Finders Keepers Edie Baylis (phonics readers .TXT) 📖

'AND THAT’S IT, IS IT?' Saul snarled, malevolently eyeing the copper from the back seat. Was it not bad enough to hear that his brother had got that dippy tart in the family way, let alone this?

He glanced at the pile of empty sandwich packets in the footwell, his nose screwing up in distaste. These bent coppers were all the same – treating their motors like a fucking caravan. ‘That’s all you’ve managed to get? I expected a bit more for five hundred quid!’

DC Blackburn shrugged. ‘There’s nowt else to say, mate, that’s why. That’s all there is to know.’

Saul snarled inwardly. He wasn’t his mate. ‘I know it’s a different station to you, but being as you’re CID, surely you can do better than that? Isn’t that what I pay you for?’

DC Blackburn’s squinty eyes peered at Saul in the rear view mirror, his irritation clear. ‘As I said, if there was anything else to say, then I’d have fucking told you. I know the score and, like you, I know how this works.’ He rubbed his stubbly chin. ‘I’ve seen the photofit the old bird put together and I’m telling you now if that is likened back to any of you lot, then I’m Mahatma fucking Gandhi!’

Saul grated his teeth. He might be paying a bastard copper for info and out of principal he hated that from the off, but like it or loathe it, it was an unfortunate necessity in his line of work. The trouble was, he didn’t trust any of them and never would.

‘Why are you so bothered anyhow?’ DC Blackburn asked. ‘Is there something I should be aware of that you need to give me the heads up on?’

Saul scowled. Hardly! ‘Don’t get rocks in your head! I just heard something in the boozer and want to make sure no one’s being fitted up for getting your solved crime numbers up, that’s all.’ He crossed his arms menacingly. ‘You out of all people know how this works when a face gets released. Some people would love the opportunity to get me and mine slung back in jail for something – anything, just so it means I won’t tread on any plans they might have cobbled together in my absence.’

Total bollocks. At least where he was concerned. No one would dare cross him, but this numbskull could believe what he wanted. Saul smiled coldly. ‘I’m just looking out for potential trouble. No more, no less.’

The detective shrugged his large shoulders. ‘Then I’d safely say you’ve got nothing to worry about - and I heard that from the horse’s mouth. I went out for a beer with one of the DCs pulled over to work on that case and although I didn’t ask the question directly, the Powell name wasn’t mentioned.’

Saul nodded. That was good, but what about the rest? He’d have to play this casual. ‘What was it all about anyhow?’

DC Blackburn chuckled. ‘Fuck knows. Some sexually frustrated estate agent with a mother-hating complex got herself tied up with some undesirables, by the sounds of it. The woman was clearly a loon. Drugging her own mother and killing the husband and all.’ He tapped his temple. ‘Fucking barking!’

‘Who was this bloke the old dear saw then? The one in the photofit?’ Saul asked. Regardless of what this fool said, if the cops were still digging around, then he needed to know.

‘Christ knows. The old dear was that doped up and scatty, I’m surprised she could remember what she looked like herself, let alone anyone else! They’re taking her description with a pinch of salt and the general consensus is that it was some kind of money lender that she owed or even a lover.’ He shrugged. ‘Between you and me, although they’re not closing the case, they’re not expecting results either. It’s not being treated as priority.’

‘Hmm,’ Saul muttered nonchalantly, as it if didn’t matter, but it did matter. A lot.

‘They’ve wound up at the scene too. Found nothing of any use, so not a lot to go on. The old bird is free to return if she wants and they’ve also released the crazy daughter’s body. From what I’ve heard, she’s being stuck in the ground sometime soon.’

‘Oh, well,’ Saul shrugged. ‘Not a lot going on then?’ Handing the man a roll of notes he slapped the DC on the back and opened the car door. ‘Cheers for the update. Keep me posted if anything should crop up.’

‘Will do,’ DC Blackburn nodded, shoving the wad of cash in his breast pocket and started his car before slowly driving away.

Saul sauntered down the road back to his own car. He’d thought that had been a waste of money, but the investment had paid off by the end.

The Shepherd bird’s funeral was coming up then? The perfect time to grab the girl who could have her hands on his haul when everyone else was otherwise preoccupied. All he needed to do was find when and where it was happening.

TEARS FELL FROM DULCIE’S EYES as she sobbed in earnest. What had that silly girl told Robert for? She could have thought up an excuse if she’d wanted.

She’d never thought this was on the cards. For Teagan to have broken her trust like this was unthinkable. Unbelievable, in fact and something she hadn’t factored into being an option.

Dulcie dabbed at her face with her handkerchief, her hands shaking. Not only had the girl got in first with the most important piece of information that she had to give Robert, but she was plotting to steal him off her too and probably had been all along. Oh yes, this afternoon she’d sensed the atmosphere the second she’d got in the car.

Had something happened between that little hussy and Robert? All this butter wouldn’t melt act? Well, if it had, it wouldn’t happen again – she’d make sure of it. Robert was her son. He was a