by David Blake
As it was Saturday, he allowed himself the luxury of lying in bed for an extra ten minutes. Eventually, with his eyes half-closed, he dragged himself out of bed to begin his normal routine of getting ready for work.
He was showered, dressed and sitting down to enjoy his freshly made filtered coffee when his phone rang.
Pleased to see that it was Jenny calling, he answered, ‘Hi Jen, what’s up?’ before taking a gulp from his cup.
‘What the hell have you done?’ came Jenny’s voice, almost shouting at him down the phone.
Nearly choking, Tanner sat up straight to say, ‘I’m sorry, I’m not with you?’
‘You’ve been speaking to that reporter again, haven’t you?’
‘Which reporter?’
‘You know damned well which reporter. Kevin Griffiths!’
‘Not since we interviewed him, I haven’t.’
‘Then how come the Norfolk Herald has just published an article, written by him, in which he’s quoted you as saying we’ve found out that Gary Mitchell was the man Claire Judson had been having an affair with, and who she was waiting for at the top of St. Andrew’s church the day she was murdered? They’ve even published that photograph we have of him!’
‘But why would I have told him that?’
‘I presume to force Mitchell out into the open, or to at least see if anyone is able to recognise him.’
‘There are ways and means, Jenny, and that’s not one of them, at least not one I’d ever use.’
‘Well, somebody has. It’s the front page story!’
‘Does it mention anything about Father Thomas?’
After a moment’s pause, Jenny said, ‘Not that I can see, no.’
‘Well, that’s something.’
‘So, if it wasn’t you, then who was it?’
‘Whoever broke into Father Thomas’s house?’
‘But - wasn’t that Gary Mitchell?’
‘I think we’d assumed it was, but we must have thought wrong. It could have been someone who’d already found out that Mitchell was Claire Judson’s boyfriend, and thought they’d make some money on the side by leaking the story to the press. Either way, I’d better head over to make sure Father Thomas is OK.’
‘Shall I meet you there? It’s on my way.’
‘Thanks Jen, but no. I need you back at the station. We have to find Gary Mitchell, especially now that he’s been publicly named and shamed as being the person who was not only having sexual relations with an underage girl, but who may also have been responsible for killing the two priests.’
‘Shall I tell Forrester where you’re going?’
‘If you could. You’d better show him that article as well, but do me a favour. Tell him it wasn’t me who leaked the story. Also, can you let everyone know that I intend to hold a station-wide briefing when I get back? I’m sure Forrester will agree that we’re going to need all hands on deck from this point forward.’
‘OK. Will do.’
With the conversation over, Tanner downed his coffee, and was about to get up to leave when his phone rang again.
Not recognising the number, he answered it by saying, ‘Tanner speaking.’
Over the line came the deep muffled whisper of a man’s voice.
‘Detective Tanner, it’s Father Thomas.’
‘Father! I was just on my way to see you. Are you all right?’
‘I am, yes, but I’m, well… I just wanted to let you know that I think…’
‘You think…what?’ prompted Tanner.
‘I think someone followed me up to the church when I left my house.’
‘Oh, OK. I shouldn’t worry about them. We posted a couple of police constables outside last night. I assume you saw their squad car?’
‘I did, yes, but it’s not them. This person’s not wearing a uniform. I think - well, I think it might be Gary Mitchell.’
Tanner’s heart thumped hard in his chest. ‘Where are you?’
‘I’m inside the church.’
‘Have you locked the door?’
‘I have, yes.’
‘OK, now I want you to find somewhere to hide, and then whatever you do, don’t move! I’ll get a message through to the PCs outside your house to come up and find you, and I’ll be there myself in ten minutes.’
Ending the call, Tanner grabbed his keys and wallet, launched himself from his boat, and sprinted over to his car.
CHAPTER THIRTY THREE
SCREECHING TO A halt behind the squad car still parked outside where Father Thomas lived, Tanner leapt out, slammed the door shut and began sprinting up towards the church.
