Vanished Beneath: DS Lasser six (The Lasser series Book 6) (15 page)

'One thing, if Emma is at Medea's new address could you give her a message from me?'

'Of course I will.'

The old man smiled gratefully and then lowered his gaze. 'Tell her I'm sorry and that I'd love to see her again,' he said as he slid the paper across the table.

Forbes slid it into his hand. 'Consider it done,' he lied.

39

Bannister pulled hard on the cigarette, his face a mixture of annoyance and glee. 'At least we know where he was getting his gear from.'

'Do you want to pay the Mellor’s another visit?'

They were sitting outside the house on Taunton Avenue, a couple of kids trundled past on skateboards.

'
I
...' when Bannister's phone droned, he closed his mouth and pulled the mobile from his pocket. 'Hello.'

Lasser flicked his ash out of the window and watched as the two skateboarders rolled away into the distance.

'Where did you find it?'

Lasser turned, Bannister's eyes narrowed through the cloud of smoke. 'So, what's in the back?' He looked at Lasser and grinned around the cigarette. 'Good, I want it checking thoroughly is that understood and keep me informed.'

'Good news?' Lasser asked.

Bannister tossed the phone into the slot beneath the CD player. 'They've found Elliot's van in Platt Bridge; apparently there are a couple of bin bags in the back full of clothes.'

'He was trying to get away?'

Bannister nodded. 'I think he would have been well on his way by now.'

'What stopped him?'

Bannister shrugged. 'I can only presume he had engine trouble.'

'That's why he came around here without wheels.'

'He must have thought his ex was still living alone, he probably came to hide out for a few days.'

'He sees lover boy on the doorstep and scarpers.'

'Question is, where has he scarpered to?' Bannister pondered as he turned the key.

'If he knows we're onto him he could have gone to the Mellor’s.'

'I can hardly see those two acting the
‘Good Samaritan’
, Sergeant.'

'But he might persuade them to give him an old banger to drive away in.'

'Or they could be feeding him into the crusher as we speak.'

'Nasty way to go,' Lasser mused.

'As much as I'd like to see Elliot compressed until he could fit into a matchbox we'll have to check it out.'

'Fine.'

Bannister clicked the seatbelt into place.
'Off we go then
,' he said as he popped the car into first gear.

40

As soon as the door started to open Colly hit it hard with his shoulder, he heard a squeal as it slammed inwards. Stumpy Clark was already running down the narrow hallway, his short legs pumping as fast as they could. Slamming the door closed, Colly barrelled down the passage catching the fleeing man as he reached the kitchen door.

'Fucker!'
he bellowed and lashed out, his fist slamming into the back of Stumpy's head.

The small man squealed in pain before crashing face first into the doorframe.

Breathing hard Colly snatched hold of the collar of the man's jacket and heaved him to his feet.
'Where the fuck is Elliot?'
he snarled.

Stumpy Clark looked up with terror-filled eyes.
'I...'

Colly shook him hard, Stumpy's head lashed back and forth.
'You fucking tell me, Stumpy, or I'll break your scrawny little neck.'

'I don't know where he is, Colly,
honest!'

Colly Roberts drew back a huge fist and Clark screwed up his eyes as he waited for the blow. Seconds seemed to stretch into minutes and Stumpy cracked open one tear-filled eye.

Colly glared at him and then Stumpy watched in amazement as the big man swiped a tear from his pale blue eyes.

'Colly, what's the matter
?'

'Do you know where he is?' Roberts asked again his voice quivering with pent up emotion.

Stumpy swallowed down the fear. 'I haven't seen him in days, Colly; I'd tell you if I had.'

'Is he still
dealing?'

'I haven't a clue, I mean, I don't get any shit off him anymore.'

'You telling me you're
clean?'
Colly's eyes narrowed as he waited for the small man to respond.

'A bit of weed, a bit of coke but no hard stuff, not for months now, Colly.'

'You know anyone who has been getting their shit from him?'

Stumpy rubbed at the bruise on his forehead wincing when he felt the swelling beneath his probing fingers.

'I don't have a clue, I mean, he used to go in the Vic regular but I haven't seen him in there in ages.'

Colly let go of Stumpy's jacket and turned away.

'Colly man, what's the problem?'

'If you see him you ring me, Stumpy.'

'Yeah, no problem
but
...'

'You ring me
straight
away.'

Stumpy watched as Colly Roberts walked towards the front door his shoulders slumped, a broken man.

41

Norvil Mellor chucked a bone to the German shepherd; the huge animal clamped the grizzly gift between its slavering jaws before retreating to the kennel. When he saw the black Audi pull in through the gates Norvil frowned and spat onto the oil-soaked ground.

'That's Norvil
,' Lasser said as Bannister parked well away from where the guard dog lurked between the engine blocks.

'He looks a charmer,' Bannister said as he clicked off the seatbelt.

'Yeah well, believe it or not Norvil's the brains of the outfit.'

'That's a joke, right?'

Lasser gave a shake of the head. 'Just watch him, boss, he's a slippery sod.'

Bannister grunted a response before climbing out. Norvil walked down the steps of the cabin and headed towards them.

'Our Boris said you lot had been sniffing around and I'll tell you the same thing he did,
we don't deal drugs
...'

'Have you got a starter motor for one of these?' Lasser said with a wide smile pointing at the gleaming Audi.

'Very funny, Lasser, now why don't you two bugger off?'

Bannister slid the car keys into his pocket. '
Donny Elliot
.'

