The Missing And The Dead: A tense crime thriller with a shocking twist by J.F. Burgess

Author:J.F. Burgess [Burgess, J.F.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-02-06T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 37

Two patrol cars pulled up outside Johnny Wilder's property in Penkhull, for the second time in two days. Ever since they’d questioned him and taken a DNA sample, his vape store had been closed, and the ageing gangster had now disappeared.

Blake knew from experience Wilder would have to call back home at some point; unless he'd already packed his passport and a wad of cash in a bag and legged it from Stoke via some illicit route. Not that he'd get far with an APB on him. Whatever the reason, his absence was looking more like an admission of guilt as each day passed, so Blake had brought reinforcements in case the old gangster tried to relive his heyday.

An old blue Ford Escort was parked on the drive.

'He must be skint, Boss, driving that pile of scrap metal,' DS Murphy said, as the six officers prowled down the tarmaced driveway toward the front door.

Blake signalled to the PCs to head around the back in case Wilder decided to leg it. DS Murphy rattled the brass knocker and waited.' Nothing! Could have gone out?'

'Hm.’ Blake walked to the large bay window and peered through the glass. 'He's not in the living room. TV’s not on. Stay here, John, while I head around the back to see what's happening.’

As he approached the end of the garage wall, he heard a man shouting at his officers.

'Fuck off! Johnny's not here,' the man said, probably knowing full well where he was, but not intending to tell them.

'Put the chainsaw down, sir,' PC Davies said, edging toward Albert Carmelo who, judging by the branches laid out on the freshly cut lawn, was doing some amateur tree surgery.

Blake thought he recognised the man from somewhere, but couldn't recall where. 'Do as PC Davies says, sir. We don't want anyone getting hurt, do we?'

Without warning, Carmelo yanked the starter cord and the petrol chainsaw roared into life, a thin stream of smoke billowing from it.

Blake signalled to Davies to back off. This maniac could maim them all if they didn't disarm him.

With his officers at a safe distance, Blake moved slowly toward him.

'Turn the chainsaw off so we can talk. Where's Johnny Wilder, Mr...?' he shouted over the deafening sound.

Carmelo lowered the menacing device and hit the kill switch, 'He's not here. I've just come to trim the trees,’ he said, turning to look at the branches strewn around. ‘What do you want with him?'

'Please put the chainsaw down?' Blake asked again.

Surprisingly, the man did so without further menace.

'Back away from it.' Blake raised his hand in a non-threatening manner, 'We just want to talk with Johnny about his brother’s murder.'

'He's told you everything,' Carmelo said.

'And you would know because…?'

'We are mates.'

'Can you call him? It's a matter of urgency we speak with him.'

'Why would I do that?'

'Because I'm convinced we have Lenny's killer in custody, and I'm sure he'd want to know. Look,this is wasting valuable time. Can you get him on his mobile?’ Blake demanded.

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