Meanwhile, Maggie had followed up on her earlier email to Markston Police Station and spoke with PC Pete Reynolds. Pete had been new to the DAHU when Maggie was temporarily seconded to the unit and now found himself splitting his time between the Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) and the DAHU.
‘Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. Can you tell me anything about the street robberies that have been occurring?’ Maggie grabbed a pen to jot down any details.
‘Yeah, though not sure it will be helpful. We had a spate of street robberies a few months back. Random youths held at knife point and robbed of mobile phones and anything else of value that could be carried there and then. We caught the little shits a few weeks back. Sorry.’
‘Well at least you caught them. To be honest, I wasn’t fully convinced of the robbery angle, but at least I can tell the team that your fellas hadn’t moved over our way. We might just have a new crew … Anyway, take care.’ She updated the system and would park the information for now.
Everyone was gathering their things and heading to the incident room. Maggie followed suit.
She sat next to Kat and tapped her pen on the table – the silence was making her conjure up sinister thoughts of what had actually happened to the Hastings family. It could all be something innocent – maybe he just needed time away, fed up with things. He may be their DCI but they all felt that way from time to time. But something told her that wasn’t the case, and although Maggie was still reeling from the bombshell that Rutherford had dropped earlier, she needed to bury those feelings for the time being. She didn’t want the rest of the team to wonder if Rutherford and Nathan had been playing favourites, so she’d act like she was hearing the news for the first time if Rutherford shared it here today.
Recalling the guv’s behaviour before, Maggie accepted that her boss blew hot and cold with her at the best of times, but when she was stressed, Maggie often felt the repercussions of her frustration. She tried not to take it personally and had to control herself on more than one occasion from telling her boss to just fuck right off, though she suspected many felt the same about her. What she liked about her team, despite the ranks, was that everyone had the opportunity to speak their minds. Maggie wondered if there was something else going on behind the scenes with Rutherford that she wasn’t aware of. She was disrupted from her thoughts when the guv and Nathan walked in and stood in front of the room.
‘I know you’re all busy, but we have another … erm, situation and it has to be dealt with sensitively …’ DI Rutherford paused and Maggie’s initial annoyance at her soon softened. The guv’s face said it all. This situation would just add to the stress that Rutherford was already feeling.
‘In a nutshell, DCI Hastings and his family are missing under suspicious circumstances.’ There was a noticeable intake of breath from her colleagues in the room.
Kat tapped Maggie’s arm and whispered: ‘What the fuck? Did you know about this?’
Maggie feigned surprise and raised a finger to her lips, pointing back to the front of the room. She ignored the fact that Kat continued to stare at her.
‘I’ll tell you what we know so far before Nathan goes over the details of your current murder investigation. Let me get through this without any interruptions and then feel free to ask what you need to – though I’m not sure I’ll be able to give any definitive answers.’
The team nodded and whispered amongst each other.
‘Can I have your full attention, please?’ DI Rutherford waited as the last few mumbles subsided. Maggie listened as Rutherford relayed the same details to the rest of the team that she had learned earlier.
‘This needs to be kept within these four walls for the time being. I thought it was important for you all to be aware. I’ll hand you over to Nathan now, but I can’t stress this enough – if you do have any information that you think may be helpful in finding the Hastings or you hear anything while you’re out making your rounds in the community, make sure you inform me immediately.’ Rutherford handed the floor to Nathan and left as quickly as she had arrived.
‘I know that was a lot to take in but let’s switch the focus to our current murder investigation and look at what we have so far: We’ve had formal confirmation that our victim is Tim Griffiths, aged eighteen years. Maggie and Kat have been tasked to speak with his parents and will update us on anything significant from that as soon as the information is available. The hammer that was found beside Tim, Dr Blake has confirmed this is the murder weapon after matching the injuries. We’re awaiting the results from the trace evidence on the hammer itself. It looks like Tim may have fought with his attacker. He had swollen and scraped knuckles, so we’re hopeful that forensics will find something that may identify our killer. Bethany is trawling through CCTV – maybe that will bring some further news by the end of the day.’
