by Ray Clark
Briggs paused, staring at the shell of the burnt-out warehouse. “He also said he would be much more use to Laura if he couldn’t see the state she was in. At least he wouldn’t be distracted.”
Briggs glanced at Gardener. “He was on a mission, Stewart. I’ve never seen determination like it. Even if I’d argued with him it wouldn’t have mattered, he’d have done what he wanted anyway. As it was, I didn’t get time, he was away around the building well before I had chance to think about what he’d said.”
Gardener remained silent, thinking about what his partner had told him regarding the situation in the box. He’d handcuffed Corndell to the side to prevent him from escaping or grabbing the lever to inflict further pain on Laura. The position Corndell had ended up in had been unfortunate. He’d become a victim of his own games. None of them could have known he’d planted explosives.
Gardener thought about him being trapped in the box. Surely he couldn’t have escaped.
Could he?
The fire chief approached them both. “Which one of you is in charge?”
“I am,” replied Briggs.
“Fire Officer Marshall.” He shook hands with Briggs. “Everything’s safe and sound for tonight. The council will be here in the morning and decide what further safety measures to take.”
“Did you find the body?” asked Gardener.
“Body?” repeated Marshall.
“Yes, I’m afraid we couldn’t save him,” said Gardener, his heart in his mouth. Surely the bastard had died. There couldn’t possibly have been any escape.
The expression on Marshall’s face was not a good one. “We found three.”
Briggs glanced at Gardener, horrified. He waited until the chief was out of earshot. “Who else was in there?”
Gardener thought before replying. “Did you see the names on the two main shrines?”
“Can’t say as I did,” replied Briggs.
“They belonged to his parents... but I didn’t think the bodies would be there.”
Briggs said nothing.
Marshall bade them goodnight and rejoined his team.
“I’m all done in, sir. I’m going home.”
Briggs nodded. “You take care, Stewart. You did a good job in there.” Briggs turned and walked in the direction of his car.
Gardener stood by his, glancing at the warehouse, thinking about everything that had happened. He realised how fitting the title of Corndell’s film had been.
Imperfection.
It really did sum him up.
More fiction in this series
If you enjoyed IMPERFECTION, you’ll love the other three books in the series:
IMPURITY
Book 1 in the DI Gardener crime fiction series
Someone is out for revenge. A grotto worker is murdered in the lead up to Christmas. He won’t be the first. Can DI Gardener stop the killer, or is he saving his biggest gift till last?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B081Z817GY/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B081Z817GY/
IMPLANT
Book 3 in the DI Gardener crime fiction series
A small Yorkshire town is beset by a series of cruel murders. The victims are tortured in bizarre ways. The killer leaves a message with each crime – a playing card from an obscure board game. DI Gardener launches a manhunt but it will only be by figuring out the murderer’s motive that they can bring him to justice.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085GFV2BR/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B085GFV2BR/
IMPRESSION
Book 4 in the DI Gardener crime fiction series
Police are stumped by the case of a missing five-year-old girl until her photograph turns up under the body of a murdered woman. It is the first lead they have and is quickly followed by the discovery of another body connected to the case. Can DI Stewart Gardener find the connection between the individuals before the abducted child becomes another statistic?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08917ZGG9/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B08917ZGG9/
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