Betrayed (Powell Book 4) by Bill Ward

car and one other in the small car park. He had to keep driving past so as not to attract attention but went only a short way, before pulling up on the grass verge. He switched off the lights and quickly ran back towards the car park.
    As Powell came close to the car park, he could hear voices, muffled by the wind. He crouched low and moved closer, using the cover of the hedgerow, which ran along the front of the road, to stay hidden.
    Fortunately, the two cars had been parked close by the hedge, rather than on the other side of the car park. He was able to approach unseen and observe what was happening through holes in the hedge.
    He was in time to see Tommy place a suitcase in the boot of the Land Rover. It was the size you are allowed to take on a plane so not huge but large enough to contain a valuable load of drugs or weapons. He wondered how many such bags had already been transferred from one car to the other?
    “That’s all of it,” a man Powell didn’t recognise said, walking to the back of his car and shutting the boot. Powell could make out the shape of another man sitting behind the wheel of the car.
    Scott carried a briefcase to the man, who then placed it on the backseat of his car. Powell guessed it was payment for whatever was in the suitcase. If it was, then this was obviously not their first transaction as the man wasn’t even bothering to check the contents of the briefcase.
    “We’ll follow you just to make sure you get back okay,” the man said.
    “Thanks,” Scott replied. “We will need more in a month.”
    “I’m looking at new sources,” the man answered. “Shouldn’t be a problem.”
    “Do we need to worry about Powell?” Scott asked.
    “I’m not sure why he was given bail but it probably means he has friends in high places. But I don’t think we need to worry. He’s not going to be running around free for very much longer.”
    “That’s good to hear.”
    Powell didn’t like what he heard. The case wouldn’t come to court for months but the man made it sound like he was going to be in jail in the very near future. Or it could be interpreted the man had a more permanent solution in mind to ensure Powell’s removal.
    Was there a price on Powell’s head? This man was obviously part of the drugs trade and such people were notorious for violence. At the very least, this man knew something Powell didn’t and that was worrying. Powell realised he was going to have to be extra careful. He could deal with an enemy in hand to hand combat but he couldn’t stop a bullet.
    Powell headed back to his car and waited for the two cars to exit the car park and start to descend the hill before turning his car around and once again following. He was at the bottom of the hill before he spotted the cars up ahead. He followed at a discrete distance through the village of Ditchling. He knew where they were headed so didn’t have to get too close.
    On the outskirts of Haywards Heath, the second car left Scott to return to Tintagel alone and headed into the centre of town. Powell decided there was more to be achieved by following the second car. He knew where Scott was headed.
    Powell followed for a further five minutes and was shocked when he saw the large blue sign announcing the police station. The car didn’t stop out front, where the visitors parked, but headed towards the side of the building, which gave access to where the staff parked.
    Powell watched as the driver approached the barrier, leaned out of his window and inserted something into the machine, which caused the barrier to raise. This was not a casual visitor. He had a pass to the police staff car park.
    Powell didn’t hang around. He had seen enough and already written down the number plate of the car. He needed some sleep and time to think about the next steps. He needed to speak with Brian, who could trace the car registration.
    Powell was going to have to tread very carefully. If the occupants of the car were police officers,