Dead Of Winter (Willis/Carter #1)(89)

‘How do you know the Bloodrunners still have him?’

‘We don’t, but they didn’t kill him at Blackdown Barn. They must be saving him for someone special.’

‘Yes. You’re right. He’s the perfect match for someone.’

‘There is hope. They are still here. But I can’t see them being here for much longer. They must know we’re getting close. We’ve put Martingale under surveillance. We are going to bring Justin de Lange in for questioning. When we can find him.’

‘What have you got on him?’

‘We believe he killed Tanya, the dancer from Cain’s, There is CCTV footage of a man with long blond hair in the back of the taxi with her. We don’t have the proof we need.’

‘What proof do you need?’

‘She was raped – there’s semen, and fingerprints in the flesh on her shoulders where she was held down. We don’t have Justin’s prints to compare them with.

He has all sorts of history. He was accused of rape in his younger years. Mother paid it off. We think he must be one of the Bloodrunners. He has shares in a company called Remed Ltd, which manufactures cosmetic surgery products from cadavers. We think Digger and Justin are working together to supply companies with bodies for research, organ transplants, cadaver products; it’s big business.’

‘Yeah . . . I know. It’s a perfect way to get rid of someone completely and make a few quid on the side. What can you tell me about the identity of the other Bloodrunners? Who are they? What about Justin de Lange’s wife?’

‘Nikki de Lange? We’re not sure. She doesn’t seem in control of things, not even of her own life. We think it’s a sham marriage. We went round to their flat but no one’s been living there. He says she moved back in with her dad. That would figure except surveillance say they’ve only seen her come and go and not actually stay the night there. But she seems to be the child from the attic. She never really existed on paper: she’s an odd woman but I think her life has been odd. It looks like Martingale even did some work on her face. It’s a strange set-up. It’s not healthy.’

‘How much did Martingale know of what Justin de Lange was doing? How much is he involved?’ asked Carmichael.

‘We don’t know. When we find Justin we’ll ask him. He could well have been involved thirteen years ago. He was working for Martingale then and he was already in with Digger. The Bloodrunners may have changed their team slightly in the last thirteen years but the core remains the same: Chichester – maybe that’s Justin, maybe not – Digger probably, and there is a woman . . . she lured Alex Tapp. Michael Tapp is having an affair. Maybe it’s his girlfriend. We are watching him. Please, Carmichael, we need you to work with us . . . for the sake of Alex, don’t kill the only hope we have of finding him. The Bloodrunners will know we’re on to them. They will carry out what they came to do or they will just decide to cut their losses and run. Do you know where Justin de Lange is?’

Carmichael looked away, his eyes filled with reflections from the lights on the Christmas tree. He turned back.

‘I can’t help you. You have to save the boy on your own. I came into this to get revenge; get justice for my wife and child, and that’s what I intend to do.’





Chapter 60


‘He bought three tickets.’

‘Did you check it?’

Carter and Ebony parked up outside the Tapps’ house.

‘Yes, Sarge, ticket sales confirm it. It was tagged going into the grounds. I’ve sent you a text with the details. Aaron said the seat was empty next to them. Whoever used it didn’t get as far as the seat but they did come into the grounds. They did go through the gates.’

‘And it wasn’t the father?’

‘Unless he changed his mind, went in but didn’t go up to the stand. He could have waited at the bar.’

‘Except he wasn’t going to meet them there. He waited for them at the Tube station.’

‘We haven’t found him on the CCTV footage yet.’

‘Right, let’s sort this out,’ said Carter, getting out of the car.

‘Mrs Tapp . . . sorry to bother you again,’ Ebony apologized as she smiled. Carter was looking down the street. He hadn’t slept well. He’d drunk too much. Now it fought with his brain. The conversation with Cabrina the other night still bothered him. He had analysed it so many times. He could see what he said wrong. What did he say it for? He had sounded like he was ‘putting up with’ the baby for the sake of having her home. Well, maybe it had been like that at the beginning but it wasn’t intentional. It was alright for her – she had something growing inside her, changing her hormones, making her ready. He just had blind panic growing inside. But he would be alright. They would be alright, and the baby would fit in. He better think of some way to get her back before she became settled where she was. He better make it good.

They followed Mrs Tapp inside. ‘We need a quick word . . . is your husband in?’

‘Mike’ll be home in a minute. What is it you need to see him about?’

They took a right into the lounge. The room held oversized tapestry sofas in a reasonably small space; there were stripped pine floors and white walls with arty posters.

Ebony and Helen left Carter looking at the book collection as Helen picked up Alfie, who was whinging half-heartedly, and they made their way towards the kitchen.