Shadows of Deceit by Patrick Cotter Read Free Book Online

reaching up to stroke the back of his neck. Then the motion was slowly reversed down across his shoulders and arms to his hands.
    “You can open your eyes now.”
    She said as she stood up and slowly removed her clothes by dropping them on top of his on the floor. The light from the hallway was behind her so Harry could only see her in silhouette. When finally undressed she moved across and slowly sank onto the bed next to Harry who was now bursting to move, to touch her, to embrace. Her fingers touched him gently, stroking, teasing him still further until he couldn’t lie still any more. He pulled her across and down onto him and they slowly moved together until the irresistible urge to climax overwhelmed them. They remained still for a few minutes before Harry pulled the eiderdown over them and they lay quietly together like spoons in a drawer and slept undisturbed throughout the night.
    In the morning Harry quickly dressed before kissing Eileen goodbye.
    “I’ve got to leave, my new job starts today. I’ll call into the Royal Stuart in a day or so, once I know what the routine at work is. I also want to show you my new digs.”
    She held his arm and kissed him again.
    “I’ll look forward to that.”
    Eileen moved over to where he had slept. She closed her eyes and fell back to sleep feeling safe in his warmth and aroma that still lingered there.
    Harry rushed up the stairs to Andrew’s flat. It was still only 7a.m. so he would have time for breakfast and to wash and change before sitting down with him to discuss more of his duties. Harry walked to the bathroom and found the door locked, which was odd.
    “Andrew are you in there?”
    Andrew answered from the bedroom,
    “No, sorry Harry I’ve a friend staying; he’ll be out in a minute.”
    The bathroom door opened and a tall, slim younger man carrying a towel in front of him sheepishly manoeuvred himself around Harry and back into Andrew’s bedroom. They made eye contact but no words were exchanged. Whilst Harry was in the bathroom he heard Andrew saying goodbye to his companion.
    “I’m sorry Andrew, I had no idea he was here,” Harry shouted.
    “It’s OK - just a bit of a shock for him more than you I guess. He called in last evening and stayed on.”
    Andrew went through to the kitchen and prepared some breakfast for the two of them.
    About half an hour later, after Harry had showered and dressed the two were able to sit down and discuss his new responsibilities.
    “Listen Harry, until you are invited into the ‘shadow’ operations these will be your cover duties.”
    Harry sat forward to listen,
    “This is the ledger that has details of all the tenants together with the weekly rental they are to pay to you in cash, no cheques, no barter, you understand?”
    “Perfectly.”
    Harry took the black leather bound book and examined some of the pages.
    “There’s a sketch map inside the back cover that will help you find your way about. It should take you a couple of days to get round the lot. The important thing is to collect everything, some tenants will try to delay, and some of the others won’t answer the door initially. You’ve to be persistent; they all know that if they don’t pay then they’ll be evicted. Bring the cash back here and don’t discuss anything with anyone, is that clear?”
    “Yes boss.”
    Harry smiled across, but Andrew still looked stern.
    “I mean it, it’s important Harry, I need to trust you, to look after my business.”
    “I do understand, I won’t let you down.”
    “Do the collections first, and when they are all in I’ll get you involved with the rest of your duties.”
    “Do we issue receipts to the tenants?”
    “No, not normally, just get them to initial the book alongside the cash amount you write in.”
    Later that morning Harry set out with the book and started gathering the rents. The properties were mainly run down, poor quality dwellings that in pre-war conditions would have been condemned. But