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

outside red brick had in the past been rendered and painted white. A sturdy pair of iron gates opened onto the driveway to the right of the property where an old Jaguar was parked. Tony walked to the front door and rang the bell. Skeeter stood back. After a few moments an elderly man appeared and looked through the side window before coming to the door.

Tony had his ID ready. ‘Mr Gaskell?’

‘It is. I’ll need glasses if you want me to read that. What is it?’

Tony looked down and noticed the man’s slippers were on the wrong feet. ‘Police officers, sir. DC Price and that’s DS Warlock.’

He leaned out and looked across at Skeeter. ‘Police you say? What do you want?’

‘We’ve been speaking to your son, Craufurd and he informs us you have some garages at the back. We’d like you to check them for us now as a matter of great urgency.’

‘Urgency, why, what?’

‘I don’t have time to explain.’

Gaskell went inside briefly and came out with a collection of keys. ‘This way.’

They followed past the side of the house. Two further cars were covered with tarpaulins and the garden stretched some way to the side of the drive. The red-bricked wall backed onto the garden with narrow windows set high in two places. Gaskell went to the side door. ‘Garages open onto a small yard and then the back lane.’ Fumbling with the keys he searched for the correct one. ‘Bloody thing’s not here!’

‘When was Frank, your grandson last here, Mr Gaskell?’ asked Tony.

‘A few weeks ago. Grand lad.’

Skeeter brought out the keys retrieved from Frank and approached the door. Checking the type of lock, she matched it with the keys. The one she selected went straight in. Turning it, she lowered the handle.

‘How the hell did you do that?’ Gaskell tried to look at the key in the lock.

Skeeter entered. The garage was gloomy. Little light seemed to penetrate the small wired opaque glass. She noticed the car first and pointed, directing Tony’s attention. The smell was particularly pungent. Before her was Carlos. It was apparent that he had soiled himself. His head turned to look in her direction, his eyes frightened. She observed the red mark of the tick on his forehead as she moved quickly across. The stench was overpowering. To her right was a bench. Curved, discarded blades littered the surface. Part of a broom handle was held in the vertical from the vice. Skeeter moved further into the garage and saw the remnants of the scarecrow.

‘Bloody hell! Tony, call it in. We’ve found him. We need Forensics sharpish. Call an ambulance too.’

Gaskell said nothing as he looked at the stranger strapped to the chair. ‘That’s not Frank!’

Tony moved in and took Gaskell by the arm. ‘You need to go back indoors. We’ll see you when this is sorted.’

Chapter 33

Three days later

The Incident Room was being cleared as the team moved in. April and Mason were already there. Frank Lloyd Gaskell had passed away the day after the assault and Rodgers had been given bail having a manslaughter charge hanging over him.

April wrapped up the case. ‘If the charge sticks then Frank Lloyd Gaskell will have got his wish, his plan, which I believe he had from the start. It will have been successful – “Just do it!” He certainly did. Vengeance can be cruel, but to turn it round so the main perpetrator ends up in prison is clearly the sign of somebody deranged.’ She surveyed the room and found the two for whom she searched. ‘Tony and Fred, you had a wager at the beginning of this case and neither of you won. That money can go to charity.’

Both men looked at each other, smiled and nodded their agreement.

‘The DNA came through and it’s been confirmed that Frank was not Craufurd’s son, so maybe he made the right call after all. The evidence found in his apartment will be reviewed, but it’s felt as the woman is dead there will be little chance of securing a prosecution for rape. There might well be repercussions though for the hidden camera footage found, maybe even a prison sentence. I find secreting a hidden camera in the apartment’s bedroom quite disgusting. However, that will be up to Smith if he wants to press further charges. It’s clear he’ll not be able to continue his role as landlord for some years to come, if at all. He’ll be placed on the sex offenders’ register.’

Carlos would continue to receive support but it was hoped that he would soon be back with Nicola in the salon. They had agreed to leave the mural in place for the time being. Carla would always be the one person who had brought him back from the brink no matter what others thought of her way of life. More than ever he contemplated the roles people played in the lives of others and how one action could change the path of others – some for the better, and some …

Three weeks later

Skeeter and Trevor watched as Steve guided the drone until it was out of sight. Trevor’s face was a picture of joy. Steve offered the occasional commentary. They had decided to fulfil their promise to Trevor and take him to experience a professional pilot at work. After an hour, Steve advised Trevor to look to gain a commercial drone licence and suggested he would offer all the help he could. It would give his life purpose and possibly a job doing something he truly loved.

It was at times like this Skeeter saw the difficult part of policing evaporate and her role within the community become more significant. Suddenly, it seemed so worthwhile and besides, she had decided she enjoyed Steve’s company and would like to find out more about him than his ability to fly a drone.

The Golden Gallopers

A visit to this wonderful piece of Victoriana inspired part of the story and although none of the characters rides the carousel,