Deadly Encounter

by M A Comley

  His face creased up then straightened again quickly. “I love it when you smile.”

  “You’re so sweet. You make me smile. I’ve never had true happiness in my life before. I’m grateful to you for that, Simon.”

  “How grateful?” he said, a twinkle sparkling in his eye.

  They stood up and took their wine up to bed with them.

  ~ ~ ~

  Sally was grinning broadly when she got out of her car the following morning in the station’s car park.

  “Well, it’s good to see someone happy.” Looking miserable, Jack joined her on the walk to the entrance.

  “Hi, Jack. How did your evening go with Donna? Did you guys come to any conclusion?”

  “Yes and no. Why does life have to be so damn hard at times? Why is it always the decisions we make as adults that steer our lives in a certain direction?”

  Sally shrugged. “Life is what it is, full of decisions. Come on, don’t keep me in suspense. What have you decided?”

  He pushed open the heavy door for her and followed her into the reception area before he responded. His chin fell onto his chest.

  Sally’s stomach constricted. “Bloody hell, Jack, get on with it.”

  His head rose again and there was a broad smile pulling his lips apart.

  “You bloody wind-up merchant. You’re staying with us?”

  “I am. I couldn’t leave you in the lurch. You need my expertise.”

  “Don’t flatter yourself, love, and don’t give me such bullshit. It was the thought of sitting in a control room with headphones slapped on your ears all day that swayed your decision, right?”

  “You’re too smart for your own good sometimes, Inspector.”

  She dug him in the ribs. “Glad to have you back, Jack. Crap, now I have to inform Green that you’re turning down the position. You certainly know how to make my life difficult, don’t you?”

  “Oops, sorry, boss. Do you want me to tell him instead?”

  They ascended the stairs. “No, I’ll take the brunt of his anger. Bloody hell, the things I do for you guys, just to keep you all happy. Maybe someone will do the same for me one day.”

  “Get outta here. You know you’re appreciated by the team and that we’ve always got your back.”

  Sally smiled. “I know. Right, I’ll leave you to tell the rest of them while I ring Green from my office. I need a coffee first. That’s your cue to say you’ll buy me one.”

  “Oh, right. Sorry, of course I will. It’s the least I can do with a possible onslaught coming your way.”

  Sally wandered into her office, glanced out the window at the open landscape surrounding the station, then settled herself into her chair behind her desk.

  Jack entered the room, placed two cups of coffee in front of her, and winked. “Thought a double dose would help.”

  “Creep.” Jack closed the door, and Sally inhaled a large breath, preparing herself as she dialled Green’s direct line. “Hello, sir, it’s Sally Parker.”

  “Good morning, Inspector. Any news for me?”

  “I’m ringing up about Jack Blackman… umm…”

  “Get on with it, Inspector. It’s not like you to be slow in coming forward. What’s he decided?”

  Sally chewed her lip for a second. “That he wants to remain with the team, sir. I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry? Why? I’m delighted that my little plan worked.”

  “You mean you offered him a lesser post intentionally?”

  “Of course. How many officers do you know who are willing to take a substantial pay cut?” He laughed.

  Sally joined in. “Well played, sir. I’m relieved that he’ll be staying with us. Enjoy your day.”

  “You, too, Inspector. Don’t forget to update me on the case when something significant comes to light.”

  “I’ll do that, sir.” Sally hung up and expelled a large breath. After dealing with the important post on her desk, she left the office to re-join her team. “Okay, where are we now? I take it Jack has shared his news with you all?” Sally glanced around the group, and she received either a firm nod or a smile of affirmation from each of them. “My theory is that he wanted to put himself in the limelight so decided to throw his rattle out of the pram.”

  Jack’s face was a picture when the rest of the team laughed raucously. “I did not.” He pouted, crossing his arms defiantly.

  Sally smiled, happy and relieved that he would be alongside her on their new venture. “Right. Jack and I will be going out to visit the daughter, Molly Gillan, this morning. I’d like you all to continue digging through the files in our absence.”

