The Other Killer

by Noelle Holten

  ‘Excuse me, ma’am but I have …’

  ‘Two seconds, Maggie. I’d just like to finish this conversation if I can.’ She glared for a moment before returning to Bethany. ‘Care to expand on that?’

  ‘Most, if not all, the residents are substance misusers. It seems to be the place the council sends anyone who flags up as homeless.’

  ‘But the landlord surely can be taken at his word?’

  ‘Well, he never actually confirmed a date when Adrian left. He had heard that Harrison had been released from prison and said he went around to collect the rent owed. When he got no replies to his visits, he left a note saying he is giving 24 hours’ notice and then would be entering the premises. When he got no response to the final warning, he went in. The place was vacant. The landlord claims he then chucked out everything that was left behind.’

  ‘Meaning perhaps Harrison may well be who we should have been focusing on all along. I thought he had a rock-solid alibi when Raven confessed. How was that missed?’ DI Rutherford looked at Maggie.

  ‘This is what I was trying to tell you. Adrian did have an alibi and it wasn’t missed. Seems he spent a lot more time with the Thompson woman who claimed she was with him, than at the flat he shared with Raven. Followed her around like a lost puppy, according to everyone. That was one of the reasons it seemed likely that Raven committed the offences in the flat. No disruptions if his flatmate was never around.’ Maggie’s expression hardened. ‘But I just spoke to an anonymous caller who said that Adrian and Sasha are still in the area – they never left. We don’t know if they still associate anymore but I think it’s fair to say that this could also call into question the original statement given to the police.’

  DI Rutherford circled Adrian’s name on the whiteboard. ‘We’re moving Harrison from a person of interest status to our primary suspect. We need to locate him. Speak to anyone who knows him … again! Find this Thompson woman too. If they’re not together anymore, she may shed some new light on the investigation. Bethany, do a trace on what type of vehicle he drives and flag it with the ANPR, please. We’re also going to have to revisit everything we had in terms of Bill Raven, except this time, home in on Harrison. Let’s see what we can find out from Raven. Maggie, Nathan, push him harder but be subtle. He may see it in the news at a later date but maintain the façade that we want his help rather than we’re interrogating him.’

  DI Rutherford noticed a distant look on Maggie’s face and knew she was miles away, combing back through the evidence. She’d worked long enough with Maggie to recognize her habits. She left her to it. She had more important things to do, like explain to the DCI why they needed to revisit the original case file once more and point the finger at someone who they were all adamant had nothing to do with the case. The review commission were going to have a field day with this.

  DI Rutherford needed a strong cup of coffee before she picked up the phone and made the call. Maybe an email would be better? She knew she’d have to speak to DCI Hastings at some point and she’d rather take the verbal beating now.

  There was a time when her boss was a lot less stressed about things. It wasn’t even that he was getting pressure from the higher ups. He just didn’t seem to have his heart in being a DCI anymore and would find any excuse to get a complaint against him. Something was definitely going on but she wouldn’t be the one to bite. If he wanted a way out or a demotion, she refused to have that on her conscience.

  She took a deep breath and prepared for the onslaught of expletives that she knew would be coming her way.

  ‘Hastings, here.’

  ‘Hello, sir – it’s DI Abigail Rutherford. I just wanted to update you on the murder cases we’re investigating.’ She relayed the information to her boss and was surprised at how calm he was about the situation. There were a few swear words, but ultimately, he thanked her and left her to get on with it.

  She was worried now. There must be something going on in the background that she wasn’t aware of. She’d have to worry about that some another time because there was a killer out there, a solid suspect and time wasn’t on their side.

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR

  Maggie hung up the phone; there was only one more number left to call from the information the anonymous man had given her. It was not looking good. She picked up the receiver and dialled.

  ‘Yeah. Who’s this?’

  ‘Hi. My name is DC Maggie Jamieson from Stafford Police Station—’

  ‘He ain’t done shit, OK. What are you bothering me for?’

  ‘The reason I’m calling is because I was told you may be able to tell me where I can find or how I can contact Sasha Thompson?’

