Confession (The Mark Pemberton Cases Book 3)

by Nicholas Rhea

  Examination of the scene took longer than anticipated, chiefly due to the lack of vehicular access and the difficulty in carrying equipment to the site. Daylight was almost exhausted and floodlights would be difficult to install. In the meantime, Dr Martin Swain had arrived.

  After briefly explaining the situation, Pemberton watched as the forensic pathologist carried out his preliminary work, studying the ligature and its knot, taking the body temperature, looking for external signs of injury, insect infestation, and the other basic requirements. It was a careful examination, and then he lifted her dress and underslip so that he could peer underneath.

  ‘It’s rape,’ he called across to Pemberton. ‘Vicious by all accounts — there’s some blood, her underslip is stained, it’s protected the dress. Underclothing absent. No knickers, stockings, or tights. Footwear gone, as you can see. Rape and murder is my provisional prognosis, Superintendent Pemberton, but I’ll confirm my findings when I’ve examined the body in laboratory conditions.’

  ‘You know about the Sandal Strangler?’ Pemberton asked.

  ‘I do — we’ve had all the circulars. For the moment I can confirm that you have definitely got a murder to be going on with. She didn’t tie that knot around her own throat. See her face? And I shall liaise with my colleagues about links with the other so-called Sandal Strangler deaths. My provisional diagnosis is that this is his handiwork.’

  When Dr Swain had concluded his examination, Pemberton instructed Scenes of Crime and the official photographer to commence their work around the body.

  ‘I’ll carry out my detailed post-mortem first thing tomorrow,’ said Swain.

  ‘Don’t tell the press about the absent shoes,’ Pemberton reminded the pathologist. ‘We don’t want the public or copy-cat killers to know about the footwear fetish.’

  ‘I’ll refer all media enquiries to your press office,’ Swain assured him. That remark reminded Pemberton to compile a brief news release before he went home. It would be issued by Control Room during the night-time press calls and would confirm that detectives were investigating the discovery of a woman’s body near Crayton. It would say that the circumstances of her death were suspicious and would stress that the woman had not yet been identified. The accompanying description would say that she appeared to be less than thirty years of age; it would add that the detectives would appreciate the names of any young women who were missing from their usual haunts, particularly those who had not been seen within the last couple of days or so. That would be sufficient for the media at this stage — from that brief statement, they would know that a murder enquiry was under way and that news conferences would be arranged tomorrow.

  On his way home, Pemberton called at his office in Rainesbury police station to collect the CID file on the Sandal Strangler. It contained memoranda that had been circulated to all police forces over the years. He left a note in the office to say he had taken the papers. Sitting at home with a glass of The Macallan, he quickly scanned the contents, reading out the salient points to Lorraine. He was breaking their rule about not taking work home, but on this occasion, she did not remind him of their pledge.

  To date, ten murders in the so-called Sandal Strangler series had occurred at widely differing locations, all in rural settings and all the work of the same killer. If the Crayton girl was his victim, it would bring the total to eleven. The MO of the Crayton killing did have the hallmarks of the earlier murders. All the victims were women in their mid-twenties, all were white women, all were prostitutes and all had been raped with accompanying violence and then strangled with a length of white nylon rope. After death, all had been left in a tidy state after having their underwear removed and taken away, and all had lost their footwear. In every case, the victims had worn sandals which had disappeared, an odd factor. Another odd factor was that the killings had occurred at the rate of only one a year, very close to Midsummer’s Day. Currently, nine police forces were investigating the ten killings, two of them having occurred within the Lincolnshire force boundaries, and the co-ordinator for all the enquiries was Detective Inspector Gregory Kirkdale of that force. As in previous years, circulars had been sent to all police forces in England, Wales, and Scotland asking that if a murder occurred with the distinctive hallmarks of the so-called Sandal Strangler, then Kirkdale had to be informed.

  ‘We might be able to provide him with the name of the killer, eh?’ Pemberton smiled at Lorraine. ‘That would be a real breakthrough.’

  ‘Do you really think James Browning was the Sandal Strangler, Mark?’

  ‘I have no idea, Lorraine, but we couldn’t have a more positive suspect for elimination, could we? Even the timing is right.’

