“The registration number matches Felix’s licence.”
“That can’t be right. It’s in the weapons locker. Right, Maddox?”
Maddox’s eyes widened. “Rifle?”
Brett tried to withhold his irritation. “You just did an inventory check. Was Felix’s rifle there? It was on the list to check.”
Maddox rolled his lips inwards and shook his head. “It wasn’t there.”
“This is getting fucking ridiculous,” Brett said, cursing beneath his breath. “They’ve targeted Dominic, Owen, Nick, and now Felix, and I’m no fucking closer to finding out who the fuckers are!” He ran his fingers through his hair, then pressed at his temples. He exhaled. “We need to get back.” He started towards the car, ignoring the calls of his name coming from behind him. He couldn’t deal with any more platitudes right then.
The four of them ended up back at Windsor, but before they all entered the castle, Maddox got his attention.
“Can I have a word?”
Brett reined in his sigh and nodded. “What’s up?”
“You know who my father is.” Brett nodded. “I know you think the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. But I also know where you’ve been. I don’t want to be part of that world, same as youdon’t, but we keep getting dragged back in, no matter what we do.”
“If you don’t want that life, Maddox, don’t do what they tell you to. It’s that simple.”
Maddox raised his eyebrows. “Is it? Have you managed to get out from under them because it sure sounds like you are doing their bidding when it comes to me.”
There was a slight smirk on Maddox’s face that Brett felt was misplaced, but he could be seeing something because he wasn’t Maddox’s number one fan.
Brett stepped closer. “Make no mistake, Maddox. Although I agreed to having you here, and yes, that was at Malcolm’s request, I would also decline without hesitation if I believed you weren’t fully cut out for the job. I’m still not convinced you are, but you’re showing promise. And until I have something telling me you need to leave, I’ll keep you where I can see you. Mainly within Windsor Castle grounds.”
He turned and walked away, not wanting to hear anything else from Maddox’s mouth. Sec HQ was full of guards on computers, pouring over maps and documents, and on phone calls, and Brett realised something: he needed to stop it. Well, most of it, anyway.
“Can I have your attention?” The noise ceased immediately, and he swallowed hard. “As much as it pains me to say, we need to scale back on searching for Felix.” He waited for the inevitable arguments and wasn’t disappointed. “We have guarding duties we need to attend to, and those people are important and need to stay alive. That is our job, and I need us to do it.”
“What about Felix?” someone shouted, but he couldn’t see who.
“Commissioner Thomas is still investigating, and I will still be having one or two people looking into it when they are not doing their regular duties.”
“But he’s one of us,” Eric said.
“He was, and always will be, but if he was here, Felix would say that we needed to keep everyone safe first and foremost. He took pride in our jobs. We need to get back to our routines.”
“Before we do…” Sam said, grabbing Brett’s attention. “I’ve just received information about a body being pulled from the Thames.”
“Where?” Brett said, moving towards him.
“Near Blue Acre Rescue. Three miles away.”
“Has it been identified?”
“Not officially.” Sam looked at him and lowered his voice. “He is wearing the same clothes as Felix was in the video.”
Brett grabbed his phone and dialled Brady. “Is it him?” he asked the moment the commissioner answered.
“I don’t know, Brett. I’m on my way there now.”
“I’ll meet you—”
“No. You stay where you are. I have the detectives meeting me there. They need to speak to you, so you need to stay away until they have. I promise, Brett. I will tell you as soon as I’ve seen who it is. I promise.”
Brett clenched his jaw. “Thanks.”