by M A Comley
“Yes, they’re just going over it now. They’ll fill you in when you return, if that’s okay?”
“Of course. You carry on. Speak soon.” Sally hung up and turned to Jack. “We need to be cautious going in, partner. We’ll do the softly, softly approach in case anyone wants to kick off.”
“Oh, joy, sounds like a bundle of laughs ahead of us.”
“We can handle it. We’re experts, right?”
Jack chortled. “If you say so.”
They drove for another fifteen minutes then pulled up outside the squat. Sally rang the station again. “Hi, Joanna, we’re just about to go inside. Put the backup team on standby. You know the rest. Do you have anything for me?”
“I was just going to ring you, boss. I have an opening in a rehab centre the other side of Norwich. They’re prepared to keep the place open for a week. That’s all I have at present. Nothing showing up on the uncle as yet. I’ll get back to it. Stay safe, both of you.”
“We’ve every intention of doing that, Joanna. Will ring you before the ten minutes are up, hopefully.”
Jack and Sally exited the car and stepped into the litter-strewn front garden of the terraced house. There were no curtains at the window, just a blanket hanging down one side of each frame.
“I’m not looking forward to this,” Jack mumbled once he rang the bell.
“Just keep focused on what we’re here to do and ignore anything else you might see inside.”
The door opened, and a sleepy-looking young woman stood behind the door, her hand raised to shield her eyes from the sun’s glare.
“Beautiful morning.” Sally pulled out her ID and suspended it in front of the girl’s face. “Is Jamie Gillan in?”
Jack shoved his foot in the gap in case the girl slammed the door shut.
“Nah, he moved on ages ago.”
“He did? How long?”
Chewing on a piece of gum, the girl replied, “About five weeks or so. Why? What’s he done?”
Sally had an inkling the girl was lying. “Nothing. We just need a chat with him about his parents.”
The girl hesitated then disappeared inside the house, leaving the door open. Sally and Jack glanced at each other and shrugged.
“Is that an invitation for us to enter?”
Jack smiled. “You know what, boss? I think it is. I’ll go first.”
“My hero,” Sally jested, following her partner through the hallway, the walls of which were full of obscene graffiti.
Jack stopped at the first door he came to and opened it. Sticking his head inside the room, he called out, “Jamie Gillan? Police. We’d like to speak with you.” He gagged when he closed the door. “There must be ten people in there, sleeping bags everywhere. I can’t even begin to describe the stench.”
“Appalling… we need to check every room, Jack. I’ll ring Joanna and extend our time to twenty minutes.”
As she quickly placed the call, Jack moved up the hallway and barged into the next room, his huge frame filling the doorway. He shook his head when he left the room. “Same as the first room. A few groans from them, but nothing else. Do you think he’ll admit to being here, using these tactics?”
“Shame we never thought to get a picture of him from his sister. What do you suggest?”
He tapped his nose and winked. “Leave it to me.” They walked through the house and discovered the only other room downstairs was a kitchen filled with takeaway containers, empty cans and plastic milk cartons. The stench made Sally heave.
They decided to retrace their steps and see what was going on upstairs. Jack took the lead once more and thumped on the first door they came to. “I’ve got a package for Jamie Gillan. Is he here?”
“Not here. Try the next room, mate,” a muffled voice replied from beneath the covers.
Sally gave her partner the thumbs-up. He went through the same routine in the next room, where a young man shot up and ran to the door. He was deathly pale, wearing a filthy pair of orange boxer shorts and nothing else. Sally had seen more fat on a lab rat. She was sickened by his appearance.
“I’m Jamie. I’ve been expecting you.”
“Get some clothes on,” Jack ordered harshly.
The young man ran a hand through his long, dirty-blonde hair and looked at Jack as if he’d just dropped out of the sky. “Who the fuck are you to tell me what to do, man? Give me the package and do one.”
Jack tapped at the youngster’s forehead. “Anybody in there? Wake up and smell the roses, mate. We’re the police. We want to have a chat with you, outside, away from this stench, preferably.”
“Police? I ain’t done nothing wrong.”
“Not saying you have. Get some trousers on, or if you’re that incapable of dressing yourself, I’ll do it for you.”
“Wait a sec.” He closed the door and joined them again a few seconds later. He eyed them both warily. “Come on then, I ain’t got all day.” He marched down the stairs in his bare feet.
Jack and Sally met up with him just inside the front door.
“I ain’t going out there. It’s too cold. Say what you’ve got to say and get lost.”
“First of all, it’s a beautiful June day out there, and secondly, cut the shitty attitude.” Sally eyed him with disdain, her sympathy for the young man dwindling faster than a receding tide.
“Stop ordering me around, lady, and tell me what you want.”
Jack took a step forward, but Sally tugged on his arm. “He’s not worth it, Jack. I’m Detective Inspector Parker, and this is my partner, Detective Sergeant Blackman. We’ve just paid your sister a visit. She gave us your address; she’s concerned about you.”
He focused on a patch of wall to the side of Sally, refusing to make eye contact with her. “Why? I’m all right by myself. Don’t need my older sister bossing me about. I live my life how I want to live it.”
