Definitely Dead by Kate Bendelow (howl and other poems TXT) 📕

you’ve been off. I didn’t want to bother you at home. I had hoped common sense would prevail at the last minute. The long and short of it is that Donnelly has no case to answer.’

Phil Redford ran his hand over his head as he spoke. The disappointment on his face mirrored that on Alison and Sean Stevenson’s.

‘So, what now?’ Incredulous, she shrugged her shoulders.

‘We concentrate on getting Nowak to trial. We prove he was involved in the discharge firearms incident at Damien McCluskey’s house. Although he may not actually have pulled the trigger, we all know he ordered it to be done. Next, we need to prove he was involved in the stabbing of David McCluskey. We know that was his own handiwork, we just need the forensics to back it up. Lastly, we need to persuade the McCluskeys to talk to us…’

‘There’s no chance…’ Alison began, but Redford interjected.

‘I know it’s a long shot but listen. My thinking is we try and get Ma McCluskey on side. Despite the fact they’re a pair of big ugly bastards, they’re very much still attached to her apron strings. The fact both her baby boys have been so recently targeted might have caused her enough upset to want to bang their heads together and warrant talking to us.’

Alison snorted with disbelief, but Redford was on a roll now and refused to be swayed by her negativity.

‘I really believe the violence against the McCluskeys is going to be enough to get Nowak put away for a long time. Who knows, if the “Brothers Grimm” speak out against Nowak and Donnelly, then other people may come forward too. God knows those two have pissed off and hurt a lot of people over the years. As far as I’m concerned, their reign of terror ends now. I’m convinced that if we can get Nowak facing a lengthy sentence, he might be persuaded to dish the dirt on Donnelly, so his time is reduced.’

‘No chance. They’re far too tight.’

‘I appreciate that. But the prospect of fifteen years in a cell, staring at another bloke’s bollocks, might just give him a change of heart. Mike Malone said Nowak’s arse dropped when he was in. Despite his usual demeanour, he was rattled. Do you remember how much he was kicking off and banging about in his cell? He’s never acted like that under arrest before. He’s practically living with Markita Milani, who appears to be the love of his life. He’s not going to want to be parted from her and his steroids for long.’

Alison pondered for a moment before nodding acquiescence. ‘Okay, let’s go for it. We’ve not much choice. In the meantime, what about Donnelly?’

‘We keep a very, very close eye on him. If he so much as farts I want to know what it smells like. Understood?’ This was aimed at Stevenson who nodded emphatically.

‘What about Johnson. Has he been remanded?’ Alison asked.

‘No, he’s out on bail. I don’t consider him a flight risk. He’s too scared of his own shadow at the moment.’

Alison frowned. ‘Would he not be safer inside? Away from Donnelly and Nowak?’

Redford paused. His forehead furrowed as he considered the situation. He looked to Stevenson for confirmation before shrugging. ‘Let’s face it, if Donnelly and Nowak wanted rid of Johnson, they’d get to him whether he was inside or not.’

Stevenson nodded agreement. ‘They wouldn’t be so stupid as to risk harming Johnson. They must know we’re going to be watching them.’

Alison frowned uneasily. ‘Let’s just hope you’re right, gentlemen. For all our sakes.’ She nodded to them both before leaving the office. If only they would have known, they would have had Ryan Johnson in solitary confinement. For his own sake.

23

Maya arrived at Dominique’s clutching a beautiful bouquet of scented stocks. She let herself in with her key and was quickly enveloped in the familiar smell of home. Dominique met her at the kitchen door and pulled her daughter into a huge embrace, crushing the flowers between them.

Eventually she stood back to take in her daughter’s face. She tucked a curl behind Maya’s ear and beamed. ‘How are you, sweetheart?’

‘All the better for being here with you. There you go.’ Maya extended the flattened bouquet.

‘Thank you, they smell amazing. Come and sit down, dinner won’t be too long. The wine’s open.’

Maya followed Dominique into the kitchen and settled herself at the table, pouring herself a glass of wine and topping up her mother’s.

‘Hello, Jet.’ She smiled as the cat appeared from nowhere and began to curl herself around Maya’s ankles. Maya scooped her up and cuddled her, pressing her nose against her warm head to breathe in her familiar smell. The cat purred happily, burying into Maya.

‘She misses you.’ Dominique smiled fondly at her daughter.

‘I miss her. And you. Sorry it’s been so long since we had a proper get-together.’

‘No need to apologise. We’re both busy and I know how trying your shifts can be. You’re here now and that’s all that matters.’ Dominique sank into a chair opposite Maya and they chinked wine glasses.

‘Everything okay at work? Have you recovered from the shock of finding Mr Baron?’

‘Absolutely. It’s not the first time it’s happened, and I dare say it won’t be the last. Between us, Maya, he was a horrible man. God knows I took enough racist comments off him over the years. He was warned to cut it out or he’d be struck off from the surgery.’

Maya nodded. ‘Tony said he was well known to the police. He also said you seemed quite upset?’

‘Not upset. I was fine. It was just more of a shock than anything.’

‘Really? Tony said he’d not been in the best of health.’

‘No, he hadn’t. But no worse than usual.’ Dominique took a sip of wine. ‘We see some people who, compared to others, always seem on death’s door, when in reality, they plod on for years. Jim Baron had various health complications but certainly nothing we were too concerned about. I expected