  ‘I’ve got to admit that!’

  ‘And so I want to see all the detailed files on the entire series of murders — to see if his name or description crops up in any of them. With that red hair of his, he’s not easily overlooked.’

  ‘Come on, you’ve done enough work for one day,’ she said. ‘It’s bedtime. It’s after midnight and you need a good night’s sleep before tomorrow; it’s going to be a busy day.’

  He drained his malt whisky, carried his glass to the sink and said, ‘Browning’s flat was very tidy, you know. He’s obviously a tidy-minded person. That girl’s body had been tidily arranged.’

  ‘You’re persuading yourself he’s guilty even before we’ve established a link between him and the girl — or any of the girls!’ she said. ‘You’re not behaving like a senior detective, Mark — you’re like a keen young recruit, believing his own imagined thoughts instead of establishing all the facts and then basing a reasoned decision on them.’

  ‘Muriel Brown was raped as well,’ he reminded her, drying his glass.

  ‘But she wasn’t a prostitute,’ Lorraine pointed out. ‘And her sandals weren’t missing, were they?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Pemberton confessed. ‘That’s something else to check!’

  ‘Yes, but not now!’ Gently, she took his hand and led him to the bedroom. ‘For the rest of tonight, I want you to forget all thoughts of rape, Mark Pemberton!’

  Pemberton was in his office at seven-thirty the following morning, Thursday, keen to activate and supervise the investigation into the Crayton murder. Lorraine had accompanied him and was working in the background, preparing for a long, busy day. Already, she had examined the Muriel Brown file and had found a photograph of the body wearing shoes. It seemed Muriel had not been the victim of the Sandal Strangler.

  Meanwhile, the incident room was taking shape. The room they had commandeered — the conference room — was being equipped with filing cabinets, desks, computer terminals, telephones, blackboards, photocopiers, and all the paraphernalia of a busy office. Detective Inspector Paul Larkin had been put in charge of the day-to-day running of the incident room and was already directing operations and setting up the complex reference system by which modern murders were often solved. Pemberton chose a momentary lull to take him to one side; they adjourned to Pemberton’s office where Lorraine produced some welcome coffee.

  ‘Paul,’ Pemberton began, ‘there’s an added dimension to this enquiry — it’s something the teams will have to be told when I address them this morning. You should know in advance.’

  He then explained about Browning’s fatal traffic accident and the moment-of-death confession he had made, suggesting that Larkin liaise with the Road Traffic Division and the CID at Harlow Spa to familiarise himself with the background of the case.

  One point of contact would be Browning’s father who was expected to arrive today to complete the formal identification of the body.

  ‘He’ll have to be interviewed but I’ll do it, Paul,’ Pemberton decided. ‘It could be tricky because I don’t want him to know about his son’s confession. It’s not fair that we should inflict that upon a mourning parent without further proof that it is true, but I can justify my involvement by saying we need background information for the inquest. I want him to throw some light o
n his son’s behaviour, pals, and movements.’

  ‘And I’ll need to trace Browning’s movements over the last ten or eleven years!’ sighed Larkin. ‘That’s not going to be easy. I wonder if we can tie them in with the other killings. Or is that DI Kirkdale’s job?’

  ‘Both, I’d say. We’ve all got to work together on this one, Paul, no demarcation lines! We need to pool our knowledge. I’m going to ring Kirkdale soon, when he’s had time to get his chair warmed up!’ Pemberton smiled. ‘I’ll establish who does what, bearing in mind his rather special role! I would hope his information is readily accessible. The first thing is to see if Browning’s name or description, or even that of his car, features in any of the earlier cases. I’ll acquaint DI Kirkdale with the material we’ve already gathered if you can concentrate on Browning’s movements — remember, this is as much an elimination exercise as one to prove he’s guilty. I don’t want Browning declared the Sandal Strangler if he couldn’t have done those crimes. That would set up a whole trail of false leads and get the real villain off the hook.’

  ‘Browning seems a long shot, sir, as the Sandal Strangler.’

  ‘Yes, but he did say his victim was female. Unfortunately, I didn’t hear everything Browning said to the priest, but he did use the singular. It’s important to remember that — he confessed to one murder, not a series. I do realise he might have confessed to the others on previous occasions — but I think that’s unlikely.’

