SILENT CRIMES a British crime mystery full of twists by MICHAEL HAMBLING

Author:MICHAEL HAMBLING [HAMBLING, MICHAEL]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books Mystery, Crime Thriller, Suspense Fiction
Published: 2024-10-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21: Some Cards and a Few Quid

Monday afternoon

Barry emailed Sophie to give her a quick rundown on what he’d discovered. Then he set to work in the Taunton incident room, trying to trace the two new names, Andrew Atkins and Linda Brooker. Babs had said she thought Linda was living in Taunton. Were she and Andrew still together? Why hadn’t Andrew stayed in contact with his mother, particularly after the death of his father? This whole investigation was populated with people who behaved in unpredictable ways. Maybe that was only to be expected with people who had once lived in a commune. Wasn’t the rejection of an orthodox lifestyle one of the core characteristics of such a group?

Atkins was proving to be very elusive. Just like Paul Prentice, he didn’t appear in any local records. Either, like the dead tramp, he’d dropped off the radar completely or he’d moved away from Somerset and was keeping a deliberately low profile. Linda Brooker did turn up, however — at least Barry hoped it was her. A Linda Brooker of the right kind of age did indeed live in Taunton. Barry headed off to find her.

Montgomery Flats was a small block situated in a former council estate. Barry locked his car and strolled over to the main entrance, where he found the front door wedged open with a brick, despite a notice warning the occupants to keep it locked for security reasons. He went in and made his way up to flat twenty-two on the third floor of the four-storey block. The door was opened by a dark-haired woman wearing patterned leggings and a T-shirt. She was barefoot, flushed and out of breath.

‘Sorry,’ she gasped. ‘I’ve just come in from a run. It’s my day off today.’ Barry spotted the slight gap between her two front teeth.

‘I’m impressed,’ he replied, showing his warrant card. ‘It’s good to see someone doing their best to keep fit. I’m DI Barry Marsh from Dorset police. I’m looking for a Linda Brooker who lived on the Quantocks for a short while some years ago. Is that you?’

She gave a cautious nod.

‘It’s possible that you may be able to help us with an investigation. Can I come in for a couple of minutes?’

‘I suppose so. I was about to have a quick shower and a cup of tea, but that can wait, I guess. I’ll need to go out in about an hour, to pick up my son from school. What did you want exactly?’

Barry followed her into a neat living room whose windows looked out towards the town centre.

‘I understand you lived at Heathfield Farm for a while about twelve years ago. Is that right?’

She turned away. ‘I think I’ll put the kettle on. Do you want a cup of tea?’

‘Fine. Thanks.’

She went into the kitchen, leaving Barry to have a quick look around the lounge. He saw a couple of framed photos, both of a young boy. Barry guessed they were taken about a year apart.

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