by M A Comley
After their late lunch, the team gathered around the TV and watched Mr. Baldwin’s media conference. Not long after he announced his hundred-thousand-pound reward for information leading to the recovery of his daughter, the phones went ballistic and didn’t stop ringing.
At six that evening, Hero had finally had enough. He rang the duty sergeant to make arrangements for two members of his night shift to man the phones. Then he said farewell to everyone and dropped by the fraud office to meet his sister.
She seemed pretty held together until they were on the drive back home. Suddenly, she sobbed.
Hero placed a comforting hand on her thigh. “Let it out, Cara. It’ll ease your pain.” He swore then that he would double his efforts to catch the man guilty of putting not only his sister, but all the other victims’ families through the pain of losing a loved one.
Chapter 14
It was time to start messing with the inspector’s head. Myers pulled the carrier bag out of the cupboard in the hallway and fixed the wig and glasses into position. He glanced at his reflection in the small old-fashioned mirror hanging on the wall. Even if the coppers had an inkling what they thought he looked like, that was about to be tossed out the window from a great height. The difference was remarkable. He mentally kicked himself for not using a disguise before.
Myers walked into the front room.
Dale, still tied to the bed, seemed puzzled when he turned to look at Myers. “Yes, it’s me. Good, ain’t it? Right, now you have to earn your keep, laddie.”
“Sorry? What are you saying?”
“You heard me. It’s about time you started contributing to the food you’re putting away and your comfortable accommodation. Didn’t your parents tell you that nothing comes free in this life?”
“I’ve always paid my parents housekeeping money,” the boy bit back.
“Good, I’m glad they’ve brought you up properly—a rarity nowadays. We live in an ‘I want’ society, and the youngsters seem to think it’s their God-given right to have everything they ask for, as if the world owes them something. In my day, my parents used to give me pocket money, but I had to damn well work hard for the pittance they gave me. Fifty pence a week, I used to get.” He narrowed his eyes remembering how his father used to whip him if his chores weren’t carried out to his liking. He shook the thoughts away and turned his focus on Dale again.
“I’ve always helped Mum and Dad out around the house. I’m not like other youngsters my age, and I object to you comparing me to them. I’ve worked for Mum at the post office from the age of thirteen, often unpaid.”
“Well, good for you. Now you’ll be working for me instead.”
“I don’t understand…doing what? Kidnapping people and holding them hostage, or did you mean you want me to start killing people, like you killed my mother?”
Myers glared at the boy and leaned down to stare at him directly in the face. “You have a smart mouth, kid. That could get you into trouble if you’re not careful. Also, I should remind you that it was your fault your mother died.”
The boy shook his head. “You’ll never convince me that’s true. You’re the one who had your finger on the trigger.”
“I ain’t arguing with you. If you hadn’t attempted to get the gun off me, then your mother would be walking around today instead of being six feet under.”
“I dispute that, and I always will.”
He stood upright, admiring the youngster’s sudden bravado. Myers needed to keep control of the lad, make him scared of him again. He kicked out, his foot connecting with the boy’s injured leg. Dale screamed and writhed around in pain. Myers leaned down to confront him again. “You need to keep your mouth in check, sonny. Remember that the next time you try to challenge me verbally.”
Dale squirmed on the bed as tears leaked from his wide eyes. “I’m sorry. I won’t say anything again. Please don’t hurt me anymore.”
“Do as I say, and I promise not to hurt you or your family again.”
“My family?”
“Yes, I have plans for you. Here’s the thing: fuck up my plans, and it won’t be only your mother lying in a grave. It’ll be your father, too.”
“No, please. Leave my dad out of this. If he dies, I’ll have no one. The rest of my family are all dead.”
He shrugged. “That’s entirely up to you. Do as you’re told, and I’ll deliver you home safely once I’ve finished with you.”
The boy’s chin dropped onto his chest. “What do I have to do?”
“Rob a post office.”
Dale lifted his head sharply to look at him. “No, please, anything but that. I couldn’t do it. You have no idea how little these people are paid. I won’t do it.”
Myers turned and walked towards the door. “Suits me. Sorry you won’t get the chance to see your father before I kill him.”
“No! Wait…okay. I’ll do it. Just please don’t hurt my father.”
“See? You do have a wise head on your shoulders. I’m going to untie you now. Any mischief, and I won’t think twice about carrying out my threat. You hear me?”
“Loud and clear. You won’t get any trouble from me.”
He untied the boy and spent the next ten minutes going over what he expected of Dale once he was inside the post office.
“What about a disguise?” the boy asked.
“Why would you need a disguise?”
“I just thought…”
“No, shit for brains, I’m the one who does the thinking around here.”
“Okay. What if they refuse to hand over the money?”
Myers smiled. “You’re an intelligent boy; I’m sure you can figure that out for yourself. Are you ready?”
“Yes, but my leg hurts.”
Myers crossed the room to retrieve a tub of painkillers. He tipped two in the lad’s hand and offered him a bottle of water to wash the tablets down. “See? I’m not the uncaring bastard you think I am.”
