‘He’s going to come after me.’
‘Nah, he’s really not. Hand on heart, Reuben’s never going to bother you, or anyone else, ever again.’ More snuffling. Then what sounded like squealing, getting louder and more excited.
‘Urquhart? Why can I hear—’
‘Listen, I know you don’t want to step into Mr Mowat’s shoes, but you don’t mind if I do, yeah? I figure it’s what he would’ve wanted. Bit of common sense and continuity, and stuff.’
OK, that was definitely a scream.
‘Urquhart—’
‘Anyway, got to go. There’s an old mate I need to see off.’
Logan slotted the Big Car in between a patrol car with a flat tyre and the Postman Pat van. Both of them needed a damn good wash – could barely see the Police Scotland logo on the sides.
Banff station loomed above him, in all its ominous glory. The lights were on way up there on the top floor. That would be Napier in the Major Incident Room, tidying up loose ends. Fashioning them into nooses.
Yeah, well, maybe some people deserved to hang.
‘And you’re one of them.’
Mirror Logan scowled back at him. ‘Shut up.’
‘You sacrificed Steel for the sake of your grubby bloodstained “integrity” and here you are up to your neck in organized crime.’
‘I’m not up to my neck in anything.’
‘And they want to give you a job in Professional Standards?’
‘I haven’t done anything wrong.’
‘Of course not. Other than entering into a conspiracy to commit murder. Culpable homicide. Failure to report a death. Possession of an illegal firearm. Attempted murder. And multiple counts of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Other than that, you’re golden.’
He folded forward and rested his head on the steering wheel. Biting his bottom lip.
‘Yes, but I got away with it.’
‘That doesn’t make it better. You’re not a police officer any more, you’re a…’ Logan sighed. Then sat up. ‘I don’t know what you are.’
‘Neither do I.’
A smile spread across his face. ‘Why don’t we go and find out?’
The station was quiet, just the hum and buzz of the vending machines in the canteen to break the silence. He straightened his back and marched through the main office. Up the stairs to the top floor.
Took a deep breath.
And knocked on Napier’s door.
If you’re a fan of Logan & Steel, this collection of stories will keep you going until the next instalment!
You can click here to buy your copy
About the Author
Stuart MacBride is the Sunday Times No. 1 bestselling author of the Logan McRae and Ash Henderson novels. His work has won several prizes and in 2015 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Dundee University.
Stuart lives in the north-east of Scotland with his wife, Fiona, cat Grendel, and other assorted animals.
For more information visit StuartMacBride.com
Facebook.com/stuartmacbridebooks
@stuartmacbride
By Stuart MacBride
The Logan McRae Novels
Cold Granite
Dying Light
Broken Skin
Flesh House
Blind Eye
Dark Blood
Shatter the Bones
Close to the Bone
The Missing and the Dead
In the Cold Dark Ground
The Ash Henderson Novels
Birthdays for the Dead
A Song for the Dying
Other Works
Sawbones (a novella)
12 Days of Winter (short stories)
Partners in Crime (Two Logan and Steel short stories)
The 45% Hangover (a Logan and Steel novella)
The Completely Wholesome Adventures of Skeleton Bob (a picture book)
Writing as Stuart B. MacBride
Halfhead
About the Publisher
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
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Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
http://www.harpercollins.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Canada
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http://www.harpercollins.ca
New Zealand
HarperCollins Publishers (New Zealand) Limited
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Auckland, New Zealand
http://www.harpercollins.co.nz
United Kingdom
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
1 London Bridge Street
London, SE1 9GF
http://www.harpercollins.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
195 Broadway
New York, NY 10007
http://www.harpercollins.com