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

popped the laptop bag strap over his shoulder, turned up his collar and headed along the narrow lane. He heard a clock strike six somewhere in the distance. Hugging the edge of the pedestrian precinct, he avoided the majority of the puddles and the drifting rain. One doorway was full of bags and what might be considered a heavily blanketed body. A small polystyrene cup sat to the left. Rummaging in his pocket, Colin collected some change and dropped in the offering. The vagrant raised an arm in thanks from beneath the protective covering but nothing was said.

‘My daily act of kindness,’ he whispered to himself. ‘It could be me in there ... it could be me. One always has a duty to perform.’ He adjusted his collar against the wet wind and moved more quickly before entering the rear yard to the church. Sudden angry shouts and abuse echoed just around the corner. Turning to pass the Cenotaph, he saw the many weatherworn poppy wreaths, now scattered around the base. He watched four police officers manhandle two men in the direction of a police van.

The protestations were both loud and abusive with many of the sentences slurred. ‘You can all fuck off! It’s my fucking town and I can fucking do and fucking say what I want. Just fuck off! Are you fucking listening? You’re hurting my fucking arm!’

A sudden spindrift of sleet flushed the confines between the buildings without warning, whipped up from the direction of the railway and the park. It seemed to cleanse the foul air. Magically the protestations died away. Colin pressed on through the narrow passageway. Seeing the café, he made a dash for the door. He was not alone as three others followed him in. He looked cautiously at each.

Lucy had watched the four enter but focused on the one man. Appearing to look through her bag, she observed him as he collected his coffee and settled into a corner seat. Unlike many of those in the room, he immediately brought out a paperback and allowed his fingers to locate the folded page.

It had been the signal Lucy had been anticipating. She produced a phone from her bag, waited a moment before standing and crossing towards Colin.

‘I’m sorry but I just wondered if you had a phone charger? My phone has just died and I need to send an urgent message.’ She turned the phone to him as if proving the point. ‘Left the charger at home this morning. Rushing as usual. Sorry.’

Colin moved his hand to his laptop bag and brought out a small, emergency charger. ‘Never without it. You just never know when someone will need one.’ There was neither sarcasm nor sincerity in his voice as he handed her the device. ‘I’m sure one of the connections will be compatible.’

He studied her carefully. Taking the charger, she plugged in her phone.

‘You need to press the small button to the side. When the lights show it’s charging. There’s no rush as I’m here …’ he looked at the clock on the wall over the counter, ‘… for another fifteen minutes.’ He quickly glanced across at the windows but the condensation obliterated any possibility of seeing outside.

Lucy smiled. ‘Not a good evening to be out.’ Raising her eyebrows, she followed his instruction and watched four blue LED lights illuminate the front of the battery charger. She returned to sit down. He picked up his book and then his coffee.

Ten minutes later, Lucy popped the charger back on his table. ‘That was so kind of you. Thank you.’ She smiled widely.

Colin looked at the charger and then at Lucy. ‘A pleasure. They’re so cheap these days I don’t go anywhere without one. Most supermarkets stock them. Got this from Lidl. Cost next to nothing.’

Lucy smiled again, turned to her table, collected her things and left. All she had to do now was suffer a return journey on the bus.

Chapter 12

Everything seemed so grey. The walk along the beach with Tico had been brief as neither had any enthusiasm for the wind nor the rain. Within minutes of their return, Tico was curled up in front of the Aga. Entering the studio, April checked her work from the night before – she was pleased. First, she needed to change.

April wrapped her hands around the coffee mug. The half-an-hour walk was over, and now, dressed for work, she could take a moment to reflect. Once she would have considered taking time out in reflection a waste of precious time, but a wise superintendent somewhere in the past had waxed lyrical about allowing thoughts to percolate, to filter. Just like a good coffee, they cannot be rushed.

The pine trees to the south of the cottage bent inland from the years of supplication to the demands of the sea winds. Clouds, low and brooding, continued to head her way bringing the sheets of misty drizzly rain that had dampened their earlier walk. She thought about each of her new colleagues, categorising their individual strengths and weaknesses. Had someone been watching they would have seen her facial expression change with each considered thought. Had she done the correct thing by asking Lucy to go in place of herself? Her position was growing in responsibility and therefore delegation was an essential key to that role but it was one of the hardest to come to terms with. She remembered Lucy’s face when she had asked her and it brought a smile.

Drinking the remains of her coffee she went and checked on Tico who looked up from his bed, giving a slight wag of his tail. It was clear that he was settled. Fed, watered and walked, he needed nothing else. Seeing Sue Martin, she waved.

Sue called as she moved to the barn. ‘I’ll check on Tico later in the day. Have a good one and take care!’

‘Thank you. You too.’ April waved as she jumped into the 4x4. How lucky she had been to find this place.