The youth swallowed the pills and tried to walk on his leg. Myers felt a tinge of regret for kicking him in the leg earlier, but it passed quickly, as Dale hobbled across the room to the door.
“I’ll be fine.”
“You better be. Remember, once we get outside, any funny business, and I’ll drive straight over to your father’s house and kill him. You try and attract any attention by mouthing off, and I’ll have no hesitation in fulfilling my threat.”
“I understand. You have my word. My father is all I have left.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard all the soppy words I want to hear from you today. Right, we’ve—sorry, you’ve—got a job to do.”
They left the house and jumped into the Avensis, which Myers had already thought about exchanging after the next job. They drove to the post office situated out in the country on the other side of Prestwich and parked in the lay-by outside the property.
He handed the lad a knife and a gun. “Don’t think about using it on me. I have instructed a friend to finish off your father if I don’t check in with him later.” That was a blatant lie.
“I won’t. I understand what I have to do. You can trust me.”
“We’ll see. If there are customers inside the shop, pretend you’re looking at the cards or something until they leave. Then hit the postmaster. He’s a frail old man, so you should be able to overcome him without much trouble. This will be an easy job for you to get a feel of what to do and what I expect from you in the future. Now go.”
Myers watched Dale hobble towards the shop, his weapons concealed beneath his denim jacket. He’d not been in the post office long when an old woman walking with a metal frame left the shop. Myers drummed his fingers impatiently on the steering wheel. Everything was quiet in the village until a gun went off. Shit! I bet he’s panicked when the old man refused to open the safe.
A few of the neighbours peeked out their windows, and one or two even opened their front doors to peer outside. Myers was in two minds about whether to run into the post office to help the
youth. He looked over his shoulder, willing the boy to show himself. He didn’t. Sweat moistened his brow. He scratched his head. His wig irritated him from the sweat. “Damn you, boy, get your arse into gear and get out of there before the boys in blue show up.”
Dale finally emerged from the front door of the shop, a sack in one hand and the gun in the other.
An old man standing outside one of the cottages shouted at him, “Oi, you, drop that. I’ve called the police.”
Myers winced when Dale fired a shot in the man’s direction, but thankfully, he missed his target. “Hurry up and get in the damn car.”
Dale opened the back door, flung the bag on the back seat, then climbed in the front. “Quick, let’s get out of here.”
In the distance, sirens approached. Myers pressed down hard on the accelerator, and the tyres squealed as the car sped away. Myers checked in the rear-view mirror. First the neighbours hovered round the old man Dale had shot then ran into the post office. Determined to get off the main road as soon as possible, he turned down a country lane that led to the next village just as a police car pulled up outside the post office.
“Phew, that was a close shave. How did you get on? Much in the bag?”
“Enough,” Dale said quietly.
Myers could tell he was contemplating what he’d done and was probably regretting his involvement. He would let the boy wallow in self-pity for a while, but Dale would need to snap out of his mood soon because Myers had another job lined up for him before the day was out. “What happened with the old man?”
“He’s dead. Just like you wanted.”
“Whoa! I didn’t tell you to kill him. I gave you the weapons to use to frighten the shit out of the old bugger.”
“Yeah, well, you neglected to tell me that part. What’s done is done, and you should be happy that you’ve got your money.”
Myers chuckled. “I am, and so should you be on a job well done.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Dale shake his head in disgust before turning to look out the window.
Myers negotiated the sharp bends, slowed at all the right places, and sped up on the narrow stretches until he came to a crossroad, which gave him four possible options to take. He chose the less likely route, the one the police wouldn’t dream of going down, away from the main villages in the area. The track was full of potholes, and he had to dodge the muck the local tractors had left behind. Before long, the road came to an abrupt halt. He had driven into a farmyard. “Okay, here’s what we’re going to do. We need to get rid of this car. Can you drive?”
“Yes, but I’ve never driven anything other than Mum’s car.”
“Now’s your chance to branch out. You can drive this while I steal the farmer’s car. Hopefully, he’ll be tending to his herd of cows out in a field somewhere. Wait for me to give you the go ahead, right?”
“If I have to.”
Myers grabbed the boy by the front of his jacket and pulled him closer. “Yes, you frigging have to. Now cut the smart-mouth remarks and do as I tell you.”
“I’m sorry. Okay.”
Myers left the vehicle. “Slide over behind the wheel. Wait for me to drive past, and then follow me.” He walked into the farmyard. There was a smart new Nissan Juke standing outside the farmhouse. He tried the door, and it clicked open. He slipped into the driver’s seat and couldn’t believe his luck when he found the keys sitting in the ignition. Idiot farmer! He started the car and immediately drove out of the farmyard. The Avensis followed him. When they were far enough from the farmyard, Myers pulled over and walked back to the Avensis. “Get in, bring the money with you. We’ll ditch this here.”
“What about my fingerprints? They’ll be all over the car,” Dale said, scrubbing at the steering wheel with the sleeve of his jacket.
“They won’t be able to trace your prints. Not unless you’re on their database for being a bad boy like me.” Myers laughed and went to the boot of the car. He withdrew the petrol can then returned to Dale’s side of the car. “Get out, unless you want to go up in flames.”
