Catch as Catch Can (The Merseyside Crime Series Book 1), Malcolm Hollingdrake [best large ereader .TXT] 📗

very clear but you can get a rough idea. I believe this is why you telephoned the missing persons’ helpline.’ He handed it to her.

‘I thought I recognised it, like, when I was scanning the people on the missing person site. Der’s more people missing than you think.’ She pronounced th as a d and elongated the word. ‘I was really surprised. I know it’s a city full of docks and a bloody big river but all that lot can’t have all fallen in and got washed away can they? With her going missing and this silly sod not mentioning anything I thought I’d check.’ She let her foot crash against Francis’s leg as she shook her head. ‘Glad I did. Is she alright?’

Brad glanced at April and back at Toland but neither spoke. Brad pointed to the photograph eager to get an answer.

‘Anything?’

‘She had tattoos der and der.’ She pointed to the photograph. ‘It was some kind of lizard.’

She looked at April hoping for some encouragement but none came.

‘She also had what appeared to be lines or marks on her fingers, not where you normally see them but right down by her nails. Her boyfriend had them too, looked the same.’ She anticipated April’s next question and quickly added. ‘Can’t remember which though, as they were only small, but dead fancy.’

‘Do you have a key to the flat?’

Toland’s offended expression spoke volumes and her answer was short and to the point. ‘It’s my house. Of course I’ve got a key.’

‘Have you been in her flat since she disappeared?’ April asked.

‘I beg your pardon, I wouldn’t … Francis, have you?’

He shook his head.

If she told him to die on the spot, he would oblige, Brad thought, then he said, ‘Forensics will tell us all we need to know. Amazing what they discover these days.’

Brad’s nonchalance caught her off guard and for a moment her eyes darted between the two officers sitting opposite as she fidgeted on the chair.

‘Well … professionally, like. I am the landlady.’ She bristled as she spoke. ‘Just to check she wasn’t dead, like, or that she’d left things on and I went up once to pop her post in. Mostly leaflets. There was no real mail.’

She blushed briefly but was saved further embarrassment when April asked about the missing partner.

‘Never liked him, shifty type, you know the ones? Those who undress you with their eyes.’

Brad glanced at April trying to keep the smirk off his face.

‘Bit of a geek. Computers, like. He had a couple of those laptops on the go. Didn’t see him as often as her, a few times a week maybe, but I recognised the photograph on the police website even though it was grainy and blurred. Hubby said it reminded him of a corpse he’d once seen floating in the canal. Put him off his tea and it was his favourite if I remember right. Dreadful photograph.’

Brad immediately looked at April again.

‘Do you have internet in the flats?’

‘Yes, they requested it, in all rental properties now, they said. All homes have it. We don’t in our flat do we Francis? In our opinion it’s just full of pornography; that’s what I understand anyway. That’s probably what he was watching. Who knows?’

After questioning her further about her husband’s comments, they took the key and went upstairs. April pulled on some plastic overshoes and gloves.

‘You wait here. Just need a quick look. What about that marital relationship?’

‘Rules him with a rod of iron the poor, bloody sod.’

Brad leaned against the wall and looked at the photograph of the girl and smiled before fanning himself with it. He listened to hear if Mrs Toland was still in the lounge or whether she had moved into another room. After thirty minutes the room was sealed and they left.

Within the hour, CSI were attending. Brad was uncertain as to whether Mr and Mrs Toland found their visit embarrassing or exciting but he sensed there was a feeling of self-importance by the way she spoke. He also found it difficult to believe they had kept themselves boxed in the flat below after the couple’s disappearance.

As the CSI moved up the stairs, she bustled into the hallway. Checking their feet, she watched as they climbed the stairs carrying equipment whilst issuing stern, almost aggressive warnings to them that any damages would have to be paid for. She hovered either at the bottom of the stairs trying to see what was taking place, or stood by the lounge window watching the neighbours’ curiosity get the better of them. Once the flat had been checked the officers worked the rear yard. It was now just a case of waiting.

‘Mrs Toland?’ The lead CSI removed his mask and let it dangle at his throat. He smiled but then his expression swiftly changed.

‘Thank you for your time. The room has now been sealed. I don’t know if we’ll need to return so I’d appreciate your co-operation and leave it as is. No entry.’ The smile briefly returned but the warning was clear.

Chapter 11

April faced the five members of the team. The forensic search of the flat had identified that the corpse found on the beach had been there and, considering the DNA traces, had occupied the place for some time. The man had also been identified as of eastern Mediterranean origin. The team had also announced a new discovery. April addressed the team.

‘We’ve put concealed CCTV in the flat and also facing the rear yard. It’s monitored round the clock just in case she returns or our landlady gets nosy. We’ve checked the files from the fingerprint and DNA analysis and although they’ve drawn a blank on our Sandy Shaw, we now know more about Michelle Pearson.’

April tapped her computer and a projected image of a young white female hit the screen on the far wall.

‘Let me introduce you to Kelly Jones, nineteen. We know from experience that many kids who are either on the streets or involved in crime, whatever