Lessons Learnt (5/6) By Nick Quantrill

(1/6), (2/6), (3/6), (4/6), (5/6), (6/6).

Coleman slowed down to a walk. The receptionist had pointed him in the direction Dawson had taken the man's wife and employer. Being midweek, Hull Royal Infirmary wasn't too busy, certainly nothing like the war zone it would become at the weekend. He had with him a manila file he had quickly prepared at the station. Pushing through A&E, he found the ambulance team who had brought the man in. He managed a quick word with them before locating the room he wanted. Knocking first, he entered the room and introduced himself to Jim Wilson. 'Where's Mrs Mitchell?' he asked Dawson.

'Toilet.' 'OK.' Dawson ushered him out of the room and lowered his voice. 'There's something I'm not sure about and she can probably clear it up for us.' Coleman wondered why Dawson hadn't rung him; trying to make a name for himself, he suspected. 'Here' he said, passing over the file. 'Have a look in there and see what you think.'

Dawson scanned the information. He looked at the photograph of Trevor Harrison and nodded to Coleman. He read the details; convictions going back twenty years, ranging from public disorder offences, through to assault and ultimately armed robbery. Harrison had barely been out of prison for six months. Coleman placed the photograph back in the file. 'I assume this is the guy we initially thought was the driver?' 'I'm sure it will be.' 'How did you put it together?'

'Harrison wasn't wearing a wedding ring, but Mrs Mitchell said they got married last week.' Dawson shrugged. 'Fair enough, it doesn't prove anything in itself, but the way she spoke about her husband's love of the job and he fact he's physically fit gave me the impression he was the sort of person who would put up a fight, the type of man who might carry a cricket bat in case of attack. I thought if she could see the man, we'd get confirmation, one way or the other.' He turned away, slightly embarrassed. 'More of a hunch, I suppose.'

Coleman was genuinely impressed, even though he'd returned to the office with the major clue Dawson had seemingly overlooked. Hunches can sometimes be what make the difference. 'Remember the transit vans parked in the lay-by?' Dawson groaned. 'One of them was Trevor Harrison's?' 'Got it in one. I've just caught up with the ambulance team who brought him in and shown them a photo of Harrison. They've confirmed the man we've got is the hijacker, not the driver. Hopefully, Mr and Mrs Smith will be able to confirm it for us.'

'I should have seen it. I was so busy securing the scene for the SOCO team, I overlooked the vans. They hadn't been run through the computer.' 'Not worth beating yourself up over. You've done well enough.' 'A lesson learnt.' Dawson lowered his voice. 'If we've got the hijacker here, where's Gary Mitchell got to?' 'Who knows? He can't have wandered off too far, though. Presumably he's sustained injuries in the fight, so one of the patrol cars will pick him up shortly, I'm sure.' 'And then he'll be charged with assaulting the man who tried to hijack his lorry?' Coleman sighed. That was the reality of the situation. 'Not our decision to make.' 'Do you think Harrison is behind the other hijackings?'

Continued... Next Page (6/6)

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