Danger by Association: The Riverhill Trilogy: Book 3

by Heather Burnside

  “Shit!” she cursed as her fingers touched the metal of a syringe and she narrowly avoided pricking herself.

  “What is it?” Yansis asked, concerned.

  “Nothing. I almost pricked myself but it’s OK.” He began to walk over but Rita stopped him. “It’s alright Yansis. Carry on searching the wardrobe and bed. We need to hurry up before she comes back and chucks us out.”

  She didn’t want Yansis to see what she had discovered. Apart from the syringe, there was another item concealed behind the hardboard. Rita recognised what it was when she traced its outline with her fingers. While Yansis had his back to her she withdrew the item and stashed it in her handbag. She’d keep it to herself for now. Yansis wouldn’t be happy about her taking it, but she thought it might come in useful.

  When Rita finished checking almost all the compartments, Raeni returned. “You found anything?” she asked, making Rita jump.

  “No,” Rita and Yansis replied in unison.

  “I told you there wouldn’t be anything to help you. I think you should go now. I don’t want one of the kids to come home and find out you been in Jamal’s room.”

  They returned downstairs. “I’ll let you know if we find anything,” said Rita, “But in the meantime, try not to ring me unless you’ve got any news. The coppers are always calling round and it would take some explaining if they knew you were on the phone.”

  Rita left with Yansis, dreading what they might have to do, but spurred on by the need to be reunited with their precious son.

  ***

  Friday 21st June 1996 – Evening

  Despite the circumstances, Rita couldn’t help but giggle when she caught sight of John wearing his disguise.

  “Bloody hell, John. I bet that paedo shit himself before you even lifted a finger. That disguise is enough to scare anyone. What are you trying to do, frighten the gangsters off?”

  “Ha ha, funny,” he said as he stepped inside the rear of the car. “I might look a bit of a dick but I can’t risk anyone recognising me. We sometimes have to attend incidents in that area.”

  Rita smiled before saying, “John, there’s just one thing I need to ask you before we go.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Well … If the paedo was picked up through the hospital CCTV, then how come Jamal wasn’t spotted? Surely, if he did have Daniel, like Raeni seems to think, then the CCTV would have shown him taking Daniel from the hospital.”

  “He was probably wearing a hoody. It’s a well-known trick. When they pass a camera, they just keep their heads low so it doesn’t capture an image of their face. The hospital CCTV probably showed quite a few men taking children out of the hospital because there would be plenty of parents visiting with their families.

  “Unless someone picked him out as a known criminal, then we wouldn’t have much to go on. He might also have kept Daniel on his blind side away from the camera, so it didn’t show Daniel’s face either. He could have been hidden behind Jamal.”

  “Ah, right … the crafty bastard!”

  “Yeah, they know all the tricks. Anyway, we’d best get cracking; we’ve only got twenty-four hours. What have we got to go on?”

  “Not a lot. All we know is the name of the guy he hangs about with on the Buckthorn. He’s called Kyle Palmer.”

  “I know the name. Big-time drug dealer and gangster. We’ve arrested him in the past.”

  “Do you know where he lives, then?”

  John laughed, “No, Rita. I don’t have the addresses of all the gangsters in Manchester, and some of them move around. Often they’ll stay on the same estate but they’ll move to different properties if things get too hot. They sometimes move into a council house that’s in someone else’s name, maybe a girlfriend or someone else that they’ve paid off. They do the same thing with private rented houses too.”

  “Jesus, it looks like we’ve got our work cut out, then. Raeni did say he was well known around the area though.”

  “Oh, he will be, but whether anyone will tell you where to find him is another matter.” He directed his next comment to Yansis. “Let’s get going. Do you know the way?”

  “We’ve been once before but it was a long time ago,” Yansis replied.

  “OK, just set off towards Moss Side, and I’ll direct you as we go along.”

  Yansis turned the key in the ignition and, as the car set off, Rita took in huge gulps of air to try to steady her racing heart.

