The Boathouse by R. J. Harries Read Free Book Online Page A

to the concierge, he may know something.”
    â€œDidn’t you follow them?”
    â€œWe had to let the tyre down. A biker took the diamonds and the concierge took the money to the back entrance.”
    â€œSo you’re telling me that they got away again and we’ve got nothing.”
    Sinclair’s face flushed and his body was shaking. The guards conveniently removed themselves from the living room.
    â€œWe may get a lead from the bike or the concierge. We were instructed to pump the tyre up and leave. No hanging around and no following, otherwise they would shoot her.”
    â€œI need you to find her, Archer.”
    â€œI know.”
    â€œIs it about the money? Do you want me to pay you in advance, is that it?”
    â€œIt’s not about the money.”
    Sinclair breathed heavily as he walked back to his desk and opened the drawer underneath. He withdrew a large white chequebook and slapped it down hard on the desk. He sat down and slowly unscrewed the top off a silver fountain pen. The room was silent except for the sound of the gold nib scribbling across the smooth surface and the large paper rectangle being torn out.
    He held it out, shaking it dramatically in front of him to dry.
    â€œHere, take this, and then find her.”
    â€œI’m not taking it, but I will find her.”
    â€œIt’s a retainer for a hundred thousand pounds. Now take it.” Sinclair paused and then raised his voice again, “Take it, damn it. I just told you to take it, so do as I say.” His bottom lip trembled in anger.
    â€œNo,” Archer said.
    â€œYou can always frame it for posterity if you don’t want to cash it.” He said it mockingly and chortled openly in disgust.
    â€œWho uses cheques these days? Wire it like everyone else. I’ll write down my account number, give me the pen.”
    Archer wrote the name, sort code and account number for Londinium Lux Limited on the back of the cheque. Sinclair called for a laptop and one of his assistants appeared within seconds. He sat down with the laptop and a small code machine from his bank and transferred the money himself.
    â€œThere, it’s done.”
    â€œThanks. Look, we’ve traced the calls back to London, but we need you to stay on the call a bit longer. Try and ask them some more questions about Becky. Ask to speak to her again, get into a conversation with them, anything just make them stay on the line.”
    â€œI’ll try.”
    â€œIf you can keep them on the line, we can trace the call. Find them, and we find Becky. So give it your best shot, okay?”
    â€œUnderstood.”
    â€œRansom calls follow a pattern. There will be another call and that’s the one you need to nail for us. My team is working on it. They know what they’re doing. Trust us. We’ll find them, but I need more information.”
    Archer was distracted as he read an incoming text from Zoe.
    Jones returned to the penthouse after visiting the café and signalled to Archer with a thumbs up sign that he was ready to go but stayed out in the entrance hall away from his boss. Archer told Sinclair where he was going and followed Jones out to the waiting lift.
    â€œAre you going to tell me what the sisters were talking about in the car?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œDoes Sinclair know you occasionally moonlight for cash in his car?”
    The colour instantly drained from Jones’s face.
    â€œI’ll tell you, after we’ve spoken to the concierge. Just don’t ever mention the moonlighting thing again. I’ll show you where her sister lives, but you have to promise me that you won’t tell anyone else what she said.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

    Archer entered the hotel through the revolving doorway. The dark-haired concierge was leaving the desk, walking swiftly towards the rear entrance. Archer sped past reception and called after him near the lift lobby.
    â€œHey, hold on.”
    He