by L M Krier
‘Such a shame Mrs Ashworth didn’t get suspicious before it got that far, although from her diary entries, Kateb had done his homework very thoroughly and his back-story would have been completely convincing. Right, let’s get him charged with everything we’ve got and I’ll make sure you’re kept updated on anything else that comes from the lab.’
Ted was interrupted by his desk phone. The Super, asking if he knew there was another briefing scheduled for five o’clock at Central Park, in preparation for rounding up the rest of the gang early the following morning.
‘Drinks are off this evening, I’m afraid. Yet another briefing for me. It would be good to do it tomorrow though, if we can, especially now Jezza is back with us and has also had a good result.’
Rob got to his feet and risked a comment. He knew Ted wouldn’t allow any hint of disrespect about a senior officer but he couldn’t help remarking, ‘He does love his briefings, Mr Marston, doesn’t he, boss?’
The ACC was at the briefing, which explained Marston’s unexpected opening remarks.
‘Before we begin, I’d just like to congratulate DCI Darling on his arrest yesterday, although it was somewhat unorthodox, and on the commendation nomination which followed it. Perhaps, DCI Darling, you could bring us all up to date with what you have so far on the suspect Bacha?’
Ted had already sent through his reports, which had been circulated, but he began on a concise summary. There was a quiet knock at the door and a uniformed sergeant appeared.
‘Yes? What is it? I said no interruptions,’ Marston barked at him.
Unperturbed, the sergeant headed unerringly for the senior ranking officer in the room, the ACC.
‘We’ve just had this report in sir. I thought you should see it straight away.’
The ACC scan-read it then looked up and spoke.
‘The surveillance car watching Kateb’s house has been rammed by another vehicle and the officers inside sprayed in the face with pepper spray. Unsurprisingly, there is now no sign of Kateb.’
Marston appeared momentarily at a loss for words, before starting to assume command.
‘We’re going to need an APW out, let’s try to stop Kateb leaving the country ...’
‘Already in hand, sir. We’ve started by alerting the most likely points of exit, Manchester, Liverpool and East Midlands airports, Port of Liverpool, in case he heads for Ireland first, plus all the mainline railways stations.’
Then, in a tone which was only just on the right side of insolent, he continued, ‘And don’t worry about the injured officers, sir. They called it in first, asked for the APW, then called an ambulance. They’re both being treated on site. They can’t see much at the moment but early reports suggest they are both going to be all right.’
Even the ACC didn’t pull him up on it. Apart from Marston, the first thought of most of the officers in the room had been for the welfare of the injured surveillance team members. It didn’t go unnoticed by anyone that their first reaction had been to call for the All Ports Warning.
‘Right, well, yes, good,’ Marston blustered, then recovered his stride. ‘So now we need to bring forward the operation to round up all remaining gang members, with immediate effect. I’ve already circulated the assigned roles, so let’s move on this as quickly as we can.’
‘Before anyone goes anywhere,’ the ACC’s voice instantly halted the ensuing shuffling of papers and movement to stand. ‘I think, Mr Marston, that at this stage, we must consider the likelihood that the gang were in possession of detailed information about the planned raid. The timing of this incident is too coincidental for it to be ruled out. For that reason, ladies and gentlemen, please ensure that your teams are aware that their arrival may not be unexpected. Body armour on for everyone. Now go and get as many as you can.
‘Superintendent Caldwell, are you and DCI Darling directly involved in this stage of the operation?’
They checked their lists. They weren’t.
‘In which case, perhaps we can just sit down together, with Mr Marston, for a brief discussion, before you go back to Stockport. Up in my office, where we can at least get a decent cup of coffee.’
They followed him upstairs. He asked his secretary to bring them coffee and the tea which Ted asked for.
‘So, a likely leak of information from an officer, do you think?’
‘Sir, it’s hard to draw any other conclusion at this stage,’ Marston told him. ‘It might also suggest how Kateb got away from the surveillance team the last time.’
The ACC bowed his head and rubbed his temples with his fingertips.
‘Damn. Just when I think this operation can’t go any worse, we get the possibility of a bent copper on the inside. I’ll need to talk to the Chief, of course, but my instinct is to go in hard, dig out any hint of corruption, root and branch. And that means involving CCU. Personally, I’d prefer to find the culprit myself and string him up by the … Sorry, Debra, that was inappropriate.’
‘But understandable, sir, in the circumstances.’
No one liked the idea of a police officer being behind the leaked information which could potentially have cost them the operation, not to mention putting officers’ lives at risk. The force’s Counter Corruption Unit would do a thorough investigation but it would take time. Potentially, every officer involved in Croesus would need to be interviewed, each in the presence of their Federation rep, all of it taking them away from the case.
‘Right, Ted, I know I don’t have to tell you how to do your job, but Bacha needs to know that he’s already toast. He’s likely to go down now whatever he says or doesn’t say. Get your interviewing officers to try to tease anything at all they can out of him that might help us find Kateb, or at least know where he’s likely to head for.
