Free Substantial Threat by Nick Oldham Page A

become the target for a deranged serial killer who had kidnapped her with the intention of murdering her. Henry had tracked him down and released her. This incident had made Jane decide to take some time off work and start a family with her husband, with whom relations had been somewhat sour.
    At the same time Henry had started to try and make a permanent peace with Kate. He had moved back in with her and was doing his best to make the relationship work. He was ecstatic to be back with his daughters, but things were often pretty strained between him and Kate. Not only had he found himself thinking about Jane Roscoe more than was healthy, he was not completely sure he was still in love with Kate. He told her he was, but sometimes he did not believe his own words, and without that true love, he knew the chances of their relationship working were pretty minimal.
    Henry and Jane accompanied the blackened, charred body of Carrie Dancing to the mortuary at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. It was laid out on a slab next to the one with JJ’s now undressed body on it. Girlfriend next to boyfriend.
    In a corner of the room, Professor Baines was preparing to carry out two post-mortems back to back. He looked across at Henry, who was inspecting the two bodies. ‘Y’know, it’s funny, but every time I bump into you, Henry, there’s never just one body to cut up. Usually I get a whole busful!’ He laughed.
    â€˜It’s the effect I have on people.’
    â€˜I have no doubt there’ll be even more for me to do before the day is done now that you’re on the scene. You seem to attract violent death.’
    â€˜Cheers . . . at least it keeps you in luxury items, doesn’t it?’ Henry said knowing how much Baines charged for his work.
    â€˜Yes, beluga caviar and champagne tonight.’ The pathologist smiled, blowing into a latex glove so it resembled a cow’s udder.
    Jane Roscoe came to the door. She and Henry caught each other’s eyes. He knew they needed to talk.
    â€˜We need to nip out and get a few things sorted,’ he told Baines. ‘Back in about twenty minutes, half an hour or so.’
    â€˜Whatever.’ Baines moved to the bodies, flexing his fingers. ‘I’ll be here for a good few hours I expect.’
    They parked in a side street off Lytham Road. Crazy kept the engine of the GTi ticking over. He thought the car felt good and knew it would not let them down if they needed it.
    All three were silent, waiting.
    About a hundred metres away, around the corner and out of sight, was the King’s Cross, where their business was going to be conducted very shortly.
    Marty tapped his foot on the floor. It was beginning to aggravate the other two.
    â€˜Fuckin’ stop that,’ Ray said impatiently.
    The sound ceased instantly. A short while later Marty started keeping a beat by slapping his thighs. Ray decided to let it ride. He was nervous, too, but he kept things bottled up inside, like Crazy did. Later he would allow himself an outlet for his emotions. Until then they would remain as controlled as they could be under the circumstances.
    Soon they would be on the move.
    A small man came round the corner from Lytham Road and approached the Golf. Ray wound his window down. Looking furtively round, the man bent down to the car window and breathed out smoke and beer fumes from which Ray recoiled slightly.
    â€˜What’ve you got, Pete?’
    â€˜He’s in the snug. Through the door to the left. He’s sat at the bar with Teddy Wright and Big Townley on either side of him. There’s one barman and no one else inside the place when I left. It’s dead quiet.’
    â€˜You a hundred per cent?’
    â€˜Yep.’
    â€˜Right. Thanks. I’ll square this up with you later.’
    The small man nodded and walked hurriedly away, lighting a cigarette as he went.
    â€˜Shit,’ muttered Crazy.
    Ray and Marty looked up quickly as a cruising