Dead Man's Gift 01 - Yesterday Read Online Free PDF

organized, as I believe these people are, then you’d be able to bypass it easily enough.’ He paused and looked at his watch. ‘Listen, I haven’t got much time. They’ve got cameras in the house, watching us. I had to say I was going to be sick to leave the room. They’ll expect me back very soon.’
    ‘You need to go to the police, Tim. Call them in now. They’ll know how to handle this.’
    Tim shook his head vehemently. ‘No way. Not the police. They’re too damn slow, and there are too many things that could go wrong. These betting syndicates are run by organized criminals. They’ve got ears everywhere.’
    ‘Then you’re going to have to help me out here, because I’m one man on my own, and I’m no detective either.’
    ‘But you know how to find people, don’t you? I know about the men who sold drugs to Mary Ann.’
    Scope bristled at the mention of his daughter, and the fact that Tim knew something about what had happened afterwards. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ he said.
    ‘Look,’ Tim continued. ‘I’ve never said a word to anyone about it, but I know that the man who sold the heroin that killed Mary Ann was found dead, and that the man who sold him the drugs ended up with a bullet in the head as well. I’ve kept that information to myself for years and I always will do, but it’s the reason I called you and not the police. You’re prepared to get things done.’
    Scope didn’t say anything for a few seconds. It was true he did get things done. And he wasn’t afraid to kill either when circumstances warranted it. It angered him that Tim knew that he’d gone after the men who he held responsible for his daughter’s drug-fuelled death, aged only eighteen, killing them one by one, and had chosen to mention it only now. ‘Whatever you might think, I can’t find Max if I don’t have a clue where to look for him. And I don’t. I’m not a miracle worker, and I’m not a vigilante either.’
    ‘I’ve got a lead to go on. This isn’t easy for me to say, but I’ve been having an affair for the past two months.’
    Scope wasn’t surprised, and doubted it was the first time either, but he didn’t comment.
    ‘The girl’s name’s Orla. I met her during a House of Commons tour for members of the public. She was a striking girl and she made it quite clear that she was interested in me. We managed to exchange numbers at the end of the tour, and I’ve been seeing her ever since. Believe it or not, I was with her today.’
    ‘I believe it.’
    ‘I was a fool. I thought she genuinely liked me, but now I’m sure she’s something to do with this.’
    ‘Why do you think that?’
    ‘The killers have definitely got cameras in the house, so they’d have needed to bypass the alarm system. I took her back home once for a night when Max and Diane were away. I didn’t want to, but she insisted. Said it would show some commitment.’ He shook his head angrily. ‘Christ, I should have known something was up. She was always asking questions about the family, about our comings and goings. At the time I just thought she was curious, but in hindsight she must have been gathering information.’
    ‘So what do you want me to do?’
    ‘She never wanted to go back to her place, but I insisted, so I’ve got her address and I’ve got her home number. I’m going to text it to you now. Plus a photo. She never liked having her photo taken – which should have got my suspicions up – but I lifted one from her phone anyway.’ He pulled out his own phone and started pressing buttons. ‘I want you to pay her a visit.’
    Scope grunted. He wasn’t going to make it easy for his former brother-in-law. ‘And then what? Beat a confession out of her?’
    Tim fixed him with a desperate look. ‘Do anything you have to do. Not for me. I’m realistic enough to know you’ve never liked me much, and I don’t blame you. I’ve always been a pompous arsehole round you. But for Diane. She and