Elimination

By Mark Sexton

A KILLER ON THE PROWL

PC Patrick is a typical cop whose duties mostly revolve around pandering to the city’s takers, who cost the government a small fortune in state benefits.

When they

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arrow Gate Publishing Ltd
• Release date: Jan 21, 2020
• ISBN: 9781913142131

Book preview

ELIMINATION

MARK SEXTON

Published by Arrow Gate Publishing Ltd 2020

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Copyright © Mark Sexton 2020

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters, and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

The right of Mark Sexton to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, and Designs Patent Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claim for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN 978-1-913142-12-4

Arrow Gate Publishing 85, Great Portland Street, London W1W 7LT

Book cover design and images conceived by Natalie Sexton

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser Visit www.arrowgatepublishing.com to read more about our books and to buy them. You will also find articles, author inter-views, writing tips and news of any author events, and you sign up for our e-newsletters so that you’re always first to read about our new releases.

Acknowledgements

To my beautiful daughters Natalie and Charlotte, now you know anything, and everything is possible.

To Spencer Honnibal, writer, editor and ghost writer. Thank you for your help, advice, support and professionalism. You went above and beyond what I expected, and I will always be eternally grateful. Without you, this book would never have been possible.

To Sandra David and all your team at Arrow Gate Publishing, thank you from the bottom of my heart, thank you for believing in me and bringing my book to life.

● C H A P T E R 1 ●

11 OCLOCK AT NIGHT and the sound of sirens echoed around the houses, blue strobe lights illuminating the darkened streets. A police car pulled up outside 24 Birch Close, PC Patrick’s muscular, twelve stone frame climbed out of the driver’s seat, closely followed by PC Arnold. 26-years-old and with a face that was far too pretty for a job in the force, Kate was the daughter of a recently-retired police officer who had a brother in the job also. Let’s do this, Pat told her.

They approached the well-to-do, detached house, whose windows glowed from the lights on both floors. PC Patrick knocked and, almost straight away, a tearful female in her forties opened the door. She’d been punched at least twice in her face – her left eye was badly swollen, and there was a small cut under her eyelid that was bleeding profusely. She dabbed the laceration with a tea towel, but blood continued to flow, saturating the towel. Her mouth was also swollen, her top lip cut, but not bleeding.

MARK SEXTON

You’d better come in, she said, a grim expression on her heavily-furrowed face.

Thank you, Mrs Cleverly, said Pat. She walked them into her lounge, sitting on what looked like a stupidly expensive corner settee. Pat looked around the rest of the room, which was very tastefully decorated and clear evidence of money in the family. He shook his head as he stared at the woman’s battered face.

Can you tell me who did that to your face? My husband, Derek, Mrs Cleverley responded in a quiet, shaky voice. He’s upstairs and said he'll kick off with the Old Bill when they arrive.

Okay, well we’ll worry about that in a minute. You’re going to need to see a doctor, as that’s likely to need stitches. Perhaps you can talk me through what happened today?

Today? This has been going on for over twenty years, and today is the first time I’ve called the police! My eyes have been black and blue more times than I can remember, and he’s even broken my ribs. But enough is enough, officer – I can’t do this anymore! Mrs Cleverly started to cry, hiding her face in the blood-soaked towel.

PC Patrick spoke into his radio: Calling Control from Tango Alpha One. Can we have an ambulance to twenty-four Birch Close? Female with an eye wound that’s bleeding heavily. He turned to face the latest victim of a rapidly disintegrating society. Mrs Cleverly, will you support a prosecution at court? Are there any children here?

● 2 ●

ELIMINATION

No, no kids. They’re grown up, and the youngest is at university. They saw this all the time. My eldest son left home because he was always fighting with his father, every time Derek had a go at me. Yes, I’ll go to court. I’m forty-six-years-old, and I’m not going to be his punchbag anymore – it’s over! It’s over! This is it for me – lock him up and throw away the key!

Pat was shocked to discover she’d been on planet earth 46 years. She was attractive, had a good figure and was slim, with glossy blonde, shoulder-length hair. And though her eyes were sunken, with black circles around them, and her cheekbones were protruding, she didn’t look a day over 40, despite the years of abuse she’d endured at the hands of her husband. Heading towards the stairs, Pat gestured at PC Arnold to accompany him. Watch yourself, said Mrs Cleverley, her hand trembling. "He’s a big chap with a