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

Raglan’s home is a bungalow, run down, no kerbside appeal, easily accessible. He isn’t married, nor does he have a live-in partner that we are aware of, so I don’t expect to find anyone else at the address. In contrast, James Thomas lives in a very large, new, detached house in the corner of a small cul-de-sac of four houses. It has a private driveway accessed by electric gates. The distance between their houses is approximately twenty-five miles.’

‘We need to make sure we have the ability to open those gates. I don’t want us stuck outside – that would be embarrassing,’ she added.

‘It’s already sorted, boss.’

‘Of course it is, what else would I expect from a cop with so many commendations?’ she said with a wink, as she walked away. ‘You are one dark horse, DC Wilkie Connor.’

Wilkie sounded puzzled. ‘Who’s been talking about me?’ he called. Swivelling around on his office chair, he looked for a guilty face or two, but there were none.

Tattie scurried into her office the minute Charley sat down at her desk, with a pile of letters that she had typed for the SIO to sign. ‘I hope you don’t mind, but I gave Tim your statement about the shooting, that was on your desk. He came to pick it up this morning while you were out.’ Charley smiled, and with her head down, she scribbled her signature on one letter, after another. ‘What did he think of the cookies?’

‘He ate them all, and he promised he’d be back to see me for more,’ she said, gliding out of the office, as if on a cloud, with a smile on her face.

‘I’ll bet,’ Charley muttered as Annie walked in.

‘Say it again,’ said the young DC, as she stood at the side of Charley’s desk, two cups in her hand.

Charley slowly shook her head. ‘Oh, nothing,’ she said. ‘Are we ready for the briefing tonight?’

Annie nodded her head enthusiastically, passed Charley her mug of coffee, and sat down. ‘Can I just go over a few points in the operational arrest strategy with you?’ She lowered her voice. ‘Wilkie has tasked me with it and I don’t want to disappoint.’

It was Charley’s turn to nod her head. Sitting back in her chair, she sipped the hot drink. ‘Go ahead, I was just about to make notes.’

Annie sat on the edge of her chair. ‘Each team will include officers from the financial investigation unit. They are already aware over at FIU.’ She looked up at Charley for a nod of approval. ‘Their expertise will be useful for advice in the money-laundering aspect.’

‘Good point,’ said Charley.

‘Two POLSA search teams are arranged, one for each address. Sniffer dogs for drugs, money and firearms will be joining us.’

‘Great. The dogs will be sure to find anything much quicker than we could.’ Charley looked thoughtful. ‘For the interview with James Thomas, I want to be firm, but fair. Being arrested will be devastating for him hopefully. He has no previous convictions at all, as far as we know.’

Annie busily noted Charley’s requests, to add them to the document to be circulated to the teams involved.

‘Or maybe he’s never been caught,’ suggested Annie.

‘True. We will need a back-up team of officers searching Raglan’s address to get the keys for the estate agency premises at the same time. This will save their having to force the door.’

Charley spoke her suggestions out loud, and Annie was finding it hard to keep up with her. How she wished, at that moment, that she had listened to the nuns, who had insisted that shorthand would be useful to her one day.

‘I also want both Raglan and Thomas to be brought to our custody suite, where they can be booked in, and placed in a cell until the interview teams are ready to speak to them,’ Charley concluded, much to Annie’s relief.

Charley opened the briefing. An air of anticipation filled each corner of the room which was packed with officers, all eager to hear what the head of CID had to say.

‘These briefings are always an anxious time for everyone, as we all want the operation to go to plan in order to achieve the best results. However, I am hoping when you leave this meeting you will be confident of your role, so much so that you will get a good night’s sleep, and we can move off swiftly tomorrow morning at six-fifteen, without the need for any further discussions, unless they are urgent.’

Ben and Terry sat beside each other. Charley watched intently, to see how Ricky-Lee reacted in their presence, but at no time did the detective rise to their banter. He even joined in confidently, she was pleased to note. Sometimes, she had learnt it was better to do nothing when she was angry, as she had been with Ricky-Lee; it was obvious to her now that he was working through his issues in his own way, in his own time, and she felt proud of him.

‘Have you an update on the robbery at Mr Chaudry’s shop?’ Mike asked the pair from the cold-case team.

‘Yes, we’ve talked to Brad Dixon following your interview with him, and liaised with Mr Chaudry’s close relatives to inform them that Brad Dixon has been charged with the robbery at the store, as well as the murder of Mr Hussain,’ said Ben.

Charley continued with the brief. It was important at this stage that everyone understood the links in the case. ‘Brittany Dixon was shot dead by armed officers after she open fire on them. At the same time, her husband who was unarmed, was arrested. These two had been wanted for outstanding cases of armed robbery. Brad Dixon has now been with charged with the cold-case offences. One of these offences of armed robbery was where a gun was discharged. This was at an off-licence, where six weeks later, the owner who had confronted the Dixons, died of a heart attack. Faisal Hussain was his nephew, and was searching