Nine Lives, Anita Waller [best interesting books to read .txt] 📗

it’s either an Audi or a VW. This damn rain isn’t helping. Do you have sight of the person yet?’

‘We do, Sam. Get that reg checked ASAP, I’d like to know who we’re arresting. This bloody rain’s brought her here, but it’s stopping us seeing much. She’s carrying a carrier bag. Let’s hope it’s got Adam’s tea in it.’

There was an air of expectancy inside the cab, and they waited. They could see little, and Erica told Will not to use the wipers. If they couldn’t see out, the killer couldn’t see in.

The figure reached the garage site and paused to look around before entering and disappearing.

Still they waited. They jumped when the radio crackled. ‘Boss, we’ve got the reg and confirmation of the owner of this red Audi,’ Sam said. ‘It’s a Francesca Johnson.’

36

Flick stared in horror at Erica. Her morning with Georgia had led her to think Georgia could be the prime suspect, and she had taken great care not to reveal any of the evening’s activities to the waitress.

Suddenly Erica moved. ‘Flick, I need to get out.’ Kev jumped down from the truck, giving Erica egress. She almost fell out, moved across to the grassed area and vomited. Her stomach heaved and heaved until it was empty. Flick handed her a cloth she had grabbed from inside the truck.

‘Boss, you can’t have anything to do with this now,’ she said urgently. ‘Wipe your face with this and go and sit in Mike and Sam’s car. We’ll deal with whatever has to be done.’

The beep of the alarm they had given to Adam sounded inside the cab, and Erica moved before anyone could stop her. She grabbed the radio in Kev’s hand and called, ‘Go, go, go,’ the agreed signal. She handed it back to Kev and ran across the road, followed by a panicked Flick. Erica heard the engine growl as it started, and knew Will was moving the truck across the entrance.

Erica reached it and ran up the muddy roadway, closely followed by Flick and a mystified Kev. Erica knew the name Francesca Johnson meant nothing to him.

Ian, Sam and Mike were there within thirty seconds. The plan had worked perfectly, although only Ian and Flick wondered how the hell they were going to stop their boss from committing all sorts of fuck-ups over the next few minutes.

The Fiesta reversed out of the garage, and Frannie swivelled her head to look out of the back window.

She had a choice. She could put her foot hard down and slam the love of her life into that brick wall, or she could stop the car, get out and kiss her for the last time.

Neither option suited Flick. She picked up a huge rock, ran towards the car and slammed it against the driver window. It was enough to shock Frannie, who was a second too late in stopping Flick from opening the driver’s door.

Ian had reached the car as well, and calmly leaned in and switched off the engine. ‘Out,’ he said.

‘No.’

‘No? You want me to get you out physically? And you’ll be on this muddy wet floor in about ten seconds if I do, and you won’t be getting up in a rush. Don’t piss me about, Frannie, get out the fucking car.’

‘I want to speak to Erica.’

Flick reached inside the car, pulled off the black knitted beanie and grabbed a chunk of Frannie’s hair.

‘As my colleague said, Frannie, get out the fucking car,’ and Flick pulled with all her might. Frannie tumbled out, screaming, landing in the mud.

‘The charge of resisting arrest will be nothing compared to the charges you’ve got coming,’ Ian said, and placed his foot in the middle of her back. ‘Hands behind you.’ He snapped the handcuffs on as she conceded defeat.

Erica hadn’t moved. She stared as they got Frannie out of the car, watched as she was handcuffed and hauled upright, and then as Flick and Ian walked her back down to where the truck was blocking the exit. Ian’s car had been designated the one to transport the killer back to the station, so Flick went with him. Sam and Mike stayed with Erica, now fully understanding what had gone so dramatically awry.

‘Boss,’ Sam said, ‘I’m not going to say much because I don’t know what to say, but can I take you to Adam. I think you need a cup of sweet tea or something. You’re in shock. Please.’

She looked at Sam, not really seeing him, but nodded. She knew Forensics were on call to move in and get the car onto the rescue truck, but it was no concern of hers now. The second she heard Sam say the name Francesca Johnson she had known it was no longer anything to do with her.

Sam gently held her arm and steered her towards the top garage, where Adam had already raised the door slightly.

Sam introduced them and asked Adam if he would mind making Erica a cup of tea. Adam didn’t query anything, simply lifted the heavy bottle of water and poured it into his kettle.

Will reversed the truck down the narrow roadway with six inches to spare either side, then clambered out once the truck was fully in the garage clearing. He remained with the car until Forensics arrived. When they did, they didn’t take long, briefly checking it over, taking photographs and supervising it being loaded onto the truck. Once that was done they moved inside the garage. There was a small generator humming quietly in the background, and an old fridge plugged into a socket. Once the fridge was opened it was obvious it was there primarily for the tiny freezer top box. Inside that were nine sealed plastic bags, each containing the tip of a little finger. Names were written on the front to identify their previous owners. The normal part of the fridge contained a box of vials labelled Propofol, all full and unopened.

Kev had stayed behind once Will had driven off, and