Read The Dust: Book Two - Pursuit for Free Online Page A

for a few seconds he then balanced it on the end of his bleeding tongue, as quick as a flash it disappeared and the lump slid down his throat.
    ***
    ‘You have to be joking?’ Roger couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing.
    ‘I promised that girl I would look after her and I promised her I would not lose another teddy bear. I already left one in York and she was inconsolable about that. That little girl has lost everything in her life so I’m not going to let her down this time. I’m going back to get Rufus if you like it or not, if you want to continue then do so.’ Angel went across to Lou Pepper who was crying in the back of the truck.
    ‘There is no way we are wasting three hours in retrieving a lost teddy bear.’ Roger looked at Jake.
    ‘She is adamant mate.’
    ‘You can’t be fucking serious?’ Roger threw his hands in the air. ‘You condone this?’
    ‘It’s not a case of condoning it, the fact is she’s going back. You know Angel just as much as I do mate, she has made her mind up.’
    ‘This is fucking mental, seriously Jake this can’t happen.’
    Jake held his hands out to try and appease Roger. ‘Let me go and talk to her.’
    Jake walked across the dirt track to where Angel was comforting Lou.
    Before he could open his mouth he was met by a verbal volley. ‘Don’t even try and talk me out of this, you or that selfish twat, I’m not going to listen. Just look at her for fucks sake.’ She nodded towards Lou who was sobbing into her bare hands.
    ‘Stop swearing Angel.’ Lou blurted through the tears and dribble.
    ‘Can’t we get another one?’ Jake thought he might give it a little go. ‘There will be plenty of shops when we get nearer a big city.’
    ‘I want Rufus.’ Lou lifted her head and her bloodshot eyes looked over to Jake. ‘Alice gave him to me and I said I would look after him forever.’ She then buried her head back into hands.
    ‘Well?’ Angel looked at Jake angrily. ‘What would you do if this was your little girl?’
    ‘Me and you.’ He said. ‘We go back, get the bear and come straight back.’
    Angel let out a deep breath and for a split second a smile appeared. ‘Hadn’t you better clear that with the Lord of the manor's best friend?’
    ‘No need, we leave in ten minutes.’ Jake walked back to Roger.
    ‘Are you going to get Rufus back?’ Lou stuttered through her sobs.
    ‘We are honey, just like I promised.’
    Jake gave Roger the news. It didn’t go down well but there was nothing more he could say. Both men decided that the position that they had found themselves in wasn’t safe so they got the road map out Rossiter had given them and looked for the nearest settlement.
    ‘Oxton is only ten minutes away.’ Jake pointed a few millimetres from the crease.
    Roger shook his head, he still couldn’t believe what was happening.
    Jake patted him on the shoulder. ‘We'll make the time up, I promise.’
    ‘It’s taken an hour to get here.’ Roger muttered. ‘Another two hour round trip, then it will be dark. The day is written off.’
    Before Jake could reply Roger had walked away and was sat in the truck waiting.
    ‘What’s the plan?’ Angel asked.
    Roger was silent so Jake who had now climbed into the passenger seat turned around to the two girls. ‘We are going to Oxton, a small village just ten minutes from here. Roger and Lou will find a safe house and then we will go back to get Rufus.’
    Lou Pepper cheered. ‘Thank you Jake, thank you Roger.’
    ‘No problem.’ Jake didn’t smile but gave Lou a wink. The whole idea was madness but he wasn’t leaving Angel and Lou behind.

Chapter Six
    ‘Shall we kick the door down?’ Archie stroked his chin sizing up the large front door.
    ‘We could just knock, you never know someone might be in.’ Harry James looked over at Lonny.
    ‘Listen to your friend Archibald, he always brings a little sophistication to our outfit. Smash the door down indeed, look at this place!’ Lonny clipped