Free Wanted: A Leopold Blake Thriller by Nick Stephenson

I’ll text you the address.”
    “Thanks. Listen, can you do me one more favor?”
    “Whatever you need.”
    “Can you run me a license plate?” She turned to look out the rear window again. “Keep it quiet, though. I just need to check something out.”
    “No problem, Sarge.”
    “Thanks, I owe you one. Can you run it now?”
    “Yeah, shouldn’t take a minute. What’s the number?”
    “Hang on.” She leaned forward to speak to the taxi driver. “Hey, you speak English?”
    The cabbie grunted. “ Un peu. ”
    “I need you to move into the other lane.”
    “ Porquoi? Why? This is the fastest lane.”
    “Just do it.”
    The driver muttered something incomprehensible and moved over, letting the traffic stream ahead on the left. The black VW cruised past and Mary read out the license plate.
    “Okay, got it,” said the detective. “Anything else?”
    “No that’s it; just run the number for me.”
    “Sure. Just let me put you on hold a few minutes.”
    “No, don’t put –” she began, but the Muzak had already started. Switching the headset into speaker mode, she dropped the phone on to her lap and tried to think about something else.
    This was Mary’s first vacation in years, but it was already starting to feel like just another day in the office. And not a good day, either. On reflection, she was beginning to regret getting out of bed already.

Chapter 17
   

       
    “I COULDN’T GET through,” said Sophie, walking back into the holding room. “I’m sorry. Her phone is either turned off, or she’s using it. I tried calling a few times, but no luck.” She sat back down on the stool.
    “She might be trying to track us down,” said Leopold.
    “Or someone got to her already,” said Jerome, getting to his feet. “And unless you’ve got a genetically engineered clone running around shooting people, somebody’s gone to a great deal of trouble to make sure you wound up in jail tonight. The only chance you got of getting out of here early was if Mary pulled some strings with the local P.D. and got you a bail hearing. You think whoever’s behind this is going to take that chance? We need to make a move. Now.”
    Sophie fidgeted and looked toward the door. “And how do you expect to get out of here?”
    “Leave that to us,” said Jerome.
    “Sophie, we’ll need your help,” said Leopold.
    “Me?”
    “It’s the only way we’re going to pull this off. Otherwise, they ship us off to the prison and God only knows what could be waiting for us there.”
    Sophie sighed. “What do I have to do?”
    Leopold leaned in closer. “Make enough noise to get those three guards in here, and we’ll do the rest.”
    “Make enough noise?”
    “You’ll know what I mean when it’s time.” He turned back to Jerome. “You ready?”
    “Ready.” Jerome smiled and shoved both his giant hands into Leopold’s chest, throwing him against the steel bars. As the consultant crumpled to the floor, Jerome grabbed his collar and threw him onto the bed.
    “This would be the part where you make a little noise, if you wouldn’t mind?” said Jerome, wrapping both hands around Leopold’s neck. “As much as I’m enjoying myself, I don’t think he’s going to last long.”
    “You’re hurting him!”
    “It needs to look authentic for the cameras. Just make some noise.”
    “Okay, okay.” Sophie took a deep breath and let out a scream.
    After five long seconds, the holding room door burst open and three guards stormed inside, shoving Sophie out of the way. The shortest of the officers fumbled with a set of keys before finally wrenching the metal gate open, sliding the bars to the side.
    “ Arretez! ” he shouted, raising his baton above his head as he and the others stepped into the cell.
    Jerome shook Leopold violently and drew back his fist. The three guards panicked and rushed forward, the shorter one grabbing hold of the bodyguard’s thick forearm while the others stood ready at the rear.
    Jerome