‘I’m mentioning this to you three as I think – I hope, at least – that I can trust your discretion. It goes without saying that this goes no further than these four walls. People will know soon enough what’s happening when CCU arrive and set up operations.
‘I badly wanted this Kateb bastard before this. Now I want him even more, and I want the piece of filth in the force who’s feeding him information.’
‘Delightful bunch of young ladies your DC Vine inflicted on us this afternoon, sir,’ Bill greeted Ted formally, for the benefit of two young PCs who were within earshot. ‘Their turn of phrase even made some of our officers blush.’
‘All processed now?’
‘Charged, bailed and released into appropriate adult care. Where are you up to with your operation? I heard on the grapevine that it’s not going well?’
‘The grapevine is over-active. It might have lost us a prime suspect. If you hear anything on that, I’d been grateful for the heads up, Sergeant.’
He went in search of where Rob and Sal were still questioning Bacha and pulled Rob out for an update on their progress.
‘Nothing new, boss, and we are trying. He says he’s had no contact at all with Kateb since what happened and I’m inclined to believe him. He says the numbers he had for him are now out of service. I think they’ve effectively dumped him and are distancing themselves.’
‘So why hasn’t he just gone home? Or tried to? There are plenty of ways he could have got out of the country undetected. He must know that. Or why not contact his father and get a ride back on one of their lorries?’
‘No money to try by himself. His father paid his fare over, one-way, expecting him to do some work and make the money to go back when he was ready. His credit cards have been blocked long since because he’s in so much debt back home. Unsurprisingly, Kateb hasn’t paid him what he was promised for the pick-up job. Now he’s scared, not knowing what to do. Jo’s kept me up to date with the interviews with the family. The father says Bacha kept asking him for money but he had none to give him. Everything he earns goes on his family. It’s plausible, boss.’
‘All right, good work. Get what else you can then call it a day. Put him up in front of the magistrates in the mornin
g for remand. We need to make sure that it’s a remand in custody because of the risk of him leaving the country if not.’
The rest of the team had knocked off long since. The main office was quiet and dark. Ted wondered fleetingly whether he should start writing up reports then decided he was more in need of food. He gave Trev a quick call.
‘I was just on my way back and wondered if you wanted a takeaway?’
‘That would be great. I’ve not even started anything yet. I’m busy prepping English lessons. I’ll tell you all about it when you get back.’
‘Indian? Chinese?’
‘Surprise me.’
Ted opted for an Indian, from a restaurant they both liked. He found his stomach was rumbling in anticipation as he drove the short distance home from there.
Trev was tidying up his paperwork and setting the table. Queen was helping him, sitting on each pile of paper in turn as he tried to move it, purring contentedly.
‘I put the oven on to keep it warm in case you wanted to shower before we eat. And Skype Annie. She’s getting worried about this court case.’
‘I’m starving. I could do with eating soon.’
‘Talk to your mother first. Just five minutes. I’m going to the centre again tomorrow and the local press are coming to do a feature on us, so I’ll be getting my face in the paper. Here, use my laptop to call Annie. I was talking to her earlier.’
Ted sat down obediently, opened the Skype app and called his mother. She was clearly concerned about the court case and he felt guilty that he hadn’t spent more time talking to her to reassure her. He was busy spouting platitudes when Trev leaned over him from behind and rested his chin on the top of his head so they were both in shot.
‘Tell your mother about your commendation.’
Ted turned to glare at him but his mother was already asking delightedly, ‘Oh, Teddy, you got a commendation? What was that for? Is that why your face looks so sore? Did you get hurt?’
‘It was nothing. I just had to arrest someone. The black eye was martial arts training that got a bit exciting, that’s all.’
‘So he’s getting a Chief Constable’s commendation and we get to go to a black tie reception to collect it,’ Trev told her proudly. ‘And he’ll be in the paper. So will I tomorrow, for these English classes I’ve started doing.’
‘Your dad would have been so proud of you, Teddy.’
‘D’you think so?’
‘I know so. He always was. From the very moment you were born. He couldn’t do enough for you.’
A catch in her voice made her stop.
‘I’m proud of you, too, bach. I hope we can Skype again soon. And I’d love to see you all dressed up and with your award.’
‘I’m dragging him off to another fancy affair on Saturday, Annie, so I’ll make sure you see him looking his best. He’s praying for a nice grisly murder to get him out of going, but I’m going to confiscate his phone if I have to. And he’s promised to sing.’
‘Oh, I wish I could hear that. You always had a lovely voice, when you were little.’
Ted was subdued after the phone call, picking at his food, finding his appetite had deserted him.
‘What’s wrong? You said you were hungry.’
‘What she said about my dad. I wasn’t very nice to him, at the end. You know that. I told you about it. You know I used to be out on the lash with the team when I should have been at home, doing more for him. I wanted to make him proud, but I let him down.’
Trev put his own fork down and took hold of one of Ted’s hands.
‘You didn’t. You did the best you could in difficult circumstances, and you turned your life around after he died. Look at you now. I never met him but from what you’ve told me about him, I know he would have been proud of you. Just like Annie is. And like I am.’
