Chapter Three;
Holman
"Nothing." Stuart jumped back in the car as they left the bookies Bolt was known to frequent. "Damn it, I hoped for an easy hunt here. All right, what's next?"
Max stayed staring straight-ahead as he started up the car. "The Harley Club."
Stuart nodded. "Yeah, that's right." He grabbed his radio. "Anything Stevie?"
Stevie's voice came through the radio. "Will and I are at the brother's house. He hasn't seen Bolt for a week, so he says, but we'll see. He's packing up his car at the moment."
"Alright, get back to us when you hear anything." Stuart changed sets, calling back at base. "Guv?"
Neil Manson's voice came over. "PCs Brown and Gayle just returned from the Bolt house, he wasn't there. How was the bookie lead?"
"Dead end boss, no one's seem him for weeks, even the little old drunk in the corner." He grinned at Max but he didn't respond. "He's dropped off the radar, that's for sure."
"Well, he's got to go home sometime. If worst comes to worst, we'll catch him at the entrance to the docks."
"We're here." Max said, pulling over.
Stuart spoke again into the radio. "We're at the Harley Club now boss, we'll get back to you if we find anything." He followed Max out of the car and up towards the club. Inside they found the usually roaring nightclub empty, save for two girls cleaning tables and the man behind the bar counting his money. "Benjamin Holman?"
The man looked up. "Yeah, who's asking?"
Max and Stuart flicked out their warrant cards. "We're here about Craig Bolt. You seen him today?" Stuart continued.
Holman glanced at the cards then back up at them. He shrugged. "Maybe I have, why? What's he done now? Punched out another punk? Cos I tell you now, that's not worth charging, they're asking for it."
"He hasn't punched anybody lately, as far as we know, we just need to find him. Was he here last night?"
Holman watched as Max wandered silently over towards the girls to talk to them. "Yeah, about eight. Brought in the missus for a few drinks. Said it was a good day. I guessed it was her birthday cos he was pretty much drowning her in champagne."
"You guessed? Now you're not sure?" Stuart picked up.
"Well, see, she left about eleven and he stayed on with one of our locals. His name's Nikolai Brecht."
Stuart nodded slowly, recognising the name but unsure why. "Anything else?"
"He left at 2am. That's it. Brecht stayed on till about three. That was the last I've seen of him. Now you come in here looking for him. I'm not an idiot DS Turner, I can guess they're linked."
Stuart nodded as Max joined them. "The girls saw him leave here about two."
"That's what Mr. Holman just told me." Stuart glanced back at Benjamin Holman. "If you see him today Mr. Holman, give us a call." Stuart flicked his card onto the bar then they turned and left. "You heard of Nikolai Brecht?" He asked Max as they left the club.
"Yeah." He frowned, pausing. "I'm not sure of his record though."
"Alright, well, let's see what we can get on him back at the station." They hopped in the car and headed back.
SoloStarr: More converted eh? Well then, my work is being done! *evil laugh* Sorry about that...