Driving Dead

by Stephen G Collier

  ‘OK then, just a bit of info because somebody is bound to ask.’

  Jake sat back in the chair, waiting for an explanation.

  ‘Years ago, some big pharma companies were developing numerous new drugs for a lot of applications, in science and in medicine. It was discovered that chemical markers could be included in the manufacture of a particular chemical, so if, in the future, there was some argument about whose drug it was and, more importantly, what chemicals were manufactured to produce the new drug and where they came from, they would be able to find out from the marker on the molecule.’

  ‘A bit like an author copyrighting their work?’

  Kirsty nodded.

  ‘So would whoever manufactured this chemical have known that it was marked?’

  ‘Not necessarily, no.’

  ‘But they’d have a pretty good idea?’

  ‘Depends how far up the food chain they are in the company. So, what are we going to do?’

  ‘I think we need to go and talk to Dr Nicholls,’ she said, sitting back in the chair and taking a sip of coffee.

  ‘But won’t that give the game away?’

  ‘She probably knows that we’re on to her company now anyway, if she’s got any sense.’

  Kirsty thought for a moment. ‘I think I probably added to that suspicion when I asked her why her company was not on the list.’

  ‘I can’t believe that she is involved though. It must be someone else in the company.’

  ‘I hope so, Jake. I do hope so.’

  ‘We need to speak to Randall. I suppose I ought to ring him now,’ Jake put his coffee down and fumbled around for his phone. Pressing the speed dial for Randall, he waited for an answer.

  ‘Parker’s awake.’

  ‘When?’

  ‘About half an hour ago.’

  ‘How is she?’

  ‘Tired and in pain. Her mother’s with her.’

  ‘Did Parker say anything?’

  ‘She wanted to, but we were interrupted.’

  ‘When will she be ready for interview?’

  ‘Couple of days, I suppose.’

  ‘Can’t really wait that long if we’re going to catch your killer. What about tomorrow or later today?’

  ‘You can try, but the doctor may object.’

  ‘OK, we’ll see about that. Anything else?’

  ‘Yeah, Kirsty’s had a hit on the blood sample we’ve taken from Parker. Got an idea as to where some of the chemicals originated from.’

  ‘Really?’ Randall paused. ‘Come and see me when you get back and we’ll sort something out.’

  ‘Search warrant might be good.’

  ‘OK,’ and he terminated the call.

  ‘Bugger!’ exclaimed Jake. ‘Why did I have to open my big mouth? He’ll be wanting to take the credit now, I don’t doubt,’ he mumbled, as he picked up his hi-vis, putting it on. He hesitated, then said, ‘Erm… do you… well…?’

  ‘What, Jake?’

  ‘I was wondering whether you’d like to… ’

  ‘Wondering what, Jake?’ Kirsty said, a little frustrated.

  ‘No, it doesn’t matter. Another time, perhaps.’ With that, he left Kirsty standing in the middle of her office.

  47

  Jake and Kirsty entered the wide lobby at Tanya’s medical development offices. Jake was out of uniform and in civilian clothes. Although it was his day off, he considered that the investigation was too important to be delayed any further. And, in any case, he hadn’t anything better to do, other than depress himself at home.

  He collected Kirsty from the university, where she had been meeting with her pathology students. He knew, of course, that other than the fact that she was Tanya’s friend, her presence was not necessarily required. But he had got used to her company, which he was sure was not lost on her.

  They walked up to the reception, where he flashed his warrant card at the receptionist and asked to speak with Dr Nicholls.

  ‘Do you have an appointment?’ the receptionist asked, in quite a surly manner.

  ‘Do I need one?’ Jake snapped.

  ‘Dr Nicholls is a very busy woman. I doubt if she could make the time.’

  ‘Oh, she’ll make time for us,’ Kirsty said.

  ‘And who are you?’

  ‘Doctor Kirsty Kingsfield, forensic pathologist.’

  The receptionist raised her eyebrows and picked up the phone. She spoke quietly into it, then replaced the receiver. ‘Take a seat over there.’

