Black & Blue: Where it all began…… (D.S Hunter Kerr) by Michael Fowler Read Free Book Online Page A

words.” Withdrawing his gaze, he pushed the typewriter he’d been pounding away on into the middle of his desk. “Anyway, enough of the reminiscing, let’s talk about the job in hand.” Steepling his fingers he said slowly, “Mathew David Smith.” Then, on a quicker note, “I’ve locked up and dealt with Matty quite a few times in the past and he’s always come quiet as a mouse. I’m surprised that he’s had a go at you two.”
    “I think he was desperate,” replied Hunter.
    “What do you mean?”
    “He told us in the car that he’d done the burglary because he owes money to someone for some cannabis he had last week. Apparently the guy’s been round to his flat and threatened that if he didn’t cough up the money by the weekend he was in for a good hiding.”
    “ Has he said who his dealer is?”
    Hunter shook his head. “We haven’t interviewed him properly yet. Though, he has said that he’ll do a deal if we give him bail.”
    “Did n’t I hear that he’s already on bail?”
    Hunter nodded, “For shoplifting.”
    “He’s going nowhere then. I’ll have to give him some bullshit for his dealer’s name.” Pulling apart his fingers and pressing his hands down palm flat upon his desk he said, “You can leave this with me if you want. The fact that he’s used violence, I’d like to talk to him about the attack on Edith Thompson while I’m at it.”
    Hunter and Emma exchanged glances and both nodded in agreement.
    DC Hemsworth acknowledged their response with a brief smile. “Okay then . You two do me your statements, and then I’ll do the interview and remand file. I’ll leave the DCI a note for tomorrow morning. I’ve been in this job twenty-seven years and I’ve never caught a burglar on the job. You’ll both probably get a commendation for this. Well done. Good arrest.”
    Hunter beamed inside as he left the CID office.
     
    - ooOoo -
     
     

     
    CHAPTER NINE
     
    Days later Hunter walked his beat with a spring in his step. His Inspector had informed him that he and Emma had been put forward for a Divisional Commander’s commendation. During interview, Mathew David Smith had denied any involvement in the attack upon Edith Thompson, but he had admitted to three other house burglaries and half-a-dozen shoplifting offences and was now on remand in Armley Prison.
    He hoped it would be a step nearer to his getting in CID.
    Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by an urgent radio message . The Control Room were informing everyone that a 999 call had just been received from a woman who was being attacked by a man. Taking in the details Hunter realised he was only round the corner from the location and picking up his pace, he informed the Police Operator that he was attending.
    Dearne View consisted of three blocks of two storey flat roofed , council tenements. Number 18, where the call had come from, was on the first floor of the middle block.
    Yanking open the entrance way doors, Hunter bounded up the concrete stairwell to the first floor where he skidded to a halt and took in a deep breath. The doorway to his left was open and gripping his hasp called out as he stepped into a gloomy narrow hallway. Turning an ear he heard muffled sounds of something being dragged and edging ahead into a lounge-cum-dining room he saw a young, slim, fair-haired woman up-righting an armchair. She turned to face him as he stepped into the room.
    Her face was flushed and Hunter saw that the front of her T-shirt was torn. Two trails of mascara stained her cheeks where she had been crying.
    There was no one else around.
    “You’ve made a three-nines call? Someone attacking you? Hunter pointed at her torn T-shirt. What’s happened?”
    “He’s nearly killed me this time.” She rubbed a thumb across her cheek smudging her mascara further. Then, she took a step forward and tilted her head exposing her neck. She pointed to red marks each side of her throat. “I want him done for this. He almost strangled