Free The Patient Killer (A DCI Morton Crime Novel Book 4) by Sean Campbell, Daniel Campbell Page A

you.’
    Morton jumped into the car, turned on the engine and revved it impatiently as he waited for Ayala to do as promised.
    His hands began to tremble as he received the photograph Ayala had forwarded from Niall Stapleton’s phone. Vanessa Gogg looked terrified.
    Then the message containing the conversation came through.
    ‘Go to Hatton Garden and head north until you find the Arches. The building at the end of the alleyway is unlocked. Go inside. You will find blueprints and weaponry. Proceed to Hatton Garden Deposit Co and retrieve lock box 1779 by any means necessary.
    Bring it to Virginia Water Train Station and text this number when you are on the way.
    Do Not Call the Police. If you do, the girl will die. We are watching. You have 24 hours.’

Chapter 15: Snap Decision
    T hursday April 9th 17:25
    The girl was still out there.
    Niall Stapleton had received the kidnapper’s demands just after eight o’clock. They had three hours and change in which to find the girl before the deadline.
    Morton slammed his foot on the pedal and raced off towards Hatton Garden. He needed that deposit box, and Hatton Garden Deposit Co was about to close. He needed someone to run interference.
    Buchanan.
    Morton thumbed the shortcut to call the Metropolitan Police switchboard, turned on speakerphone and set his phone in the dock on his Audi’s dashboard.
    ‘Put me through to PC Buchanan. It’s urgent.’
    ‘Right away, sir,’ the switchboard operator replied. The line went to hold music, and then began to ring.
    ‘PC Buchanan.’
    ‘It’s DCI Morton. Are you still at the crime scene?’
    ‘Yes, sir. Though I think the boys from forensics are almost done for the day.’
    ‘I need you to go to Hatton Garden Deposit Co and make sure the proprietor doesn’t leave. Can you do that for me?’ Morton asked. He wove through traffic as they spoke. ‘I’ll be with you in ten minutes to explain why.’
    ‘I can try. Mr Mehtani won’t like it too much. He’s not one for taking orders.’
    ‘Tell him that it’s life or death.’
    ‘Sir?’
    ‘Just tell him that. Ten minutes.’ Morton hung up.
    Someone had to be sent to take Niall Stapleton’s place. It couldn’t be him. He was much too old to pass for Niall. Ayala was too ethnic, and Rafferty clearly couldn’t do it.
    It had to be Mayberry. Morton thumbed his phone with his left hand again and called Mayberry.
    ‘Mayberry. Ask Ayala to brief you, ditch all your personal belongings, then head to Waterloo Station. Wait for me there underneath the big clock. Got it?’
    ‘Y-yes, s-sir, but–’
    Morton cut the call and sped towards the entrance to the Strand Underpass.

Chapter 16: Hatton Garden Deposit Co
    T hursday 9th April 17:35
    Mr Suresh Mehtani scowled. He stood behind the counter in Hatton Garden Deposit Co and twiddled his thumbs as if he had somewhere urgent to be.
    ‘Why am I waiting? We closed five minutes ago.’
    ‘You lied to my detective, Mr Mehtani,’ Morton said.
    ‘I don’t recall that.’
    ‘You told him that the blueprints he showed you were not for this building.’
    ‘No. I said it could be. It could not be.’
    ‘Still sounds like obstruction to me. Why are you so hostile, Mr Mehtani? We’re trying to help you here. A man was tasked with breaking into your shop, and now he’s dead.’
    Suresh leant heavily against the counter, his bald head glistening under the spotlight above it. ‘Good. That’s the end of it. You can’t prosecute a dead man.’
    ‘What’s inside box 1779?’ Morton demanded.
    ‘Do you have a warrant?’
    ‘No, but–’
    ‘No warrant, no talking. Leave, please.’
    Morton stepped close and pulled out his handcuffs. ‘Don’t make me arrest you for obstruction of justice.’
    ‘Go ahead. But that won’t help you in time. Buchanan said you needed my help. Make it worth my while.’
    ‘What do you want?’
    ‘Discretion. Leave me and my business alone. Don’t mention me in connection with the robbery. I can