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

‘My contact has details of a woman we might be looking for. There’s no name but I’m assuming it’s Kelly.’

Lucy looked back at April. ‘Do I have a visit to look forward to?’

April smiled.

Kelly left the night shelter earlier than necessary. She had showered, dressed in a change of clothes she had selected from what was on offer, collected toiletries and self-referred for one more night’s stay. The experience had been better than she could have imagined. The food was good as was the bed, an inflated mattress positioned next to a chair and a wall socket. She had ensured she had taken any valuables into the shower leaving only her rucksack out in the changing area. The water had been hot and she had let it flow over her for possibly longer than was advisable. The night’s stay was a world away from the brick tunnel she had occupied the previous two nights. It suddenly seemed so civilised, so human. Meeting Sharon, the girl from the doorway, had made a difference. She had forgotten what it was like to chat, relax and not keep looking over her shoulder. They had managed to stay close in the dorm too and that had helped. It would be good to see her if she returned later. She glanced across at the tree a short distance from the entrance. The colour and the blossom seemed to attract her. Crossing the narrow street, she touched the smooth bark. I’m not normally a tree hugger, she thought. Somehow, right now, it seemed appropriate and she felt an inner warmth, hoping that one day she might be able to trust again. She belched suddenly. Her stomach seemed full for the first time in days. Giggling to herself she could not remember the last time she had eaten porridge for breakfast. The day had started well.

Sadiq had laid the contents of the case on the bed. The kilogram bags were neatly positioned.

‘Snow White has come home and she’s brought not seven dwarves with her but thirty-eight. Let’s say that at today’s street prices and depending on how it’s cut,’ He turned to look at Doc, ‘We’ve well over the million once expenses have been taken out. We’re expecting another shipment in July. Our elderly mules are winners. Should really refer to them as Neptune’s Nymphs.’ He laughed but no one joined him.

Doc’s face remained expressionless. ‘Let me know when and where and I’ll sort the rest.’ He turned and went to the front door. He glanced across at the girl now dressed and standing on the balcony. ‘Does the boss know you’re mixing business with pleasure?’

Sadiq came out of the bedroom and closed the door behind him. He studied Flamur who had been listening to the conversation. ‘I’m sure he’s aware. The girl knows nothing. Thick as pig shit too although a good Muslim boy shouldn’t say that. He shouldn’t drink or take drugs but … besides that’s for me to know. We’re brothers, we trust each other and remember, Doc, there’s him and then next in command, me. Don’t ever forget that.’

Doc left.

Kelly went into the library. She had listened to conversations within the hostel and many had referred to the facilities. It was a shelter in poor weather and you could read or simply sleep without being disturbed. The building was modern and bright, the toilets were clean too. To her left was a bank of computers, many were in use. She, on the other hand, wanted to sit down and put her life into some kind of perspective. Collecting a newspaper, she found a quiet seat between two book shelves and settled down. She would stay an hour or so, check what money she had left and then …

‘Where did you get the information from last time, Lucy?’ Tony asked as he stirred a mug of coffee with a pencil. ‘When you met April’s informant?’ He licked the end before tucking it behind his ear.

‘A coffee shop on the main pedestrian area, all cloak and dagger stuff. Made a change to be honest, a break from all the normal stuff. I was apprehensive, believe me. Knew what was expected but still nervous, and to think I used to work in Wigan. You never know what you’re going to meet. April’s right though, when she said that things go on under our noses all of the time. To think I used to believe paying for info was illegal. Happens a good deal from all accounts. I for one should have known that.’

‘Live and learn, Lucy. Live and learn. Male or female your contact?’

‘Official Secrets Act, Tony. Couldn’t possibly say.’

‘Yes, I know, if you told me, you’d have to kill me.’ He moved away shaking his head. ‘We’re colleagues, we’re supposed to share everything.’

Skeeter was checking the report of the fire but she was more interested in Malik and Flamur. She had worked with the EvoFit team in facial recognition and they had configured images for both men. She wanted to check with Jane from Environmental Health to see if the image created matched her recollection of Malik. Jane could check against the images from her body cam. It was to be done in this order for two reasons. The first was to check her own memory and therefore the quality of the likeness produced. Secondly if she had managed to create an accurate image of him, the likelihood was she had also captured Flamur too. Facial recognition had come a long way from the days of the police artist and because of the progress the success rate had increased exponentially.

‘Jane, thanks for taking part. Your thoughts?’

‘Malik Buruk without question. I had him slightly more threatening but that was probably my nerves. Firstly, did you receive the images you requested looking over the counter, the still shots of the clock?’

‘Received and sent to the Forensics Team investigating the fire. Thanks very much.’

‘Secondly, I’ve just sent the still images