Blood Bought

by Robin Roughley

  'Ah well, I have a theory about that, you see I think there are a few clones of Bannister while the real one stays at home in bed all day.'

  Jackie laughed lightly, and he felt her hip bump against his again. 'I take it you were involved in the murder at the old mill in Leigh?'

  The sudden change of direction threw him for a couple of seconds and then he sniffed the cold air. 'You heard about that then?'

  'It's been all over the news today, it sounded grim to say the least.'

  'Yeah it was,' he replied as he thought of Moss on the hard cement floor, his guts spilling out of the savage wound in his stomach.

  Jackie flicked the torch up and Poppet's eyes shone in the darkness ahead. 'Do you have any idea who did it?'

  'Well, enquiries are ongoing.'

  She stopped and Lasser glanced at her.

  'That's the first time you've sounded like a police officer,' she said with a smile.

  Without thinking, Lasser dipped his head and kissed her and then to his amazement she was kissing him back.

  He felt her hand slip around his waist and pull him closer and then he folded her in his arms, the scent of jasmine filled his senses, her lips soft and moist.

  Lasser had no idea how long they stayed there locked together, he only knew that when she eased her lips from his he felt a sense of loss, and then she smiled up at him and he caught a brief glimpse of her sparkling eyes as she kissed him again briefly before turning.

  'Come on, Poppet, time for bed!'

  Lasser kept one arm across her shoulder, his head alight with joy and hope, a wide smile on his face as they headed back towards the boat.

  127

  May was parked on the street, her eyes fixed on the front of the house, she could see a light on downstairs, behind the curtains she saw the television flickering.

  The rest of the house was in darkness.

  She saw a police car turn onto the street a hundred yards away, her hands closed tight on the wheel, her eyes watchful as the car approached. When it pulled up at the home of Adam Stokes, she licked her lips and eased back into the shadows as two officers climbed out, a heavy-set man and a tall, lean guy, both in uniform.

  The heavier of the two cracked a yawn while the other opened the gate and headed for the front door of the house.

  Even by the time he had knocked twice, his colleague was still only lumbering up the path.

  May saw the curtain twitch and a woman's face appear at the window, her hand going to her mouth in shock at seeing the police at her door.

  The curtain swished back into place and a few seconds later the hall light came on, closely followed by the door opening.

  The woman was lost from sight as the two officers stood shoulder to shoulder, they stepped forward and went inside, the heavier of the two closing the door behind him.

  May felt the anger build, her mind was now constantly filled with shadowed images of the ones who had attacked her.

  She had worked with Scott Moss for two years and had never liked the man, although it was only when she was in the mill, hiding, and Stokes appeared that the truth was revealed to her.

  Her eyes lost focus as she tried to fathom how she could have failed to see the obvious. Then her brain began to click through the facts, and she realised that her core being had hidden the memories until her mind and body were strong enough to deal with truth. If she had known the identity of the ones who had attacked her right from the start, then she would have been helpless to do anything about it. It was true that the men might have spent time behind bars for what they did, but no doubt by now they would have been released. Society would have deemed that they had served their sentence, and yet she was suffering a life sentence of pain and anger. No, this was the best way, the only way to get true justice. Moss was dead, giving her the name of Andrew Viner before he died but Stokes had also been there on that terror-filled night, so he would know who else had been present. Though as she looked at the police car parked at the front of the house she realised that getting to Stokes was not going to be easy.

  She pictured the man who had been standing outside the lift, a tall, lean man, his eyes almost black. May had done as she always did and smiled brightly, and in truth he smiled back but there had been something in his eyes, a watchfulness that she recognised.

  For the first time she contemplated what he had been doing there?

  She thought of Moss screaming as she dragged the knife across his stomach, his eyes wide and full of agony and pleading. May had no doubt that by now the police would have identified him – Stokes would have told them – and as soon as they looked into Moss's background the police would have learned about what had happened at work. Naturally they would look into the incident and May's past would be discovered and…

  Suddenly, she became convinced that the man who had stepped into the lift had been a police officer, and not the overweight type like the man she had just watched entering the house. This man had looked hard, but it was more than that, he'd looked resilient and capable. She pictured Clark and Bartle as they died, their faces blasted with disbelief that they had been outwitted in every way by a woman.

  Then she thought of the dark-eyed man and she knew that he would never have fallen into the trap of disregarding her.

  May Linton looked back towards the house and tried to fathom the best way forward. If she headed home, she suspected that the police would be watching the place to see if she returned. Then there would be questions and her past would be used to apply the pressure, the question was would she able to keep up the pretence of being innocent or would the fury come roaring to the surface and swamp her?

  Sliding the car into gear, she pulled away from the kerb as the realisation hit her that her time was limited, if the police did catch up with her then they would form the links. They would question her about the places she went when out jogging, they would probe and badger her and sooner or later she would slip up, and then she would be the one going to jail and the ones who had attacked her would remain on the outside, free to live their lives while she rotted away in some cell.

