Free Hunted by Heather Atkinson Page A

Daniel was reported missing because he was the last one to see him alive. Apparently Daniel had gone to his house on the pretext of sorting Chris’s computer out. Then he vanished.”
    Ryan had to give Gerard his due, he was good at the theatrics. He was telling his tale like it was a ghost story.
    “Chris knew the Allingtons were having the annex put in, Christ, everyone did, they really did enjoy bragging,” continued Gerard. “It would have been easy for Chris to drag the body across his own land and dump it in the concrete of the foundations before it hardened.”
    “You’ve thought about this a lot,” said Battler.
    “I have ever since I heard that a body was discovered up at your place,” replied Gerard, addressing Ryan. “Come on, everyone knows there’s something not right around here, despite what the police say. Everyone in the county will have their own theory.”
    “So you think that body is Daniel Tebbs?” said Battler.
    “It’s one possibility.”
    “Chris Marsh is a good man,” said Ryan coldly. “The worst thing you’ve accused him of is being secretly gay.”
    “Hey, I’ve nothing against gays,” said Gerard, holding out his hands. “It doesn’t bother me but his wife Angela is a sweet woman, she doesn’t deserve to be treated like that. We went to school together, she was always good to me.”
    “You’ve no proof, it’s all supposition and gossip,” said Ryan, a bit annoyed. He liked Chris Marsh, he and his family had helped them out after the fire set by Alex had destroyed their home. They’d taken in all their animals and kept an eye on the place when they were in Manchester. He didn’t think it fair Gerard accuse him of not only cheating on his wife but murdering a man too with absolutely no proof. But then again, one thing Ryan had learnt the hard way was that you never really knew anyone, never could fully trust them. Every single person on the planet had a dark side.
    “Did you know any of the men who disappeared?” Ryan asked Gerard.
    “Just one, George Romer, the first one, but then I didn’t know him well. He worked for my company for a few months until he disappeared and I didn’t hire him, one of my foremen did. He was a good worker apparently, a real grafter. They’re rare these days,” he said wistfully. “Everyone wants something for nothing.”
    “Could you give us the list of your staff who worked on the Allington annex?” said Battler.
    “Why should I?” replied Gerard indignantly, sticking out his bottom lip, making him look even more childlike. “I’m happy to cooperate with the police but what authority do you have?”
    “We’ve been engaged by one of the missing men’s families to look into the disappearance. That body could be their son. It would mean the world to them if you would cooperate with us too.”
    “Oh…very well,” sighed Gerard. “But I’m really not supposed to give information like that out, it is confidential.”
    “We’re very discreet,” said Battler.
    “I hope you are because I could get into a lot of trouble for this.” Gerard picked up his phone and gave instructions to his secretary before hanging up. “Gentlemen, your list will be waiting for you downstairs at reception. Now if you’ll excuse me I have a meeting in ten minutes.”
    All three of them rose.
    “Thank you for your time Mr Kerrell,” said Ryan.
    “Please, call me Gerard. Us big business people have to stick together. I’m curious, why didn’t you hire my firm to do the work on your house?”
    “I did get a quote from you but it was ridiculously high. Goodbye Gerard,” smiled Ryan, pleased with his parting shot as they filed out of the office.
    “What do you think?” said Ryan as they descended back to the ground floor in the lift.
    “Sweaty, shifty creep,” said Battler. “But I think he was being honest with us.”
    “Me too,” said Ryan. “Plus I can’t see him killing anyone and dragging their body across farmland. A man that