Undue Influence by Priscilla Masters

Author:Priscilla Masters [Masters, Priscilla]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Severn House
Published: 2022-09-14T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-TWO

10.20 p.m.

It was almost closing time when I walked the short distance to the canal lock. Ryan was waiting for me, stepping out of the shadows. He had a hoodie on and gripped my elbow, guiding me towards a disused warehouse that had once unloaded pottery on to narrow boats heading for London down the Trent and Mersey canal but had been derelict for years and years.

Even in the gloom I realized Ryan was pale and nervy with a distinct tremor. But it was I who opened the conversation. ‘You already knew?’

He nodded.

‘Already?’

He gave a cynical bark then looked back over his shoulder as though he didn’t want anyone to see or hear. ‘This is a small town,’ he said. ‘Word rips around the place. I know her son has come up from London and is raisin’ hell.’

I nodded. That too.

‘But what else do you know?’

‘You first.’ Ryan was no fool. ‘What have the police found out?’

‘The number plates on the van are false.’

Ryan nodded. ‘No surprise there then.’

‘No. What have you found out about him?’

He looked even more frightened and jerked away from me. ‘I followed him,’ he said, glances still darting around, along the shiny strip of canal, up at the tall walls of the warehouse with its windows all smashed in looking sad and neglected. Finally he looked towards the humpbacked bridge, across the bridge, towards the lights of the town.

‘You followed him? How? When?’

‘In the week.’ He was vague and looked proud of himself. ‘I sort of borrowed a scooter.’

I made no comment at that, particularly as I’d sensed a whiff of pride at his audacity. But I was tempted to prompt him.

‘Up near Kidsgrove there’s a travellin’ community.’

‘Travellers?’ I’d thought Ben Evans was rough, but I hadn’t marked him out as a traveller.

Ryan looked worried and quickly backtracked. ‘Maybe he isn’t one of them,’ he protested. ‘But he has some friends who are.’

I digested that but it didn’t make me feel any better. ‘Did you see him today?’

He looked regretful at missing a trick. ‘No,’ he said. ‘I was at the fair. All day.’

I could translate that into Ryan Wood-speak. Hoping to cadge some money. Failing that, pinch some and help myself to free food.

He sighed. ‘I wish I had. I might have been able to help. Maybe stop him takin’ her.’ He looked at me. ‘Where do you think he’s took her?’

‘Who knows? I wish I did.’

I tried another angle – without much hope. ‘You didn’t see her round the town today?’ He shook his head quickly.

And then I tried the police’s favourite question. ‘So when did you last see her?’

‘Two, three days ago.’

‘Where?’

‘Sittin’ in her chair, like always. I peeped in through the window and there she was.’

I made my decision. ‘We need to tell the police about the traveller connection.’

Predictably that raised alarm in Ryan’s face. ‘But what about the—?’

‘Scooter?’

His face twisted.

‘They won’t be interested in how you got there.’

‘Police is interested in anythin’ they can get a conviction on.’

‘Well, don’t tell them about it then.

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