Ambush by Nick Oldham Read Free Book Online

‘Blackpool.’
    â€˜What are they doing here?’
    â€˜Dealing and robbing. Apparently two Spar shops, one in Ibiza Town and one in San Antonio, have been robbed in a similar fashion: closing time, just one or two members of staff in the shop, cash and goods stolen, mainly cigarettes and spirits. They’ve made about seven thousand euros and if they’d been successful tonight would have had two thousand more. Obviously they’re favourites for the other jobs. The local cops are just trying to locate their apartment or wherever they’re crashing out. They think it’s in San Antonio.’
    She was referring to the resort on the other side of the island which was very much the centre of the club culture for which Ibiza was famed.
    â€˜The one I chased said he knew me,’ Flynn said. ‘Not sure I know him … and the name you gave – Assheton – didn’t ring a bell.’
    Santiago frowned. ‘He kept asking your name. Maybe you came across him when you were a cop?’
    Flynn shook his head. ‘That was over ten years ago and he would only just have been out of nappies. If I’d met him, I think I would remember.’
    Santiago sat back on the sofa and exhaled happily.
    The boat was quite luxurious and despite being a sportfisher it was not out of place amongst the luxury boats in the harbour. It made a great day boat as well as an excellent place in which to sleep; the huge bed in the stateroom was ideal for two, even if one was as large as Flynn, who often slept splayed out like a starfish.
    He glanced at Santiago and grinned. She had initially come into his life thinking she might arrest him for murder but had ended up in his arms, and he was very happy about that. For some horrific moments he had thought he had lost her, but she had survived and he was in no mood to let her go, ever.
    Steve Flynn, he almost hated to admit, was in love … again.
    â€˜Bed time,’ he announced. ‘Charter tomorrow, ten until four.’
    â€˜And unfortunately I need to phone my boss in Las Palmas. He’s sent me too many texts to ignore … wants me back on something.’
    â€˜That’s a shame.’
    They knocked back their drinks, then, with their arms draped around each other, they headed for the stateroom.
    Somewhere in the distance, Flynn could hear music playing.
    Village People. ‘YMCA’.
    He gave Santiago a meaningful look and cocked his head.
    â€˜No. No, don’t you dare.’
    â€˜But I love this tune,’ he whined.
    â€˜Sometimes I wish I’d never introduced you to a Black Russian.’
    It was at that moment that Flynn’s mobile phone rang.
    Flynn scowled at the caller display. As he pressed the ‘answer’ button – he was using an old Nokia – and gave a gruff ‘Yeah?’, Santiago’s phone also rang.
    They disengaged from each other’s arms and concentrated on their individual calls.
    â€˜Steve, it’s Jerry Tope.’
    â€˜What have I done to deserve this phone call? It’s usually me harassing you, old mate,’ Flynn jibed, but at the same time he had noticed an urgent tone in Tope’s voice even in the few words spoken. It was very unusual, almost unknown, for Tope to call Flynn, since the former tried to avoid all contact if possible, their past history being a delicate one.
    â€˜Steve …’ Tope’s voice cracked.
    Flynn walked to the stern. ‘What’s the matter?’
    He glanced at Santiago, who also seemed to be having a serious conversation. As Flynn knew, no good ever came from phone calls in the middle of the night.
    â€˜It’s Craig Alford … I thought you would want to know …’
    â€˜Know what?’ Flynn asked, immediately thinking,
Heart attack
. Alford liked food and booze, but it was just an assumption on Flynn’s part. He hadn’t seen or heard from Alford in over ten years. For all he knew he