Michael Wood - The Hangman’s Hold

‘Thank you, Adele.’ Matilda smiled. ‘Where are the family now?’

‘Karen’s sister lives three doors down; they’re in there. The kids are distraught,’ Sian said.

‘How’s the mother?’

‘Quiet, by all accounts.’

‘OK. We’ll leave them for tonight. Get an FLO to stay with them. I want them all interviewed first thing in the morning.’

‘Are you happy with what you’ve seen, Matilda? Can we cut him down and take him to the mortuary?’ Adele said.

‘Yes, sure.’

‘Can someone help me take the weight of this man, please, so I can unhook the rope?’ Adele called out to anyone who would listen.

‘Two seconds,’ Lucy Dauman said placing the pillowcase carefully into an evidence bag.

Matilda turned away from her friend. She led Faith by the arm to the other side of the garage. ‘Faith, you’re good with computers, have a look online for anyone who thinks people like Joe Lacey or Brian Appleby should have served longer sentences.’

‘You think they’re linked?’

‘I do. Keep this to yourself for now, until we find something that connects them.’

‘Will do.’

‘Aaron,’ Matilda called out to the DS as she saw him pass the doorway at the top of the steps. ‘Get Kesinka and Ranjeet out here to knock on a few doors. I know it’s dark but it’s still only early evening. I want to know if anyone saw anything suspicious, not just today either. Has anyone been hanging around lately?’

Aaron nodded and walked away, pulling out his mobile phone. He seemed distracted, probably thinking of his heavily pregnant wife. Matilda had no idea how he was feeling, but even she was starting to wish Katrina would hurry up and have this bloody baby.

Matilda stepped back from the scene of activity and watched as Adele Kean, Lucy Dauman, and a scene of crime officer slowly lowered Joe Lacey to the ground. He was sealed inside a padlocked body bag. Matilda unzipped the forensic suit and took her mobile out of her inside jacket pocket.

‘Sian.’ She signalled her sergeant over to her as she searched for a number. She lowered her voice. ‘Do me a favour, go and visit George Appleby and find out where he was from lunchtime onwards.’

‘You don’t think …?’

‘Right now, I don’t know what to think.’ She put the phone to her ear and waited for her call to be answered.

Matilda went back into the house and nodded at PC Harrison standing next to the front door, who noted on his clipboard that she’d left the scene. She looked around at the sea of onlookers and neighbours who were standing behind the police tape straining to see any action. Ghouls .

‘Ma’am, I’m sorry to interrupt you, but I thought you’d like to know we’ve found a body, another hanging,’ she lowered her voice. ‘I think we may have a vigilante operating in Sheffield.’

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