Vanished Beneath: DS Lasser six (The Lasser series Book 6)

by Robin Roughley

  'And can I take your name please?'

  Spenner looked at the suddenly silent phone and frowned before dropping it onto the table and running for the door.

  Carl watched him go before opening the drawer; he smiled when he saw the Twix bar, a moment later he took a bite.

  Bannister's Audi was driving across the car park when Spenner came flying out of the door, arms waving the slip of paper held high in his right hand.

  'Wait!' he bellowed and then gasped a sigh of relief as the car slid to a halt.

  Bannister's head appeared through the open window. 'What is it now Spenner?'

  The young PC thrust the paper towards him. 'Lilford Park sir!'

  'What are you talking about?'

  'Its Albie Ross sir, the caller said he was on his way to Lilford Park to pick up a shit load of cash.'

  Bannister's eyes popped open wide. 'A shit load of cash, what the hell are you talking about?'

  Lasser listened as Spenner relayed the few details he had.

  'The litterbins?'

  Spenner nodded. 'Opposite the duck pond sir, ten grand in a brown paper bag.'

  Bannister twisted in his seat. 'What do you two think?'

  'Well we know where he lives, so if it turns out to be bollocks, we've lost nothing except a little time,' Lasser said.

  Bannister grunted before looking at Odette with eyebrow raised.

  'I agree with Lasser.'

  Bannister sighed. 'Right Spenner we're on our way I just hope for your sake it doesn't turn out to be a waste of time.'

  Spenner looked crestfallen. 'My sake?'

  Bannister grinned and then the car shot forward leaving Spenner standing alone on the car park.

  'I don't know why I bother,' he mumbled before heading back towards the entrance.

  As he walked through the doors, Carl was munching on the last of the chocolate, Spenner frowned and Carl held up the empty wrapper.

  'First rule Spenner mate, always keep your desk drawer locked.'

  'That was my dinner!'

  Carl gave him the thumbs up before licking a blob of melted chocolate from the tips of his fingers.

  116

  As soon as the bitch had hung up Albie had grabbed his denim coat from the sofa and bolted for the door. At first the car had refused to start, the engine whining as he pumped the gas slamming his hand on the wheel much in the same way Donny Elliot had when the transit had refused to start.

  It fired into life at the fourth attempt and Albie heaved a shuddering sigh of relief. The car lurched off the drive, the thought of the ten grand filled his head, tunnelled his vision, it was all he could see. Then he slammed on the brakes as the car swerved past him the horn blaring. Albie slumped over the wheel. ‘Calm down for fucks sake,' he hissed before setting off again.

  The traffic was horrendous, he could feel the frustration build imagining some faceless twat reaching into the bin and pulling out his hard-earned cash, some bag head who would go and blow the lot on cheap booze and drugs, the thought drove him to the edge of madness. He almost collided with the car in front as it pulled up to the traffic lights. Glancing at his watch, he felt the panic rising as precious seconds ticked away into oblivion.

  Then he set off again weaving slowly out of the town centre and onto the main A-road that led towards his destination.

  When the slow moving bin wagon pulled out from a side street, Albie hammered his fist on the dashboard.

  'No, no, fucking no!' he screamed in frustration flashing his lights and leaning on the horn.

  He saw the driver of the wagon hang an arm from the window and pop the middle finger, Albie bounced up and down in his seat like a child lost to the throes of a full blown tantrum.

  117

  Lasser watched as Odette closed her eyes.

  Bannister weaved through the traffic flicking right then left, the siren screeching as the cars in front tried to part like the red sea.

  'Bloody morons,' he bellowed before breaking free of the bottleneck, then he slammed his foot down on the gas and Odette swallowed down her unease.

  'You might want to take your time boss,' Lasser said as he leaned forward in the seat.

  'What are you talking about man this is an emergency!'

  'Yeah but we have to go through Hindley to get to Leigh, if Ross is making his way there and he sees us tearing along with the bells and whistles then he might have a change of heart and do a runner.'

  Bannister glanced at him in the mirror. 'Don't be ridiculous...'

