Axe to Grind

by A L Fraine

  “Yeah, we got them,” Dion replied. “We’re looking into seeing if we can trace them.”

  Jon nodded his thanks to him.

  “Other than that,” Sheridan continued, “there’s not much to go on.”

  “Okay, thanks, Sheridan. Right, Nathan, if you’ve finished with the Devlin case for the day, can you help Rachel with the door-to-door and the CCTV? Dion, keep digging. Kate, let’s go and find Seth.”

  Kate nodded.

  They were soon out on the roads again, making their way towards Sutton, and Seth’s flat.

  “Where’s your heart taking you on this one, then?” Jon asked as he wound his way along the roads, between masses of leafy trees and views over the Surrey Downs.

  “Mmm, well, the obvious choice is Seth. From their messages it sounds like Seth did something to piss Harper off, so she gave as good as she got, and annoyed him. That ended up in a fight, and we know the rest. So we know he was unhappy. But would that lead to him killing her in the way that we found her? I’m not at all convinced about that. Her killing was cold and calculating, and I think there’s more to it than just a lover’s tiff.”

  “Fair point, but to play devil’s advocate, it’s also clear that Seth is still involved in criminal activity, right? So how much do we really know about what kind of man he is? Couldn’t he be another one of these double-life killers? A loving boyfriend at home, and a hardened criminal on the streets?”

  “Sure, maybe. But I don’t think it lines up right now. I think there’s something we’re still missing,” Kate replied.

  “I actually agree,” Jon replied. “So, could that missing piece be her father?”

  “An estranged, absent relative? Sounds compelling to me.”

  “Well, hopefully, Seth can answer some questions, and maybe we can rule him out.”

  “Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” Kate replied with a smile.

  Seth’s home was one of countless flats in the Chaucer Gardens area of Sutton, towards the northern end of town. Jon pulled up outside one of the brown bricked, blocky, two-story affairs, and climbed out of the car, taking in the urban environment. Towering over the old, squat blocks that looked like they were well past their best, was a huge blue apartment block that was many stories high, and looked quite new.

  “Do you think that’s something for the people down here to aspire to?” he asked, pointing up at the blue tower.

  “Lofty goals, and all that?”

  “Something like that. So, where is it?”

  “Up there,” Kate replied, pointing to the block beside them

  “Excellent, let’s go,” Jon replied and led Kate over the road. They walked in through a passageway and a door to a set of stairs that led up. Several teenagers sat on the steps and looked up at them with unimpressed expressions.

  “Oi, oi. What do we have here then?” one of them commented.

  “Check out the redhead,” another added.

  “Feisty,” a third added.

  “Afternoon, lads,” Jon said in greeting, grimacing at their comments. “Any of you know Seth Bailey?”

  “And what if we do?” one of them replied. “What’s in it for us?”

  “A sense of civic duty and accomplishment,” Jon replied, his voice even.

  “Yeah, piss off.”

  “Fair enough. Now, do you mind?” Jon replied, motioning that they wanted to get through.

  “And what if we do mind?”

  “Then I’ll arrest you for obstruction,” Jon replied, saying the first thing that came into his head. He couldn’t be bothered messing about with these guys and wanted them out of his way.

  “That’s not a thing,” one of them replied.

  “You’re a pig?” said another.

  A third one snorted, making pig noises.

  “It’s pronounced, Po-lice-off-i-cer,” Jon replied, sounding out the word in bits as if he was talking to a particularly dense individual. “Now come on, move it. Out of the way.”

  “Yeah, alright, don’t get your knickers in a twist,” the first boy answered as he stood and lead his friends past them and outside.

  “I’d like to get in a twist with her knickers,” another said, laughing as he bounced out of the passage. Jon looked back at Kate who rolled her eyes at him.

  Nodding sympathetically, Jon led them up the steps to the balcony and around to Seth’s flat. On reaching the door, Jon went to knock, only to find the door ajar. He frowned and glanced at Kate, who shared his expression. She took half a step back, as Jon reached into his coat and pulled out his baton.

