Read Online Beyond Innocence by Barrie Turner - Free Book Online

Angela Clarkson lay. Although they did not have specific confirmation that this watch belonged to Clarkson, they were quite sure that, given time, events would prove that this was indeed the case.
    Thompson was known to drink in the local pubs and hotels in the area and, although he had been identified as being in the Roundhead Hotel on the night in question, nobody could confirm having seen him there with the Clarkson woman.
    The railway guard had come forward following the crime watch programme and volunteered the information that a well dressed young lady, who bore a strong resemblance to Clarkson, had boarded his train at the Bromborough Rake station late one evening around the time of her death. Subsequent examination of the CCTV footage revealed the presence of a man on the platform and, although the image caught on screen resembled Thompson, they were unable to obtain definite proof or, confirmation of this.
    “What do you think about it now then?” Jim asked his chief.
    Jim West didn’t take long to think about his reply.
    “Well Peter, I see it like this we have no DNA in this case so all we can do is build up the circumstantial case against him. First of all we treat the DNA in Clarkson as though it doesn’t exist. After all, if we don’t introduce it the defence cannot comment upon it. Then we devote all our efforts into tying the watch in with Clarkson. If we can show that Clarkson wore that watch, I think we are home and dry simply because it’s all too coincidental.”
    Inspector Taylor agreed adding, it was just a pity that they couldn’t get access to her last client but, given a decent break, they would get there in the end.

Chapter 8
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    Jim West had left his boss in his office and he was driving alone to Walton Gaol where he was going to interview Royston Chambers, an old lag whom he had put away many times before. He had telephoned the prison before he set out in order that Chambers could be informed of his impending visit and dwell upon the implications of it. Over the years Chambers had operated as a paid informer to the police and he was one of Jim West’s own snouts. This time however Chambers was in big trouble as it looked like he was going to go down for a long time on the aggravated assault and burglary charges he was facing. In the circumstances, Jim West reasoned, it might just be the right time to call in a few markers and, Roy Chambers fitted the bill nicely.
    Meanwhile, many miles away, a train was pulling slowly into Paddington Station. Today, Quentin Russell was not in his usual hurry to make his way to the Commons’ tea bar. Today he wanted to take his time in order that he could plan his strategy with the MP he was going to meet. Last night, he had received a tip- off, from one of his most impeccable sources that a member of the house might be implicated in the death of Angela Clarkson, a Liverpool prostitute, found murdered on the Wirral.
    Quentin Russell was seen by many of his colleagues as a political assassin but he always played the game fairly and squarely. He never pursued or persecuted anybody unfairly or without just cause or reason. He didn’t have to because his sources of information were always spot on. Some people said quite openly that he must have a mole within cabinet circles but he never gave anything away and preferred instead to leave his other political reporter colleagues floundering in his wake. It was academic to him anyway because he would never disclose his primary source even if he’d wanted to, due to the fact that he had never met her. He only knew her by the name she had chosen – Rose. In this instance, it was late last night when the call came on his mobile requesting him to contact one of his MP colleagues in order to ask him to put down a question in the House. In return for this, Quentin Russell knew that the Member would put down his question at Prime Minister’s question time. The question would be asked and, as a result, Quentin would