Savage Justice: A Justice novella- featuring THE UNICORN Read online

  Savage Justice

  A Justice Novella

  M A Comley

  Jeamel Publishing Limited

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Also by M A Comley

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Keep in touch with the author

  Note to the reader

  New York Times and USA Today bestselling author M A Comley

  Published by Jeamel Publishing limited

  Copyright © 2020 M A Comley

  Digital Edition, License Notes

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you as always to my rock, Jean, I’d be lost without you in my life.

  Special thanks as always go to @studioenp for their superb cover design expertise.

  My heartfelt thanks go to my wonderful editor Emmy Ellis, my proofreaders Joseph, Barbara and Jacqueline for spotting all the lingering nits.

  A special shoutout to the talented author, Linda S Prather, for constantly having my back over the last ten years in this business.

  To Mary, gone, but never forgotten. I hope you found the peace you were searching for my dear friend.

  Also by M A Comley

  Blind Justice (Novella)

  Cruel Justice (Book #1)

  Mortal Justice (Novella)

  Impeding Justice (Book #2)

  Final Justice (Book #3)

  Foul Justice (Book #4)

  Guaranteed Justice (Book #5)

  Ultimate Justice (Book #6)

  Virtual Justice (Book #7)

  Hostile Justice (Book #8)

  Tortured Justice (Book #9)

  Rough Justice (Book #10)

  Dubious Justice (Book #11)

  Calculated Justice (Book #12)

  Twisted Justice (Book #13)

  Justice at Christmas (Short Story)

  Justice at Christmas 2 (novella)

  Prime Justice (Book #14)

  Heroic Justice (Book #15)

  Shameful Justice (Book #16)

  Immoral Justice (Book #17)

  Toxic Justice (Book #18)

  Overdue Justice (Book #19)

  Unfair Justice (a 10,000 word short story)

  Irrational Justice (a 10,000 word short story)

  Seeking Justice (a 15,000 word novella)

  Caring For Justice (a 24,000 word novella)

  Savage Justice (a 17,000 word novella coming Feb 2020)

  Clever Deception (co-written by Linda S Prather)

  Tragic Deception (co-written by Linda S Prather)

  Sinful Deception (co-written by Linda S Prather)

  Forever Watching You (DI Miranda Carr thriller)

  Wrong Place (DI Sally Parker thriller #1)

  No Hiding Place (DI Sally Parker thriller #2)

  Cold Case (DI Sally Parker thriller#3)

  Deadly Encounter (DI Sally Parker thriller #4)

  Lost Innocence (DI Sally Parker thriller #5)

  Goodbye, My Precious Child (DI Sally Parker #6)

  Web of Deceit (DI Sally Parker Novella with Tara Lyons)

  The Missing Children (DI Kayli Bright #1)

  Killer On The Run (DI Kayli Bright #2)

  Hidden Agenda (DI Kayli Bright #3)

  Murderous Betrayal (Kayli Bright #4)

  Dying Breath (Kayli Bright #5)

  Taken (Kayli Bright #6 coming March 2020)

  The Hostage Takers (DI Kayli Bright Novella)

  No Right to Kill (DI Sara Ramsey #1)

  Killer Blow (DI Sara Ramsey #2)

  The Dead Can’t Speak (DI Sara Ramsey #3)

  Deluded (DI Sara Ramsey #4)

  The Murder Pact (DI Sara Ramsey #5)

  Twisted Revenge (DI Sara Ramsey #6 coming February 2020)

  The Caller (co-written with Tara Lyons)

  Evil In Disguise – a novel based on True events

  Deadly Act (Hero series novella)

  Torn Apart (Hero series #1)

  End Result (Hero series #2)

  In Plain Sight (Hero Series #3)

  Double Jeopardy (Hero Series #4)

  Criminal Actions (Hero Series #5)

  Sole Intention (Intention series #1)

  Grave Intention (Intention series #2)

  Devious Intention (Intention #3)

  Merry Widow (A Lorne Simpkins short story)

  It’s A Dog’s Life (A Lorne Simpkins short story)

  A Time To Heal (A Sweet Romance)

  A Time For Change (A Sweet Romance)

  High Spirits

  The Temptation series (Romantic Suspense/New Adult Novellas)

  Past Temptation

  Lost Temptation

  Cozy Mystery Series

  Murder at the Wedding

  Murder at the Hotel

  Murder by the Sea

  Tempting Christa (A billionaire romantic suspense co-authored by Tracie Delaney #1)

  Avenging Christa (A billionaire romantic suspense co-authored by Tracie Delaney #2)

  Prologue

  “So, Hendricks, what say you? Are you in or out?”

  The man visibly shook in front of the one known as the Unicorn.

  He was a notoriously evil man, who, over the past few years had come to rule the London underworld. He had very little regard for anyone, let alone the police. A man into any illegal activity which could line his pockets with money.

