Death on the Line

  ‘Oh shit, wish me luck.’

  Reid kissed him on the cheek. ‘Break a leg or whatever they say at book launches.’

  The editor of the Chronicle already had the microphone in hand and was introducing his current star columnist. McDevitt made his way slowly to the stage that had been set up and waited patiently for the microphone. Wilson and Reid stood together at the rear of the room.

  ‘A man once told me that if you died with one true friend you died a rich man,’ McDevitt began. ‘You may have heard that recently I was shot, but at least I had time to call the one person in the world who I knew would move heaven and earth to help me.’

  Wilson tapped Reid on the shoulder and started moving towards the exit. He’d had enough glad-handing for one day. They exited onto Donegall Street, glasses in hand. It was a fine evening and although the sun had set the air maintained its warmth. They stood with the wall of the church at their back. Reid looked up into Wilson’s face. He was a complex man. ‘I love you, Ian.’

  He didn’t register his shock. She had used ‘the word’. He looked into her beautiful face. ‘I love you too.’ He bent down and kissed her.

  ‘I have something to tell you,’ she said. ‘I’ve decided to be with my mother until she dies. No one deserves to face death alone.’

  ‘When are you going?’ He didn’t want her to go but he had no counter-argument to offer.

  ‘I’m on the plane to LA tomorrow morning, all the arrangements have been made at the Royal.’

  He took the glass from her hand and put both glasses on a ledge. ‘Then what the hell are we doing here?’

  

  Author’s note

  I hope that you enjoyed this book. As an Indie author, I very much depend on your feedback to see where my writing is going. I would be very grateful if you would take the time to pen a review on Amazon. This will not only help me but will also indicate to others your feelings, positive or negative, on the work. Writing is a lonely profession and this is especially true for Indie authors who don’t have the backup of traditional publishers.

  Please check out my other books on Amazon and if you have time visit my web site (derekfee.com) and sign up to receive additional materials, competitions for signed books and announcements of new book launches.

  Derek Fee is a former oil company executive and EU Ambassador. He is the author of nine non-fiction books. Death on the Line is the seventh in a series featuring Ian Wilson.

  Derek can be contacted at http://derekfee.com.

  Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

  2017© Derek Fee

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from the author.