Takedown by Heather Atkinson (latest books to read txt) 📕

“That’s fantastic.”

“All right Vance,” he said, shaking his hand. “So, what can I do for you both?”

“My car’s making a weird rattling noise,” said Vance, nodding at his large white Lexus. “I think it’s coming from the back and it’s driving me crazy. Can you fit me in?”

“Any time for you lot, you know that. Oy, Terry,” he barked.

A skinny man with a faceful of acne scars raised his head from the bonnet of a Honda Civic. “What?”

“Take over on the Ford Focus, will you? I’ve got an urgent job on.”

“But I’m working on this,” he said, gesturing to the Civic.

“The owner’s not picking it up until tomorrow. Focus now, Civic later.”

Terry sighed as he closed the bonnet of the Civic and strolled over to the Focus.

“In your own bloody time,” snapped Kingsley.

“It will be,” muttered Terry.

“That is one cheeky git,” sighed Kingsley. “If he wasn’t so good at his job I’d have booted his skinny arse out the door months ago but good mechanics are hard to find.”

“True,” said Vance. “Which is why I always come to you.”

“I am the best in the north of England,” he smiled proudly. “Are you off somewhere or do you want to hang about while I see what the problem is?”

“We’ll hang about, if that’s okay?”

“Course it is. Oy, Sharon?”

A pretty blonde poked her head out of the portacabin that constituted the office. “Yes Kingsley?”

“Two teas for Faith and Vance and use the good teabags, not the ones that burst when you pour hot water over them.”

“Of course Kingsley,” she smiled before ducking back inside.

“She’s a treasure is Sharon,” he grinned. “She has a multitude of talents, if you know what I mean,” he added with a wink.

“How’s your fiancée Kingsley?” frowned Faith.

“Don’t worry sweetheart, I’m not cheating. Me and Lindsey split up weeks ago. The cheeky cow was shagging some tosspot of a footballer from the local team. Not to worry though, Sharon’s been giving me all the comfort I need. Hey, have you heard about Dillon Enfield?”

Vance tried not to smile. Kingsley had got round to the topic even faster than he’d anticipated. “Yeah, we did hear he was attacked in Kingscote Park.”

“He was more than attacked. The poor bugger was stabbed to death. Can’t say I’m surprised though because he was one dodgy little sod.”

“Why, what was he up to?” said Faith.

“He was tarting about all over the town. If it had tits he’d shag it, excuse my French.”

“Don’t worry,” she replied. “I’m not easily shocked.”

“I can well imagine,” he grinned. “He was in trouble with a few angry husbands and not just husbands but boyfriends and fiancés too. I don’t know how he did it, he was an ugly twat. Anyway, that wasn’t all he was up to. He got involved in a few house robberies with Mickey Gunning’s crew. If you ask me, Mickey killed Dillon. Fucking mental is that one. Anyway, I’d better get on if I’m going to have your motor sorted.”

“Cheers Kingsley,” said Faith as she and Vance wandered towards the portacabin to wait.

“What do you think?” Faith quietly asked Vance.

“I think,” he replied. “That he’s right and Mickey killed Dillon. I met him in prison and he’s a full-blown psycho. He cut off another prisoner’s fingers because his snoring kept him awake at night. They didn’t even share the same cell. The poor sod who suffered a three-fingered amputation was in a cell four doors down.”

“That’s some loud snoring.”

“It was. Mickey was a bit of a hero after that to be honest, we were all kept awake by Reg’s snoring.”

“So hopefully the police will nick Mickey for Dillon’s murder, case closed and they won’t come near us.”

“Hopefully.”

She frowned at the look in his eyes. “Don’t Vance.”

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t go and talk to Mickey. I know that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Perhaps you’re right. It’s probably best to let sleeping dogs lie, especially if the police are going to be paying him a visit.”

“So, it’s looking like Dillon was killed either by a mad burglar or a jealous husband,” she said with relief. “Now we can stop prying.”

She took out her phone when it started to ring.

“Who is it?” said Vance when she frowned at the screen.

“Matthew.”

“What the hell does he want?”

She put her finger to her lips, indicating for him to be quiet as she answered the call.

“Hello Matthew,” she said.

Vance’s eyes flickered at her use of Young’s first name. He didn’t like it. It was too intimate.

Faith listened to Matthew talk before saying, “I’ll be there.”

“You’re meeting him?” said Vance when she’d hung up.

“Yes, in a couple of hours. There’s something urgent he needs to discuss.”

“What?”

“He didn’t want to say on the phone.”

“It’s probably nothing. He just wants to get into your knickers.”

“No he doesn’t. He’s got a girlfriend.”

“Do you think that will stop him?”

“You know,” she smiled. “I do enjoy it when you get jealous.”

“I wouldn’t have a problem if he stopped flirting with you but every time you meet he comes on to you.”

“It’s just harmless banter, that’s all. He’s very happy with Alice. They’ve already moved in together. Anyway, here isn’t the place to discuss all that,” she said, glancing around but Kingsley and his mechanic had their heads buried in their work and Sharon was in the portacabin.

“I’ll come with you to meet him.”

“He said to come alone.”

“Why would he want you to meet him alone?”

“Because he wants to keep our meetings low-key. We can’t have a low-key meeting if I bring the whole family with me.”

“Not the whole family, just me. You agreed you wouldn’t go anywhere alone