Specials: Based on the BBC TV Drama Series: The complete novels in one volume
This novel, based on the groundbreaking BBC TV drama series, shows how it takes both guts and a sense of humour to become a part-time policeman. It was adapted by the series’ creators from all twelve episodes, four of which are published here for the first time.‘You’ll learn what it’s like out there in the streets, and we’ll learn whether you’re competent to wear the uniform.’From nine to five, they are like the rest of us. Come the twilight, they don the blue uniform with pride, and volunteer their spare time to share the night vigil of the Bobby on the beat.BOB LOACH, a partner in a coach tour business, is ‘all grease and few graces’, with an ambition to be the first millionaire Special. ANJALI SHA is an NHS physiotherapist who treads the minefield of conflicting traditions: ‘My family think it’s a bad business for a well brought-up Hindu girl to prowl the streets at night with a man.’ JOHN REDWOOD is a solicitor with an unshakable belief in the decency of his fellow-man. VIV SMITH is a young bank clerk: ‘It might come as a surprise to you, Sarge, but not all women come with a built-in maternal expertise of how to deal with kids.’ And FREDDY CALDER, an overweight salesman of ladies’ lingerie, conceals a shy and sentimental heart under a brash exterior.Five ordinary people whose commitment makes them extraordinary.
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SPECIALS
THE COMPLETE NOVELS
Created, written and produced by
BRIAN DEGAS
&
HARRY ROBERTSON
COLLINS CRIME CLUB
an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd
1 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9GF
Specials: Have a Nice Parade and Specials: Ask ’Em, Tell ’Em, Lift ’Em
first published in Great Britain by Fontana 1991
Specials: Over and Out first published in this volume 2017
Copyright © Brian Degas and Harry Robertson 1991, 2017
Cover layout design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2017
Brian Degas and Harry Robertson assert the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.
Source ISBN: 9780008260590
Ebook Edition © November 2017 ISBN: 9780008260606
Version: 2017-09-07
Table of Contents
•••••
He barely noticed the car on his tail, holding just behind and to the right, where it shouldn’t be. Yet somehow he could sense the danger lurking over his shoulder.
Unfortunately, as he made his way along the freeway into Birmingham, Special Constable Freddy Calder’s conscious mind was elsewhere. In fact, he was on the car-phone.
‘Hi, John. Look here, I’ll be with you in …’
Raising his wrist with a snap, almost a salute, Freddy checked his Rolex – actually, an imitation Rolex, but at a quick glance no one was ever the wiser.
‘… twenty minutes. And, old chum, what I have to show you is sensational.’
His gaze momentarily shifted to the sample case lying on the passenger seat, open just enough to offer a tantalizing glimpse of lingerie, a pair of sheer lace panties to be exact. Freddy’s talent was to imagine just how they would look on virtually anyone he knew, or thought he knew, or even conceived in his waking dreams of knowing. Of course, lying on the back seat was his model, ‘Salvador Dolly’, a curvaceous cut-out figure of an ideal woman wearing only her underwear every hour of the day.
‘Listen, this latest stuff’s so light you better hold on tight to your secretary when she wears them.’
They shared a low, lascivious laugh reserved for men talking about women. Whenever he sensed a customer had the same thoughts in mind, Freddy would start counting his money.
Accidentally and simultaneously, his car veered into the right lane, although he made a swift correction in steering with a slight move of his finger. It was then that he noticed the car on his tail: a maroon Audi, a ‘mean machine’. Suddenly he was alert, but gave no outward or visible sign of alarm.
‘Well, ’course in that case she’s travelling as light as she can get. Yeah. Fantasy Island … Don’t we all! See you.’
Before he could put away the car-phone and look back to his wing mirror, he heard a Luftwaffe motor roaring behind him. Getting louder, the Audi pulled in parallel with him, then swerved toward him and back, as if testing his mettle, before finally surging ahead full throttle.
