The Death Messenger (Matthew Ryan Book 2)(29)

Newman remained silent. Whoever he was, he was well connected. Grace was expressionless, resisting the temptation to jump in – a first for her. Sensing her frustration, O’Neil stroked her bottom lip with her forefinger, buying herself time, eyes on Newman.

‘Did your handler tip you off?’

He gave no answer.

No matter how hard she pushed his buttons, he was too experienced to admit or deny that he was part of any governmental undercover organization, be that MI5 (British Security Service) or MI6 (Military Intelligence). There was no doubt in her mind that he was a spook, if not now then in the recent past.

‘Well, guess what?’ She eyeballed him across the table. ‘I had a knock at the door from your spook friends early one morning and suddenly the focus is on me. Unlike you, I am a real person with a real background. I’m sure you know everything there is to know about me, Mr Newman.’

‘Not everything,’ Grace said hurriedly.

O’Neil took that as a declaration that Grace hadn’t told Newman about her private life. If that were true, it was something. She carried on, impatient to tackle the spook while she had the chance. ‘Mr Newman, I don’t know how, or even if, you got involved with Ryan’s extracurricular activity during Jack-gate. I don’t want to know, but I won’t tolerate interference if Grace ever comes to work for me, now or in the future, is that clear?’

He said nothing.

O’Neil shifted her attention to his wife. ‘Don’t worry, Grace. I don’t intend to pursue your husband any further. I know when I’m wasting my time. You’re different. I’m not coming after you either, as it happens, not officially, because yours is the kind of deviousness I need on my team. It’s a shame that I can’t use Frank, but I’m sure you can appreciate why.’

Grace was noncommittal.

O’Neil could see that she was wavering, trying not to show it.

Time to push her buttons.

‘If you’re not remotely interested, feel free to walk away,’ she said. ‘Ryan will be none the wiser. He doesn’t even know I’m here. I thought I’d give you first shout on an exciting opportunity to boost that pension of yours. A two-way transaction: taxpayers’ cash in return for your expertise. I heard you were bored with retirement.’

Newman chanced his arm. ‘Maybe if you told us what the case is about?’

‘No can do,’ O’Neil said.

Moving in closer, she linked hands, elbows on the table. It was like a game of blink first. Unfortunately, Newman was winning. She looked away, deliberating over whether she could trust him, wondering how much Ryan did, whose side he might take if he were there. O’Neil didn’t doubt Newman’s credentials, but he was an unknown quantity and that was enough to make her nervous. There was a fine line between the good and bad guys.

‘And if I was prepared to work without Frank?’ Grace asked.

‘Then my door is open.’

‘You know I’m discreet, Eloise. Tell me what you have in mind.’ She shot a glance at Newman. ‘Frank, cover your ears. You’re making her nervous.’

‘Nice try.’ O’Neil laughed. ‘I’m not questioning your discretion, but I’m not that green. You know how these negotiations work.’

Grace sent a silent message, one woman to another: I didn’t tell him. Frustrated by the stalemate, she sighed loudly. ‘When lives are at stake, I generally like to know what I’m getting into.’

O’Neil raised an eyebrow. ‘Who said anything about lives at stake?’

‘If they weren’t,’ Grace said, ‘you wouldn’t be knocking at my door. If they are, then I think you should reconsider inviting Frank along. Believe me when I say, he’s no slouch. And just so we’re clear, he’s no flash in the pan or weekend shag either. We’ve known each other twenty-odd years. There’s no one in the world, including Ryan, I trust more.’

‘Not going to happen. You’re either in or you’re out, Grace. Take a few days – there’s no hurry. Ryan and I have a lot of work to do. Think on it. You know how to get in touch.’ O’Neil turned her attention to Newman. ‘A pleasure meeting you, Mr Newman.’

Scooping up her phone, she threw a twenty-pound note on the table and walked out.





16


O’Neil was about to start the car when the passenger door opened and Newman climbed in. Grace got in the back. As the doors slammed shut, O’Neil met her gaze in the rear-view mirror. Grace had that hunger in her eyes that all coppers get when a case intrigues them to the point of obsession. If O’Neil was reading her right, she couldn’t wait to get started.

Her relief was profound.

It hadn’t taken long to work out that she needed a detective of Grace’s calibre on board. As soon as she’d received Official-Sensitive documents from Ford, O’Neil had known she had a case on her hands. She’d scoured the personnel database for someone suitable, preferably a serving officer. On each run-through, she’d drawn a blank. The job was simply not as attractive as it once was. Detectives had been bailing in their droves, seeking employment in the private sector or taking their money to spend in retirement.

And who could blame them?

Still, as good a player as Newman might prove to be, he was surplus to her requirements for the time being. If that changed going forward, a phone call to Grace would locate him in an instant.