Read Online The Two Towns (The Lakeland Murders) by J. J. Salkeld - Free Book Online

that couldn’t have been more obvious if it had been floodlit, and soon regretted his actions. His other arm was up his back and he was on his knees before he’d even finished swinging. Mann didn’t even notice his cries of pain, nor the sensation of the man’s shoulder ligaments stretching and then separating. He was much more worried about the girl.
     
    He looked over, hoping that Graham had decided that Mann’s arrival was nature’s way of telling him to abandon his assault. Sure enough the girl was standing up, unsteadily, and Graham was running. Mann let Kennedy’s arm go, and set off after him. The lad was quick, considering that he was fuelled by burgers and chips, but he didn’t have much stamina, and Mann caught him after less than thirty seconds. He enjoyed making the rugby tackle, and the feeling of his weight driving Graham down, into the asphalt. When Mann hauled them both up and turned, holding Graham by the coat collar so that his feet were barely touching the ground, the van and the 4x4 were both leaving fast, but Mann didn’t mind. And as he walked back towards his car, Graham cuffed and coughing in front of him, he saw something on the ground: a little bonus. A nice big bag of pills, which the girl must have dumped from the van before she drove away.
    ‘I wonder what these are, Pete?’
    ‘Never seen them before.’
    ‘I believe you. Not because I trust you, like, but because I watched the whole meet. So what had that young girl done to annoy you? Or should I say to annoy Kennedy?’
    ‘Fuck off, copper.’
    But Mann wasn’t listening. He was already dialling the station, and putting the final touches to what he’d tell Andy Hall. It would be the truth, pretty much, but with an extra emphasis on the immediacy of the threat to the girl’s life. That should do it, he decided.
     
     
    DI Hall walked into the station at just after three. One of the local GPs was just leaving, looking less than happy, and less than entirely dressed.
    ‘Is he OK, doc?’
    ‘Yes, he’s fine. A couple of bumps and grazes, but no concussion.’
    ‘And how about the suspect?’
    The doctor smiled, tiredly.
    ‘You could probably hit Ian Mann with a telegraph pole and it wouldn’t do any damage. But your suspect is fit to be interviewed, despite Ian having made the arrest. He’s a lucky lad, I’d say.’
    ‘Well thanks, anyway. I appreciate you coming in.’
    ‘It’s what I signed up for, worse luck. But what’s the kid done? It’s not like you and Ian to press the panic button. Couldn’t it have waited until the morning?’
    ‘I’m afraid not. His brother’s missing. We think this Graham lad knows where he is, or at least why he ran.’
    ‘How old is the kid?’
    ‘Fourteen. Never been in any trouble, and never done anything like this before.’
    ‘Then I’m glad I came. I hope you get what you need from your suspect, Andy.’
    ‘Cheers, doc. That’s much appreciated.’
     
    Hall heard his name, and turned. Jane Francis was almost running down the corridor.
    ‘I hope you didn’t mind me texting you’ said Hall. ‘But I thought you’d want to be in on this.’
    ‘Too right. Is Ray coming in as well?’
    Hall smiled. ‘No. I didn’t contact Ray. He needs his beauty sleep.’
    ‘And I don’t?’
    ‘Sorry, that wasn’t what I meant.’ For the first time since they’d met Hall looked nonplussed, embarrassed even. ‘I don’t like it when senior officers are over-familiar. I hope I didn’t give offence.’
    ‘Christ, Andy. I was only kidding. So Ian is with our boy?’
    ‘Yes. The duty solicitor arrived about five minutes ago, and the doc has finished with Graham. Ian rugby tackled him, and that had to hurt.’
    ‘Let’s hope so. But Graham is OK?’
    ‘Fine. So why don’t you and Ian take the interview? I’ll watch from next door.’
    Jane smiled broadly, and Hall couldn’t help but smile back.
     
    Pete Graham still had traces of antiseptic cream on the grazes on his face,