  ‘We’ll bear all the factors in mind, sir.’

  At eight-thirty, Pemberton rang Lincolnshire CID Headquarters and asked for Detective Inspector Kirkdale. Kirkdale was already in his office and listened intently.

  ‘I’ll come immediately, sir,’ he said after Pemberton had outlined the case. ‘Rainesbury police station, eh? I know the town — we went there for holidays as kids. Give me two hours.’

  ‘You’ll bring your files?’ asked Pemberton.

  ‘The lot, sir, some on disc. And some original statements and files on paper; this enquiry goes back a long time, remember. I’ve been chasing the Sandal Strangler for five years, others have worked longer, so if your Mr Browning is our man, I’ll buy champagne for all your teams!’

  ‘That could be a costly visit,’ chuckled Pemberton. ‘But I look forward to our meeting. I’ll delay my first conference of detectives until your arrival — perhaps you’d address them?’

  ‘That will be my pleasure, sir,’ replied Detective Inspector Kirkdale.

  Chapter Five

  One of Pemberton’s earliest incoming telephone calls was from the Road Traffic Division. It was the duty inspector saying that Mr Browning senior had arrived from Staffordshire to formally identify the body of his son and that it was understood Detective Superintendent Pemberton wished to talk to him. Pemberton spoke to him on the phone and learned that Mr Browning would be in Rainesbury all today and possibly longer. He explained he would be making the necessary arrangements for his son’s funeral, visiting the registrar of births, deaths, and marriages, and carrying out various other sad but necessary tasks. Today, the inquest would be opened on his son for the purposes of identification only, Mr Browning senior having to formalise the identification. Pemberton therefore arranged to meet Mr Browning at 2.00pm in the Road Traffic inspector’s office.

  Having secured that appointment, Pemberton turned again to Inspector Larkin. ‘Have Scenes of Crime finished with the flat?’ he asked.

  ‘Not yet, sir, the Harlow Spa team is there now. They were there first thing, the early turn team, sir. They started at six with a brief to determine whether or not anyone has been killed or raped there. Any clothing in the flat will be taken away and examined too. They should be finished by two this afternoon.’

  ‘Good, well done,’ said Pemberton. ‘And clothing he was wearing when he crashed?’

  ‘The night duty team examined it overnight, sir, they found nothing to suggest he’s a killer. No blood, semen stains, earth from the Crayton Mill area on his shoes. Nothing in fact, but Forensic may need to make a more scientific examination.’

  ‘Keep them at it, Paul. Now, Mr Frederick Browning has enough chores to keep him occupied, but when it’s convenient — certainly before he leaves — I want him to take possession of his son’s belongings and the contents of his flat. That means we must finish our work before Mr Browning goes home.’

  ‘He’ll be here until the funeral service so it shouldn’t be a problem. Are you going to tell him his son’s in the frame as a serial killer?’

  ‘Would you?’

  ‘It’s a tough question but if James is in the frame for all those killings, we can hardly keep it from his old man.’

  ‘And if he’s innocent, he’s got to be eliminated,’ Pemberton said. ‘It’s best the old man doesn’t know. I’d like to keep it from him, if only for humanitarian reasons. In the end, there may be no reason for him to know about his son’s confession or our suspicions, but if it becomes necessary to break the news to him, then I shall have to do it.’

  Larkin left Pemberton to his thoughts, then shortly before ten-thirty, Detective Inspector Kirkdale arrived from Lincoln. He was shown into Pemberton’s office where two coffees and some biscuits materialised. Kirkdale was a cheerful man in his mid-forties with an infectious smile, an untidy mop of light-brown hair and ruddy features; he was dressed in a Lovat green suit and a somewhat gaudy tie. He seemed relaxed in Pemberton’s presence.

  ‘You’ve made good time,’ commented Pemberton.

  ‘The Humber Bridge makes a huge difference when we drive north,’ smiled Kirkdale. ‘And traffic was light. So you want me to talk to your opening conference?’

  ‘Yes please, Mr Kirkdale. Can I call you Gregory?’ Kirkdale nodded his assent. ‘First, let me tell you about our victim, and our prime suspect.’