  ‘Mardy bitch,’ Jake grumbled under his breath, only for Kirsty to dig him in the ribs. He smiled.

  A few minutes later, Jake saw Nicholls exit the lift and approach them. She was, as usual, immaculately dressed and wearing a doctor’s white coat with the company logo emblazoned on the right pocket and her name sewn underneath it.

  She shook Jake’s hand and gave Kirsty a hug and a kiss on both cheeks.

  ‘This is a surprise,’ said Tanya, addressing Jake. ‘Didn’t expect to see you till next week.’

  ‘We’ve had a development, that we need to talk to you about,’ Jake replied.

  ‘Oh, and what’s that?’

  ‘Can we go to your office and talk there first?’ bristled Kirsty.

  Tanya glanced at Kirsty. Jake noticed that a worried look had crossed Tanya’s face briefly, as they made their way to her office.

  Offering them both a seat, Jake and Kirsty sat down in front of Tanya’s desk.

  ‘So, what’s up,’ she asked cheerily.

  ‘We’ve made some of our own developments on that drug we gave you.’

  ‘Really?’ Tanya exclaimed. ‘Anything that we can help with?’

  ‘I’m sure you can,’ Kirsty said.

  ‘I’m going to tell it how it is, Tanya,’ said Jake, ‘but we’ve discovered a marker on the drug that was administered to a WPC we put up in an under-cover operation last weekend.’

  ‘What sort of marker? Is your officer OK?’

  ‘Yes, she’s fine now, thank you,’ responded Jake.

  ‘The marker is one which identifies the manufacturer,’ said Kirsty.

  ‘I’m not sure that’s possible,’ Tanya responded.

  ‘You, of all people, should understand the concept of molecular recognition markers for newly developed drugs.’

  ‘Yes but, this company can’t afford the thousands of dollars in costs to register such compounds with the FDA in the US and various other authorities around the world.’

  ‘But you still develop them anyway, with these… ’ Jake turned to Kirsty and prompted her.

  ‘Molecular recognition markers,’ she confirmed.

  ‘Not all our drugs have MRMs.’

  ‘Which ones do?’ Kirsty asked.

  Tanya paused for a moment, looking hard at Kirsty. Jake noticed the look on Tanya’s face. A look that worried him as to where she thought they were taking the investigation.

  ‘I don’t think any of our drugs have MRMs or other isotopic markers either.’

  ‘What are these markers anyway?’ asked Jake naively. Knowing what the answer would likely be, he wanted to see who would explain it to him first. There was a short silence, before Tanya sat back in her chair, seeming to relax a little, as she launched into an explanation of molecular recognition markers.

  As she spoke, Kirsty also sat back, and Jake saw the brief flicker of a smile cross her face. Jake could see for himself that Kirsty was trying to reel in her supposed friend. Kirsty would make a good cop, Jake thought.

  ‘Well,’ Tanya said, ‘this sort of molecular marking has been developed over decades and has become one of the most effective methods in secure authentication of pharmaceuticals developed by big multinationals. Along with stable isotopic markers, it has revolutionised the way companies can secure their paten
ts for new drugs. I’m sure you don’t want me to go into the technical details at this stage?’ She smiled an unconvincing smile at both of them, satisfied that she had batted away any further questions about her drug stock.

  ‘OK, for the non-scientific ones amongst us,’ Jake asked, ‘what does that really mean, practically?’

  ‘In simple terms, it’s intellectual property, copyright, if you like.’

  ‘So any drug which has been marked as such can identify the manufacturer of the drug?’

  ‘In a word, yes.’

  ‘And can this be disputed, say, in a court of law?’

  ‘It would be very difficult. There was a case in Asia a few years ago that proved that those producing the drug were using the manufacturer’s product, simply through this marker identification.’

  ‘I see. 100% then,’ Kirsty said.

  Tanya nodded.

  Kirsty rose to her feet and walked over to the window, where she stood and looked out across the hospital grounds. It was raining, washing across the car park almost horizontally.

