IMPOSTURE: Hunters become the hunted in this gripping murder mystery Ray Clark (lightest ebook reader TXT) 📖

patient’s blood sodium levels eventually fall to the point where it induces delirium, and possibly a coma, then probably death. Without amino acids, the liver can no longer produce plasma proteins, and water then leaks out into the tissues and causes oedema fluid build-up – if the patient stays alive long enough.”

“You seem to know your stuff,” said Gardener. “How come you’re driving ambulances?”

“Keep failing the exams,” replied the medic, sheepishly. “Lose my bottle.”

Gardener felt sorry for him.

The medic turned when his colleague called him over. As time was of the essence they figured it best to move the victim immediately, despite the ramifications. They had no idea if he would live, or if he did, how long it would be; but they knew for a fact that his best chance was not here, on solid concrete in the middle of Leeds on a cold February morning, despite it being mild for the time of year. Both men then discussed a technique they thought best for transferring him to the stretcher.

Either side of the body, they gently lifted him an inch from the ground and held him steady.

Still the victim made no sound.

“Okay?” said one of them.

His colleague nodded.

If Gardener thought the shocks had ended for the time being, what he saw underneath the body once it was clear and onto the stretcher, nearly stopped his heart and made his stomach lurch.

Chapter Thirty-three

“Hold it,” shouted Gardener.

Both medics glanced in his direction with an expression that said “are you out of your mind, stopping us now”.

Reilly knelt down and crawled carefully on his knees, retrieving a pair of disposable gloves from his jacket.

“Sir,” said the medic, “if we have any chance of saving this man we need to get him to the hospital.”

“Sorry,” said Gardener. “When you get there I want his clothes.”

“His clothes?”

“Yes, his clothes and his body are a crime scene. I need them removing carefully and bagging up.”

“Right,” said the older medic, “can we go now?”

“Yes,” said Gardener, “I’ll have two of my men at the hospital as soon as possible.”

Gardener glanced at Reilly who had now collected the three items from underneath the victim. Gardener doubted he would like what he was going to see, but he knew he’d been right to persuade Briggs to let him have the job.

In his right hand, Reilly held two passports, and an A4 sheet of scrolled paper inside a plastic wallet.

Gardener glanced at both passports, aware that the first of his team had arrived in the distance, drawing their car up to the crime scene tape, further blocking entry to the street. A crowd had gathered, as usual.

He showed them to Reilly. “Jack Heaton and James Henshaw. No surprise there, boss.”

“Certainly proves he isn’t in Brussels.”

“No, but the passports suggest he might have had every intention of going somewhere,” replied Reilly.

“Unlike the others,” replied Gardener, “I doubt he got there.” He held up the A4 wallet, reading the quote on the paper:

When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard something like a voice in the centre of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; but do not damage the oil and the wine.” Revelation 6:5-6

Reilly finished reading and raised his head. “That’s just brilliant. We’ve got a fecking religious nut on our hands.”

“Where’s the quote from?

“The Book of Revelation.”

“What do you think it means?”

“I’m not sure. This stuff can be quite deep; might have more than one meaning. I’d have to think about it.”

Gardener folded his arms and stared at the sky. “Someone’s well ahead of us here, Sean.”

“Who?”

“I had four in mind yesterday but Rosie Henshaw was one of them.”

More of the team started to arrive, lining up at the end of Butts Court, waiting to be called.

Gardener continued, “We’ve now found two members of this so called DPA outfit who were involved in the hit and run which killed David Hunter: Michael Foreman and James Henshaw.”

“Leaving Zoe Harrison, and Anthony Palmer,” said Reilly, “so who’s your third possibility?”

Gardener turned to face Reilly. “It’s a long shot but I can’t rule out Rosie Henshaw.”

“First rule of thumb – always look at family.”

“Her husband disappears after he’s been involved in a hit and run in which two people die. His business partners also disappear; suddenly, one returns, and dies.”

“She claims to know nothing about the hit and run. The damaged car is not where she believes it to be.”

“Nor are the business premises,” added Gardener.

Reilly glanced at the ambulance as it pulled away. “Now we find the husband in a critical condition.”

“Where are the other two?” asked Gardener. “What does she know? Is she involved?”

“She might have known about everything from the start,” offered Reilly. “Maybe she still has the other two holed up somewhere. But why would she turn on them; what sparked it off?”

“I’ve no idea, Sean, but we’ve seen enough murders to know that it doesn’t take much.”

“She’d have her work cut out with two kids to clothe and feed.”

“She needs to be added to the list of visits. Let’s see if she knows about Michael Foreman’s death, and how she reacts.”

As Gardener’s team had all now arrived, he joined them out on Short Street. He very quickly briefed each of them on what he’d found before Reilly joined him.

Gardener glanced back toward Slaters Menswear. Both shop assistants had now returned indoors but the back door was still open.

“Time for actions,” said Gardener, turning back to the team. “I’d like two of you