Lynda La Plante - Bloodline

Also by Lynda La Plante

Blind Fury

Silent Scream

Deadly Intent

Clean Cut

The Red Dahlia

Above Suspicion

The Legacy

The Talisman

Bella Mafia

Entwined

Cold Shoulder

Cold Blood

Cold Heart

Sleeping Cruelty

Royal Flush

Prime Suspect

Seekers

Shes Out

The Governor

The Governor II

Trial and Retribution

Trial and Retribution II

Trial and Retribution III

Trial and Retribution IV

Trial and Retribution V

First published in Great Britain by Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, 2011
A CBS COMPANY

Copyright Lynda La Plante, 2011 This book is copyright under the Berne Convention.
No reproduction without permission.
and 1997 Simon & Schuster Inc.
All rights reserved. The right of Lynda La Plante to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988. Simon & Schuster UK Ltd
1st Floor
222 Grays Inn Road
London WC1X 8HB www.simonandschuster.co.uk Simon & Schuster Australia
Sydney A CIP catalogue record for this book is available
from the British Library Hardback ISBN: 978-0-85720-180-5
Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-0-85720-181-2
eBook ISBN: 978-0-85720-182-9 This book is a work of fiction.
Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously.
Any resemblance to actual people living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental. Typeset in Bembo by M Rules
Printed in the UK by CPI Mackays, Chatham ME5 8TD

I would like to dedicate this book
to Cass and Anne Sutherland

Special thanks and gratitude go to my hard working team at La Plante Productions for their committed and valuable support while I worked on Blood Line : Liz Thorburn, Richard Dobbs-Grove, Noel Farragher, Sara Johnson and especially Cass Sutherland.

Many thanks also to Nicole Muldowney, Stephen Ross and Andrew Bennet-Smith, along with the ever-supportive Duncan Heath and Sue Rodgers.

I would also like to say how much I appreciate the wonderful stars of the Above Suspicion series: Cirin Hinds and Kelly Reilly.

Special thanks to my literary agent, Gill Coleridge, and all at Rogers, Coleridge & White for their constant encouragement.

The publication of this book would not have been possible without the hard work and support of Susan Opie and the team at Simon & Schuster: Ian Chapman, Suzanne Baboneau, Nigel Stoneman, Jessica Leeke and Rob Cox; I am very happy to be working with such a terrific and creative group of people.

T he first blow to his head made his body lurch sideways, striking his face against the bedside cabinet. The pain was excruciating. As he tried to fend off his attacker, the punch to his ribs forced him back against the pillow. He couldnt even cry out the gag made sure of that. Over and over again the punches slammed into his body, but now it wasnt a fist that hit him, it was a club hammer, and he could feel the bones in his face splinter. Blood seeped into his eyes and streamed from his nose as yet again the hammer struck, this time with such force that his head lolled over the side of the bed. Incapable of moving or seeing, he could feel the sheet being dragged over him and around his inert body, like a shroud. His attacker was using the blood-sodden sheet to slide him from the bed onto the floor. Moments later he realised he was being dragged out of the bedroom.

As he was dumped into the bath, the taps struck him and part of the sheet covering his face fell back, but still he was incapable of making a sound. Even when the water began to run over him he could do nothing to help himself. A terrible darkness swamped him as he sank into unconsciousness. Blood clotted his nostrils, and his mouth was swollen from the beating, which had broken his front teeth and forced them into his lip, and yet he was still alive as his body was rolled over and the sheet drawn away from him. The blood mixed with the running water, swirling down the plughole beneath his broken face.

Sometime later he felt something being poured over him, and hands patting and rubbing at his limbs. For a brief moment his mind woke as if there was a glimmer of a chance he would survive. This hope gave him the strength to try and move his limbs; he thrashed and kicked, but his attempts were thwarted as he felt hands squeezing at his throat. Then his head was wrapped so tightly that he could no longer breathe and there was no hope.

T he small dapper man in the navy pin-striped suit had been waiting in the Hounslow police station reception for over an hour. He had not complained, but sat patiently reading his newspaper. When Anna Travis eventually walked into the room he folded the paper.

DCI Travis?

Yes and you are?

Edward Rawlins.

Anna sat opposite him and apologised for keeping him waiting. The truth was shed been so busy wrapping up an investigation for a forthcoming trial that shed quite forgotten he was there.

Thats perfectly all right, and understandable as I did not have an appointment. Thank you for agreeing to see me.

There was a pause. In many ways she was unused to such cordiality, but at the same time impatient to know why he had specifically asked for her.

I work at the Old Bailey, I am an usher, Mr Rawlins said quietly.

Why do you want to see me?

I have watched you in court many times and you have always impressed me.

Well, thank you very much, Mr Rawlins, but could you tell me why you wanted to speak with me?

Yes. I think my son has been murdered.

Anna opened her briefcase and took out a notebook. She demonstrated little reaction to his statement.

Have you reported this elsewhere?

No.

Can you give me a few details? Firstly, what is your sons name?

Alan. Hes twenty-six years old and lives with his girlfriend in a flat not too far from here.

The address?

Newton Court in Hedges Street. He occupied a ground-floor flat, its number two.

When you say occupied, do you mean hes no longer living there?

Hes supposed to be. I believe all his belongings are still there, but I havent been to the flat. Ive just telephoned there many times.

His girlfriends name?

Tina Brooks.

You said you believed your son has been murdered?

Yes. We speak at least twice a week and I havent heard from him for nearly two weeks now.

This is unusual?

Very.

You havent reported him missing?

No.

Well, Mr Rawlins, that is the first thing you should do. As he is over eighteen and until we have more details, specifically if you think a crime has been committed, then you should make a Missing Persons report.

Whatever you think is necessary, but Alan is a very studious and caring young man. He has always kept in touch with me.

Have you spoken to his girlfriend?

Yes, numerous times. She in actual fact called me , asking if I had seen him as she was worried because he hadnt come home.

Did she give you any possible reason for Alans disappearance?

No, just that it was unlike him.

Do you know if he has withdrawn any money from his bank account recently?

His bank said theyre not allowed to tell me. I asked Miss Brooks if his passport was at the flat and she said that it was. Then later she told the police it wasnt there.

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