know in a day or two.’
    â€˜All right, but don’t take too long. And this is just between you and me, right? No need to mention our little conversation to anyone else. If I find that some little bird has been tweeting where it shouldn’t  . . .’
    Daniel ignored the threat.
    â€˜I’ll let you know,’ he repeated, and got into the car.
    After work the following day, with another fine evening in prospect, Daniel again found himself heading for the stables. This time he had to catch Piper from the field, and as he led him into the yard, he saw Jenny there, talking to Sue.
    â€˜Piper won’t know what’s hit him,’ she remarked, coming over as he brushed the horse’s chestnut coat to a sheen. ‘Going out twice in two days.’
    â€˜You don’t mind? It just seemed like such a lovely evening.’
    â€˜Of course I don’t mind. I wish I could come with you.’
    â€˜Well, why don’t you?’
    â€˜Because I’ve got three hungry children waiting for their tea. But I will one day. I just