“In a shithole like this, drugged out of your mind most of the time. What kind of existence is that, Jamie?”
“My kind. Who are you to stand there and judge me? Just tell me what you want and leave me in peace.”
“Okay, we’re here concerning your mother.
His face screwed up. “What about her? Molly said they fished her body out of the river,” he stated as if he didn’t give two hoots about her. Sally knew differently, though.
“How do you feel about her being found?”
He shrugged. “How do you expect me to feel?”
“I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking.”
“Did he put her there?”
“Who? Your father?”
“Who the hell do you think I’m talking about?”
“Honestly, no. I don’t think your father did it.”
He looked at her, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. “Is that right?”
“After speaking with him yesterday, my gut feeling is that he didn’t have anything to do with it. We’re trying our best to find the evidence to prove his innocence. We can’t do that without the help of the people who were involved.”
He ran a hand over the patchy beard growing on his gaunt face. “Not sure what I can do. With no body, I got the impression that she might have run off, what with her just disappearing like that. I didn’t have a clue.” Tears glistened in his eyes, and his voice softened when he referred to his mother. Then he said something that caused Sally to gasp. “The day she left, she took my heart with her.”
“I’m sorry. She didn’t run off; she was murdered. Look, I believe all your father is guilty of is loving you too much. He’s devastated that you’ve refused to have any contact with him over the years. In my experience, at times like this, families usually dig deep into their resolve and fight for each other. Fight to find out the truth of what went on. If, as Molly says, your parents had a good life together and never argued, then that’s all the more reason for you to believe your father and to stand alongside him in his hour of need, not to ditch him and make the situation a thousand times worse.”
; He pushed away from the wall and stepped forward, but Sally stood firm. “Hey, lady, I don’t need no lecture from the likes of you. You don’t know what goes on up here.” He pointed to his temple then his heart. “Or in here. How do you know it’s not guilt I’m dealing with? Don’t look at me like that. I don’t mean I killed her. Guilt for treating my father so badly when I should have supported him, but it was too late for that.”
Sally laid a hand on his arm. “It’s never too late to start again. To repair the damage. Your father would love nothing more, I promise you, Jamie.”
“It’s too late for me. He, no they, wouldn’t want a drug-taking wastrel around them now. They’re better off without me. I’m hooked on the stuff with no way of getting off it. I never know from one day to the next if I’ll survive another day. No one is more surprised when I wake up in the morning, having made it through yet another drug-induced sleep.”
“If you really want to make amends with Molly and your father, I can help with that.”
“How?”
“I have a bed lined up for you in a drug rehabilitation centre. If you’re willing to get clean, that is.”
He scratched the side of his head with his dirty fingernails. “Let me think about it. Wait, why would you want to help me?”
“For your father’s sake. If we get him off the charges and out of prison, he’ll want to be reunited with his children. He’s missed you. He made a point of telling me that when I visited him. Don’t give up on your dad, Jamie.”
“I’ll think about it. If you get him off, when will he be set free?”
“How long is that piece of proverbial string? Let’s just say my team and I are working hard to make it happen. Hopefully, it won’t be too long before he breathes fresher air again.” She handed him a business card. “Ring me once you’ve thought things over. Don’t waste your life away, Jamie. Don’t waste the opportunity you’ve been given to better yourself. Not everyone is offered the opportunity to clean up their act like you’ve been given. If you want it enough, it’s there for you. Just ring me once you’ve decided.”
“Thanks… I mean it. I’ve got a lot of thinking to do about everything before I agree to taking that place in rehab, but thanks for giving me the chance.”
“You’re welcome. We’ll go now. One last thing… do me a favour.”
“What’s that?”
“Give your sister a call. She’s worried about you. Plus, she could do with your help decorating her new place.”
“Damn, I’ve let her down again. I’ll give her a ring today.”
Sally patted his arm and smiled. “That’s all I can ask of you, for now. Think everything through seriously, Jamie. I hope you find the answers you’re seeking soon. By the way, your mother’s funeral is tomorrow morning. I’m sure Molly would love you to be by her side during the service.”
“I’m not sure I’m ready for that. I’ll discuss it with Molly.”
“It’s at eleven. If you need a lift, give me a call.” Sally smiled. Then she opened the front door and walked out onto the street, with Jack close behind her. She heard Jamie thank them quietly before he closed the front door.
“Think he’ll go down the rehab route?” Jack asked when they reached the car.
“Who knows? I’m not sure he knows the answer to that himself yet. Molly was right. He does seem to be a very confused young man. He’s only got to get his hands on some of the good stuff, and all his doubts will drift away. He’ll be suckered into thinking that the drugs are the only answer to his questions. Sad, really. Glad I’ve never had the inclination to try the bloody stuff.” She shuddered and lowered herself into the passenger seat, keen to let Jack drive back to the station.
“Never seen the point in taking drugs. Saw a video once on one of those science programmes, showing how many brain cells drugs kill off. That was enough for me. Doesn’t appeal to me in the slightest,” Jack agreed.
