‘I suppose not,’ she answered.
Tom turned to face Milner. ‘DS Milner? Would you mind? Make sure you get everything in. The trolley as well as the clubs.’
Milner took out his phone and took a few photos. ‘Are these okay?’ he asked, showing them to Tom.
‘Perfect,’ replied Tom. He turned back to Mrs Burton. ‘It’s possible, though, we will need to come back and carry out a more thorough examination.’
‘Really?’ asked Mrs Burton. ‘Haven’t you got enough information? What more could you possibly need?’
‘I understand that it’s unsettling,’ answered Tom, ‘but we need to be as thorough as possible, otherwise we might miss some crucial evidence.’
As soon as they were outside, Milner stopped walking and turned to face Tom. ‘What was all that about? Would you please, sir, tell me what the hell is going on?’
So Tom told him.
Chapter 46
‘Tonight?’ asked Milner. ‘Do you think something will happen that quickly?’
‘I really don’t know,’ answered Tom, ‘but it’s definitely possible.’
It was early afternoon and they had both arrived back at the station, where the atmosphere, given DC Bennett’s death, was unsurprisingly extremely sombre. Many of the officers there had known or worked alongside him over many years. Inevitably rumours were swirling around the station relating to just why he had been killed, but no one actually approached either Tom or Milner for clarification or explanation. Everyone knew that to do this would not only place Tom and Milner in a very difficult position, but would also potentially compromise any subsequent convictions. Nonetheless, this didn’t preclude many officers approaching them in order to offer any help they might need as well, of course, as to offer their sympathy.
‘How do you want to handle it, then?’ asked Milner. ‘Given the short notice, we might have problems getting the necessary resources.’
‘Somehow I think that will be the least of our problems,’ answered Tom. ‘We only have to mention that it was the investigation that Gary was involved in and there will be no shortage of volunteers.’
They spent the next thirty minutes discussing what they would do as well as the resources needed to carry out their plan. Just as they were finishing there was a knock on the door and Howard Birch, the station’s superintendent, entered. He closed the door behind him.
‘Tom. David. I’m so sorry,’ he said. ‘I heard you were here – although, given the circumstances, I’m surprised you are here. I understand you have both been at the hospital since the early hours. Given everything you’ve been through, you must both be exhausted. Wouldn’t it be better if you went home and at least tried to get some rest? I’m sure whatever you are involved in can wait a bit longer.’
In truth, Tom had lost track of time and only now, when it was mentioned, realised how little sleep he’d had. As he heard this he found himself looking at Milner and suddenly realised that Milner must have had even less, as it was he who had taken the initial call informing him that DC Bennett had been admitted to hospital. Superintendent Birch was correct, of course, and Tom knew that adrenaline could only last so long. Given the new developments relating to the Glyn Burton murder, the timing, however, was especially unfortunate.
‘Thank you, sir,’ answered Tom. ‘DS Milner and I were just discussing what we were planning to do next with regard to the investigation into the murder of Glyn Burton. It looks as though there has been a significant breakthrough.’
‘Really?’ Superintendent Birch replied. ‘Is it related in any way to DC Bennett’s death?’
‘Indirectly, yes. But only in the sense that Craig Blackwell – that’s the person who Gary was following – was the business partner of Glyn Burton.’
‘I don’t understand, then, why DC Bennett was following this Craig Blackwell if he was just his business partner. Did he suspect he might have been involved in Mr Burton’s death?’
So Tom told him about DC Bennett’s strong suspicions that Craig Blackwell was involved in his business partner’s murder and how, last night, DC Bennett had, for some as yet unknown reason, decided to follow him. He then told Superintendent Birch about the attack on Craig Blackwell and how DC Bennett had gone to his assistance, which had led to him also being attacked.
‘Was Craig Blackwell also injured?’
‘Yes, he was, sir. The doctors say he sustained quite serious injuries, although not life-threatening.’