  He pushed the door open with the business end, and it squeaked as it swung in on his hinges. “Hello? Mr Bailey? It’s the police.”

  As the door swung wide, Jon peered up the hallway and spotted a figure sat with his back against the wall.

  Jon’s breath caught in his throat for a moment. He thought he was looking at another dead body, but a second later, the head twisted, and the young man looked over at him. It wasn’t Seth, but whoever he might be, he was bleeding from a cut on his head, sported a cracked lip, and held his torso with his arms.

  “Help…me?”

  “Crap,” Jon cursed, and moved inside, checking his corners and making sure he wasn’t about to be attacked, but the grotty rooms were empty of people. Instead, they looked like they could really do with a spring clean.

  Satisfied no one was hiding in this first part of the flat, he joined Kate who was already crouched beside the young man.

  “Hey, you alright?”

  “What do you think?” the man muttered sarcastically.

  “Yeah, stupid question. What hurts? Do you think you can move?”

  “Everything bloody hurts.”

  “Can we get you to the sofa?” Kate replied.

  The man sighed. “Yeah, thanks, that would be good.”

  Jon glanced at Kate, who smiled back. Between them, they helped him up and guided him to the threadbare seat. The man dropped into it, and visibly relaxed.

  “That’s better,” he said with a sigh.

  “I’ll call an ambulance,” Kate said and moved out of the room.

  Jon watched her go and then turned to the young man. “What's your name?”

  “Tom,” he replied with a gasp and a wince. “Oof, I think they broke a rib.”

  Jon cringed, but he needed answers and he needed them now. “Tom, we’re looking for Seth. Did he do this to you?”

  “Seth? No! He wouldn’t do this.”

  Good, Jon thought. “So, who did?”

  “I don’t know. A couple of guys, they were looking for Seth too.”

  “Oh?” More people were hunting for Seth? What was he mixed up in that would cause this to happen to his friend? “And you don’t know who they were?”

  “No idea. Sorry. You’re the police, right?”

  “Yeah, DCI Pilgrim.”

  “Pilgrim? Funny name.”

  Jon shrugged. “If you say so. Anyway, like I said, we’re looking for Seth. Do you know where he might be? It’s urgent.”

  “I’ll tell you what I told them, I don’t know. I’ve got no idea,” Tom replied as Kate walked back into the room.

  “Paramedics are on their way,” she said.

  Jon nodded. “This is Tom. He doesn’t know who beat him up, but says they were after Seth,” Jon replied, filling her in on what she’d missed, “and he doesn’t know where Seth is.”

  Kate nodded and looked over at Seth quizzically. “You’ve got no idea? He didn’t say where he was going?” Kate pressed.

  “No,” Tom replied. “He did tell me not to stay here, though.”

  Jon gave him a look. “He warned you?”

  “Said it was dangerous. Wish I’d listened now.”

  I bet, Jon thought. “So, he knew someone was after him?”

  “I guess,” Tom replied. “Don’t know why, though.”

  “Did it having anything to do with Harper?” Jon asked.

  “No idea.”

 
“Did you see the argument they had?”

  Tom laughed and then doubled over in pain as he brought his humour under control. “Oh, shit. That hurt.”

  “Help’s on its way,” Kate reassured him.

  “So, you did hear an argument?”

  “Which one?”

  Jon raised an eyebrow. By the sounds of things, they were either a naturally volatile couple, or things were not great between them. Still, he figured he’d best clarify his question. “Yesterday’s argument.”

  “Yeah, I heard it. I don’t get involved in their shit. Stayed in my room. They’re always arguing, and then making up. Nothing new.”

  “Was there anything different about this one?”

  “I don’t know. I wasn’t listening. Had my headphones on. When I came out, Harper was gone, and Seth was packing a bag. That’s when he told me to get out of here.”

