Impeding Justice by Mel Comley Read Free Book Online Page B

sitting
down. You’re starting to worry me, man, get on with it. What has
that wretched girl of mine been up to now?’
    ‘ Well, it’s like this,
ma’am. A couple of my men saw the gang, they were about to read
them the riot act, when out of nowhere came a black 4x4. It pulled
up alongside young Charlie, the back door opened and a man leaned
out and grabbed her.’
    Shit! What did he just say, a 4x4, a black
4x4? Fear smacked her in the stomach.
    ‘ Ma’am, are you still
there?’
    She gulped in a large breath and exhaled
slowly, ‘Yes, Burt. This 4x4, give me the plate number.
    ‘ Er…Uniform, November,
India…’
    ‘ 123.’
    ‘ You know this car, ma’am?
We were just about to run a check.’
    ‘ Yes, Burt, God, did no one
try to stop him!’
    ‘ My men were on the other
side of the gang and didn’t stand a chance, but a couple of the
youngsters tried to hold on to Charlie. One of them got a boot in
the face and a broken nose. The Officers in attendance called for
immediate back-up we activated the nearest patrol car, but we lost
the trail. Every patrol is on the lookout for the car, but one big
set back is that Charlie’s school bag containing her mobile dropped
on to the floor. If she’d had that on her…’
    ‘ Oh, Burt, the guy who has
taken my Charlie is an evil bastard… Oh, God! Sorry, Burt, I’ll get
back to you.’
    She knew her legs wouldn’t take her as far as
the DCI’s office. Through her sea of tears she fumbled with the
phone, found his emergency direct line button and pushed it.
    ‘ Lorne…?’
    Her scream bounced off the walls and came
back at her…
    ‘ HE’S GOT MY DAUGHTER. THE
BASTARD HAS GOT CHARLIE.’

Chapter Twelve.
     
    ‘ Everyone, as you
were!’
    Lorne wiped her eyes. Hearing the DCI taking
charge and clearing her team from her doorway gave some normality
back to her.
    John gave her shoulders a last squeeze.
    ‘ Right, Fox, settle the team
down. Tell them I will brief them as soon as Lorne has told me what
happened.’
    ‘ Now, Lorne, give me a full
report.’
    She knew this drill. Make the distressed cop
get back into professional mode. Better than a slap around the face
to calm hysteria.
    She told him all she knew. ‘Sean, what the
hell is that sick bastard going to do with her? She’s a thirteen
year old girl, for fuck sake!’
    ‘ Let’s not speculate. First,
ring Tom and let him know. Get him in here if that’s what you both
want.’
    Everything by the book...
    With shaking fingers she managed to speed
dial Tom. ‘Tom… Oh Tom, Charlie… She’s been snatched…’
    ‘ Christ, Lorne! What…
Who…?’
    ‘ It’s to do with a case I’ve
been working on and…’
    ‘ Not that, Wacko, bastard
Unicorn…’
    ‘ Yes, Tom. He’s got our
Charlie…Oh, God, He’s…’
    ‘ I told you, Lorne. You’re
to blame! I fucking told you to give the case up.’
    His reaction, though predictable, appalled
her. ‘You can’t blame me any more than I blame myself, Tom.’
    ‘ Has he contacted you? Made
any demands?’
    ‘ No, he hasn’t contacted
since, God! Is it still today, I mean…’ She looked at her watch,
11pm. ‘He contacted earlier, before…that is why I’ve had to stay
on…’
    ‘ What did he say,
then?’
    ‘ I can’t tell you, Tom, I’m
sorry, security…’
    ‘ Fuck that. Did he threaten
to take Charlie?’
    ‘ No…’
    ‘ But you know what he’s
planning, right?’
    ‘ Tom…I can’t
say…’
    ‘ Then, I’ll find someone who
can…’
    Lorne sat staring at the telephone.
    ‘ Is he coming
over?’
    ‘ No, sir, at least, I don’t
think so. He thinks I know something and I’m not keeping him in the
loop. I think he’ll get in touch with my dad and use him to go over
our heads.’
    ‘ Well, if it keeps him
occupied. His reaction is normal, Lorne, well, ish. I’d have
thought he’d have wanted to be with you, I…’
    The phone cut into whatever he was going to
say to her. For a moment she felt glad it had, but the