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

Savage. ‘You’ve got to be fucking joking. I’m not his dad, am I? The kid’s all right, but he stays out of my way and that’s how I like it.’
    ‘So if you’re not in the relationship for an instant family, why exactly are you with Mrs Hobb?’
    Stone cocked his head and half opened his mouth as if Savage had lost the plot. ‘Why is anybody with anyone? It’s a laugh, isn’t it? Angie turns me on. She might have had a kid but she’s got a great body.’
    ‘So it’s about the sex, is it?’
    ‘Yeah.’ Stone smiled. He stared at Savage as if he fancied his chances. ‘When we met she hadn’t been with anyone for a couple of years. She was gagging for it.’
    ‘I bet she was.’ Savage returned Stone’s smile. ‘And you gave her what she wanted, right?’
    ‘Yeah. She loved it. Still does. Can’t get enough, know what I mean?’
    ‘Yes.’ Savage nodded. ‘So you think you’ve got a long-term thing going with Angie? You’ll move in, make an honest woman of her. Contribute to the household. Pay the mortgage.’
    ‘Nah, don’t think so.’ Stone paused. Cocked his head. ‘Haven’t you heard that expression? Treat ’em mean and keep ’em keen? I don’t want to go getting all lovey-dovey.’
    ‘Nice. You should write a book on the subject, Ned. You’d make a fortune. And that’s what this is all about, isn’t it?’
    ‘Hey?’
    ‘I believe she owns her own house. Most of it, anyway. OK, so Torpoint isn’t exactly Salcombe, but with a little work the place is worth a couple of hundred K. But Angie’s mum sussed you out. You told Angie you had a job in the Navy dockyards, but you don’t have a job at all. What’s more, you did three years for assaulting your ex.’

    ‘Fu …’ Stone paused and said nothing for a moment. ‘You’ve got it wrong. I love Angie. We’re made for each other.’
    ‘Right.’ A few seconds ago Stone had said he didn’t want to get lovey-dovey; now, apparently, she was his soulmate. Savage stood. She walked across to the door. ‘You should know she’s worried sick. Angie. We are too, to be honest.’
    ‘And me.’
    ‘Really?’ Savage shook her head as if she didn’t believe Stone. ‘If you mean that then I suggest you tell me what you were doing Monday so we can eliminate you from our enquiries.’
    ‘I was out in town drinking all day. Various pubs. Had a right skinful.’
    ‘On your own?’
    ‘Yeah. Sad fucker, ain’t I?’
    ‘And then you came home?’
    ‘Yes.’ Stone paused. ‘No. I kipped round a mate’s flat in Stonehouse.’
    ‘You’d better start thinking about the pubs you visited. We’ll want a list. The name of your mate too.’ Stone nodded as Savage stood in the doorway for a moment. ‘And don’t think about doing a runner either, OK?’
    ‘A runner?’ Stone cocked his head on one side. ‘Why on earth would I do that?’
    Savage didn’t stop to give an answer. She went outside and found Calter peering into the rear of Stone’s car.
    ‘We should have this in, ma’am,’ Calter said, tapping the rear window. ‘The CSIs should be giving the vehicle the once-over in case the boy was in there.’

    Savage thought for a moment. She glanced back at Stone’s place. The curtain twitched, Stone’s face visible for a moment before he ducked back from view.
    ‘I don’t think so, Jane. Not yet at least.’
    The wooden raft was all but forgotten by Wednesday. Riley had arranged for the coastguard to take care of its disposal, while he’d handed the aluminium tube, complete with contents, to the Scientific and Technical Services Unit. His concern now was coordinating some intel on a forthcoming drugs raid. A pet grooming parlour in the Stoke area of the city was doubling as a distribution centre for cannabis. Bring your pooch in for a shampoo and leave with a quarter of resin hidden in a bag of dog treats. The place had been under surveillance for the past week and alongside the regular clientele the visitors had included a