‘Does he own any property? A garage, lock-up that would be hidden from view and large enough to store a car?’ Skeeter leaned over the table as she asked.
‘I don’t know him. I told you that.’
‘Your father, the builder, what about him?’
‘He no longer builds, he’s well into his seventies. He saw Frank, I believe, fairly regularly when he was growing up. He has what used to be a carriage house to the back of his place. Converted into garages and a store.’ Gaskell realised what he was saying. ‘He was going to convert them into a house but planning permission …’
Skeeter immediately stood and leaned forward interrupting him mid flow. ‘Address?’ It was a demand and he knew it.
She scribbled it down and ran to the Incident Room. Mason watched her enter.
‘It’s as good a place as any. We can check this and leave the others just in case it’s a false hope.’
‘Take the keys and keep me informed all the way. We’ll do the same, Wicca, if we get anything from the others.’
Chapter 32
The house, again Victorian, had been modernised. The outside red brick had in the past been rendered and painted white. A sturdy pair of iron gates opened onto the driveway to the right of the property where an old Jaguar was parked. Tony walked to the front door and rang the bell. Skeeter stood back. After a few moments an elderly man appeared and looked through the side window before coming to the door.
Tony had his ID ready. ‘Mr Gaskell?’
‘It is. I’ll need glasses if you want me to read that. What is it?’
Tony looked down and noticed the man’s slippers were on the wrong feet. ‘Police officers, sir. DC Price and that’s DS Warlock.’
He leaned out and looked across at Skeeter. ‘Police you say? What do you want?’
‘We’ve been speaking to your son, Craufurd and he informs us you have some garages at the back. We’d like you to check them for us now as a matter of great urgency.’
‘Urgency, why, what?’
‘I don’t have time to explain.’
Gaskell went inside briefly and came out with a collection of keys. ‘This way.’
They followed past the side of the house. Two further cars were covered with tarpaulins and the garden stretched some way to the side of the drive. The red-bricked wall backed onto the garden with narrow windows set high in two places. Gaskell went to the side door. ‘Garages open onto a small yard and then the back lane.’ Fumbling with the keys he searched for the correct one. ‘Bloody thing’s not here!’
‘When was Frank, your grandson last here, Mr Gaskell?’ asked Tony.
‘A few weeks ago. Grand lad.’
Skeeter brought out the keys retrieved from Frank and approached the door. Checking the type of lock, she matched it with the keys. The one she selected went straight in. Turning it, she lowered the handle.
‘How the hell did you do that?’ Gaskell tried to look at the key in the lock.
Skeeter entered. The garage was gloomy. Little light seemed to penetrate the small wired opaque glass. She noticed the car first and pointed, directing Tony’s attention. The smell was particularly pungent. Before her was Carlos. It was apparent that he had soiled himself. His head turned to look in her direction, his eyes frightened. She observed the red mark of the tick on his forehead as she moved quickly across. The stench was overpowering. To her right was a bench. Curved, discarded blades littered the surface. Part of a broom handle was held in the vertical from the vice. Skeeter moved further into the garage and saw the remnants of the scarecrow.
‘Bloody hell! Tony, call it in. We’ve found him. We need Forensics sharpish. Call an ambulance too.’
Gaskell said nothing as he looked at the stranger strapped to the chair. ‘That’s not Frank!’
Tony moved in and took Gaskell by the arm. ‘You need to go back indoors. We’ll see you when this is sorted.’
Chapter 33
Three days later
The Incident Room was being cleared as the team moved in. April and Mason were already there. Frank Lloyd Gaskell had passed away the day after the assault and Rodgers had been given bail having a manslaughter charge hanging over him.
April wrapped up the case. ‘If the charge sticks then Frank Lloyd Gaskell will have got his wish, his plan, which I believe he had from the start. It will have been successful – “Just do it!” He certainly did. Vengeance can be cruel, but to turn it round so the main perpetrator ends up in prison is clearly the sign of somebody deranged.’ She surveyed the room and found the two for whom she searched. ‘Tony and Fred, you had a wager at the beginning of this case and neither of you won. That money can go to charity.’
Both men looked at each other, smiled and nodded their agreement.
‘The DNA came through and it’s been confirmed that Frank was not Craufurd’s son, so maybe he made the right call after all. The evidence found in his apartment will be reviewed, but it’s felt as the woman is dead there will be little chance of securing a prosecution for rape. There might well be repercussions though for the hidden camera footage found, maybe even a prison sentence. I find secreting a hidden camera in the apartment’s bedroom quite disgusting. However, that will be up to Smith if he wants to press further charges. It’s clear he’ll not be able to continue his role as landlord for some years to come, if at all. He’ll be placed on the sex offenders’ register.’
Carlos would continue to receive support but it was hoped that he would soon be back with Nicola in the salon. They had agreed to leave the mural in place for the time being. Carla would always be the one person who had brought him back from the brink no matter what others thought of her way of life. More than ever he contemplated the roles people played in the lives of others and how one action could change the path of others – some for the better, and some …
Three weeks later
Skeeter and Trevor watched as Steve guided the drone until it was out of sight. Trevor’s face was a picture of joy. Steve offered the occasional commentary. They had decided to fulfil their promise to Trevor and take him to experience a professional pilot at work. After an hour, Steve advised Trevor to look to gain a commercial drone licence and suggested he would offer all the help he could. It would give his life purpose and possibly a job doing something he truly loved.
It was at times like this Skeeter saw the difficult part of policing evaporate and her role within the community become more significant. Suddenly, it seemed so worthwhile and besides, she had decided she enjoyed Steve’s company and would like to find out more about him than his ability to fly a drone.
