Death's Cold Hand J.E. Mayhew (best romantic novels to read TXT) 📖

of his time smoking and drinking cheap lager. PC Mark Robertson had come to this conclusion some time ago which is why he walked to the school and sent his mate in the patrol car round the block so she could approach from the other direction.

He had been doing door-to-door in Port Sunlight when a call had come through that a young man was hanging around outside Bebington High School with the possible intent of harming a pupil. He hurried over to Alex Manikas who leaned against an unmarked car, scrolling through his texts.

“Just checking this call from Bebington High School, Alex. There’s a lad lurking around outside. Could be something and nothing.”

“Do you have to, Mark? He’s probably got a hard-on for some sixth form girl and is waiting to pick her up. I’d rather get this murder sorted. You know priorities?”

“I know, Alex but if he is waiting to have a go at someone, what then? Don’t want some poor kid stabbed on our watch, do we?”

Alex had looked pained. “Fair enough, mate. Any way of getting a bit more detail, first?”

“Maybe,” Mark had said and pulled his mobile out. “I know one of the teachers there. We go for a pint every now and then. Put the world to rights, you know.” He scrolled through his contacts until he found Frank Lowry. The phone buzzed for a while. Mark didn’t expect an answer, he knew that phones were banned in lessons for both pupils and teachers. Mark just hoped he had a free lesson.

“Mark, how did you know?” Mr Lowry said, his voice animated.

“Know what, Frank?”

“About Bobby Price… the kids are full of rumours to do with that poor man who was killed the other day.”

Once Mark had apprised Alex Manikas of that particular nugget of information, he had been less reluctant about letting Mark go.

“Bloody Jacks, standing around all day, why didn’t he knock on a few doors?” PC Julie Irwin had muttered as they drove past Manikas on the way to Bebington High School. There were various reasons why uniformed officers called detectives ‘Jacks’ some kinder than others, depending on who you asked. “What did you ask him for anyway? He doesn’t outrank you.”

“Yeah, but I’d hate for him to miss out any houses because I’d done a flit. Anyway, stop your grumbling, he took over from me, so it’s all fine.”

Julie had dropped Mark off at the bottom of the road and he had start to walk slowly towards the school while she drove around to the other end. He wanted to jog but if Bobby Price saw him hurrying towards him, the boy might leg it before Julie was in position. He just prayed she’d be there in time.

Bebington High School stood on a long road comprised of what looked like nineteen fifties semi-detached houses. It was a nice, leafy area and for a few seconds, PC Robertson felt lucky to have a job that allowed you to walk out in the spring sunshine. Of course, the pimply youth at the end of his journey was less appealing.

The school had been modernised over the years, but Mark could tell that originally it had been built around the same time as the houses. It was a brick-built building that was largely on one level and surrounded by bushes and trees. Bobby Price was leaning against the red railings, his hands stuffed into his jacket. At that moment, Irwin appeared at the other end of the road, driving steadily towards him. Bobby seemed to be daydreaming because he made no attempt to move. Robertson got close. “Hi Bobby,” he said, genially. “Nice day.”

Bobby Price’s face fell, and he turned to run. Seeing Irwin getting out of the car, he whirled around and threw himself towards Robertson. “Ah, come on, Bobby, I just want to have a chat…” whatever else Robertson planned on saying was crushed as Price’s shoulder smashed into his stomach, winding him.

Gasping for breath, Robertson wrapped his arms around Bobby’s body. Price’s face twisted with anger and he smacked his forehead hard into Robertson’s face. Stars exploded before Robertson’s eyes and he staggered back against the school railing. He vaguely heard the thud of Price’s footsteps receding up the road.

“Bloody hell, Mark, are you okay?” Irwin said, peering at his face.

“It’ll heal. Get after him!”

Irwin looked up the road at the disappearing boy and shook her head. “In these shoes, luv? I don’t think so. He’s got away.”

“Bugger,” Robertson snapped. “We won’t hear the end of this now.”

“Come on,” Irwin said. “Let’s get you patched up and then we’ll have a word with your mate at the school while we’re here.”

Chapter 14

There seemed to be so many loose ends that Blake wasn’t quite sure where to begin. They had gathered to share and sift through any information but at this stage, it always felt like overload. A small group of them sat in the Incident Room and Alex Manikas fed back on initial findings from the door-to-door which was limited. “Seems like nobody in Port Sunlight Village saw or heard much on the night Travis died, sir. Some residents had seen him arguing with the teenagers the previous weekend and the descriptions fitted with those given in relation to the assault on the old man. But nobody really knew where they came from though, and the general consensus was that they ‘weren’t from the village.’”

Blake nodded. Port Sunlight was comprised of listed buildings but was hemmed in on one side by New Ferry. Once a bustling little town, New Ferry had fallen on hard times and a lot of shops had closed. Things hadn’t been helped by a huge gas explosion that had damaged a lot of property a few years back. It turned out to be an insurance job and someone went to prison for it. Houses in the village were listed buildings and highly sought after, something not reflected by the properties surrounding it.

So it didn’t surprise Blake