  'But is it worth taking the risk, I mean, Ross has no idea we're onto him as far as he's concerned he's in the clear and if he spots us...'

  The car began to slow down then Bannister leant forward and flicked off the siren and lights. 'See Noble, occasionally Lasser does use his tiny brain to think outside the box.'

  'Yes sir,' Odette said, before mouthing the words 'thank you' in the mirror at Lasser, he winked at her reflection before easing back into the seat.

  Bannister started to whistle; Lasser scrunched down in the seat and grimaced before covering his ears.

  118

  Pitt sat on the single bed and waited, the suitcase on the floor between his booted feet.

  Sunlight spilled into the small room making him yawn and stretch his hands towards the ceiling.

  Maybe he could leave and come back later, after all the woman could be away from the house for hours. Pitt grunted, he had nothing better to do today and besides Norv had told him he wanted it sorted as soon as possible.

  Folding his arms he thought about the look on Norvil's face as he'd told him about the 'fun days' being over if he didn't get his gear back. There had been anger but also a trace of fear in his eyes and Pitt wondered at it.

  He had no idea who the Mellor’s dealt with but they must be hard hitters to make Norvil feel uneasy. For the first time Pitt pondered whether his involvement would backfire if he failed in his task.

  Flexing his huge arms he grinned, the idea that anyone could put the fear of God into him was ludicrous. No, if someone came looking for him, with the idea of giving him a good hiding, then they'd be in for a shock.

  Closing his eyes he rested, the smile still locked onto his face.

  119

  Albie pulled up at the park gates and clambered from the car before hurrying along the cinder path. He could hear kids screaming on the park, to his left the roundabout spinning around with a gaggle of little kids clinging on as a teenager spun it faster. The swings rising into the blue as two girls competed for who could get higher.

  Albie broke into a jog; the narrow path lined with cherry trees in full bloom a scattering of petals drifted under his trainers as he ran.

  A couple of young mothers moved to the side as they saw him coming, exchanging nervous glances as they pulled their prams to one side. Albie didn't even see them, his mind was on the prize and nothing else. Sharon Cliff was forgotten about as was Hancock. Even Boris Mellor ceased to exist as he ploughed his way through the park.

  When he spotted the duck pond in the distance, he increased his speed, his eyes scanning left and right in search of the litterbin.

  When he saw it, he felt like screaming out in glee, veering to the right, Albie stormed across the short grass sending a handful of pigeons flapping into the air. Skidding to a halt he thrust his hand inside and grimaced when his fingers came out smeared with melted ice cream. Swiping them clean on his jacket, he peered into the gloom and then gingerly dipped his hand back inside; when he felt the package, he dragged it out and feverously ripped at the envelope.

  At the sight of the cash, he leapt into the air and punched a fist at the sky.

  'Yes!' he grinned and shook his head in disbelief as his fingers flicked though the notes.

  At the sound of the barking dog, Albie glanced to the right, his eyes springing wide in alarm as he saw the three people running towards him.

  Albie Ross had spent a lifetime running from coppers and instinctively he knew they were here for
him. A single word erupted to the forefront of his mind. 'Bitch,' he hissed before making a break for it.

  There was no doubt about it Odette Noble could run. Lasser watched as she pulled in front, her coat tails flapping as her long legs ate up the ground.

  Bannister grunted and lunged after her, Lasser got his head down, his arms and legs pumping as he tried to keep up.

  When Odette cut left, Lasser looked up in time to see Ross vanish into a thicket of dense woodland.

  'Little shit!' Bannister bellowed as they gave chase.

  Under the canopy of trees the temperature fell, a thin breeze slithered around the thick dark boughs.

  'There!' Lasser jabbed out a finger as Ross zipped between the trees.

  Odette was off again, her feet skipping over the hard dirt ground, ponytail flying out behind her.

  'It's like trying to keep up with that Bolt bloke,' Bannister gasped as he ran forward.

  Lasser didn't bother with a reply, concentrating instead on trying to breath.

  Albie risked a glance over his shoulder and cursed when he saw the bitch closing the gap, her face set with grim determination, her arms moving smoothly back and forth like well-oiled pistons.