  Chapter 20

  Friday 21st June 1996 – Late Evening

  The Buckthorn Estate was a scary place in the evening. As Rita recalled their previous experience of visiting the estate, she was filled with apprehension. That was five years ago, but the area hadn’t improved.

  They passed the Buckthorn Inn and Rita shuddered as she eyed the faded wooden signage, the flat roof surrounded by an impenetrable barrier of barbed wire, and the car park strewn with broken glass and empty bottles and cans. She remembered how she and Yansis had narrowly escaped being attacked in that same car park by a gang of youths armed with weapons fashioned from lengths of wood.

  “I think we’ll give that place a miss,” she said. “If we start asking questions in there, we might get more than we bargained for.”

  “I know all about the Buckthorn and who hangs out there,” said John. “It might be worth a try though. We’re bound to turn up something in a place like that where all the gangsters hang out.”

  “It’s a very dangerous place though,” said Yansis. “I think it is best if we try to find Jamal and his friend somewhere else.”

  “And where do you suggest, seeing as how we haven’t got much else to go on?”

  John was becoming testy and Rita guessed that even he, with his years of armed forces and police experience, was feeling nervous. Neither she nor Yansis replied.

  They continued driving for a few more minutes, passing a couple of street girls dressed for business. The girls were chatting amongst themselves until they caught sight of a slow-moving car, which focused their attention on the prospect of a potential customer. They soon lost interest when they noticed two men and a woman inside.

  There weren’t many other people about this late in the evening apart from a few groups of youths, and two men who appeared to be conducting a deal. Rita guessed what kind of deal it was when she saw one of the men give the other a friendly pat on the shoulder before walking away with a bounce in his stride.

  They cruised around for a while, passing through streets of run-down houses, and an occasional row of shops. The locked-down shutters protected most of the shops from burglars, but not from the vandals who used the shutters as a canvas for their graffiti artwork. Rita noticed that one shop in particular was busy. It was a kebab shop, which had two cars parked outside, and several customers inside.

  Yansis continued to follow John’s instructions as he directed him around the dimly lit streets of Moss Side. Eventually it became obvious to Rita that they were going round in circles. She noticed they had passed the kebab shop twice.

  “What exactly is the plan, John?” she asked.

  “Right, one more time along this road,” he said, “And then I want you to pull up near to the kebab shop, Yansis. Not too near though. We want to be able to observe, but we don’t want them to see us.”

  When Yansis parked the car, Rita asked, “OK, what are we looking for, and who are ‘them’?”

  “We’re watching the kebab shop,” said John. “It just seems a bit funny that so many BMWs and Audis are stopping off there. And I’m talking brand-new, top-of-the-range vehicles.”

  Both Rita and Yansis stared blankly at him until he added. “They’re the type of cars that drug pushers like; high performance vehicles that give them a quick getaway if they’re being pursued.”

  Rita thought back to the cars that used to be parked outside her sister’s house, and it made sense. “You mean the shop’s just a front?” she asked.

  “Could be. Let’s watch it for a while and see what happens.”
/>
  They didn’t stay too long as they didn’t want to rouse suspicion; just long enough to confirm John’s hunch. “Yes, there’s definitely something iffy,” he said. “I think it’s time for me to go inside and check things out, maybe ask a few questions.”

  Rita didn’t agree. “Give over, John. It’ll be too bloody obvious. You’ve got old bill written all over you.”

  “What do you suggest then?”

  “I’ll do it.” Despite making the suggestion, she could feel her adrenalin surge as terror gripped her. But that wouldn’t stop her. “I can pretend I’m his girlfriend, looking for him. It’ll be more convincing.”

  “No!” said Yansis.

  “You know I’m gonna do it, anyway. It’s the best way … We want our son back, don’t we?”

  “I’m not happy about it either,” sighed John. “But she does have a point. If we pull up outside, we can watch through the car window. If there are any problems, I’ll be in the shop in seconds. Let’s circle the block once more first. That way, it won’t look as obvious. Once we’ve driven round, we’ll park straight outside as though we’ve just arrived.

