“Lady called Elaine Kirk, she works for Slaters Menswear on Albion Street. She came out for a cigarette and found him.”
“Same state?” questioned Gardener. “Staggering around?”
“No, definitely not. By the look of him he hasn’t been capable of that for weeks. If what she’s saying is true, you’ll need to see this one for yourself. And my gut feeling tells me it’s connected to yesterday’s victim, which is why I’m calling you.”
“Is he still alive?”
“Just.”
“Have you despatched a PC to guard the scene?”
“Yes, and I’ve called an ambulance.”
“Good, we’re on our way.”
Gardener replaced the receiver, wondering what the hell he was walking into, and whether or not there really was a connection to the death of Michael Foreman.
“What’s happened?” asked Briggs.
“Another body on Butts Court; still alive, but only just.”
“But you’re already on two murder cases. I can’t let you have another.”
“I don’t buy that, sir. My gut feeling tells me this is all part and parcel of the case we’re already investigating from yesterday.”
“What if you’re wrong?”
“Then I’ll hand it over.”
Gardener could see that Briggs wasn’t happy but he might have to roll with it.
“What state is he in? Did Williams say?” asked Reilly.
“Pretty bad, by all accounts, but this one isn’t walking or staggering anywhere,” replied Gardener.
“Where is he?”
“Behind the shops?”
“How the hell did he get there with a police surveillance?” ask
ed Reilly.
“Let’s go and find out, shall we, Sean?”
Both detectives rose and left the office.
Briggs shouted before they disappeared, “If it’s anything like yesterday I want the Hazchem officers in. I don’t want any chances taken, or any mistakes made with this one.”
Gardener nodded before leaving but didn’t reply.
Chapter Thirty-two
Shooting down Albion Street, onto Short Street, the two officers arrived at Butts Court to find it sealed off by a police car with flashing blue lights. As the vehicle blocked one side of the road, a PC stood in the gap at the other. A crowd of onlookers had already gathered, mostly from the unit across the street that had four loading bays, two of which had tractor units and trailers parked up.
Reilly pulled the pool car into the gap the PC vacated and both men jumped out, flashing warrant cards. Gardener heard raised voices, and the whine of the forklifts, banging about as they loaded and unloaded the pallets on the trucks.
“Where is it?” asked Gardener.