‘And DC Bennett’s wife? I assume we have people looking after her,’ Superintendent Birch said.
‘Yes, sir,’ answered Tom. ‘A liaison team are with her right now.’
‘Good. Just make sure she gets all the help she needs.’
There then followed a brief silence, as they all took in the awful consequences of DC Bennett’s death.
It was Superintendent Birch who eventually broke the silence. ‘So, tell me about this significant development.’
Tom spent the next few minutes updating him. After he had finished, Superintendent Birch said, ‘I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you, whilst it is compelling, the evidence is still basically circumstantial. But, if there is anything else you need from me, just ask. Anyway, good luck.’
‘Thank you, sir,’ replied Tom.
After Superintendent Birch had left, Tom said, ‘How are you? You look exhausted.’
‘I’m okay,’ Milner answered, his defiant tone betraying his true feelings.
‘Well, you don’t look okay to me,’ said Tom. ‘Why not, as Superintendent Birch suggested, go and get some rest? Nothing is likely to happen in the next few hours, and there’s probably going to be another long night ahead of us tonight.’
‘Are you planning to get any rest?’ asked Milner, still defiant. ‘And anyway, do you really think I’ll be able to rest after what has happened?’
Tom knew he was right, of course. Despite their fatigue, being alone would almost certainly simply mean they had even more time to relive the events of the last few hours.
‘Well, in that case, go and catch up on a few things. I find it helps if I’m kept busy. You could chase up that search warrant, for example. I’m sure there are lots of other things you need to catch up on as well. Let’s meet again at 4.30 pm and be ready to brief the team at 4.45 pm.’ He paused. ‘But first, go and get something to eat. It must be a long time since you ate. As I said, it could be a long night for you.’
This seemed to at least partly placate Milner, who simply said, ‘I know you are right, but I really don’t feel like eating anything right now.’
‘Well, at least try.’
After Milner had left the office, Tom immediately picked up the phone and called Jenny, who was Milner’s girlfriend as well as Superintendent Birch’s PA.
‘It’s DCI Stone here,’ he said. ‘You’ve no doubt heard about Gary. I can’t tell you the full details right now, but David seems to have taken it really badly. Do you think you could come down and make sure he gets something to eat and drink? There’s that coffee shop just around the corner. We will be out again tonight, and I’m concerned he hasn’t eaten anything substantial so far today.’
After his conversation with Jenny, he suddenly remembered he had promised to call Mary and so, once again, picked up his phone and made a call.
Mary immediately answered. ‘Tom? I was starting to get really worried about you. Is it true that it was DC Bennett who was murdered?’
‘It is, yes,’ he simply answered. ‘But how do you know?’
‘It’s just come up on the television news. They mentioned that a forty-year-old detective constable had died of knife wounds. Although they didn’t give a name, I guessed it might be DC Bennett.’
‘As you can imagine, there’s a lot going on here at the moment. I’m not too sure when I’ll be back, but I’ll try and ring you when I get the chance. It could be late, though, so don’t wait up for me.’
‘How are you?’ she asked in a subdued tone.
&nbs
p; ‘I can’t deny that Gary’s death has really affected me,’ he answered, in an uncharacteristic moment of emotional honesty. ‘I should have anticipated something like this might happen. All the signs were there; it’s just that I chose to ignore them.’
‘Tom,’ she replied, ‘I know you must be very upset, but you mustn’t blame yourself. I didn’t really know DC Bennett, but, from what you have told me, it seems he was an experienced officer. I’m sure he knew what he was doing.’
Even if Tom accepted Mary’s explanation, he couldn’t yet bring himself to say so, such were his feelings of personal guilt. Instead he made do with, ‘I have to go. I’ll call you later.’
Chapter 47
Tom and Milner were, for the second time that day, parked close to Mrs Burton’s house. Although they were not immediately outside, they had still managed to park in a spot which gave them an unrestricted view of the front of the house. Immediately behind them was another unmarked car with three uniformed officers sitting in it.