  “Are we looking for anything in particular, boss?” Joanna asked.

  Sally felt a guilty pang for ditching her as a partner so soon. “I need you to focus on the statements for me, Joanna. Also, can you check that everyone’s address is current? Jack and I will work our way through them. Oh, and could you also try and find Dr. Mountford for me?”

  “Of course.” Joanna nodded and smiled broadly. Sally couldn’t help but wonder if the smile was one of relief.

  “With respect, boss, we’ll be going over what we did yesterday. Is there anything else you need us to do, other than twiddle our thumbs?” Jordan asked quietly, as if voicing his opinion would get him into trouble.

  “Hmm… this is all still a learning curve until all the pieces start to slot together. I think we’ll spend a few days going over and over what we’ve been dealt. Okay, what if we look at trying to crack two cold-cases at the same time? After all, we have forty of them to go through, right?”

  Jordan nodded. “I think that’s a good idea, boss. Any particular one?”

  “I’ll leave that to you, Jordan. Why don’t we leave Joanna to deal with the Gillan case, while you and Stuart sort through the files for another one. Nothing too taxing, though.”

  “Great. We’ll get on it right away.”

  “Let me know which one you decide on when we return. I don’t want you to start any leg work on it until I’ve cast my eyes over the case first, all right?”

  “Of course. Thanks, boss.” The enthusiastic DC crossed the room and began removing the files from the archive boxes.

  “Are you ready, Jack?”

  “Yep. Ready to rock and roll.”

  Sally and Jack left the station and drove for twenty minutes to Molly’s address. Joanna had called the young woman the previous day to set up a possible rendezvous.

  Molly was in her early twenties, very slim, and had long wavy brown hair.

  Sally held out her ID for the young woman to see and introduced herself and Jack. Molly stepped aside and invited them into the hallway of her small terraced house.

  “Come through. Sorry, I’m in the middle of decorating. I only moved in a few weeks ago. It seems to be never-ending at present. How can I help, Inspector?”

  “You’re aware that we’re reinvestigating your father’s case.”

  “Yes. My grandmother told me yesterday, and I’m thrilled. Overjoyed, to be truthful with you. I’ve fought so hard to get his case heard again. I’ve always known he was innocent. My mother’s body showing up last week has only proved that.”

  “Well, I can’t say for definite that we will be able to prove his innocence yet. It depends what evidence we uncover. What we do know is that the original investigating officer wasn’t as thorough in his duties as he should have been. My team and I highlighted several discrepancies in another case we solved a few months back. We’ve been given the task of starting this case from scratch, but to do that, we need all the witnesses and people involved, like you and the other members of your family, to go over the events surrounding your mother’s disappearance. I truly understand how uncomfortable this will be for you, but if you can be open and honest with us, that’s all we can ask.”

  “Of course. Although you are aware that I was only eight at the time.”

  “Yes, we’re aware of that. Nevertheless, you strike me as an astute young lady, Molly.”<
br />
  “Thank you. I had a wonderful relationship with both of my parents during my childhood, up until the age of eight, I should say. Then my whole world imploded. My mother vanished, and my father was put in prison within a few days. If it hadn’t been for my grandparents stepping up to the plate, Jamie and I would have been shoved into the care system. I’ll always be grateful to my grandparents for raising us.”

  “Not every grandparent would think of putting their life on hold in such circumstances. They seemed a very loving couple when we met them. Casting your mind back to the time your mother went missing, can you go over what happened that day?”

  “It’s imprinted in my mind. Dad had put us to bed that night around eight. Mum was on a late shift at work. I hated it when she had to fill in for holidays et cetera. Dad did his best, but his cooking wasn’t up to scratch. Anyway, when we came down the next morning, we found Dad curled up on the sofa. He’d been sitting up all night, waiting for Mum to come home. He was a mess. I could tell he’d been crying. He gathered us together and told us that the police might be around for a few days. They were trying to help find Mum as she was missing.

