Dan ended by telling her about Tactical Advanced Security Systems Ltd.
A single vivid-red rocket fired through Lucy’s synapses. ‘TASS? They sold the Moroccans those duff bomb detectors?’
‘Yes.’
‘Kaitlyn was after TASS.’
Dan nodded. ‘She would have blamed them a hundred per cent. If the detectors had worked, the bomb would never have boarded our flight.’
Energy flooded her body. She had to force herself not to jump up and race to her car, the MIR, and start tracking TASS down. ‘I’ll get onto it straight away.’
‘And I’ll have a chat to your Teflon Tom. Try and find out about this Chris Malone. Send me her photo, would you?’
Dan’s phone pinged seconds later as Lucy sent him the picture. Although his manner was casual, Lucy knew he’d have more luck than she could hope for. As a police officer she couldn’t threaten Tomas, but Dan could. He was good at that stuff. Teflon Tom wouldn’t stand a chance.
When the doorbell rang a few minutes later she followed Dan into the hallway, thinking about nothing more than it was time to see Jenny and Mischa, and that she probably wouldn’t stay with Mac tonight. Not with the huge fucking clue Dan had just given her. TASS! They were closing in on Kaitlyn’s killer at last. The Indonesians would be pleased.
As Dan opened the door, something in her came alert. She wasn’t sure what it was, but she paused. Turned her head to see who was there.
It was a man. He wore a boiler suit, obscuring his physique. His body language was open and friendly. He looked perfectly innocuous but there was something about him…
She realised there was something wrong with his eyes but she couldn’t work out exactly what. He was half smiling as he passed a piece of paper, an envelope – she couldn’t see exactly what – to Dan.
Lucy slipped along the hall, edging closer for a better look, and with a lurch, she saw what was wrong with the man’s eyes. They were set inside a latex foam mask.
35
Lucy stared at the mask. A realistic mask that moved with the man’s facial expression, and looked utterly convincing until you were close.
All the hairs rose on the back of her neck.
With a friendly wave, the man retreated. Dan stood in the doorway, watching him. Lucy scurried to his side.
‘What the hell?’ she said.
Dan showed her a single piece of paper upon which was printed in bold capital letters:
JUST TO REMIND YOU. JIBRAN BOUZID’S HAND REACHES BEYOND MOROCCO’S BORDER.
Lucy made to go after the man but Dan stopped her.
‘Wait.’
He closed the door. Raced into the kitchen with Lucy hot on his heels. Together they watched the man saunter down the drive and vanish around the corner.
‘I’ll follow him,’ Lucy said urgently. ‘He didn’t see me. He won’t know I’m tracking him.’
‘What’s going on?’ Jenny was by the sink, peeling potatoes. Now, she put down the peeler, anxiety flooding her face.
Lucy saw Dan glance at his wife, then back at where the man had disappeared. Lastly, he looked at Lucy.
‘I don’t like being threatened,’ he snapped. ‘Go after him.’
Lucy tore through the kitchen and utility room. She was yanking open the back door when Dan yelled, ‘Take Poppy! You can pretend you’re on a dog walk!’
‘Okay!’ she yelled back. She grabbed Jenny’s Barbour and a dog lead. As it jingled, the Rottweiler appeared, looking expectant.
Lucy bolted outside. Poppy cantered steadily at her side as though they did this every day. Not wanting to be seen exiting the driveway, Lucy headed for the trees. Crashed past branches and through leafy mulch, the dog crashing happily alongside, obviously thinking it all a great game.
Half a minute later she could just see the pale grey of the road through the trees and at the same time, she registered a car’s engine running. It sounded large. Powerful. It also sounded as though it was stationary. She heard a car door slam. She ran harder. The car was put into gear. With a deep growl, it began pulling away…
Lucy pelted past an oak tree, ducking a low branch, sprinting, desperate not to miss it… nearly there… She grabbed Poppy’s collar as they erupted onto the verge. She didn’t want the animal to get run over. ‘Wait,’ she commanded. To her relief, Poppy stopped immediately. Lucy saw a big 4X4 accelerating up the hill. A red Range Rover. It was already too far away for her to read the number plate. She yanked out her phone. Took a hurried photograph, then another. The car crested the hill and disappeared.
When they returned to the house, Dan uploaded her photos to his computer, expanded the images. They were horribly blurred.
‘Is that an 8 or a B?’ Lucy squinted. ‘Or a 5? A 3?’
‘Could be anything.’ Dan sighed. ‘But at least we know it’s a red Range Rover Sport. Base price eighty thousand.’
‘I’ll get the tech guys at work to have a look. They might get something.’
‘That would be good.’
‘You ruffled some feathers in Morocco,’ she remarked.
‘The same ones Kaitlyn did.’ His expression hardened. ‘But I can’t have my family threatened, Lucy. Not again. Find whoever it is, will you? And shut them down.’
‘I’ll do my best.’
‘I’ll pretend to go to work as usual. Keep up the pretence I’m dropping the whole thing.’
She wanted to say be careful but kept quiet. If anybody could hoodwink the masked man it would be Dan.
‘Is Jenny okay?’ she asked.
‘Not really. She doesn’t like it that he knows where we live, but she’s a tough cookie. And if things get hairy, she’ll take the kids somewhere safe.’
Lucy knew Jenny hated doing that, loathed it. But luckily she wasn’t stupidly stubborn and would hide if needs be, which was good news.
Dan surveyed her briefly. ‘You’ll stay for lunch?’
‘As long as it’s bangers and mash.’
36
Lucy bypassed Bristol that afternoon, thanking God she hadn’t told Mac she might drop in. She hated getting his hopes up then disappointing him, but that was a cop’s lot, especially when on a
