Read Online Hindsight (9781921997211) by Melanie Casey - Free Book Online Page A

Most shops didn’t even have cameras and the ones that did mostly didn’t use them in the winter months.
    Phil and Ed filled Reg and Alex in on the morning’s proceedings over in Fairfield and ran them through their theory about the van and its driver. Reg couldn’t hide his annoyance at the Crime Service.
    â€˜So they’ve breezed in now that she’s dead and told you that she’s been living here under the witness protection program for the last eighteen months?’
    â€˜Yes, that’s pretty much it,’ Phil muttered.
    â€˜I can’t believe they didn’t tell me when they moved her here.’
    â€˜Yeah, sometimes they don’t. It just depends on how connected they think the people are who’re after the witness.’
    â€˜They thought I might be dirty? You’ve gotta be kidding?’
    â€˜They don’t know you like we do, Reg.’ Ed tried to soothe the older man’s obviously wounded pride.
    â€˜What, they thought I might let it drop after a few too many pints?’
    â€˜Something like that.’
    â€˜Well, it’s a bit bloody rich.’
    They got the feeling he would have liked to say a lot more but was holding back for the sake of Constable Forsyth’s delicate young ears.
    They spent the rest of the afternoon reviewing records that Alex pulled for them, looking at people who owned vans in Fairfield, Jewel Bay and Clifton. It was surprising how many there were. There were a total of 327 registered in the three towns. No one really leapt out as a likely suspect. Twenty-six owners had committed previous offences, mostly minor. A few had records for drink driving. A couple had records for assault or other misdemeanours but none of them stood out as potential murderers.
    By the time six o’clock rolled round, Ed’s head was ready to explode and his eyes were dry and gritty. Reg was clearly over it too. He wasn’t used to working much past five o’clock. They decided to call it a day.
    â€˜Ed, come back to my place and have dinner with us,’ Phil urged. ‘Grace would be glad to see you.’
    â€˜I’d love to but, honestly, last night caught up with me again about three hours ago and I need to sleep. Tell Grace I promise I’ll come and visit soon.’
    â€˜No worries. If you’re sure you’ll be OK?’
    There was a question under the question and Ed knew it.
    â€˜I promise I’m just going home to sleep.’
    â€˜No booze?’
    â€˜No booze.’
    â€˜OK, let’s go, I’ll drop you home.’
    Ed was as good as his word. He went home, took a handful of painkillers and crashed into bed at 7 PM. He didn’t move a muscle until he was woken by the sound of the rubbish trucks doing their usual 6.30 AM rounds. His head felt clearer than it had in months. Something about this new case was hitting a nerve and he knew he needed to be at his best.
    He couldn’t put his finger on what was bugging him. He was at work by 7.30 AM and the first thing he did was revisit the list of van owners with priors or a history of violence. He found a couple who were probably worth speaking to but no one that gave him that glimmer of excitement he felt when they were on the trail of a suspect.
    Phil sauntered in an hour later and stopped dead when she saw Ed at his desk, glued to the screen in front of him. ‘Did you wet the bed?’
    â€˜Nah, but I slept like a baby.’
    â€˜Only people who have never had kids use that expression,’ Phil quipped, then, realising what she’d said, the smile dropped from her face. ‘Shit, sorry. I forgot to take my sensitivity pills this morning.’
    Ed forced a smile. ‘It’s OK. I don’t expect everyone to watch every word they say around me in case they happen to say something that’s a bit close to home.’
    â€˜Yeah, I know. So, anything leapt out at you now that you’ve unpickled your brain