  “I was confused, so I climbed onto his lap and wrapped my arms around his neck, the way I always did when I needed him to explain something to me.” Her eyes welled up, and she swallowed noisily. “I’ve missed out on so many cuddles over the years, not having him around.”

  “It must have been hard for you and your brother, confusing, too.”

  “It was. I don’t think Jamie has ever recovered from that night. He was too young to understand, thought that Mum had run out on us, and then for Dad to be carted off to prison like that—he just thought our parents had deserted him. I did my best to try and reassure him over the years, but it’s been pointless. He’s such a lost soul now. He finds solace in the drugs he takes… I know I shouldn’t tell you that, but it’s the truth. I lost my brother the day my mother went missing. My once-happy family was destroyed that day. Not once have I ever thought my dad guilty of killing Mum. They loved each other too much. He worshipped her. Finding her body last week filled me with mixed emotions. Predominantly, my heart went out to my dad, for all the years he has suffered in that dreadful place. I was relieved that they’d finally found my mother. At least I can lay her to rest now, but that just leaves so many unanswered questions. Who would go out of their way to kill such a beautiful person? Why?”

  “Well, that’s where we come in. Hopefully, we’ll have the answers to all your questions soon and be able to get your father out of prison and reunited with you and your brother.”

  “I hope so. I’ve visited him for years, and over the last couple of years, I’ve seen him deteriorate so much. I hate seeing the fight dwindle in his eyes. He doesn’t belong in there—never has, Inspector. I truly can’t believe he has lasted this long. I know I wouldn’t have been able to if that had happened to me.”

  “I got the same impression when I visited him yesterday. Maybe it would be different if he didn’t have you and your brother to come out to. He spoke of Jamie fondly. Is there no way of getting your brother to go and visit him?”

  “No, Jamie’s very confused. He has been for years. I try my best to be there for him, but the second I bring Dad into the conversation, he clams up and makes an excuse to leave. He promised me that he would help decorate this place. I even offered him my spare room, rent free, and he had agreed to move in, but all that changed when Mum’s remains were identified. I met up with him in a café last week. I found it impossible to read exactly what he was going through. It was as if all the pain and anguish he felt as a five-year-old came flooding back. He’s running scared. Scared of opening up, accepting that Dad is innocent, regretting the way he’s treated our father over the years. I’m doing my best to talk him round, but he’s becoming more and more reliant on those damn drugs, which is hampering my efforts.”

  “What about rehab? Is he under the doctor?”

  “Rehab is for those who have the funds to send their loved ones to those places. I haven’t got any spare money after buying this place. The mortgage is going to cripple me as it is. Buying this was my attempt at helping him out of his stupor. But I fear I might have failed. Maybe he’s beyond saving after all these years. I don’t know.” She threw her arms up in despair. “As for the doctor, he’s worse than useless. All he did was sit him down and tell him what a fool he was being, wasting his life being reliant on the drugs to see him through. Hardly what my brother wanted, or needed, to hear.”

  “Maybe you should seek another doctor’s advice in that case. He obviously needs professional help. Can I ask when he started taking the drugs?”

  “In his teens. I think he smoked his first joint when he was sixteen and got hooked straight away. No matter what I’ve said over the years, I’ve never been able to convince him what he’s doing is wrong. He snapped at me once, told me that it eases his pain, and he was concerned about what would happen if he stopped taking them. Like I’ve said already, he’s confused and a lost soul.”

  “Very sad. Would you like me to see what I can do about enrolling him in rehab? I can’t guarantee that I’ll find him a place, but if I did, do you think he’d be willing to go?”

  “Honestly? I’m not sure. He says he would. However, I think he’s just saying that to appease me. When it comes to the crunch, I think he would bolt, and I’d never hear from him again. I thought if he helped me get this place up to scratch, it would give him a purpose in life. As soon as I got the keys, he went into his shell.”

