Read Dead Level (The DI Nick Dixon Crime Series Book 5) for Free Online

entrance to the church.
    Janice pulled up alongside it and wound down the passenger window. She waited several seconds before giving the horn a loud blast. DS Unwin dropped his phone and looked up. Then he wound down the passenger window of his car and leaned across the empty seat.
    ‘What’s up?’
    ‘There’s a farm on the other side of the river about fifty yards upstream, Harry. Make sure someone gets up there. All right?’ said Janice.
    ‘Will do.’
    ‘Anything from the house to house?’
    ‘Not yet.’
    ‘Well, keep me posted.’
    Janice kept her finger on the electric window button as she drove out of Moorland and back towards Bridgwater.
    ‘At least we should have some DNA to work with,’ she said.
    ‘The fag butt on the landing is the best bet,’ replied Jane.
    Janice nodded.
    They were driving back over the M5 when Jane fished her phone out of her handbag and sent Dixon a text message.
    Where are you J x
    The reply arrived within seconds.
    On the beach ☺

Chapter Four
    W hat’ve we got then?’ asked Janice, dropping her handbag onto a vacant workstation.
    ‘Plenty of information about the husband,’ replied Pearce. ‘He’s even got his own website, votetomperry.co.uk.’
    ‘Well?’
    ‘He’s an architect in Richmond but his family is from Taunton. Went to Huish’s then Reading University. He played rugby for Kingston before he had to give it up when he broke a bone in his neck. That seems to be when he got involved in politics.’
    ‘When was that?’
    ‘Four years ago. He stood for the council in Kingston a couple of times, unsuccessfully, before getting on the list of approved parliamentary candidates at the beginning of last year. Then he gets himself selected for Bridgwater and North Somerset last summer when the sitting MP announced he was standing down at the next general election.’
    ‘Why the by-election then?’ asked Harding.
    ‘The Right Honourable Kenneth Anderson, QC, MP. He was standing down due to ill health, only it turned out he was iller than he thought he was. Died last November,’ replied Pearce.
    ‘Anything else?’
    ‘Not known to police but then we never really thought he would be, did we?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘There’s a photo of Perry here with his wife, usual happy couple stuff. They got married two years ago and are hoping to start a family and bring up their children in beautiful North Somerset, it says here.’
    ‘Did she work?’
    ‘She was an accountant but gave it up when he got selected and they moved down here.’
    ‘What about him?’
    ‘He’s an architect. He’s still working in Richmond during the week but will give it up if he gets elected. Wait a minute,’ said Pearce, his eyes scanning the computer screen. ‘Here it is, “If I am elected your member of parliament then I will immediately resign from my job and devote myself full time to the constituency”.’
    ‘Resign from one well paid job to take up another one,’ said Harding. ‘Life’s a bitch, isn’t it.’
    ‘And then your wife’s murdered,’ said Janice. ‘I reckon if you asked him, he’d say life was a bitch, don’t you think?’
    ‘Sorry,’ said Harding, ducking down behind his computer.
    Janice turned her back on him and spoke to Mark Pearce.
    ‘Anything about the cottage in Northmoor Green?’
    ‘They rented it last summer, after he was selected and they let out their flat in Kingston. According to the Met, he stays with her parents when he’s in London now.’
    ‘Her parents?’ asked Janice.
    ‘Yes, they live in Putney.’
    ‘Are they there now?’
    ‘No, they’ve gone to stay with their son for Christmas.’
    ‘Where?’
    ‘Poole. He’s a marine based there.’
    ‘Bank statements?’
    ‘The request’s gone in but it’s Christmas Eve, don’t forget.’
    Janice rolled her eyes.
    ‘Same for the wife,’ said Harding.
    ‘And the phone records,’ said Pearce.
    ‘Well, we’ve got a time frame now, so let’s check all the traffic cameras between