  As Hendricks was about to find out, he didn’t like being messed around, not by people he thought he could trust. Hendricks had been supplying him with drugs to sell on the streets for years, but lately, he’d become one of two things, either complacent or greedy. The last shipment he’d supplied the Unicorn was light by a considerable amount. That was what today’s meeting was truly about. He was toying with the shit, giving him false hope that everything would be all right after his ‘tiny misdemeanour’ as Hendricks had referred to the faux pas.

  “I’m waiting for an answer.” His grin transformed instantly into his famous sneer.

  Hendricks gulped noisily. With one muscle-bound thug hanging on to each arm, he knew there was no escaping the situation. “I’m in. What do I have to do?”

  The sneer slipped away again, and the knowing grin resurfaced. “You have to accompany my lads somewhere. We have a shipment of drugs arriving, and I need you to oversee the unloading process. You’re the only one I can trust to do that. Are you up for it?”

  Hendricks frowned, his confusion palpable. “I…well…I’d be honoured, if you think you can trust me again?”

  “I’ve been a long time in this business. I know weasels like you enjoy nothing more than chancing their arm to see if they get burnt. The thing is, you’re the best of a bad bunch. I’m willing to set aside the money you stole from me and allow you to make amends.” He shrugged and turned away. “Still, if you’re not prepared to do that, then Giorgio and Ramon here will see to it that you never walk again. I call that a win-win situation, for me.” His head tipped back, and he roared wi
th laughter.

  Hendricks gulped a second time, the knot in his throat taking a while to disperse by the way his head was thrusting back and forth. “Okay, I’m in. What happens afterwards?”

  “Once you’ve earnt my trust once more with this job, well, then you become part of the family again. You’d want that, right?”

  Hendricks nodded eagerly. “Yes. I’m sorry, sincerely I am. I’ll do anything to make things right between us.”

  The Unicorn folded his arms and nodded. “Glad to hear it. Gentlemen, make Mr Hendricks comfortable for the next few hours while I sort out the arrangements.”

  “You’ve got it, boss,” Giorgio replied.

  Hendricks was led away. The Unicorn watched the three of them leave the room through narrowed eyes. He poured himself half a tumbler of twelve-year-old malt and downed it in one go. “You’ll regret the day you ever crossed me, man, but I’m going to have some fun with you first.” He rubbed his hands together and chuckled.

  1

  Lorne opened her eyes and found Tom staring down at her. He had a tray in his hands and wore an apologetic expression. “I’m sorry for falling out with you last night. Thought I’d show my appreciation by making you breakfast. Am I forgiven?”

  She wriggled up the bed and forced herself to smile at him. She wasn’t one to bear a grudge, not really, although she was getting sick and tired of the childish tantrums Tom kept having lately. They’d tried on numerous occasions to sit down and have a genuine discussion with the aim to figure out what was wrong between them, but each time it had failed and they found themselves back to square one. It was their daughter she felt sorry for. Charlie was stuck in the middle, clearly fed up with the way they spoke to and treated each other. Lorne found herself constantly worrying about the impact their behaviour was having on their daughter. She sighed. It was time to let things go, buckle under again, let Tom think he’d won this round, for now. If only for a quiet life. After all, that was what this amounted to, wasn’t it? Their marriage had become a sham. Did they truly love each other any more? There were some days Lorne thought she did and others when she detested the sight of Tom.

  “Thanks, that was thoughtful of you.” The words almost choked her.

  He positioned the tray on her legs. Kissed the tip of her nose and smiled. “I can be sometimes, you know. You just choose not to see it that way.”

  Oh crap! Here he goes again…lighting the touch paper.

  She ignored the comment and nibbled on the slice of toast he’d slathered in butter and topped with marmalade. She rarely ate butter, had given it up years ago. He knew that, so she was aware this was another way of him testing her. She ate one slice, swallowed down the urge to vomit and pretended to be full. “Gosh, I couldn’t eat another thing. It was delicious, though, thank you.”

  He placed her mug of coffee on the bedside table and whipped the tray off her lap, his eyes twitching, the way they always did when he was trying his hardest to suppress the anger building within him. “Glad you enjoyed it. Your problem is you don’t eat enough.”

  She sighed inwardly. Yet another topic of conversation she knew to avoid in case it blew up in her face. “You know I don’t tend to eat much in the mornings.”

  “I’ve known mice who eat more than you. You’re getting skinny, your bones are poking out.”

  She resisted the urge to roll her eyes, aware that it could light another fuse. Instead, she forced a smile into place and pushed the quilt back. “I’m going to have a shower. Thanks for the thoughtful breakfast, Tom,” she added, dismissing him. She swept past him and into the en suite. She closed the door and leaned against it, expelling the large breath she’d sucked in. Jesus, there’s got to be more to life than this, hasn’t there? I’m on tenterhooks, walking on broken glass every time I speak to him.