Maggie waved to get Nathan’s attention. ‘Can I have a word?’ Nathan nodded and Maggie waited as the room began to clear.
‘Would it be possible for me to stop by the Hastings’s home once finished with the Griffiths?’
‘Why?’ Nathan was gathering his notes.
‘I’d just like to see the scene as is. You know what I’m like.’
He scratched his chin. ‘Okay – but make sure you don’t rush your time with the Griffiths to get over there. Am I clear?’
‘Got it. Thanks.’
Maggie waved Kat over. ‘Let’s grab the address from Bethany and head over to speak to Tim’s parents.’
Chapter Sixteen
Lucy was desperate to speak with Mark at the DAHU to see if he could find out any more information on Ronnie, but in order to do that, she would need more details. She knew that this was a fragile time for the young woman, so had to be careful. Ronnie had let her know that she was thinking about going out into the town and Lucy thought that was a good sign, so now might be the right time.
When Lucy had gone upstairs, Ronnie was not in her room or anywhere else on that floor. Lucy returned downstairs and went through each of the rooms until she finally caught sight of Ronnie walking the perimeter of the back gardens. Every now and again, Ronnie peered into the windows of the outbuildings which would later be the residential space for any male victims referred to the haven. She had on a pair of dark sunglasses and a thick, long sleeve jumper much larger than her actual size. She must have brought these items with her in that satchel she had arrived with. Lucy cringed. Ronnie’s wardrobe was familiar to her, as it was how Lucy would dress after a particularly harsh beating from Patrick. Eyes covered, arms covered, oversized clothes – to hide the bruises and avoid tight clothing chafing any wounds.
Lucy opened the back door and called out. Ronnie stopped and for a moment Lucy thought that she might have heard her as the young woman had said that she had partial hearing with her aids in, but that thought was short-lived when she didn’t respond. Lucy realized that she would need to go over to her, so she pulled on the boots she left by the back door and walked over the damp grass to speak to Ronnie.
Tapping her on the shoulder, Lucy wasn’t surprised when the girl jumped. ‘Sorry. I called out to you, but obviously your hearing aids must be turned down, as you didn’t hear me.’ Lucy smiled. ‘I wondered if we could have a quick chat before you go into town?’ When Ronnie agreed, Lucy turned and gestured for the woman to follow her back into the kitchen.
They sat on the small couch in the spacious kitchen, and Lucy watched as Ronnie took out her mobile phone – she had one of those text-to-speech apps that she had been using to communicate.
‘You’re looking much better today. How do you feel?’ Lucy crossed her legs.
Ronnie began to type. ‘Okay. I feel like I need to get out though. I took the residents’ phone and spare set of keys you left for me. I hope that’s okay? Vicki gave me information on the buses, and I thought I might pop into town.’
‘Of course. You’re not a prisoner here.’ The woman looked down and Lucy realized her choice of words was probably not the
greatest. ‘Sorry. Sometimes I put my foot in my mouth. As long as you feel ready to go out, I think that’s great. How are your injuries?’ Ronnie had a large cut on her arm which the paramedics had treated but advised Lucy to keep an eye on it so that it didn’t get infected.
Ronnie began typing and when she had finished, she stared ahead as Lucy listened.
‘Still sore, but I’m using the antibiotic cream. I know you want me to talk about what happened, but I don’t feel ready to do that just yet. You’ll only go digging and then he’ll find me. He did that before when I went to the police. I will tell you that I’m not from Staffordshire, but someone at the last refuge I was at mentioned seeing you talk about this place after you had been released. I knew you’d understand, and she gave me the details. Don’t ask about her either, as I won’t grass her up.’
Ronnie was getting agitated. Lucy saw her eyes well up and she began tugging on her sleeves.