‘Jenny told me you had called her,’ Milner said. ‘Thank you, sir, for that. I didn’t realise just how hungry I was until we had something to eat. I have to admit, though, when she told me, I wasn’t exactly happy that you’d called her.’
‘I don’t blame you,’ answered Tom, with a light laugh. ‘Given the circumstances, I would have felt exactly the same. Sometimes, believe it or not, even I’m wrong and too stubborn to accept advice when it’s offered.’
‘Really?’ replied Milner. ‘I can’t believe that, sir. You are well known for always taking advice.’ He laughed a little himself.
‘Yes, well, just make sure you don’t tell anyone about it. I don’t want people to think I’m starting to get touchy-feely. That wouldn’t do my hard-earned reputation any good at all.’
This brief conversation seemed, as much as possible given the circumstances, to lighten the mood. Whilst it was impossible to entirely forget about the circumstances of DC Bennett’s death, at least for the moment they could discuss other things.
It wasn’t too long, though, before their conversation was interrupted. The front door opened and Mrs Burton emerged, got into her car, started the engine and drove out into the main road.
Tom picked up the radio. ‘Okay, looks like we are ready to go. As agreed, we’ll start to follow and then let you through after a mile or so. We’ll then drop in behind you until it’s our turn to follow again.’
By now both cars were following Mrs Burton, and after a couple of minutes Tom, closely examining the sat nav map in the middle of the dashboard, said, ‘It looks like she’s heading towards Richmond Park.’
A short while later and they had entered the park.
‘There’s a lay-by just ahead,’ Tom reported. ‘We’ll pull in there and you take over.’
Milner pulled into the lay-by, allowing the other car to overtake, before immediately rejoining the road behind it. Not long afterwards, Tom could see the car in front of them was now indicating right and Milner slowed down to follow. Tom could see, from the map, that this part of the park was very isolated.
The narrow road went on for less than a mile before it joined one of the main roads which ran through the park. However, just before they reached this road, the radio suddenly came to life. ‘Target indicating immediate left. Repeat, immediate left,’ said an officer, with sudden urgency. ‘We will carry on.’
Tom quickly glanced at the map but couldn’t see any lay-by or turning indicated on it. Milner slowed down but, despite this, they were soon at the place where she had turned. Although it was dark, Tom could easily spot Mrs Burton’s car, which had now stopped. He could also, however, make out another car alongside hers, before they had driven past.
‘Just stop up here,’ said Tom. ‘I’ll get out and try and get a better look. If I’m careful they shouldn’t spot me out here. There’s another place to pull in about half a mile along the next road. Stop there and wait until I call you. So keep your mobile handy.’
Milner stopped the car. ‘Why don’t I do it, sir?’ he suggested.
But, before Milner could say anything else, Tom had opened the door and got out of the car. ‘Just keep your mobile on,’ he repeated.
Tom walked back towards where the cars had parked. Fortunately, there were no other cars coming down the road and so he was able to get there quickly. It was a dark night and so there was little chance he would be spotted, but he still took extra care to remain concealed.
There was a large, mature oak tree not far from the parked cars, and so he slowly walked towards it. He crouched down behind it, confident that he would not be spotted. After a short while, his eyes had attuned just enough to the darkness for him to pick out two people now seated in the back of Mrs Burton’s car. One, clearly, was Mrs Burton. The other was a man, and they were currently embracing each other.
Whilst this was happening, Tom concentrated his focus on the other car and, in particular, the number plate. He took out his notebook and wrote down the time, then the make and registration number.
After a short while, as he continued to crouch behind the tree, he could hear the sound of an approaching car, which almost imperceptibly slowed down as it went by. Although he couldn’t see the driver he could, nonetheless, see that it was the car which Milner had been driving. He took out his phone and called Milner, making sure that his voice didn’t carry.
‘I assume that was you who just drove past,’ he said quietly.
