Page 108 of Slack Tide Kill

"Too far for that, love. Up to the beach comes Bledd's boat, out pop two pricks, and they stagger up the beach together."

"Two figures only?" Mayhew pressed. "Both walking?"

Rook beamed. "Never thought it was your precious marsh-shagger, did you?"

Mayhew stood.

"Go on, then, run off like the other one," Rook called as she stopped the tape and went for the door. "Go spray red gel in that crusty old bastard's eyes!"

Mayhew left the room. Sally went to meet her in the corridor.

"I've seen Bledd's boat, DCI. It's just like he described it."

"Everyone's seen that boat," Mayhew said, pushing past.

Sally followed. "I know where he docks, ma'am. Near Appledore, on the Rother."

Mayhew spun. "You are not on this operation! I gave you one directive in that room, and you flouted it."

"I got us Bledd," Sally fired back. "Open your eyes, DCI. This is happening now."

Mayhew's lip curled and she spun on her heel toward the bullpen. "You are done here, Officer Rogers."

"Enforce that after we find him." Sally kept pace. "I've been on this man's boat, DCI. I know how he thinks, maybe better than anyone here." She snapped her fingers, stopping cold. "He's got a drone. If it's in the air, he'll know we're coming. He could have eyes on the entire marsh, if he wanted to. We can't go in force, not in patrol cars either."

"This is my operation," Mayhew snapped, stopping at the head of the bullpen. "You will not–"

"Stephen," Sally said abruptly, focusing on DI Gemmell. He shot to his feet. "We have a suspect, and we need to go in personal cars, not in close convoy. Staggered. Maybe two cars, eight officers, all armed with PAVA and batons."

"That is enough!" Mayhew spat, then whirled to Gemmell. "You do not take orders from this NCA Officer, DI."

"I know that, ma'am," Gemmell answered. "What are your orders?"

Mayhew stewed for a second. She looked at Sally, at the bullpen, then back. Her lower lip quivered. "You will notify Armed Response in Dover. They will come immediately, incognito, while we prepare a proper–"

"It's too slow, DCI," Sally urged. "We need to go now. That's how we caught the Rooks. Delay and he'll be gone, lost to the marsh for another 30 years."

Mayhew stared, a flush climbing up her cheeks. Her eyelid twitched, then something shifted. "Very well. We'll take my car, and DI Gemmell, we'll be requisitioning yours."

"Not a problem, ma'am."

"Two vehicles." She looked at Rogers. "Eight officers in stab vests, armed with PAVA, batons and Tasers."

"I'll ride with Stephen," Sally said.

"You will bring up the rear. Take Chakrati and Simms. Flaherty, Hawlin, O'Connell? You're with me. Now gear up and let's go."

45 PREFERRED HAUNTS

The group of officers exited through the station's rear door into a gray dawn. The parking lot was strangely hushed as Sally got into the passenger side of DI Gemmell's white Tesla. He took the wheel while Chakrati and Simms got in the back.

An electric blue Mini Countryman pulled out in front of them. Liam sat in the passenger seat next to Mayhew, staring fixedly ahead.

"Here we go," said Gemmell, and started the Tesla forward. In moments they were out of Rye, heading north on the Military Road alongside the Rother. The Mini pulled off the road shortly after passing Scots Float, then stopped by the towpath. Sally opened the door before the Tesla even stopped, then half-ran down to the mooring dock, where Mayhew's group were already standing beside an empty berth.

"No sign of him," Mayhew said. "We'll–"

Sally pushed past them to rap loudly on the flank of the nearest houseboat. Ephesian Tears.