  Jon wondered about that. If that was when Seth got spooked, what had been the reason? Was it something Harper said, or was he planning something?

  “Okay, so he might not have told you where he was going,” Jon pressed, “but do you know anywhere he might go? Any friends of his or anything?”

  Tom shrugged and then winced with pain. “No. I’ve met a couple of his mates, but I don’t know where they live.”

  “Any names?”

  “None that would help you.”

  “Try us,” Kate suggested.

  “Skeech and Ginger?” Tom replied.

  Jon pulled a face and looked up at Kate, who rolled her eyes again.

  “Right, wonderful. Thanks for that.”

  “I do have Seth’s phone number though, would that help?”

  Jon stared at Tom for a moment and blinked. “It might.”

  “Here, pass me my phone, it’s on the table,” Tom said and proceeded to hunt through his handset, wincing as he moved until he handed it to Jon.

  Jon copied it down and replaced the phone on the coffee table. Moments later, the ambulance rolled into the estate, and the paramedics came and tended to Tom’s wounds, before choosing to take him to St Helier’s Hospital, not far from them.

  Standing on the balcony outside the flat, they waited for the SOCO crew to turn up and take control of the scene.

  “Another twist in the tale,” Jon said.

  “Looks that way,” Kate replied. “So, Seth was in trouble with someone. Do you think this was related to Harper maybe?”

  “It might have contributed to the fight if he was stressed over something.”

  “We need to find out who these guys are that attacked Tom.”

  Jon nodded as he looked out over the estate, and eyed a tall pole with a closed-circuit camera on top of it that was pointed in their direction. “I might have an idea about that.”

  9

  “Try again,” Jon suggested as he sat beside Kate at her desk.

  “Sure,” she answered, and dialled Seth’s number once more. Jon could hear the phone ring on the other end of the line as Kate held the handset to her ear. But as before, the call went through to voicemail and Kate hung up.

  They’d already left a message for him, urging him to get in touch with them as soon as possible. Jon had no idea if that would work, but it was worth a try, but by the same token, it wasn’t worth leaving a bunch of messages either.

  Running his hand through his mop-like hair, Jon sighed. “Alright, get that trace out on his mobile, let’s see if we can triangulate it and get lucky. Keep trying to call him though.”

  “Will do.” Kate nodded.

  “So, let’s think this through. They had an argument about something. We don’t know what, but whatever it was, it was enough to make Seth want to leave the house and warn his flatmate to get out too.”

  “He must have found something out,” Kate replied. “Something serious, by the looks of it. Not only did he warn Tom, but that warning was justified. Whoever came calling chose to use Tom to send Seth a message.”

  “Huh, yeah, you’re right. Just like the person who killed Harper was sending a message.”

  “You think the way they killed Harper was a message for Seth?”

  “I’d not thought about it that way round before, but it could be,” Jon mused, wondering if they’d made the wrong assumptions. Whatever the case, one thing was clear, they didn’t have enough information to go on, and things seemed to be getting more complicated by the minute.

  “Okay, let’s shelve that for now,” John continued. “So, what would make Seth disappear like that?” Jon asked. “It must have been something he found out during the argument with Harper. Did she threaten him? Did she have friends?”

  “Maybe he hit her, and then she called some mates in?” Kate suggested.

  “Were those mates the ones who beat up Tom?” Jon turned that idea over in his head and thought about her departure to her mums. “Had she finally had enough of him and decided to try and end things? That might be why she went to her mother’s, too.”

  Kate nodded. “It all fits. Harper ends things with Seth, he gets violent with her, so she runs home and calls some mates in. Her friends then beat up Tom, while Seth catches up with Harper and kills her.”

  “Yeah, but this is all speculation,” Jon replied with a grumble. “We need proof, we need more information.”

  He thought they’d found Seth, back there at the flats. He’d hoped that things would begin to get wrapped up in a neat little package, but he should have known better. That never happened. Instead, the mystery deepened, and they were left with more questions than answers.

