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  “I’ll look up some Shakespeare for next time,” he said before grinding his mouth against hers.

  They cringed when the sound of the doorbell chimed through the house followed by George crying.

  “Whoever that is I’m going to rip their balls off,” spat Jez as he strode for the door while Cathy went to attend to their son. “What?” he demanded of the man standing on his doorstep.

  Leonidas wondered if greeting visitors so abruptly was tradition among the Law siblings. “Mr Law?”

  “Yep. What do you want?” he said, folding his arms across his chest, foot tapping angrily. “If you’re selling something I’ll….”

  Hastily Leonidas took out his warrant card. “DI Leonidas.”

  “Leonidas? What sort of name is that?”

  “It’s Greek.”

  “A scouser with a Greek name. Weird. Well, why are you here? I hope you didn’t wake up my son for a trivial reason.”

  “Oh I’m very sorry about that Sir and no, I can promise you it isn’t trivial.”

  “Fine, come on in then.” Worry bit deep inside Jez. He hoped this wasn’t anything to do with their last war.

  “I’m very sorry Madam,” said Leonidas when Cathy appeared clutching a bawling child.

  “It’s okay,” she said a little tersely. Despite how pissed off she was she was a good hostess and always did her best never to get angry at a guest.

  “Cathy, this is DI Leonidas,” said Jez.

  “Nice to meet you,” she replied. “I’d offer you tea but…”

  “I’m good thanks Mrs Law.”

  She just nodded and headed upstairs, carrying the crying child.

  A sheepish Leonidas followed Jez into the living room, which was more cluttered and untidy than the Maguires’ front room but no less inviting. Jez shut the door behind them, blocking out the worst of George’s crying but a high pitched whine was still audible.

  “Sorry about that,” he told Jez.

  “Don’t worry about it,” he sighed. “Happens all the time.”

  “My daughter was a bad sleeper but she got there in the end. She’s fourteen now and won’t get her lazy arse out of bed.”

  “So just another twelve sleepless years to go then. So what’s this about?”

  Jez didn’t invite him to sit, indicating he was intruding, so Leonidas stood awkwardly in the middle of the room. “You’ve not spoken to your sister?”

  “No,” he retorted, wishing he hadn’t rejected the call from Jules now.

  “I’m very sorry to tell you that we’ve found your mother’s body in Liverpool.”

  “What?”

  “There’s no delicate way to say this…”

  “Just get on with it.”

  “She was shot in the head and buried in some woodland. I’m very sorry.”

  Once again the shock Jez displayed was because she’d been found. “How did you…”

  “A serial killer we’re hunting dumped their latest victim practically on top of her grave. A sniffer dog found her. She’d been there eight months.”

  Jez sighed, shook his head and stared at the floor. Leonidas remained quiet, allowing him to digest the news.

  “Thanks for coming all this way to let us know,” Jez eventually said.

  “Have you any idea who would want to do this to your mother?”

  “Only half of Manchester. She wasn’t popular.”

  “Someone hated her enough to kill her?”

  “Loads of people. She had a vicious tongue and ran around with a bad crowd.”

  “Could you give me the names of any of those people?”

  “Not really. She moved away from Manchester. I believe she ended up in Nottingham at one point. After that I have no idea.”

  Leonidas tried not to sigh with frustration. “Who did she know in Liverpool?”

  “Me and my siblings were estranged from her for the last few years. We’ve no idea of her movements.”

  Leonidas didn’t believe that for a moment. “So there are no friends or relatives down there that you’re aware of?”

  “She probably latched onto some bloke who kept her in fags and drugs. That was her usual MO. I’ll be frank with you Leonidas,” continued Jez. “None of us had any love for our vicious crack whore of a mother, just as she had no love for any of us but we didn’t kill her. Any questions?”

  “Eight months ago there was some trouble in Liverpool that has never been fully understood. A burnt out house was discovered full of bodies, some of whom have never been identified. At the same time Andrew Clayton and his brother Luke vanished.”

