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

check it out. What else do you have, Ridpath?’

Ridpath pulled out the street map of Wythenshawe showing the park. ‘It’s my theory that David Carsley got bored waiting for Daniel to finish the game so he decided to walk home alone…’

‘Any evidence for this?’

‘None, but it fits with the facts. The ATM camera is on the route from the park to David’s home.’

‘You’ve showed me the footage already, are you bringing it up again?’

‘It’s the key to the case.’

She sighed loudly. ‘Show me the footage again, Ridpath.’

He pressed play on his laptop, crossing his fingers as he did.

Detective Superintendent Claire Trent stared intently at the images on the screen. ‘You still have the problems Paul Turnbull pointed out. The timing is an hour wrong and we don’t have a positive ID of David Carsley.’

‘We checked with the owners of the ATM. The camera time is supposed to be adjusted manually during maintenance. Apparently, they forgot. So when the time is actually one thirty, it displays twelve thirty. We’re getting a sworn statement from their head of security who is an ex-copper.’

‘At least that makes sense, but you then have another problem.’

‘What’s that?’

‘If the timing is wrong, the video evidence is inadmissible in court. You can’t use it.’

Ridpath thought on his feet. ‘That’s true, boss. We can’t use it to confirm the time, but we could use it to confirm an identification.’

‘Hmm,’ was all Claire Trent answered, sitting back in her chair.

‘The other evidence is a similar white car was seen close to the disposal location of the body. We captured the footage from a tram.’

‘This is still pretty weak, Ridpath. We’re not even certain if it’s the same car.’

‘But the coincidence is strong, boss.’

‘Coincidence is not evidence, Ridpath, you should know that by now.’

She sat forward and closed her eyes, resting her head on her elbows and running her fingers through her thick blonde hair. Ridpath could see the dark roots close to her scalp.

‘Let me understand this. We have a witness who admits he has been telling us lies and wasting our time. And we have a video with the wrong time which may or may not have pictures of David Carsley getting into a white car. Plus we have footage of a white car in the area where the body was disposed of, which may or may not be the same model and make. Have I summed this up correctly?’

‘You’ve forgotten one thing, boss.’

‘What’s that?’

‘We are about to charge a man for the murder of his son who didn’t commit the crime.’

Chapter 67

The need, the hunger was growing inside him like a cancer, possessing his body, dominating his soul.

The voices in his head were shouting now.

Do it.

Do it.

DO IT.

At work, he went through the motions, pretending all was OK, as polite and subservient as ever.

Inside, he was ready to explode.

He must act soon.

We must act soon.

Chapter 68

Claire Trent raised her head, staring directly at Ridpath. ‘Leave everything with me.’

‘What are you going to do?’

Detective Superintendent Claire Trent thought for a long time before finally answering. ‘You don’t have enough here to stop the arrest of Michael Carsley yet…’

‘But you saw for yourself. A man in a white car abducted the boy.’

‘A man in a white car apparently gave a lift to a boy who looked like David Carsley…’

‘At the same time and in the same area?’

‘You don’t have the right time.’

‘I’m getting a statement from the head of security of the ATM company stating the machine was one hour out.’

‘That will help… And the identification of David Carsley?’

‘Only two people could do that. Michael or Daniel.’

‘So your next steps are…?’

Claire Trent was leading him to a conclusion. ‘I need to show the video to either of them and confirm the ID.’

‘But Turnbull probably won’t let you near Michael Carsley, so…’

Ridpath sighed. ‘I need to interview Daniel Carsley again.’

‘When?’

‘This evening, if I can.’

‘If you get a positive ID from Daniel Carsley, I will persuade Turnbull and CPS to postpone charging Michael Carsley, pending the review of your evidence.’

‘Does persuade mean order, boss?’

‘No, it means persuade, but as you know, Ridpath, I can be very persuasive when I want to be. And Ridpath, you might want to ask Daniel about the underwear.’

‘Why?’

‘Because if there is a reason why the underwear was hidden in the bedroom, then all of Paul Turnbull’s evidence has vanished.’ She begins to count off her fingers. ‘One, we have a positive ID of a man in a white car picking up David at the time he disappeared. Michael Carsley doesn’t drive. Two, I’m sure Chrissy will find evidence that it was the mother, not the father, who was abusing the children. And three, the only thing left is the underwear in the house. Not enough to justify an arrest for murder. In the absence of other evidence, the defence would be able to explain it away easily.’

Ridpath frowned. ‘You told me before there were two other pieces of evidence against Michael Carsley. Leaving the house at one thirty and a fingerprint on the clothes.’

Another long sigh. ‘Carsley has admitted he left the house at one thirty. He says he went to buy the kids some chocolate as a treat when they came back from the park.’

‘You’ve confirmed it’s true, haven’t you?’

‘He paid with a debit card as he didn’t have any cash. The receipt shows he bought chocolate at 1.40. He just forgot.’

‘And the fingerprint?’

She put on an officious voice. ‘“The lab cannot confirm or deny the presence of a fingerprint on item 22/47.” Apparently, there was a mix-up in the chain of evidence. They’re saying they can’t get the staff.’

‘So… if I can get Daniel to ID his brother…’

She raised her eyebrows.

‘…There’s only one problem. I don’t think I can get in to see Daniel again tonight. He was pretty upset at the end of the last interview and you heard the social worker at the end of the tape.’

‘It’s time for you to be persuasive, Ridpath.’ She checked the time. ‘It’s already