The Dog Collar Murders Read Online Free PDF Page B

you’d better phone the hospital and see how Harry Weston is and if it is possible that I could have a few words with him.’
    ‘Right, sir.’
    Angel went into interview room two, next door. DC Scrivens and the stationmaster were seated opposite each other at the table. Scrivens jumped to his feet.
    Angel gestured to him to sit down. He looked at the stationmaster. ‘Are you all right, sir?’
    ‘Well, yes,’ he said quietly. ‘But I would like to know how Harry Weston is. And I would like to get home.’
    Angel knew the feeling. He felt exactly the same. The remains of yesterday’s topside of roast beef, cold with pickles, were waiting for him.
    ‘Won’t be long now, sir. By the way, the lad that’s been shot, Harry Weston. I need to know his next of kin.’
    The stationmaster jumped to his feet, his bottom lip quivering. ‘Why? Have you heard from the hospital?’ he said. He looked very grim, expecting the worst. ‘What’s the news?’
    Angel shook his head. ‘No, I haven’t heard anything yet, sir. Need to inform his family, that’s all.’
    The stationmaster slumped back down in the chair.
    ‘Don’t worry,’ Angel said. ‘He’s in good hands.’
    The stationmaster looked up at Angel and nodded. He knew it was true. Then he frowned and said, ‘He’s not married. Never has been. And I know his father and mother are dead.’
    ‘Right. Thank you,’ Angel said. ‘I’ll be back in five minutes.’ He closed the door and returned to interview room one.
    He was pleased to see Zoe Costello holding a florally decorated saucer with one hand and sipping tea from a matching cup with the other. She looked across at him and smiled. ‘I hope that your tea is still hot, Inspector,’ she said, pointing to the cup on the tray.
    ‘Thank you, Miss Costello,’ he said. He closed the door, sat down, reached out for the cup and took a gulp. He put the cup down and licked his lips. ‘I’ve been waiting for that,’ he said.
    On the table he noticed the laptop that Ahmed must have brought in. He plugged it in and lifted the lid. The video had twenty-four of the worst-known-gun-toting thugs at liberty in the UK at that moment. It showed front face, left profile, right profile and front face again. He set the video running and watched for her reaction.
    After five minutes, the show was over.
    ‘He’s not there, Inspector,’ she said. ‘Sorry.’
    Angel wrinkled his nose. He wasn’t pleased. He wasn’t surprised either. Nobody had ever said that catching murderers was easy.
    ‘Thank you very much, Miss Costello,’ he said. ‘I won’t keep you any longer. I’ll arrange for you to have a lift home. Thank you for your cooperation. I’ll be in touch.’
    He then unplugged the laptop and carried it next door.
    Scrivens stood up as he came through the door. He looked at Angel with raised eyebrows.
    Angel said, ‘Get Transport to organize the safe delivery of Miss Costello home, Ted. And Ahmed is still around somewhere. Send him to me, then sign out and get yourself off home.’
    Scrivens was pleased. He smiled, nodded and went out, closing the door.
    Angel looked at the stationmaster, who was very quiet. It hadbeen a long day. ‘Won’t be long now, sir. By the way, what
is
your name?’ he said as he plugged in the laptop and opened the lid.
    ‘Evans, Deri Evans,’ the stationmaster said.
    ‘Well, Mr Evans, I just want you to look at this short video of known villains. See if you can pick out anybody you may have seen today. Please take your time. This is very important. Then I’ll arrange for you to be taken home.’
    ‘Thank you.’
    He started the CD. ‘Now then, do you recognize any of these charmers?’
    ‘You know I didn’t see the man actually pull the trigger, Inspector,’ he said as the first video picture arrived on the screen.
    ‘I understand that, Mr Evans, but you might have seen the man on the platform or hanging around the station?’
    There was a knock at the door.
    ‘Come