“I better ring Joanna to call off the backup team.” Before she had a chance to place the call, her mobile rang. She smiled when she saw Simon’s name displayed on the screen. “I’ll take this outside. Can you ring Joanna for me?”
“Sure.”
“Hello, you. How are things at the house? Is it a goer?”
“Sally, I have some bad news. It’s your dad.”
“Dad? What the hell is wrong with him?”
“I’ve just got here. I was searching the outside of the property, trying to find him, thought he hadn’t turned up. Anyway, I went around the back of the house and found him lying on the ground, unconscious.”
“My God, is he all right? Did he pass out, have a heart attack, what?”
“Don’t go getting worked up. By the looks of things, he took a fall from the scaffolding. I know he mentioned going up to check the roof.”
“What? He fell off the roof? Is that possible? Was there anyone else on site?”
“No, he was here alone. I called the ambulance, and they’re on their way. I can’t bring him round. I really don’t want to move him in case he’s damaged his spine or neck.”
“Jesus, now you’re scaring me. Does it look as though he’s badly injured? Are his limbs facing the wrong direction?”
“No, not that I can tell. I’m used to dealing with dead bodies. I haven’t got a clue how to assess a live patient. I’ll keep trying to rouse him. I just thought you should know right away.”
“Okay, what’s the address?”
“It’s Five, Orchard Road, Thetford.”
“Gosh, we’re miles away. It’ll take us at least thirty minutes to get there.”
“The ambulance should be here any minute. Let me ring you back with their prognosis, okay?”
“Thanks, Simon. Look after him for me.”
“I will.” Simon disconnected the phone.
Dazed, Sally opened the passenger door and slid into her seat. “I don’t believe it.”
“Whoa! What’s wrong? You look as though you’ve seen a ghost, Sal.”
“It’s my dad. Simon thinks he’s fallen from the scaffolding. He found him unconscious at the house they’re interested in buying.”
“Crap. Want me to take you there?”
She shook her head. “There’s no point. The ambulance is on its way. Let them deal with the situation. Simon’s going to ring me back. Damn, why did the old fool go up there without anyone else being present?”
Jack placed a hand on her knee. “Let’s see what the paramedics say first and where they take him. Shall I head back to the station?”
“Yes. God, I hope Dad is going to be all right.” An image of her Dad’s funeral flashed through her mind, along with the devastation that would cause to her and her mother. She shook the maudlin pictures from her mind. Be strong, Dad. You’ll be in safe hands soon.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The drive back to the station seemed endless as Sally waited to hear more news from Simon. He finally called her as she and Jack pulled into the station’s car park. “Simon, how is he?”
“Right, first of all, I apologise for the delay. Your dad has regained consciousness. Sally, it’s good and bad news.”
“Just tell me!” she snapped.
“Sorry. Okay, I read the situation wrong when I arrived. Your dad didn’t fall off the scaffolding.”
“Christ, that’s a relief. Was it his heart? Has he had a heart attack?”
“No, nothing like that. Sal, he was attacked!”
“What? How? By whom?”
“He’s not sure. His head is still muzzy. He said he walked through the back gate to find two men waiting there. When he challenged them, they started laying into him. He doesn’t have a clue why. One of them struck him with a metal scaffolding pole and knocked him out.”
“Why? Is there anything to steal at the property? Were they robbing the place, Simon?”
“No, the place is a shell. Not unless they were intending to steal the windows or something along those lines.”
“Why would anyone want t
o do that? Is he going to hospital?”
“Yes, they’re just loading him into the ambulance now. He’s going to West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds to get checked out. They think he has concussion.”
“Blimey, that’s miles away. Okay, I’ll see if I can take the rest of the day off and come down there.”
“You don’t have to do that. I’ve rung the lab, told them not to expect me back today. I’ll stay with him while the docs check him out and bring him home when he’s discharged. The paramedics thought it’s likely he’d be released today.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. It’s all organised. Can you ring your mum, tell her what’s happened?”
“I’ll do it now. What would I do without you, Simon? You’re a rock. I can’t thank you enough.”
“Nonsense, that’s what fiancés are for. You’d do the same for me.”
“I know I would, but you’re an extremely busy man.”
“Hey, my patients aren’t going anywhere. They’re not likely to walk out if I don’t turn up for an op.”
Sally chuckled. “You have a valid point. Okay, keep me informed, if you will. Send Dad my love. I love you.”
“I will. Love you, too. Speak later.”
Sally wanted to compose herself properly before she contemplated ringing her mother, so she decided to call her from her office instead of using her mobile. Coffee in hand, she settled behind her desk and picked up the phone. “Hi, Mum, how are you?”
“Hello, love. I’m all right, running around like a lunatic, making the most of my time alone with your father out and about. Have you heard how the house visit is going? All very exciting, isn’t it? He was chuffed to bits when he left here this morning. Had a real spring in his step, he did.”
Sally closed her eyes and listened to her mother chuntering on enthusiastically. “Mum, can you take a breath and sit down please?”
“I’m sitting. This sounds serious, love. Anything wrong?”
“It’s Dad. He’s had an accident.”
“What? In the car? He said there was something not quite right with the car. I told him to take it to the garage the other day. Is he all right?”