“There’s been a new development.”
“Ahh… cut the crap, Janssen. Spill it.”
They needed to find Mark and unless he was hiding nearby, they were unlikely to do so without help. Callum might be a lousy role model but he did seem to care for his son. At least, when he wasn’t searching for the bottom of a bottle. “Someone activated Holly Bettany’s mobile phone last night and again this morning.” Callum took it in the stoic way he processed everything, running his tongue across the inside of his cheek. He appeared thoughtful.
“And you reckon this was Mark?”
“Someone did it from this location.” That wasn’t strictly true but he figured Callum’s knowledge of cell towers would be limited. “Unless it was you, that leaves Mark. Why would he do that do you think, keep her mobile from us and then make a call with it last night?” Callum looked over his shoulder into the room he had just come out of and when he turned back lowered his gaze to the floor. He was nervous. “What is it?” Lifting his head, Callum indicated for him to come and see for himself.
Janssen approached, Callum stepping aside when he reached him allowing access to the room. There was a double bed pushed up against one wall but even so, floor space was limited. The bed was unmade, a duvet piled on top of the mattress. A wardrobe was in one corner. There was a small cardboard box on the floor. It was empty. Not knowing what he was expected to see, he looked back at Callum. The man wouldn’t meet his eye, standing there biting his lower lip and shaking his head. “What’s going on, Callum?”
“This is my fault,” he muttered under his breath. “I shoulda seen it coming.”
“Callum, spit it out man!” He was losing patience. “If there’s something I need to know, then now is a good time.”
“Ma boy… he takes things too literally. I should have kept my mouth shut.” Callum continued to berate himself. “Look… I ken how things work. Your lot… you look for the easy solution. People like us are easy targets. You ken it as do I.”
“Also, you keep breaking the law. Makes it easier for sure.”
“The laws ain’t the same for everyone, that’s all I’m saying.” Callum went on. He decided to give the man space to speak. It wasn’t often he had anything to say, not without a solicitor present at any rate. “If you went to the right school, ken the right people… then the courtroom looks a little different when yer in the dock, yeah?” Janssen had to concede the point. It shouldn’t matter but it was true. If you could muster some positive character witnesses with a high social status for the defence then it could cut some ice with the judge at sentencing. “I may have given Mark the idea that… Holly’s killer might not get what they deserve.”
“You’re not usually this forthcoming. What else?” Despite the new found openness, there was still reticence. “Callum, if you know something that will help Mark then you need to tell me.”
“Ma shotgun is missing… along with the shells.”
Suddenly incensed, Janssen couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “How the hell have you got a shotgun?”
“I use it for rabbiting.”
“Poaching more like,” Janssen bit back. Callum glared at him but didn’t dare issue a rebuttal. “Well, he won’t get far with that.” Again, Callum looked away.
“I adapted it,” he said barely above a whisper.
“You mean you’ve sawn off the barrels?” Callum nodded, grimacing as he rubbed absently at his jaw. “So, he can easily conceal it. Where’s he going? Tell me now before it’s too late!”
“He’s a good boy, Janssen. He wouldn’t do any harm—”
“Except he’s wandering around Norfolk with a loaded shotgun. How many shells does he have?”
“Half a dozen. Maybe more. I don’t really keep count.”
“Where’s he going?” They locked eyes and for a second he thought Callum was going to clam up but after a brief pause, he relented.
“To see that ponce Ken Francis, I expect. Mark thinks he killed Holly… and so do I.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Taking a firm hold of Callum’s upper arm, Tom Janssen practically dragged the man across the living room before bundling him out through the door and outside. He didn’t voice an objection. Tamara Greave came across to them and seeing his face, realised the situation must have escalated.
“What’s going on?” she asked as Tom released his grip on his charge.
“Callum here, has an illegal firearm and it looks like Mark’s taken it and is set on getting justice for Holly.” Her inquiring expression was mixed with concern. “A shotgun with who knows how many shells. Callum thinks he has Ken Francis in his sights.”
“He believes Ken killed Holly?”
“Too right he does!” Callum stated aggressively. “And he’d have it coming too.”
“How the hell did we miss that on the search?” Tamara asked, furious. Callum chuckled.
“I stashed it once I ken you lot were snooping around after Holly died. It was only a matter o’ time until you rocked up at ours. I’m nae as daft as you lot think. Once you’d been, I figured I could bring it back.”
“In the car, now,” Tom commanded and Callum begrudgingly got into the rear. He opened the driver’s door, catching Tamara glaring at him across the roof. “What is it?”
“Do you think it’s wise taking him into a volatile situation?”
“Normally, I would agree it’s a risk but not this time,” he explained. “Mark believes what he’s told by those he respects or trusts. He wouldn’t open up and talk to me. If I have to talk him down I will do my best. Perhaps his trust in his old man will be needed to stop him doing something catastrophic.”
“We should call in an armed response unit as well as a trained negotiator.”
“Make the call on the way but we’ll get there before them.” Anxious to get moving, he got into the car and started the
