Chief Inspector Parkin continued, “When we arrived we found Mr Harding lying on the kitchen floor. He’d been shot twice. We found another man, whom I now assume is your brother at the top of the stairs. He too had been shot. This is pure conjecture but it’s possible Mr Harding disturbed the intruder, probably thinking him a common thief, and was shot. The commotion brought your brother out of his bed and he was shot before the man made his getaway.”
Tom gasped at the news his brother had been shot. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer to his next question. “Chief Inspector, how is Colin?”
“Your brother is seriously ill but alive. The bullet appears to have entered his chest but I can’t tell you any more than that. Mr Harding I’m afraid, died in the ambulance on the way to hospital.”
Tom was dazed and bewildered by the news. Before last Friday he’d never seen or known anyone shot. Now in the course of a very short space of time there seemed to be shootings and bodies all around him.
“Why?” was all Tom could think to ask.
“It’s too early to speculate but in view of your recent involvement in a shooting in London, I think we have to consider they may be linked.”
Tom’s shoulders slumped and he put his hand to the wall to steady himself. “Are you saying the gunman was after me?”
“It’s a strong possibility. Unless you can offer some other explanation?” Parkin replied.
Tom knew the Chief Inspector was correct in his assumption. Even if Colin had enemies, which Tom was sure he didn’t, they wouldn’t have attacked him in Tom’s house. He seemed to have become a magnet for trouble.
“I guess they must have been after me,” Tom agreed. “Nothing else makes any sense. Was it some sort of revenge attack for what I did in London?”
“It’s too early to say for certain but that would be my first thought. By the way, might I ask where you’ve been tonight?”
“I’ve been at the Casino at the Marina.” It was a simple statement of fact but led Tom to feel a huge surge of guilt that he’d been playing poker while his brother was shot. Had the gunman confused Colin for himself? If he’d stayed at home John Harding might also not be dead.
“What time did you go out?” Parkin probed gently.
“Colin and I went out for a meal earlier. I brought him back home a bit the worse for wear and put him to bed about eleven. Then I went out to the Casino.”
Tom noticed the second policeman had removed his hands from his pockets and was writing his answers in a note book.
“If you’ll excuse me now Chief Inspector I need to get down the hospital to check on my brother.”
“Of course, Sir. I’ll have one of my officers take you. We can speak again tomorrow.”
A policeman in plain clothes suddenly hurried up to Parkin and whispered in his ear.
Parkin turned back to Tom. “Sergeant Grant will organise your lift for you. We’ve had an anonymous tip off that just might lead us to the gunman.” Without further explanation Parkin turned and was gone.
Sam waited in the room unable to sleep and wanting to know how Connor had got on. It was just past two thirty in the morning and she had resigned herself to the thought of spending the rest of an uncomfortable night, once he did return, getting a little sleep on the bathroom floor. She didn’t trust that pig Connor to behave and at least the bathroom had a door she could lock.
Right now though she was watching a boring film on television while her mind travelled to the idea of Paris with Eduardo. She would make the most of the chance to spend a week in a five star hotel at someone else’s expense. And she was sure he would take her shopping when she pointed out she had nothing suitable to wear to a smart restaurant. She’d buy a beautiful dress and some nice shoes and enjoy some five star luxury. And then she would drink champagne and go to bed with Eduardo.
She wondered what he would be like as a lover. Would he be kinky and demanding? It was a thought that sent a tingle through her body and her hand slid down between her thighs. She stroked herself with her fingers on top of her jeans and then undid the zip. She slid two fingers inside her panties and felt the moisture that signalled her desire. She laughed and forced herself to stop. She didn’t want Connor coming back and finding her in the midst of playing with herself. It would be like rocket fuel to his libido. She fastened her jeans and lay back with her hands behind her head. The anticipation of Eduardo was sufficient excitement for now. She didn’t doubt for a second that he would give her what she wanted. Maybe after their time in Paris he would even invite her to go back to Spain with him and just maybe she would accept. After all, Belfast only offered the likes of Connor.
Sam heard the key turn in the lock and knew Connor was back. She jumped up from the bed excited by the anticipation of his news and stood facing him as he entered. He ignored her and went straight for the bottle of whisky he’d left on the table.
“So…?” she asked impatiently.
Connor took a large swig from the bottle and wiped his sleeve across his lips before responding.
“Ashdown’s history.”
He took another large swig of whisky. He wasn’t going to tell the bitch it hadn’t gone entirely
