Dead Guilty by Helen H. Durrant

Author:Helen H. Durrant [Durrant, Helen H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books crime, thrillers, and mystery
Published: 2019-05-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

Calladine gathered the team together in the incident room. “We’ve got two murders, linked we think by the fact that the killer used the same knife. But I’m at a loss to see what Sean Barber and Frankie Halliwell had in common. All we have is a nickname of the villain, ‘Street,’ but we’ve no idea who he is. None of the youngsters we’ve spoken to will tell us anything about him.” Casting a wary eye towards the corridor to make sure Birch was nowhere in sight, he looked round the room. “Theories anyone?”

“Frankie and Sean could have upset the same dealer?” Alice postulated. “Drugs appear to be behind what’s going on here.”

“Not with the Alder case, it isn’t,” Calladine said. “And we don’t have confirmation yet if Frankie was a user or not. Also, I’ve just been told by Dr Barrington that Frankie was pregnant. I’m hoping DNA on the foetus will give us the identity of the father.”

“You don’t think the father was Barber then?” Rocco asked.

“I’ve no idea. My instinct tells me no. But we need to know who Frankie’s friends were, who she knocked around with.”

“She was in love with Billy Alder, sir,” Alice reminded him. “He led her on as a cover for his relationship with Annie. I’d say he was the prime suspect for father of the child.”

Ruth inclined her head. “Could Billy have killed Sean and Frankie? Sean because of what he and the other kids were up to, and Frankie because she threatened his plans.”

Alice nodded in agreement. “Frankie had texted Annie and threatened to tell Richard what was going on. Perhaps Billy silenced her?”

“It is possible that Billy had something to do with Frankie’s murder, but he has no link to Sean that I’m aware of,” Calladine told them. “How are we doing with finding out who ‘Street’ is?”

“No one will say a word,” Rocco said. “Which is odd. Kids aren’t usually so loyal.”

Calladine thought for a moment. “Unless they are being threatened.” There was a short pause while they mulled this over, then he caught Ruth’s eye. “Or they don’t know,” he said, realising that she was thinking along the same lines as him.

“Dean Laycock is still in the cells,” Ruth reminded him. “Let’s find out if he’s ever met ‘Street’ face to face.”

“If he hasn’t, then possibly none of them have. ‘Street’ could be anyone, not necessarily someone their own age.”

Calladine got to his feet. “Ruth, you and Rocco speak to Laycock again. I’m going to have a word with Sean’s mother, see if she can help with any of this.”

* * *

Calladine decided to walk the short distance to Kat Barber’s house. It was easier than struggling to find somewhere to park when he got there. She was still off work organising Sean’s funeral, which was to be held at the end of the week.

“People have been very kind,” she said. “The neighbours have organised a wake at the Wheatsheaf. One thing less to think about.”

“Kat, do you know who Sean’s friends were?”

She sighed heavily.

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