Read Online The Hijack by Duncan Falconer - Free Book Online Page A

notice.‘Never seen so many toffs together in one place before. ’Ow the ’ell did we get cobbled into this job?’
    ‘I happened to walk by the RSM’s office just as he was looking for someone to palm it off on. Sorry.’
    ‘I thought the cops usually did this bollocks.’
    ‘They do, but apparently someone in MoD especially asked for Special Forces. There’s a lot of high-powered people here.’
    ‘Lotta wankers too.’
    An attractive woman who looked to be in her late teens walked from the lawn and up the steps towards Morgan and Stratton who parted to let her through. She was wearing a pink frilly outfit with a low-cut neckline that was on the side of brazen for such an occasion.
    She smiled coquettishly as she approached the two men and let her eyes linger on Stratton’s just a little too long as she squeezed between them to enter the building.
    ‘Hello,’ she said.
    ‘Hi,’ Morgan said enthusiastically to the back of her head, keeping his eyes on her rear as she moved down the hallway and out of sight.‘Sweet,’ he drooled. ‘I’d crawl through an ’undred yards of minefield just to ’ear ’er fart down the end of a field telephone.’ Morgan was known for his basic sense of humour.
    ‘She’s probably never had an offer like that before,’ Stratton said dryly, his attention caught by a shrill scream from a clump of bushes; a very young girl in an expensive dress ran out pursued by an even younger boy in shorts, short-sleeve shirt and tie, wielding a water pistol.
    ‘I don’t think she was into a bit of black though. A bit of old white more like.’
    ‘Money has mature taste,’ Stratton said.
    ‘She’s probably a Lady Somethin’ or Other,’ Morgan went on. ‘Bet she wouldn’t piss on the likes of us if we were on fire . . . Mind you, that’s the very type who just might, and we wouldn’t need to be on fire either,’ he added with a chuckle. Morgan was also known for laughing at his own sick jokes, loudly and often alone.
    ‘Where’s Smudge?’ Stratton asked.
    ‘Down at the main gate,’ Morgan said. ‘And Bob’s the other side of the marquee. I think ’e’s actually enjoying this. He likes rubbin’ shoulders with this lot. Have you noticed he even starts talkin’ like ’em? And the bloke’s from bleedin’ Luton.’
    ‘I’m going to get a wet,’ Stratton said as he headed inside.
    ‘Grab me a sarnee would ya - cheese and pickle if they’ve got any. I’ll go and do another round of the walls . . . I’ll start climbin’ the fuckers if this thing goes on much longer.’
    Morgan headed off and Stratton walked down the hallway. As he reached a corner at the end, a man’s voice called out from behind him.
    ‘I say. Excuse me.’
    Stratton looked back to see a young man in a white suit and red tie that appeared a little extrovert for this gathering. ‘Would you get me a Buck’s Fizz, old boy?’ he asked with a smile.
    ‘What?’ Stratton said, looking irritable having heard what the man had asked him.
    ‘A Buck’s Fizz. Orange juice and champers, old thing.’
    ‘I’m not a waiter.’
    ‘You’re staff, aren’t you? Be a dear and run along and get me one.’
    Stratton controlled an urge to say something he would regret and forced a smile. ‘Sure.Anything else?’
    ‘No, that would be lovely,’ the man said with a warm smile. ‘I’ll be outside.’
    Stratton walked around the corner and along a corridor that led to the kitchen.‘I’ll shove a champagne bottle up your arse if you call me dear again,’ he muttered to himself.
    The pretty young woman was standing in a doorway as he passed by it. ‘You’d probably lose the bottle with that one,’ she said.
    Stratton paused to glance at her. ‘Sorry, I was talking to myself.’
    She smiled as he carried on into the kitchen.
    Food and drinks were everywhere; a chef was preparing sandwiches, a waitress headed out of a door into the garden carrying a tray full of strawberries and cream while another returned