A Jack Tate SAS Thriller. Alex Shaw

never make two mistakes on the same day.’

      ‘OK.’ Donoghue flipped open his laptop and pressed a few keys with his large fingers. ‘Tell me the name of that rifle again?’

      ‘A Blaser R93 LRS2.’

      ‘I’m going to look it up as I’ve never seen one.’

      A question formed in Tate’s head as the police chief checked his Google results. ‘Are there any links between the victims?’

      Donoghue didn’t look up. ‘Not that we know of. The first was a banker by the name of Darren Sant; the second was Senator Piper.’

      ‘And these shootings happened in the Camden area?’

      ‘The first in Rockport – just down from us – and then today’s was in Camden.’ Donoghue’s expression changed. ‘Now that’s interesting.’

      ‘You’ve found something?’

      Stabbing his screen with his index finger, Donoghue spoke. ‘On Wikiwand I’ve found a list of “users” of this rifle. And the nearest to us here is the New Jersey State Police. I’m going to call them and pick their brains.’ Donoghue finally looked up. He cleared his throat. ‘Look, Mr Tate, I feel I owe you an apology.’

      ‘I see.’ Tate smiled thinly.

      Donoghue continued, ‘If a thing is too good to be true then it usually is, and hauling you in for this was just that. The FBI and the national news crews are going to be swarming all over me come lunchtime tomorrow. You are free to go, and your rental car has been brought around the front of the lot.’

      ‘Good.’ Tate stood.

      The police chief extended his hand. ‘No hard feelings? You were speeding, after all.’

      ‘OK,’ Tate said with more enthusiasm than he felt. The man had ruined his day, but he was a man in uniform and he had a job to do.

      ‘Where are you planning on going now?’

      ‘I’ve got a reservation at the Elm Street Inn.’

      Donoghue smiled wryly. ‘I live just across the road. Mind you, when I moved in, the place was called something else and they hadn’t made the bar what it is now. The wife’s not happy about it, but I am.’

      ‘If I see you there, I’ll buy you a beer.’

      ‘Would you be attempting to bribe a police officer, Mr Tate?’

      Tate smiled. ‘I don’t know. How good is the local beer?’

      ‘Good. And thanks for your help identifying the rifle, if you’re right.’

      ‘I am.’