Catch as Catch Can (The Merseyside Crime Series Book 1) by Malcolm Hollingdrake (popular books to read .TXT) 📕

annoyance. ‘And to what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?’ Her tone swiftly changed as she raised her voice. ‘Francis, we have visitors.’

For April, it was the perfect opening gambit. She did not take up the offer of a seat but stood. Knowing from her attitude there was not going to be an easy way of approaching the reason for their visit, she decided to be direct. Francis appeared from the kitchen. Brad was disappointed, he was expecting him to be wearing Marigolds.

‘You can sit, we’ll not charge.’ Francis’s voice was light and he seemed a little nervous. April detected genuine concern. ‘Have you found Chelle?’

It took the wind from her sails. She realised that they thought they had come to bring news, possibly bad. Taking a moment, she looked at them both. It was true, they were waiting for her response. She had badly misjudged the situation.

‘Sorry, no, unfortunately. However, we do know she’s safe. I don’t think she’ll be coming back here. Mrs Toland, you mentioned on our last visit that you thought her partner was,’ she glanced at her notes, ‘a geek. He had two laptop computers. Is that correct?’

‘He did and in my eyes he was. Whenever I went up to see Chelle, check the place, like, and collect rent, or if something needed attending to. Did that regularly, saves trouble as everyone knows where they stand. It keeps the standards high. Where was I?’

‘Her partner, computers.’

‘Yes, sorry. He would be on the thing, sometimes two at the same time. On occasion he’d pick them up and go into their bedroom leaving Chelle and me to chat.’

‘Did they have a big computer or did you only see laptops?’

During the interaction, Brad was observing Francis. He noticed that he looked anxious. He was wringing his hands.

‘When was the last time you saw the computers?’ April stared at Eileen and then at Francis.

‘The last time I was in there with Chelle. They were on a table. If I remember correctly, one was on top of the other.’

‘Was her partner still there or had he left?’

Eileen thought for a moment. ‘If I’m honest, it was after he’d gone. Just before she went too. Yes, I’m sure, Inspector Decent.’

‘I want you to think carefully before either of you answer this question and I also want you to come to the window.’

They moved over and April slipped back one of the curtains. ‘You see the two people in that van?’

Francis and Eileen took it in turns to look and nodded, curiosity written all over their faces.

‘Well, they’re specialists.’ April removed an envelope as they returned to the centre of the room. ‘In here is a warrant to search the whole of these premises, not just the flat upstairs and the yard as we have already done, but also this flat.’ She paused allowing the information to sink in. ‘Those two people in the van, the specialists, are expert at finding missing objects – hidden objects, particularly things that people are apt to conceal.’ Turning to look at Francis, she deliberately targeted him when speaking. ‘Criminals have ways of making things, let’s say, disappear but those two know every trick in the book. We believe those laptops are key pieces of evidence in solving a crime, your missing tenant and the death of the man we found on the beach, also the reason Chelle disappeared. They, and possibly other items, hold vital clues and we’re desperate to find anything that will help us understand the reason for his death. Believe me, it was not a pleasant death either. Maybe, those responsible are also looking for the items too. As they weren’t upstairs during our initial search and we don’t believe Chelle took them, they must either be here or have been smuggled from the flat by somebody else. Mr Toland’s mystery call from Chelle mentioned the person who came for her things when she was visiting her mother ... accident, she’d had an accident you said? When we were last here, you also mentioned that Chelle had given her key to someone.’

Francis flushed again. He nodded. ‘That’s what the person said when they rang. I assumed it to be Chelle. Didn’t see them, like I told you last time.’

‘Do you have a computer, Mr Toland?’ She immediately saw him stiffen.

‘No, never had one. Use one at the library occasionally, but, no.’

April smiled at Brad. ‘Bring them in.’

Turning to the door, Brad left. ‘We need to sit down. We never know how long these things take. The search could be all over in fifteen minutes or could take all day. They’ll be as careful as possible, Mrs Toland, don’t worry yourself.’

‘Is this allowed? It’s our home?’ Eileen blustered; aggression again evident in her voice.

April handed her the warrant. ‘Totally legal, Mrs Toland. If you’ll kindly show them the rooms in the flat and then come back here. Once they are orientated, they’ll do their stuff.’

‘There’ll be no dogs? Francis is allergic to dogs,’ she pleaded.

‘We’re looking for computers, not drugs. There’s no dog.’

Sharon had been co-operative and once over the initial anxiety and uncertainty of knowing she was in the company of the police, she quickly realised the gravity of Kelly’s position and opened up to Paula. She described her time sleeping rough and how her experience of such people had educated her, not only about the kindness fellow human beings can demonstrate but also the sheer evil and cruelty of which they are capable. They had talked of her first meeting with Kelly and the short time they had been together in the night shelter. She had spoken to Kelly longer than she had talked to any person for as long as she could remember. Paula listened to the recorded informal interview.

‘Kelly seemed relaxed throughout. Even when we met, she was kind, gave me a couple of quid. I could see that she’d not been on the streets long and I don’t mean … you know. I told