Playing With Trouble- New Tricks

Chapter 6

Douglas smoked his last cigarette outside a small corner cafe on a busy London street before disposing of it on an ashtray, holding onto the strap of his backpack as he went on his way heading down the high street, sensing he was being followed, he didn't feel a need to double check which person it might be unfortunately it wasn't to be his lucky day just yet.

"Douglas so glad to see you again...yesterday I tried ringing you but to no avail and then what do you know somehow i spot you acting suspicious right outside my local newsagents and cafe" Sandra smiled, knowing all too well this man could never be trusted for every word that he spoke. She explained as the edge of her elbow rested on the flat surfaced open car window " Your name's come again in our enquiries..wondered if you wouldn't mind answering some more few questions shouldn't take too long" He retreated and decided to give some unexplained answers that he never owned up to when Sandra and Jack first questioned him.

Climbing inside and sitting on the back seat, he didn't look none too pleased, to be getting pulled in for questioning once again.

Xxxxxxxx

Jack and Brian had already arrived early for work, Brian as usual keeping himself busy by reading one of Esther's helpful cookbook this evening it was his turn to cook a meal for her, she didn't really want any fuss being made, a simple meal would do, Spaghetti Bolognese or even a Fish and chips.

"What have you got there Brian..oh is that what them celebrity chef's autobiography..I read them at home when there's nothing on telly to watch..my favourite one is the Hairy Bikers latest very good food expert advice they give" Jack lifted his glasses up over his forehead and picked up another one of his colleague's books, Gordon Ramsay latest food advice book, he nodded silently.

"Jack I've got a lot to think about 'ere'.. I still have that sci fi convention to worry about, Esther reckons we should drive up there on Saturday but I said its best waiting till Mark arrives on Sunday morning and then we can go then" Brian fretted and panicked, trying to put too much focus on his reading. He huffed awkwardly at something that looked to be a bit complicated in the book.

"Brian don't beat yourself down about it, I'm sure you a master chef no matter what, when I first started dating Mary, I use to say leave the kitchen alone, put your feet up and allow me to do you a good meal, she didn't complain" He smiled happily upon remembering back.

Gerry rushed through the doors, signaling his late arrival, he looked completed knackered and sleepily.

"Had a late night again did you.. Hope you weren't kept up too late "

"It was those neighbours I live next door to, playing their stereo till 3.30am, couldn't sleep thanks to them anyway where's Sandra is she in yet" he frowned slightly, his eyes stalking around towards every corner of the tight spaced office, Brian's bike resting up against the coat hanger.

"No not yet, had a phone call for her after 9am sounded different today , looks like she's bringing Douglas in for further questioning, lets hope he reveals some more hidden truths or lets face it if we don't get a proper lead on this case, Strickland will make sure this a case that won't be re-investigated again" Jack added, his concern, while picking up some filework that he had to be getting on with.

"Oh well guess I'd best be burying myself in other unfinished paperwork before she gets here" Gerry dropped his jacket off from his shoulders and pressed away some creased marks before, throwing it over the back of his chair, settling down to what looked to an extremely hardowking busy day.

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After Sandra had bought Douglas into the interview room, Gerry agreed to ask him further questions somehow or some way they would need a breakthrough in the case and they believed Douglas was key to this.

"We've been informed by Alan Wright and he offered to draw a picture which matched your description, it was you wasn't it you were spotted running away from the area where Vinny was found lying half conscious..no more lies this time Douglas you have to own up to what you were doing there that fateful day" Sandra informed him seriously, sitting forwards in her chair while Gerry chose to relax, his shoulders easing a tiny fraction of tension away.

"So you caught me roaming around London what's the big deal here Detective..This Alan's doing isn't it...place some blame on me..." He shrugged his shoulders, a flick of fringe dangling over his left eye.

"Quit the protective talk Douglas you were spotted running away can you confess to that" Gerry asked directly, not hanging back for too long to wait for his answer.

"I was yeah..but i had no reason to get any sort of revenge on young Vinny..like I said i hate anyone who takes matter too far and desperate..i'm not in that sort of league"

"You're forgetting one more thing..apparently according to Alan you have blood on your trousers so if you are refusing to admit this..were did it come from" Sandra asked carefully, unwilling to allow him to think he could have any upper confidence in his smooth and charming appearance.

"I can't believe this..you have no right to go round accusing me of something i haven't done...Alan is playing innocent victim here and you cannot spot it thought you were suppose to be great detectives of your calliber best at what you do in reinvestigating crimes " He appeared to be looking ever more agitated the longer the interview continued for, it frustrated Gerry and Sandra because it seemed there was no way of getting him to admit anything else.

