Joan Prentice glared at him. “I hope you’ve got your facts right, Inspector. Dragging my Isla in here at the weekend! You’ve got some nerve.”
Calladine ignored this remark and turned to the girl. “Isla, can you tell me what your blood is doing at the scene of Flora’s murder?”
The duty solicitor cleared his throat, leaned towards Isla and whispered something in her ear.
Isla stuck her nose in the air. “No comment!”
Calladine gave her an encouraging smile. “It will go better for you if you speak to me, Isla. We have evidence that places you at the scene. We know you had help to hide the body too. That person will tell us the truth.”
That shook her. She looked at her mother.
“Mum . . . ? What do I say now?”
Joan Prentice looked from Calladine to the solicitor. “Is this evidence good enough to stand up in court? Or is this some trick to get a confession out of my daughter?”
“We have solid forensic evidence, Mrs Prentice. Whatever Isla might say to the contrary, she was there.”
Joan Prentice sat back in her seat. “In that case, speak to them, Isla. Tell them what happened.”
Isla shook her head. “They’ll lock me up!” she cried.
“But they know. They have evidence. It will go better for you if you help them. Please, Isla, tell them the truth.”
Isla spoke angrily, her eyes on the floor. “I hated Flora. She had everything. She had her freedom, money, but most of all she had Ricky. It wasn’t fair. She was a bitch to him.”
So this was all down to jealousy, Calladine realised. “What happened, Isla?”
“I saw them together that night. Flora had made Ricky get her drugs. His brother knew people to go to, and Ricky found out their contact details. Sean never gave Ricky much money, he was always broke. Flora said that if he could get something to sell, she’d help him. She said they could make a lot of money.”
“Is that why they met?”
“I think so. But Flora wouldn’t give Ricky the money. She took the drugs and told him to get lost. He was upset. She felt nothing for him, and I couldn’t stand that. She had it all, it wasn’t fair. I’d wanted Ricky for ages. I saw red. I didn’t see why Flora should get away with it. I chased after her. I was going to take the money off her, give it to Ricky, but we ended up fighting.”
Ruth said, “You had a knife with you. Did you intend to hurt someone?”
“I always took a knife when I went out at night.”
Isla’s mother tutted.
Isla turned to her mother. “It’s not safe. I keep one of the steak knives in my pocket.”
“What did you do with the knife?” Calladine asked.
“It’s at home. I didn’t know what to do with it. I’m going on holiday to Scotland in a couple of weeks with school. I thought I might drop it in a loch or something. Make sure it’s never found.”
“So where is it now?”
“It’s in a plastic bag under my bed.”
Calladine nodded at the uniformed officer stood by the door. “Tell DC Rockliffe to retrieve it, and get it to the Duggan,” he ordered. The knife would prove forensically what Isla was telling them.
“This fight you had, did Flora hurt you?”
“She bust my nose.”
That was where the blood had come from.
“Did you send that text to Flora’s mum?”
She nodded. “I didn’t want people looking for her. I knew Dolly wouldn’t question it. Flora’d told her she wanted to go to that festival.”
“Do you still have Flora’s mobile?”
“Yes, that’s at home with the knife.”
“Who helped you hide the body, Isla?”
“Kyle. He was having a fag outside. He heard the noise. When he saw what had happened, he carried Flora across and put her in the boot of that car.”
“That’s why you were scared the night the lads wanted to take the car, why you left. You knew what was inside. What about Ricky? Was he party to any of this?”
She shook her head. “He also thought Flora had gone off to the festival.” Tears were rolling down her cheeks. “After Flora left him, Kyle took him into the pub and got him a drink.”
“So why did Kyle help you?”
“He made me give him money. He said he’d get rid of the body and say nothing if I paid him. I’ve been paying him off ever since. That night we found Flora, he was angry. He wanted the lads to do one and leave it. I knew why. That was the night he was going to take the car up on the moors and set it alight.”
Chapter 35
DCI Rhona Birch strode into the incident room. “You’ve cleared the decks! Jolly good, Calladine. What are we doing about Hallam?”
“Drink in the Wheatsheaf in about ten minutes. The others have already gone across.”
“The girl confessed and you got your evidence, well done.”
Praise indeed, Calladine managed a smile in return.
“I’ll see you over there then.”
Calladine shuddered. That was all he needed. He was knackered, and entertaining Rhona Birch didn’t feature in his to-do list.
Ruth came in and stood beside him. “Rocco has asked Alice to join us. You okay with that?”
“It’s fine by me. She’ll be part of the team come Monday.”
“What about Julian? Is he coming?”
“Rocco asked him and Roxy, why?”
“Thought I’d ask Julian about the fire thing. How long, and what you’d need to burn a body, albeit a small one.”
“Ghoulish thinking, Bayliss, not like you at all!”
“Just curious.” Ruth handed him a card. “Sign this. We’ve got him a bottle of scotch too.”