  “Who?”

  “You didn’t know Andrew Clayton Sir? I believe he was in a similar sort of business to yourself.”

  “I don’t know every businessman in the country.”

  Leonidas scrutinised him closely with his penetrating dark brown eyes but Jez was giving nothing away. He’d seen more expressive tree trunks. “When did you last see your mother?”

  “She was being carted away from my sister Jules’s wedding to her first husband. She was pissed out of her head and caused a scene.” That was the story he’d agreed on with Jules and Ryan should anyone ask about their mother, not that they’d seriously thought they would.

  “And you’ve not seen or heard from her since?”

  “Nope. Is that it then, only I’m busy?”

  “I understand you’ve had a shock Mr Law but do you have any more questions about your mother’s death?”

  “The only reason she was a mother was because she gave birth to me. That was where our relationship ended. Her death means nothing to me, so if you’re expecting me to cry or breakdown then you’re in for a long wait. If you’re going to ask if I killed her then no, I didn’t. Anything else?”

  Leonidas hadn’t expected Jez Law to be a delight but he hadn’t expected such a harsh, straightforward response either. “No, that’s all for now. If you think of anything please give me a call,” he said, placing his card on the coffee table. He got the impression that if he held it out to him he’d be left with his arm extended like a petrified tree. “Thank you for your time Sir. I’m sorry for your loss.”

  Jez just snorted at this last statement, watching coldly as he left.

  Leonidas stepped outside and breathed a sigh of relief. That had been intense and he was no nearer to closing this bloody case. He didn’t want to trek all the way down to Devon to interview the oldest brother. Maybe there was someone else he could speak to?

  He returned to his car to flip through the notes he’d made from information he’d harvested about the family before leaving Liverpool. There was another sister, estranged from the others but she’d emigrated to the Algarve, by all accounts to get as far from her notorious siblings as possible. Well if he couldn’t be arsed trekking down to Devon he certainly wasn’t going to the Algarve. If Estelle’s children had killed her then they weren’t about to admit it. He would return to Liverpool and look deeper into Andrew Clayton’s disappearance and the bodies they’d found in that burnt out house. Perhaps some answers lay there. But while he was up here he’d speak to a local detective, see if they could give him more background information on the Law family.

  CHAPTER 5

  Rachel was relaxing in Ryan’s arms on the couch in the living room, her earlier fears gone, basking in the feel of his long clever fingers sliding through her hair while he read his book. She’d been reading too but her book lay discarded on the floor, preferring his ministrations instead.

  The peace was disturbed by the front door banging open and Leah, their eldest daughter bounded in followed by her boyfriend, Jacob. Usually Rachel would have sat up in company but she was far too relaxed.

  “Wow Mum, you look chilled,” said Leah. “Been on the wine already?”

  “No I haven’t you cheeky madam,” she said while Ryan chuckled. “I’m enjoying the peace and quiet.”

  “That won’t last. The boys will be back from football soon.”

  “Aren’
t you back a bit early?”

  “Revision period,” said Leah. “We’re going up to my room, we’ve got a big biology test tomorrow.”

  “You two had better study up there,” said Ryan. “And there’d better be no practical biology.”

  “Dad,” she exclaimed while Jacob blushed.

  “Are you staying for tea Jacob?” Rachel asked him.

  “Yes please, if that’s okay?”

  “You should know by now that you’re always welcome,” she replied, making him smile.

  Leah and Jacob had been dating for a year. He’d been at Jules and Mikey’s wedding, which had ended in total carnage, so he’d seen their family at their very worst but that hadn’t been enough to scare him off. He’d actually gone out of his way to help them and they were all very fond of him. Plus he adored Leah and she him. Jacob’s mother Michelle worked with Bruiser in the private investigation business he’d set up with Battler. She’d been made a senior partner, having a natural flair for the work, although no one could ever replace Battler. Bruiser had at one point been all for selling up, not wanting to continue without his older brother but he’d decided to stick it out and was glad he had. Without a purpose he would have lost his mind.

