Spider's Web by Ben Cheetham Read Free Book Online Page A

Bastards like these think they can fuck us with impunity. Well it’s time they learnt differently. I’m going to make their lives a living hell.’
    ‘And they yours.’
    Anna let out a disdainful laugh. ‘They’re about twenty years too late for that.’
    Jim looked at her with concern. He tapped the list. ‘Is there any way you could publish that anonymously?’
    ‘Yeah sure, but why would I do that?’
    ‘I know you don’t think so, Anna, but it seems to me you’ve got a lot to lose. Your blog’s almost certain to get shut down.’
    Anna shrugged. ‘So I’ll start another. And if they put me in prison, I’ll write it from there. That’s the beauty of the internet. They can’t silence us, no matter how hard they try.’
    ‘And what about your mum? Will she be able to handle it if you end up in prison?’
    Anna eyed Jim narrowly. ‘I’m a little confused. You brought this thing to me. Now you’re trying to talk me out of it.’
    ‘I just want to make sure you’re going into it with your eyes open.’
    ‘My eyes have been fully open for a long time now. Look, we both know that if I’m going to do this it’s got to have my name attached to it. Otherwise it’s just another bit of worthless internet shit-flinging.’ Anna smiled again, and this time there was a trace of softness in it. ‘Your concern’s touching and all, but believe me I can take care of myself.’
    So could Margaret , thought Jim. His expression troubled, he unconsciously took out the key again and thumbed its edge. He hadn’t wanted to involve Anna in this, but her blog was the perfect platform to get the word out. Her integrity was untainted by any allegiances other than to the victims of crime themselves. Moreover, her readers didn’t simply trust her, they loved her. That much was obvious from the comments beneath her blog posts. And that combination of factors gave her a kind of power no mainstream media possessed.
    ‘What’s with the key?’ asked Anna.
    ‘It’s a copy of one found in Edward Forester’s bunker that had Freddie Harding’s fingerprints on it. I’ve spent months trying to work out where it’s for. To be honest, I’d almost given up on it until you mentioned the red devil keyring. Not that I have any reason to believe the two things are connected, but… well it got me thinking about it again.’
    ‘Can I have a look at it?’
    Jim gave Anna the key.
    She turned it over in her hand as he’d done. ‘It looks like a garage door key.’
    ‘That’s exactly what it is. It’s a Gliderol key. They manufacture residential and industrial roller garage doors.’
    ‘There are no markings on it.’
    ‘There aren’t any on the original either.’
    ‘So this is most likely a copy of a copy.’
    Jim nodded. ‘You’ve got a good eye for detail.’
    ‘So where have you tried it?’
    ‘Harding’s work place, Forester and his mother’s garages and work places, the Winstanleys’ garages, various storage units near Harding’s house in Wath upon Dearne. Problem is, Gliderol doors are so common it’s an almost impossible task. Bar trying it in every roller door in South Yorkshire, I’m not sure what else to do.’
    ‘Do you mind if I have a go at finding where it fits?’
    Jim’s eyebrows drew together. Noting his concern, Anna continued, ‘I’m about to put myself directly in the line of fire. I hardly think it’ll make much difference if I make some enquiries about a garage door.’
    ‘OK, but don’t broadcast it over the internet or anywhere else. I’m the only one with a copy of that key. If my superiors find out you’ve got it, it’ll be pretty obvious where it’s come from.’
    ‘Don’t worry. I know I’ve got a big gob, but I can do things on the quiet too.’
    Jim didn’t doubt that. Anna clearly had a talent for this kind of work – a talent that had been sucked into one long fruitless search for her missing sister. He felt a familiar surge of impotent anger at the thought of it. He