Dead Dream Girl

‘Because of their bust up,’ Crane cut him off. ‘I wondered why there was a bust up. Well, it was because Greenwood also believed Mahon had seen off Do

There was a longer silence. Then, ‘Bugger!’

‘Come again?’

‘I should have seen that. But even if I had I’d never have thought Greenwood would grass him.’

‘I got lucky. Patsy filled me in on his going straight. He’d had a bellyful of being in trouble with the law. It gave me a lever. I also promised him I’d keep his name out of anything.’

Another silence and then Anderson said, ‘I knew you were good, Frank, but there was no need to rub my nose in it.’

He spoke lightly and Crane knew he’d be gri

Anderson’s grin was wiped away as he cleared his phone. How could he have slipped up on a detail like that? He’d been convinced he knew everything about everyone involved in Do

‘That was Geoff Anderson, Patsy. We’re pooling information, as he knows so much about the case, possibly even more than the police. He was a bit miffed about me getting ahead of him, thanks to you.’

‘He’s a good looking bloke, that Geoff. They must be queuing up to loofah his back. What will you do now? About Bobby?’

He shrugged. ‘I need to find a way of proving he wasn’t at home that night, without involving Cliff. It won’t be easy, but if I can I can hand it back to the police. If he wasn’t at home he’ll have to prove he wasn’t with Do

She sighed, her face in shadow, her hair back-lit in an untidy halo from one of the table lamps. ‘Poor Bobby, he’s been a silly beggar, but it does upset me to see him wandering round the Willows and everyone pretending he’s the Invisible Man. He’d never have done that to her, not Bobby, not if she hadn’t set out to upset him so badly he …’ The sentence dangled.

‘He could be trying to convince himself he hasn’t done it. Too much to cope with. I’ve known it happen. The mind’s a fu

‘He’s nothing like as bad as they paint him. It’s that crap home life. Fancy another drink?’

‘No, thanks all the same. With the driving …’

She nodded with a small fatalistic smile. Expecting nothing she was never going to be disappointed.

Crane put on his jacket, touched her arm. ‘Thanks for everything, Patsy, you knowing Cliff was going straight swung it for me. I hope you’ll go on helping me, if I need more information.’

She flushed again. ‘I’ll help any way I can. But all I really know is the Willows and the folk on it.’

‘Exactly. No one knows the place like you do.’

When he’d gone, Patsy thought what a great bloke he was. Tall, tough, nothing in the way of looks, but his ma

Crane drove back to his house on Bentham Terrace, put away his Renault. As he left the garage, someone pinioned him from behind. Then someone else jumped in front of him and punched him in the belly. The man holding him had a grasp like a straitjacket, and though Crane kicked backwards he couldn’t locate either of his legs. The fist went into his belly again. Then again and again. Five or six times until his guts felt as if they’d burst into flames.

‘Let it go, mister,’ a soft hoarse voice whispered in his ear. ‘Do

Then they were off, ru

His mobile rang. ‘Frank … Crane.’

‘It’s Ted. You all right? You sound fu

‘I’ve just had a kicking. Some scrotes telling me to lay off the Jackson case.’

‘Go on! How long ago was it? Want me to get a car round?’

‘Don’t bother, Ted. They’ll be long gone.’

‘Well, if you’re sure.’ He was silent for a short time. ‘Thing is, you needn’t have had it, the kicking. This Mahon. He walked in the station late afternoon. Admitted to topping her. Put his hand up to the lot.’

FOUR

‘It would have saved us such a lot of heartache if he’d owned up right at the start.’ Co

‘Oh, Mam.’ Patsy put a hand on her arm. ‘He didn’t swagger, you know he didn’t, not with folks turning their backs on him, pretending he wasn’t there. He knew what a terrible thing he’d done, knew as well as we did. He couldn’t have meant to do it.’

‘Won’t bring her back though!’ Malc broke out, face crumpled in grief. ‘Whether he meant it or not. I’d see the bugger hang. It’s only a pity they ever done away with it. He’ll be out in his thirties, they don’t even serve a proper sentence these days. I’d see the bugger hang.’ He put hands over his face and began to sob.

‘Malc, love, don’t take on …’

Crane could detect both sadness and exasperation in Patsy’s glance. She’d have to go through it all again and she’d already had too much, even though she’d loved Do

‘We don’t know how to thank you, Frank,’ Co

‘Not a lot, Co