Queen took advantage of the pause in eating to jump back on to the table and investigate their plates with interest.
Trev put his hands over her ears before saying, ‘I’m going to need the car one day this week. I have to take the cats for their booster jabs. Well, half of them, at least. I’ll take the girls first, then go with the boys next week.’
Ted hesitated, lifting Queen gently off the table and putting her back on the floor.
‘It might be better if you get a taxi. I’ll leave you the money.’
Trev started to laugh then broke off and stared at him, hard.
‘Oh my God. I thought you were worried that I might scratch the new paintwork after you got it fixed. But you think someone might still be after you, so you don’t want me out in your car. I’m right, aren’t I?’
Ted’s meal suddenly became magnetically attractive again. He looked down at his plate and began pushing chicken pieces round with his fork.
‘Ted, you told me that was all sorted. You said you knew who was behind it and it had been dealt with. But that’s not true, is it, or you’d let me take the car?’
Ted lifted his head, trying to hold Trev’s gaze and to sound reassuring. It was true, as Trev always said. He was useless at lying to anyone, especially to his partner.
‘I think it’s fine. I think he got the message and will leave me alone now he’s been formally interviewed. I just don’t want to take the risk, not for the moment. I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to you because of my work.’
Chapter Twenty-three
‘Right, Océane, anything from Bacha’s phone or computer?’
‘Nothing of any use yet, boss. It’s like he’s already said. The numbers he had been contacting Kateb on are now out of service.’
‘Any way of tracing who they were registered to?’
‘Unfortunately not. They’re unregistered pay as you go. He’s been trying to contact several numbers since Mrs Ashworth’s death but he’s not got through to any of them. I do have what might be contact details for his drugs dealer, if that’s of any use? I assume that’s who it is. It’s a UK mobile he’s been calling every couple of days since he first arrived, and it’s still in service. Could be worth following up?’
‘Yes, why not? Might as well mop up anything we can while we’re at it. Now, early reports are encouraging. Almost all the gang members who were targeted have been arrested, apart from Kateb, of course. There’s just a couple still to be found and brought in, but they’re small fry, down at the bottom of the chain. That means a lot of suspects to be interviewed and processed, so it’s likely we’ll be involved in talking to at least some of them.
‘There’s also all the contents of the various houses to be gone through now, including the one where Kateb was staying. Océane, again, because of the volume of stuff, it’s likely some of the phones and computers found will come your way. And you may well need Steve helping on that.
‘The other thing we need to look at is the likelihood that wherever Kateb is now, he’ll be on a different ID. We know he’s been using a good forger for false documents so it’s highly unlikely he’s still using his own identity.’
‘What about the forger, boss? Has he been identified and questioned?’ Jo asked.
‘I’m waiting on the daily update from Mr Marston to see if anyone has done so yet. We’re wasting time with the APW if we don’t know what identity he’s travelling under. He could already be out of the country and long gone.
‘Again, if any of you have contacts who might be able to supply a name for the forger, that could help us a lot. Ask around. It’s just possible I may know someone who might know. I’ll see what I can find out. There’s a couple of names in the frame but this is very particular, skilled work. We need to make sure we’re going after the right one.
‘In the meantime, I need your reports on interviews with the family as soon as possible, everyone, please. And let me know if there’s anything from those which might help with finding Kateb. Any hint of where he might have gone. Maybe more extended family we don’t yet know about, either here or back in France. He can’t simply have disappeared. Someone, somewhere kno
ws where he is, and we need to find him. There will be press appeals now, of course, and leafleting, but don’t overlook any avenue.
‘And let’s not neglect the paperwork on our own cases. We could have a decent result or two to celebrate with that drink, when we can find time to go for one. Jezza, you stay with your happy slappers, get that wrapped up. Mike, can you help with that? And Jo, can I have a quick word with you, please?’
Ted headed back to his office, Jo Rodriguez following behind. Ted nodded to him to sit down.
‘I just wanted to ask if you wouldn’t mind talking to Kevin Turner, just to see how things are going with the assault on my mother. I don’t like to keep pestering him. I know he’s all over it. It’s just, you know ...’
‘She’s your mother, boss. Yes, I know. How is she now?’
‘Recovering, slowly, but she’s decided to move back to Wales, permanently. Because of what happened. Because of being attacked for speaking her own language. A British language, in Britain. She’s finding that hard to deal with.’
‘I’m really sorry to hear that. Has she made a VPS and put that in it? That should have quite an impact when it comes to sentencing.’
Ted knew his mother would have been told she had the right to make a Victim Personal Statement when she was interviewed and gave her account of the facts of the assault. He was ashamed to realise he didn’t know if she’d done so. A Victim Statement would give her the chance to talk about how the attack had affected her, how it had made her feel. It would be put to the court before sentencing. She could either read it herself or it would be read by the Crown Prosecutor presenting the case. The fact that she had been affected enough to move from her home of nearly forty years could be a powerful factor in deciding the length of sentence handed down on her assailant. With his record, a custodial sentence was a strong probability. The only question was the length of it.