‘I attacked him so that he’d not be able to play,’ McGee said. ‘I knew that they would come for him next as he had been picked to play the game. They came to me because they assumed I’d be playing. But I also knew that Robert would have been under much more pressure than me. He has a young family; I have none. What if they had threatened his wife and two small children?’
News coming from the FA confirms that Robert Skatie is fine after his Moscow fall. As is Alex Finn, who had a car accident in the UK days before the game.
‘Alex had been got to as well,’ McGee said. ‘They threatened him before the home game a week and a half ago. But he ignored them. He played so well in the home game. The crash was set up. By Tupolev and his English partner.’
The
Evening Post
knows the identity of the Englishman in question. But it needs more time to research the facts before it prints the full story tomorrow.
Danny smiled as he read the story. Once again he’d not even got a mention.
And that was how he wanted it.
He’d had a private thank-you from Matt McGee. A phone call. And a promise that he would not be mentioned in the autobiography.
That was enough for Danny.
The only thing he wasn’t sure about was what Anton would write about Sir Richard tomorrow.
If he’d reveal who he was. If his boss would let him.
Whatever he did write, Danny knew that if he was going to be a real Football Detective, his next case would be his biggest. Making sure that Sir Richard Gawthorpe –or whatever he called himself now – did not get control of his beloved City football club.
And he knew it was a case he’d have to open soon.
Had Danny turned on a TV at that moment, he’d have seen breaking news.
A hotel had blown up in Moscow. Eighty people were dead. The Russian government reported that they had arrested a group of Chechen separatists believed to have been responsible.
One notable person was dead. The target of the attack. Dmitri Tupolev, member of the Russian parliament and oligarch. Along with his unknown visitor.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
As always, first thanks go to Rebecca and Iris. For everything. This book is for you.
Big thanks too to David Luxton, my agent, who is a great guide and friend. Thank you.
I travelled to Moscow twice to research this book and need to thank Igor Goldes, Julia, Jonathan Wilson and Evgeny Kuzmin for their help. Also the Russian government’s Department of Mass Communication and Media, and Academia Rossica.
People in Russia were very warm and welcoming on both my trips. I didn’t meet anyone as nasty as Dmitri Tupolev. Fortunately.
Dan Jones was my guide on my first trip to Moscow. He was a great help. Thank you, Dan.
I try to make my books as accurate as I can so that they sound like they are about real football in the UK. Thank you to Ollie Holt, Richard Whitehead and Matt Wilkinson.
I’d like to thank everyone at Puffin for their inspired and hard work.
Thank you to the other two members of my writing group, Sophie Hannah and James Nash. Also, thanks to Daniel Taylor (Birmingham City) for reading the first draft and giving me great feedback. And to Nikki for reading the book too.
Table of Contents
Cover
About the Author
Books by Tom Palmer
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Reviews from some of Tom’s fans for Football Detective: Foul Play
Contents
Dead Ball
Wednesday
World Cup Qualifier
Match Fixers
Thursday
Work Experience
Lunch Break
Appointment with Alex Finn
The Crash
Friday
Chance of a Lifetime
The Gamble
Spies Everywhere
Saturday
House Party
Sunday
Fear of Flying
Double Agent
Weird City
Moscow
Secret Agents
Monday
Homesick
The Invitation
A Different Kind of Party
Going Solo
The Chase
Good Friend
Tuesday
Following McGee
The Attack
Nowhere to Run
Journey to the Centre of the Earth
The Kremlin
Wednesday
The Longest Night
To the Luzhniki
The Stadium
Pre-Match Tension
First Half
Second Half
The Abduction
We Meet Again
Thursday
Presents
Friday
Exclusive
Acknowledgements