  Grabbing second gear, her face hardened, she could feel the clock ticking and she still had to make the others pay for what they had done.

  'Animals,' she spat as she drove away.

  128

  Lasser lay in bed, eyes open, staring at the wooden ceiling, a stupefied smile on his face. Jackie was snuggled to his side, her head on his chest, her leg entwined with his. He could feel the heat from her body seeping into his own, the room was lit by a candle that gave out the subtle scent of oranges, casting a warm tinted glow that kept the darkness at bay.

  After walking back to the boat, they had kissed again, their hands fumbling with each other's clothing as they made their way to the bedroom.

  They had fallen onto the bed, Lasser could feel the need building but then Jackie had eased away, and for a couple of seconds he thought he had come on too strong.

  'Lay down on your front,' she'd said.

  'But…' she had pushed him gently and Lasser had done as she asked.

  When he felt her straddle his waist he had almost gasped, his head buried in the pillow, his eyes closed.

  Then her hands had started to glide over his back, the scented oil cool at first and then quickly warming as she started to knead the muscles, her touch firm yet soothing.

  Lasser groaned as her fingers explored the knot high on his shoulder, gradually the ache eased, and he started to drift away, his mind emptying of everything but her hands on his skin.

  Suddenly, he felt her move from his waist and he turned over, she looked down at him, her dark hair falling forward, brushing his cheek.

  Then he felt her gently take hold of his hardness and he shivered as she eased down onto him, her breasts flattened against his chest. All that existed was the feel of her body hot against his own, her gentle movement as she rocked back and forth. He felt another groan threaten to escape but when he opened his mouth she kissed him and
Lasser was lost.

  Now, he blinked and felt her move by his side, a small sigh escaping her soft lips.

  He was still smiling when he drifted off to sleep.

  129

  Climbing into the car, Bannister checked his reflection in the interior mirror, he was clean-shaven, but he could do bugger all about the dark smudges beneath his eyes and his face soured as he started the engine and slotted into gear.

  His phone began to chime, and he tapped the answer icon as he pulled through the gates onto the country lane.

  'Morning, Alan,' Carole Henson said.

  'Morning,' he replied, stifling a yawn.

  'I've organised a brief starting at nine, will you be able to make it?'

  'I'm on my way now, I slept longer than I intended.'

  'Hardly surprising considering the hours you've put in.'

  Bannister kept his speed down as he weaved his way along the narrow lane that led eventually to the main road.

  'Have you heard from Lasser?' she asked.

  'Not since last night, I told him to go home and get some sleep, the truth is he looked worse than me.'

  'OK, I'll give him a ring and tell him about the meeting.'

  'No problem, I should be at the station in the next twenty minutes if the traffic's light.'

  'What about Odette?' Henson asked.

  Bannister reached the junction and nipped out in front of a council refuse truck. 'Not heard from her, but she should be there soon though,' the DCI said.

  'Good, we need all the manpower we can get.'

  'Agreed.'

  'OK, I'll see you shortly.'

  Bannister leaned forward and tapped the screen ending the call before easing back into the seat, his mind trying to sort out the tangle of threads that were curled and entwined.

  In the end he gave up, Carole was right to call a meeting, the team needed to go over things properly and find the links, only then could they move forward.

  When the traffic slowed to a stop, he gave in and fumbled the cigarettes from his pocket.

  Sliding the window down, he lit up and drummed his right hand on the wheel, waiting for the line of cars to start moving again, his frustration starting to build.

  130

  Lasser tried to turn his face away as the whippet leapt onto the bed and made a bee-line for his face, tongue out, tail swishing twenty to the dozen.

  'Poppet, get down, you muppet,' Jackie said as she stood in the doorway, a cup in each hand.

  The dog gave the back of his head a final lick then jumped down from the bed and trotted into the open living space.

  Rolling onto his back, Lasser tried to focus as she walked over and placed the drink on the bedside table before sitting on the bed.

  He blinked and smiled, she was wearing a small black strappy top and harem pants, her hair was everywhere, looking thick and lush.

  'Morning,' he said as he reached out his hand and slid it onto her leg.

  She looked at him, her brown eyes were to die for.

  Slipping a hand into the pocket of her pants she pulled out his phone. 'You have a missed call, it woke me about ten minutes ago, so I got up to make the brews,' she said as she held the phone out.

  Scrambling up the bed, he took it from her before reaching for the cup and taking a slurp of the hot chocolate.

  'How do you feel this morning,' she asked.

  'I feel bloody wonderful.'

  'I can't believe how tense you were.'

  'Truth is, I've never had a massage before.'

  'You're joking?'

  'I'm from Wigan we don't believe in alternative medicines.'

  Placing the drink onto the cabinet he opened his arms and Jackie slid down by his side and rested her head on his shoulder, her hand tracing the outline of the raven tattoo on his bruised chest.

  'I don't want you to get the impression that I invite men onto the boat to give them a massage and then make love to them,' she said as she glanced at him, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

  'Glad to hear it,' he smiled before pulling her up, so he could kiss her.

