Death's Cold Hand by J.E. Mayhew (good romance books to read txt) 📕

multiple incidents of assault and threatening behaviour. He did ten years for an armed robbery in the mid-Nineties. More recently, he’s been accused of hate crimes…”

“Who against?”

“Everyone and anyone, it seems. But recently, he’s had a go at some asylum seekers living in Birkenhead. He got off lightly – bound over. He can’t go near the flats where the refugees are housed.”

“Think we might need armed back-up, sir?” Kath Cryer said, rubbing her wrist. Kath had been caught in a shotgun blast over a year ago and was still recovering.

“I don’t think so. It’s his son we need to interview, after all,” Blake said. “If we’re heavy-handed, it might make things worse.”

Kinnear put his hand up. “I’ve managed to get a warrant to dig into the finances at Pro-Vet, sir. Ian Ollerthwaite will be reporting back as soon as he’s been through them.”

“Can’t wait,” Blake said.

“It’ll take a while. Ian said not to get too excited…”

“Those were his exact words?”

“More or less, sir,” Kinnear said, keeping a poker face.

“And Harley Vickers has turned up at Reception with his mum, sir,” Kath added.

“Okay. So we’ve picked up some leads. Kath, can you talk to Harley Vickers and his mum and try to get to the bottom of why he ran away in the first place?”

Kath gave Blake a nod and a smile. He could see the relief on her face. “Can do.”

“Right,” Blake muttered. “Let’s go and see if we can’t bring in some glad tidings for Superintendent Martin.”

Chapter 19

If Blake had been asked to plant a pin on a map of the world to show the most likely place for Lex Luthor to live, he would not have chosen Rock Ferry. Just North up the main road from Port Sunlight and not far from Blake’s own home in Rock Park, Rock Ferry was a mix of houses, some large and grand, others split into bedsits. Most were spacious semi-detached houses built sometime after the ferry itself and the, then-famous, bath house attracted the large Victorian Villas of Rock Park. As the boundary of the settlement drew nearer the Cammell Laird shipyards, the houses became smaller, humble terraces. When the wealthy merchants moved out of the area and the railways rendered the ferries uneconomic, Rock Ferry began to decline. Many of the houses decayed or were split into flats. Many were demolished for a by-pass that cut the place in half.

Lex Price lived in a road of large semi-detached houses near the station. They were old but Lex’s looked to be very well maintained with double glazing and modern cladding. A black Jaguar XE stood in the drive. Whatever Lex did for a living, he made plenty of money from it. Blake had brought along some uniformed officers but had requested that they wait at the end of the road rather than all piling in. With DC Alex Manikas and DS Vikki Chinn, he knocked on the shiny black front door.

Blake was a tall man with a good physique but Lex Price towered over him. Even taking the height of the doorstep, the man must have been almost seven feet tall. He filled the grey sweatshirt he wore, his neck wider than his completely bald head if that was possible.

“Yeah?” he said, looking from Blake to Alex, to Vikki and back to Blake. “What d’you want?”

Blake showed Price his warrant card. “DCI Blake, Mr Price. We need to talk to your son, Bobby Price, if possible.”

“Oh right,” Price said, folding his arms. “What’s that all about then?”

“I’m afraid we’re not at liberty to discuss the details of the investigation, sir, but Bobby may be a key witness,” Blake said. “We also need him to talk to us about assaulting a police officer outside Bebington High School yesterday…”

A look of annoyance spread across Lex price’s face and Blake braced himself. “Dozy, little prick,” he muttered. “Excuse me, one minute.” The door closed and the sound of Lex running up the stairs shook the windows.

Muffled shouts and barked commands came from inside then a thumping and banging noise. Vikki Chinn winced and looked to Blake who raised his eyebrows. Something smashed and another yell ripped through the air. Blake was about to force his way in when the thunder of someone falling down the stairs ended in a thud against the back of the door. A second later it opened.

Bobby Price dangled in Lex’s grasp, looking sorry for himself. He was a weedier, acne- ridden copy of his father only with a badly cut head of hair. “Sorry about that officer, he was a bit over eager to come and talk to you and fell down the stairs as he ran to the door. I’ll be his appropriate adult. Can we follow you in our car?”

*****

Back at the station, Harley Vickers sat in the interview room staring at the tabletop while his mum scowled at him. Kath Cryer sat opposite them, wondering how best to start.

Mrs Vickers broke Kath’s train of thought. “He came back this morning,” she said, suddenly. “Thought I was out and was going to bunk off school for the day. Well, he didn’t know I had a day off, did you?” she gave her son a poke. “I brought him in straight away.”

“Harley, my name’s Detective Inspector Kath Cryer. I wonder if I could ask you a few questions…”

“No comment,” Harley said.

“Sorry, Harley, you aren’t under caution or anything. It’s just a chat, that’s all.”

“No Comment.” Mrs Vickers gave him a shove with her elbow.

“It’s okay, Jane. No need for that. I bet you’re thirsty and hungry Harley, with you being out all night. Can we get you anything? Burger? Fries? Hot chocolate?”

Harley looked up and his stomach growled. As soon as his mum had set eyes on him, she’d freaked and grabbed hold of him. They’d argued so much that he hadn’t had chance to get any breakfast. “Yeah…”

“Yes, please,” Mrs Vickers said, jabbing her finger in his arm.

“Yes please,” Harley said.

“Okay,” Kath said. “I’ll go and arrange