The Grey Man by Andy McNab Read Free Book Online Page A

had worked. He took the tissues out of his pocket, then put his hand back in and pulled out the compact. Separating the bunch of keys from the compact and putting them back into the desk drawer had been a nightmare. Maybe it was because his hands were trembling so much. He opened it and saw a perfect print of the key. His smile became broader. This was it. He'd copied the safe key. He was going to rob the bank!
     
    That evening was much like the last one. Linda tried to talk to him, but Kevin was barely speaking. He had told her he had to stay up late again as he had more to do on the computer.
    'Don't be too long,' she said, as she went up to bed.
    When she'd gone, Kevin turned on the oven and placed the closed compact on the top shelf. It would take forty minutes for the clay to harden. Meanwhile he opened the tin of wood-filler he had also bought at B&Q and turned on the hob. He had a bit of cooking to do. He heated the filler until it became a brown liquid.
    When the clay had hardened, he poured it into the print of the key. His website had told him it would harden overnight. He slipped it into his briefcase and washed up.
    In bed, he couldn't sleep. He felt scared, excited too.
    Linda's eyes were closed, but she was awake. She wasn't excited. She was just scared.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN
     
    Thursday, 9 February, 12.27 p.m.
    K EVIN WAS AT HIS desk. His door was closed and he was almost whispering into his mobile. 'But you said it would be here today.'
    The Dutch woman at the end of the line was calm. She was used to anxious customers. 'But today isn't over yet, sir. I'll keep checking for your delivery time. If you give me your mobile number, I'll text you with the details.' Kevin gave it to her, then closed his phone.
    It hadn't been a good morning. He took a deep breath and stood up, ready to go to lunch. Keep calm, Kev. He picked up his briefcase and made for the door. You've still got stuff to do.
    With a prawn sandwich in one hand and the brown, now hardened, copy of the safe key in the other, he handed it to Greg at the heel bar.
    'Thanks for the overdraft, Mr Dodds. It's been
pretty quiet for this time of year. I'm hoping things will pick up, come spring.'
    'No problem, Greg. It'll get busy. I'm sure of it.'
    Greg looked at the strange brown shape, then put it into the clamp of the cutting machine. 'It's from an old safe key, isn't it?'
    Kevin munched his sandwich, more out of fear than hunger. 'It's my mother-in-law's. She lost the key but for some reason she had this copy stashed away. Why she didn't just get a proper spare cut in the first place, I don't know.' Kevin was flapping. He took another bite of sandwich to keep himself quiet and checked his mobile for texts. He knew he hadn't got one because the phone would have bleeped, but he couldn't stop himself.
    Greg finished cutting the key and handed it to him with the copy. 'I thought for a minute you might be planning to rob your own bank!'
    'How did you guess? It was meant to be a secret. How much?'
    'On the house, Mr Dodds. And thanks again.'

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
     
    D URING THE REST OF the afternoon Kevin found it impossible to work. He checked his watch. 4.06 p.m. Holland was an hour ahead and he still hadn't had a text. He called again and the same woman answered. 'Look, I just need to know if it's here. Can I collect it yet?'
    'As I've already explained, sir, I'm trying to find out where it is in the delivery chain. As soon as I know, I will text you.'
     
    Kevin and Linda didn't have much to say to each other all evening. They still lay together on the settee, but Linda was only half watching the TV, and Kevin kept checking his mobile for texts.
    Then it happened! Four bleeps blasted out from Kevin's mobile. He nearly kicked Linda off the settee as he got up. The Dutch kit was on its way and could be picked up from the courier's depot any time after eleven tomorrow morning.
He would fetch it during the lunch hour.
    'Who's the text from, Kev?' Linda was