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

but he still looked a lot better than Mr. White, whose complexion now precisely matched his name. Jane was almost tempted to apologise for getting him up, but didn’t. She made the introductions, and started the tape.
    ‘I’d like to say something, before we start’ said White, and Mann nodded assent. ‘In light of the fact that my client may choose to bring a complaint against Cumbria Constabulary in relation to his arrest I have advised him to offer ‘no comment’ answers to any questions that you might put this evening.’
    Ian Mann didn’t look at all perturbed, or even surprised.
    ‘Fair enough. I only had one question really, and it’s this. Why do you think I was there, watching you tonight, Pete?’
    ‘No comment.’
    ‘No? Well, I wasn’t following your mate Kennedy, or those other two lads who were with you earlier on last night. Oh, aye, I’d been watching you all evening, like. You were the absolute focus of my attention though. I only had eyes for you, as they say. And the same goes for my colleague, DC Francis here. Isn’t that right, Jane?’
    ‘Absolutely.’
    ‘Bollocks.’ White laid a hand on Graham’s arm, but he shook it off angrily. ‘Why would you lot be so interested in me? I’ve done nowt.’
    ‘You’re too modest, Pete. You’re obviously going up in the world. Anyone can see that. Sharing a car with Brian Kennedy for a whole night. That’s evidence in itself, is that. What were you talking about, eh?’
    ‘No comment.’
    ‘That’s fine. To tell you the truth I don’t give a shit about Kennedy, what he says or what he does. We’ll leave him to the drugs lads. You see it’s true, Pete, it’s you we’re interested in. You, and only you.’
    ‘This is all very entertaining…’ said White, but Mann held up his hand.
    ‘Let’s get to the point then, shall we? The reason that we’re so interested in you has absolutely sod all to do with your sordid drug deals, or even that girl you tried to rough up. But, while we’re on the subject, you better hope that she never comes to any harm in the future. Because if she does, guess whose door I’ll be knocking on? But no, it’s your brother we’re interested in now. That’s who we’re worried about, and it’s why we’re all sitting here in the middle of the bloody night. So all you have to do is tell us what you know about where he is, and why he ran. That’s all we really want to know.’
    ‘Who says that he wasn’t taken? Kidnapped, like?’
    ‘Well was he?’
    Graham shrugged.
    ‘Look, Pete, we know exactly what happened. You wanted your brother to get involved in your bit of business with Brian Kennedy. A bit of pushing at school, whatever. But your brother wasn’t having any, was he? And then you came on too strong, and he thought that all he could do was run. That’s what’s happened here, isn’t it?’
    ‘No comment. No com-ment.’
    ‘Sergeant Mann…’ White began slowly, but stopped at a look from Mann.
    ‘Look, Pete, here’s how it is. You help us now, help us find your brother, and you walk out of here in ten minutes. No further action. How does that sound?’
    Graham thought for a moment.
    ‘What if I don’t know owt that would help you find Johnny?’
    ‘The offer stands. Tell us all you know, answer our questions honestly, and you’ll be away. Christ, I’ll even have you taken home in a nice warm police car. How’s that?’
    ‘What about something to eat on the way home? I’m starving.’
    ‘Sure. If somewhere’s open. I’ll even treat you.’ Mann pulled his wallet from his back pocket, and put a ten pound note down on his pad. ‘Now, about Johnny. Did he run? That’s all we need to know.’
    ‘Aye. But not because of what you said, like. Not exactly.’
    ‘All right. But you asked him to do something that he didn’t want to do?’
    ‘I was just a messenger, that’s all.’
    ‘OK, and when did he leave home? Was it Wednesday night or Thursday morning?’
    ‘Dunno. Ask my