Restless Dead (Harry Grimm Book 5) by David Gatward (english reading book TXT) 📗

‘Then I’ll stay here and wait for you.’

‘You don’t have to, sir,’ Grimm said. ‘Can you not just tell me what this is about now?’

‘Well, it’s probably best that we talk face-to-face and in private,’ Swift said. ‘That is why I’ve driven over here in the first place, after all.’

‘I’ll be as quick as I can,’ Harry said.

‘I’m very sure that you will,’ Swift replied and hung up.

Harry made it back over to Matt just in time for the rain to hit, the door to swing open, and in its place, Dan standing and staring at them.

‘Quick, get yourselves inside,’ Dan said, as the rain fell against the side of the house, the huge drops thundering down to kick up crowns of dirt.

Harry followed Matt into the house and Dan closed the door behind them.

‘That’s come in pretty suddenly,’ Dan said. ‘Didn’t think it was even forecast till later. But that’s the dales for you, right? The only consistent thing about the weather is that it’s inconsistent!’

Dan laughed then and Harry wasn’t really sure what to do with his face, so he just left it as it was, not that it really helped.

‘So, how can I help?’ Dan asked. ‘Pat’s just nipped round to check up on Ruth. She was very upset yesterday. But everyone is, aren’t they? I think everything just came crashing down on her, you know? Pat’s worried it’s a nervous breakdown. And she told us about Anthony as well, how he’s been skipping school? Poor lad. He’s gone today, though, so that’s good, isn’t it?’

‘We’d like you to accompany us to the station,’ Harry said, if only to stop the man from rambling on anymore, though referring to the rooms they used at the community centre in Hawes as a station was pushing it a bit, he thought.

‘What, all of us?’ Dan asked. ‘I’ll go and get Pat and Ruth.’

As Dan made to move, Harry held up a hand to stop him.

‘No, just you, if you wouldn’t mind?’ he said.

Dan stopped dead.

‘I’m sorry, what?’

‘Just need to ask you a few more questions,’ Matt said. ‘So, if you could come with us now, it would be very much appreciated.’

Listening to Matt, it struck Harry then, just how strangely polite the police often were when dealing with crime of almost any kind. He’d lost count of the number of people he’d arrested more through polite discourse than persuasive action. Though, on a lot of those occasions he was sure that he would have felt considerably better using actions rather than words.

‘Are you arresting me?’ Dan asked. ‘I thought I’d answered all your questions! What’s this about? I don’t understand!’

‘It’ll be easier for us to explain things over in Hawes,’ Harry said.

‘Why?’ Dan asked. ‘Why do we have to go there? You’re arresting me, aren’t you?’

‘Please, Mr Hurst,’ Matt said. ‘It really is best for everyone if you just come along with us now.’

Dan started to back away.

‘Mr Hurst,’ Harry said. ‘Dan . . . Please don’t make this difficult.’

‘I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what this is about.’

‘There’s really no need for this,’ Harry said.

‘You’re absolutely right, there isn’t!’ Dan replied, taking another step away from Harry and Matt. ‘I’ve done nothing wrong!’

‘If that’s the case, then this really won’t take long at all,’ Matt said. ‘Now, come on, Mr Hurst. No more of this nonsense.’

For a moment, Dan stared at Harry and Matt, and Harry was almost hopeful that they were going to get him into the car with no more bother. Then the man spun on his heels and bolted.

‘Bollocks!’ Harry shouted and with Matt on his heels, chased after Dan down the hallway, only to see the man slip on the floor as a rug went from under him and sent him flying through a door with a painful yell.

Harry leapt after him only to land in the space where Dan had been and see the door slam shut, cracking him hard on the head.

Harry roared in pain as Matt reached down and pulled him to his feet.

‘You okay, Boss?’ Matt asked.

‘No, I’m bloody well not!’ Harry hissed through gritted teeth, rubbing his head.

‘That looked sore.’

‘Felt it, too,’ Harry said. ‘And it looks like we’ll be changing our plan and arresting him after all,’ he added. ‘For assaulting a police officer!’

Matt thumped his hand against the door.

‘Mr Hurst? You need to stop this now. Just open this door and come with us back to Hawes. You don’t want to make it any worse for yourself.’

From the other side of the door, Harry heard furniture being dragged across the floor. He pushed against the door and felt it give a little everywhere other than right at the top.

‘Nowt like running away to make the police suspicious,’ Matt said.

Harry looked up at the top of the door. ‘Must be a latch or a bolt up there.’

‘Really?’ Matt said. ‘Why?’

‘Old house,’ Harry said. ‘Rooms change use over the years. Maybe it was a private study at some point.’

‘Never thought of that,’ Matt said.

‘Only just thought of it myself.’ Harry shrugged and pushed against the door again.

‘You thinking what I think you’re thinking?’ Matt asked.

‘We need to get in there now,’ Harry said. ‘He can’t actually go anywhere, because the only way out other than this door are the windows out to the front, but I don’t want him doing himself a mischief. He’s in a panic and the last thing we need right now is our key suspect hurting himself.’

Matt leaned into the door. ‘A good shove, then?’

Harry leaned in next to the detective sergeant. ‘After three?’

When Harry shouted, ‘Now!’ both men heaved against the door. Harry felt enough resistance to make him think that the door was going to hold, only to have it then give way, the latch above them snapping in half, sending them both sprawling into the lounge. And there, standing on the other side of the room, panic scratched into his face, was Dan, armed with a bottle of