The Razor Gang Murder : A DC Ruth Hunter Murder File Book 2 by Simon McCleave

Author:Simon McCleave [McCleave, Simon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: detective, Crime
Publisher: Stamford Publishing
Published: 2021-04-14T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 19

Gaughran and Hassan were back at Eddie Bannerman’s home to find out why he had lied to them about doing National Service at the time of Alfie Wise’s disappearance, and probably his murder.

The front door opened slowly. Bannerman squinted out at them.

Gaughran gave him a sarcastic grin. ‘Have you missed us, Eddie?’

‘Jesus! What do you want?’ he groaned.

‘Just a couple of things we’d like you to clear up for us. Can we come in?’ Hassan said, indicating for him to open the door fully.

Bannerman shook his head. ‘Do I have a choice?’

Gaughran moved towards the door. ‘Not really.’

They followed Bannerman inside. The house was dark and smelled of dog food and cigarette smoke.

He led them into a small living room, and gestured for them to sit on a shabby sofa. There had been some attempt to keep the room tidy, but it was cluttered with old newspapers and books.

‘What’s this about? I told you everything I know about Alfie Wise,’ Bannerman said as he reached for his cigarettes.

Hassan took out his notepad and pen. ‘Slight problem with your dates, Eddie.’ Bannerman put a cigarette into his mouth and let it hang from his lips. ‘What dates?’

‘Basic training for your National Service. You told us you did it in November 1956. At the time of Alfie Wise’s disappearance?’ Hassan said, reading from his notes.

‘Yeah. That’s right.’ Bannerman lit his cigarette and avoided any eye contact.

Bloody hell. He’s not a good liar, Gaughran thought.

Hassan tapped his notebook. ‘Problem is that according to the British Army Service Records, you and Terry Droy both did your basic training down in Kent in April 1957.’

Bannerman shook his head. ‘No, that can’t be right.’

Gaughran gave him a scathing look. Bannerman was wasting their time. ‘Don’t lie to us, Eddie. We know you lied to us. Terry told us this morning.’

‘So, what are you doing wasting my bloody time with all the questions?’ Bannerman said angrily.

‘If you weren’t doing National Service, where were you when Alfie Wise went missing in November 1956?’ Gaughran growled.

‘I don’t know. How am I meant to remember what I was doing forty years ago?

Hassan rolled his eyes. ‘Alfie Wise murdered your mate, Frank. If someone told you Alfie had gone missing, you would remember it.’

Bannerman took a long drag on his cigarette. ‘I told you what happened. Me and Terry were warned to stay away from Alfie by your lot. When someone told me he’d been missing for over a week, I just assumed the obvious.’

‘Which was what?’ Gaughran asked.

‘That the coppers had bumped him off and buried him somewhere. I wanted nothing to do with it. In those days, if you didn’t do what coppers told you to do, you could be fitted up and spend the rest of your life in the nick.’

Gaughran fixed him with a stare for a few seconds. ‘Terry says that a few months after Frank’s death, he saw you and Trevor Walsh in a car together?’

Bannerman shifted uncomfortably in his seat and rubbed his nose.

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