  Leah took Jacob’s hand and the pair of them vanished upstairs.

  “You shouldn’t embarrass them like that,” Rachel told her husband.

  “I like reminding them that I’m not ready to be a granddad yet.”

  “You’re too sexy to be a granddad. You’re more of a poppy.”

  “Am I mamma?” he smiled when she straddled him, skirt riding up her thighs. “Oh for God’s sake,” he said when his phone started ringing.

  Rachel climbed off him so he could retrieve it from his pocket.

  “Hello Jules,” he said.

  Foreboding washed over Rachel when he went silent and his eyes widened. “She couldn’t do us a favour and stay dead, could she?”

  Rachel frowned, wondering what the hell was going on.

  “Yes,” he continued. “I appreciate the warning. Talk to you soon,” he said before hanging up.

  “What on earth was that about?” Rachel asked him.

  “Estelle’s body’s been found.”

  “What?”

  “The police weren’t searching for her. Unfortunately a serial killer dumped their latest victim practically on top of her grave and a sniffer dog found her.”

  “Of all the rotten luck,” she said. “Those woods were huge.”

  “This isn’t down to luck,” he glowered. “This is typical Estelle.”

  “Babe, she’s dead.”

  “She won’t let that stop her from fucking up our lives. Some copper from Liverpool has just been to visit Jules. Jez was his next port of call.”

  “Well he won’t get anything out of those two and he’s no idea Damon was responsible. There’s nothing for him to find.”

  “That’s what Jules said.”

  “She’s right.”

  “It’s just typical of Estelle to cause trouble from beyond the grave.”

  She took his hand. “Estelle’s gone and she can’t hurt you anymore.”

  “I’m not so sure about that,” he sighed.

  Archie drove his fist into the boy’s stomach, enjoying his cry of pain and fear. This was when he felt best, he loved the rush fighting gave him. Unfortunately no one at his school had ever managed to stand up to him, he would have loved to take on someone with real skills but for now he was happy being king of his school. All the other kids were too afraid of him and his family to tell on him, even though he was pretty sure the teachers knew who was responsible for the numerous attacks on the other pupils but with no one willing to talk their hands were tied.

  “Give us that,” said Archie, yanking the phone from the boy’s hand.

  “Awesome,” grinned Archie’s best and only friend, Craig Crossly. “An iPhone. I can get eighty quid for that.”

  Archie dumped it in his hand. “You’d better give me half. Don’t even think of ripping me off.”

  “When have I ever done that?”

  Archie just frowned at him. He was sure Craig was taking more than his fair share but he was helpless to do anything about it. Craig’s older brother had the contacts to move on the stuff they nicked. They didn’t just target people from their own school, they hit kids from the surrounding schools too. Most of them at his own high school had got wise to his ways and stopped taking in anything of value. All meals were paid for through an online system, so there was no need for them to take in any cash, meaning they’d had no choice but to target other schools, waiting for unsuspecting kids on their way home. They were in the last year of high school. Archie had been forced to wait until his older brother Alfie had left before beginning his nefarious activities otherwise he would have dobbed him in. As he was the biggest boy in not just his school but the entire area there was no one capable of stopping him.

  Archie gave the boy on the ground one last kick in the back, ensuring he stayed there before continuing on his way home. While Archie lived in the most affluent area of the city, Craig lived in the worst but he accompanied Archie home every day as he knew the kids in his area had better pickings than the ones in his.

  “You up for another?” said Craig.

  “Nah,” sighed Archie. “I’ve got to get home. Riley’s orders.”

  “Your step dad’s still giving you shit?”

  “He knows I’m responsible for beating up the stupid kids around here but he can’t prove it.” Archie smiled but as usual it failed to reach his eyes, which always appeared cold and empty. “It’s driving him crazy.”

  “Hopefully it’ll send him all the way and they’ll lock him up in a loony bin.”

