FIRE ON THE FENS a gripping crime thriller filled with stunning twists (DI Nikki Galena Series Book 9) by JOY ELLIS

Author:JOY ELLIS [ELLIS, JOY]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books Mystery, Crime Thriller, Suspense Fiction
Published: 2018-05-28T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

‘Outskirts of Frampton Village! Nuthatch Lane. An old farmhouse — Rycroft Farm!’ Nikki called across the CID room to Joseph.

Nikki knew John Carson would be waiting for them, and when they arrived, she wasn’t disappointed. ‘You were right,’ she said without preamble. ‘He struck again.’

If possible, John looked even worse than he had the day before. ‘I knew it, but I hoped I would be wrong. And this fire was in a very different league to the others.’

Nikki watched from the safety of the lane as three fire appliances tackled the blaze. There would be little left of Rycroft Farm when the flames had finally been doused.

John sighed. ‘This time he secured the old building tighter than a duck’s backside. The occupant, one Mr Michael Porter, didn’t stand a cat in hell’s chance of escaping. Windows nailed or screwed shut, doors locked and barricaded. No way out, I’m afraid.’

‘Why didn’t the guy notice?’ asked Joseph incredulously.

‘Sad case. Bit of a recluse. Lost his parents, then his siblings went, and he was left to look after the place. He developed a form of depression, and lost interest in the family home. Everything else, for that matter.’

‘How do you know all this, John?’ asked Nikki.

‘One of the fire crew used to drink with him sometimes, down at the Nightingale Watch. Got to know him pretty well. He felt sorry for the bloke. Josh, the fireman, reckons he wouldn’t have noticed if someone had draped multicoloured bunting all over the house. And the killer did a neat job, or so they think from what’s left of the window frames.’

‘And the occupant?’ Nikki really didn’t want to know, but had to ask.

‘There are some very odd reports coming in, so I think maybe we should wait for the dust to settle, in case I feed you misinformation.’

‘He’s dead, of course?’ Joseph said.

‘Yes, I’m afraid so, but I’m told he’s not as badly burnt as the other victims.’

Nikki heaved a sigh of relief. The whiteboard in the CID room was making her feel queasy every time she looked at it. ‘Come on, John, what are these odd reports? We won’t hold you to them.’

‘Michael Porter made a 999 call. I don’t know exactly what was said, but I’m told you need to hear the recording.’ He paused. ‘They say he intimated that the killer contacted him, just before the house went up. That’s why you need to hear it for yourselves.’

Joseph stared up at the skeletal remains of the old farmhouse. ‘Phew! This was some blaze, wasn’t it?’

‘He set it in at least three different places. And he started the fire at the far end of the house at the farthest point from the kitchen, where Michael apparently spent most of his time. It would have been well underway before Michael had a clue as to what was going on. Then I should think he went to investigate, and our killer took the key from the inside of the back door, locked it from the outside and rolled a heavy stone planter in front of it to barricade it further.

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