Calladine began cleaning up the board. “It’s been a tough few days. All I want now is a quiet weekend.”
Ruth smiled. “It’s half over, already.”
“What are you doing?”
“I’m off on Monday, so tomorrow me and Jake are going to look at that school in Dorset.”
Calladine’s heart sank. “Thought you were dead set against the move?”
“I am, but there’s no harm in looking.”
Calladine tossed the paperwork he’d been shuffling onto the nearest desk. “I need a drink. This place is going to pot.”
“Calm down. It’s just a visit. No one is going anywhere permanently.”
Now Calladine felt guilty. He was doing his spoilt kid bit again. But then again, Ruth might like the place. What then? Jake was a very important part of her life. He would try very hard to persuade her.
“It’s about tactics,” she told him. “Once I see the place I’ll know what I’m up against. Don’t worry, I’m not going to be impressed by fancy buildings and lovely countryside, we’ve got all that round here. I’m showing willing, that’s all.”
They set off down the stairs. “I’ve told you, leave and I’ll retire.”
Ruth grinned. “What you need is a new woman in your life.”
“Funny you should say that. Don’t think I’ve mentioned it, but I’ve got a new neighbour. Layla, she’s called. Nice too. Last night she brought round a homemade cottage pie. We shared that and a bottle of red. She doesn’t start her new job until next week. My usual dog minder is away, so I gave her a key and she’s been walking Sam for me too.”
Ruth nudged him. “You’re a dark horse, Calladine. You never said a word.”
He winked at her. “Don’t tell you everything.”
“So you’re well over Shez now? Didn’t last, did it? Mind you, she was far too flash for you, all high heels, designer clothes and red lippy. What do you think? Is this new one a keeper?”
“How am I supposed to know that? I hardly know the woman!”
“She’s cooking your tea, got a key to your house and walking your dog. There must be something.”
“You know what it’s like. Women come and go.”
“They certainly do where you’re concerned, Tom. Do you never fancy set
tling down? Meeting someone and trying hard to make it for keeps?”
“God no, where’s the fun in that,” he nudged her.
“So when do we get to meet her?”
“Thought I might bring her round to yours one night next week. You could do your spag bol, and I’ll try to make Jake see the error of his ways.”
“Sounds like a plan. Wednesday suit you?”
THE END
AVAILABLE NOW BY HELEN H. DURRANT
THE DCI GRECO BOOKS
Book 1: DARK MURDER
Book 2: DARK HOUSES
Book 3: DARK TRADE
THE CALLADINE & BAYLISS MYSTERY SERIES
Book 1: DEAD WRONG
Book 2: DEAD SILENT
Book 3: DEAD LIST
Book 4: DEAD LOST
Book 5: DEAD & BURIED
Book 6: DEAD NASTY
Book 7: DEAD JEALOUS
THE CALLADINE & BAYLISS MYSTERIES (book 3 features DI GRECO)
BOOK 1 DEAD WRONG:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/WRONG-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B010Y7641M/
http://www.amazon.com/WRONG-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B010Y7641M/
First a shooting, then a grisly discovery on the common . . .
Police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss race against time to track down a killer before the whole area erupts in violence. Their boss thinks it’s all down to drug lord Ray Fallon, but Calladine’s instincts say something far nastier is happening on the Hobfield housing estate.
Can this duo track down the murderer before anyone else dies and before the press publicize the gruesome crimes? Detectives Calladine and Bayliss are led on a trail which gets dangerously close to home. In a thrilling finale they race against time to rescue someone very close to Calladine’s heart.
BOOK 2: DEAD SILENT
http://www.amazon.co.uk/SILENT-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B01185U8NE/
http://www.amazon.com/SILENT-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B01185U8NE/
A body is found in a car crash, but the victim was already dead . . .
BOOK 3: DEAD LIST
This book is the first to feature D.I Greco
http://www.amazon.co.uk/DEAD-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B013J9BUAW
http://www.amazon.com/DEAD-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B013J9BUAW
An unlikely serial killer with a bucket list of victims . . .
BOOK 4: DEAD LOST
http://www.amazon.co.uk/DEAD-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B018W6EANQ/
http://www.amazon.com/DEAD-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B018W6EANQ/
An abandoned cotton mill holds horrific secrets
Police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss face one of their toughest challenges yet. A group of homeless people have set up camp in the grounds of a disused cotton mill belonging to local businessman Damien Chase.
BOOK 5: DEAD & BURIED
https://www.amazon.co.uk/BURIED-gripping-crime-thriller-twists-ebook/dp/B01HXXTWKA/
https://www.amazon.com/BURIED-gripping-crime-thriller-twists-ebook/dp/B01HXXTWKA/
Annie Naden and her husband buy a remote country cottage at auction. It’s the home of their own that they always wanted, but as they begin renovations, Annie discovers a satchel in a dusty old hidden cupboard. Inside are the usual schoolbooks, now over 40 years old, and a girl’s diary. Among the record of day-to-day crushes and pop concerts, is a secret whose terrible consequences are still resonating to this day
THE DI GRECO MYSTERIES
DI GRECO BOOK 1: DARK MURDER
http://www.amazon.co.uk/MURDER-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B0163DVHC2/
http://www.amazon.com/MURDER-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B0163DVHC2/
A woman is found dead by a canal . . . why have her eyes have been viciously poked out?