‘Okay, hun. I want you to trust that my only interest is to protect you and keep you safe. When you’re ready, I’m here for you and I’ll keep reminding you of that. I know how hard it can be to open up to others. How about you go and get ready – I could drop you into town if you want?’
Ronnie shook her head. Lucy understood that she would still want her independence. She then put her phone in her bag and her demeanour changed; her shoulders loosened, and she looked relieved.
‘The code for the gate is on the phone – under S.A.F.E, okay. I’m making a roast dinner for later so keep your appetite.’ Lucy winked. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a bus scratch card which would let Ronnie travel around the local area for the day. The Police and Crime Commissioner had provided these to the refuge when Lucy had applied for some funding. ‘You can use this all day. Follow me.’ Lucy walked to the office and opened the safe. ‘Here’s a bit of spending money if you want a coffee or something.’
Ronnie pulled away, shaking her head.
‘It’s okay. Think of it as an emergency fund. You don’t have to use it, but I’d hate for you not to take it and then feel stuck.’ She held the ten pound note out, and Ronnie took it and placed it in her back pocket.
Lucy watched her leave. She felt nervous for Ronnie, though if what Ronnie said was true, she was far enough away from her abuser to not be worried at this stage. Problem was, Lucy wasn’t sure what she believed at the moment.
Chapter Seventeen
Maggie stared out the window and collected her thoughts as Kat drove towards Tim Griffiths’s home. Visiting a victim’s home was one part of the job she hated, as emotions were understandably high, and she had to admit that sometimes she struggled to get the right words out – seeking the facts while remaining sympathetic when it came to how she asked questions. Not intentional but it did happen. Nathan had confirmed that a Family Liaison Officer (FLO) had been assigned to the family and would be waiting for them when they arrived. As they pulled up to the Millwood Estate, Kat shuddered.
‘What’s the matter?’ Maggie turned to face her colleague.
‘I grew up around here and it’s not the best place to live. Drugs, alcohol, little shits with big mouths. Brings back bad memories.’
The detective frowned. ‘But you turned out okay, so it can’t be all that bad – well, minus that mouth of yours that is.’ Maggie nudged Kat’s arm and winked.
‘Cheeky cow!’ Kat laughed. ‘Which block of flats did Tim live in then?’
Maggie pointed to the one on the far right. ‘Ford House. Third floor. Flat 308.’
‘Can I suggest we take the stairs instead of the lift? If my memory serves me correctly, the lifts were always covered in piss or puke. The stairs might not be much better, but at least we’re not stuck in a small space.’
‘Sounds like a plan to me.’
They exited the vehicle. There was a small gang of youths – both male and female – in the distance and Maggie could hear them snorting like pigs. She noticed that Kat was about to shout out to them but raised her hand. ‘Leave it. They might steer clear of our car if we don’t antagonize them.’
Kat mumbled something under her breath, probably starting with a fuck and ending with little shits if Maggie had to guess. They radioed in to base to let Bethany know they were about to enter the building and, once inside, Maggie pushed the buzzer for Flat 308.
A gruff voice called out: ‘Who is it?’
‘DC Jamieson and DC Everett. We’re here to speak with Mr and Mrs Griffiths.’
The door buzzed, there was a popping sound, and Kat pulled it open. Maggie followed her to the stairwell, and the smell of urine hit their nostrils instantly. As they proceeded up the stairs, Maggie tried not to breathe in through her nose. Kat was right, the stairs weren’t much better than the lift, with needles on the landing and a putrid smell that stung her eyes.
‘For fucksake.’ Kat gagged and used her sleeve to cover her mouth. Maggie did the same and followed Kat up the stairs.
A man in cut-off jogging bottoms and a stained white shirt stood in the hallway outside Flat 308 and gestured to Maggie and Kat. ‘Your mate’s inside. You’ll have to ’scuse the mess. The cleaners are off today.’ He moved aside to allow the officers in.
‘Are you Mr Griffiths?’ Maggie looked at the man.