  When he saw the ditch, he took to the air landing on the other side and scuttling forward as he tried to stay on his feet. Then he was off again, leaping over a patch of brambles before dodging around a huge oak tree.

  When he saw the green wire fence in front, he snapped a look left and right in the hope of finding a section that he could squeeze through.

  'Bastard!' he screamed as he realised he would have to try and scramble over the top.

  When he was three feet away he leapt for the top, his hands snatching at the diamond shaped holes in the fence the toes of his trainers trying to find some leverage to help him clamber up.

  Then he felt a hand grasp the bottom of his jeans and looked down at the woman as she heaved back in an effort to pull him from the fence.

  Albie snarled and kicked out, the bitch whiplashed back and forth but kept hold, her eyes firing up at him with dark anger.

  'Fucking get off me!' he screeched down into her face and then glanced up in time to see the two men dashing towards him through the undergrowth.

  He felt the tug again and clung onto the top rail as the fence began to sway back and forth.

  'Cunt! He screamed and then the two men hit the fence together.

  Grabbing Ross around the waist Lasser lifted his feet from the ground using his weight to try and dislodge the man, Bannister slammed a fist into his kidneys and Albie yelped in pain, his fingers slipped free and then he fell.

  Lasser took the bulk of his weight landing hard on his knees with Ross on top.

  Then Bannister was pulling him away, his arm thrust up his back as he turned and slammed him face first into the fence. 'OK Mr Ross let's have a little look in your pockets.

  Albie tried to squirm free but Bannister placed his knee in his back and thrust him forward until his face mashed against the diamond shaped netting.

  'Get off me!' he shouted, spittle flying from his lips as Bannister yanked the envelope from his inside pocket and tossed it to Odette.

  Brushing the hair from her eyes, she had a quick look inside. 'It's not often you're lucky enough to find a wad of cash in a litterbin - is it Mr Ross?

  Lasser wiped a hand under his nose before loosening the knot on his tie.

  Albie grunted and then Bannister spun him around and pushed his red face in close.

  'Look, I found that cash I didn't nick it, I mean, you saw me, you saw me pull it from the bloody bin!'

  Bannister grinned. 'Oh you're right about that Albie, we did see you stick your grubby hand in there and grab the cash. But you see we've also got you on camera sticking a needle into Boris Mellor's neck, so what do you think about that?'

  The colour drained from Albie's face, his eyes suddenly filled with terror as the words hit home. 'I don't know what you're talking about,' he stuttered.

  Lasser placed a hand on his shoulder. 'Don't worry when we get back to the station we'll show you the footage. I mean, Mellor might have been an idiot, but at least he had the sense to have security cameras fitted to the front of his gaff.'

  Albie tried to break free but the two men had his arms pinned. 'Please, I didn't want to do it she made me it's all her fucking fault...'

  Lasser glanced at Odette with eyebrows raised. 'Who are we talking about Albie?'

  He snapped his head towards Lasser his eyes shimmering with tears. 'I don't know her name, but...'

  'Did she tell you to kill Hancock?'

  'I...'

  'What about Sharon Cliff?' Odette asked.

  Albie's eyes flitted from one to the other, his brain felt jammed with horror and confusion.

  'I didn't kill Sharon...'

  'So how do you know her name?' Odette took a step towards him. 'We have DNA samples Mr Ross, we found traces of semen on her lips. Now when we leave here forensics will go over your house and car and they will find the evidence...'

  Albie started to cry, fat tears rolled down his sallow cheeks before dripping down onto his tatty denim jacket. 'I didn't know, ' he cried. 'I just thought it was a new type of gear, I never meant...'

  'To kill her?' Lasser snapped.

  'I...'

  'And whose idea was it to dump her at the gates?'

  'She told me to do it, she said if I didn't, she'd call you lot and then I'd be fucked.'

  'Yeah well, you're fucked now aren't you Albie?' Bannister gave him a shake.

  'Did she say why she wanted Hancock and Cliff dead?' Lasser asked quietly, playing good cop to Bannister's bad.

