Read Online Ruthless by Cath Staincliffe - Free Book Online Page B

down , a mantra the boss drummed into them.
    ‘Can we stop on Manorclough?’ Rachel said. ‘Something the woman at the newsagent’s said. A tramp they gave handouts to, called Rick.’
    ‘Brilliant,’ Janet smiled. ‘Let’s go see, shall we?’

7
     
    The misty rain at the coast had turned to a steady downpour back in the Pennines. The shop was busy, a bunch of rowdy kids in uniform, buying sweets and fizzy drinks. The air peppered with ‘fucks’ and ‘knobs’ and ‘slags’.
    ‘Ten Lambert & Butler,’ one of the kids said. Liam Kelly’s eyes flicked towards Rachel.
    ‘Proof of age?’ he said.
    ‘Come on, Liam,’ the lad complained.
    Liam Kelly simply shook his head. The lad wheeled round, arms raised in exasperation.
    ‘One twenty-nine,’ Liam Kelly said, pointing to the snacks.
    ‘I need some fags.’
    ‘Against the law, I could be prosecuted,’ Liam Kelly said. ‘That’s right, isn’t it, DC Bailey?’ The kids looked at Rachel and Janet. The hubbub quietened.
    ‘That’s right,’ Rachel said. ‘And this is DC Scott.’
    ‘Aah!’ the lad who’d been refused service groaned. ‘The dibble.’
    ‘Cagney and Lacey,’ someone called out.
    ‘Is it about the murder?’ said a girl with teeth covered in braces and a narrow face like a shrew’s. ‘That fella what was shot and burned alive?’
    ‘If he was shot, he wouldn’t be alive, thicko,’ the first lad said.
    ‘Depends where they shot him,’ she snapped back, shoving the boy for good measure.
    ‘It is about the murder,’ Rachel said, ‘and if anyone here knows anything that might help, you can call at the mobile incident unit up the road. In complete confidence,’ she added.
    ‘Not very confidential if everyone can see who’s going in,’ piped up a very small boy with a brutally shaved head. He had a point.
    ‘You can ring in,’ Rachel said.
    ‘You ever shot anyone?’ This from the shrew girl.
    ‘Don’t tempt me,’ Rachel said. ‘You’re not armed,’ said the small lad. ‘Only special units carry guns.’
    ‘Now we’d like a word with Mr Kelly …’ Janet said.
    ‘Ooh!’ a voice called out.
    ‘A threesome, eh?’ the shrew girl said.
    A bout of laughter.
    ‘Who’s got the handcuffs?’ More laughter as they spilled out on to the streets.
    Liam Kelly raised his eyebrows, shook his head.
    ‘Your partner,’ Rachel said, ‘she mentioned someone yesterday, hadn’t been round for his food parcel?’
    ‘Rodeo Rick, yeah.’
    ‘Seen him today?’
    ‘No,’ Liam Kelly said.
    ‘Where’s he live?’
    ‘He’s homeless, dosses where he can.’
    ‘Can you describe him?’ Rachel said.
    ‘Tall, on the skinny side, long hair.’
    ‘White guy?’
    ‘Yeah.’
    ‘How old?’
    ‘Hard to say, fifties, sixties.’
    ‘You know his full name?’ Rachel said.
    He shrugged. ‘No. Goes by Rodeo Rick, wears check shirts, an old cowboy hat.’
    Rachel looked at Janet, who nodded her agreement.
    Rachel picked out the best photo from Mrs Kavanagh. ‘Could this be him, when he was younger?’
    Liam Kelly took the picture. ‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘It’s not …’ He looked at Rachel, his shoulders sagging. ‘You think it’s him?’
    Rachel pulled a face. ‘Sorry, yes. Was he dossing in the chapel?’
    He frowned. ‘Could’ve been. God, I never thought …’ He shook his head. ‘He didn’t say where he stayed, best to be cautious.’
    ‘How do you mean?’
    ‘Well, some places, he could be done for trespassing. But he liked to be off the streets, out of sight, come dark. He’d get a bit of aggro, people having a go.’
    ‘How long had he been in the area?’
    ‘Few months. Found him going through the bins before Christmas, told him he’d no need, we’d give him out-of-date stuff.’
    ‘Ever hear of him mixing in bad company?’ Rachel said.
    ‘Never. Kept to himself. He was on the drink. That’s all he could be bothered with. He’d beg now and then if he had to,’ said Liam Kelly.
    ‘Any