Authors: Chrissie Loveday
‘Right everyone. We now have suspect for the two murders. The downside is that he’s escaped custody.’
‘We’d heard that sir. How’s Ted? And you, are you all right?’
‘I’m fine apart from damaged pride. Ted is going to recover, eventually. No damage to any major organs but he lost a lot of blood. We’ve got Bert Pryce in custody and Dickie Pryce is somewhere north of Birmingham. In my car, I may add. I’ve given my number to the motorway police and hopefully, they’ll soon catch him. They’ve been warned that he has a gun. Sylvia Edwards should be here soon so I’ll go and interview here when she arrives. Any questions?’
Murmurs of
not
really
and
no
sir
reached his ears.
‘Very well. Get back to whatever you were working on before. And thanks, all of you.’
Ray went back to his office. It seemed strange to him to be there without Ted at the other desk. He’d have to get someone else to take his place on a temporary basis until Ted was ready for work again. He glanced at his watch. He really ought to go to Foredyce’s and tell them the latest news but he decided to wait until Dickie had been arrested. He almost felt like driving along the motorway in chase but realised that would be quite ridiculous. He picked up his phone to ask if Sylvia Edwards had been brought in yet. She hadn’t. He felt restless and decided to go to the hospital to see how Ted was faring. He found the car he’d been allocated and set off. It was something of a heap he decided.
At the hospital, he found Ted sitting up and looking extremely restless.
‘When can I get out of here?’ he demanded.
‘You need to ask your wife about that. I somehow doubt she’d even consider you coming out for a while yet. I take it she’s been in to see you?’
‘She came last night but I was out of it. I’ve spoken to her on the phone and she’s on her way in now. Hang around and you’ll see her for yourself.’
‘I’m delighted you’re not suffering too much. But forget all thoughts of coming back to work. Enjoy a bit of time with your kids. It’ll be Christmas in just over a week.’
‘Yer, so they tell me. They’ve also told me I can’t even drink a drop of alcohol while I’m on medication.’ Ted’s mobile, ensconced in Ray’s pocket, rang. ‘That sounds like my ring tone,’ he said accusingly.
‘Oh yes. I’ve borrowed it for a while. Till I can get another one. I knew you wouldn’t mind. Yes?’ he said into it. ‘Oh right. Thanks,’ he said and hung up. ‘They’ve got Sylvia Edwards. I’d better go and see her. Do you really want me to leave this here phone with you?’
‘Yes please. I hate being without it.’
‘Bloody typical. You can’t be away from work can you?’
‘Nope. I need to be able to call you at midnight. You know, when I’ve got the night naggers.’
‘Okay. Here you are. I’ll tell the office not to call you. Bye mate. I’m so pleased you’re going to be all right.’ He saw Mrs Wilkes as he left. ‘He’s going to be fine,’ he told her.
Ray interviewed Miss Edwards and learned that Dickie had been her house guest for the past couple of weeks. She had no idea that he’d murdered anyone and was quite horrified when she learned of it.
‘What a bastard. I would never have had him there if I’d known. Bert brought him round and then he stayed as well.’
‘So how did he behave when he drove off with you?’
‘He was a bit threatening, as it goes. When we stopped to get petrol, he made me go and pay and then he drove off and left me at the service station. I was pretty mad, I can tell you. Just you wait till I see Bert again. How could he saddle me with that lummock?’
‘Lummock?
‘Well, whatever you’d call him. He’s a total bastard.’
‘That I’d agree with. Right, well I think that’s about it. I’m afraid your door was broken down. I’ll organise someone to come and sort it out.’
‘I should bloody well think so. I can’t say it’s been a pleasure knowing you.’
‘No, quite. My feelings are probably the same. I’ll get someone to take you home now. Thank you for coming in.’
Once she’d left he breathed a sigh of relief. He’d be so glad to be rid of all of them. Kevin, Miss Pringle and the rest of the staff of Foredyce’s.
Ray’s phone rang.
‘Yes?’ he answered.
‘I’m afraid we’ve got some bad news for you sir.’
‘What is it?’
‘Dickie Pryce has just been killed.’
‘Killed? How on earth ...?’
‘That’s where the bad news is sir. He managed to turn your car over and it burst into flames. I’m afraid it’s a write off.’
‘And Dickie Pryce?’
‘So’s he.’
‘So how did it happen?’
‘The motorway cops were chasing him. He swerved off the road just a bit too fast and well, it turned over.’
‘Does this mean there’s about to be another enquiry?’
‘I don’t think so sir. He was the one who drove off the road. It was a complete accident.’
‘So that’s it. He won’t even get punished for all his crimes.’
‘No sir. And you’ll need a new car.’
‘Now that might be an advantage. After he’d been in it, I don’t really think I fancied it again.’
It was Christmas Eve. At Foredyce’s the store had been closed for half an hour and the staff were all gathered on the main shop floor, drinking the free booze provided by the owners. Miss Pringle was busily serving them, making sure they all had a fair share of the goodies on offer.
Geoffrey and Sydney Foredyce were also present, being polite to everyone. Miss Pringle came to Geoffrey and asked him to make a speech. He stood and cleared his throat.
‘Ladies and gentlemen. My thanks are to everyone who has helped us to bring this Christmas season to a close. We had some most unfortunate occurrences this year and, I speak on behalf of the entire Board, when I say how sorry I am to those of you who were involved. Now, do we have some prizes to be given out Miss Pringle?’
There followed several members of staff being rewarded for making good sales and meeting targets.
‘And finally, I’m sure you’ll all want to join me in thanking Miss Pringle for organising this splendid gathering this afternoon.’ He paused for the ripple of clapping. ‘We all wish you a very happy Christmas.’
‘Thank you sir,’ said Miss Pringle, flushed from her consumption of wine. ‘It’s certainly been a difficult time this year.’
‘Well done to you anyway Miss Pringle. And here’s to a trouble free next year. We’ll see you on Monday, bright eyed and bushy tailed.’
She looked at him and smiled. Silly man, she was thinking. She was due back on Saturday for the Boxing Day sales event. Some things never stopped.
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Christmas Killing
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