'Never heard of him.'

'That's strange because we have it on good authority that he was working for you.'

'Yeah well, you heard wrong.'

'Apparently he's been dealing around the Platt Bridge area and you've been doing the supplying.'

Norvil thrust his hands into the pockets of his overalls. 'I'm a scrap metal dealer I don't know anything about drugs.'

Lasser leaned back against the car and folded his arms. 'Your brother was telling us about the ‘Poles’ you have working on the yard.'

'What about 'em?'

'Does the name Iknoff mean anything to you?'

Norvil Mellor sniffed and shook his head. 'No.'

'So, he doesn't work here?'

'Not that I know of.'

Bannister took a step forward. 'What sort of answer is that?'

'Look, our Boris takes care of that side of things.'

'The hiring and firing?'

A rusting bulldozer rumbled past, the metal treads leaving grooves in the hard packed earth.

Norvil waited until the noise from the clattering vehicle had diminished. 'Yeah, the hiring and firing.'

'So, what side of the business do you look after?' Bannister asked.

'This and that.'

Lasser pushed himself away from the car. 'Come on Norvil you'll have to be more specific, I mean, do you make the tea, or get the dinners in, perhaps you run the Hoover over the place and have a flick around with the duster.'

Mellor scowled.
'Funny man
.'

'So, you've never heard of Donny Elliot and you have no idea who Iknoff is?'

'That's right.'

'Well, that's strange because Mr Iknoff seems to know you.'

Mellor's eyes narrowed, his tongue darted out to lick a bead of sweat from his top lip. 'Perhaps he worked here in the past.'

'But, like you said you wouldn't know?'

'Our Boris...'

Bannister flapped a hand. 'We know all about Boris and what he does Mr Mellor.'

'So, where is he today?' Lasser asked.

'I haven't a clue.'

Bannister smiled. 'That's what he said about you when we called the other day,
'I'm not my brother's keeper
,' I think those were his exact words.'

'Look...'

'And now you're going to tell us you have someplace you need to be.'

Norvil frowned; pinpricks of perspiration broke out on his grimy forehead. 'Do I need to be calling my lawyer?'

'We'll let you know after the translator arrives.'

'
Translator
?'

'Yes, Mr Iknoff's English isn't up to much so we're bringing in someone who can help us understand what he has to say. However, from the way he's been acting I would imagine he wants to unburden himself, he seems very tense, very agitated.'

Norvil tried to appear nonchalant though his eyes were watchful, uncertainty flickering in the depths.

'Yeah well, it can't be easy having you lot breathing down his neck.'

Lasser pulled out his cigarettes and sparked up, blowing a cloud of smoke towards the sky. 'Tell me, Norvil, why haven't you asked what we're doing with Iknoff?'

Norvil shrugged, 'Because it's none of my business.'

'You're not even a bit curious?'

'I'm not like you lot, I don't spend my life sticking my nose into things that don't concern me.'

'Bully for you, Norvil.'

The scrap man glared at Lasser. 'You won't be a copper forever, Lasser.'

Lasser unfolded his arms. 'Is that some kind of veiled threat, Norvil?'

Norvil smiled, 'Just an observation.'

Bannister tossed his car keys into the air. 'Right then, Norvil, we'll catch up with you soon.'

'
Whatever
,' he replied in a bored voice.

'By the way, you don't have any foreign holidays booked do you?'

'
Why
?'

'Because I don't want to have to come back here to discover you and that brother of yours have gone sunning yourselves on the Costa del Crime.'

'We've got a business to run, we won't be going anywhere.'

Bannister grinned. 'We'll see about that, Mr Mellor.'

Nodding to Lasser they climbed back into the car, Norvil watched as they drove towards the gates. As soon as they'd left he pulled out his mobile and jabbed at the button.

After three rings, his brother answered. 'Listen, Boz, we've got a problem.'

42

'You go, Med, I'll make a start on the food.'

Medea slid her coat from the back of the kitchen chair. 'Are you sure, I mean, we could go together and sort the tea when we get back?'

They were standing in the kitchen the last of the afternoon sunshine spilled in through the window, warm and honey coloured.

'Honestly, I think I know where everything is and I'd like to cook you something for a change, you just pick a nice wine to go with it.'

Medea slid her black hair from the collar of her jacket. 'I know but you're a guest I don't expect you to slave over a hot oven.'

'Well, I was going to make a salad so the only thing I'll be boiling is the eggs.'

'Is there anything you want me to pick up while I'm out?'

Emma pulled open the fridge and had a quick rummage in the veg box. 'Nope, it looks as if you have everything I need.'

'OK, I won't be long.'

'What about Lasser, should I make him something?'

Medea checked her watch. 'Well, he should be home soon unless something's cropped up at work.'

'I'll put him a plate out.'

Medea fished the car keys from her pocket. 'No problem and if you need me I've got my mobile.'

Emma flapped her hands. 'You're starting to sound like my mother.'

Medea smiled as she left the room, half a minute later Emma heard the car fire to life, then she lifted out her phone and checked the screen. When she saw the message box was empty she frowned and checked her voicemails, feeling the relief flood through her as the metallic voice informed her she had none to retrieve.

Suddenly she felt as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, perhaps he'd got the message and realised that she wasn't coming back. Maybe he'd already moved on or perhaps he was back at the flat licking his wounds. Whatever, it didn't really matter, the important thing was he was out of her life and she could make plans to build a new one that didn't have Andrew Forbes in it.