He breathed deeply to calm himself. That had been close. Careless. He lifted himself up and brushed off the damp grass, weeds and most of the mud. He righted the rucksack on his back and continued walking to his favourite viewing spot.
The lights of the house glowed orange and pale blue, through the darkening mist. He crouched low, taking the bag off his back and pulling from it his binoculars, and a HD digital recorder. It would now be a question of endurance. Him versus the drizzle.
She was putting the kids to bed, reading them a bed-time story. He caught fleeting glimpses of her, as she tucked them up. She dimmed the lights in their rooms and drew the curtains. He'd wait for her to reappear in one of the downstairs rooms, most likely the kitchen-diner.
He closed his eyes for a moment, imagining what he might do to her, given the chance. Violent, filthy things involving the kitchen island and the floor. Things he would never actually get to do. This could only play-out one way.
He was disappointed that she wasn't in her underwear, like last time. She was wearing a light, cotton dress, her hair still in a ponytail after a busy day with the children. School holidays. She stood, rubbing her back and stretching. He had to breathe deep again.
He shifted his weight, as one elbow was losing all feeling. He stretched the arm, the bones clicking from the damp, and replaced the binoculars to his face. She'd disappeared again.
What he wasn't expecting, was what happened next. Another set of headlights approaching through the mist. This time, from the opposite direction. The light came on in the shower-room.
The intruder-car pulled into the driveway, the automatic security lights beaming down. It wasn't the husband, and he'd brought wine. The watcher didn't know who this man was. He only knew that he hated him.
Sarah finished her shower, unaware of the watcher outside in the developing darkness. It had been a long day. Three children, under the age of eight, home for the holidays. As much as she adored them, everything ached, from her feet to her neck.
A hot power-shower and pine-scented gel helped relax her. She put on a white, silk robe and padded barefoot to the door.
Her brother stood there pretending to be asleep. She giggled and slapped him lightly on the arm. He gave her a bear-hug, lifting her bodily off the floor and carrying her inside.
She smiled the widest she had all evening, and watched as he opened one of her sleek, kitchen drawers and took out a bottle-opener.
“What sort of a day have you had?” he asked, taking two large glasses from an overhead cupboard.
“Tiring. You?” She leaned back against the counter-top.
“Busy. I didn't feel like going back to the flat just yet.” He poured liberally from the bottle of merlot.
“You and Christine still not back together, then?”
“She says she won't have me back, this time.” He sighed, joining his sister in leaning against the counter-top. “?She will, though. She can't resist me.” He grinned from ear-to-ear.
“You need to prioritise her a little more – less going out drinking with your mates.”
“Yeah, yeah. You said.” He winked at his sister, who would have given him another friendly slap, except that her three-year-old boy had appeared in the kitchen doorway, rubbing his eyes and dragging his teddy. He called for her in a voice that betrayed how close he was to crying. She scooped him up onto her hip, and returned to leaning against the kitchen units. The little one snuggled into her neck, rapidly falling back to sleep.
“You eaten?” she asked her brother.
He shook his head.
“What would you like?”
“One of your amazing mixed-pepper and ham omelettes.”
“You cuddle this little bundle back to bed, and I'll rustle you one up.”
Outside, the watcher had seen enough. He seethed with a mixture of excitement and rage. He envied this man, whoever he was. He rammed his binoculars back into the rucksack, slung it over his back, and headed into the mist.
22
Dewi found Yvonne getting herself a drink from the water-dispenser, a faraway look in her eyes.
“Ma'am, I've found the name of a female ex-employee of Williams and West. Someone who left the company under a cloud.”?
“Really? Who? When? Why?”
“Seven years ago, she'd alleged sexual harassment against...”
“Darryl Williams?” Yvonne straightened up, eyes gleaming.
“You guessed it.”
“And he wasn't prosecuted for it?”
“No. It went to a tribunal, but the panel decided there was no case to answer. They did, however, issue a warning to Williams as regards future conduct. Conduct that could be misread.”?
“We should find her and talk to her.”
“I'll look into it, ma'am.”
23
His insides writhed, with an explosive mix of excitement and rage. He left the bed-and-breakfast, on the corner of the harbour, having hardly touched his food.
He paused, looking across the water, in the direction of the house. He couldn't see it from where he was. A hill and monument obscured the view.
He turned on his heel, having already decided to walk to the university campus: less risk of his car being picked up on CCTV. At his pace, it took a mere twenty minutes for him to access the campus. He went the back route, via the hospital car park. He took the path that wended around the outside, finally getting to the back of the Arts Centre. He took a side alley into the square, and into the front of the centre.
“Darjeeling.”
The waitress looked up sharply. There was an arrogance to the order, but his face was passive.
“Coming right up,” she answered casually. She took her time making the tea. “If you want milk, it's over there.”? She tossed the words over her shoulder.
“Sugar?” He barked the question. He didn't want sugar, but how dare she turn her back on him.
“Next to the milk.” Again, she said the words without looking at him, sealing her fate.