  ‘What do you want her for?’ The woman hesitated before speaking again. ‘I don’t know where she is, OK?’

  ‘Are you sure? I was told you definitely had her number.’

  ‘I don’t know who fed you that bullshit, but like I said, I have no clue so stop bothering me.’ The woman hung up before Maggie could get anything more out of her.

  ‘Fuck.’ There was something in her voice that made Maggie pause. Bethany walked over.

  ‘What’s up?’

  ‘Well no one has Sasha’s contact details. None of the numbers we have are sharing anything with us. Do you think you can get any details on their addresses? Maybe if we paid them a visit …’

  ‘I can try. But if they’re burners, it’s unlikely we’ll get anything of use. I might have some news though.’ There was a spark in Bethany’s eyes.

  ‘Don’t keep me hanging.’

  ‘I was going through the CCTV from the prison. Raven’s visitors to be exact. You know how he said his brother visited?’ Bethany began walking back to her desk and motioned for Maggie to come over. Sitting down, she pulled up a screenshot from the prison.

  ‘What am I looking at?’ All Maggie could see was the back of a head and a hand, partially covered by a long sleeve.

  Bethany pointed at the hand. ‘Look there. See that tattoo?’

  Maggie leaned in to get a closer look at the screen. ‘Yeah. Does that mean something?’

  Bethany reduced the picture and pulled up Adrian Harrison’s details and scrolled down to where information on body markings are recorded. ‘Take a look at this …’

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE

  Maggie had woken up feeling very positive about the day ahead. She wondered how long that feeling would last. Before everyone had left work last night, DI Rutherford asked them all to be back for 8 a.m. She’d had a quick conversation with Kate when she had got home, and they both seemed to be on the same page regarding the possible suspect. Moving Adrian up from a person of interest to prime suspect status lit a fire in Maggie, but what pleased her more was that it should ensure that Raven wouldn’t get bailed. It could even further implicate him in the crimes. Although she often hated the media for sensationalizing things, she had to admit that it might have paid off on this occasion.

  She picked her phone up from the nightstand and looked at the time. Shit. A quick shower and coffee would wake her up, and the walk to the bus stop would too.

  Thirty minutes later, she opened the door and zipped up her duffel coat as the cold air hit her face and goose bumps began to form. A car alarm went off in the distance as Maggie walked briskly to the bus stop. She had to be careful as the path was slippery from the frost. Rubbing her hands together, she was grateful she didn’t have to wait too long. The bus got her to the train station with only minutes to spare.

  When she arrived at Stafford station, she texted Nathan to see if he wanted a coffee from Starbucks. Within seconds, her mobile pinged and she opened the message:

  Hell yeah

  She’d get Bethany and DI Rutherford one too or else face the wrath of their evil stares. The darkness had subsided, and the sun was making an appearance. Maggie smiled as she strode to the police station. Exercise was having a positive impact on her physical and mental well-being.

  When she arrived in the office, everyone w
as already there, and she started to hand out the coffees.

  ‘What’s this for?’ DI Rutherford eyed her suspiciously.

  ‘I think, thank you is the actual response you’re looking for.’ Maggie laughed.

  DI Rutherford raised an eyebrow. ‘So, we’re just waiting for Dr Moloney then.’

  ‘Oh shit. I forgot to get Kate one.’ Maggie rubbed her forehead.

  ‘That’s OK,’ Bethany called out. ‘I’m not much of a coffee drinker, she can have mine.’

  Kate arrived at the office. Maggie smiled and gave her a wave, holding out the Americano that Bethany had kindly offered up.

  ‘Morning, everyone. Ah, thanks, Maggie. Exactly what I need.’ There were a few laughs in the room, but Kate seemed none the wiser.

  ‘Now that everyone is here, let’s make our way to the incident room and run through things.’ DI Rutherford walked out of the room and the rest of the team followed.

  Taking their seats, they listened as DI Rutherford went over the details of Maggie’s interview with Craig, the man from Burley Woods and the field teams’ update on Steven’s son, the witness at Blackwood Estate. Neither of these men were considered a person of interest anymore. Their names were crossed off the board.

