Blood Red Roses Read Online Free PDF Page A

It looks much like the last one.’
    Rhona swore under her breath.
    Sean was silent, watching her face.
    â€˜I’m on my way.’
    She flicked the mobile shut.
    â€˜I have to go. When do you finish at the jazz club?’
    â€˜Midnight,’ he said. ‘I’ll come round.’ It wasn’t a question.
    Rhona didn’t argue because it was what she wanted too.
    The twisted body had been removed from the skip and laid in the incident tent. Tracey was almost unrecognisable. Broken masonry sliding down a shute from the roof had beaten and bloodied her. But the typical grin of the strychnine victim was there.
    A wave of emotion hit Rhona. Twenty-four hours ago Tracey had been alive. They had known she was scared of something or someone, andthey hadn’t saved her from this horrible death.
    Bill Wilson looked the way she felt.
    â€˜Did no one look in the skip before they dropped the stuff down the shute?’ Rhona asked in disbelief.
    â€˜She was under rubbish. They didn’t see her.’
    â€˜How the hell did he get her in there?’
    If Tracey was alive at the time, her limbs would have been jerking all over the place. If she was dead, she would have been a dead weight.
    â€˜Maybe he had help?’
    Bill was right. There could be more than one of them.
    â€˜Someone could be helping him clear up the mess,’ she said. ‘Someone who has a lot to lose if we find the murderer.’
    â€˜I’ve got a list of
Eden
’s regular customers from Belcher. DC Clarke’s going through them now.’
    â€˜The important clients won’t be on that list.’
    Bill made a growling noise in his throat. ‘Then I’ll find a way to shut the place down.’
    When Bill left the tent, Rhona stepped into her white suit. She slipped on the mask and glovesand began her forensic examination of Tracey’s body.

 
CHAPTER TWELVE
    They picked up Jonny Simpson at eleven o’clock. He had turned up at Tracey’s flat, shouting the odds. The landlord didn’t like his attitude and called the police.
    Jonny looked rough. Stubble and sleepless eyes. The haunted look could be fear he was about to be charged... or sheer misery. Bill wasn’t sure which. Too many roads led to Jonny, especially now the barman at
Eden
had told them he had been in there threatening Tracey the night before she died.
    Bill nodded at DC Clarke to start the tape rolling. He said the necessary details into the mike then turned to Jonny.
    â€˜Why did you want to speak to Tracey?’
    Jonny looked up defiantly, but said nothing.
    â€˜A barman at
Eden
reported that you were seen threatening her.’
    Jonny’s expression didn’t change. ‘Fuck off.’
    â€˜I repeat. Did you threaten Tracey Nickell?’
    Jonny examined his hands.
    Bill pushed a set of crime scene photos across the desk. He hadn’t told Jonny that Tracey was dead... yet. He wanted to see his reaction when he found out (if he didn’t know already).
    Jonny concentrated on his hands. They were grimy. Bill wondered if he’d been sleeping rough since Donna’s death.
    Human psychology said that Jonny would look at the photos eventually. He wouldn’t be able to help himself. Jonny’s head was down but the eyes were swivelling.
    Bill spread the photos apart. The mangled remains of Tracey were now clearly visible.
    Jonny’s body tensed. He turned slightly and took in the photo nearest him. He swallowed. His knuckles shone white with pressure.
    â€˜Oh God.’
    He covered his face with his hands, his body heaving silent sobs.
    Bill pressed the stop button.
    â€˜Get Jonny a cup of tea. Make it strong and sweet.’
    DC Clarke left.
    â€˜You’re good Jonny. I’ll give you that. Proper little actor... for a soap. But I know you did that,’ he stabbed the photo with his forefinger. ‘You killed Donna because she was sleeping with someone else, probably for money.