Free The Jackdaw by Luke Delaney

unbelievable.’
    ‘What about within the company?’ Sean asked. ‘Did Paul have to sack anyone lately – make anyone redundant who took it badly?’
    ‘No. No,’ Damant replied. ‘Paul was too senior to personally take care of things like that, unless the person being sacked or made redundant were also very senior, and that hasn’t happened for a very long time.’
    ‘How long?’ Sally asked.
    ‘So long ago I can’t remember. Even then I’d imagine they were happy to take redundancy and go. Our redundancy packages are very generous, believe me.’
    ‘I’m sure they are,’ Sean agreed, losing interest in what seemed another dead end. ‘Does your company keep records of any threatening or malicious calls or letters you receive?’
    ‘We do. Our internal security people take care of that sort of thing.’
    ‘We’ll need copies of everything and any records of calls received too,’ Sean told him. ‘There may be something in them we can use.’
    ‘Of course. No problem. I’ll get security to get those ready for you right away.’
    ‘Thanks,’ Sean told him. ‘It’s appreciated.’
    ‘Don’t thank me,’ Damant insisted. ‘Just catch the bastard – before he grabs another one of us.’
     
    The Your View Killer stalked around the white room making sure everything was ready for his next
trial.
The victim had been selected and his plans for their abduction well prepared and even rehearsed – to a point.
    He wore the same black work overalls, black leather gloves and even the ski-mask, even though he was alone and the broadcasting equipment was disconnected. There was no one to recognize him, but he wouldn’t make the mistake of becoming lazy and leaving his fingerprints or a strand of hair carrying his DNA in the wrong place for the police to find once they discovered the white room, as surely one day they would – one day long after he, the Your View Killer, had already disappeared forever. A smile spread across his lips at the irony of the situation – one day soon he’d practically have to
give
the police the very things that could damn him. And when that day happened it would be a sign that everything was progressing just as he’d planned.
     
    Sean had arrived home late, but early enough to help his wife Kate prepare supper for both of them. They sat at the kitchen table, Kate doing most of the talking and the eating, while Sean pretended to be listening as he concentrated on his wine and thought about the new case. Kate had a lot to get off her chest and talked away happily about the children and her work as a casualty doctor at Guy’s Hospital, but eventually she looked at him long enough to notice he wasn’t truly with her.
    ‘You OK?’ she asked.
    ‘Sorry?’ he replied when he realized he was expected to respond.
    ‘Are you OK?’ Kate repeated.
    ‘Yeah. Sorry. New case.’
    ‘A new case?’ she inquired. ‘What is it?’
    Sean rubbed his temples and considered his answer, but Kate had already worked it out. ‘Don’t tell me – it’s the one that’s been all over the news – the so-called Your View Killer.’ Sean didn’t reply. ‘It is, isn’t it?’
    ‘Same as any other murder investigation,’ he lied. ‘Just because it’s on the telly doesn’t make it any more difficult than if no one had heard about it.’
    ‘Well that’s not true, is it?’ she argued. ‘The more high profile the case the more pressure you’ll be under to solve it, and the more pressure you’re under, the grumpier you’ll get.’
    ‘I can handle it,’ he tried to reassure her, but he knew he didn’t sound convincing.
    ‘I know you can handle it,’ she answered, ‘but only if you push everything else away so you can think of nothing but the case – including me. Including the kids.’
    ‘That’s not true.’
    ‘Isn’t it? You sure?’
    ‘I do the best I can. Hopefully we’ll get this sorted quickly and then you won’t have to worry about it.’
    ‘Until the next