Chapter Thirteen – Wanted Dead or Alive

DI Shiner walked at a brisk pace through the entrance of the Ashfordly General Hospital with PC Crane in tow. The young officer looked a little worse for wear but never once complained.

The DI suspected he had a nice dull headache tagging along with the impressive shiner on his cheek and the lump on his head but didn't mention it. He supposed he could have called the officer on it and have him relieved of duty to recuperate but Crane seemed so intent on following through that he figured it was no point in doing so. Besides the police constable had assured him that he was capable of caring out his duties.

The two of them was going to pay an unannounced visit to Mr. Carter. It was high time to question the man about his involvement in the illegal gambling business down in Liverpool and his connections with Jonathan Forbes and Jeremy Watson.

DC Lucas got up from the chair he was sitting on, just outside Charlie Carter's room, as he spotted his superior and the constable.

"Anything to report?" Shiner asked curiously, with a raised eyebrow, as he glanced into the room.

"I'm afraid, sir, that the doctors are a bit protective of him at the moment. However, as of what I can understand, he's improving. Although he hasn't been conscious for very long," DC Lucas explained as a man clad in a doctor's coat slipped out of the room.

"Doctor Jacobs?" The high ranking CID officer asked.

When the man gave a curt nod he took it as a cue to introduce himself. "I'm DI Shiner, CID. I understand you've already met Constable Crane."

Doctor Jacobs nodded with a faint smile as he glanced over Shiner's shoulder to greet the young officer. "Yes, and I thought he should be home and resting up a bit after that blow yesterday," the doctor admonished.

"Do not worry, Doctor Jacobs. I feel fine," Crane assured him smoothly.

The doctor, appearing to be about the same age as Shiner, gave him a look that told Steve he didn't believe him. However, he let it pass and instead focused on his current patient. "I take it you're here to see Mr. Carter?"

The DI nodded with a stern look.

"I won't force you to turn around and come back later but I would appreciate if you did. Mr. Carter has had a rough night and his condition is very serious. I understand that other lives may be in danger so therefore I'll agree to let you see him but it is prudent that you don't stay long and should you upset the patient I'll have you thrown out," he cautioned them.

"Fair enough, Doctor Jacobs," DI Shiner replied.

Charlie Carter weakly lifted his head from the pillow as two unknown men entered his room. "Police?" He managed.

"DI Shiner, CID and this is Constable Crane," he replied by way of introduction.

Carter seemed to relax as his eyes lingered on Crane for a minute. "You're the constable that saved my life yesterday," he deduced gratefully.

Steve nodded sheepishly, not wanting to be pointed out as a hero.

Carter nodded, his eyes closing momentarily, and he seemed to gather himself. "I knew what I was getting into but as it is I won't stand a chance when getting back," he informed cryptically, his voice no more than a whisper.

Shiner nodded. "You seem to be caught between a rock and a hard place," he let on.

"I believe their actions speak for themselves. I'm used merchandise to them and ready to be disposed of," Carter said.

"You're under arrest, Mr. Carter. I feel I should tell you so. When you're well enough to be transferred back to Liverpool, where you came from, such arrangements will be made," Shiner informed him curtly. "An interesting part in all of this is the fact that you match the profile made by our special crime scene investigation team while investigating the death of Jeremy Watson."

At this Carter said nothing but something in his eyes gave him away.

"You see, Mr. Carter, we've been quite busy the last thirty-two hours, since you were brought in," Steve spoke up. "We know you drove up to Strensford, got on the train there and then found and followed Jeremy Watson from the train."

"May we ask why?" Shiner said.

"I have something better for you," Carter whispered and licked his dry lips. "But I want a reduced sentence and protection should I tell you."

"The way I see it the police force has already demonstrated that they're capable of fending off an attempt on your life, Mr. Carter. As for any reduced sentence, that could be arranged should I deem the information you're offering worthy of such," the DI informed him.

Carter hesitated but understood he had little choice in the end. "I was sent here to retrieve the money Jeremy Watson carried," he began.

Shiner and Crane shared a look.

"Jeremy Watson was just an unfortunate man. He gambled regularly and he managed to lose more money than he gained from his profession, whatever that was. I don't know why he did it. I suppose he got a kick out of it."

"Something happened at the hospital," Crane let on cryptically.

"He was a doctor?" Carter asked in surprise.

Shiner nodded carefully.

"Finally, Watson hit the jackpot, he got enough money to be able to get out of his debts and then some but my boss wanted more and when Watson took off with the money the boss hit the roof and ordered me to go and collect more. In the end there was no other way than to put him to rest," Carter finished solemnly.

"You made several errors, Mr. Carter," Shiner returned. "One was that you lingered instead of getting back. It made you a liability in the organization. It also means you've not gained enough trust in the ranks to be able to do so without repercussions."

"We urge you to come forward as of what you know," Steve added.

"We've had eyes on John Lowey for several months," Shiner said, deciding to play his trump card. "Your boss is a hard man to nail."

For a moment Charlie Carter looked shockingly surprised at the mention of his boss by name but then he seemed to accept that the CID were on to the casino business.

