Hunted: BookShots Read Online Free PDF

her.
    As well as letting it be known that he was an ex-Para, Barron had also been saying he was in line to make some easy money, that ‘certain people recognised talent when they saw it’. He’d been boasting about it that very morning at breakfast.
    ‘He wants to be careful, that one,’ the man Shelley was sitting next to had said.
    ‘Oh yeah?’ Shelley had replied. ‘Why’s that, then?’
    ‘Two of the blokes who got friendly with Colin ended up dead. That’s all I’m saying.’
    That was more than enough for Shelley. It was time, he had decided, to have a word with Colin. He had stuck to Barron and,sure enough, Colin had turned up for a quick word at one of the day-shelters. There was a noticeable change in Barron when Colin was around, as though his presence reminded Barron to be discreet. When Colin had left the day centre, Shelley had followed.
    Now Colin exited the Ten Bells and began to make his way back along Commercial Street. Shelley fell in alongside him.
    ‘Hello, mate,’ he said.
    Colin didn’t break stride. ‘Yeah, mate, what can I do for you?’ He wore a vinyl jacket and had a habit of shrugging his shoulders in it, like a man impersonating one of the gang members from West Side Story . He cast a sideways glance at Shelley. ‘Do I know you?’
    ‘You might have seen me at the shelters.’
    ‘I see a lot of people at the shelters. What’s on your mind?’
    ‘I need to talk about Barron.’
    Colin blinked, and it was enough to give Shelley the satisfaction of knowing he was right.
    ‘What about Barron?’
    Mixing truth and lies, Shelley ploughed on. ‘He says he’s going to be making a bit of extra money, and it’s something to do with you. Says you recognise a man of talent.’
    ‘I might have a job for him – why?’ said Colin, recovering his composure.
    ‘I was thinking maybe I could do it better.’
    ‘And why might that be? You an ex-Para as well, are you?’
    ‘Royal Marine commando. And I’m in much better nick than he is.’
    ‘Fuck me, this isn’t a beauty contest, you know. Listen, mate, the position’s taken. I’ll bear your offer in mind. In the meantime, keep your mouth shut and your nose out of any business that doesn’t concern you. Consider that a warning, okay?’
    With that, Colin waved him off and sped away, leaving Shelley in his wake. Mission accomplished.
    Shelley stopped, not really caring that pedestrians had to step around him. It suddenly occurred to him how close to home he was – close enough that he could be there in ten minutes, knocking on the door, kissing Lucy and cuddling Frankie. ‘I just wanted to say hello. Just wanted to see your face . . .’
    For a moment or so the temptation to do it was almost overwhelming. But then he remembered that by talking to Colin he’d made himself visible. He was well aware that as soon as you popped your head over the parapet you made yourself a target. For all he knew, Colin could be making calls about him right now.
    With a heavy heart he made his way back to St Martin’s. Usually he cut quite a figure on the street, even if he did say so himself. He had an eye for clothes; he looked good in a hat. But nobody checked him out now. There were none of the admiring glances from women that usually put a spring in his step. Other pedestrians looked through him or away, keen to avoid eye contact.
    No matter. He had an appointment to keep.

CHAPTER 9
    MIDDAY ON UPPER Street, Islington. Claridge drained the last of a McDonald’s Sprite and then, in one surreptitious movement, eased off the lid and slid something inside.
    Across the road he could see Shelley loitering outside the Tube station. He was unshaven, shabby and a shadow of the man he’d first met, but still recognisably Shelley. The two made eye contact, but otherwise there was no sign they’d seen one another.
    As Shelley crossed the road, Claridge dropped the McDonald’s cup into a litter bin and turned smartly away. Shelley walked up to the