The Note: A CSI Eddie Collins short story Read online

  Your going to die tonight.

  If only she’d used a dictionary!

  It didn’t work. I tried to rid myself of the nerves – call it what you will – with a little humour. It had always worked in the past; it was my thing, it was my soothing counsellor’s voice, it was the pat on the back, it was the kick up the arse. It was everything I needed to shake the shit off and get back to normal.

  Except this time it didn’t work.

  Why?

  You ever had that feeling of being watched, and when you turn around, no one’s there? Spooky, isn’t it? It happened to me just then. This time, I did turn and looked right into her eyes. They were wide, red-rimmed, inside a void of smudged black makeup. She came at me like a demon, a scream from her twisted mouth that nailed me to the spot like I was imminent road-kill. Her talons were almost at my throat, ready to tear it out.

  I could imagine Bashed-Crab and the two coppers, their lives on pause, slowly turning to see her rushing at me, powerless to prevent my death.

  I was mesmerised by her. And I think it was a reflex action that caused me to bring up my arms, probably in a defensive attempt. But your mind and body are marvellous when you leave them alone to just get on with things that happen too fast for you to even begin contemplating a course of action.

  Without my conscious command, I swung a fist at those beautifully horrific eyes and made contact. I threw the blow so hard that I spun myself right off balance and landed at Bashed-Crab’s feet.

  Alex spiralled through the air like a dead ballerina and landed in a moaning heap by my damaged front door. Within moments, she felt the restraining knee of an armed officer as he fed her wrists into his cuffs.

  I was numb as she looked at me. Her eyes, they didn’t blink. She smiled at me. “I’ll never forget you, Eddie,” she whispered. “Don’t forget me, eh? Because one day, I’ll be around the very next corner.” She was hauled to her feet, her eyes never leaving mine.

  “Just a minute,” I said to the copper. I stood and crossed the floor, carpet squelching under my feet. I was within a foot or so of her, staring into the chasms of her eyes, and smiled, “Don’t suppose you’ve got a spare cigarette?”

  Author’s Note

  I write crime thrillers, and have done since 1996, about the same time I became a CSI here in Yorkshire. All of my books are set in or around our biggest city of Leeds. Sometimes I go wandering into the stunning countryside though and drag its beauty screaming into the pages of one of my books where it collides with the ugliness of death.

  I don’t write formulaic crime fiction; each story is hand-crafted and nurtured to give you a unique flavour of what CSIs encounter in real life. Every book is rich with forensic insight but that insight never drowns the story; it’s there to enhance your enjoyment only.

  My thrillers live inside the police domain; they have detectives and uniformed officers, but they’re predominantly about CSIs (or SOCOs as we used to be known). Come and live with them as they go about their sometimes unenviable tasks, and listen to the language they speak, see the things they see, and experience the emotions they feel.

  So pull on your nitrile gloves and your face mask, get comfy, and read on.

  Get in touch.

  For further information, or to sign up for my Reader’s Club, please visit Andrew-Barrett.co.uk. And if you’d like to comment to me directly, I’d be delighted to hear from you on Facebook (and so would Eddie Collins) and Twitter.

  You can make a big difference.

  Did you enjoy this book? I hope you did. Reviews are the most powerful tools in my arsenal when it comes to getting attention for my work. I don’t have the financial muscle of a New York publisher; I can’t take out full page ads in the newspaper, or put posters on the subway.

  But I have something more effective than that, and it’s something those publishers would kill to get their hands on.

  A committed and loyal bunch of readers.

  Honest reviews of my books help bring them to the attention of other readers. If you’ve enjoyed this book I would be very grateful if you could spend just five minutes leaving a review (it can be as short as you like).

  Reader’s Club Download Offer

  GET TWO FREE BEST-SELLERS AND A FREE SHORT STORY.

  Building a relationship with my readers is the very best thing about writing. I occasionally send newsletters with details of new releases, special offers, and other news relating to the Roger Conniston and Eddie Collins series.

  Sign up to the Reader’s Club and I’ll send you all these free goodies:

  A Long Time Dead, the first in the Roger Conniston trilogy.

  The Third Rule, the first book in the Eddie Collins series – a 600-page best-seller.

  The Lift, a first person short story where you can climb inside Eddie’s head and see life as he does.

  Books by Andrew Barrett

  A Long Time Dead – SOCO Roger Conniston Book One

  How much trust can you put in forensic evidence?

  They discovered her naked body with a puncture wound to her neck and blood everywhere. And brutal though her death was, this was the second such case West Yorkshire Police had running. Both unsolved. Until they found that one elusive piece of evidence.

  “I’ve never read a more authentic and detailed crime thriller.”

  Get A Long Time Dead here

  Stealing Elgar – SOCO Roger Conniston

  Book Two

  “Examining crime scenes was never supposed to get personal.”

  Roger Conniston has a lot to prove and a lot to protect. He’s up against an ex-bare-knuckle fighter called Hades who is planning the most audacious robbery in England’s history.

  For Hades, the success of this ‘one last job’ is paramount. He’s planned it in meticulous detail, from the explosive diversions that will shock the nation, to the selection of his team and the weapons they’ll use.

