PEEL-BEHIND THEIR EYES. Book 1 (Complete)

Chapter 8. Sat waiting

The metallic green Range Rover sped along the busy dual carriageway faster than the law of the land allowed, being the law did have its uses, Muck mused. They had their official flashing blue light magnetized to the roof, but unless they were approaching a junction the sirens were muted, which suited Muck, it always gave him a headache. Taking a sideways glance, Muck noted DCI Peel had his full focus on the road ahead. His boss always drove the Rover when they were out; he said he didn't like being chauffeured, that he liked to be the one in control. Muck liked that about him, any other Chief would be sat in the back reading paperwork or something. Muck looked out of the window and watched as Toolbar Academy flew by, as did the local petrol station and the last of the town, all to be replaced by fields and farms. Muck knew that they would be passing a few satellite villages before they reached their destination of Louth, a small rural town 15 miles to the south.

A sudden trilling sound bounced off of the interior of the 4x4, surprising Peel, but not Muck.

"What the hell was that," Peel asked with an annoyed tone, he hated interruptions to his mental ruminations, he did most of his best work in his head, alone, whilst driving.

Muck held up his phone and gave it an identifying shake "It's the case App, boss, just come online. First update imminent" Muck scanned through the incoming data and gave Peel the highlights, allowing him to pick what he wanted to know first.

"We've nothing from CCTV cameras as yet, except for a handful of white van sightings going in every direction, none of them coming or going from the last known location of any of the victims. They are still compiling a list of possible phone numbers that could be associated with the girls, but as yet none have made or received calls to those numbers in the last week or so. We have a number of local registered pedophiles and known perverts that may be worth checking on, but again, nothing jumps out making them contenders for the lead suspect. The lasses back at the station are just imputing interview transcripts of all parents, boyfriends, and people who were last to see the girls, but from what I've seen so far, it all seems fruitless boss"

Nodding slightly without moving his eyes from the road, Peel began to slow the 4x4 on approach to the last set of traffic lights they would see for a while. Slowing fractionally, Peel sounded the sirens and drove through the junction. Peel looked at Muck frowned and said "Not much help then. Typical, nobody really takes any notice these days, even when a wolf stalks their children. What about the interview with Macy Shepard's father, he seemed to be upset with her the morning she went missing, is his transcript on that" Peel pointed at Mucks phone.

"Not yet boss, family liaisons haven't finished with them yet, but it shouldn't be long" Muck kept an eye on his phone. Tentatively, Muck began to ask a question he knew his boss would shoot him down before he finished asking.

"Boss, this case seems a tad familiar don't you think, I mean it sounds a little like the case you keep locked in your draw"

Peels head dropped almost imperceptibly, but Muck saw it and braced himself for the backlash.

DCI Peel glanced Mucks way and sighed,

"You know better than to bring that up. I guess you read it over my shoulder when I've been incapacitated, yes" Peel smirked sourly as he hinted at his occasional reliance on the bottle.

Muck nodded "When you were sleeping at your desk, I tidied up so as no one would see what they shouldn't, boss"

Peel snorted "Except for your prying eyes, that is"

Muck flinched at the rebuke, but he had been expecting the sting.

"Just keeping an eye out for you, boss, that's all"