Page 17 of Donovan Blake: Passion

“Yes, many times,” Jimmy lied. “Lord Hawthorne has been doing that for a while. I was told he can be paranoid.”

“Why the fuck didn’t you say something before we came here?”

“I was freaking out! It didn’t even occur to me!”

“Fucking moron,” the goon grunted as he snatched up his phone and touched the screen. “Hey, boss, we can’t get in. Lights are everywhere. It’s like a fucking football field. No shadows, no cover anyplace. I’ll stay in the area until you call me back. We can always try again tomorrow. Okay, moron,” Oleg grunted as he ended the call, “we’re going to your place and staying there until I get my orders.”

Jimmy was elated. Once in his humble cottage he might have a chance to get the better of the ugly brute. But keeping a straight face, he started up the sleek, black Mercedes SUV and drove slowly down the road.

* * *

Donovan and Phoebe were still locked in each other’s arms when the phone rang. Glancing at the screen and seeing Peter’s name, he sat back and accepted the call.

“Hello, Peter, how is everything?”

“Donovan your plan worked! They didn’t even leave their car!”

“Are you sure it was them?’

“I was watching the monitors. When I saw someone stop across the street I zoomed in on the windshield. I recognized Jimmy Pike behind the wheel but I didn’t know the man with him. He looked rough though, and they left quickly.”

“Did you get the license plate number?”

“I most certainly did.”

“Excellent, please text it to me, and what kind of car was it?”

“A black Mercedes SUV.”

“By any chance do you have Jimmy Pike’s address?”

“I do…it’s somewhere around here…” he muttered. “Ah, here it is. Bird Cottage, 5 Mulberry Lane. It must be one of the dead-end streets past the village. What should I do now?”

“Keep things just as they are, and you can get some sleep. They won’t be back tonight. They might try again tomorrow but the security team I organized will be there in the morning, and so will Trevor Martin, or rather, John Martin, as you know him. You and Jane will be able to rest easy.”

“I’m very grateful to you, Donovan. What’s the latest on your front?”

“We’re waiting to follow the van. What we do after it arrives in London will depend on what I find, but I have plenty of backup there.”

“Thanks, again Donovan. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Peter.”

Ending the call, Donovan settled back behind the wheel.

“It won’t be long now,” he remarked. “I suspect those goons were waiting to hear from Jimmy before heading back to London.”

“And you’re right again,” Phoebe exclaimed as the van drove by. “How do you know this stuff?”

“Experience. We’ll wait a couple of minutes before we start following. They’re moving slowly.”

“Long enough for another hug?”

“Long enough for this,” he replied. Sliding his hands into her hair, he placed his lips on her and devoured her mouth in a crushing kiss. “Now I must talk to Sam,” he declared as they broke apart.

Lifting the phone from the mount he studied the tracker for a moment, then placed the call.

“Donovan. What’s the news?” Sam demanded.

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