He hung around, out of sight, until she finished her shift. Then followed her as she made her way back to her hall of residence. Now he knew where she lived, he walked back down Penglais Hill. He'd be back. Later.
“Ma'am, can I have a word?” Callum asked, as he ran down the corridor.
“Can it wait, Callum? I was just on my way to see the DCI.”
“I think you'll want to hear this: Aber have just been in touch. There's been another rape, just off the university campus. The girl was dragged into college-owned woods, just across road from her halls of residence. MO fits with our offender.”?
“Did he smell of soap?”
“Err...” Callum checked his notes. “He didn't smell of sweat or strong odours. Just smelled clean, apparently.”?
“I see.”
“The description of what he was wearing would fit with our previous rapes.”
“Who was the victim?”
“A law student. Works part-time at the cafe in the arts centre, apparently.”
“Get a car, Callum. Also, could you find Dewi and Tasha and ask them to come with us? We'll speak to Aber CID and take a look at the crime scene.”?
“Will do, ma'am.”
“We're dealing with a very mobile perp,” Tasha mused aloud, gazing out over the countryside, as the car sped along Cemmaes Road.
“How can he afford all this time for stalking?” Dewi shook his head.
“There's a family in danger.” Yvonne rubbed her face. “When we get back, I want to go through the client list Paul Baker gave us. I want to remind myself of who is losing money, in the Aberystwyth area. We'll need to put double the protection on their homes.”?
“Will the DCI agree that?” Dewi looked doubtful.
“He'll need the go-ahead from higher up. It'll require using more uniformed officers from Aber.” Yvonne pulled a face. “?We were ready to put protection on the homes of all Williams and West clients who are losing money. That's what I wanted to talk to the DCI about. That would h
ave taken more persuasion. This way we're potentially narrowing down to one house.”
They entered the campus via the turn-off from Penglais Hill, stopping at the security barrier. Yvonne de-camped and spoke to the guard, showing her ID. He told her where they could park and confirmed with her that Aber officers had already taken the CCTV footage from the cameras.
They exited the main campus on foot, the way they'd come in. Dodging the heavy traffic on the main road, they crossed to the other side and the gateway to Penglais Woods, via Botany Gardens. Lines of police tape still hung here and there, from the ongoing investigation. They followed the common-approach path which had been marked out for investigators.
“So, the girl was on her usual jog route.” Yvonne looked around her, and took a couple of pictures with her mobile.
“That's right.” Callum caught her up. “She works in the arts centre cafe, on the days when she's not studying. She does the run most nights, around dusk - prior to it being fully dark.”?
“She's a brave girl.” As they reached the downward pathway through the wood, the DI began to picture it with the light fading. She shivered.
“It's no more than a few minutes worth of jogging, from here.” Dewi pointed in the direction they were headed. “?She'd be in Aber town centre and then the sea front, in no more than ten or fifteen minutes.
“So, he was waiting for her and knew her routine.” Tasha rubbed the back of her neck.
“He must have watched her, prior to the attack.” Yvonne nodded. “But if jogging was part of her evening routine, he wouldn't have needed to watch her for long.”?
The woodland path was around six feet wide, with trees at regular intervals. Sparsely lit, it was an ideal place for the attack, when compared to any other part of the student's route.
“You think he's watching a family in the area, too?” Tasha turned to face the DI.
“I know he is. I believe the family is most likely to be one known to Williams and West. The father will have been making heavy losses on his investments.”?
“How long is the interval between the rapes and the family deaths?” Tasha peered at the taped-off square of ground, where the attack took place.
“Not long. We're talking weeks. Maybe only a couple of weeks. I'll talk to the DCI today about night-time protection.”? Yvonne crouched close to the flattened grass. “She'd have been terrified.”
“She put up a fight, apparently. None of her punches connected properly, unfortunately,” Callum said, joining them. “?His punch knocked the victim out long enough for him to bring her under his control.”
The DI shivered again and turned to continue down the hill, Tasha walking alongside her.
“Tasha, why would he be raping these girls and yet murdering the families? Is it because he cannot have the married women?”?
“This is a complex perp. He feels murderous rage and lust and has the urge to both rape and kill. He would combine the acts, if he thought he could get away with it. By separating them, he makes it less likely he'll be caught. He's protecting himself. This perp has a lot to lose. His fear of the loss of his reputation is the only thing that would have stopped him killing this girl.”
“Do you think he just picks someone at random to rape, when he's watching families?”
“Well, it's possible the girls anger him in some way. Callum said the victim works part-time in the arts centre. He may have seen her there. Perhaps she didn't serve him in the way he wanted, or maybe he likes choosing his victims in cafes and pubs. Remember the Montgomery victim?”?
“Tina Pugh. Yes, working in a cafe in the town.”
“He watches the families, maybe staying in a hotel or sleeping in his car, he goes to cafes for his meals. He's feeling worked up, having spied on the females in their homes. Perhaps he takes out his sexual frustration on the girls who serve him his meals.”? Tasha shrugged. “It's a theory.”
“Brilliant, Tasha. It makes sense. We have to get a move on. We have very little time until he claims his next family.”?
Yvonne poured over the list, given to her by Paul Baker.