‘It was,’ replied Milner. ‘Are you okay, sir? I thought that I’d better check.’
‘I’m fine,’ he answered, before giving him a brief summary of what was happening. ‘I don’t know how long they are likely to be here, so just make sure you aren’t spotted. I’ll call you again when I think they are leaving.’
He then settled down, focussing his eyes on Mrs Burton’s car. After some time, both doors suddenly opened, and the two got out. They embraced again before Mrs Burton got into the driver’s side of her car, whilst the man got into his own car.
Tom called Milner. ‘They are just about to leave. Let them get away and then pick me up. I’ll be standing just by the entrance. We’ll then follow them. Same procedure as before. So let the other officers know.’
‘Do you know who the man is?’ asked Milner.
‘I’ve got a pretty good idea,’ he simply answered.
Both cars then drove out of the place where they had been parked. Tom, having been picked up by Milner, followed the two cars, with the other police car immediately behind them.
Tom got back onto the radio. ‘Let’s take it easy. No mistakes. We don’t want them to spot us now. It looks as though they are both heading back towards Richmond. It might be that they are going to Mrs Burton’s house. If that is the case, then park up where we were earlier. If they split up, however, then Milner and I will take the car which the man is driving. Understood?’
‘Understood,’ came the quick reply.
Once they got to the outskirts of the town, Mrs Burton’s car signalled left, as though she were indeed heading home, whilst the other one kept going straight on, towards the town centre. The traffic was a bit heavier now and so Milner had to be careful that he didn’t fall too far behind or get held up by a red traffic light. Eventually, they arrived at a main road, where the car indicated left, heading west along the A316. It wasn’t long, however, before it turned left again. A short distance along the road, the driver indicated right and then immediately left before finally coming to a stop in a resident’s parking spot. Milner slowed down, allowing them both to see the man entering one of the terraced houses.
‘Did you get that, sir?’ asked Milner.
‘Why don’t you turn around and stop close to the house? We’ll be able to get a better look that way.’
Milner managed to turn around and then come to a stop almost directly opposite the house.
Tom made a note of the address. ‘Okay, let’s go,’ he said.
‘Don’t you want to question him? After al
l, you seem pretty sure he was involved,’ said Milner.
‘Not yet,’ he replied. ‘Anyway, what am I supposed to ask him? Why was he parked up, at night, in the middle of Richmond Park, with someone whose husband had recently been murdered? Let’s wait until we have all of our evidence lined up. I don’t think either of them is going anywhere any time soon. In the meantime, though, let’s just get 100% confirmation as to who our mystery man is.’
He made another call and passed over details of the car’s registration number, as well as the address of the house that the man had just entered. It wasn’t long before his phone rang.
‘Are you absolutely certain?’ Tom asked. Clearly receiving the reply he had hoped for, he then said, ‘That’s good. Thanks.’
‘Well?’ asked Milner.
‘It’s definitely our man,’ answered Tom, unable to disguise his feeling of satisfaction. ‘We are in business.’
Chapter 48
By the time they arrived back at the station it was starting to get late, but waiting for them was Superintendent Birch.
‘How did it go?’ he asked, even before Tom had reached his office.
‘He’s definitely who we thought he might be,’ Tom answered. ‘So that’s a relief.’
Milner then appeared, a polystyrene cup in each hand. ‘Sorry, sir,’ he said, seeing Superintendent Birch. ‘I didn’t know you were here. I’d have brought you a cup as well, if I had.’
‘Don’t worry,’ he answered. ‘I think your needs are greater than mine. And anyway, I’m used to the proper coffee that Jenny makes for me. I don’t think my taste buds would survive the stuff that comes out of the machine.’
There was just a hint of sudden redness appearing on Milner’s face when he heard this reference to Jenny. He was just relieved DCI Stone didn’t tease him – something, under normal circumstances, he would have taken great delight in doing. Instead, DCI Stone said, ‘All we need to find out now is why Mr Burton was killed.’
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