Devil’s Bread

DEVIL'S BREAD A DCI REECE THRILLER LIAM HANSON CRIME PRINTS Copyright © 2023 Liam Hanson The right of Liam Hanson to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by him in accordance to the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Apart from any use permitted under UK copyright law, this publication may only be reproduced, stored, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, with prior permission in writing of the publisher or, in the case of reprographic production, in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. All characters in this publication are fictitious and resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Photo by Nick Russill on Unsplash Published by Crime Prints An imprint of Liam Hanson Media FREE Short Story Get Your FREE Short Story Here: Contents Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50 Chapter 51 Chapter 52 Chapter 53 Chapter 54 Chapter 55 Chapter 56 Chapter 57 Chapter 58 Chapter 59 Chapter 60 Chapter 61 Chapter 62 Chapter 63 Chapter 64 Chapter 65 Chapter 66 Chapter 67 Chapter 68 Chapter 69 Chapter 70 Chapter 71 Chapter 72 Chapter 73 Chapter 74 Chapter 75 Chapter 76 Chapter 77 Chapter 78 Chapter 79 Chapter 80 About the Author Chapter 1Snowdonia: North WalesMali Ingram sprinkled a pinch of dried tobacco flakes on a wafer-thin cigarette paper like she was adding salt to a plate of chips. Not yet satisfied, she added a few more and slung her legs under the table of the picnic bench, enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sunshine on her face and bare arms. She wasn’t trying to tan, and knew from twenty-something years of experience that any attempts to do so were completely futile. From pasty white; to bright red; then itch and peel; and back to white again, was how it went most summers.‘You’ll have heard management put me on another conduct warning?’ she said, wetting the edge of the paper with the tip of her tongue. She folded it over and rolled out a new smoke with the expertise of someone well practised in the art. ‘They’re singling me out for some rough treatment to keep the rest of you quiet.’‘And why would they do that?’ Rhydian asked. ‘What reason is there?’‘Because I don’t take any of their shit and they don’t like people who stick up for themselves.’‘Maybe you should take their shit from time to time. Play the game—that’s all it is—just a game. Then you might stay out of trouble for a while.’She caught his eye and held it. ‘Maybe I shouldn’t. Definitely, I shouldn’t. And neither should you, for that matter.’He looked away, having heard it all before. ‘Your call, I guess.’‘Bloody right, it is. Someone has to stick up for the little guys in life.’‘And that someone is you?’‘If it has to be, then yes. Look - all I’m saying is: you don’t have to let their sort walk all over you just because they think they’ve got the power to.’Rhydian pulled the ring on a can of Coke. ‘You do when they pay your wages.’There was a small green tin on the table between them; its lid removed and a half-dozen completed cigarettes lined up and waiting to be smoked. Wedged between Mali’s knees was an open pouch of tobacco that looked like it might spill with every jerky movement she made. ‘They can kiss my arse before I bow down and kiss theirs.’ Rhydian gulped a good mouthful of the Coke and stifled a burp behind a clenched fist. ‘Excuse me,’ he said with a shudder that involved most of his upper body. ‘Suit yourself.’Mali bent under the table to scratch her shin. Rhydian was still staring at her when she reappeared. ‘What now?’‘How have you been since …?’ his voice trailed off and he lowered his head. ‘Since you know …’‘Jesus, you’re not still going on about that, are you? I told you at the time, it was nothing. Nothing - do you hear me?’‘It could have been serious. You were this close to having an accident,’ he said, measuring the distance between a finger and thumb.‘We’ve been through this already. The wind blew grit in my eyes. Couldn’t see what I was doing, so I took a moment to settle myself again. Everything was perfect after that.’‘Only because there was a second instructor up there with you. If he hadn’t taken over at that moment, then who knows what might have happened?’Mali put the cigarette tin away in her rucksack and tightened its toggle like she was throttling the life out of someone. ‘You know that’s bullshit.’ Opposite and across the lawn was the mirrored glass of the climbing centre’s reception area. She couldn’t tell if anyone was watching from the other side of it, but suspected they might have been. ‘Did that lot put you up to this?’‘The concerns are all mine,’ Rhydian said, tapping his chest. ‘I’d never be able to live with myself if something happened up there and I’d done nothing to prevent it when I had the chance.’ He finished the rest of his Coke and tossed the empty can into a nearby bin, sending a scouting party of wasps into a frenzy. ‘I haven’t told them what happened.’‘But you’re going to? I can tell by the tone of your voice.’‘That depends on what your GP has to say?’ He groaned when she didn’t