“Who are we looking at?” Dewi asked, plopping some papers on the desk.
“I think we can rule out Dolfor and Hendomen. That just leaves Machynlleth and a client named Neil Thomas.”?
“How far is Machynlleth from Aberystwyth?”
“Well, looking on Google, about seventeen miles. It's the Aber side of Mach, and so I'm estimating about fifteen miles. Fifteen miles from the attack in Aber to the Thomas household.”?
“It's got to be that one.” Dewi's forehead furrowed. “We'd better get people on it.”
“Here's what I want you to do, Dewi. Task one of the team to do overnight surveillance. I'd say seven pm until seven am should cover it. They'll need to take at least one uniform PC with them. I'll get permission from the DCI for the operation.”?
“I'm on it, ma'am.”
“Set it up now. I don't think Llewellyn will refuse. Then we'll get back together and go and see Karen Jones, the ex-employee of Williams and West. Let's find out what it was that Darryl Williams was alleged to have done.”?
She caught Chris Llewellyn leaving his office.
“Sir, can I have a word?”
“Yvonne, can it wait I've...”
“I'm sorry, it's urgent.”?
He could see the earnest look in her eyes. “Very well, how can I help?”
“I need to put overnight protection on a house just outside of Machynlleth. It will need to be discreet. I don't think it would be right to worry the family: in case we've got it wrong.”?
“You'd better give me some detail, and quick.” The DCI put his hands on his hips.
Yvonne filled him in about the Aber rape and her theory.
“Tasha agree with you on this?”
The DI raised an eyebrow. “Yes.”
Okay. I'll agree it, but it'll have to also be agreed with Aber CID. They may help out with personnel.”
“Thank you, sir.” Yvonne gave a sigh of relief.
“How long do you think you'll need the protection detail for?”
“Weeks rather than months, sir.”
“Right.”
“There's something else. I hope to interview an ex-employee of my main suspect today or tomorrow, at the latest. Alleged sexual harassment which was never prosecuted.”?
“I see.”
“If it confirms my suspicions, I'll be asking your permission to put a tail on him.”
“Consider that permission granted.” The DCI smiled at her. “Go get him.”
Yvonne smiled back, before turning on her heel and running down the corridor.
She found Dewi, about to make a phone call.
“Get a tail on Darryl Williams, too.” She winked at her DS.
“Really? I'm on it.” Dewi put his thumbs up.
FIFTEEN
Karen Jones was now a hospital administrator, working for Shrewsbury and Telford Trust. Yvonne and Dewi caught up with her in Shrewsbury Hospital. She'd asked a colleague to cover for her whilst she spoke with the detectives.
They were granted a side-room off of one of the wards, and sat down in the chairs usually earmarked for patients and visitors. The bed next to them was empty.
“Karen, thank you for agreeing to speak to us.” The DI took out her note pad. “We'd like to talk to you about your time working for Williams and West. I understand you alleged sexual harassment against the CEO, Darryl Williams.”?
“Alleged? He did harass me.” Her cheeks flushed. “I've filled out a bit since then,” she said, referring to her ample size. “?Just because he got off with it, doesn't mean he didn't do it. That man has friends in high places.” She screwed her face up, an obvious indication of her disgust.
“How long had you worked for the company?”
“I was in my late teens when I started there. Let's see now...”? She tilted her head to one side, looking downwards for a moment. Then: “About six-and-a-half years.”
“And when, would you say, the harassment began?”
“Oh, right off the bat.”
“As soon as you began working there?” Yvonne wrote busily in her book.
“Definitely within the first six months.” Karen peered at the DI's pad, as though checking everything was being noted correctly. “?He's harassed someone else, hasn't he? I knew it. I knew he'd do it again. I told them that.”
“Told who?”
“The tribunal.”
“Mrs Jones, he hasn't been accused of anything. We are investigating a separate matter, and he is just one of the people we are interested in. We are looking into all of their backgrounds. We are not at liberty to tell you what we are investigating.”?
“But he's done something...” Karen's eyes shone with triumph.
Yvonne put her pen to her lips, unsure of what to make of her.
“What did Mr Williams do to you, Mrs Jones?” Dewi asked his first question of the witness.
“He kept telling me his wife didn't understand him. Arranged for me to go with him to conferences, to get time alone with me.”?
“I understand you were his PA. Did that not mean you were supposed to go to conferences?” Yvonne's eyes narrowed.
“Some of them, yes. But not all the ones he asked me to.”
“Anything else, Mrs Jones?”
“He'd come up behind me while I was typing. Hand me papers over my shoulder, to brush against my chest.”?
“Did you tell him you were uncomfortable with his invasion of your personal space?”
“No.”
“How did you let him know you didn't like it?”
“I'd move away. Move back, like.”
“Did he say anything to you?”
“He'd tell me that he liked my dress, or my shoes.”
“I see...” Yvonne nodded.
“He kissed me at one of those conferences and ran his hands over my bottom and my chest.” Karen said, rapidly. “?He tried to force me into his room.”
The DI stiffened. “Uninvited?”
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