  “I’ve got something that should get him out of the way.”

  Craig regarded Archie with curious eyes. “What?”

  “You’ll see soon enough.”

  Craig knew his friend well. Most of all he understood that it wasn’t wise to push him when he didn’t want to be pushed, it was why he alone out of all the kids at their school had avoided being punched. “I’ll go for the bus then. It’ll be here in five minutes.”

  “Alright mate. See you tomorrow.”

  “Yeah, see you.”

  Archie left Craig behind at the bus stop and continued on his way, lumbering along the pavement. Although he was only fifteen he was already the size of a fully grown man, taking after his dad, Alex Maguire, in height and build. Further down the pavement he saw a couple of stupid kids he’d beaten up last week. They took one look at him steaming along and ran off in the opposite direction, making him smile. He revelled in the fear he inspired, he could see why his dad had got so addicted to it.

  His house was large and beautiful and kept scrupulously clean, the complete opposite to Craig’s. He ambled up the garden path, knowing Riley was waiting to interrogate him about his day. With a bit of luck he’d still be at work but he usually finished early on Wednesdays.

  He walked in to find his stepdad sat on the couch watching television. He switched off the set and smiled. “Alright mate? Have a good day?”

  “It was okay.”

  “What did you get up to?”

  Archie shrugged his huge shoulders. “School.”

  “And how was it?”

  “The same.”

  “What did you do?”

  “Nothing.”

  Archie smiled inwardly at the annoyance that flashed in Riley’s eyes. He didn’t know why he kept on asking because he always gave him the same responses. But in order for his plan to work it was important he maintained the status quo. “Where’s Mum?”

  “Having a lie down. She was tired. The pregnancy’s taking it out of her.”

  His mum was due to pop with another kid. Archie had no interest in this brat. The only one of his four siblings he cared about was Ellie, the youngest of them all, until the baby was born anyway. She made him feel alive, normal, something no one else could do for him. “Ar
e you feeling better? Mum said you weren’t so well.”

  Riley smiled, delighted by his concern. “Fine thanks Archie. I think I’ve just got a bit run down, I’ve been working a lot of hours lately but I’ll have my paternity leave coming up soon, although I don’t think I’ll get much rest,” he smiled.

  Archie just nodded disinterestedly. “I’m thirsty, I need a drink. Want anything?”

  “Thanks Archie,” he smiled. “I’ll have an orange juice.”

  He nodded and dumped his bag on the floor before heading into the kitchen. He set out two glasses and poured out the orange juice.

  Glancing over his shoulder to ensure he wasn’t being watched, he took a small folded piece of paper out of his pocket and tipped the powder it contained into one of the glasses. He stirred the contents into the juice, being careful not to catch the sides of the glass with the spoon. Once it had all dissolved he washed the spoon, replaced it in the drawer and carried both glasses through to the lounge. He handed the glass with the powder in to Riley and gulped down his own juice.

  “That’s better,” he said. “It’s so hot out there.”

  He couldn’t help but smile as he watched Riley take a sip of his own juice. Little did he know that the drinks Archie so helpfully fetched him were the reason why he was feeling so ill. Soon he’d be out of the way and he wouldn’t be able to tell him what to do anymore.

  Dwyer was rather disappointed by Ray McGinnis. He had a ferocious reputation as an armed robber who wasn’t afraid to use his trusty shotgun and who had subdued many a security guard with his fists. But he was an unprepossessing middle aged man with rounded shoulders and a droopy black moustache. Campbell’s intermittent sniffing was also getting on his nerves. At least she’d had the decency to get a tissue and wipe her nose on that rather than her hand. Ray’s lawyer sat beside his client, looking very uninterested in the proceedings.

  “Who gave the order to kill Amber Maguire?” said Dwyer.

  “I’ve already gone through all this with her,” said Ray, gesturing to DI Campbell.

  “And now you’re going to go through it all again with me. Who gave the order?”

  “Jez Law,” he said miserably.