  Roger is faced with a decision: continue working with the police or cut the ties and venture out alone to stop Hades and secure everything he cares about.

  “This is an intensely gripping book, though very dark in tone.”

  Get Stealing Elgar here

  No More Tears – SOCO Roger Conniston

  Book Three

  “It’ll screw you up into a tiny ball of hatred and then spit you out into a cell.”

  SOCO Roger Conniston, always believed in the law. Not now though. Now he believes only in himself. He has business with people who have no right being alive, and if success costs him everything they left him with, he’ll happily pay. For him, this is a journey into places he didn’t know existed, encountering people so violent and determined that he almost weakens. The question facing Roger is: how far dare you go?

  Old enemies – and new ones – backstab and double-cross each other to get to Roger.

  Deceit, friendship, greed, and honour, are all played out in this concluding episode.

  “A superb piece of writing to end the trilogy.”

  Get No More Tears here

  The Third Rule – CSI Eddie Collins

  Book One

  When they accuse you of murder, you’d better hide, run, or fight.

  The Third Rule is England’s new infallible capital punishment where absolute proof of guilt is not required. There’s always a queue at the Slaughter House doors.

  CSI Eddie Collins hasn’t killed anyone, but he knows who has. That’s why he’s on the Slaughter House list, and when a government hunter tracks him down, Eddie has to fight or die.

  “If you want to kill serious crime, you have to kill serious criminals.” Sir George Deacon, Minster of Justice.

  “Gripping from start to finish. Real life characters who are believable and interesting, great plot and a read that easily compares with Jeffrey Deaver, Lee Child, James Patterson, Patricia Cornwall and all the big names. Andrew is going places!”

  Get The Third Rule here

  Black by R
ose – CSI Eddie Collins

  Book Two

  Black by Rose is the key to it all.

  In a rage, CSI Eddie Collins leaves a murder scene, triggering a series of life changing events; but not only for him.

  Operation Domino is the Major Crime Unit’s investigation into gang boss, Slade Crosby, and the killing of an undercover officer. But when Eddie finds a gangland victim dead in his house, he confronts Crosby and instantly wishes he hadn’t. There is a gun at his head. And no way out. Even the MCU cannot save him.

  Tampered evidence halts Domino’s progress, and with Eddie out of the way, Crosby is in the clear.

  How can Eddie escape death and nail Crosby before the killing starts again?

  “This book just kept on giving and kept me page turning.”

  Get Black by Rose here

  Sword of Damocles – CSI Eddie Collins

  Book Three

  Some secrets never die.

  When the remains of a woman are found in a burnt-out car, CSI Eddie Collins teams up with his enemy, DI Benson, to untangle the knot of lies behind this apparent suicide.

  As a CSI in the Major Crime Unit, Eddie is forced to lead a disintegrating team that he can’t control or tolerate, as they go up against a killer who will do anything to protect his past, and profit from it.

  Solving the problem is difficult enough, proving it is deadly.

  “A fantastically plotted tale of secrets and lies played out through snappy writing by well-defined characters. Definitely another winner!”

  Get Sword of Damocles here

  Ledston Luck – CSI Eddie Collins

  Book Four

  They say you can always trust a copper. They’re lying.

  They lied thirty years ago and they’re still lying today.

  A booby-trapped body in a long-abandoned chapel. A scene examination that goes horribly wrong. CSI Eddie Collins and DI Benson are injured and one of the team killed.

  Eddie is heartbroken and guilt-ridden.

  And angry.

  “If you only read one novel this year make sure it’s this one.”

  Get Ledston Luck here

  The Lift – A CSI Eddie Collins

  Short Story

  CSI Eddie Collins embarks on another ordinary day. But the people he meets in a lift prove that you should never make assumptions, never let preconceptions sway your judgement.

  And never let down your guard.

  “A masterclass in how to hook the reader and then rack up the tension level to 100 in no time at all.”

  Get The Lift here

  Thanks…

  Many thanks to my superb editors Kath Middleton and Graeme Bottomley, without whom The Note would not have turned out so well.

  I would also to like to give a special mention to all of the wonderful bloggers who help authors and readers by sharing their views of our books. And to some of the best and most supportive groups on Facebook: The UK Crime Book Club run by David Gilchrist and Caroline Maston; the Eddie Collins Group, brimming with enthusiasm and support; and THE Book Club run by Tracy Fenton and her army, including the magnificent Helen Boyce – never too busy to listen to my pathetic pleas.

  It would be remiss of me not to mention and bow my head to the magnificent people in the Advance Reader’s Team whose encouragement and help have no bounds – I’m truly grateful.

  My warmest appreciation to you for downloading this e-book, or for purchasing the paperback. Without your support none of this would be worth doing.

  I reserve the biggest thanks of all for my lady, Sarah, without whom the sun would never rise.

  The Note is dedicated to…

  Bruce and Linda Jowitt

  © Copyright 2017

  Andrew Barrett

  The rights of Andrew Barrett to be identified as the author of this work have been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the copyright holder

  All events and characters in this publication are fictitious, and any resemblance is purely coincidental.

  Published in the United Kingdom by The Ink Foundry.

  Original cover art used with kind permission of

  Susanne Ånes Ellingsen.