Free Impeding Justice by Mel Comley

fear she’d dared not visit earlier
clutched her stomach.
    ‘ Good question. We suspect
he’s ‘a player’. A man with money to spend and a sadistic streak to
feed, he wouldn’t be fussed about who suffers or what beliefs or
culture the people he is funding are from, he’d just crave the
excitement and the pleasure when the deed is done.’
    ‘ Sick Bastard! If it’s not a
stupid question, why haven’t your lot picked these guys up
yet?’
    ‘ It’s not from want of
trying, we’ve picked up Abromovski a couple of times for
questioning but every time we bring him in he comes heavily
protected by a high class brief. One that just happens to know all
the appropriate loop holes needed to make a mockery of the justice
system.’
    ‘ So where the fuck do we go
from here?’
    ‘ I can give you a few
addresses that we know about, if that will help. They’re locations
that Abromovski has either bought or rented out over the last few
years, but you won’t find it easy getting warrants to take a look
inside. They are what you might say, houses of ill-repute. And,
they are frequented by some very influential people. Though a stake
out might give you ammunition to get round the
barriers.’
    ‘ Bloody typical. Well, if I
get an inkling Charlie is in one of them, no fucking influence will
stop me getting in…Fire away with the addresses!’
    After giving her the last one, he said, ‘By
the way, there’s just one more thing. The sweep of the area is
being extended to an intense one of the Houses of Parliament, it is
in progress as we speak. Every device including dogs is being
used…’
    ‘ And…?’
    ‘ Nothing as
yet...’
    ‘ Great. What if he is
leading us up a long winding garden path?’
    Lorne cringed at the thought of what the
commissioner would say, if that turned out to be the case. But
somehow, she didn’t think so. She looked at her watch. Less than
eighteen hours to go…
    ‘ Can’t answer that one,
Inspector…’
    The phone clicked and went dead.

 
     
    Chapter Seventeen .
     
    'Bad news I’m afraid, Lorne.' The Chief
informed her when she stepped into his office moments later.
    Not more bad news, I don’t think I can handle anymore
today! She thought throwing
herself into the vacant chair opposite him.
    'I’ve just heard that they have swept the
area in and around the Houses of Parliament and found absolutely
nothing.'
    She let out a breath she’d unconsciously been
sucking in, 'Yeah, I know.'
    'You know . How do you
know?' Roberts asked raising a puzzled eyebrow. Had one of her team
already told her? Wasn’t he supposed to be in
charge of the case now?
    'Warner. He just rang me. He told me and
that’s why I’m here, to tell you. He said they’re just about to
undergo a more thorough search, he seems to think we are barking up
the wrong tree.'
    'If he’s right, where does that leave us?' he
asked, concerned by her drawn, pale appearance. Since they had last
met approximately thirty minutes ago, her overall appearance had
deteriorated. He kicked himself for not anticipating how hard the
events of the last few days would affect her. But what could he do
about it? He’d already taken charge of the case, what more could he
do, send her home?
    'Up the creek drifting dangerously towards
the rapids without a single paddle in reach or in sight!' Lorne
offered, melodramatically planting her elbows on her knees and
supporting her weary head in her hands.
    'Do me a favour? Forget I’m the boss for a
second and answer me honestly.'
    'Go on,' she said, eyeing him warily.
    'By the look of things, I’d say you’re not
holding up too well, are you?' her boss asked tentatively.
    Feeling like a bolt of lightning had struck
her; she sat upright, pushed her firm breasts out and fully
extended her slim neck upwards. 'Stop worrying about me, I’m fine,'
she said, offering him a false tired smile.
    'Don’t bullshit a bullshitter, young lady. No
one’s going to think badly of you if you go home for a