The Eyes of the Accused: A dark disturbing mystery thriller (The Ben Whittle Investigation Series Book 2) by Mark Tilbury Page B
Authors: Mark Tilbury
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reckon Crowley’s a creep. Spends a lot of time fixing toilets that don’t need fixing.’
‘Another red flag,’ Geoff said. ‘That’s three by my reckoning.’
‘He is a maintenance man,’ Ben said. ‘It’s his job to fix things.’
‘Or pretend to,’ Maddie said. ‘I don’t like the sound of him one bit.’
‘Anything else?’ Geoff asked.
‘Seb said there’s CCTV in operation.’
‘That’s good news. We should be able to see Hannah leaving work.’
‘We won’t,’ Ben said. ‘Connie only switches it on when she leaves work at eight. She switches it back off when she gets in the following morning. Apparently, she doesn’t see the point in running it when she’s on the premises.’
‘Bugger it! Why doesn’t the stupid woman just keep it running?’
‘Seb reckons she’s obsessed with saving money. She’s forever moaning about lights being left on, windows open in the winter, that sort of thing. She probably doesn’t want to waste film.’
‘It costs next to nowt to run. Anyway, what’s she got her knickers in a twist for? It’s not her own money, is it? She’s only the care manager.’
Ben shrugged. ‘I’m just saying. Anyway, Seb was on nights a few days after Hannah went missing. Said he saw Crowley’s car in the courtyard in the early hours of the morning.’
Geoff perked up. ‘Really? And is this the same lazy bugger who switches his phone off when he’s on callout?’
‘How long was his car in the courtyard for?’ Maddie asked.
‘Seb doesn’t know. He was busy. The car was gone next time he looked.’
‘Sounds bloody suspicious to me,’ Geoff mused. ‘What would he be doing there at that time of night?’
‘Maybe he was looking for something,’ Maddie tried. ‘Something that ties him to Hannah’s abduction.’
‘I don’t buy it,’ Ben said. ‘Anyway, if Hannah was abducted where we found the name badge, there won’t be any incriminating evidence in Sunnyside will there? He was probably nicking something.’
‘Like what?’ Geoff said. ‘Water pipes? No, you mark my words, the bugger was up to something. You can hang your hat on it.’
‘Seb said he’d have a look through the CCTV footage when he’s next on nights. See if he can spot anything.’
Geoff nodded. ‘Okay. That might be useful. Any questions?’
Maddie had one. ‘When are we going to start the plan to get close to Crowley?’
‘As soon as we can. I think we should pay The Three Horseshoes a visit on Sunday evening.’
Maddie’s heart missed a beat. That only gave her two days to prepare. And tell her father of the plan. After Penghilly’s Farm, it would be an uphill battle to get his blessing for such a risky plan.
‘I don’t like this,’ Ben said. ‘It just seems wrong on so many levels.’
Geoff laughed; a dry, humourless laugh. ‘It’s the best we’ve got. We can hardly send you into the pub dressed in a wig and a frock, can we?’
Maddie laughed.
Ben didn’t. ‘I just hope this doesn’t end up being a complete disaster.’
‘It’ll be what we make it,’ Geoff assured him, unaware exactly how prophetic Ben’s words would turn out to be.
Chapter Nine
Frank Crowley was looking forward to the evening. For starters, or main course to be precise, he was going to his mother’s for dinner, and she made a damned fine steak and kidney pudding. Secondly, he was in line for a bumper payday. Not a life-changing sum. Not enough to sun himself on a golden beach surrounded by topless woman. No, sir. But enough to tide him over until the Big One arrived.
One day he’d find himself a wife who could cook as good as Mother. A girl who knew the way to a man’s heart was through his dinner plate. Mind you, it wouldn’t hurt him to lose a few pounds. Leave off the ready-meals and pizzas for a while.
And the booze.
Frank looked down at the beer belly sitting in his lap like an unwelcome pet. The doctor at the surgery had told him he was a breeding ground for type
‘Another red flag,’ Geoff said. ‘That’s three by my reckoning.’
‘He is a maintenance man,’ Ben said. ‘It’s his job to fix things.’
‘Or pretend to,’ Maddie said. ‘I don’t like the sound of him one bit.’
‘Anything else?’ Geoff asked.
‘Seb said there’s CCTV in operation.’
‘That’s good news. We should be able to see Hannah leaving work.’
‘We won’t,’ Ben said. ‘Connie only switches it on when she leaves work at eight. She switches it back off when she gets in the following morning. Apparently, she doesn’t see the point in running it when she’s on the premises.’
‘Bugger it! Why doesn’t the stupid woman just keep it running?’
‘Seb reckons she’s obsessed with saving money. She’s forever moaning about lights being left on, windows open in the winter, that sort of thing. She probably doesn’t want to waste film.’
‘It costs next to nowt to run. Anyway, what’s she got her knickers in a twist for? It’s not her own money, is it? She’s only the care manager.’
Ben shrugged. ‘I’m just saying. Anyway, Seb was on nights a few days after Hannah went missing. Said he saw Crowley’s car in the courtyard in the early hours of the morning.’
Geoff perked up. ‘Really? And is this the same lazy bugger who switches his phone off when he’s on callout?’
‘How long was his car in the courtyard for?’ Maddie asked.
‘Seb doesn’t know. He was busy. The car was gone next time he looked.’
‘Sounds bloody suspicious to me,’ Geoff mused. ‘What would he be doing there at that time of night?’
‘Maybe he was looking for something,’ Maddie tried. ‘Something that ties him to Hannah’s abduction.’
‘I don’t buy it,’ Ben said. ‘Anyway, if Hannah was abducted where we found the name badge, there won’t be any incriminating evidence in Sunnyside will there? He was probably nicking something.’
‘Like what?’ Geoff said. ‘Water pipes? No, you mark my words, the bugger was up to something. You can hang your hat on it.’
‘Seb said he’d have a look through the CCTV footage when he’s next on nights. See if he can spot anything.’
Geoff nodded. ‘Okay. That might be useful. Any questions?’
Maddie had one. ‘When are we going to start the plan to get close to Crowley?’
‘As soon as we can. I think we should pay The Three Horseshoes a visit on Sunday evening.’
Maddie’s heart missed a beat. That only gave her two days to prepare. And tell her father of the plan. After Penghilly’s Farm, it would be an uphill battle to get his blessing for such a risky plan.
‘I don’t like this,’ Ben said. ‘It just seems wrong on so many levels.’
Geoff laughed; a dry, humourless laugh. ‘It’s the best we’ve got. We can hardly send you into the pub dressed in a wig and a frock, can we?’
Maddie laughed.
Ben didn’t. ‘I just hope this doesn’t end up being a complete disaster.’
‘It’ll be what we make it,’ Geoff assured him, unaware exactly how prophetic Ben’s words would turn out to be.
Chapter Nine
Frank Crowley was looking forward to the evening. For starters, or main course to be precise, he was going to his mother’s for dinner, and she made a damned fine steak and kidney pudding. Secondly, he was in line for a bumper payday. Not a life-changing sum. Not enough to sun himself on a golden beach surrounded by topless woman. No, sir. But enough to tide him over until the Big One arrived.
One day he’d find himself a wife who could cook as good as Mother. A girl who knew the way to a man’s heart was through his dinner plate. Mind you, it wouldn’t hurt him to lose a few pounds. Leave off the ready-meals and pizzas for a while.
And the booze.
Frank looked down at the beer belly sitting in his lap like an unwelcome pet. The doctor at the surgery had told him he was a breeding ground for type
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