  ‘After some digging following a few false leads from that anonymous caller Maggie spoke to, Bethany has now located what we believe is Adrian Harrison’s current address.’ Maggie silently clapped to herself, and Bethany couldn’t hide her embarrassment. She wasn’t one for taking credit, even when it was due.

  ‘We’re now just waiting on the warrant, which should hopefully come through in the next hour or so. When that happens, I want Maggie and Nathan to execute it. Bethany, keep digging and see if you can work your magic and locate Sasha Thompson. With any luck, she may well be at his property too, but we can’t take any chances. Kate – I’d like to personally thank you so far for the profiles you’ve provided. They’ve really focused the team on avenues that we might not have considered initially. I’d like for you to stay back here, and cross-reference any links to Bill Raven.’

  Kate nodded.

  ‘Do we know when Raven is next due to appear in court? I take it we’ll be handing over whatever we uncover?’ Maggie directed her question to DI Rutherford.

  ‘Nathan is collating all the details and once we finalize the arrest of Harrison, it will be ready to go. If it has any relevance, the CPS and the courts will take the appropriate action.’

  ‘Playing devil’s advocate here, and I don’t mean to be difficult, but why are you all so sure that it’s Harrison who is the accomplice? The reason I ask is that from all the information I have read about him and shared with you all, he comes across as more of a follower than a leader. I’m not sure he’d be the main instigator.’ Kate finished speaking and everyone turned to look at her.

  ‘What do you mean? Your profile fits Harrison, doesn’t it?’ Maggie went through her notes and pulled out the information that Kate had previously sent the team.

  ‘It does … and it doesn’t. I was going over things again last night and while I believe that Adrian Harrison has played some part in the murders, I’m not sure I’d have him down as my main suspect. In fact, the more I think about it, the woman is the stronger and more dominant of this duo. I’m beginning to wonder whether she’s pulling the strings with instructions from Raven.’ There was a look of confusion around the room.

  ‘But Sasha never visited Raven in prison. We’ve established that Harrison did. Do you think he was the messenger between the two?’ DI Rutherford frowned.

  ‘Yes. I initially thought exactly as you all did. Harrison was the accomplice. But on closer examination, he doesn’t seem to have the brains to pull this off. These murders were organized. They took planning. Look at Harrison’s history: he sells drugs and gets caught, so he isn’t very good at covering his tracks. He isn’t arrogant, has a low IQ; there are just too many variables that don’t add up. Have you spoken to Sasha yet?’

  Maggie shook her head. ‘She was spoken to when Lorraine was found, along with all of Lorraine’s associates. But we didn’t find anything at the time, so she was dismissed as a person of interest. We haven’t been able to locate her since either.’

  ‘I thought Raven owns a house. Didn’t I read somewhere that his grandmother left him a property? Or did he sell it?’ Kate queried.

  ‘No, he definitely still has it, but field officers went around there initially and nothing unusual was reported. It’s a small bungalow in Doxley. I also went around there. It didn’t look lived in from what I could see through the windows. There are no immediate neighbours in the vicinity and those I did speak with, said they haven’t noticed any unusual activity.’ Maggie looked around the room to see if any of her colleagues had anything further to add.

  Kate played with her hair for a moment, then tugged her ear. ‘Do we know if he owns or lived in any other properties? One that perhaps has a cellar?’

  ‘Other properties? We haven’t come across any others. Why? What are you thinking?’ Maggie noticed the smile on Kate’s face and her heart began to race.

  ‘I’m thinking you had better search past records. The house may be the key.’

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX

  As the briefing ended and they were just about to collect the warrant, a call came in and the team were informed that the body of a male had been found hanging in a flat. Someone wanting drugs had stumbled across the body and rather than sticking around, they called 999 and made themselves scarce. Maggie raced to the pool car and waited for Nathan. She hit the steering wheel repeatedly. Damn! Damn! Damn!