  Over coffee, Mark Pemberton provided Kirkdale with details about Browning’s confession and the subsequent discovery of the dead woman, whereupon Kirkdale confirmed that the Crayton murder bore every indication of being the work of the so-called Sandal Strangler. While he went through the relevant facts from the known Sandal Strangler killings, Pemberton listened carefully, his chief endeavour being to determine whether or not Browning might have killed them all. Kirkdale concentrated upon the similarities. The Crayton murder matched in several respects, the most obvious of which was the removal of the victim’s footwear, a killer’s trade mark if ever there was one. In all cases, none had been recovered. So far as suspects were concerned, Kirkdale produced a long list of known sex offenders, rapists, and released murderers whose crimes, in various parts of Britain, had had a sexual connotation. He added that none could be considered a prime suspect for any of the killings — many had been interviewed and eliminated. Several had not been in the right place at the relevant time — some had been in prison, for example, and others had equally tight alibis. Only those sex offenders who were living in the vicinity of each killing had been considered. The nation had too many perverts for all to be considered and interviewed. This lack of suspicion of any known offender had led Kirkdale to believe that the killer had no criminal record, that he was not known to the police in any of the British forces, and that he had never appeared on a list of suspects for any crime, let alone murder or rape. A classic serial killer but, in Kirkdale’s opinion, one much cleverer than most.

  ‘So you’ve no sightings of a suspect? No photofit impressions or artists’ drawings from witness statements?’

  ‘No one has seen him, Mr Pemberton,’ said Kirkdale. ‘That is our primary problem. We have no idea what he looks like, how old he is, or anything about him. It’s almost as if he’s invisible, he merges into the background to such an extent that no one has noticed him. He has never left any clues at the scene — other than the victims themselves of course, and what he’s left with them. The only possible exception is a man who was observed near the scene of the first murder, but that was two days after the body was discovered. And it was ten years ago, remember. Nothing was found t
o link that man to the killing — he just happened to be walking past the scene some time later — and there are no reports of him being seen at any more of the scenes, either before or after the event.’

  ‘You refer to the suspect in the masculine. Could it be a woman? Using an instrument to imitate rape?’

  ‘No, there’s always been a discharge of semen. We’ve retained samples which we can submit for DNA analysis if a suspect is traced. There’s no doubt a man is involved, although he does assault his victims’ vaginal areas after intercourse. One pathologist thought he kicked them, others haven’t expressed an opinion about the weapon or weapons used.’

  ‘And motor vehicles? Do you have any evidence of a motor vehicle being used? Browning owned a red MG Roadster, an old model, quite distinctive.’

  ‘All the murders have been in fairly remote wooded areas, often with thick cover and popular with hikers and ramblers. Some were beyond the range of four-wheel vehicles or even motor bikes, so we are confident that he did not use a vehicle to take his victims to the scene, or to escape afterwards. We think he walked to the scene of each crime with his victim, then walked away afterwards before using a car or other transport to get completely away. We do not know if he drove, with or without his victim, to within walking distance of the murder scene or whether he used public transport. We can’t ignore the possibility that he was taken there, even by taxi or by a friend, but when he did arrive and leave, he managed to blend into the background without being noticed. All I can say is that we’ve had no reports of cars being observed at the scenes, and I think something as distinctive as a vintage MG, especially a red one, would have been noticed. We have lists of car registration numbers in each file. As you know, we check all garages and petrol stations for details of cars seen in the area or known to have bought petrol or oil around the material times — lots of garages and filling stations keep registration numbers and credit card details. There are literally hundreds on file — maybe the red MG’s among them? A search task for somebody, sir! What we do know is that the victims were all killed where they were found, that has been well established. In all cases, the finders of the bodies were people who went into those quiet places for recreation — anglers, birdwatchers, dog walkers, ramblers and so on. As you know, Mr Pemberton, the finder of the body becomes Suspect No. 1, but in this series of deaths they have all been eliminated — except the first. In what is generally regarded as the first of the Sandal Strangler killings, an anonymous telephone call tipped off the police that a body was in woodland at Penthorne near Swangate in County Durham. The caller was never traced; he’d rung from a kiosk in Penthorne. We’ve had no anonymous tip-offs since that one.’