  “If there are any flash cars outside, we’ll give it a miss. I don’t want to run into Jamal and his cronies just yet; I’d rather take them by surprise. But if the shop’s clear, we’ll go for it.”

  “I’m still not happy,” said Yansis.

  “Yansis, I probably shouldn’t be telling you this, but I am armed,” said John. “And I’m an officer of the law. I can have backup here in minutes. As long as Rita stays in the front of the shop, there won’t be a problem.

  “If there’s any threat, I’ll be straight inside. I’m going to give you a number that you can ring for backup. I don’t really want you to use it because it’ll give the game away, and I’ll be in the shit. But, if it makes you feel better, you can use it as a last resort.

  “And don’t forget, it is only a kebab shop. Plenty of people go there to buy food as well.”

  John’s reassurances helped to persuade Yansis, and Rita felt a rush of fear as she primed herself for the task. “Pass me that bottle of water,” she said.

  Yansis did as she asked and watched her tip some onto a tissue, which she used to smudge her mascara.

  “It’ll make it more convincing if they think I’m upset,” she said. She pulled down the sleeve of her jacket and top so they hung haphazardly, and messed up her hair, giving her a more bedraggled appearance. Then, she tore a hole in her top to add to the effect. “Right, here goes,” she said, stepping out of the car.

  By the time she arrived inside the shop there was only one other customer, a man in his thirties who seemed acquainted with the proprietors. She was relieved that it wasn’t as busy as earlier. When Rita stepped inside, they all stopped talking to scrutinize her appearance. She kept her mind focused on the task, not allowing herself to be intimidated.

  Rita approached the counter, making eye contact with the large mean-looking man who was serving. Behind him, another man was using a large knife to strip slices of meat from a rotary grill. He paused as he watched her, with the knife poised menacingly. “I’m looking for Jamal Samuels,” she sniffed.

  “What do you want him for?” asked the large man.

  “I can’t tell you. It’s important, I need to see him!”

  “Who are you?”

  “His girlfriend.”

  “No, you’re not! I’ve seen him with his girlfriend.”

  This shock revelation threw Rita at first, but she reacted quickly. Feigning annoyance, she asked, “What do you mean, you’ve seen him with his girlfriend? I’m his fuckin’ girlfriend!”

  “That’s not what he told me,” laughed the man.

  “This isn’t funny. I’m having his fuckin’ kid, and you’re telling me he’s messing around! Where is he now? Is he with her?”

  The man shrugged, “Not got a clue, but I can’t wait to tell him you called.”

  He laughed out loud, and the other two men joined in.

  “Do you know where I can find him? Is he at Kyle’s?”

  “No, I don’t. Best go round there and check, hadn’t you?”

  “I’m not sure where Kyle lives. He’s never taken me.”

  The man laughed again. “I’m not surprised. That’s probably where he takes his other girlfriend.”

  Rita knew she was wasting her time. She wouldn’t get Kyle’s address from these men.

  “Thanks for nowt!” she said, making a pretence of storming out of the shop. She could overhear one of them say, “I didn’t know Jamal was into shaggin’ older women as well.” His words were followed by loud, raucous laughter, and a response she didn’t catch.

  “Well?” asked John when she got back into the car.

  “Waste of time,” said Rita, and she explained what had taken place.

  “OK, we’ll think of something else,” he said. “Let’s hope they don’t see Jamal before we do. We don’t want him to know that we’re looking for him. We’d best get away from here before they cotton onto us.”

  They continued driving around the streets, observing the youths that hung around in groups. In the absence of any other ideas, Rita said, “OK John, I think our best bet is to ask one of these gangs of kids if they’ve heard of this Kyle.”

  “OK, we’ll give that a go. But you two stay in the car this time; you’ve gotta watch some of ’em. This area’s renowned for muggings.”

  “And what makes you think you’ll be better off on your own? Safety in numbers and all that.”