Dale scrambled out and reached into the back seat to remove the sack of money. He ran to the Nissan, placed the sack in the rear, and turned to watch Myers douse the Avensis and strike the match.
“Come on, let’s go before it blows.”
Myers drove away from the scene moments before the large bang. He laughed at the young boy’s reaction when he turned in his seat to look back at the devastation he’d caused.
Chapter 15
Hero had just got off the phone with Mr. Walker, who was enquiring how the team was getting on with trying to find Dale, when he heard a commotion coming from the incident room. He rushed to see what was going on.
DI Pitt saw him standing at his office doorway and approached him. “We received a call about a shooting out in Prestwich—another post office was raided. Plus, we’ve received a call from a farmer in the same vicinity, telling us that his Nissan Juke has been stolen.”
“Jesus, was anyone hurt in the raid? Unusual for him to hit a place in broad daylight.”
“That’s the thing—the raid was carried out by a youth, not the man you’ve been chasing.”
Hero scratched his head for a moment before the realisation dawned on him. “He’s using the boy.”
“What?” Pitt asked, his brow furrowed in disbelief.
“I’ve just got off the phone with Mr. Walker enquiring about his son’s case. I bet the suspect is using the boy to commit the crimes for him. He’s effing laughing at us.”
“That sounds a bit far-fetched, Nelson.”
“What other logical explanation is there? Jason, look into the CCTV footage, if there is any, of the area surrounding the post office. Let’s see if my assumption is correct.” Hero turned back to speak to Pitt again. “What about this car that was stolen? Did the farmer see anyone hanging around?”
“No, there were several patrol cars who attended the 999 call at the post office. Witnesses said they saw an Avensis drive off after the crime was committed, two men inside the vehicle. Two patrol cars scoured the area, and one of them reported finding an Avensis that had been torched in one of the country lanes, not far from where the farmer had his car stolen.”
“There you go. That’s all the evidence I need to know the suspect has struck again. We need to put out an alert on the farmer’s car ASAP, before he gets the chance to switch its number plates. I sense the net closing in. I’m wondering if the suspect is thinking the same thing. Why else would he use the boy to commit the crimes for him?”
“I’ll have to take your word for that, Nelson. Do you want to go out to the scene?”
Hero shrugged. “What’s the point? The damage has been done. How many casualties are there?”
“One, the old postmaster. He died before help could arrive. The neighbours are appalled, said he was a gentle soul who never let the community down, always giving away goods to those in need in the village.”
“Damn. Why kill him? Why not just rob these places and be done with it? What’s the intention behind the murders?”
Pitt mulled over the question for a moment or two. “Added thrills, perhaps?”
“Maybe. I’ll ring the pathologist and get back to you.” Hero returned to his office, and after slamming his fist on the desk a couple of times to vent his frustration, he rang Gerrard. “Hi, Gerrard. It’s Hero. Are you out at the post office in Prestwich?”
“Yep, got here about twenty minutes ago. Poor old sod didn’t stand a chance. Are you thinking this is the same suspect?”
“That’s what I was about to ask you. Do you need me to attend the scene? Not trying to duck out of anything, but I’d rather get on with chasing this bastard than waste my time coming over there only to find nothing.”
“I wouldn’t bother. I can give you a quick rundown, if you like?”
“Excellent news.” He listened as Gerrard walked him through the scene. It consisted of pretty much the same details as the others he
’d attended to in the past few weeks.
“Thanks, Gerrard. You’re aware that he might have an accomplice now?”
“The uniformed officers at the scene said something along those lines. I’ll ensure my team fingerprint everywhere. Have you got anything to match it to?”
“I can send someone over to find something at the boy’s house and then send it to you to match the results. How’s that?”
“If you know who the suspect is, then that indeed would be a great help. What about the victim’s family? Are you going to inform them?”
“Damn, slipped my mind, so intent on finding the suspect. I’ll get Shaw to deal with that. Thanks for the reminder. Let me know the results as soon as you can, mate.”
“I will. Good luck.”
Hero hung up and bellowed for Julie to join him.
She appeared in the doorway seconds later. “You called, boss.”
“I need you to make the victim’s family aware of what’s happened, Julie.”
“Me, sir?”
“Yes, sorry to pass the buck. I think DI Pitt and I need to up our game in catching the two suspects now, don’t you?”
“I understand. Yes, sir. I’ll get on it right away.” She turned to go back to her desk.
“Wait, I haven’t finished. I need you to send someone over to Walker’s house to go to the boy’s bedroom and pick up some DNA plus find some of the lad’s fingerprints. Don’t mention to the father why. Just say it’s procedure in these types of cases.”
“Yes, sir. Shall I do both?”
“If you think you can deal with both tasks in a timely manner, then yes. It’ll free the rest of the team up.”
Julie nodded and left the office.
Hero rejoined Pitt in the incident room. “Know what I’d like to do?”
Pitt frowned. “What’s that?”
“Get out there and trawl the streets looking for this bastard. I hate the fact that he’s toying with us.”
“I understand your frustrations, Nelson, but let’s just go over everything one more time first, eh? Consider this: you’ve got reinforcements helping you now.”