Page 71 of Clawed
“That’s the one,” Graham confirmed.He’d just about given up asking them to use his first name.
“Do you have the keys, sir?”Sullivan asked.
“Yes,” Graham dug them out of his pocket and offered them to the officers.“But they don’t work.The locks on the front and back doors have been changed.”
“We’re going to see if we can obtain entry.”Latham shot Sullivan a stare.“Perhaps you can stay here, sir, until we’re inside.”
“Fine.”Graham folded his arms across his chest, wishing Roger had never bought the house.
He watched as the two cops walked the short length of path to the front of the house and knocked on the door.
“Hello?”Latham’s voice was so loud, he heard it from the street.“This is the police.We need you to open up, please.”
Graham resisted the urge to sigh.He could have bloody well achieved that much for himself.
“Police!”Her rapping on the door was louder that time, the noise startling a gull who’d landed nearby.“Open up!”
When no one presented themselves for inspection, the officers conferred before Sullivan walked to the side of the property and disappeared past the gate to enter the back of the house.Latham, in the meantime, appeared to be trying to get the keys he’d given her to fit the lock at the front.
“Genius,” Graham muttered.“We’ll be in there in no time.”
Long moments passed when the wind whipped around the coast to harass Graham further, and eventually, Sullivan reappeared from the rear, returning to his colleague.Graham looked on as the two slowly wandered back in his direction.
“There’s no answer, sir.”Latham turned her back to the breeze.“And the keys don’t work.”
“Yes.”Graham forced the word out through gritted teeth.“That’s why Roger wanted your help.”
“Since we didn’t get a reply and we can’t gain entry ourselves, we have the inspector’s permission to break the door down.”Sullivan sounded like he was reading pre-prepared words from a script.“I’ll get the equipment.”
Latham’s hand rose to her radio as she proceeded to report their alleged progress back to their superiors.Another gust of wind blew in from the shore, sending her short red hair flying in all directions.Graham waited as she concluded her report, and Sullivan arrived with what looked like a small battering ram.
“Do you know how to use that thing?”Graham motioned to the equipment in his hands.
“We’re fully trained, sir,” Latham assured him.“Please make sure you stand back while we get inside.We don’t know who, if anyone, is in residence at this point.”
No shit.
“I’ll stay here.”Resignation echoed in Graham’s voice as the two cops left him by the roadside.
It was going to be a long day.