The Golden Gallopers
A visit to this wonderful piece of Victoriana inspired part of the story and although none of the characters rides the carousel, the sound and its constant and steady motion play a key part in the sinister crime. If you do visit, do not forget to look for the one-legged diver, as he too is there, perched high on his pole looking down on the promenade.
Herbert Silcock’s Victorian carousel is situated on Southport’s promenade at the entrance to the pier. This historic and beautiful fairground ride was built in 1896 by Savages of King’s Lynn. It was purchased by Silcock’s in 1989 and took three years to restore fully, making its first appearance at the Shirdley Show in St Helens.
The Golden Gallopers weighs eighteen tons with a forty-two-foot diameter, standing eighteen feet tall. The three cockerels and thirty-three horses are each named after a member of the Silcock family and their friends. The three cockerels and the horses on the inside of the ride are original Anderson carvings and date to when the ride was first constructed. Wear and tear has necessitated replacements being made for the rest. However, the quality of workmanship in both the carving and painting of the replacements, is truly outstanding.
The Silcock family has been in the entertainment business for over five generations.
If you are in Southport, do pop along and behold the spectacle that can only be captured when watching an old fairground
ride. You will still hear the sound of children’s laughter.
Malcolm
About the Author
You could say that the writing was clearly on the wall for anyone born in a library that they might aspire to be an author but to get to that point, Malcolm Hollingdrake has travelled a circuitous route.
Malcolm worked in education for many years, even teaching for a period in Cairo before he started writing, a challenge he longed to tackle for more years than he cares to remember.
Malcolm has written a number of successful short stories and has more than ten books available (and more to come).
Born in Bradford and spending three years in Ripon, Malcolm has never lost his love for his home county, a passion that is reflected in the settings of several Harrogate Crime Series novels.
Malcolm has enjoyed many hobbies including works by Northern artists; the art auctions offer a degree of excitement when both buying and certainly when selling. It’s a hobby he has bestowed on DCI Cyril Bennett, of his characters in the Harrogate Crime Series.
Acknowledgments
Books are not written in a dark garret over endless hours – well not actually a garret, but many hours do go into each and every one. During the course of that work, many people are involved at various stages from the research to the proofing and editing, as well as those who read it to ensure it is not just a collection of paragraphs but a gripping and captivating crime novel. So, it is here that I must take a moment to express my words of thanks.
First and foremost, my thanks must go to my publisher, Hobeck Books; the team has worked so tirelessly in bringing this series to market. It has been a pleasure working within this supportive family.
A massive thanks also to a vital part of that family, the HART of Hobeck, the Hobeck, Advanced Readers’ Team for their guidance and dedication.
As always to my wife, Debbie. She helps keep the motivation alive but sadly, she cannot do the same for some of my characters!
Helen Gray has worked with me now on a number of my books and her sharp eyes check every word and sentence. Her skilful advice has been confidence-boosting and inspirational. Thanks, Helen.
Meeting the scarecrow at Johnson’s farm was the catalyst for this story so sincere thanks to the man and wife team, Philip and Sandra Speakman, who create these fabulous human-like objects.
Writing is a lonely business but I have found people are always willing to offer a great deal of help and support whenever it is requested. So, thank you Carry Heap, Dee Groocock, Ian and Gill Cleverdon, Georgie Eadington, Lucy Teraoka and also to Malcolm and David at Reputation Menswear, Southport.
I have received tremendous support from authors this year so my thanks to Rob and Karen Ashman, Wes Markin, Tony Millington, K. A. Richardson and Robin Roughley.
All writers need their names whispered far and wide. This never happens magically but through dedicated readers who turn their reading hobby into a passion, either by writing reviews, administering social media and readers’ groups or just by commenting on various social media platforms. Each and every one of you deserves a medal but I can only offer my sincere thanks. You know who you are. Bless you!
Finally, as always, last, but certainly not least, I mention you, yes you, holding the Kindle or the paperback, the reader, for without you I would not be here. Thank you for buying and reading this, the second book in the series.
If you have enjoyed it then please mention my work to friends and family, as word of mouth is the best way to encourage more people to read The Merseyside Crime Series and Hobeck Books.
Until Book Three
Thank you
Malcolm
Also by Malcolm Hollingdrake
Bridging the Gulf
A thriller set in Yorkshire and Cyprus
The Harrogate Crime Series
Only the Dead
Hell’s Gate
Flesh Evidence
Game Point
Dying Art
Crossed Out
The Third Breath
Treble Clef
Threadbare
Fragments
The Merseyside Crime Series
Catch as Catch Can
Hobeck Books – the home of great stories
This book is the second in the Merseyside Crime Series, the first book, Catch as Catch Can, is published by Hobeck Books. There will be many more to follow after that (we hope).
If you’ve enjoyed this book, please visit Malcolm’s website: www.malcolmhollingdrakeauthor.co.uk to read about his other writing, inspirations, writing life and for news about his forthcoming writing projects.
Malcolm is also the author of the acclaimed Harrogate Crime Series of which there are ten books.
Hobeck Books also presents a weekly podcast, the Hobcast, where founders Adrian Hobart and Rebecca Collins discuss all things book related, key issues from each week, including the ups and downs of running a creative business. Each episode includes an interview with one of the people who make Hobeck possible: the editors, the authors, the cover designers. These are the people who help Hobeck bring great stories to life. Without them, Hobeck wouldn’t exist. The Hobcast can be listened to from all the usual platforms but it can also be found on the Hobeck website: www.hobeck.net/hobcast.
Finally, if you enjoyed this book, please also leave a review on the site you bought it from and spread the word. Reviews are hugely important to writers and they help other readers also.
Syn (The Merseyside Crime Series Book 2) Page 21