  “Do you have any other relatives who can help you reach out to him? Anyone he admired as a child? An aunt or uncle maybe? A teacher he was fond of at school or a football coach? Anyone along those lines?”

  “No, I can’t think of anyone. Hang on…” She placed her head in her hands as she thought then looked up with a pained expression. “Somewhere in my distant memory, I think I remember Dad had a brother. I’m not getting a clear picture of him and can’t for the life of me remember his name.”

  “Not to worry, we can look into that at our end or ask your father the next time we see him. Anyone else?”

  “I don’t think so. We were quite a close-knit family when we were growing up, so I only remember both sets of grandparents visiting us when we were little.”

  “Don’t worry, we’ll find your uncle if he’s still around. Can I ask for the address of the squat where your brother is staying?”

  Molly stood and walked over to a notebook on the table. She jotted down the address and handed it to Sally. In return, Sally gave the young woman one of her business cards. “Thanks. Ring me if you need to chat about the case. I’ll try and keep you up-to-date as we progress. Thank you for seeing us today. Will you be visiting your father soon?”

  “Mum’s funeral is tomorrow. I’m not sure if Dad is going to be there or not. The governor is still debating it.”

  “Well, maybe our visit to see your father will help sway the governor’s decision. What time is the funeral and where? We’d like to pay our respects.”

  “At All Saints Church, just down the road, at eleven. You don’t have to be there. You have enough to do as it is.”

  “I know. We’d like to attend, all the same. Is your brother going?” Sally asked as they walked towards the front door.

  “He doesn’t know about it. I don’t have the courage to go to the squat by myself. I rang him last week, told him about Mum before he saw it on the news, but I haven’t heard from him since. To be honest, I don’t even know if my brother is still alive, Inspector.”

  Seeing how upset Molly was, Sally rubbed her upper arm. “Stay strong. We’ll shoot over there now. If he’s there, we’ll bring him tomorrow, kicking and screaming if we have to,” she said, trying to lighten the mood.

  Molly smiled. “Now that I’d pay money to see. Send him my love and tell him I miss him and that there is a room waiting for him here if he ever cleans up his act.”

  “I’ll look into the rehab
ilitation side of things when I get back to the station, too. It was lovely meeting you. I hope we can get your father out of prison soon.”

  “I hope so, too.” Molly gently closed the door behind them.

  “Next stop the squat, I take it,” Jack said as they climbed back in the car.

  “Wait, would you drive, Jack? I want to have a chat with Joanna, get things in place before we turn up at Jamie’s, just in case.”

  “Sure. Although, I think you’ll be wasting your time by the sounds of things.”

  “Maybe, maybe not. We’ll see how he’s taken the news when we get there.”

  They exchanged sides, and Jack rearranged the driver’s seat to suit his long legs while Sally rang the station. “Joanna, we’ve just seen Molly Gillan. She’s given us the address of a squat where her brother is staying. Do me a favour and run the address through the system.” Sally gave her the address and waited.

  “Boss, the place was raided last year. A large amount of drugs were found on the premises, and several druggies were banged up. Nothing since then, although the house is still on the radar, kept under surveillance regularly.”

  “Excellent. Hopefully, we won’t get any trouble when we arrive. I’ll ring before we go in, and you can monitor the situation. If you don’t hear from me again within ten minutes, send a backup team to join us, okay?”

  “I’ll organise a team to be on standby, boss.”

  “A couple more things before you go, Joanna. I promised Molly that we would look into trying to enrol her brother into drug rehab. I don’t have a clue how such things work. Can you look into the criteria needed for someone to join up to one of these places? Also, Molly mentioned the only other living relative, apart from her grandparents, she thought she had was an uncle, her father’s brother. I don’t recall seeing him mentioned in the file. Can you delve into that for me? I’d like to question him if he’s still around. Maybe he has an inkling about what happened to Anne back then.”

  “I’ll get onto all that now, boss, and get back to you soon.”

  “You’re a star. How are Jordan and Stuart getting on? Have they decided what case to tackle yet?”