Free Death in July by Michael Joseph Page B

on my way.'
    'I have...they're coming. I just don't know how long they're going to be-'
    The line went dead.

Chapter 13
     
    It took Sam ten minutes in the busy traffic. Two police cars were already there when he arrived, parked askew in front of the low-rise apartment block. A policeman was standing rigid on the steps, watching him pull up with interest. With his heart racing, Sam got out and approached him.
    'Who are you, Sir?' asked the officer.
    'Sam Carlisle. I'm a-'
    The officer smiled grimly.
    'Mr Carlisle, please follow me.'
    Sam was led up to the second floor and Moira's apartment. The door was open and Sam could hear voices inside. He saw clear signs of damage to the door frame and the door itself, just above the handle. Sam grimaced at the sight. Somebody had given the door a good go. The policeman entered the apartment first, striding forcefully down Moira's hallway. Sam saw that as a good sign. No pussyfooting around the scene usually meant no casualties.
    Sam's reluctant hopes were confirmed when he saw Moira and Alice very much alive and well in the living-room. They were sat together, holding hands, shaken but unharmed. Alice saw him first.
    'Sam!'
    She ran to him and flung her arms around his neck. He held her as she gripped him tight.
    'Sam, it was horrible!' she exclaimed, her face buried in his chest, her voice muffled. 'We thought he was going to get in...'
    Sam exchanged looks with Moira, who remained seated, her face taut with concern, her expression stony and apprehensive. The serious look in her eyes told Sam everything.
    Two other policemen were present in the room, waiting patiently over by the far wall. Sam recognised the uniformed officer as the taller of the two who had inspected Geoffrey's property. He gave Sam a perfunctory nod. The plain clothes officer introduced himself as Detective Inspector Jackson. Sam took in the nondescript appearance. Medium height. Medium build. Mousey hair, parted to one side. Small eyes and a faint moustache on an unremarkable face. DI Jackson took a small step nearer Sam.
    'Mr Carlisle, I believe.'
    'That's right,' said Sam. 'What happened?'
    Jackson gave him a thorough look.
    'Someone tried to gain entry via Miss Kennedy's front door. A neighbour in the above flat heard the women screaming and came out of his flat to investigate. As he started down the stairway, he heard someone run off...'
    Apparently, Moira had dropped her phone in fright during the commotion, breaking it in the process. That had been Sam's biggest cause for concern during the dash over here, the sudden ending of the call. He was struck by a sudden sense of deja-vu.
    Two different properties.
    Two intruders.
    Both fleeing the scene.
    'What have you got so far?' he asked, hearing more policemen out on the stairs, their calls to each other echoing off the surrounding walls. Sam was impressed. The detective had already got his men searching the building for clues.
    Jackson stroked his chin.
    'Well, no witnesses, I'm afraid. Nobody got a look at the perpetrator. Nobody heard his voice, either. He didn't shout or speak through the letterbox. There's substantial damage to the door as you probably noticed-'
    'Crowbar?' suggested Sam.
    'Or something very similar,' nodded Jackson. 'We're checking for prints, knocking on doors. Mrs Brown has explained the situation about her husband-'
    'Soon to be ex-husband,' spat Alice defiantly.
    'Quite. We're trying to locate him as we speak. If he's in Newgate, we'll find him.'
    Moira suddenly piped up. She had been uncannily quiet so far. Now, her face was flushed with indignation.
    'What do you mean, if he's in Newgate? Of course he's in blooming Newgate. Who else do you think was trying to get in here?'
    Jackson gave her his best smile.
    'Miss Kennedy, Richard Brown is an individual we urgently need to talk to about today's incident. But, until he is located and questioned, we have to keep all our options open. In the meantime, I'd like you to have a think about