Dead Sweet: A D.I. Turnbull mystery by Sally O'Brien Page A

very quickly, "Well I was at home. I've been living with these guys, Hells Angels, for about two months. Last night there was loads of shouting and arguing, I don't know what was going on but it was frightening. I just wanted to get away from there so I started to leave the house. One of them saw me going down the stairs and he called his mates." Joseph stopped speaking to rub his nose vigorously. "Then they grabbed me. One of them tied me to a chair in my bedroom and the other one put a knife to my neck. I was really scared. I just want my stuff back now and I'll go back to live with my Dad. I'm not staying there anymore."
    Joseph stopped again to look expectantly at Todd.
    "She said some police have gone there, can they get my stuff?"
    "Well it's probably more important that we discuss the fact you've had a knife put up to your neck, tell me about that."
    "I don't really care about that." Joseph said, "Please, I just want to get my stuff back."
    "Poor thing," Tessa soothed, "Shall I contact the officers?"
    "Not yet," said Todd, "Joseph, why did they grab you and tie you to a chair. Did they tell you?"
    "No, I don't know."
    "And how did you get free?"
    "What?" Joseph looked around him as if for an answer.
    "Well if you were tied to a chair and held at knifepoint, how did you manage to get to the police station?"
    "I..." The room went quiet and Joseph's breathing appeared to return to normal. "I just got out." He offered.
    "Ok, bear with me a moment, I'll see what's happening." Todd pulled Tessa by the arm and led her away from the counter. When he was sure Joseph couldn't hear them, he spoke to her.
    "This is a load of bollocks, total L.O.B." he said, "I don't know what has happened but it's not like he says. We need to speak to the Twockford officers and find out what has gone on."
    "But he seems so genuine," Tessa protested, "You don't get that out of breath and sweaty if nothing's happened to you."
    "I'm sorry Tessa, you may be right, but it's a very hot day again which accounts for the sweat and anyone can put on the breathing, did you see how he stopped when he was trying to explain how he got free? Let's phone Twockford and see what they say." Todd dialled the number for Twockford control room and spoke to the controller on duty.
    "Good afternoon, DI Turnbull from Olinsbury; has an officer dealt with the call at..."
    Todd clicked his fingers at Tessa and motioned for her to provide him with Joseph's address.
    "...Wicklow Gardens." He read from the piece of paper.
    "Yeah complete L.O.B." the controller started.
    "Yes I thought that," Todd agreed. "What's happened?"
    "Well the officers arrived at the address; it's a Hells Angel's pad. Three men on scene; all occupants. Owner, Mr Chubb agreed that Joseph Portman had been staying in the spare room for the last six weeks, says he was supposed to pay them fifty quid a week, but had never paid them anything. Anyway at five o'clock this morning they heard him clattering about in his room and Mr Chubb and Co decided to check it out. They find Joseph Portman trying to climb out of the bedroom window with half of Mr Chubb's house tucked into a couple of suitcases. They've pulled him back in the house and locked him in his room, telling him that he has to pay his rent before he leaves and obviously Mr Chubb is hacked off that Sonny Jim thinks he can nick the silver. Joseph convinced them to let him go so that he could run to his dad and get the money. Obviously he ran straight to your nick, cheeky git."
    "Cheeky is not the work I'd use," said Todd. "What does the fellow want to do about it, has he reported it as a theft?"
    "No, he doesn't want to know. And the boy's belongings were handed over; they are at Twockford. It's a civil matter over rent now as far as we're concerned."
    "Ok thanks for letting me know, I'll send him in your direction."
    "Cheers Guv, bye."
    Todd replaced the receiver and turned to Tessa. "I knew it," he said as he told her what he had just heard. Tessa