When the Evil Waits by M Lee (top fiction books of all time txt) 📕

He thought for a second. ‘Re-look at the footage, go and see Daniel Carsley’s friends and check their account.’ He scratched his head. ‘There’s one thing I can’t get out of my mind. Why did HOLMES highlight the attack in Liverpool? It’s been puzzling me for the last couple of days.’

‘That was discounted by the pathologist. Two different MOs, two different causes of death. Therefore two different killers,’ argued Turnbull.

‘So close to each other? Liverpool is a mere thirty-five miles away.’

‘I do know where Liverpool is, Ridpath,’ snapped Claire Trent.

Turnbull stood up. ‘I’ve had enough of this crap. Michael Carsley did it and I’m going to prove it.’

He stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

‘I don’t think he’s a happy man,’ Ridpath said to the still shivering door.

‘Watch yourself, Ridpath. Paul Turnbull is not a man you should cross.’

‘I think it’s a bit late for that.’

Chapter 55

‘Right, Chrissy, do you have the addresses of the friends of Daniel Carsley?’

‘The ones he played basketball with?’

‘Exactly.’

She logged on to the computer. ‘Hang on, they are on the list of witnesses from the day David Carsley disappeared.’ There was the sound of tapping keys and then the whirr of the printer beside her desk. She handed him the paper with five names on it. ‘You want me to keep looking for the Hyundai and the Vauxhall?’

‘Yeah, keep hassling DVLA, we need the information, particularly if any of the car owners live in the vicinity of the tram line.’

‘Right.’

‘And get on to Liverpool. See if you can arrange for me to meet the SIO on their investigation.’

‘DI Fitzgerald?’

‘That’s the man.’

‘I’ll have a try, Ridpath, but I don’t know how keen he’ll be to have somebody looking around a case he’s already closed.’

‘And book a time with their pathologist, if you can. Do we have the report?’

‘It’s on file.’

‘Could you send it to Dr Schofield? I’d like his opinion on it.’

‘Isn’t this a bit of wild goose chase, Ridpath? The case is done and dusted. They have their perp.’

Ridpath shook his head slowly. ‘There’s something about it that bothers me, Chrissy. Two child-killers living within thirty-five miles of each other and killing at the same time? What are the odds? And I don’t believe in coincidences.’

‘Well, that’s what it could be.’

Ridpath turned round and stared across a sea of empty desks on the MIT floor.

‘Where’s Emily?’

‘With the techie nerds. She’s going through the footage again.’

‘Right, I’ll find her.’

On the way out he was accosted by one of the few detectives on the floor, Harry Makepeace.

‘I see you’ve pissed off our glorious leader, Ridpath.’

‘What did Turnbull say?’

‘Well, it wasn’t that clear between the swear words. Something about going behind his back and stabbing him in the front. I’d avoid him if I were you. He’s smoking downstairs before heading back to Wythenshawe nick.’

‘Thanks for the heads-up, Harry.’

‘No worries, you do have a habit of getting up his nose. Rather you than me – he’s not somebody I’d cross.’

Ridpath pushed through the doors heading to the tech floor. He found Emily still viewing the footage. ‘Anything new?’

She shook her head. ‘Nothing. The only thing we have is the twelve thirty footage.’

‘OK, you’re with me.’

‘We’re back on the case?’

‘For the moment, but I think we’ve pissed off Turnbull.’

‘About time, he’s a pompous prick,’ Reynolds said loudly.

‘And there speaks the voice of reason,’ said Emily, patting his shoulder. ‘What about the footage?’

‘Don’t worry, I know what you’re looking for, I’ll go through it with a fine-tooth comb and try to clean up what we have.’

‘You’re a star, Phil.’ She kissed him on the side of the head and the man blushed a bright beetroot red.

‘When you two have finished the mutual admiration society, we have a case to work.’

Emily put on her jacket. ‘Where are we going?’

‘To see the lads who played basketball with Daniel. Everybody seems to have forgotten about them.’

Chapter 56

At some time during the night, his mother died.

He discovered her in the morning, still sitting in front of the television. Her body was cold and her eyes closed.

It was probably the larger dose of diazepam that finished her off. He had mixed it into her cocoa as she watched Strictly.

Why did he do it?

He’d finally had enough. Yesterday, she accused him of not caring for her as well as she’d cared for him when he was young.

He supposed that had sent him over the edge. Anyway, it was done now.

She was dead.

He spent the morning tidying her up; putting on her make-up and eyeliner, ensuring her lipstick was a perfect cupid’s bow and tidying her clothes.

He didn’t intend to move her.

She would sit there with him, watching the telly like she always did. But silent now, finally.

He’d read about Dennis Nilsen, of course. Keeping those he had killed with him because he wanted company. He supposed it would be the same with his mother. She would be there for him in death as she had never been in life.

After he’d finished arranging her clothes, he stepped back and stared at her. He’d better get some air freshener from the supermarket. In this weather, she’d start to smell pretty quickly. He would keep the air conditioning on high just in case.

It did mean he no longer had to worry about bringing prey back to the flat. It was time he found something new to play with now that Mother was gone.

He stroked the cold cheek feeling the clammy skin beneath his fingers.

He would miss her, but at least he was free now.

The butterfly has left the cocoon.

Chapter 57

Ridpath pushed open the garden gate and walked up the path. This detached house was substantial and set back from the road, on the other side of Wythenshawe Park. It was an age and a class apart from the council estate.

He rang the bell and a middle-aged woman answered. Her hair was rigid and dry, stacked up in a beehive like something out of the 1960s.

‘We’d like to speak to Tony Greene, please.’

‘And you