The Major Crimes Team - Vol 1: Lines of Enquiry by Graham Smith Read Free Book Online

control. It was time to mobilise the troops.
     
    *    *    *    *
     
    Joserand checked his phone and saw a missed call from Chisholm. There was also a text message warning him the gang were coming his way. The text also told him to turn right at the first opportunity.
    Running at three quarter pace to conserve energy, he turned right. Within a minute he was at Wigton Road.
    Now it was decision time. Should he turn left and head for the safety of the busier central areas of the city, or should he cross the road and hide himself in suburbia. He knew there was a park surrounding a community centre, the idea of hiding among the numerous bushes called to him. Yet he knew it was also a perfect place for an attack to go unnoticed.
    Crossing Wigton Road at a sprint, he thundered along the pavement, his eyes searching for a decent hiding place. When he found one he’d text Chisholm and let him know where he was.
     
    *    *    *    *
    Chisholm kept updating the Facebook page with statuses designed to draw the vigilante group away from Joserand’s position. When he’d led them into a bottle neck he would spring his trap.
    Before he dared spring the trap he would have to locate Joserand and have him collected.
    His repeated texts had gone un-answered. It didn’t surprise him. If he was in Joserand’s position he wouldn’t be sending texts. He’d be running for his life.
    Lauren and Bhaki were circling the area looking for Joserand. Both were relying on him to pinpoint an exact location though.
    Looking at his mobile he willed it to beep or ring, to show any kind of message or contact from Joserand.
    Facebook was updated with a new status which caused him to gasp in disbelief.
    Think U guys may be mistaken. Pretty sure he’s just ran along Barrowvale Road.
    Bloody hell. Joserand must have taken fright and crossed Wigton Road. He must be terrified.
    Calling Lauren he re-directed her towards Barrowvale Road while leaving Bhaki to watch for any sign of the gang moving in that direction.
    As he spoke he used a different profile to post to the group.
    U r wrong!!! Hes jst gone by me hes running like fuck so u better be quick.
    The response was immediate.
    Where r u?
    Chisholm glanced at the map on the wall and found the perfect place to spring his trap.
    By oakdale school
    A flood of vitriolic comments came after his post, each poster calling Joserand worse than shit for going towards a school.
     
    *    *    *    *
    Evans ran through the hospital as fast as he could, concern for Janet powering him through the sterile atrium.
    His watch told him she would be in surgery for another hour at least but he had to be there. He had to be by her side, or as close as he could be.
    Joserand and all the others could look after themselves. His place was here with his wife, even if the here in question was a hospital waiting room. Speaking to a receptionist at the main desk, he was told to go to the Beech ward.
    The receptionist had a patient manner and friendly smile, but neither was enough to lift the gloom of his spirits.
    Janet had been withdrawn enough after losing the baby, now she’d lost the chance of having another he didn’t know how he could begin to lift her spirits.
    Right now he wasn’t sure he could lift his own. He felt like raging at the injustices of the world but knew better. Theirs was a fate many couples faced and there was nothing or nobody to blame for it. Life had decided to take a kick at Mr & Mrs Harry Evans and there was nothing to be gained from taking a kick back.
    Sitting alone in the waiting room, he made repeated vows he would do whatever it took to put the smile back into Janet’s eyes.
     
    *    *    *    *
     
    Hiding behind a garage, Troy Joserand reached into his hoodie’s front pocket. His grasping fingers could only feel the keys to his temporary home and his wallet. Checking again he still couldn’t find his mobile.
    Reasoning it must have fallen out when he was