‘So, what have they done to you?’ asked Jake.
By now Jake and Kirsty had stood, Kirsty putting on her jacket, helped by Jake, ready to leave with them.
‘I’ve been posted to Daventry. Told that I’ve got to do my probation again. Only it’s been extended to thirty months and I’ve been fined the equivalent to six months’ wages.’
‘Wow, expensive,’ commented Kirsty.
‘Yes, in more ways than one, Kirsty. It means I’ve got to work six months virtually without pay.’
‘But they’ll only take it in instalments, won’t they?’
‘No doubt I’ll find out soon enough.’ Stephanie gave Kirsty a brief smile.
Frowning, Jake asked, ‘Is that what you wanted?’
‘I don’t know what I wanted, Jake. I was expecting to get thrown into jail for bringing the force down or something worse.’
‘Surely they realised that you did what you did out of fear?’ Kirsty said.
‘If they did, they didn’t mention it to me!’
It was the fear and intimidation of being murdered by Bingham Tyler that kept Stephanie Parker away from Tyler’s rape trial. Then her father packed her off to New Zealand to keep her out of the way. There was the letter Bingham had written to her supposedly apologising for his actions against her which Jake thought was completely bogus. He knew that Tyler had no remorse or empathy for anyone other than himself. And Parker had got away with the whole thing lightly that was for sure.
‘They are notorious for not telling you everything, but it’ll stay on your file forever,’ Jake said, ‘When do you start?’
‘Monday. Doing a week’s induction here to go through the changes to the force.’
Jake and Kirsty nodded and then Jake asked, ‘And what’s your mum going to say, do you think?’
‘I think she’ll be disappointed. In all honesty, I don’t think she wanted me back on the force. She would have preferred it if I’d come back to a more sedentary lifestyle.’
‘She’ll support you though, won’t she?’ enquired Kirsty.
‘Outwardly, yes,’ responded Stephanie. She didn’t sound convinced though.
The group was silent, as they made their way out of the force headquarters and into the rain. They stepped in line as they walked towards their vehicles.
Breaking the silence, Stephanie cautiously asked, ‘What’s happening between you two?’
‘Oh, you know… ’ replied Jake smiling, ‘same old, same old…’
‘You two… ?’ The question hung in the air as Stephanie waggled a finger between the two of them.
‘We’re taking it slowly,’ replied Jake without thinking.
Stephanie smiled. The kind of smile, at least to Jake, that meant she’d probably noticed his attraction to Kirsty. By all accounts, everyone had already made that observation.
The three said their goodbyes in the car park and parted company.
‘Didn’t expect that,’ Jake said to Kirsty, as they watched Stephanie walk away.
‘What didn’t you expect?’
‘That she’d still be in the job.’
‘Really?’ exclaimed Kirsty.
‘No. I thought they’d kick her into the weeds.’
Kirsty looked at Jake. ‘Do you think that low-cut dress had anything to do with it?’
Jake chuckled. ‘That’s a bit cynical, isn’t it?’
‘You know me. Anyway, what about “we’re taking it slowly”?’
‘I’m sorry. I said it without thinking. I didn’t want to get into it with her and you’re right. Let’s set the record straight, so we don’t get this innuendo all the time.’
Jake looked across the car park to see the new DCI striding towards them. As he got closer, he said, ‘Sergeant Jordan, can I see you in my office – now, please?’
Jake looked at Kirsty and shrugged. ‘I’ll see you later,’ she said, and walked off towards her car.
Jake discovered that while Parker’s disciplinary hearing was in progress, DCI Freeman had been having his own disciplinary matters to contend with. Jake followed him into his office. He sat down heavily in the chair behind his desk and rubbed the top of his balding head, looking at the three officers standing before him. He gave them a good hard stare before speaking. Jake took a seat in the office behind Randall, Harte and Stevens.
‘I never believed I’d be doing this over here,’ he drawled in his Mid-American accent. ‘I’ve got three more months to do, and, before I go, I’d like to leave a cohesive team behind me, but all I’m getting is constant friction between you three trying to play one-upmanship. Just put your dicks away and try to get on with the job.’
Randall went to say something, but Freeman raised this hand, ‘I don’t want to hear it, Randall. How long have you been here?’
‘A month, sir.’
‘And in that time, have you made any progress?’
‘No, because I keep coming up against the brick wall that is these two!’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Have you spoken to our traffic colleague?’ He indicated Jake behind them.
‘No, this is a CID matter, not Traffic.’
‘But,’ Freeman said in frustration, ‘he in particular, may have useful information. He was heavily involved.’
Randall turned to look at Jake. He indicated “well” with his hands. He grimaced and turned back to Freeman.
Randall paused a little before saying anything. ‘This ever-present reference about Jim wouldn’t do it like this, or Jim wouldn’t do it like that, and we’ve already done that. It’s really beginning to piss me off.’
‘Harte, what have you got to say for yourself?’