"Fair enough," Carter said in defeat. However, the man you'll be looking for in the immediate area is…"

"Jonathan Forbes," Shiner deduced cunningly. "A slippery type that will cross any boundary to get his goal."

"No," Carter said, completely throwing the DI.

There was a knock on the door before Doctor Jacobs appeared. "I can't allow this any longer. My patient needs to rest," he cautioned.

"Two minutes," Shiner replied, irritated at being interrupted.

"I'll hold you to that, Detective Inspector," the doctor returned.

"Greg Nichols," Carter said, steering the conversation back. "He's Lowey's right hand man, or at least aspiring to be."

Shiner opened his mouth to ask something more when alarms went off. Within seconds the doctor and nurses rushed into the room and the officers was politely shoved through the door.

OOOOOO

Jenny Merton smiled, then the smile widened until she was openly grinning as she watched her husband, dressed in a blue coverall, trying to call on the dog so that it would in turn see to it that the sheep got neatly stacked in the fold.

Dennis reached up with his hand to wipe the perspiration from his forehead and curiously turned around as he heard a soft giggle from behind him.

"Having fun have we?" He asked dryly as he saw Jenny standing in the doorway to the shed, watching him.

"I just never pictured you like this," she said amused, her eyes sparkling.

"Remind me again why I'm doing this?" He returned.

"How's it coming?" Ben Norton asked as he walked up from behind Jenny and headed in the sergeant's direction. "You should be a natural, used to ordering people around the whole day," he said with a soft smirk.

Jenny couldn't contain her laugh any longer as Liz walked up to her, having seen to the sheep inside.

Phil managed an indignant look at Ben as he stopped mopping the floor next to the mitten, having overheard.

"No pun intended," Ben assured the constable as he began to walk toward fold.

Dennis glanced at his wristwatch. "Well, it's been a pleasure," he said sarcastically. "Unfortunately I must return to the station. DI Shiner and Steve should be finished questioning Mr. Carter."

This caught Liz's attention. "Questioning? Dennis, the man is not out of the woods yet," she admonished.

The sergeant nodded as he walked up to her and his wife. "Well, the way I see it it's better to hear him out now otherwise it might be not at all," he returned seriously then nodded at Norton who stood some distance away. "Ben, show them how shepherding is done. I'll take my constable and leave the premises."

Jenny walked up to him and leaned in for a kiss which he returned. "See you later then," she added softly.

Gina walked out of the house just in time to see Merton and Bellamy get into the sergeant's Rover.

"Where are they going?!" she hollered across the backyard so as to be heard by the others.

"Duty calls apparently!" Jenny shouted back.

Gina shrugged. "I've finished tidying up the kitchen so I thought it calls for tea and biscuit," she let on.

"Sounds like a good idea, Gina!" Ben answered from where he stood having just rounded up the last couple of sheep.

OOOOOO

A ghost of a smile danced on Forbes's dry lips as he crouched behind a boulder, gun in hand. The boss would be pleased to know that the money would soon be returned and that Greg Nichols would be out of the picture. Jonathan could never picture Nichols next to the boss anyway – it wasn't in him to be so high up in the organization. Besides, Forbes owned John Lowey or the man, as he was called in the underground circles, his life. He'd been recruited by him and had seen to it that the police lost their tracks seven years ago.

He knew of course that DI Shiner and CID was on to the case with Jeremy Watson but from there to know what was really going on was a long shot and he doubted that the country bobbies up in North Riding would have any idea of who he was. The only wildcard in his equation was former DC Merton. There had been no doubt he'd recognized him. The trouble was that he had no idea if the DC was still working for CID or some other branch of the law up in Yorkshire or if he was simply enjoying a quiet vacation with his wife. Forbes decided not to dwell on it and imagined he would be far away from the villages around Ashfordly before nightfall.

Jonathan had followed Nichols the other day and seen him take necessary actions to leave. He therefore knew that Nichols would have the money on him and that he would be dressed casually as not to draw any unwarranted attention when it was time for him to board the train.

Sadly Carter would seem to be all right but with Nichols out of the picture he doubted the CID could do much down in Liverpool. Forbes had never had any real contact with Carter because he was a collector and Forbes himself was somewhat of a sidekick to the boss and never really showed around the casino, he just made sure everything ran smoothly. He didn't have time to take care of Carter and frankly he really didn't need too because the moment – if he was stupid enough – he shows himself back in Liverpool, his life would be over. Forbes' first priority was to get away from the village and back to the city. He would just go and collect his merchandise first and see to it that Nichols never made it back.

That's how he had ended up next to the road crouched behind that boulder sitting in the ditch. A tree had conveniently fallen over the driving lane so he knew that Nichols would have to stop. Even if he didn't get out of the car Forbes deduced he had still plenty of opportunities to aim and fire at his so called associate and take care of business.

He crouched lower as the sound of an engine drew near.

A green Alfa Romeo, of a sports car type, came speeding around the corner and the driver stomped on the brakes as the tree got visual.

Forbes' finger closed around the trigger of the rifle.

OOOOOO

To be continued

/I'm so glad you like it ;)