Murder Unsolved (Detective Inspector Skelgill Investigates Book 18) by Bruce Beckham

Author:Bruce Beckham [Beckham, Bruce]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lucius
Published: 2022-01-07T16:00:00+00:00

12. DOUGLAS

Workington, 11.30 p.m., Wednesday, December 31st

‘Is that a wetsuit you’re wearing, Guv?’

‘Don’t fret, lass – you’ll be keeping your feet dry. Just switch off your interior light before you open the door.’

DS Jones, still perplexed, looks up out of the lowered window of her car. Skelgill is a dark shadow against the night sky, a black patch that interrupts the Milky Way. As ordered, she has driven the last mile along the coastal lane to their rendezvous without headlights.

‘What exactly are we doing?’

Skelgill raises a finger to his lips. It is a sign that suggests all will become clear.

‘Did you find everything?’

‘Yes – it was where you said it would be. It’s all in the back.’

‘Reet, let’s get it shifted.’

Presently, an even more bemused DS Jones finds herself standing alone beside the lagoon – indeed, bemused may be an understatement; perhaps incredulous would be more accurate. Skelgill, to her astonishment, has waded into the water and swum into the darkness.

But, it is Skelgill – should anything surprise her?

She has a powerful torch, and has to resist using it. She is under strict orders not to break their cover. It is freezing cold – inquisitively, she stoops to test the saltwater, and it is warm to the touch of her fingertips. Around her on the shingle is an assortment of objects, some lugged from Skelgill’s car, others from her own, articles that upon directions supplied in Skelgill’s late evening phone call, she has collected from his garage en route. Perhaps most notable – and puzzling at the time – are two large jerrycans which she has filled with diesel, and a hessian tool bag containing among other things a pair of heavy-duty bolt-croppers, a hacksaw and a hefty crowbar – it is the sort of thing that convicts must dream of, falling from the heavens into their prison compound. During her journey she had tried to piece together these clues in an attempt to fathom their purpose. Now something begins to take shape – for out of the silent darkness comes the sudden splutter of an engine. A boat!

Choked and stuttering at first, after a couple attempts at starting, the engine note settles into a regular put-put. Anxiously, DS Jones casts about. She grasps well enough that Skelgill does not want to reveal their presence; light is far reaching, but sound reaches those who are not looking. Perhaps that is why the throttle is being held back to a minimum.

In about a minute the prow of the craft becomes visible – moving very slowly, it noses up against what she realises is a dilapidated landing stage. It stops roughly halfway along – perhaps as close to the shore as Skelgill dare approach. Then comes his hissed instruction.

‘I’ll hold her here – bring the gear. Don’t overload yourself. Watch your footing.’

DS Jones’s head is full to bursting with questions, but she understands these will be answered the sooner she plays her part. The fuel is the heaviest – the jerrycans each

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.