  Lasser felt the want stirring as he pushed his hands through her wild hair, when his phone started to ring, he actually found himself ignoring it.

  All that mattered was the moment and the feel of her lips on his, after a few seconds the phone died and the two of them remained oblivious as Lasser pulled the duvet over their heads.

  131

  Bannister looked at the two empty seats while Carole Henson told the team the latest updates on the cases.

  Twenty minutes later the room was empty, Bannister stood up and folded his arms.

  'Before you ask, I rang Lasser and Noble and they didn't pick up,' she said.

  'Didn't pick up?' Bannister asked, dumbfounded.

  'Unusual I know, but I'm sure they have a legitimate reason for not getting in touch.'

  'They'd better bloody have.'

  Carole remained perched on the edge of her desk. 'Do we have any idea what actually went on at Bea Viner's house?'

  'Well, I saw the mother slice the son's head open like a melon, as to why – I have no idea.'

  Carole sighed before walking around the desk and sitting in the swivel chair. 'Do we have any evidence that Andrew Viner was involved in the death of Minnie Burrows?'

  'To be honest no, we have the Fellows brothers who claim that it was a Viner who put them up to killing Randal Archer, though neither of them are prepared to say which Viner they were working for…'

  'What about the mother?'

  Bannister blinked in surprise, and then his brow knitted together as he thought about what she was saying. 'The mother?'

  Carole slid a strand of brown hair behind her left ear. 'Well, she murdered the son, you saw it with your own eyes.'

  'Well, yes, but it was the father he had a problem with.'

  'So, you think Andrew was responsible for killing his own father?'

  'I do.'

  'And he ran to his mother for help, but somewhere along the line something went drastically wrong?'

  'Big time,' Bannister admitted.

  'I assume that the Viners have been divorced for some time?'

  Bannister glanced towards the window, the view beyond showed a barren, ploughed field, the dark earth standing in furrows.

  'Over ten years I think.'

  'Was the divorce amicable?'

  'Not a clue, but we do know that Frank Viner forked out a fortune on his son.'

  'So, he spoiled him?'

  Bannister sat down in the seat facing the desk. 'It goes way beyond spoiling, Lasser had an idea that Andrew Viner had some dirt on his old man and that's why he paid out the money.'

  'Son blackmailing father?'

  'It's a possibility.'

  'It still doesn't explain why Bea killed her son,' Carole said.

  Bannister felt the confusion start to cloud his thoughts again.

  Then Carole stood up and straightened the bottom of her jacket. 'Well, I suppose for now we will have to put that on the back burner as gruesome as it is, we have the mother in custody, she'll be questioned and hopefully we'll learn more of what actually happened. Until then we have more pressing matters to see to.'

  'Moss and co?'

  'Precisely, we have three men dead and I want the killer caught before they strike again.'

  Bannister trapped the bridge of his nose between finger and thumb as if he could feel a nose bleed coming on. 'We're trying to contact May Linton, apparently she lives in the same apartment block as Odette. Lasser went there yesterday and he's sure he passed her in the corridor but by the time he found out who it was she'd vanished.'

  Carole turned and walked over to the window and the DCI waited for her to say something. When she remained silent, he walked to her side, both of them staring out over the fields.

  'Do you ever feel like this whole thing is a waste of time?' she asked.

  Bannister found himself nodding in agreement. 'Frequently.'

  Th
ey fell into silence again, each lost in their own grim thoughts.

  Then Bannister shook himself back to the here and now. 'I'm going to have a word with Adam Stokes, see what else the slimy sod has to say about Scott Moss.'

  'I'll come with you.'

  Turning, they crossed the room as, outside, a solitary magpie flew past like a bad omen.

  132

  Lasser waved and climbed into the car, the euphoric smile still on his face as he looked at Jackie standing on the towpath, the dog by her side.

  Backing out of the parking space he nipped through the lights and turned left heading down the hill.

  After they had made love, he had checked the missed calls and felt a flash of guilt as he saw Carole Henson's number on the phone.

  Ten minutes later, he had kissed Jackie again and felt the pull of the woman in his arms.

  Now, he tried to ease her from his mind as the seriousness of the situation seeped back into his consciousness. Tapping the call button, he concentrated on the road as the phone began to ring.

  Carole Henson answered almost immediately.

  After the initial ''Good morning'' she had informed him that she and Bannister were just going to question Adam Stokes.

  'Do you want me to meet up with Odette and try to find May Linton?'

  'Well, I would but Odette's not answering her phone either.'

  Lasser heard the slight hint of annoyance in her voice and felt the guilt increase. 'She was due back today, and…'

  'I'm well aware of who is due on shift, Sergeant.'

  'Sorry.'

  'You can still try to find out more about May Linton's movements, we need to find her ASAP.'

  'Understood.'

  The call ended and Lasser immediately got Odette's name on the screen, his eyes narrowing as the phone continued to ring before going through to voicemail.

  'Hi, Odette, it's me, I'm just checking if you're OK. I've had Carole Henson on the phone and she's been trying to get in touch with you.'