  It was the same conversation she had with herself over and over, and she was yet to find a genuine solution to resolve the horrendous situation. She often wondered how many other families out there existed in the same way, stayed with each other when times were bad because of the children. She had no one to confide in; all her friends had given up on her years before, through one thing or another, either because of the way Tom had spoken to them or their unwillingness to remain in touch when she was guilty of throwing herself into her job. She loved being a copper, it was what kept her sane. All right, sometimes that was a stretch of the imagination, because there were times recently when she’d found herself pulling her hair out over her inept policing skills at arresting the Unicorn. The criminal had become a thorn in her side. Escaping arrest at every turn possible. Every time she felt the net was closing in on him, she was proved wrong. He was laughing at her. Four years she had been chasing him now. He was proving to be a master of disguise, a notable criminal in the underworld who recruited men with the worst reputation in London to carry out his dirty work for him, leaving him to escape any possible convictions. One day he’d get his comeuppance, though, she was adamant about that.

  See, he’s all around you, even in your bathroom first thing in the morning. How can I tell Tom about him? He’d demand I leave the force, thinking that I’m guilty of putting my family in harm’s way. The truth was, she was doing everything in her power to prevent that.

  She shook her head, casting aside the thought of the despicable criminal for now, while she had a shower, at least.

  Once she’d carried out her morning routine which took place in the six-foot-square room, she returned to her bedroom to find Tom sitting on the bottom of the bed looking distraught. Oh shit! I really can’t handle him when he’s caught up in his self-pitying mode. She tried her darnedest to ignore him, removing her grey trouser suit from the wardrobe and sorting through the rack for a suitable blouse to complete her outfit. She decided to slip on her red long-sleeved blouse. She sneaked a glance at her husband in the dressing table mirror. He was still sitting in the same position, his head bowed as if contemplating life. After pulling her ensemble together, she finally plucked up the courage to speak to him. “Everything okay, Tom?”

  “Like you care.”

  She expelled a breath that puffed out her cheeks and walked across the room to collect her cup from the bedside table. His hand latched on to her wrist, and she gasped. “What are you doing?”

  “I’d like a proper conversation with my wife. Is it really too much to ask for you to sit with me for ten minutes, Lorne?”

  “We’ll discuss this later. You know how I detest being late for work.”

  “And there we have it…your bloody work comes before our marriage yet again.”

  She yanked her arm out of his clutches, picked up her mug and placed it on the tray. Lifting the breakfast tray, she turned to leave the room. “There’s no talking to you when you’re in this type of mood, Tom. I’ll see you later.”

  Charlie was on the landing, just about to enter the bathroom. “Mum? Are you and Dad okay?”

  “Yes, love, of course we are. I’m in a rush to get to work, that’s all.” Lorne took several paces towards Charlie and kissed her on the forehead. It wouldn’t be long before her little girl began sprouting and ended up taller than her, she was guessing. “Have a good day at school. Think about where you want to head off to at the weekend.”

  Charlie’s brow furrowed. “Is it worth making plans, Mum? You know, the number of times you end up breaking them.”

  Lorne closed her eyes. Like father, like daughter. Charlie was all about looking at the negatives in their relationship. It had been that way for around a year now. “I do my best, Charlie, you should know that.” She turned to find Tom leaning against the doorframe of the master bedroom and heaved out another sigh. “Guys, you’ve got to start giving me a break. My job is huge. Being in charge of a murder squad in the capital has its downsides. One of those is the overtime I’m expected to put in to keep London safe.” Her mobile rang downstairs, and she bolted down to answer it. “Hello. DI Lorne Simpkins.”

  “Sorry to trouble you, ma’am, we
’ve got reports of an explosion close to the London Eye and wondered if you wanted to attend.”

  “Of course. Any casualties? Is it terror-related?”

  “We’re unsure whether it’s terror-related, and yes, there were three fatalities and a further six in hospital.”

  “Great, just what I want to hear first thing. Okay, give me the exact location and get on to my partner, Pete Childs. Ask him to meet me at the location.”

  “He’s already en route, ma’am.”

  The woman on control gave her the satnav coordinates, and Lorne ended the call. She raced around, depositing the tray in the kitchen, rinsing the dirty dishes under the tap, anything to avoid Tom flinging yet another accusation at her about not pulling her weight around their three-bedroomed home. She marched through the house and pulled on her coat and shoes. The stairs creaked behind her.

  “I guess we’ll see you later,” Tom barked.

  “You will. There’s been an explosion at—”

  Tom raised his hand to cut her off, glanced over his shoulder to ensure Charlie wasn’t within earshot and said through gritted teeth, “Like I give a flying fuck!”

  Lorne shrugged, picked up her handbag and left the house. She refused to retaliate, knew when to retreat rather than get involved. Tears of frustration welled up. She got in the car, started the engine and wiped the back of her hand across her eyes, thankful she wasn’t the type to wear makeup for work. “Why me? All I’m trying to do is save the world, in my own inimitable way. I guess that just isn’t good enough for some people.”

  She hit the switch, and the siren blared into action. Cars drifted to the side of the road to let her pass. Around eight minutes later, she drew up at the scene and scanned the area for him. He spotted her first, apparently, and was heading her way.