"Answer the bloody question Douglas..we 'aven't got all day to sit here doing nothing"

"Alright i did witness a confrontation..a smaller young lad around about Vinny's height and this other bigger sized guy..kept pushing him wouldn't budge when the younger one told 'im' to get lost" Douglas offered any last flashback he could remember " Then all of a sudden im heard him screaming like he'd hit his head hard on a brick wall..it looked terrible what happened..the other guy ran off sorry i did get a description of him..i ran to he younger guy's aid and i realised it was Vinny..his face was really pale..lost a lot of blood from what could i see..I stayed with 'im' until the ambulance arrived then some stupid moron thought it was me who attacked Vinny I tried to explain it was that other bloke but no one believed me so i legged it as fast as i could" He paused taking a breather, giving the impression that he needed an inhaler.

"You never said you were asthmatic Douglas" Gerry questioned with interest as he observed the elderly man taking two breathing tests.

"You were too busy assuming i was a killer never stopped to notice my inhaler in my coat pocket did you now" He rolled his eyes in annoyance, just about regaining his composure to listen to what other questions will being asked and how he would respond to them.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Brian did a quick internet search on his desktop computer, adjusting his glasses to scan some small typed words on the BBC Food website, he liked what he saw quite literally, Esther didn't want a fuss to be made over cooking, a simple dish of Scouse would simply do and be able to fill up for supper.

"Even these foreign chefs have better knowledge than me ..Yer know what I think I'll stick to what i know best…Solving crimes with my genius techniques and adapted styles and being a Star Trek/Klingon fan"

Brian declared, finally after spending nearly all morning not really concentrating on his promise to Thomas Baxter of finding his brother's killer.

"Good to hear it Brian..Anyway need you help on this..what I've just discovered in an old newspaper cutting from a London Newspaper..says here…that Billy the one who visited Alan Wright's dad a few times he use to go to the same school as Vinny and Thomas' father..don't say much else but perhaps there might be a connection in all this" Jack discovered, taking a keen interest in the picture on Page 5 that showed Billy and The Baxter's father on the same rugby team, both were seated on the front bench just by the school rugby coach.

"I think I need to go and take ride around on my bike..might stop off the library and visit Thomas mentioned he's in there every day..helping an old girlfriend who works there" Brian went to find his bicycle helmet placed over his head and then threw on his cycling black jacket, finally zipping it up and preparing himself for a long bicycle ride to Forest Burrow Library 8 miles away.

"I'll inform Sandra if she starts asking where you've got to" Jack muttered as he held the door open for his friend as he lifted the bicycle up under his left arm and disappeared from view within seconds, keen to avoid any oncoming traffic that might be outside on the streets of London.

Xxxxxxxxxx

Sandra proximately estimated that Douglas was unfortunately telling the truth afterall, Alan's accusations were deemed to be more confusing and unexplained, the team had been told much about Alan's friend Barry, the only certain thing that could be determined was his height and body weight matched to Douglas' description.

The UCOS couldn't understand who was producing a lie or confessing what exactly happened on that day.

"Absolutely typical…But its great thing you discovered that old newspaper snippet Jack …it come in handy on proving who might be the suspect…Still can't believe Brian just jumping on the band wagon on racing off to meet his old school friend once again" Sandra put her feet up for a well earned relaxing break, clicking on her answer phone to check whether she'd missed any important messages, she could have done with a shoulder massage from therapist to take away those niggling tense muscles in her shoulders.

"I know but he's always quick on the ball, likes to assess certain factors on what leads to people committing crimes.. Plus he has been talking non stop about this bloody convention before long I'll end up knowing every character from Lost, Star Trek and Doctor Who" Jack found it altogether rather amusing, it kept Brian's thinking up to date, kept him on focused when everyone else wasn't.

"Hmm Gerry's quiet this afternoon…something on his mind maybe that's mostly likely to be the cause… he didn't happen to have a date last night did he?" Sandra quizzed, although she didn't like to be taking some interest in Gerry's personal love life, her eyes became glued on him through the office blinds as he attempted to ease a straining headache by having a short afternoon kip.

"We will get to the core of this won't we..I mean Strickland is already getting impatient..i've overheard he's thinking of shutting or closing the case without your acknowledgement" Jack lay back on the chair, reading small written notes he's managed to write down earlier.

"Brian better well get some damn vital clues from Thomas thats if he willing and helpful by filling him in on his father's policing history with this senior officer" Sandra needed a break or holiday work was never going to get any better until she and the team could prove that they still had what was important to be a wise and intelligent team.

End of Chapter