Catch as Catch Can (The Merseyside Crime Series Book 1) by Malcolm Hollingdrake (any book recommendations .txt) 📗

April tapped again and the image changed to a chart showing the girl’s chronological history.

‘Kelly was born illegitimately to a convicted criminal and drug user. Father still unknown. The mother received a five-year term for aggravated robbery, removed the eye of a shop assistant who wouldn’t let her take freely from her shop. She also had previous relating to ABH, self-harm and prostitution. To put it into perspective, the mother was then twenty-two. For those quick off the mark, the DNA found in the flat was linked to that of the mother who, according to records, was removed from Styal prison for the birth. Kelly was then kept in Manchester Neo-Natal Intensive Care for five weeks. The child was born dependent on the drugs taken by her mother and immediately after birth exhibited severe signs of going cold turkey. Mother was found to have been addicted to OxyContin, cocaine and methadone. The child was treated over that period with neo-natal morphine solution and a lot of TLC. If anyone doesn’t know the symptoms that are manifested in children like this, you should check it out. It’s all here.’ April lifted a booklet for them all to see.

‘What a shit start to life,’ Brad chipped in. ‘And I thought I’d had it tough.’

‘Her life gets better – for a while, at least. Moved to foster mother and made good progress in all areas. It’s safe to say Kelly bloomed in the months she was there. However, there was clear evidence of mental instability. Adopted at just over twelve months old, she continued to make progress until the age of six. Started showing signs of mental illness, anger, aggression towards the two other children in the house but that again, after support was put in, stabilized. School was fine but she was more creative than academic. Reports tell us she was precise in her presentation but she was also reported as being rather sly, untrustworthy and unpredictable. As her behaviour and school work began to decline, she was given specialist educational and emotional support and then she was moved to an EBD special school placement. At twelve she disappeared from school and home. Numerous appeals but she wasn’t found until now.’

There was a pause and silence apart from the slight hum of the laptop fan.

April looked at each member of the team. ‘All we have to do now is find her before …’ She let the sentence hang in the air.

Lucy was quick to break the silence. ‘Knowing what we now know, we can presume children like this disappear initially and they find the streets both lonely and frightening, not what they imagined. So, they would look and find someone who will help them; this often can mean older males. They give them a safe place to stay, treat them like an adult, show affection and love, maybe buy gifts and then when they’ve established a degree of trust, abuse them, share them, frighten them. This would also most probably mean ply them with alcohol and maybe establish a dependency on drugs in order to gain and maintain control. Free prostitutes, to put it bluntly. It’s always a vicious circle. Our Kelly may well fit this bill.’

‘Indeed, Lucy, indeed. Now, let’s think back to the flat. You’ve seen the photographs. It doesn’t resemble a shit hole. It’s neat and orderly. Now that tells me it’s been cleaned. You tend to get a feel for these things, and I’m pleased to say I’m not the only one to comment, CSI agreed. Seeing that there was a complete dearth of personal effects, no photographs, jewellery, and more importantly, none of his clothing, confirms to me that we can assume the room was searched and selected items removed. Considering the length of time Michelle, whom we shall now refer to as Kelly Jones to save confusion, had occupied the place too, you’d think she would have had some token, a memento, maybe? It’s interesting to note that there was no underwear, personal hygiene products or jeans left. She’s either done a runner or …’ April paused to allow discussion from the group and she did not have to wait long.

Lucy responded first. ‘It might have been purely for convenience. My experience tells me with recruitment of gang membership you come off the streets, you’re desperate and will happily live where you’re put. Look at the number of illegal migrants who have entered the country in lorries over the years. They’re rarely found. They vanish into attics, cellars and lofts in shops, restaurants and we’ve even discovered them in warehouses and garages. Not suitable for an animal let alone a human being. If you think about it, it’s easy to imagine. To me, she’s now running scared.’

‘If only we knew the real number of these folk coming here, Lucy. It’s easy for the puppet masters as they know there are no records or references. Easy come and easy go,’ April replied sceptically.

Brad was nodding thoughtfully and added, ‘Besides, if the room were cleaned, whether that be by the girl or persons unknown, it’s been done thoroughly. We’re talking professional criminals and the fact that traces of Class ‘A’ drugs were present puts this death into better perspective. It adds credence to our belief that the death and disappearance are gang related. In my opinion, ma’am, someone has done something they shouldn’t have and paid the price.’ He tapped his pencil on the table as if adding a full stop. ‘That’s my take on it.’

‘Right, it’s work time. The medal, why? The transparent disc. What? We need answers. Brad, check with Skeeter and see how she’s getting on. There’s a link here. I feel it deep down and so does she. Lucy, I’ve had a tip off from a contact at Greater Manchester, someone I met when working in another force. We’ve co-operated in the past and there’s the possibility they