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

why we need the public’s help to find him as a matter of urgency,” Blake said.

“But we must remind the public not to approach him as he is extremely dangerous. Call 999 if you spot him,” Hannah said before Blake could continue. “Next question.”

“What support did this young man have before he went off the rails, though?” Deirdre Lanham said, not backing down.

“I believe he had access to a counsellor who was working closely with his GP, but nobody could have…” Blake began to say.

“I don’t feel it’s appropriate to discuss Mr White’s medical history. That’s well out of our remit, I’m afraid. Next question.” Hannah Williams’ eyes slid away from Deirdre Lanham and towards another journalist.

“What are your views on the planned rally at the Port Sunlight war memorial this weekend?”

Hannah’s expression was deadpan, unreadable. “People have a right to protest and we hope that any marches or vigils will proceed peacefully.”

Blake ground his teeth as the Media and Communications Manager fielded almost every question, butting in when he tried to answer. Finally, she wrapped up the conference by standing up. “Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, I think the take-home message here is that we aren’t looking at this as a terrorist attack but we are looking for Terry White, a troubled and dangerous young man who needs urgent help. We’d be grateful to the public for their assistance.”

Murmured conversation filled the room as everyone began to pack up and compare notes. Some journalists hurried out to prepare their stories. Blake followed Martin and Hannah out of the room and into the corridor at the back.

“Well, that could have been a lot worse,” Martin said, breathing a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Hannah, sterling work there. Wouldn’t you say so, Will?”

“I wondered what I was doing there, to be honest, sir…”

Hannah suppressed a smile. “You aren’t sulking are you, Will Blake?”

“No. It’s just that I would have happily missed the conference altogether and spent the time on the investigation if I’d known I wasn’t required to speak…”

“What’s up Blake? Someone stealing your limelight?” Martin said. “Talk about bruised egos. I’m sorry, Hannah…”

“It’s not that I just wondered what I was doing there, that’s all.”

Hannah Williams’ eyes narrowed. “So did I, DCI Blake, so did I. I had to pull your fat out of the fire a number of times back there, as it happens but, hey, you’re welcome.” She gave Martin a curt nod and stalked off down the corridor.

“What is it with you, Blake?” Superintendent Martin said, putting his hands on his hips. “How do you manage to make any situation worse?”

“I’m sorry, sir, but what do the public think when they see us sitting there like a couple of stuffed shirts, hardly saying a word? They want to see us in control of the situation…”

“And are you, Will? We have a homicidal maniac running around Wirral, what looks to be a far-right rally assembling in one of our most picturesque villages and no arrests. We need a resolution as quickly as possible.”

Blake watched Martin disappear after Hannah Williams and sighed. But something had been said in that conference that made him think and it was worth exploring.

*****

It would have been next to impossible for Lex Price to object to bringing his son to Birkenhead Station for a second interview after he’d made such a fuss about the police not taking Bobby’s statement seriously enough, but Kath felt nervous all the same. “Price knows he’s been cornered,” she said to DC Kinnear as they stood waiting in the foyer and watched Lex sign in with Bobby. “That can only wind him up more after our conversation this morning about his daughter.”

Kinnear nodded. “On top of that Lex Price’s got an obvious agenda, now. It’ll be hard to get Bobby to tell the truth with his father breathing down his neck.”

“We’ll have to tread carefully. The last thing we need is Lex standing on a platform on Saturday claiming we tried to make his son change his story. That would play right into his hands.”

“So, what are we going to do?”

“Details, Andrew, details. That’s where the devil is. That’s where we’ll trip him up. I hope. Otherwise, we’re stuffed.” She walked across the foyer and shook Lex’s hand, noticing the clamminess of his palm and the tight grip. “Mr Price, Bobby. Thanks for coming in again. I thought it important to give you another chance to give us your evidence.”

“Don’t be trying to get him to change his story, now, DI Cryer. I know what you lot can be like.”

“Trust me, Mr Price,” Kath said, “nobody here’s trying to get Bobby to say anything but the truth. Would you come this way?”

Kath and Kinnear led them down a corridor and into an interview room. Once they’d settled, Kath reached over to a recorder. “You aren’t under caution or anything, Bobby, we’re talking to you as a witness, but it would help us if we had it on tape. Do you mind?”

Bobby looked at his father who shrugged. “Nah, it’s okay,” Bobby said at last. “Go ahead.”

“Okay, Bobby. Think back to the night Paul Travis died and then tell me in your own words what you remember.”

Bobby glanced over at his dad. “Go on son,” Lex said. “In your own words.”

“I was hanging around the Hillsborough Memorial Garden when I heard voices from the war memorial. So I sneaked up and hid behind the bushes…”

“Could you show me where you were hiding, on this map, Bobby?” Kinnear said, sliding a paper street map across the table.

“So, you were hiding behind a hedge on the edge of the pavement, just by the war memorial, here, yeah?” Kinnear said.

“Yeah.”

Kath leaned forward. “What kind of hedge, Bobby?”

“Eh?”

“What kind of hedge was it?”

“Oh, come on, Inspector, he’s not a fucking gardener,” Lex snapped.

Kath flashed Lex a cold smile. “Please Mr Price, if you think I’ve confused your son or need to clarify something or I’m not following proper procedure, then do shout out.