DARK HOUSES a gripping detective thriller full of suspense Read Free

final word on whether he was in or out of the case.
    “Stephen,” began Green. “I’ve seen the preliminary report. It’s a bad one. Whoever did this needs catching fast, but we’ve got a problem. The new team we discussed is still a work in progress. This happened on our patch, so I’m afraid Oldston station has drawn the short straw. And that means you.”
    So there it was. His team was on its own once again.
    “I did wonder whether or not the new squad would get it.”
    “We’re no nearer than we were three months ago, when it was first mooted. Too few officers of the right calibre, and even fewer resources. However, there is help if you need it. Daneside have offered someone. Leesworth are already an officer down, so no joy there, but you must make full use of uniform. Get them to do the legwork. We have some good people, Stephen.”
    Trouble was, Greco could count those good people on the fingers of one hand. “Who’s on the cards from Daneside?”
    “A Sergeant Seddon. Good record, looking for promotion, sounds promising. I’ll sort it.”
    “We should wait until we know what we’re up against.”
    “Don’t be coy about accepting the help, Stephen. We need this sorting quickly. We’ve already got the press outside the station, and they’re baying for blood.”
    “They were quick off the mark. It’s only been a few hours.”
    “Someone on that street rang them. Which means they’ll have already sold what they know for a fat fee, and have no doubt been promised more if they keep their eyes peeled,” Green said bitterly. “Since you will be going back there to interview the neighbours, be careful what is said. I don’t mean you particularly, but the other members of your team.”
    “I understand, sir,” Greco replied. “If this Sergeant Seddon is keen to join us, that’s fine with me. I’m at the Duggan now. Quickenden and I will observe the PM then get back to the station.”
    But Quickenden was nowhere to be seen and his vehicle wasn’t in the car park. He should be inside with the relatives, helping them through the identification of the body. So what had happened?

Chapter 2
    Jed Quickenden took one look at the address and groaned. Why did it have to be here? Why him? The spring sunshine did nothing to make the Link Road estate look better. It was a depressing, downtrodden place that the council, and even the law, chose to ignore as much as possible.
    But it was more than that for Quickenden. Ever since Grady Gibbs’s death he’d been avoiding the area. People blamed him. Of course they knew Quickenden hadn’t wielded the knife himself, and most folk hadn’t liked Gibbs much either. But Gibbs had been one of their own, and Quickenden was now very much on the other side.
    He parked his car on a stretch of open ground and stared up at the tower block. Jessie Weston had lived on the twelfth floor with her mother Mavis and a younger brother. He knew the lift only went as far as the sixth. “I’ll go up and get her,” he told the uniformed officer who’d accompanied him.
    He hauled his lanky frame step by step up the last six flights, gasping. He was seriously out of condition. Too many fags, too much booze and precious little in the way of exercise took its toll no matter how young you were. If he wanted to keep this job he’d have to try harder. But was he up to it? Greco had marked his card and was watching him like a hawk. It had got so bad Quickenden was rapidly getting sick of the whole police thing. If he could find some other way of earning a living, he’d get out.
    Panting, the DS banged on the front door of flat 1207. No answer. He tried peering through the window but it was caked with dirt.
    “Get lost!” a male voice shouted from inside.
    “Police!” Quickenden bawled back. He was in no mood for a protracted argument.
    “We ain’t done nowt, so sling yer hook!” An empty beer can struck the inside of the window.
    “It’s about Jessie!” Quickenden shouted back.