Condemned, R.C. Bridgestock [most romantic novels TXT] 📗

upbeat, cheerful and charitable, was no doubt due to the violent robbery. Evidence-wise, sadly there was no proof that the shopkeeper’s death could be attributed to the armed robbery.

Mr Chaudry also had a history of angina. She knew that cause of death was extremely important when it came to proving that the deceased had been murdered and that the death had not occurred because of some other contributory factor associated with illness.

Charley jumped to the next screen to read the details of the incident.

Armed robbery: Chaudry’s Convenience Store.

Incident address: 332, Manchester Road, on the A62 between Marsden and Slaithwaite.

Known facts:

Two masked people were involved in the robbery: one motorcyclist and one pillion passenger. Both had entered the store.

Both wore crash helmets with scarves around their faces. Two passers-by thought that one assailant was wearing a pig mask underneath the helmet.

They wore dark clothing, with gloves and leather jackets.

The motorcycle was a Kawasaki, and blue in colour.

The motorcyclist apparently made a lot of noise by revving the engine and was seen to drive off dangerously on the A62, in the direction of Manchester.

Charley was eager to read what evidence, if any, had been secured from the scene, and to see the CCTV footage attached to the crime file. She read on.

Traces of DNA (Mr Brad Dixon) have been found on the glass shop counter.

She then clicked on the video link. The CCTV footage showed her two people entering the convenience store wearing motorcycle gear, their faces concealed. Both held handguns. Raising their voices at Mr Chaudry, they ordered him to do as they bid: ‘Open the till NOW!’

Mr Chaudry, hands in the air, appeared to freeze on the spot. That was until the smaller of the two robbers fired the handgun, pointing it towards the ceiling. They then leant towards the shopkeeper, and with a flick of the wrist, the barrel of their gun was under Mr Chaudry’s chin. Seeing the whites of the victim’s eyes, Charley took a deep breath and imagined she could feel his fear. It wasn’t until the second robber stepped forward to hold their gun to Mr Chaudry’s temple that he opened the till. The pair greedily grabbed wads of notes and stuffed them into backpacks, but still they were not satisfied, and demanded more. No doubt fearing for his life, Mr Chaudry reached below the counter and showed them a blue bank bag. It was in their haste to grab the bag that Charley saw one of the robbers flinch and jump backwards from the counter. ‘Was this when, by exposing the skin between his glove and sleeve, Brad Dixon had left DNA for the police to find?’ she considered.

Then the robbers were gone, the duration of the terrifying incident over within a matter of minutes.

Her attention on the screen was broken when DS Mike Blake tapped on Charley’s office door. She beckoned him in.

Mike watched as the SIO puffed her cheeks and blew air through her loose lips. ‘I think in a job like ours we get somehow desensitised to words. Reading a file, or hearing about a robbery, can’t portray the violence, or the fear someone is subjected to,’ she said. ‘However, CCTV leaves you in no doubt as to how brutal this incident was. What a pair of bastards the Dixons are.’

‘They definitely aren’t amateurs. It’s obvious from seeing that footage. They know what they want, and they know how to get it. The CCTV certainly suggests to me that they would go one step further and commit murder, if those threatened did not comply with their requests,’ added Mike.

‘I agree. We have to also consider that it might not have been the Dixons who used the gun that killed our man. Could it be a ‘pool’ weapon used by others or sold on? Hopefully not. On a positive note for the investigation, the weapon is possibly still in circulation. What we know for sure is that our murderer used the very same gun that was used to threaten and rob Mr Chaudry. Even though the Dixons were living in Crownest at the time the pathologist thinks our man died, supposedly from receiving a bullet from a gun that the Dixons have been known to use, we need to prove beyond doubt that it was one of them who used it to kill him. We’ll run with the knowledge that it could be them, and that they may still have access to firearms when we locate them. To not do anything else would be madness.’

‘Agreed. It seems probable they are involved, and like you say, we work on the presumption they are armed, until we know otherwise.’

‘I’m sure we’re right. It sounds simple doesn’t it, find the weapon and then you’ll find evidence to place it in the hands of the killer, but you and I know that is not the case.’

‘On this occasion we need to assume, eh, boss?’ said Mike, with a wink of an eye.

Charley nodded her head. ‘Although we are working with known facts, we need the evidence to prove that we are heading in the right direction. It’ll come. I’m certain of it,’ said Charley, with a tight smile. ‘At least now we will be able to take the lead in locating the pair. If a wanted poster for the Dixons isn’t already in existence, then get one prepared for me to feed to the media, will you?’

‘Ben and Terry thought that the pair had gone to Spain,’ Mike smirked, ‘or hoped they had, so they could take a trip to warmer climes. But they hadn’t firm evidence that the pair had left the UK even, last time I spoke with them.’

‘Exactly, and even if they’d absconded, as was suggested, the Spanish sell English newspapers.’ Charley appeared thoughtful. ‘We could involve Crimestoppers and offer a reward as an enticement for someone to tell us of the Dixons’ whereabouts?’

Mike’s tone was defeatist, but he nodded, ‘There would have to be a substantial amount of cash incentive, to get