Detective Stephen Greco has just started a new job at Oldston CID and now he faces a series of murders with seemingly no connection but the brutal disfigurement of the victims. Greco’s team is falling apart under the pressure and he doesn't know who he can trust. Then they discover a link to a local drug dealer, but maybe it’s not all that it seems.
Can Greco get control of his chaotic team and stop the murders?
DI GRECO BOOK 2: DARK HOUSES
http://www.amazon.co.uk/HOUSES-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B01CGR9KEQ
http://www.amazon.com/HOUSES-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B01CGR9KEQ
A young woman is found brutally murdered in an empty house
Detective Stephen Greco and his team must piece together her life as quickly as possible. Within twenty-four hours there is another killing using the same method. The detectives realise that the victims are random but the locations are not. The killer is more concerned with finding the right house – somewhere he won’t be disturbed.
Glossary of English Slang for US readers
A & E: accident and emergency department in a hospital
Aggro: violent behaviour, aggression
A level: exams taken between 16 and 18
Allotment: a plot of land rented from the council, used to grow vegetables or flowers
Barm: bread roll
Beaker: glass or cup for holding liquids
Benefits: social security
Bent: corrupt
Betting shop: a place where you can place bets on horses and other sports
Bin: wastebasket (noun), or throw in rubbish (verb)
Bloke: guy
Blow: cocaine
Bob: money
Bookies: a place where you can place bets on horses and other sports
Burger bar: hamburger fast-food restaurant
Buy-to-let: Buying a house/apartment to rent it out for profit
Charity Shop: thrift store
Carrier bag: plastic bag from supermarket
Care Home: an institution where old people are cared for
Car park: parking lot
Chat-up: flirt, trying to pick up someone with witty banter or compliments
Chemist: pharmacy
Chinwag: conversation
CID: Criminal Investigation Department
Clock: punch
Cock up: mess up, make a mistake
Common: an area of park land/ or lower class
Common or garden: ordinary
Comprehensive School (Comp.): High school
Cop hold of: grab
Copper: police officer
Coverall: coveralls, or boiler suit
CPS: Crown Prosecution Service, decide whether police cases go forward
Childminder: someone who looks after children for money
Council: local government
Crown Jewels: the Queen’s jewels and crown worn on state occasions (can also be an expression for anything valuable)
DCI: Detective Chief Inspector
Deck: one of the floors of a tower block
DI: Detective Inspector
DS: Detective Sergeant
Do a bunk: disappear
Do a runner: disappear
Do one: go away
Doc Martens: Heavy boots with an air-cushioned sole
DS: detective sergeant
ED: accident and emergency department of hospital
Early dart: to leave work early
Estate: public/social housing estate (similar to housing projects)
Estate agent: realtor (US)
Fag: cigarette
Garden Centre: a business where plants and gardening equipment are sold
Get rid: dispose of
GP: general practitioner, a doctor based in the community
Graft: hard work
Hairslide: barrette
Hard nut: tough person
HOLMES: UK police computer system used during investigation of major incidents
Home: care home for elderly or sick people
&nbs
p; Inne: isn’t he
Into care: a child taken away from their family by the social services
Kark: die
Kneecapping: punish by shooting in the kneecap
Lad: young man
Lass: young woman
Lecky: electricity
Lift: elevator
Lippy: lipstick — can also mean loquacious
Lorry: a truck
Mare: derogatory term for woman, or can mean having a bad day (nightmare)
Missus: wife
MIT: Major Investigation Team
Mobile phone: cell phone
MP: Member of Parliament, politician representing an area
Naff: lame, not good
Narky: bad-tempered
Net curtains: a type of semi-transparent curtain
NHS: National Health Service, public health service of UK
Nick: police station (as verb: to arrest)
No-mark: loser
Nowt: nothing
NQT: Newly qualified teacher
Nutter: insane person
Nursery: a place which grows plants, shrubs and trees for sale (often wholesale)
Owt: anything
Pay-as-you-go: a cell phone you pay for calls in advance
PC: police constable
Pear-shaped: go wrong
Petrol: gasoline
Piss off: as exclamation, go away (rude). Also can mean annoy.
Pissing down: raining
Pleb: ordinary person (often insulting)
Portakabin: portable building used as temporary office etc.
Planning Department: the local authority department which issues licences to build and develop property
Premier League: top English soccer division
Prom: a classical music concert where some of the audience stands
Punter: someone who gambles in a betting shop
Pushchair: stroller
Dead Jealous Page 19