  'I've just fucking told you, I didn't know it would kill anyone!' a trail of snot dangled from the end of his nose, stretching and swaying as Albie shook his head. 'I would never have done it if I'd known.'

  'Give it a rest Albie, Sharon Cliff might have been a mistake, but what did you do when she died, did you come to us and confess? No, you went out and did Hancock in the Vic and to top it all off you were even thick enough to go after Mellor.'

  'I...'

  'I mean, have you any idea how Norvil will react when he gets your name?'

  Albie started to shake as if the fence were electrified.

  'The man is an animal and you go and kill his bloody brother,' Bannister shook his head as if he couldn't believe the stupidity of the man.

  'Please you can't tell him!' Albie wailed.

  Lasser leaned in close. 'Listen Albie you tell us everything you know about the woman and we might be able to get you in solitary confinement for the rest of your days.'

  'But...'

  'Now why did she get in touch with you, who gave her your name?'

  'She said she got it from Donny Elliot, she said you lot had collared him and she was looking for someone she could trust to get this stuff out there...'

  'But didn't you think it strange that she gave you the name of the person she wanted you to try it on?' Lasser asked.

  'I don't know, I didn't think, I mean, when she mentioned Sharon I knew she'd be up for it, she loved stuff like that, anything new and...'

  'But didn't you ask how she knew Cliff?'

  'No, she just told me the name and left me some cash I...'

  'So you saw the pound signs didn't you, Albie, you had no idea that she was setting you up.'

  'Honest, I didn't have a fucking clue.'

  'Just like she set you up to come and get the cash from the bin,' Odette said.

  Albie's head slumped forward, the trail of snot plopped into the short grass. 'I trusted her,' he whispered.

  'Only because you had no choice,' Odette said. 'She had you good and proper didn't she? You couldn't run, you couldn't come to us, she stitched you up knowing all along that when you'd taken care of Boris Mellor that she was going to grass you up.'

  'I fucking trusted her,' Albie repeated as if he couldn't believe he had been so foolish.

  'This woman
played you and Elliot she knew she needed an idiot and you couldn't wait to jump in there - could you Albie?'

  Albie looked up and nodded slowly.

  Lasser sighed. 'One more thing before we go, did she want you to go after Norvil Mellor as well?'

  'No fucking way.'

  Bannister frowned. 'Are you telling porky pies, Albie?'

  'That's what I was doing here - she said Boris was the last one. I thought she'd want the other one done as well but she said no, it ends with Boris.'

  Bannister spun him around again and clapped a nylon tie cuff to Ross's wrist.

  'Right you two I'll take care of our friend here, you two go and pay the Frodsham girl a visit I want her brought in for questioning and I want it done right now.'

  'But...'

  'Don't bloody argue with me Lasser, me and Albie here will take a leisurely stroll back to the car won't we Mr Ross?'

  Albie nodded.

  'So get a move on I want answers and I want them bloody quick.'

  Odette and Lasser set off at a jog, when Lasser glanced over his shoulder Bannister was blowing a cloud of smoke into the air. When the DCI spotted him he gave a small contented wave.

  'Tosser,' Lasser mumbled.

  Odette gave him a curious sidelong glance.

  120

  Pitt awoke with a start, the light coming in through the bedroom window felt cool no more than a token gesture from a sun than was on the wane.

  He checked his watch with bleary eyes blinking at the screen in disbelief when he realised he'd been asleep for almost two hours. Slipping from the bed, he stretched his arms towards the ceiling, the funny thing was he hadn't heard from Norvil all day. Pitt frowned, after the state he was in he'd been expecting the scrap dealer to be on the blower every five minutes for an update.

  Cracking his head from side to side, he wandered onto the landing and into the bathroom before taking a leak. While he relieved himself, he studied his reflection in the mirror, all things considered, he was a good looking bloke, only trouble was getting a bird was pointless, the amount of steroids he took meant that his tackle no longer worked properly.

  With a frown, he shook the last of the droplets away before pushing his shrunken member back into his trousers and flushing the toilet.