Hindsight (9781921997211) Read Online Free

called it through to you.’
    Phil looked up from taking notes. ‘Did he actually say the body was in Johns Lane?’
    â€˜Yes, sir, I mean ma’am.’
    â€˜Isn’t this Stuart Lane?’
    â€˜Yes, ma’am, but the older locals still call it Johns Lane. John’s was a pub that used to be on the corner over there.’
    â€˜So he must have been a local?’ Ed asked.
    â€˜Yes, I suppose so, sir.’
    Ed stood there for a few seconds digesting this. ‘How long have you lived here?’
    â€˜I was born here.’
    â€˜Do you know many of the locals?’
    â€˜I know a lot, sir, but not everyone. We have over five thousand people if you include the outlying properties.’
    â€˜Yes, I know that. Do you have any idea who phoned it in?’
    The young officer fidgeted and dropped his glance to the ground. ‘I’m not sure but it might have been Old Mick.’
    â€˜Who’s he?’ Phil asked.
    â€˜A homeless man who wanders in and out of town.’
    â€˜A homeless man?’ Ed rolled his eyes.
    â€˜Yes, sir.’
    â€˜Jesus Christ, I suppose he’s a drunk as well?’
    â€˜Yes, you could say that, sir.’
    â€˜So our only witness is a homeless drunk?’
    â€˜Witness, sir?’
    â€˜Yes, witness, Constable Forsyth. He did tell you the killer was gone, didn’t he?’ Ed snapped.
    â€˜Well, yes, I suppose so.’
    â€˜Did he or did he not say that the killer was gone? What were his exact words?’
    A deep flush started to creep up the young man’s neck. Dark patches of sweat had appeared under his arms despite the chill of the morning. He sucked in a breath.
    â€˜He said the killer was gone now.’
    â€˜Which suggests he might have seen him and possibly even witnessed the murder?’
    â€˜Yes, sir.’
    â€˜Did you think to look for him once you’d secured the scene?’
    â€˜No, sir.’
    Ed’s eyes bored into the young man. ‘Did you recognise the victim?’
    â€˜No, sir.’
    â€˜Did you touch anything?’ Phil asked.
    Forsyth looked put out. ‘No, well that is, I touched the lid of the crate to open it and check for the body but then I secured the area and called for assistance.’
    â€˜Good lad. So the lid was closed?’
    â€˜Well no, not exactly.’
    â€˜What do you mean not exactly? It was either open or closed, which was it?’ Ed barked, losing his patience.
    The young officer’s Adam’s apple went into a frenzied dance. Phil shot Ed a look.
    â€˜You’re doing great, Constable, just tell us exactly what you saw when you found the crate.’ She flashed him a thousand-watt smile, patting his arm reassuringly.
    â€˜It was pretty dark so I was using my flashlight. I saw the crate and the lid was half on, half off. I moved it slightly so I could shine my torch inside and see what was in there. When I saw her, I reached in and checked for a pulse.’
    â€˜So you touched the lid and the body?’ Ed asked.
    â€˜Yes, sir.’
    â€˜I’ll finish up here with Constable Forsyth if you like?’ Phil said, giving Ed a very pointed look.
    Ed thought about arguing but decided Phil was probably right. He wasn’t in the mood for dealing with a rookie. Phil’s bedside manner was better suited for the conversation with the wet-behind-the-ears Constable Forsyth.
    â€˜Fine by me.’
    â€˜So back to what you did when you discovered the body …’
    Ed wandered off and left them to it.
    An hour and a half later he was by the side of the road freezing his balls off. The sun was struggling over the horizon and a wind straight from Antarctica was whistling around the collection of vehicles gathered to witness the unravelling of another tragedy. Police tape fluttered and cops in uniform stood around, shifting from foot to foot. They were waiting for the final scene; the crew who would take the corpse to