Goodnight, John-Boy Chapters 1 and 2
Mrs Cooper did her best to protect the youngster. ‘I won’t say anything. Forget about your comic. Run, Dave. Please. He’s in a terrible mood.’
Welcome to Book Two of my dark comedy thriller series, Read Em and Weep.
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If you’re new to the Read Em and Weep series, start with Book One: Serial Killer.
PART ONE: MARCH TO MAY 1976
‘Only I can do this and survive.’
Chapter One
METROPOLITAN POLICE COLD CASE UNIT NOVEMBER 3RD 2016
Detective Inspector Mary Read
REPORT INTO THE MURDER OF MRS JEAN MAUDLING
Summary
1. On 2nd August 2016 a body was found in a secret room in the basement of 10, Mordle Street, Stoke Basing, by the current homeowner, John Trigger. It has been identified as Mrs Jean Maudling, 32, who lived at 2, Mordle Street, and was reported missing in March 1957. She lived there with her husband Peter, daughter Annie, 12, and son David, 8.
2. Forensic examination confirmed she had been strangled with her fur boa, which was found beside the corpse. A knuckleduster in Mrs Maudling’s shopping basket had blood on it and it is thought that Mrs Maudling may have used the weapon to defend herself against the murderer. However, there is no match for the murderer’s blood on the national DNA database.
3. A copy of the comic The Fourpenny One was found at the crime scene and, according to Mrs Maudling’s daughter, Mrs Annie Ryan, now aged 71, her mother would have purchased the comic for her son from Mr Cooper, a local newsagent, on the Saturday, shortly before she was killed.
4. The comic is dated Saturday 9th March 1957. Three days later, on Tuesday 12th March 1957, Peter Maudling reported his wife was missing. Therefore, her likely time of death was between these two dates.
5. 10 Mordle Street was a derelict, bombed-out house for many years before it was renovated. The upper floor was illegally used by Peter Maudling to produce ‘moonshine’ alcohol. He died in the premises on November 6th 1970 after sampling his latest 40% bockbier that he called ‘From Here to Eternity’.
6. Mrs Ryan has provided valuable information on her mother’s life, enabling us to put together a profile of Mrs Maudling and persons of interest in this case.
7. Despite extensive enquiries, we have been unable to trace Mrs Maudling’s son, David, now aged 67, and we have little information on his life. During the 1970s, he worked for Fleetpit Publications in Farringdon Street, London EC4, and was editor of a number of comics such as The Spanker and Aaagh!
8. Judging by statements obtained from witnesses who knew David when he worked for Fleetpit Publications, he appears, in my view, to be mentally unbalanced.
Chapter Two
IT WAS FEBRUARY 1957 AND, once again, the doorbell jingled as eight-year-old Dave Maudling nervously entered the newsagent’s shop in search of his favourite comic: The Fourpenny One.
Inside, to his huge relief, there was no sign of Mr Cooper; it was Mrs Cooper who was standing behind the counter. This was his lucky day. He could quickly find his comic, pay her and run out of the shop.
Once more, he searched the racks for the comic every boy must have, or be a pariah in the playground. He cast his anxious eyes past Basher, Scarper, Blimey!, Pinafore, Radio-Active, Goggle Box, Spunky and Homework. He knew exactly where The Fourpenny One should be, but – to his horror – it was missing.
Mrs Cooper saw the boy desperately looking through the rows of comics. She realised what was on his mind and what could happen. ‘Stan drank too much tea last night. He's sleeping it off. Run while you've got the chance, Dave.’
The boy looked up at her with his troubled Bambi-like eyes.
‘But he'll know, Mrs Cooper.’
Mrs Cooper did her best to protect the youngster. ‘I won’t say anything. Forget about your comic. Run, Dave. Please. He’s in a terrible mood.’
Dave was about to make a bolt for it when he heard the all-too familiar rustling of the beaded curtain that separated the shop from the back room. The hungover and unshaven newsagent, dressed in striped pyjamas and brown jacket, entered and cast a black look at his wife: ‘Private deals? You dirty cow.’
‘Don’t be silly, Stan,’ said Mrs Cooper lightly. ‘He's just a lad.’
‘He’ll be a big lad soon enough. I'll deal with you later. Now get back there.’ She reluctantly disappeared into the back room. Mr Cooper turned to Dave, who was frozen to the spot with fear. To calm himself, he repeated the words on a box of Sherlock’s Liquorice Pipes. ‘He chews Sherlock’s. We choose Sherlock’s. Everyone chooses Sherlock’s. He chews Sherlock’s…’
Mr Cooper scowled down at him. ‘And I'll deal with you now. You get your own tarts.’
He held up a copy of The Fourpenny One that he’d kept hidden under the counter. ‘Is this what you’re looking for?’ Dave said nothing; he was too scared to speak.
‘Well, come on then. I haven’t got all day. Tell me what you want, young man.’ Mr Cooper grinned and clenched his fist in anticipation.
There was no way out. No escape. Just as there had been no escape for endless past Saturdays. Dave took a deep breath.
‘Please, sir, I'd like a Fourpenny One.’
The newsagent’s fist headed towards his face…
Goodnight, John-Boy by Pat Mills is the second book in the Read Em and Weep series and is on sale digitally or as paperback.