‘I just feel the investigation is going in the wrong direction. We’ve got a signed confession from Bagshaw. We’ve lifted Philpott, although he “lawyered up”, as you would say, and forensic has come up with nothing at the wood, other than those second remains. I don’t know how he worked elsewhere, but it just doesn’t cut the mustard here.’
‘What the hell are you on about?’ Randall rounded on Harte. ‘I invited you onto this investigation as a courtesy. I’m beginning to think that I made a mistake. Just because you worked with Kingsfield in a certain way doesn’t mean to say that I have to work the same way!’
‘No, you just don’t fucking work, do you? You get me and Stevens here to do all the donkey work, while you sit behind your desk on your arse all day. I’d got the measure of you when we arrested Philpott and you never lifted a finger to help.’
‘OK, OK, quieten down the both of you. You’re supposed to be senior officers, not two high school teenagers.’
Randall and Harte turned their attention to Freeman.
‘Both of you, it seems, have a problem working together, so this is what’s going to happen. Harte, you’re going back to Division.’
Harte went to protest but the stare he got from Freeman was enough for him to bite his tongue.
‘You, Randall, need to get off your butt and find our second Jane Doe’s killer, which means doing some foot-work.’ A beat. ‘Have you seen this Lord Fulborough yet?’
Freeman pronounced Fulborough as Fulborrow.
‘No, sir.’
‘Why?’
‘Not really made himself available to us.’
‘And that’s stopped you because?’
‘He’s never been available to talk to. We get the run-around.’
‘Have you been up to the estate?’
Stevens pitched in. ‘Yes, sir, we’ve been once, but he wasn’t on site.’
‘Then you’ll just have to make him available to us.’
‘You can’t just go around arresting the biggest land owner in the county, sir,’ Stevens protested.
‘And why’s that?’
‘We’ve got no evidenc
e he was involved – no probable cause.’
‘What about, what do you say here, helping the police with their enquiries?’
‘We can try, but he’ll bring a lawyer with him.’
‘So be it. Just do it.’
‘What about the other remains?’ Jake pitched in.
Freeman looked at Randall, as if inviting him to speak.
‘I’ve spoken to Dr Kingsfield,’ Randall started, but Stevens interrupted him.
‘I’m sure you have,’ he said, under his breath.
‘Pardon?’ Freeman asked.
‘With respect, sir, but Randall here seems to spend more time at the hospital hitting on Dr Kingsfield, than anything else he does.
‘How much time?’ Jake asked.
‘A lot,’ Stevens replied.
‘They’re legitimate enquiries,’ postured Randall.
‘Really? I wouldn’t go there if I were you,’ exclaimed Harte. Jake smiled. Harte knew.
Freeman gave a sigh. ‘Jesus, it’s like dealing with testosterone-filled teenagers. I’d never have expected this from Her Majesty’s Constabulary.’
‘Oh, this is only the tip of the iceberg,’ said Stevens, trying to lighten the mood.
‘Right, OK. Harte back to Division, you’re off the case. Randall, investigate the job, not Dr Kingsfield, and Stevens… ’
‘Yes, sir?’
‘Just get out of my sight.’
‘Yes, sir.’
He waved them all away, then sat forward, leaning on his desk shaking his head in his hands.
Jake stood as the three of them left, ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’ he enquired.
Freeman looked up from his desk and rubbed his face.
‘How would you like a transfer?’ he asked. ‘You seem to like doing CID work.’
‘Thanks, sir, but no thanks. I’m happy where I am.’
‘So, how come your name is all over the place?’
‘I just got caught up with this twelve months ago, by being Kirsty’s FLO.’
‘You like her. I’ve heard rumours.’
Jake said nothing.
‘And Randall does?’
Jake looked directly at Freeman and in Randall’s defence, he said, ‘Randall needs to get to know the force. He’s new, like you. He needs to get to understand the people, the local force culture. I’m sure you know what I mean.’
‘Yeah, I do, but keep us informed of what’s going on with you.’
Jake nodded and left Freeman to worry about his new DI.
26
In the foyer of Northampton Central Police Station, Jake stood with Randall. He’d asked him to attend to assist with the enquiry, following the rather heated meeting with Freeman the previous day. But Jake was pre-occupied with three things going on in his life. One, the spate of unusual road deaths. Two, Kirsty. And three, the man he was standing next to.
It was obvious to him that the DCI wanted his input on the seemingly never-ending story surrounding Fulborough Wood. Not that it had anything to do with him. He felt that he was bound to get roped in, whether he liked it or not. It was best, he thought, to roll with it and see what happened. But, he didn’t know whether to trust Randall. Yes, he was new to the job and their encounters to-date had all been a bit prickly.
‘What’s this all about?’ he asked.
‘I’m seeing Lord Fulborough,’ Randall said, without looking at Jake. He kept his eyes on the front door.
‘Right, and why do you want me?’
‘You’ve met him, I understand?’
‘Yes, so has Dave Harte. Why not use him? This is his station.’
‘He’s on his rest day, and I needed somebody who’d had dealings with Fulborough before. What’s he like?’
