02 Condemned by R. C. Bridgestock

Author:R. C. Bridgestock [Bridgestock, R. C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Crime, Mystery, &, Detective, General, Police, Procedural, Women, Sleuths, Small, Town, Rural, Thrillers, Suspense
Publisher: Canelo
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

‘Those two might have more service in than you and me, but God they need a rocket up their arse,’ Charley said to Mike about Ben and Terry, as she watched them leave the CID office in a sloth-like fashion. The SIO stood in the CID office with her hand on the back of Ricky-Lee’s chair.

‘You can’t deny they managed to lift a few good collars in their day,’ said Mike. ‘They just need a bit of motivation and strong leadership.’

‘Talking of which, where is he now?’ Charley said.

Mike looked shifty. ‘Ricky-Lee?’

Charley viewed Mike through suspicious eyes. ‘I know that look, DS Blake. You can’t pull the wool over my eyes.’ She raised an eyebrow at his silence, and cocked her head. ‘Well?’

Mike blushed, and as he did so he gave a little grimace. ‘He’s in the building somewhere. Or at least he was ten minutes ago,’ he said.

Charley eyes were wide. ‘How’d you know that?’

‘I saw him through the window of your office when he came in. When he clocked Ben and Terry with us, he was out of the door like a cat on hot bricks.’

‘You think there is still something going on there?’

Mike shrugged his shoulders. ‘He promised me he’d stopped gambling.’

‘Me too. You believe him?’

Again, Mike shrugged his shoulders.

‘Well, I don’t!’ Charley scowled. ‘You know something, don’t you? What is it that you’re not telling me?’

Mike put his hands up. ‘I know nothing!’ he said in a bad French accent.

An involuntary groan escaped Charley’s lips. ‘Hmm, why don’t I believe you?’ Raising her eyes to the ceiling, she shooed him away with the wave of her hand. ‘Go have a word with the surveillance team, and see what their diary is like for the next month or so, just in case we get a result on the whereabouts of the Dixons.’

Head down, Mike silently turned on his heels.

‘Oh, and find knob-head will you, and let him know they’re gone, and that I want to see him, pronto!’

At that very moment, Annie staggered into the CID office carrying a large cardboard box. Wilkie followed behind and held the door open for Mike. They nodded amiably to each other.

‘You haven’t seen Ricky-Lee on your travels, have you?’ Mike said.

Wilkie shook his head. The SIO thought she saw a look of concern on his face before he turned, and spoke to Mike in a hushed tone.

Charley rushed to help Annie to put the heavy container down on the nearest surface to the door. Out of breath from exertion, once the box was safe, Annie linked her fingers at the end of stretched arms and cracked the bones in her hand to relieve the pain. Her face was illuminated with enthusiasm. ‘Lily insisted we take them,’ said Annie apologetically.

Wilkie’s face showed he was feeling cynical. ‘I am in no doubt that that lot of old paperwork will be about as useful as a glass hammer!’

‘You don’t know that,’ said Annie, crossly, pulling her fingers so they clicked, one at a time.

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