Page 40 of Better the Devil

‘Like you. Like HAWKS. That connection, that mutual support between you and us, between your organisation and the police, that’s crucial. We don’t live in a crime-free society, and, sadly, we don’t have unlimited resources. Far from it.’

Sergeant Fleck leaned in a little closer to the microphone.

‘Maybe some of you folks could bring that up with the politicians in the room,’ he suggested.

The two men in the front row smiled, even as a fewboosrang out from up near the back.

Fleck winked at Hamza, then stepped back again, letting the DI bring it home.

‘I’m not going to lie to you. Sometimes, I’ve been resistant to the idea of accepting help in the past. Whether with work or… personal issues. I have a tendency to bottle it up a bit. Try and deal with it all on my own.’

Hamza released his grip on the lectern and straightened up, letting his hands fall to his sides.

‘But that’s not right. That’s not healthy. We need each other. People. Communities. Organisations. We need to work together, to collaborate, to have each other’s backs.’

The nagging voice in Hamza’s head had been well and truly silenced now. Around the room, dozens of heads of grey hair all nodded their agreement.

The finish line was in sight. He decided to end with a final cheesy flourish.

‘I look around this room, and that’s what I see. People who have each other’s backs. People looking out for one another. People giving up their time, free of charge, dedicating themselves to protecting members of other communities they might never even meet. And that is something I’m proud to be here to celebrate.’

The applause was already starting. Hamza had to raise his voice to be heard above it.

‘I don’t know what I’m doing. Not yet. But I feel better knowing that each and every one of you is here to support me while I figure it out.’

They were on their feet. Due to various ailments, it took some of them a bit longer than the rest, but they were all standing, all clapping, all nodding their agreement, and trumpeting their approval.

‘Nicely done,’ Sergeant Fleck whispered.

Hamza stole a glance at Ben, who stopped fishing in his tea with a finger long enough to give him a big smile and a wink.

‘Now,’ Hamza said, holding up the envelope. ‘Let’s get to the main event.’

Tyler waiteduntil they were through the main gate and back on the beach road before asking the question.

‘So, what’s the scoop, then, boss? You think she killed him, or what?’

‘Her? No. I mean, not personally,’ Logan said, glancing in the rear-view mirror as if expecting to see they were being followed.

‘You think she hired someone to do it?’

‘She could certainly afford it,’ Logan said. He shot a sideways look at Tyler, hoping to catch the detective constable’s reaction. ‘She’s worth a hundred and thirty million dollars.’

‘Jesus fuck!’ Tyler spluttered. ‘How?’

‘Bitcoin, apparently.’

‘Bitcoin? Here, I bought a Bitcoin last year!’ Tyler cried. ‘Well, about zero-point-zero-zero-zero-zero-one percent of a Bitcoin. You think that’s worth anything?’

Logan fully turned to face him. ‘No,’ he said, before facing front again.

‘I don’t even know where it is, anyway,’ Tyler admitted. ‘Or what it is. What is it?’

‘I don’t know. It’s some computer thing, isn’t it?’

‘Hamza would know,’ Tyler reasoned. ‘That sort of thing’ll be right up his street.’

He gazed out through the window and whistled through his teeth.