The Careless Word (#8 - The Craig Crime Series) by Catriona King Read Free Book Online Page B

Let’s accept that the shop would have had security measures and start looking for them.”
    Craig continued with the forensics and then updated them on their survivor. “Liam and I are going back to the hospital later, to see what we can find out. Annette, dig further into the CCTV please and pay a visit to Papyrus. I’d value your opinion of the scene, just in case we missed something.”
    He turned to Davy. He was examining his hair for split ends. Before Craig could comment, Davy showed that he’d been listening attentively. “I’m looking into each of the victims’ backgrounds in detail, including the s…survivor.”
    “Great, and give Des a call on the forensics as well, please.” Craig paused and a rueful expression crossed his face. “Don’t ask me why but I think the army’s going to be difficult about the details of the bomb.”
    Liam nodded. “They always are. Mind you, that young lad Smith seemed friendly enough.”
    “That young lad is about thirty-five, Liam, and yes, he was friendly, but his boss might be a different kettle of fish.” Craig squinted at his deputy. “Besides, when did you get so fond of army officers? You’ve never had a good word to say about them until now.”
    Liam nodded. He’d crossed swords with the military plenty of times during the Troubles. Some of them had thought their jurisdiction included the whole country and they’d wrangled to take the lead in the investigation of every blast. If he had respect for them it came from their willingness to defuse bombs; that bit he’d been very happy to leave them with.
    “Aye, that’s true. They can be a bolshie lot.”
    Liam grinned pointedly at Craig and everyone knew he was thinking about Julia McNulty, Craig’s ex. She was a D.I. up in Limavady now but she’d been an army captain for years and the hierarchical manner had never left her.
    “But they know their stuff on bombs, right enough. They were usually able to give us a name, just by looking at the way the device was rigged.”
    “Good, let’s hope they can this time. Davy, on the off-chance that they’re less than generous with information, I still need to know everything that the army knows about our blast. “
    “I have a contact at the barracks. I’ll try him.”
    “Good. Let me know if you get anything. I’ll arrange a meeting with Major James as well. I also need a copy of the shop’s floor plan, its ownership history and everything you can find on its stock. Also the finances of all the victims.”
    “W…What are you thinking of?”
    Craig shook his head slowly. “I’m not sure yet, but there was a reason that shop was targeted and it can only be to do with one of the victims, the shop, its contents, or some other history we don’t know about. Smithfield might be OK now, but the area has had a variable past.”
    Annette nodded. She remembered going there to collect her children’s school uniforms and the number of shops with blacked-out windows and furtive looking men outside had been substantial even then.
    Liam yawned widely, wishing he’d gone to bed instead of sitting up till two a.m. watching his recorded football match.
    “You thinking protection racket, boss?”
    Craig shrugged. “Maybe, or maybe something else. We’ll find out when we start digging.” He sprang to his feet, preparing to leave, then stopped suddenly and scanned the room. “Jake’s still off with his root canal?”
    “Aye. He should have stayed away from the dentist, that’s what I do. Brush and pray and you’ll be all right.”
    “Not everyone has your faith in God.”
    “Danni does the praying for me. I just brush.”
    Craig resisted making a crack. “When are we expecting Jake back?”
    Annette smiled apologetically. “I thought it was going to be today or Monday, but it seems I was wrong. Jake’s partner called me last night saying he was in agony. He’s got an infection so he’s likely to be off for the best part of next week.”
    Craig made up his