Frozen Grave (Willis/Carter #3)(15)

As they cleaned up, Carter got a call from Robbo.

‘A group of homeless men have been spotted by a patrol car; the officers haven’t approached but they say a couple look about right for the two we’re looking for. They want to know what you want them to do.’

‘Where are they?’

‘In the area in front of Shadwell Station. Another thing – they’ve spotted Mahmet Balik nearby. He was seen talking to the rough sleepers outside the chemist’s shop earlier on.’

‘Okay. We’re on our way. Tell the patrol to make themselves scarce. I don’t want them to run.’

They finished up fast at the mortuary and drove down to Shadwell. They parked nearby and continued on foot towards the entrance to the station.

‘Guv?’

‘Yeah – I’ve seen them.’ A group of men were sitting against the station wall.

‘Can we have a word?’ Carter said as they approached, and were met with a volley of abuse from the bald man sitting at the end of the group. As he turned away from them, a blue web tattoo was visible on his neck.

‘Oy – big mouth – watch your language,’ Carter said as he got near and pointed to the carrier bag. ‘What’s in there?’

He already knew what was in it. White Ace cider, sold from under the counter of newsagents’ and grocery stores. The group began making moves to leave.

A new man approached from an adjoining street. He had a light collar on his jacket and was carrying a chemist’s carrier bag. Carter saw him at the same time as Willis did and she edged left of the group. The man dropped his bag and bolted through the station and then through the open ticket barrier. They chased after him. As Willis sprinted over the railway bridge, she lost eye contact with the platforms below until she looked down from the top of the stairs to see the man running along the tracks and Carter keeping pace on the platform above.

She flew back down the way she’d come and sprinted along the platform, shouting at people to get back. The oncoming train was so close that she could see the train driver’s panic-stricken expression.

Carter had jumped onto the track and was trying to drag the man to the side, shouting at him to move. Willis was within a few metres of Carter when the man gave up any movement and sank to his knees. Her voice was drowned out by the noise of the train passing. She reached out ready to grab Carter as she turned her face from the whoosh of air, the squeal of metal on metal and the scream of pain.





Chapter 8


‘Guv? You okay?’

Carter stood outside the station with his head bowed as the man was being loaded into the ambulance.

‘Christ . . . I should have been able to lift him off the track,’ he said – angry with himself.

‘He was a dead weight, guv. You did your best. He’s still breathing. He might live.’

‘Yeah – hope so.’ Willis looked at Carter’s face. He was ghostly pale. ‘Pretty sure that’s Toffee. He matches the description and he definitely didn’t want to talk to us.’ Carter leant over, catching his breath.

‘Think so, guv. Looks like his mates have gone. Shall we get back in the car and search for them or do you need a coffee first, guv?’

‘No.’ He looked up and smiled. ‘I need a Scotch . . . and a bloody big one.’ He straightened up. ‘That’s enough of an adrenalin rush for one day. Ring Robbo and make sure Toffee’s kept under guard at the hospital. I want to talk to him as soon as he’s able and if he makes it. The patrols will have more luck finding Toffee’s mates than we will. You’re right – I need a cup of coffee.’ Carter took off his coat and began beating the dust out of it with the back of his hand. ‘I don’t reckon these men will have gone far.’ Carter looked forlornly at the dirt on his sleeve. ‘Christ Almighty – if there’s one thing I hate!’

They stopped at a café Carter knew well – he ordered aubergine pasta bake whilst Willis had a burger and fries.

He stared at her eating. It was something that both repulsed and fascinated him. ‘You eat like it’s your last meal and you’ve only got seconds to eat it,’ Carter said as he picked at his food.

Willis didn’t answer; she opened the burger bun and squirted on more ketchup. Carter’s phone rang whilst they were eating. He talked and ate one-handed.

‘Robbo? How did they say he is? Both legs? Shit! Yes, I’m fine. Have the patrols located his mates yet? What about Balik? No, we’ll keep looking when we finish here: we’ll call in at a few more homeless hostels in the area, and then we’ll head over to the hospital.’

He finished his call and continued to watch Willis eat.

‘I thought you were going to take a holiday after Christmas, but you came straight back to work. What happened – you changed your mind?’

She shrugged as she licked ketchup from her fingers.

‘I thought you and Tina had it all planned. You were off to Cancún or somewhere? To drink buckets of booze and party hard?’

‘I decided to wait a while.’

‘For what?’

She pushed a chip around the salt on her plate.

‘Just wasn’t the right time.’

‘You okay?’

‘Yes, guv.’

‘Don’t “yes, guv” me, Ebony Willis. I want to know what’s up with my partner.’