‘Sure am. Name’s Jack and my missus is Eileen. She’s through there.’ He pointed towards an open door. Maggie noticed the FLO in the kitchen area and waved. She’d speak to her once they were done.
Maggie led the way into the living room. Jack wasn’t lying about it being a mess, but given the news the couple had received about their son, she could understand why cleaning was not the highest priority on their list of things to do.
‘Would you mind if we had a seat and asked you a few questions?’ Maggie smiled, but it felt wrong.
The woman looked up briefly and nodded. Her eyes were red and glassy. Maggie wondered how much of the interview she would be able to take part in.
‘Thank you both. First, we’re sorry for your loss and that we have to ask you questions at such a difficult time, but the sooner we do this part, the quicker we’ll be able to catch whoever did this to your son.’ Maggie waited to see if they responded, but Tim’s parents just stared at her.
‘Do either of you know if Tim had any trouble in the neighbourhood or with someone in particular recently?’ Maggie watched as Kat prepared to note down their answers.
‘He was always messing about, but no one had a bad word to say about our boy. Kindest heart. Probably too trusting if anything. Some of the arseholes around here took advantage of his generosity.’ Mrs Griffiths reached for a tissue and dabbed her eyes.
‘Could you explain what you mean by that?’ Maggie leaned forwards; something was digging into her back and she didn’t want to make it too obvious.
‘Getting him to run their errands. Drugs – couldn’t be anythin’ else. When he’, she pointed at Mr Griffiths, —‘found out, he went round and had words. It soon stopped. Or at least we thought it had.’ The woman reached across her husband and picked up a glass containing clear liquid. It could easily be mistaken for a glass of water, but Maggie suspected it was something of an alcoholic nature from the slight slur in Mrs Griffiths’s response.
‘Did Tim have anyone in particular he hung about with that we could speak to?’ Maggie suspected they wouldn’t get much out of this pair and it may be better to speak to his friends. How forthcoming they’d be was a different matter.
‘He was attending a few college courses at South Staffordshire Academy but not sure who he hung about with there. He kept that side to himself – think he was embarrassed of where he come from,’ Mr Griffiths offered. ‘You could try the group of kids who are in the courtyard out front. Tim hung about with them sometimes. They liked the fact that an older kid took an interest in them. Don’t you have any idea of who done this? I mean, what sicko smashes a boy’s head in? If I find the person before you do, God …’ Mrs Griffiths squeezed his knee, and he didn’t finish the sentence.
‘We understand your frustration, but we’ll do everything we can to find out who did this to your son. Would you mind if my colleague and I took a look around his bedroom?’ Maggie stood. She couldn’t bear sitting on the chair any longer and when she glanced behind her, she realized she had been sitting on a pile of clothes with hangers still in them.
‘What for? Your mates already done that – took his computer too. When will we get that back?’ Mr Griffiths’s leg shook. Maggie didn’t want to agitate him further if she could help it.
‘We want to get a feel for your son, really. His personality, likes, dislikes – see if anything was overlooked … that sort of thing,’ Kat offered. Maggie knew Kat was saying that to placate the couple, as she had no doubt that forensics would have picked up anything of relevance, but it often helped them understand the victim’s background and get into their heads.
‘Fine. It’s the first door on the left. If you don’t mind, I’d rather not be a part of whatever you’re doing. I can’t even go into Tim’s room at the moment.’ He rubbed his chin. ‘Just too bloody much.’ A tear rolled down his face and he turned away.
‘We appreciate that. Thank you both. We’ll just do that now and pop in here before we leave, in case you think of anything else.’
‘Sure – do what you need to do.’ Mr Griffiths turned the volume of the television up and stared at the screen. Maggie doubted he was taking in or even interested in the programme that was on; it was just a distraction so that he didn’t have to deal with his son’s murder.
The FLO returned to the room with a tray full of mugs and some biscuits. She placed them on the table and sat in the seat Maggie had just sat in. Unlike Maggie though, she pushed the clothes back so that the wire hangers wouldn’t poke her in the back.
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