Spider Shepherd 11 - White Lies Read Online Free PDF Page A

the prow pointed up at the stars and then just as quickly dipped down. Bell pulled the power for a second until the bow was back in the water and then he blipped it again. The propeller bit and the rib rode another wave. When the prow was ten feet from the water’s edge he pulled the power and put both hands on the wheel and concentrated on keeping the rib facing head-on.
    The rib hit the sand and almost immediately Rainey was by Bell’s side. He jumped on to the beach and grabbed the rope at the prow. ‘Right, everybody off!’ shouted Bell.
    His passengers undid their seat belts, took off their life jackets and clambered over the side. The Iraqi woman was struggling with her son so Bell held the boy while she jumped over the side. He handed the boy to her and then helped the woman’s daughter.
    The man in the Barbour jacket jogged over to help Rainey pull the rib farther up the beach.
    The passengers gathered together on the beach, splitting into nationalities. Bell climbed out and joined Mercier and the man in the Barbour jacket. The three of them gave the rib a final tug up the beach. ‘What happens now?’ Bell asked the man.
    ‘He’s new,’ Rainey said to the man in the Barbour jacket. He was in his sixties with long grey hair tied back in a ponytail. ‘This is Derek, he handles the transport to London,’ said Rainey.
    Derek held out a gloved hand and Bell shook it. ‘Andy,’ said Bell. ‘He’s right, it’s my first run.’
    ‘First of many, hopefully,’ said Derek. He gestured up the beach. ‘I’ve parked the coach on the other side of the dunes there. Any problems, Frankie?’
    ‘Sweet as a nut,’ said Rainey. ‘I’ll get my bag.’
    ‘Good man,’ said Derek. He walked over to the passengers and held out his arms like a shepherd trying to control his flock. ‘Everyone, please move up the beach, the coach is waiting for you.’
    Mercier walked across the sand, repeating Derek’s instructions in French and Arabic.
    Coatsworth jogged over to Bell and Rainey. ‘Frankie, give them a hand getting them on the coach,’ he said.
    ‘I was just going to get my bag,’ said Rainey.
    ‘Get them on the coach first, I don’t want to hang about.’
    ‘OK, OK.’ Rainey walked over to the Iraqi woman, who was struggling with her son and her suitcase. He grabbed the case from her and headed after Derek, muttering under his breath.
    Coatsworth grinned at Bell. ‘How easy was that?’ he said.
    Bell nodded. ‘Is it always plain sailing? No pun intended.’
    Coatsworth slapped him on the back. ‘Always,’ he said. ‘It’s a milk run, every time. You see how easy it is, now? We can do two runs a night without breaking a sweat.’
    A beam of light blinded Coatsworth and he threw up his hands to shield his eyes. ‘What the fuck?’ he shouted.
    They heard shouts from the dunes and more beams of white light cut through the night sky. ‘Border Force!’ shouted a man. ‘Stay where you are!’
    Bell heard a woman scream but his eyes were blinded by the lights and he couldn’t see who it was. He ducked down, blinking. More than a dozen figures in black overalls and yellow fluorescent jackets were running towards them.
    Two of the Somalian lads started to run down the beach, their feet kicking up sprays of sand behind them. Five of the men in fluorescent jackets ran after them. Bell couldn’t help but smile as the pursuers were overweight and didn’t have a hope in hell of catching the Somalians.
    A group of passengers had almost reached the dunes and they were surrounded by Border Force staff. More men in fluorescent jackets were heading their way. Off to Bell’s right, a woman screamed.
    Coatsworth reached inside his jacket but Bell put a hand on his arm. ‘Don’t even think about it, Ally,’ he said. ‘You fire that thing and they’ll throw away the key. Same as shooting a cop.’
    Coatsworth glared at Bell, but then nodded. ‘Aye. You’re right. Worst I’ll get is a few years for