  “Sir?” Dion called out.

  “What’s up?”

  “I’ve put in the request for the security camera footage. Hopefully, it won’t take too long to come through.”

  “Thanks,” Jon replied with a nod to the DC. “Anything on Harper’s dad?”

  “I’ve been looking into that,” Nathan cut in. “Rachel’s got the door to door stuff handled, so I looked into Peter Richards.”

  “Fair enough. Did you find anything?”

  “Not too much, but I found out he lives in Scotland now. I tried calling him, using the number from Harper’s phone, but I’ve not had any luck so far.”

  “Alright, how about we get some local bobbies to pop over and knock on his door?”

  “I was thinking the same thing, actually,” Nathan replied. “I’ve already got the details of his local station.”

  “Excellent, Fox,” Jon replied, using the nickname everyone else was using for him.

  Nathan pulled a face. “Has Scully been talking to you?”

  “Who’s…?”

  Nathan nodded to Kate, and suddenly Jon understood the dynamic of the names, although he didn’t fully understand why. Was Nathan a conspiracy theorist? He didn’t feel like he could ask him that, though, and chose to leave it for the time being.

  Over the next few hours, Jon helped out where he could with the case, but ended up spending much of his time in his office, entering details into the case file as the evidence began to build.

  Slowly, the afternoon turned into evening, and Jon was beginning to think about heading home for the night. As he closed one of the reports, Damon appeared and knocked on his door.

  “Evening, Pilgrim,” he said with a smile. “How’s your first day been?”

  “Hectic,” he replied. “This new case has been leading us on a merry chase.”

  Damon nodded. “I’ve been keeping track. That first killing has all the hallmarks of a serial killer, but that doesn’t really fit with your main suspect.”

  “No, it does not,” Jon replied, with a sigh, sitting back in his chair. “I’d expect a more frenzied murder scene if it was a crime of passion.”

  “So, maybe you’ve not found your man yet.”

  “Maybe not, unless that’s what he wants us to think.”

  “Round and round we go,” Damon replied with a lopsided smile.

  “Yeah. Reminds me of the good old days. You and me on the Nottingham CID?”
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br />   Damon nodded. “Those were good times. Seems like an age ago now though.”

  “Yeah, it does.”

  “So, what are you up to, tonight? Want to stop by the pub later?”

  “Could do. I need to finish up a few things first, though.”

  “I’m not in a rush,” Damon replied. “I can always find work to do.”

  “If you can’t, I can find you something,” Kate said as she walked up to his office door carrying two mugs. She smiled up at Damon. “We have more than enough work to go around.”

  Damon moved out of Kate’s way, and she walked in, handing one of the mugs to Jon.

  “Tea?” Kate asked.

  “Oh, lovely. Thank you.”

  “I didn’t know how you took it, so it’s just got milk in it,” she said.

  “That’ll do nicely. I take it as it comes. I’ve had all sorts over the years.”

  “Me too,” she replied and turned to Damon as she sipped her drink. “Come to check up on him?”

  “Just wanted to see how he was getting on,” Damon answered. “But it looks like he has everything in hand. I’ll see you later for that drink, okay?”

  Jon nodded. “You can count on it.”

  “Good man,” Damon replied and walked off.

  “He’s a different man, around you,” Kate remarked once Damon was out of earshot. “He usually seems so uptight.”

  Jon nodded. “We have a history, so that’s probably got something to do with it.”

  Kate nodded and sat on the sofa on the right-hand side of the room. “Aaah, what a day,” she commented.

  “Make yourself comfortable.”

  “I will,” she replied, and stretched out, reminding Jon of a cat. He smirked to himself.

  “Are you done for the day?”

  “Just taking a break,” she replied. “We’re well past the end of our shift.”

  “Shifts? What are those?” Jon joked.

  “Exactly,” she answered, wagging her finger at him.

  “So how do you think I did, today? How would you rank my performance?”

  “Oh, certainly in my top ten of awesome police officers.”