The Honeytrap: Part 4 Read Online Free Page A

she’d been standing in his flat, pointing that gun straight at his chest? She had a hold over him that he couldn’t explain. Earlier, when the cops turned up on his doorstep, he’d made an immediate and irrevocable decision to keep her out of it. Why was that? It was easier, perhaps, for him to claim he felt sorry for her than to admit the real depth of his feelings.
    There was a dim light on in the cell. He put his hands behind his head and studied the web of cracks that criss-crossed over the plaster ceiling. Some things were beyond reason, beyond logic. Tomorrow, after they had let him go, he would resume his search. She was out there somewhere and he was going to find her.

24
    As Jess entered the offices of Mackenzie, Lind she could feel the tightness in the air, the fraught, strained atmosphere. Mac had gathered the entire staff, including the part-timers, and they were all on the phone or sifting through paperwork. It was like a full-on military operation. The information about Harry being arrested had come as a shock – she hadn’t known about the Westwood case – but it was nothing compared to the news that he was on the brink of being charged.
    Mac beckoned her into his office and closed the door behind them. ‘It’s the gun,’ he said without any preamble. ‘Turns out it was the one used to kill Caroline Westwood.’
    ‘Yes, Lorna told me.’ However, the phone call had been brief and she was still in the dark about most of the details. ‘What the hell is going on?’
    ‘We need to find out where it came from.
Who
it came from. Did you see anyone hanging around when you left last night?’
    Jess thought about it for a moment. ‘No, I don’t think so. I was only a couple of minutes behind you. Harry said he had something to do, that he’d catch up with me. What does he say about it?’
    ‘That it was shoved through the door in a carrier bag. That he was on his way to Cowan Road when the boys in blue turned up.’
    ‘Do you believe him?’
    Mac scowled as if she was casting doubt on Harry’s innocence. His voice had a colder, harder edge when he spoke again. ‘Any reason I shouldn’t?’
    ‘I didn’t mean it like that. God, he isn’t capable of murder. I just …’ She lifted and dropped her shoulders. ‘I don’t know. This stuff about the gun, maybe there’s more to it.’
    ‘He’s been stitched up, love. That’s the start and finish of it. Whoever killed Caroline Westwood has put him right in the frame. Harry was at the Lumière, he spent time with the victim and now he’s been discovered with the murder weapon in his possession. Someone’s gone to a lot of effort to make him look guilty.’
    Jess rubbed her eyes, sore and gritty after a restless night’s sleep. ‘But was it before or after? I mean, do you think this was all planned from the beginning – which could be down to anyone he’s pissed off in the past – or more of an opportunist thing? The killer realised they could shift the focus on to Harry and dumped the gun on him.’
    ‘There’s no way of knowing right now. We’ve got everyone on it. We’re checking out Caroline’s husband, the staff at the hotel, the other customers, her friends – plus any exes we might be able to dig up.’
    Jess could see what a gigantic and daunting task it was. ‘Let me help,’ she said. ‘There must be something I can do.’
    ‘There is, as it happens.’
    ‘Anything.’
    Mac opened the top drawer of his desk and took out a set of keys. ‘Could you nip upstairs to Harry’s flat and get some clothes – his suit, a clean shirt, underwear, whatever else you can think of. Unless we get lucky in the next few hours, Harry’s going to be charged and he’ll be in court tomorrow morning.’
    Jess gave a nod. It was hardly a cutting-edge responsibility for an investigative journalist
    but then she had said ‘anything’. ‘Sure, I’ll do it now.’ She picked up the keys and rose to her feet. As she opened the door she turned