Broken Dreams Read Online Free PDF

then?’
    She stared at me. ‘No.’ She smiled. ‘If you’d like to leave your number, he could call you back?’
    It was my turn to smile. I didn’t think Salford would be the kind of man who returned telephone calls. ‘I won’t take up too much of his time.’
    ‘He’s not here. If you’d like to leave your details.’
    I passed her a business card. ‘I’m trying to find a missing woman. Mr Salford used to manage her singing career.’
    Her eyes narrowed, as she read my details. ‘Which girl?’
    ‘Donna Platt. Her mother is trying to find her.’
    She shook her head. ‘I don’t remember a Donna Platt.’
    ‘You used to help Frank manage the bands?’
    ‘None of my business.’ She passed me my card back. ‘It’s a long time ago. I doubt Frank will be able to help you.’
    I tried to pass it back to her. ‘If you could get him to call me.’
    She turned around and shouted for some help. The help was a man-mountain, far bigger than myself. He didn’t return my smile.
    ‘I’ve told you. We can’t help.’ She folded her arms and nodded to her help. ‘Escort Mr Geraghty off the premises, please.’
     
     
    Leaving Salford’s massage parlour, I headed to the pub for a couple of hours. I didn’t need any more alcohol, but strong coffee and a read of the newspaper had me feeling human again. Sarah rang me on my mobile, partly to see how I was feeling after the previous night, partly to tell me she’d arranged a meeting with Katie Glew, the third member of Donna Platt’s band. I hadn’t realised there had been a third member of the band, and it didn’t make much sense of the band’s name. I drank up and collected Sarah from her house before heading to Katie’s flat. Sarah explained to me how Donna’s mother had remembered Glew.  A quick call to Lisa Day confirmed the details and Glew had called Sarah to agree to a meeting. The flat was in a tower block on one of the city’s largest council estates and in a similar state to Lisa Day’s house. It needed a good clean and some decoration, but nothing that couldn’t be sorted with a bit of effort.
    ‘Thanks for agreeing to see us’ said Sarah. ‘We appreciate your help.’
    Katie lit a cigarette and shrugged. ‘No skin off my nose.’
    ‘We’re looking for Donna Platt’ explained Sarah.
    ‘She’s missing?’ She looked surprised.
    ‘Has been for several years. When did you last see her?’
    ‘When I left the band, but I’d heard she had a job in a factory on Sutton Fields a few years back.’
    ‘How long ago are we talking about, Katie?’ I asked.
    ‘I’m not sure, to be honest.’
    I removed my wallet from my pocket.
    She looked at me. ‘Three, maybe four years ago. I’ve got a mate who works there. It was her who mentioned it.’
    ‘Are you still in touch with this mate?’
    Katie nodded and asked if Donna was in any trouble.
    ‘Not at all’ said Sarah.
    ‘My friend wouldn’t lie to me.’
    I smiled at her. ‘We’re not implying that. It’s all very helpful information for us.
    ‘I’ll text her, if you want to meet her?’
    I nodded. ‘If that’s okay.’
    ‘It’s fine.’
    ‘How well did you know Donna?’ I asked.
    ‘Not that well, really. I saw an advert for the band and after I auditioned, they asked me to join.’
    ‘How about Lisa Day? Do you know her?’
    ‘Not really. I was only in the band for a bit. We’d rehearsed as a three-piece for a while but it wasn’t working, so I left. Donna and Lisa just carried on as a duo.’
    Which explained why it was 2’s Company, I thought. Sarah smiled at me. She’d obviously had the same thought.
    ‘Why did you leave the band?’ I asked.
    Katie fell silent. ‘It’s a long time ago now.’
    I wasn’t sure if she was hoping I’d increase what I paid her. ‘Didn’t you get on with Donna and Lisa?’ I asked.
    She shrugged. ‘We got on alright. Donna brought along this guy, Frank, who she wanted to manage us.’
    ‘Frank Salford?’
    ‘That’s