Two Evils: A DI Charlotte Savage Novel by Mark Sennen Read Free Book Online

large mixing bowl containing a huge hunk of dough. ‘Might even be enough for you too.’
    ‘Thanks. I do live here.’
    ‘Yeah, I know.’ Pete switched his focus to the radio. ‘But I heard on the news a kid had gone missing. Didn’t realise you’d be back.’
    ‘Yes.’ Savage looked across to Jamie. He was already bored of the conversation and his head was deep in a Beano annual. ‘An eleven-year-old.’
    ‘Suspicious?’
    Savage sighed. ‘The kid regularly plays truant and the mother’s got a violent partner. Plus she didn’t seem to think it worth telling us he’d gone missing last night until this morning. So yes, deeply worrying.’
    Pete put his arm out and held Savage around the waist. He glanced over to Jamie. ‘Well, you’re home now. Let’s have something to eat and a drink and you can forget all about it for a few hours, can’t you?’
    Savage half turned to the window. A reflection of their little family tableau shone back at her. She refocused and stared beyond the pane to where the lights of Plymouth flared in the growing darkness across the inky black water. Jason Hobb was out there somewhere. Face down in the cold sea. Battered to death by his mother’s boyfriend. Abducted by some pervert. Or perhaps, as she’d said to DC Calter, the boy had just run off and tomorrow he’d turn up, safe and sound and everyone would live happily ever after.
    ‘Forget about it?’ Savage said. ‘Yes, of course I can.’

Chapter Six
    Crownhill Police Station, Plymouth. Wednesday 21st October. 9.22 a.m.
    Wednesday morning and there was still no sign of Jason Hobb. The door-to-door officers had come back empty-handed and the various search and rescue teams were winding down their operations. There was as yet no evidence a crime had been committed but everyone involved was becoming increasingly worried.
    The first piece of good news came at ten o’clock. Ned Stone, the mother’s boyfriend, had been located. Apparently he was back at his digs in Devonport. A ground-floor bedsit on Clarence Place. Savage grabbed DC Calter and they headed over there and rendezvoused with a local PC.
    ‘Spotted his car, ma’am,’ the woman said. She beamed at Savage, pleased with herself. ‘Wasn’t there when we went round late last night nor first thing this morning.’
    ‘Well done,’ Savage said as they strolled up the narrow pavement. ‘And you think he’s in?’
    ‘I stood to one side of the window. There’s a telly on full blast.’
    Savage nodded and slowed as they reached a dark blue door. ‘This it?’

    ‘Yes.’ The PC pointed across the street to a battered red Corsa. ‘And that’s his car. As I said, it wasn’t here earlier and there was no answer when we knocked.’
    ‘So he’s been away.’ It was a statement, not a question. Savage didn’t need to bring up the obvious implication.
    ‘Told you, ma’am,’ Calter said, moving forward. ‘Let’s get in there and find out what he knows.’
    ‘Yes.’ Savage put a hand out. ‘But we play it straight, OK?’
    They approached the door and Savage enquired about other exits. Not from the bedsit, the PC said. Savage looked at the three bell pushes to the right of the door. Flats one, two and three. She pushed the button for number three and then, after there was no reply, number two. Almost immediately there was a sound, somebody descending the stairs and then a figure behind the glass panel. The door opened a fraction, coming up against a security chain. A woman’s face appeared in the gap. Elderly, looking concerned.
    ‘Police.’ Savage kept her voice low and proffered her warrant card. ‘We’ve business with Mr Stone. If you could let us in that would be great.’
    The woman looked back over her shoulder and then nodded. She released the security chain and was already scuttling down the corridor and up the stairs as Savage and Calter entered the hallway. Halfway down on the right a bicycle leant against the wall. Beyond the bicycle a door