  ‘Is there anything else?’ Tanya asked.

  Kirsty turned. ‘Yes, we have a technician in our laboratory. He’s very bright and he’ll go far, I think, but he found something almost by accident.’

  ‘And what was that?’ Tanya asked defensively.

  ‘A marker,’ Jake pitched in.

  ‘That’s a bit of luck then.’ Tanya smiled. ‘You’ll be able to resolve your problem without further input from us?’

  ‘We can indeed,’ Jake said.

  ‘The problem is the manufacturer,’ Kirsty said.

  Jake watched Tanya closely, he could see her flush, the red hue starting at her lower neck.

  ‘Really?’ Tanya fidgeted in her chair, looking a little uncomfortable.

  Jake nodded slowly.

  ‘How does that help me in what you want me to do?’

  ‘You’re the manufacturer,’ Jake said.

  ‘I find that impossible. Are you sure your young technician is right?’

  ‘Certain.’

  ‘How can you be certain?’

  ‘Because, as you have just said, it’s 100% reliable, a forensic molecular fingerprint, with your company’s name all over it,’ bristled Kirsty, she walked over to stand behind Tanya’s chair.

  ‘I see you’ve had some highlights done,’ Kirsty questioned, changing the subject.

  ‘Yes. What do you think?’

  ‘Hmm, red, it doesn’t suit you,’ Kirsty took another glance at Tanya’s highlights and walked back to her chair where she sat down. Jake could clearly see where that came from. The thought that Tanya could actually be the person he was looking for had, for the first time, crossed his mind.

  ‘So, Tanya, what we need from you is that list of employees you said you were going to give us.’

  ‘Right. In that respect, I’ve spoken to our company solicitor and I’m afraid you’re going to need a warrant before we give out any of our information.’

  ‘I see. Are you trying to hide something?’ Kirsty said with a smile.

  Tanya glanced at Kirsty. ‘No, nothing at all. We just need to be seen to be complying with the appropriate laws, before we hand out our employees details. For the employees’ sake, of course.’ She smiled at Jake, but he saw that it was certainly not the warmth he’d seen earlier.

  ‘I think you’re being obstructive,’ Kirsty said. ‘Friend or no friend, somebody in your organisation…’

  ‘… It’s not my organisation,’ Tanya interjected.

  ‘It is according to Companies House,’ Jake said.

  Tanya flushed again, but said nothing.

  ‘As I was saying, somebody in your organisation may be our killer and an abductor. The police will find out who it is, Tanya, so don’t be so stupid and let’s have that list,’ hissed Kirsty.

  Tanya glared at Kirsty. ‘I thought you were a friend. I was wrong.’

  ‘I’m no friend to people who deceive me, Tanya, and you’re clearly holding something back. I don’t like that.’

  ‘I think you’d better leave now, Sergeant. The next time you want to speak to me, or my staff, you’d better have a warrant or whatever it is you lot get over here – and my solicitor will be present. I’ll see you out.’

  Jake and Kirsty remained seated.

  ‘Please – I don’t want to have to call security.’

  Reluctantly, Jake and Kirsty were ushered out of the building.

  By the time they exited the lift, two security guards were waiting for them and escorted them off the premises. After they had left the building, the guards stood at the doors, trying to look hard.

  ‘That was new,’ Jake said, as they got into their car. ‘I can’t recall ever having been escorted off a premises before.’ He sighed.

  ‘What do we do now?’ asked Kirsty.

  ‘We’ll have to tell Randall.’

  ‘Do we have to? Can’t you just get your own warrant?’

  ‘No, well, I suppose we could, but I think we have our suspects, all 140 of them. My department couldn’t cope with that. I’m in enough trouble as it is.’

  ‘I’m not so sure we have 140 suspects. Look?’ Kirsty pointed to a woman walking into the building.

  ‘Isn’t that Simone Nicholls?’ Jake asked, as if confirming it for himself.

  ‘Yes, and what’s that bruise on her face?’