‘He can be an obnoxious bastard, cantankerous.’
‘Let’s hope he’s having a good day then.’
They looked towards the main entrance as the door opened, producing a corridor of white light up to the front desk.
Short in stature and plump through good living, despite only being in his mid-thirties, Lord Barrington Fulborough was already greying and his hairline was receding away from his bushy eyebrows. It made him look older than he was. He was with his lawyer. A tall swarthy-looking European man which, as they stood there, made them look like Little and Large, a nineteen eighties comedy duo.
Fulborough, looked towards Randall and Jordan. Fulborough’s face darkened as he strode up to Jake. ‘What’s the meaning of demanding my appearance here? Don’t you know who I am?’
‘Of course I know who you are! And I understand you are here at the request of Detective Inspector Randall?’ Jake said, pointing to Randall.
‘You have no rights to demand my attendance at a police station,’ Fulborough fumed.
‘We have every right, sir, especially as we’re investigating an apparent murder on your land. Now, if you’ll come with me, we’ll get the matter over with and you can go on your way.’
Jake noted that Fulborough was upset at being called into a police station and the look on his face showed his disapproval. He looked towards his lawyer, who said nothing and simply nodded.
As they walked into the station towards the interview room, Fulborough said, ‘I know nothing as to what has gone on. I was shocked to hear that you had arrested my estate manager.’
‘If he’d have been cooperative instead of charging at us, it wouldn’t have happened, would it?’ Jake commented.
Fulborough made a guttural sound at Jake, like a growl. They entered the small front interview room where he and Harte had interviewed Harry Bagshaw. With all four of them now in the room, it looked overcrowded.
‘Before we start,’ Fulborough began – making it clear to Randall and Jake that he was not used to being ordered around by the local police, ‘I’d just like you to know that I am a personal friend of the Chief Constable and I find it quite outrageous that you have demanded I attend a po-lice station.’ He spat out the last few words.
‘If you had made yourself available when other officers visited your estate, then this situation may not have occurred,’ Jake said.
Fulborough made that guttural sound he’d made to Jake earlier. Randall, had in the meantime sat down opposite him, calmly arranged the papers from the file he had brought in with him.
Randall cleared his throat before speaking. ‘Lord Fulborough, we are making some preliminary enquiries, so if you’d calm down, I’ll explain to you what it’s all about.’
‘You’d had better do so.’
Randall smiled. ‘Can I get you a coffee, tea, cold drink, before we start?’
‘I’ll do without, thank you. The sooner this is over, the better.’
Eventually, silence fell in the room, only to be broken by the solicitor, who demanded that the interview be recorded.
‘Interviews are recorded as a matter of course nowadays, standard procedure.’
‘Really? Well, my client has nothing to say at this point.’
‘You don’t know what I’m going to ask him.’
‘We have an idea. He’s spoken to his estate manager.’
‘I have no doubt that he has,’ Jake said.
Randall glanced at Fulborough, waiting for a reaction. His face gave nothing away.
‘I just hope he passed on all the information and not just that which favoured himself.’
Fulborough harrumphed, the solicitor sighed loudly in a pissed off sort of way.
‘Let’s get on with it then, shall we?’ Randall said. ‘Tell me about Fulborough Wood.’
‘Not a lot to tell really. It’s just a wood, until I got rid of it.’ Fulborough grinned.
‘And why did you do that?’
‘It was becoming… ’ He paused for a moment. ‘… a tourist attraction.’
�
�Oh. How do you work that out?’ Jake asked.
‘Since that body was found, people come to gawp at it, amateur sleuths, trying to find new evidence to crack open your case.’ He pointed at the both of them in turn.
‘Do you not like them doing that then?’
‘Doubt that they’ll be able to now.’ Fulborough again smiled and sat back with his hands locked behind his head.
‘What do you intend to do with it?’
‘I have planning permission to build on it.’
‘Build what?’
‘Garages, probably, to house my classic car collection.’
‘Do you have many?’
‘Enough.’
Randall shuffled through some papers in front of him. ‘Did you know, or were you remotely aware of the fact, that a second body had been found in your wood?’
‘Not until Philpott told me, no.’
‘You have no idea how it got there?’
‘No.’
‘Our investigations so far show that the remains may have been in the ground for up to fifteen years.’
‘Lets me off the hook then.’
‘What hook would that be?’ Jake asked.
‘That I murdered the woman.’
‘I didn’t say that the remains were female.’
Fulborough looked at his solicitor, his face still giving nothing away. ‘Philpott must have told me.’
‘He didn’t know either, which brings me to the question as to how you know.’
Fulborough flushed slightly and moved uncomfortably in his chair.
Finally moving his arms from the supposed superior pose, from behind his head. He placed them on the table in front of him and picked at one of his fingers. A reaction at last, thought Jake.
‘There had been rumours.’
‘About what?’
‘My father.’
‘What sort of rumours?’
‘A long time ago, my father was believed to have had an affair with one of the estate workers.’
‘Go on.’
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