Passing the house, something caught his eye.
Turning, he saw one of the uniformed constables come running out from around the back.
‘Did you find Father Thomas?’ asked Tanner, stopping where he was.
‘No, sir,’ came the PC’s breathless reply. ‘He’s not in the house.’
‘How about the church?’
‘We’ve not looked up there yet.’
‘What do you mean? I told Control he was hiding inside the church, not in his bloody house!’
‘Sorry, sir. Nobody said anything about the church.’
‘For fuck’s sake!’ spat Tanner, and raced on, the police constable at his heels.
Stumbling into the church alcove, Tanner noticed that one of the doors had been left open.
‘Shit!’ he cursed, under his breath.
As the police constable joined him, Tanner pressed a finger to his mouth, pointing down at the open door.
‘Where’s your colleague?’ he whispered.
Leaning on his knees, the young PC glanced behind him to say, ‘He must still be searching the house.’
‘That’s just great,’ replied Tanner, thick with sarcasm.
After thinking for a moment, he said, ‘OK, we’re going to have to go in. Stay close behind me, and keep your eyes peeled. Understood?’
The young PC nodded back, gulping as he did.
Returning his attention to the door, Tanner took hold of the black wrought iron handle and began easing it open, just enough to be able to peer inside.
As his eyes adjusted to the church’s cool dark interior, movement caught his attention from the far end. There, hanging from the bottom of the ornately carved wooden pulpit, he saw a shadow, twisting and flapping, like a black bin liner caught in the wind.
It took him no more than a second to work out what it was: Father Thomas, hanging by the neck, eyes bulging, feet kicking, hands clawing at a noose pulling tight against his throat.
Grabbing the constable’s arm, Tanner dragged him forward, hurtling down between the rows of pews.
‘You take his feet! I’ll untie him!’
As Tanner launched himself up the pulpit steps, the young constable took hold of the priest’s legs to try to lift his body, desperate to ease the weight from the rope encircling his neck.
Reaching the railing where the rope had been tied, Tanner leaned over and grabbed hold of the priest’s jacket to heave his body up.
With the noose slack, using his free hand he began tugging at the knot.
Within a matter of seconds it was untied.
Together, they lowered Father Thomas to the floor, gasping and sucking at the air.
By the time Tanner had run down the steps, the priest was on his knees, rocking back and forth, his hands clawing at his dog collar, desperate to pull it away from his neck.
Turning to the young constable, Tanner said, ‘Call an ambulance, then backup!’ He then fell to his knees beside the priest to ask, ‘Are you OK?’
But the priest could say nothing but nod his head in response.
‘Did you see who did this to you?’
Swallowing hard, through purple lips he eventually managed to rasp out, ‘Mitchell. It was Gary Mitchell. He had a black hood on, but it was him.’
Glancing up to see the second of the two police constables come running into the church, Tanner called out, ‘Did
you see anyone going out?’
‘Nobody! No!’
‘OK, have a look around for someone dressed up as a monk. Maybe try down by the car park. But if you see him, whatever you do, don’t approach him! Not on your own. Is that clear?’
Nodding, the young man left the way he’d come in, just as the other constable returned to report that an ambulance was on its way.
‘Good. Now, go find your friend. The guy who did this couldn’t have made it far.’
CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR
TANNER WAITED IN prayerful silence with Father Thomas until the paramedics arrived. After offering him reassurance that he was going to be OK, he left him in their capable hands to step outside. There he glanced around, trying to work out what had happened to the two constables.
Eventually spying them down by the roadside, he called out, ‘Anything?’
‘Nothing, sir, no,’ replied the nearest.
‘Seriously?’ asked Tanner, as he headed down to join them.
‘We looked all over, sir. We even checked inside his house again.’
‘How about the car park? Did you see anyone driving off?’
