Caught in the Web by Emmy Ellis (classic english novels .TXT) 📕

Out of the launderette, he gulped in the fresh air and went straight to Shaw, where he leant in and whispered what he’d discovered.

Shaw’s features tightened. “I’m so bloody sorry.”

“You and me both, but I’m so bloody angry—and that’s what I need to get me through this. Anger. So we’re going into that flat and finding something—anything that will give us what we need to arrest this man instead of just asking him in for routine questioning. Anything, got that?”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Gordon frowned.

That was strange. William’s Ford, the one he’d seen outside Beautiful Lady’s house, was parked next to the kerb outside the launderette, behind Gordon’s red Golf. He had no idea why his father would be there, unless it was to ask Gordon why he’d been over the road from Beautiful Lady’s earlier. Gordon didn’t mind answering that question. It would be easy to say why. He’d wanted to see the woman from his past who he’d longed to live with. But he would be asking a question of his own.

How come William was alive?

That was such a conundrum, wasn’t it?

He stood beside the stall of fruit and vegetables that partially covered the wide pavement in front of Good Groceries. The red-and-white-striped awning protecting the merchandise hung low at the sides, obscuring him from anyone farther along the street in the direction of the launderette. He could peek out and observe from here without feeling as though he was being observed. He liked to watch people without them knowing he was there. It made him feel like a spy or a sleuth—that inspector he’d watched on the telly at Gran’s with name that sounded like Pwarow. Something foreign anyway. He had slicked-back hair and a swirly moustache, if Gordon recalled correctly.

I miss you, Gran.

Mr Ustav appeared in the launderette doorway, his slight frame hunched, as if the man had a great burden sitting at the base of his neck. Saying that, Mr Ustav always appeared bowed and weighed down. It came with age, didn’t it? Must do, because Gran had got a hunched back a couple of years before she’d died. Perhaps with Gordon being off work the old fella was finding the extra chores harder than they’d been in the past. Gordon wanted to go over there and help him out, but something was holding him back. William, that was it. Until Gordon spotted him, got a bead on what his father wanted, it was best he remained where he was.

Was it just a coincidence that the Ford was there? William might have only come here to do a bit of shopping. Now Gordon had seen his father leaving Beautiful Lady’s house, he cottoned on that he’d seen him so many times in the past when bringing in his dry cleaning, through the little square of glass in the backroom door.

Had his mind blocked out who William was?

Gordon took a moment to study the vehicle in its current location. Yes, he’d seen it there at other times. When he’d peered out from the back of the shop and into the front over the past three or so years, the Ford had been parked in the exact same spot. All those times and he’d never known his father had been around, still alive—he hadn’t known the car even belonged to him.

Now he did. Now he knew William still lived with Beautiful Lady—he’d seen them himself, in the flesh, hadn’t he—and he wondered if the man who’d been with William earlier was a work colleague from the shiny offices. Gordon was glad he didn’t hang around with his work colleague, his boss, Mr Ustav. Mixing business and pleasure wasn’t such a good thing. He’d read as much on one of those memes.

He longed to access Facebook now, to read some more life-affirming poems or phrases that would further make him feel perfect inside. The Man Point Three’s death had done the trick, and everything in Gordon’s world was right again. Now all he needed to do was decide whether he wanted to get to know William or not. Gordon had managed okay in life without him up until now, so a part of him felt he could finish the rest of his life without him in it, too. On the other hand, wouldn’t it help him gain access to Beautiful Lady’s house? Gain access to the woman herself? The one who’d sent him away, unwilling to save him from her?

Those mean feelings about Beautiful Lady had festered on his walk back from the canal. He hadn’t liked the turn in his mood those thoughts had created so he’d shut them off before they’d had a chance to take root and grow. He didn’t need another kill to solve his contentment issue because he was as content as he’d been when he’d killed her and The Man the first time.

It’s better to let sleeping dogs lie.

Gran used to say that. Was that the stance she’d employed with regards to Gordon’s life? Leave the situation alone and hope it got better? It had got better when Gordon had visited Gran, but he’d always had to return to her house, where bad things happened and stirred up the angry hornets inside him. Hornets he’d allowed to sting him over and over without so much as a peep of objection coming out of his mouth.

Too much noise isn’t good. It brings trouble. Smacks and punishments.

No. I don’t need to think of those things now.

Stop it. Stop it.

What he needed was to go into his flat, bring Facebook up on his phone, and make himself feel even better by reading all the good things going on. About to do just that, he paused. A police car slid along the street then turned into the space on the pavement between Good Groceries and the launderette. Had they come back