Evil Valley by Simon Hall Read Free Book Online

sign of all that is wrong with modern so-called “journalism”. There will be another briefing at five o’clock.’
    He turned and paced his upright stride back towards the house, leaving a host of uncomplimentary muttering in the pack. Hacks began phoning the fresh information into their newsrooms. With a big story like this, the ravenous beast of news demanded continual feeding.
    ‘Pompous arse,’ grumbled Pete, the local Western Daily News reporter. ‘Do you think he was talking about the News? We used that shot El got on the front page this morning.’
    ‘Snap,’ Dan replied. ‘I thought he was talking about me. We used some high shots too. Ah, let him think what he wants. It’s up to us what we use.’
    ‘What’s the plan now then?’ asked Nigel, taking the camera off its tripod. ‘When you gentlemen have finished whingeing.’
    ‘We’re here all day,’ replied Dan. ‘We’ve got to cut a report for the lunchtime news, and do a live bit, then the same this evening for Wessex Tonight.’
    Dan’s mobile rang. Adam, and sounding amused. ‘You’ve met the Assassin then?’
    ‘How do you know that?’
    ‘Because he just came back here to the house fuming about some jumped-up idiot of a TV reporter. I asked what the guy looked like, and the description sounded familiar.’
    ‘He was the one being an idiot, trying to tell us how to do our jobs.’
    ‘Funny, that’s exactly what he said about you. That and also that you had no idea about duty. He’s got a thing about duty.’
    Nigel was nudging hard at his arm, pointing up the street. A blue people-carrier with several people inside had pulled up, another car behind, the door opening, the driver getting out and staring towards them. Dan nodded, held up a finger to indicate he’d only be a minute.
    ‘Adam, got to go in a sec, but tell me something first. You don’t seem at all keen to help this guy. What’s going on?’
    ‘Oh, I’m helping him,’ replied Adam, carefully. ‘I’m doing just exactly what he asks. The High Honchos have assigned me to his investigation and I’m doing what he wants. Nothing more, and nothing less.’
    ‘So not exactly busting a gut? Not getting stuck in there, being your usual scrupulous, dynamic self?’
    ‘You might think that.’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘Well two things. One, I’ve had a look at the circumstances of this shooting, and the previous one. I can’t see anything immediately suspicious. So I wonder why we’re hounding some guy who’s brave enough to carry a gun in the service of his country and use it when it’s needed to protect the public. It’s not easy for these firearms officers, you know. They’re the frontline when there’s danger. They never know what they’re going to be confronted with and what action they’ll have to take. I tried it out when I was in uniform, but it was too much for me and I jacked it in. It’s bloody stressful and sometimes just downright frightening.’
    Adam paused, and Dan heard footsteps and a rustling on the line. ‘Sorry, just needed to get a bit further from the house there,’ he said. ‘Don’t want any stray ears on this. And on the subject of the investigation, you’d be wise to be prepared for some action later. This is strictly not from me, as ever, but perhaps having a camera crew in the
Higher Colliford Road
area of Plymouth would be wise.’
    Dan scribbled a note on his pad, knew better than to ask for more information. Nigel was nudging him insistently, pointing down the road again. A middle-aged woman was in streams of tears, being supported by two men and another woman.
    ‘Adam, I’ve got to go, but you said there were two reasons for not being keen to help Whiting. What was the other?’
    ‘Murky,’ came the reply. ‘Very murky. I’ll tell you more when we next meet.’
    It was still cold to touch, but the hours free from the deep freeze had been enough to thaw it. The skin felt like plastic, giving under his fingers but then slowly