‘There weren’t any cars there, sir. We’d been keeping an eye on the whole road all night. Hardly any cars have driven past; none have stopped.’
‘Then he must have parked up nearby somewhere and made his way by foot.’
The distant sound of approaching sirens reminded Tanner that the church was now the scene of an attempted murder. Forced to accept the fact that Gary Mitchell had somehow managed to slip past them, he instructed one of the PCs to begin cordoning off the church and the surrounding area, whilst the other was to begin knocking on doors, to see if any of the neighbours had seen or heard anything unusual.
Leaving them to it, he headed over to the small church car park, to help guide in the approaching vehicles.
After two squad cars came screaming in, lights flashing, sirens blazing, Jenny arrived in her silver Golf, closely followed by DI Cooper in his Mondeo, with DS Gilbert in the passenger seat.
Jumping out of her car, her voice tight with anxiety, Jenny asked, ‘Is he all right?’
‘He should be, but it was close. Another couple of minutes, and it may have been a different story.’
Cooper stepped out to join them, leaving Gilbert talking on the phone. ‘Any idea who did it?’
‘Gary Mitchell,’ replied Tanner.
‘Are you sure?’ asked Jenny.
‘No doubt about it. Father Thomas recognised him.’
‘But there was no sign of him?’
‘Nothing, no, although he must have been close. Father Thomas could have only been left hanging there for a minute, maybe less. Mitchell must have been hiding inside when we came in, and then slipped out the main door when we were busy taking him down. I had the two constables take a good look around for him, but they couldn’t find a single trace.’
‘No car?’ asked Cooper.
‘None that they saw, no. He most likely saw the squad car when he drove up and decided to park down the road somewhere. I’ve told them to start asking the neighbours if they saw anything, maybe an unfamiliar vehicle parked nearby. Hopefully we’ll get a break.’
‘I think we’ve just got one!’ announced DS Vicky Gilbert, as she strode towards them, phone still in hand. ‘We’ve had someone call in after seeing that newspaper article. They recognised Mitchell’s picture from the photograph. They say he’s their neighbour, and he just pulled into his drive.’
‘You’ve got an address?’
‘Yes. He’s not far. Just outside Salhouse.’
‘Right, I suggest we move in and arrest him, before he does a runner.’
‘Forrester’s on his way,’ said Cooper. ‘We’d better wait for his authorisation first.’
Ignoring him, Tanner barged straight past, saying to Jenny, ‘You’re with me,’ leaving her stranded in the middle of the car park, exchanging anxious glances between Cooper and Gilbert.
As they turned to watch him stomp over to his car, Cooper called out, ‘But he could be armed!’
Crossing the road, almost to himself Tanner replied, ‘I doubt it.’
Realising that he wasn’t going to change his mind, Jenny said, ‘I’d better go,’ and broke into a run to catch up to him.
‘I’m not going without Forrester’s permission!’ cried Cooper.
Over her shoulder, Jenny called back, ‘I think you’re forgetting who the SIO is now.’
After a moment’s pause, DS Gilbert fixed her steel blue eyes on to Cooper’s. ‘Well, I’m going, even if you’re not.’
Seeing Tanner and Jenny already climbing into the Jag, Cooper reluctantly said, ‘Shit! Come on then,’ and hurried back to his car, with Gilbert close behind.
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE
GILBERT PHONED THE address through to Jenny, and within less than fifteen minutes Tanner was turning his XJS into the sweeping concrete drive of a large detached house, set back from a quiet tree-lined avenue.
As the car’s over-sized v12 engine pinged and ticked as its piston head cooled, he stepped out to glance up at the windows, checking for a twitching curtain, or any other signs that someone may have been keeping a look out.
Seeing Jenny open her door, he waved her back. ‘You’d better stay here,’ he said, and set off up the drive towards the house.
Despite having been told otherwise, Jenny climbed out to ask, ‘Shouldn’t we wait for back-up?
‘No time,’ she heard him say, and watched helplessly as he stepped up to the door.
