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

was whipped forward. The target point exploded in a mass of blood, snot and teeth. They broke through the top lip, crumbled parts of which slid down his chin showing white in a mass of pinkish froth. Pushing Frank’s lolling head away, he whipped it back again. His aim was now more accurate and the second head butt connected to the right eyebrow, splitting the flesh into a gaping, mouth-like wound. He had not finished. He threw him away yet again, only this time to gain the vital leverage that would allow his fists to pound the side of his head. The crunching thuds rained onto the collapsing man’s face. Even when on the ground Rodgers knelt and continued his onslaught. Both fists now pummelled the small defenceless target. His animalistic grunts accompanied each blow, his hands themselves were bloodied and raw.

A slow burble broke from Frank’s lips bringing with it blood red bubbles and pieces of broken tooth. His face had swollen rapidly and both eyes were almost invisible through the growing contusions and surface blood mass. The smashed nose no longer permitted the passage of air. He was slowly choking on his own blood. The incongruous thing was, a beatific smile appeared on Frank Lloyd’s lips. Rodgers struck him again before he rolled onto his back, his dressing gown open and spattered. To an observer they were like two broken marionettes. Getting to his feet he stared down at the man. Fear flushed through his system as the adrenalin began to dissipate. Pulling him sideways he cleared his mouth before picking up his phone and dialling 999.

Chapter 31

April and Skeeter were about to leave the Mobile Control Unit when the call came through.

‘Ma’am, he’s at Rodger’s apartment. He’s called for immediate emergency medical support. It’s on its way. The address …’

Running to the car April tagged the postcode into the sat nav and the tyres protested as the car pulled away. The screen showed eight minutes as their ETA. The Saturday traffic was busy, but Skeeter forced the car through gaps and red lights. The first respond paramedic vehicle was parked outside, the strobes still blinking blue as they arrived. Another police vehicle pulled in behind.

The paramedic was performing CPR as they burst through the door. Rodgers was on the chair his dressing gown wrapped tightly around him. He seemed to be rocking slightly in concert with his breathing.

The sound of another siren became audible. The paramedic looked at Skeeter. ‘Can you take over?’

Skeeter immediately knelt opposite and continued as the medic shot through the door and down the steps. The supplementary oxygen tube inserted into his broken mouth to ensure a clear airway allowed her to concentrate on the chest compressions. April touched Rodgers who still seemed dazed.

‘Let’s go into another room and you can tell me what happened.’

Rodgers stood and collected the book from the coffee table before moving through to the kitchen.

On their return, the Incident Room was alive. One of the liaison officers was holding Rodgers in an Interview Room. April held the book wrapped in a clear forensic bag along with the contents retrieved from Frank Lloyd’s pockets before he was placed in the ambulance. She had photographed the pages and transferred the images to the computer system.

‘We’ll hang onto these keys until we find Carlos,’ April instructed the detectives.

Mason and the team observed as she went through the images and played the audio recording of Rodgers’ account of the incident she had made on her phone.

‘Vendetta, revenge. What’s Frank Lloyd Millington’s condition?’

An officer at the other end of the room pulled a face before announcing he was critical. He had been placed in an induced coma and been ventilated. He had severe head trauma and the diagnosis was that he was unlikely to survive beyond the day.

‘So, where the bloody hell is Carlos?’ Mason muttered as if thinking out loud.

‘The only link we now have are these keys and his mother and her partner,’ April responded, pointing to the bag on the table.

‘And Gaskell, the father?’ Mason mumbled as the thought came to him. ‘Skeeter and Tony interrogate the father, April and Lucy, the mother, and Fred and Kasum, the partner. We need a location and we need it yesterday. Rodgers was convinced Carlos was still alive and somewhere within fifteen minutes of his apartment. He didn’t arrive by car unless he took a taxi. Get onto that! I want an answer within the half hour.’ He pointed to one of the officers. ‘We’ll calibrate travel on foot and by car for fifteen minutes from the flat. As soon as you have anything, call it in. Go! ’

Skeeter and Tony sat opposite Gaskell. They informed him that Frank Lloyd had been apprehended but could not speak owing to his condition. There was little sign of any distress. They explained their urgency in locating a kidnapped male.

‘Does he own any property? A garage, lock-up that would be hidden from view and large enough to store a car?’ Skeeter leaned over the table as she asked.

‘I don’t know him. I told you that.’

‘Your father, the builder, what about him?’

‘He no longer builds, he’s well into his seventies. He saw Frank, I believe, fairly regularly when he was growing up. He has what used to be a carriage house to the back of his place. Converted into garages and a store.’ Gaskell realised what he was saying. ‘He was going to convert them into a house but planning permission …’

Skeeter immediately stood and leaned forward interrupting him mid flow. ‘Address?’ It was a demand and he knew it.

She scribbled it down and ran to the Incident Room. Mason watched her enter.

‘It’s as good a place as any. We can check this and leave the others just in case it’s a false hope.’

‘Take the keys and keep me informed all the way. We’ll do the same, Wicca, if we get anything from the others.’

Chapter 32

The house, again Victorian, had been modernised. The