Page 104 of Mann Hunt
He handcuffed him, then two other cops lifted him off the ground and searched him.
“Luke Fraser, you’re under arrest for the murder of Ian Mann and for the kidnapping of Justin Neves. God knows what else I’ll come up with. Take him away.”
He turned to Declan. “I got the files you sent me. I’ll forward them to Major Crimes.”
“I recorded the confession he made a few minutes ago,” Declan said, pulling his cell phone out of his pocket. “I’m not sure if it’ll stand up in court, but it can’t hurt. I’ll forward you the file.”
Charlie watched as the two faced each other, not saying anything. Declan’s father blinked first. He nodded his head and said, “Good work.”
Charlie ran to Justin, who sat in his chair, motionless. “I’ll get you out of these,” he said, fumbling at the zip ties that bound him.
“Here. This might be useful," Declan said, handing a pocket knife to Charlie.
“Just another second,” Charlie said, cutting through the bindings. He rubbed Justin’s hands and legs, hoping it would restore some feeling to the limbs.
“Who are you?” Justin asked.
“Charlie Watts. Just like I always was,” he said with a smile, helping him to stand. Justin had trouble with his balance so Charlie put his arm around him for support.
“Are you with the police?”
“No. I’m just part of your rescue party.”
Declan came up to Charlie and Justin. “Justin, they’ll take your statement, get you checked out by a doctor and then get you home.”
Justin nodded.
“Oh, one other thing,” Declan said, walking over to the remains of the broken table. He rifled through the broken wood and came back. “I think everything’s here,” he said, handing a wallet, a set of keys and a cell phone back to Justin.
“If you need anything, you can call me,” Charlie said.
Justin frowned. “I’m not sure I will. I trusted you, and you lied to me.”
“I thought you were involved in Ian’s murder,” Charlie confessed. “I think you should call your folks and tell them that you spent the night at a friend’s andapologise for not calling earlier. You might eventually have to tell them what happened.”
“Will I have to go to court?”
“I don’t know. I’m kinda new to all of this. If you do, stuff will probably come out. Stuff you don’t want to. But I promise, I’ll get those pictures back to you. After that, what you do is up to you.”
Justin’s expression was hard to read. He nodded and headed towards the door with the police officer. A few minutes after Justin had left, Charlie heard shouting, followed by the sounds of a fight. Charlie and Declan ran upstairs. The police were putting two men in handcuffs in the alleyway. Charlie grinned at the anger and confusion on the faces of Brick Wall and his accomplice.
Declan turned to Charlie and said, “I think it’s time to finish with the police and call it a day. What do you say, Mr Watts?”
Charlie grinned and said, “I love working with you.”
“And I love working with you,” Declan replied.
Charlie couldn’t wipe the smile off his face.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Declan sat at his favourite table in Bar-None. He nursed a vodka and soda as he waited.
The door opened and light flooded into the bar. Charlie walked in and went straight to Mickey, who took his car keys and handed him a beer.
“Good to see you back in here. I thought you must have taken offence at me hitting you with my car.”
“It would take a lot more than that to keep me away,” Charlie said.
