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

six thirty. I’d get a move on if I were you?’ She went back to reading her file.

Ridpath moved towards the door, then stopped, turning back. ‘How do you do the job you do, boss?’

She paused in her reading and looked up. ‘Because you can’t go charging at every obstacle that gets in your way, Ridpath. Sometimes, you have to look up and work out a way to go round and still achieve what you want. That’s my job. You should consider it one day.’

Chapter 69

On the MIT floor, Chrissy and Emily Parkinson were waiting for the news.

‘What happened? Is she going to release Michael?’

‘Not yet. We have to get Daniel to confirm the ID of David Carsley.’

‘What?’ Emily’s mouth dropped open. ‘You’re going to ask a ten-year-old boy to watch footage of his brother being abducted?’

‘That’s about it.’

‘An abduction which he blames himself for allowing to happen?’

‘If he doesn’t confirm the ID, his father stays in detention.’

She walked away and then turned back. ‘This is fucked up, Ridpath, really fucked up.’

‘And besides,’ added Chrissy, ‘Ruby Grimes won’t let you anywhere near him tonight.’

‘That’s what we’re going to find out.’

Ridpath pulled his mobile phone from out of his pocket and dialled the number on her business card. The call was answered after three rings.

‘Ruby Grimes,’ she said brightly.

‘Hi there, it’s DI Ridpath.’

Immediately, the tone changed. ‘Yes, what do you want?’

‘I have a favour to ask.’

‘If it’s about work, I don’t do favours.’

‘I need to show Daniel some footage this evening.’

‘No.’

‘But you haven’t heard me out yet.’

‘The answer is still no. You got him worked up earlier. I’ve spent the last hour calming him down and he’s now eating his dinner. Afterwards, he’ll watch television with the other boys before lights out.’

‘Listen, we promised we would keep him up to date on any news about his father…’

‘Yessss.’

‘Well, he will be charged this evening at eight p.m. with the murder of David Carsley.’

‘What?’

‘The father will be charged—’

‘I heard you the first time, Ridpath. How could they charge a man for the murder of his own son?’

‘They believe they have enough evidence. The only way we can get GMP and the CPS to back off is to present evidence that Michael Carsley didn’t abduct his son.’

Her voice sounded suspicious. ‘How are you going to do that?’

Ridpath took the plunge, crossing his fingers. ‘We’ve found footage from CCTV of David Carsley on the day of the abduction. We need Daniel to confirm it is his brother.’

‘No, definitely no. You can’t show footage from the day of the abduction. Daniel is going through enough trauma without having to suffer more.’

For a moment, Ridpath saw Polly opening the door, the flash of a gun muzzle, the sound of the shot, Polly falling backwards, another shot, Polly lying bleeding on the hall floor, her life oozing from her chest.

‘I understand, Ruby, but it’s the only way we can get them not to charge Michael Carsley. If there was another way, believe me, I would use it.’

‘Ask Michael himself, he could identify his own son.’

Ridpath stayed silent.

The penny dropped for her. ‘You can’t get in to see him, can you?’

‘He’s being questioned at the moment…’ Ridpath let his voice trail off.

‘So Daniel is your last hope if you want to release Michael Carsley?’

‘That’s it, in a nutshell.’

‘Damned if I agree and damned if I don’t. I’m stuffed either way.’

‘If there was another way of doing this, I’d use it, but there isn’t.’

There was another long silence at the end of the phone.

‘How soon can you get here?’

‘Thirty minutes. Sooner if we can.’

‘Right. Seven thirty it is. I’ll warn Daniel you’re coming.’

‘Please don’t say anything about the reason.’

‘Why?’

‘We can’t be seen to be leading a witness in any way. We must only show him the footage and film his answer. We can’t be seen to be giving him any inducement.’

‘The possibility of his father being released and not charged is an inducement?’ Her voice rose at the end of the sentence.

‘The courts might see it that way. We can’t take the risk.’

He could hear her sighing at the other end of the phone. ‘OK, I won’t tell him and we’ll do the interview at seven thirty.’

‘Thank you, Ruby.’

‘Ridpath?’

‘Yes.’

‘How do you do what you do?’

It was the same question he’d asked Claire Trent only fifteen minutes ago.

Unlike her, he didn’t have an answer.

Chapter 70

They set up quickly in the same room in the children’s home as before.

Despite her previous disquiet, Chrissy had agreed to come with them. ‘He’s a City fan, you have to support your own.’

They decided this time Ridpath would ask the questions and Emily would take notes.

Daniel was brought into the room by Ruby Grimes at exactly seven thirty. ‘I’ve told him you want to ask a few more questions. If at any time he wants to leave and go back to watch television, all he has to do is tell me and I will immediately stop the interview.’

Daniel eyed them suspiciously before sitting in the same seat as before in front of the camera. ‘I’ve already answered your questions, why do I have to be here again?’

Ridpath smiled tentatively. ‘I’m sorry, Dan, we need to clarify a few matters and give you some news.’

‘What news? Is it about my dad? Can I go home?’

‘Let’s just ask a few questions and then I’ll let you know, OK?’

Daniel nodded once and looked away.

Ridpath indicated with a wave of his hand that Chrissy should begin recording. Again, the machine started with a loud click and a whirr. ‘Sorry, same old police, same old machines.’

‘It is exactly 7.30 p.m. on 9 August, and we are back in Ford Avenue children’s home to interview Daniel Carsley. This is the second recorded interview of this witness today. In the room are myself, Detective Inspector Thomas Ridpath, Detective Sergeant Emily Parkinson, the residential social worker, Ruby Grimes, and a police civilian support officer, Chrissy Wright, operating the recording equipment.’ A second’s pause as Ridpath caught his breath. ‘Now, Dan, I’m going