Syn (The Merseyside Crime Series Book 2) - Malcolm Hollingdrake (world of reading TXT) 📗

me. I’ve seen it, smelled it and, yes, it has a particular odour. In my mind I’ve flown over it like a winged god destroying to create. Destroying, Mr Rodgers, so that I can create this very window of opportunity to be with you.’

‘If anyone’s going to fucking kill anyone it will be me kicking you down those fucking stairs. You fucking nutter.’

‘Think for a moment of someone else and not yourself. You, Mr Rodgers need to listen and I need to speak. Is that understood?’

Rodgers paused and looked directly into the man’s eyes. They were empty. There was neither emotion nor a flicker of any feelings; they were as dead as those named within the group. He sat.

Skeeter could hear the sound of the drone to her left. It seemed a long way off but she knew its capabilities.

‘Nike is riding high.’ Turning, she glanced at the screen April held which showed a clear view of the house from the air. She could also count the heat register from each of the numbered officers on the ground. She watched them disperse to their designated positions.

‘They go in three,’ April announced, as the final armed officers moved to the front door. One of the rapid entry team carrying the ram they liked to refer to as the ‘master key’, moved into position in readiness to break through the door. If Carlos was held in the building, the element of surprise gave him a greater chance of survival.

The sound of splintering wood and breaking glass was immediate. The multiple yells of the fast-moving officers as they entered followed swiftly on. Skeeter could hear the challenges – ‘Armed Police’ followed by the announcements, ‘Clear’ – as each room was searched. The process was rapid and efficient. April and Skeeter moved quickly once the building was secured and they had received clearance. There was no sign of either Frank Lloyd nor Carlos. However, they located his mother and her partner in one room. Understandably, both looked terrified. She was being comforted, and she wept constantly. The paramedics were brought in attendance.

‘No person left the garden or the area. As I can see from the images and the thermal registers, we now have quite an audience.’ Steve continued to follow commands from the operations’ director until satisfied the target was not present. The images would continue to be relayed after all officers left the immediate vicinity. A final low-level check would be completed before the drone was returned to the parking area. It would, however, remain on standby.

April, accompanied by DI Peter Jones, needed to extract as much information as possible from the distraught couple in the quickest of times. Skeeter just needed to take a look around, being conscious not to disturb too much. After what had just taken place her input on the scene was likely to be minimal. Within fifteen minutes CSI would be on site for DNA sampling to search for a connection with the previous sites.

Chapter 30

‘Thank you, Mr Rodgers. I’ve brought this to show you. It’s evidence to prove to you what I’m telling you is the truth. Firstly, I want to show you the last page.’

He turned to the relevant page before offering it to Rodgers. He could see the grainy photograph of his partner, Debbie Sutch. He returned his gaze immediately.

‘If you’ve fucking harmed her, I swear …’

Frank held up his hand whilst shaking his head. ‘You see, we two are no different. You would seek retribution just as I’ve done. Read it.’

‘“Goddess – Guardian angels live forever.”’

‘You’re a lucky man. Debbie is a kind, considerate woman. She was the only one that night to demonstrate any degree of human kindness. I would never harm one hair on her head. She cared about Carla too even though she knew about your ongoing relationship. She loves you. She keeps you from self-destruction. I think it was that factor that triggered all of this, flicked the switch somewhere inside my head. I don’t know why, I don’t.’

Rodgers let his finger run across the image of her face.

‘Now turn the other pages. Some are not too pretty.’

Frank studied every expression on his face, particularly when Rodgers stopped at his own image. He noticed he did not linger but turned and looked at the other photographs and read the comments. There was clear revulsion as he stared at them.

‘You’re one sick, fucking bastard. You want to kill me?’

‘Revenge is to be human. Revenge is said to be sweet. You know that, as you’ve practised it more than most. If I hurt Debbie, then what?’ He did not give him time to answer. ‘We waste time when you could be saving the life of an innocent man.’ He leaned forward and turned the pages until Carlos’s image stared back at Rodgers. ‘You could save this man. You know him as Carlos. He worked with Carla. He knew Debbie too.’

Rodgers tossed the book onto the coffee table placed between them. ‘What exactly do you fucking want? The police warned us to be careful as the killer would be unpredictable. We might be targeted next. They even offered protection. Debbie has it or so I believe.’

‘God will protect her. She’s safe.’ Frank looked straight into his eyes. ‘I want you to take his place. Take the place of Carlos.’

A long pause ensued.

‘Are you brave enough to do that? Are bullies ever brave, Mr Rodgers? If not, I will leave here and simply vanish. No one will find him. They might find me but not for some time.’ Standing, he moved towards the door. ‘What’s it to be?’

‘How far are we travelling?’

‘Fifteen minutes from here, but you need to change first.’

Looking at his feet, Rodgers moved swiftly around the table. ‘You’ll not leave here, you snivelling little gobshite, unless it’s in a fucking box.’

As he spoke his arms grabbed Frank’s clothing and drew him rapidly forward. Rodgers managed to connect his forehead directly onto Frank’s nose and upper lip as his head