Deadly Intent by Lynda La Plante Read Free Book Online

could have been used. Street kids? No way."
Anna sighed, her notepad full of doodles and drawings of guns. To her mind, street kids could easily get access to this type of weapon; if they were dealing, they would have bags of cash. It was at this point that her mobile rang.
She patted her pockets hastily as everyone turned to face her. "Sorry, excuse me."
"I hope that isn't personal."
"Do you mind if I go to my office?" She hurriedly made her way outside and into her own small room.
It was DS Harry Blunt. "Travis?"
"Yes, Harry. Listen, thanks for calling me back."
"That's okay. What can I do for you?"
"I just needed to ask you—"
"Where are you?"
"I'm on a case in Chalk Farm."
"That's not bad. That schlep we had to go out to, that murder in Epping Forest, was a bastard. I'm in Dulwich—woman's knifed her old man with an electric meat cutter. You tell me how she can claim it's a fucking accident—she had to plug it in! I've got one for the Sunday joint, and there is no way—"
"Harry," she interrupted him. She had almost forgotten the way he had rambled on when they had worked together. Blunt by name and blunt by nature, he was hardly ever known to draw breath. "I don't have much rime."
"Have you heard about Jimmy? Superintendent now—very high up. Is he on your case?"
"No, it's a DCI Cunningham."
"Oh, her. The bull dyke. You watch she doesn't come on to you."
"Thank you for that advice, Harry, but 1 didn't call about her; it's about the victim in our case."
"Right, but word of warning: you watch out for her. In my opinion, she's full of hot air. Working with her after Langton should be a breeze." He laughed.
"Harry, listen to me. What do you know about Frank Brandon?"
"Frank? I know he retired early. Was on some case, running after some bastard, and fell. Got a rusty screw through his kneecap—fucked him over and so he got out." There was a pause. She could almost feel the wheels turning in Harry's square head. "Why you asking about Frank?"
"Well, it's not been formally ... I mean, we have no formal ID, but we think our victim is Frank Brandon."
"What?"
"They are running tests on his prints. I couldn't be sure as he had taken some shots to his face and ... Harry?"
"You think it was Frank?"
"We can't be sure, but he had a wallet with Frank's ID in it."
"Shit! The poor flicker! Gets out for an easy life and .. .You really think it's him?"
"I hope it isn't, but was he married?"
"I dunno; he used to play around with a lot of women."
"When did you last see him?"
"More than a year ago; we had drinks before he left."
"Was he on any kind of drugs?"
"I dunno. Maybe painkillers—his knee was smashed."
"He used to be Drug Squad, didn't he?"
"Yeah, I think so—long time back, though. What happened?"
"He was found shot in a drug squat in Chalk Farm."
"Fuck me.That's terrible."
"Do you know what work he was doing after he left the force?"
"No, never saw him again. Wait a minute—1 did see him once, for a few minutes on Tottenham Court Road. I dunno what work he was actually doing, but he was driving a very flash Merc. Maybe he got work as a driver or bodyguard?"
"Thank you, Harry. I've got to go now."
"Okay. I hope it's not him; he was a good bloke."
"Yes, I hope so too. Bye now." Anna closed her mobile. By the rime she got back to the incident room, the briefing had broken up.
Cordon approached her. "I'm off home now. We are to go back to the estate first thing in the morning."
She nodded, irritated that she seemed to be paired up with him. "See you then."
"You coming to the pub for a drink? Sort of to get to know everyone?"
"No, I have things to do at home. See you in the morning."
Anna went to Cunningham's office and knocked. She waited for her to answer before entering. "Sorry about the interruption in the briefing." Anna explained that, in the hope of finding out more about Frank Brandon, she had contacted Harry Blunt.
Cunningham, on hearing his name, gave a derisive snort. "That bigoted buffoon! Can't stand him."
Nevertheless,