  Maggie made sure she would be the one driving to the scene. She wanted to be there before too many other people attended. The building was a beacon on the dilapidated street, surrounded by prefab houses, patches of yellow grass strewn with broken bottles and animal excrement. The area was well known for drug and gang activity.

  When they arrived, Maggie stood in the doorway and mentally processed the image before her. The door had been open. Grimy windows and peeling wallpaper showed just how much the landlord and tenant cared about the upkeep. Maggie could hear a faucet dripping and the neighbour’s TV could be heard through the paper-thin walls.

  The body dangled from a metal beam that must have been placed there to stabilize the walls and floor above. He’d been right under their noses all along. Although they had yet to make a formal ID, Maggie was sure she was staring at Adrian Harrison. They would need to find out how long he had been renting this property, from whom and why the landlord never contacted them when the appeals for information had gone out.

  She looked at Nathan, who seemed transfixed on the body and gave him a nudge. ‘What’s going through that head of yours?’

  ‘Looks like a clear-cut suicide to me.’ He shrugged.

  ‘Look around the room, Nathan. What else do you see?’ She threw her hands in the air, surprised he wasn’t seeing the obvious.

  Maggie watched as Nathan’s eyes took in the room. Then the moment of recognition. ‘The couch has been moved. A struggle maybe? The magazines have been knocked off that side table too.’

  The forensic pathologist arrived at that precise moment and Maggie stopped her before she reached the body. ‘Hey Fiona. Look, we haven’t been near the body but something about this doesn’t feel right.’

  Fiona looked around the room. ‘Are you thinking murder? He’ll tell us whether this is staged or not.’ She pointed at the figure hanging.

  The pathologist went to the body and began her examination. They helped her cut Harrison down and lay him on a sheet of plastic.

  ‘Looks like you might be right, Maggie,’ Fiona said. ‘Look.’

  They crouched down next to the body and waited for the pathologist to explain. Eyes wide open, Harrison stared blankly at the ceiling.

  Fiona pointed at the victim’s neck. ‘Along with the rope marks, can you see the additional bruising? My guess is, someone tried to strangle him first and then finished
him off by hanging him. There seems to be some bruising on the face, might have been a punch?’

  ‘Pretty sloppy for this killer then, wouldn’t you say?’ Maggie looked at the discolouration.

  ‘The victim may have been in a fight previously, we don’t know. We’ll have to wait for the time of death.’

  ‘Thanks, Fiona.’ Maggie left her to continue with processing the rest of the scene. ‘You heard her, boss. Not a suicide. Do you think the killer was interrupted?’

  ‘You know I hate when you call me that. Could be the witness that found him scared off our killer. We’d better round up the troops.’

  She radioed back to the office and gave them an update. Preliminary checks would be undertaken while Maggie and Nathan finished up at the scene.

  Maggie couldn’t believe this. Their prime suspect was dead.

  Was it because of what he did or what he knows?

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN

  DI Rutherford paced her office. At the rate she was going, she wouldn’t have any carpet left by the end of the day. The pathologist had confirmed Adrian Harrison had been drugged and strangled prior to being strung up in his flat. A near fatal dose of heroin had been administered, more than likely to make the kill easier for the murderer.

  Forensics from the empty cargo bin had also come in and showed the towel was covered in pigs’ blood. The other blood droplets found were also animal. Raven had led them on a wild goose chase. No drug paraphernalia was found in the container and when the landlord of Harrison’s old flat was pushed, he advised that he had received a threatening letter from an unknown source to warn him not to cooperate with the police. There was no J-man after all.

  The team would be disappointed. They had been hoping to wrap up the ongoing investigation, as everything had been pointing to Harrison as their killer. The question of whether or not Bill Raven was involved in any of the murders was still open to debate, although given the new information, it was looking more and more likely. DI Rutherford wasn’t looking forward to breaking the news to the team and still trying to maintain their morale. She reached down and picked up the glass of water from her table. Her mouth was dry. The cold water against the back of her throat made her body tremble. Gathering the details from pathology, she left her office and headed out into the open-plan section.