A Shot In The Night (John Harper Series Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

around the car at the nearest set of
lights.  It was only a sense of duty to my debt held by the late James McNeal
that stopped me.
    That
urge to turn around was only heightened when I saw the sign for Hollingswood on
my journey.  Too much had happened there recently and it still turned my
stomach sour at the prospect of going back.  My fault; I should’ve stuck to the
motorway.  It did however provide a not so unwelcome distraction from my
thoughts as I made my way to the outskirts of Liverpool, and the scene of the
first shooting.
     

Chapter Seven
    There
was a strange atmosphere on the street when I arrived in Elsworth.  In the space
of two weeks there had been three bodies dropped in the suburb.  It was
surprising the level of violence and more so that it was located all on one
area.  The gunmen from Rakspeath had crossed the divide during increased police
patrols and had killed two men in vengeance, which made no one safe in
Elsworth.  Considering that act of territorial war I would not be surprised if
there would be a similar retaliation in Rakspeath soon; an opinion no doubt
shared by the police in Merseyside estimated by the number of official vehicles
I passed on my way in.
    My
sat nav took me on a random long diversion through Rakspeath to get to Elsworth
and I was surprised that I was not asked to pull over and have my car
searched.  Once through the police roadblocks, I arrived at the location of the
shooting with little problem.  I had passed the rest of the constabulary and
the press in general on my way as they had gone to the new crime scene.  That
was of no concern to me whilst I tried to clear the name of Tommy Morrison.
    I
parked my car away from the park, on a side street that offered me a view of
where the shooting took place, but away from prying eyes.  Harris, as much as I
slate him for his general laziness, had been good to me when it came to
research.  I picked up the tablet and folder that had been on the passenger
seat and went over an aerial view of the area.  I wanted to familiarise myself
once more with my surroundings.
    Feeling
more secure about my knowledge I put the tablet and the folder under my seat
and out of sight before stepping out of the car and locking it.  It may be a
stereotype but that area was full of thieves, even with a mass of police
nearby, so I set the alarm and was extra vigilant when it came to my car.  I
walked over to the park with some pictures from the folder still in my hand.
    There
were markings on the floor that indicated where the body had fallen after the
shooting and I walked forward imagining Joey Boulton shooting.  I did my best
not to raise my hand as if pointing a gun, so as not to arise suspicion from
anyone watching.  From the reports in the papers and from some eyewitness
accounts that had been posted online I had learnt that Boulton had fired a
number of shots at three men.  I wanted to know where those bullets had gone
and the shot that had killed Boulton, since I was surprised that nowhere in the
information I had been given did it state the calibre of the murder weapon.
    Of
course the bullets could travel a long distance undisturbed but the park was a
collection of amusement apparatus for children.  A large swing set, a number of
slides and a climbing frame which all showed signs of neglect.  The ground
around the equipment was that spongy black stuff that gave you an extra bounce
in your step as you walked on it.  Taking out my keys I pressed on the small
laser pen that was attached to the keyring, which I must admit was overburdened
with gadgets; another vice of mine.  I shone it at roughly the right height as
the boy’s head trying to trace the bullet’s flight path.
    Harris
had somehow obtained a picture that showed the bullet wound with entry and
exit; in this case Boulton’s face was a distorted mess.  It had seemed to go
straight through, so with a pistol it must have been close range, it being rare
that the shooter