Imposture (DI Gardener 6)

“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 in Slaters to take statements from the two shop assistants, and in fact anyone else who was around, or arriving for work at that time. It’s a long shot because I believe the victim was placed here overnight. If on the other hand he wasn’t and it was early this morning, someone may have seen something.

“Sean, can you go down there?” Gardener pointed to the surveillance car and the two officers who were standing beside it. “Find out what they know and ask them how the hell this could have happened when they were supposed to be on duty watching the place.”

Reilly turned without question. Gardener knew it was exactly the type of job he relished.

“I need someone at the hospital. With the victim clear of the scene where he was found, his clothing is now a crime scene, as is his body. But they won’t let you near him until he’s stable. Stay there for as long as is necessary, and I need a progress report on his condition by the hour, or the minute if necessary.

“We need some operational support officers and all the forensic angles working, usual stuff: house-to-house, shop-to-shop, CCTV trawl from the cameras on the corner of the street, and I’m sorry to do this to you guys because I know you’re already chasing up existing leads but I need everything we can get in time for the next incident room meeting.”

“When will that be, sir?” asked Patrick Edwards.

Gardener glanced at his watch. “No later than three o’clock. But before you all go there is one big priority action and it really is a long

shot.”

“You want to know where he’s been held,” said Colin Sharp, “makes sense, I would.”

Gardener nodded. “I said it was a big one, but you guys go about the actions I’ve given you. Sean and I will concentrate on that last one, which ranks in importance with speaking to Rosie Henshaw.”

“She’ll defo have to be told,” said Edwards.

“She will, Patrick, but I don’t want her to know we’ve found her husband just yet. I need to know if she knows about Michael Foreman, and what her reaction is either way. This will be a tough one, but we need answers, and fast!”

As his men dispersed, Reilly approached.

“This doesn’t look good,” said Gardener.

“Apparently they were relieved of their duty at midnight last night.”

“By whom?”

“You’re gonna love this. Detective Superintendent Palmer.”

Chapter Thirty-four

Following a really awful night’s sleep, Anthony had dragged himself out of bed an hour before, deciding breakfast might help him perk up.

That was a laugh. The dining room was another outdated box with peeling wallpaper, cobwebs, and a carpet held together through a variety of stains. Breakfast, which was not the usual full English, consisted of tea and coffee facilities, and two tables with individual packets of cereals, milk, pastries and an odd selection of continental meats and cheeses.

Anthony was hungry so he devoured a bowl of cereal, a plateful of meat and cheese, a bread roll, followed by two croissants and two doughnuts, all washed down with two cups of strong coffee. The quality of it all surprised him somewhat.

Back in his room, following a shower he was sitting on the end of the bed in a T-shirt, jeans and trainers, trying to figure out a plan of action.

Zoe Harrison had to be the key suspect in his downfall. Michael wasn’t bright enough to complete such a task. He was a follower, not a leader. Besides, he didn’t have the guts.