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

‘Once they arrive, I’ll be off,’ said Charley. ‘Can you ensure that you get duty statements from everyone involved? The IOPC watchdog will need them, but we’ll also need copies ASAP, please, for our Incident Room, as the suspects are wanted on suspicion of robbery and murder.’

Steve Reynolds overheard her request. ‘Tim and I will deal with the surveillance and firearms officers’ statements,’ he said, pulling Charley to one side. ‘I’ve just been informed that two of the assailant’s shots hit the police car. We’re bloody lucky there were no further casualties.’

Charley felt her stomach turn; she let out a long low breath. ‘Once Dixon has been checked over, I’ll arrange for him to be taken straight to the cells at Peel Street, and of course, he’ll have to be told that his wife is dead, if he isn’t already aware.’

Steve nodded his head towards the crumpled body of the woman, whose body remained where she’d died. ‘As if it isn’t obvious.’

Charley looked about her. Her usual SIO role, taken over by the North Yorkshire Police SIO Detective Superintendent Barlow and his second-in-command, Detective Inspector Walker, left her as the spectator. There was much activity. She could see the inner and outer scene cordons being identified, and the area taped off by experienced officers. The damaged police vehicle remained in situ, the bullets to the passenger side door, just below the window, a reminder of how lucky the officers had been.

Three shots had been fired in response by the firearms officers, all of which had hit their target, the shooter Brittany Dixon. Brad Dixon had been left with superficial injuries which had been attended to by paramedics. Charley wondered did Brad also have a gun on his person?

‘Dixon’s quite subdued,’ said the duty inspector.

‘Most likely in shock,’ replied Charley, ‘but, I can’t say I’ve much sympathy. It’s the risk you take when you point at gun at someone. Now he knows what it feels like to be on the receiving end,’ she said. ‘Brittany had enough warnings to put her weapon down, but she chose not to.’

Charley waved, as she climbed into the marked car to be taken to Wetherby Police Station for the debrief. She knew from past experience firing weapons, that most had hair triggers, three shots fired in the blink of an eye. The time she had spent training at the police firing range had been an eye-opener. The array of weapons she had fired included a sawn-off shotgun and a Second World War machine gun, which was capable of firing seventy-five rounds in seconds. It showed her the impact of different firearms and their capability – something that had stayed with her through her career.

‘Debrief in about an hour?’ Steve Reynolds shouted.

Charley felt her shoulders relax in relief as she rode in the rear of the police car. There was plenty to talk to Brad Dixon about in an interview, but she was eager to know if the gun Brittany Dixon had fired, which for now was part of the investigation into her death, was a Russian Baikal semi-automatic pistol, and importantly, if it was the same gun which had killed Faisal Hussain and had been used in the Chaudry shop robbery. She turned to look out of the window, to see the calming fields passing by in a haze of flat green-and-brown landscape. Her thoughts turned again to the firearms officers – the firearms team was under constant demand due to their specialist role, and they were forever being tested. No one wanted to kill another human being, but if that was what was asked of them, then they were highly trained to do just what they had done today. Primarily though, she knew what had yet to be discussed, and it was a concern to her, Steve and Tim as the advisors on the scene. Why had they let Brittany Dixon fire any shots at all? Charley, despite her questioning, had nothing but praise for the men and women who put themselves at risk, on a daily basis, in front of someone who was armed.

‘The gun that was used today has been identified as a Heckler and Koch pistol,’ said Steve Reynolds.

Charley was sitting beside Steve and Tim, at the front of the team. She turned to see his face. ‘No, that can’t be!’ Charley desperately wanted to shout – not a Baikal? Instead she swallowed hard, and continued to take notes, in silence.

On arrival back at the Incident Room at Peel Street, Mike Blake was the first to greet her. He followed her through CID and into her office, carrying two mugs of coffee. It was dark outside.

‘One survivor, one dead. We were lucky no police got hurt. Have you heard an update from Tim?’

Mike shook his head. ‘No, but I assume he will be the West Yorkshire Police officer liaison with North Yorkshire force from now on?’

Charley nodded. ‘Which will allow us to concentrate on Brad Dixon, now we’ve got him in the traps. North Yorkshire will deal with the drug seizure, and at some stage will want to speak to Brad Dixon about supplying drugs, but our murder enquiry will take priority.’

‘You’ll be pleased to hear that Dixon is booked in, looking somewhat sorry for himself, according to Percy Shaw, on-duty Custody Sergeant.’

‘Well, his wife has just been shot dead, and he’s facing a long time in prison. I guess he’s had better days. I’m sure he’ll want to see his wife’s body at some stage, but he must remain in handcuffs.’

‘The gun, it wasn’t the one that killed Faisal Hussain, I understand?’

Charley shook her head. ‘Sadly, no. It makes you wonder if it still exists.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Just minor details, have faith, as what do I always tell you, Mike?’

‘The evidence will always speak for itself.’

Charley was in the custody suite stood before ex-army commander Percy Shaw in the cell area. ‘All okay?’ she asked the