Read The Major Crimes Team - Vol 1: Lines of Enquiry for Free Online

to the bedroom, he replaced jeans and shirt with gym clothes. While it may not keep the evening chill away, it would allow him freedom of movement if he had to run for it.
    For ten minutes he went through a series of stretches. He didn’t believe he’d need to run for it, but if he had to run he didn’t want to pull a muscle. That would be the equivalent of handing himself over.
    Pulling a dark hoodie on over his thin T-shirt he slipped his phone and wallet into the front pocket.
    Flitting his eyes up and down the street he found no possible aggressors so he broke into a jog, more to warm his muscles than to get to the shop quicker.
    Not feeling safe in the house, he’d left earlier than he needed to. If necessary he could sprint down to the big junction where Orton Road joined Wigton Road. There was a chip shop and another small store that would still be open. Plus there was always traffic on Wigton Road. While bystanders may or may not save him, he knew their presence should inhibit any assailants.
    He’d witnessed an attack, but in that instance the attackers were fuelled by gang loyalty and had not known he was watching. Tonight the attackers would be fuelled by beer and a righteous, if misplaced, indignation at perceived crimes.
     
    *    *    *    *
     
    Evans screeched to a halt behind an Astra and pounded the steering wheel with the heel of his fist.
    ‘Fuck’s sake, why does this have to happen right in front of us?’
    Lauren ignored the question and leapt out of the car and started running towards the accident.
    Getting there she found an articulated lorry jack knifed across the road, the front end halfway through a hedge while the trailer was blocking both lanes of the A595.
    The way the cab was at right angles to the trailer meant there was no way the lorry could free itself. It would have to be pulled free by a tow-truck. The smell of diesel in the air suggesting the fuel tank had been ruptured, just complicated matters further.
    If they did manage to somehow get the lorry moved, there was no way they could leave the scene before Traffic arrived.
    ‘What happened?’ She held her warrant card up to the wagon driver’s window.
    ‘Bloody boy racers overtook me on a blind bend. I had to slam on the anchors so they didn’t run into that car.’
    Lauren followed his finger. A Citroen was lodged tight up against the side of the lorry’s cab. A man in his mid-sixties stood against the Citroen, pale faced and breathing heavily.
    Turning at the sound of an insistent horn, Lauren saw Evans had turned his car around and reversed down the westbound carriageway.
    ‘Anybody hurt?’
    Lauren took another look at the Citroen driver. ‘No Guv.’
    ‘Get in then. I’ve called it in. Traffic’ll be here in five or ten minutes. They can deal with it.’
    Lauren hadn’t even shut the car door when Evans screeched off in search of an alternate route.
    Evans slammed through a gear change. ‘Call Jabba. Tell him we’re gonna be late.’
     
    *    *    *    *
     
    Chisholm took Lauren’s phone call with a sense of growing dread. Before she’d even hung up his was reaching for his mobile.
    ‘Troy? It’s DS Chisholm. The car coming to collect you has been slightly delayed … no it should be there in about fifteen minutes. Stay put and we’ll have someone there as soon as possible. Call me if you need to move.’
    With ten minutes to go before the appointed meeting time, he decided there was time to wait for Evans and Lauren to collect Joserand. The vigilantes may not make their move until they’d had a few pints to embolden themselves. He needed to be here to co-ordinate everything and couldn’t go riding off to the rescue. If he left his post the vigilantes couldn’t be led into his trap.
    Just as he made this decision a new comment on Facebook changed his mind altogether.
    Just seen him. He’s in the paki shop. Will follow him to see where he goes.
     
    *    *    *