  “Yansis needs to keep an eye on the car for one thing. And you’re a woman. Like it or not, Rita, it means you’re not as strong as a man. And we took a big enough risk in the kebab shop as it is.”

  “You’ll still be better off with me than on your own. Yansis can mind the car but I’ll come with you.”

  “No you won’t! I know what I’m doing. Why did you ask for my help if you won’t listen to what I’m telling you?”

  “OK, have it your way but if you have any problems I’ll be out of this bleedin’ car like lightning. Watch yourself, they might be carrying bloody knives or anything.”

  “Don’t you think they teach us anything in the police?” John asked, and Rita noticed his hand move inside his jacket pocket as he spoke. She realised that he wasn’t taking any chances. He was ready to use his weapon if necessary.

  From inside the car Rita watched John approach the youths. They were several metres away, and she wound down the window in an attempt to overhear what was taking place.

  She could tell by their body language they were ready for conflict. Where they had previously appeared animated, bouncing around, tapping each other and laughing as though sharing a joke, they now became rigid, almost still. They all turned towards John, watching his approach, standing in a horizontal line, primed for action.

  Once John reached the youths they crowded round him and listened intently as he spoke. Rita couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he seemed to have gained their interest, and they visibly relaxed when he took out his wallet and offered some notes to the main speaker.

  When he turned and walked back towards them, Rita’s relief was almost palpable. Nevertheless, she carried on watching the youths who resumed their laughter. A renewed feeling of unease washed over her. She couldn’t help but feel that John was now the butt of the joke.

  “Gilston Street School, they reckon,” said John when he got back in the car.

  “Do you know it?”

  “Yeah, it’s about a mile away. It’s been derelict for some time.”

  “How do you know they’re telling the truth?” asked Rita.

  “I don’t, but what choice have we got? We’ve got nothing else to go on.”

  Rita didn’t even have to think before replying as she was driven by her desire to find Daniel, “OK, let’s go.”

  “Straight ahead,” John said to Yansis. “I’ll tell you when to turn.”

  Chapter 21

  Friday 21s
t June 1996 – Night

  Raeni hadn’t heard anything further from Rita. It was hours since she and her husband left Raeni’s home, and she was worried. She’d tried to get hold of Jamal numerous times by ringing his mobile but she was having no luck. It either rang a few times then she heard an answerphone message, or she got the engaged tone. She didn’t know much about how these mobile phones worked but her guess was that he was either cutting off the call or switching his phone off. The stupid boy! If only he would answer her calls.

  Although she had sent Rita and Yansis to rescue Daniel, she would rather speak to Jamal herself if she could. Raeni was anxious about the problems it would cause when Jamal came face-to-face with Daniel’s parents. She only contacted them out of desperation because she couldn’t get in touch with Jamal herself. And she hadn’t been able to get any help from Devan. It wouldn’t stop her from trying to contact Jamal in the meantime though.

  She hadn’t told them that Jamal had a mobile phone. If he knew they were onto him, she’d have less chance of getting Daniel back. She knew how little he thought of Rita and Yansis. No, it was far better if she could speak to Jamal; maybe she could talk sense into him.

  She decided to try again and, if she couldn’t get hold of him, she would just have to leave a message on that answerphone thing. Unfortunately, Raeni wasn’t used to answerphones, and when the recorded message played she muttered a garbled response beginning before the tone sounded.

  “Jamal, this is your mother. Have you got the child? … I need you to come home.”

  She was unaware that her first sentence hadn’t been recorded at all, and her second sentence was picked up partway through.

  Raeni knew her message wasn’t forceful enough as soon as she cut the call. Damn! She hadn’t had time to think, and she doubted whether that message would spur Jamal into action. She rang once more but it was engaged. Rather than keep ringing, she gave up on the idea for now. Those silly recording machines baffled her.

  Inactivity was only causing her more anxiety. She needed to do something, so she pulled out the phone book from the shelf where it was resting on her wall unit. There, nestled between the cover and the first page, was the torn off cigarette packet with Rita’s number on it.