  48

  Later, having returned Kirsty to the hospital, Jake went to visit Parker. When he arrived at her room, he saw that Parker was busy getting dressed, so didn’t go in. Her mother was also in the room and listened to the conversation that was going on between them. Not that he normally spied on people, but Emily was talking quite loudly to her daughter.

  ‘You shouldn’t be doing this, Steph.’

  ‘I have no option, Mum. These people who took me knew who I was and what I was doing. It’s my duty to catch them.’

  ‘Duty – duty – duty! What about your duty to get yourself better? What about your duty to me, your mother? Your antics in this damnable job could have and still could get you killed. Don’t you realise that? And what about that detective visiting you? Do they not realise that you were ill?’

  ‘I’m a police officer, Mother. It’s my job, antics or no antics. I have no option. I’m not going to just give up at the first hurdle. And in any case, the DI and his sergeant needed information to find out who did this to me, don’t you understand that. Or don’t you want them to find out?’ Parker finished dressing and sat down to put on her shoes.

  Emily walked over and stood in front of her, ‘Of course I do, love, but this isn’t your first hurdle! Think about that time when you were a cadet and that murder they sent you to. Think about all the trouble that you got into – and think about what your father had to do to get you out of it.’

  ‘Don’t bring Dad into this. It was his idea, not mine, to send me to the other side of the world, like packing me off onto the naughty step, but 12,000 miles away.’

  ‘I didn’t want him to!’

  ‘But if he hadn’t, I probably wouldn’t be here now, would I?’

  ‘I suppose so – but – you’re not better yet.’

  Jake knocked on the door and entered. He apologised for the intrusion.

  ‘I suppose you’ve been listening outside?’ seethed Emily.

  Jake raised an eyebrow, said nothing.

  ‘Mum, leave it – I’ll manage, don’t worry. I tackled a lot worse in New Zealand.’

  Parker moved closer to her mother, who by now was standing and staring out of the window. She turned to her daughter, her face softening. Emily glanced at Jake.

  ‘Steph, you know I worry about you. And you know I don’t want you to do what you do.’

  Jake went to respond, but Emily held up her hand slightly to sto
p him.

  ‘But, I will be here for you, whatever you decide.’

  ‘All I need, Mum, is your support when I need it. There’s only two of us now and we need to be able to give each other strength and comfort in times like these, whether we like what we’re doing or not,’ she smiled. ‘I don’t want to end up not talking to you.’

  ‘That’ll never happen, love.’

  They hugged each other, tears welling in Emily’s eyes. Parker pushed her away gently.

  ‘Come on, Mum, take me to work, please.’ She turned to Jake, then back to her mother. ‘And please, don’t be so hard on Jake.’

  ‘You like him, don’t you?’

  Jake grinned at her and again was about to say something, but Parker stepped in this time.

  ‘Yes, but not in the way you’re suggesting. Jake was the only one who listened to me, when I got back to England. Anyway,’ she said, looking at Jake and laughing, ‘I think he has the hots for Kirsty Kingsfield.’

  Jake rubbed his chin, not really knowing how to answer that. He smiled at them both. He was going to offer to take Parker, but felt that mother and daughter needed to be together.

  Emily smiled. ‘I hadn’t noticed,’ She winked at Jake. A thaw?

  Having said goodbye to her mother, and asking her to collect her later, Parker hobbled into the Road Policing Operations building. Signing herself in, she asked where Jake’s office was and how to get there. The desk clerk rang his office, then told her where he could be found.

  She took the lift to the second floor. She managed to get to Jake’s office, where he invited her in. She sat in the chair Jake indicated.

  ‘You shouldn’t be out of hospital yet,’ he scolded.

  ‘Glutton for punishment, I suppose.’ She smiled briefly.

  ‘You sound like my mother.’

  ‘Hmm, how do you feel?’

  ‘Bloody awful, but I needed to get out of that place. Never been a great lover of hospitals – boring!’ She shifted slightly in her chair to get more comfortable.

  ‘Why didn’t you just go home?’

  ‘I needed to give you the information we spoke of, that I found at the house, where I was held captive.’