Becoming increasingly concerned with what was about to take place, she called out, ‘John, wait, please!’
He rang the bell, waited for the briefest of moments, and then began banging his fist on the panels, shouting, ‘Gary Mitchell! Norfolk Police! Open up!’
Wondering what was taking Cooper and Gilbert so long, Jenny ran to the edge of the drive. Relieved to see them indicating to pull in, she waved at them to hurry, before turning to sprint up to join Tanner.
She arrived just in time to see the door being opened by an older heavy-set man with greying cropped hair.
‘What the hell do you want?’ the man demanded, glaring out at Tanner.
‘Gary Mitchell?’
‘Yes, what of it?’
Pulling out his ID, Tanner said, ‘Detective Inspector Tanner, Norfolk Police. You’re under arrest for the…’
‘Why don’t you lot leave me alone!’ he shouted back, and tried slamming the door shut. But Tanner’s head was already half inside, and the door caught the exact place where his stitches were.
Blinded by pain, with his temper boiling over, Tanner took hold of the edge of the door and shoved it back with all his strength, the force of which sent Mitchell stumbling backwards, knocking into a side table before falling hard on the floor, bringing a lamp crashing down on top of him.
Flying into the hallway from the back of the house came a furious-looking woman with a tangled mop of jet-black hair.
‘Just what the hell is going on?’ she demanded, her eyes darting between the man on the floor and Tanner standing in the doorway.
With one hand held flat against his now bleeding eye, Tanner stepped into the property. Bearing down on the man still lying sprawled on the carpet, he said, ‘Gary Mitchell, I’m arresting you for the murder of Father Richard and Father Michael, and for the attempted murder of Father Thomas.’
‘You what?’
‘You 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.’
‘What the hell are you talking about?’
‘Anything you do say may be given in evidence,’ finished Tanner, and stooped down to grab hold of the man’s arm, only for it to be snatched away.
‘You’re welcome to add resisting arrest if you like.’
‘I’ve got no bloody idea what you’re going on about!’
Removing his hand from his eye to take
a look at the blood running down it, Tanner added, ‘And judging by the damage you’ve done to my face, I could probably add assaulting a police officer as well. That’s twelve months in prison, right there!’
‘All right! All right! I’ll come. But the moment you realise you’ve got the wrong guy, I’ll be suing you for wrongful arrest, entering my property without due cause, and the use of unnecessary violence.’
Allowing Tanner to pull him to his feet, handing the now broken lamp to his wife, he said, ‘And you can pay for a new bloody light as well!’
CHAPTER THIRTY SIX
‘COMMENCING THE INTERVIEW of Gary Mitchell of 45, Hambleton Avenue, Salhouse. The time is 11:33 on Saturday, 6th July. In the room we have the suspect’s legal representative, Clive Percival, as well as Detective Inspector Cooper and Detective Inspector Tanner.’
Positioning a blue plastic folder between himself and DI Cooper, Tanner said, ‘Mr Mitchell, do you understand the charges that are being brought against you?’
‘Which are utter bollocks, of course.’
‘Sorry, was that a yes or a no?’
After glancing over at his solicitor, with obvious reluctance he glared back at Tanner and hissed out a venomous, ‘Yes!’
‘And you understand your rights under caution?’
‘Is there any chance we can just get on with it? You’ve already had me locked up here for over two hours.’
‘And you’ll be here a lot longer if you’re unwilling to answer the questions being asked of you.’
‘All right. Yes!’
With the legal formalities over, Tanner sat back in his chair to consider the man before him.
Staring straight back at him, Mitchell eventually said, ‘Was that it? Can I go now?’
‘Not quite yet, no.’
‘Well?’
‘The first thing I’m curious to know, Mr Mitchell, is why you were so reluctant to open the door to me, despite knowing that I was from the police.’
‘Because, as you no doubt already know, I’ve been harassed by you lot before.’