Fake Witness: Ann Perkins Detective Agency #1
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Fake Witness. An Ann Perkins Detective Agency Novel by Richard Underwood.
Ernie Wright decided to rob a bank after being made redundant whilst he was only just coping with the loss of his wife from the stroke that took her and her unborn child from him. With no wife, no child, and no job, Ernie directed his anger at the entire world and determined society would compensate him for the heartache and pain it had caused him.
A million pounds compensation seemed about right, but also seemed beyond his reach until the fateful day he decided to rob a bank in the centre of Manchester. The disguise, the gun, the getaway; everything was planned to the smallest detail. He mistakenly thought nothing could go wrong, but the events of that day were to change him in more ways than he could ever imagine.
With a price on his head, and hunted by both sides of the law, this pulsating thriller has more twists and turns than a roller-coaster. One of those twists results in the unexpected creation of the Ann Perkins detective agency, but who exactly is Ann Perkins, and who exactly is the fake witness?
Excerpt from Fake Witness
He reached over and turned on the recorder. The few seconds it took before it was ready to record gave him the opportunity of having a look at Hinchcliffe. He was wearing jeans and trainers, and a short navy jacket open to display the Manchester United top he wore underneath.
“Interview between Robert Hinchcliffe and Detective Inspector Jones of Manchester C.I.D. commenced 4:07 pm Thursday 21 March 2019. Also present is Detective Sergeant Carter. I need to remind you, you are still under caution and you still do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand?”
“No comment.” Hinchcliffe may not have been a very successful robber, but he was experience enough to know not to answer questions.
“I arrested you in the Santander Bank on Market Street, Manchester, earlier today. What were you doing in the bank?”
“No comment.”
“I found you in possession of a firearm,” he said. “Could you tell me where you got the firearm from, and what you were doing with it at the bank?”
“No comment.”
“I was in the bank myself Bob, so let’s not play silly buggers. I saw you robbing the bank and there were loads of other witnesses too. Why don’t you just admit you were robbing the bloody bank?” Jones usually avoided swearing on tape, but he couldn’t help himself. He’d seen him commit the offence. He expected Hinchcliffe to at least acknowledge he’d caught him in the act.
Hinchcliffe sat there with a smirk on his face whilst looking directly into the detective’s face for a few moments before answering. “No comment.”
Jones also took his time, he stared back into the eyes of Hinchcliffe determined not to show his anger again. “Please yourself. You have every right to stay silent, but we both know you’re guilty.”
“No comment.”
Jones was used to prisoners not speaking, and it was only because he had been at the bank when the robbery took place that he became angry this time. The interview was no different to many others, but he was still disappointed Hinchcliffe had not immediately confessed. “Is there anything you do want to say?”
“I want to make a phone call to my solicitor.”
“I’ll arrange that. Anything else?”
“No comment. Not till I’ve spoken to my solicitor.”
“Please yourself.” Jones stood up and reached towards the recorder. “Interview suspended 4:09 pm.”
He turned the tape off and looked towards Detective Sergeant Carter. He had got nowhere, but perhaps a fresh approach would work.
“They’ll throw the book at you if you plead not guilty, Bob,” she said. “You’ll get a shorter sentence pleading guilty. Think of your wife and kids.”
“No comment.”
“Plead guilty to the bank job and we’ll ignore the more serious offence.”
“What more serious offence?” Curiosity had at least changed his instinctive no comment.
“Wearing a United shirt in front of two City supporters,” she said
Hinchcliffe couldn’t help but smile. “Bloody City supporters. Definitely no comment.”
Fake Witness. An Ann Perkins Detective Agency Novel by Richard Underwood
