Jack Ford - The Killing Grounds - an explosive and gripping thriller for fans of James Patterson

When things had got really dark, really bleak, she’d almost lost faith. Almost. But then in one session at the veteran’s psychiatric medical facility, promoted by his therapist, he’d asked her to marry him and – maybe foolishly – she’d said yes. Hoping her love for him would help him begin to live again.

Initially there was no glimmer of anything nearing hope. But when Cora had been born, he’d stopped searching. Fought his addiction. Fought his demons. Given up the ghost… literally. And they’d been happy… or so she’d thought.

But now, like a haunting, the ghost had come back. She could see it in his eyes. But now it was different because they had Cora. She couldn’t stay and disappear down the tunnel with him. Drowning alongside. And even though it had hurt to leave. Did hurt. Still hurt. Couldn’t breathe. It was the right thing to do. Happy or not.

Keeping a level voice, she spoke to Granger. ‘If you care about him at all, you wouldn’t let him go. Not there.’

Cooper looked embarrassed by the care Maddie still showed him, even after everything; it made him feel uncomfortable. He decided to take over the conversation. It was the easiest way out.

‘Can someone just tell me what we’re talking about rather than talk around me? If it’s escaped anyone’s notice, I’m a grown man.’

With his slow Texas drawl like a lazy summer’s day, Rosedale winked. ‘The jury’s still out on that one, Thomas.’

Cooper gave him a cold stare, but avoided being drawn in. ‘Granger, what’s this job?’

Granger rubbed the middle of his chest, the eggs over easy his wife had made him for breakfast repeating on him. ‘Guy’s fallen behind on his payments for a plane.’ He stopped to study the paperwork before continuing to talk. ‘Looks like he hasn’t paid for six months. The usual deal. The banks and the like have tried to get in touch with him but he seems to have gone underground, so now of course they’re looking to get the plane back. It’s a nice little number, a Daher-Socata TBM-900, six seater with up to 330 knot cruise speed and a G1000 Avionics Suite. The whole thing is worth in the region of 3 to 4 mill. Less than a year old, so it’s worth the bank pursuing it for a resale. The problem is the place they have to go to get it.’

‘Which is?’ asked Cooper.

Maddie butted in. ‘Which is the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Go figure.’

Granger spoke dryly to her. ‘I think I can manage this conversation on my own, Maddison. But she’s right, that’s where it is, and it’s also why they asked us… No job is too big or too much trouble .’

‘Seriously, Granger,’ said Cooper, ‘you need to change that tag line.’

Rosedale, flicking the flame of his silver lighter on and off, grinned. ‘Hell, Thomas, if you’d rather go home and drink your milk, I’m sure we can handle it. Me and Miss Maddison here. I’d rather take my chances on her.’

Maddie, who also seemed to want to ignore Rosedale, seethed, her cheeks turning even redder than before.

Cooper was glad she refused to rise to the obvious bait. The man was a schmuck. Maddie had confided in him that Rosedale had annoyed her from the very first day they’d met, and she and Levi had apparently had various discussions as to why Granger had employed him. She’d thought his employment was strange, mainly because Granger was usually so transparent in his business and staffing policies.

He knew Maddie had picked up an air of secrecy over the hiring of Rosedale, and he also knew, women being women, she’d wanted to get to the bottom of it. She’d asked him what he thought, but he hadn’t said anything. Just shrugged as she’d carried on surmising, with her concluding that although she didn’t care for Rosedale, and she was sure Granger was hiding something, she could understand why he’d asked him to join the firm; he was probably one of the best. But being one of the best didn’t mean she was ever going to like him.

‘You can’t do this, Granger.’

Granger, already irritated by the invasion of his office, snapped. ‘Maddison, you’re part of the team which means you’re part of the family. I appreciate what you’re saying, but don’t tell me what I should do.’

Maddie bristled but kept her composure. Despair colored her voice. ‘This is crazy guys. Granger, he’s just come back from Africa. I don’t know why he went but you do, and you’re willing to send him again? Tell me what’s going on.’

‘That’s down to Cooper to tell you, not me. And anyway, him going to Africa got me thinking. If I can’t beat them, join them.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘What it’s supposed to mean Maddison, is that Cooper here seems insistent, no matter what I say, on turning into the next Livingstone. And as that’s the case I might as well use it to my advantage. Give him the jobs nobody else wants. Earn some money from the bug up his ass.’

‘Don’t do this, Granger. Tom, you’re not really going to go. Why don’t you take some time out? Even back at the ranch for a couple of weeks? I’ll come across at the weekend and drop off Cora. You can go riding with her. Fishing. She’d love that. What do you say?’

Rosedale winked. ‘Should do as the little lady says.’

Cooper gave Maddie a small smile, but his mind was elsewhere. Taking the job in the Congo would mean he needn’t stay. He could get away from all the questions and the probing and the issues and the problems.

‘I’ll take one of the helicopters to go and get my things from the ranch. I left some of my equipment there. I could take Cora for the ride. What do you think, Maddie?’

Maddie shook her head. ‘I can’t believe you’re going to do this. Please, Tom. It’s crazy. Granger , please. ’

‘This is getting good! There’s nothing like the Midwest for melodrama.’

Cooper snarled. Thought about punching Rosedale. Would leave it for another time. ‘Put a sock in it, Rosedale… Listen, Maddie, I really…’

‘You know what Tom, I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to hear you telling me you’ve got to do it, because we both know that’s not true. If you take this job there’s nothing I can do… other than what Granger just said… If I can’t beat them, join them. So that’s what I’m going to do! Get on with it, and join you.’

Cooper had no doubt he looked shocked. ‘What?’

‘You heard me. If you go, I’m going too. We’ve always worked together as a team. So what’s the problem? You were the one who said being separated wouldn’t be an issue when it came to working together. I quote, it’ll be cool, business as usual . And us working together on an investigation, well that’s normal, wouldn’t you say?’

Cooper spun round to Granger. ‘No way. No way is she coming.’

‘For God’s sake if she says she wants to go, then she can go. We’re not in fifth grade.’

‘She can’t!’

‘What d’ya mean she can’t? She’s a better shot than you. Keeps her head. And knows her way around a plane and a boat as well as the two of you do. I’m not in the business of employing people who aren’t up to the job. So there should be no problem. Should there?’

‘What if something happened to her?’

Granger rubbed his head, drawing his hand down his face in weary exasperation. ‘I don’t know what to tell you, Coop.’

Cooper turned to Maddie. ‘Listen, it’s not happening. Maddie, I’m sorry there’s no way you’re going.’

‘Excuse me? I’m not quite sure if I heard right. I thought for a moment you were trying to tell me what I could or couldn’t do.’

Cooper glared back at her. ‘And what about Cora? Who’s going to look after her? You need to be at home with her.’