Ruthless a Gripping and Gritty Crime Thriller

by Charlie Gallagher

  Rhiannon scooped up the rain jacket stuffed with the money and limped out of the church grounds. She held the BMW key in her hand. She didn’t have to walk far to come to a drain and she made sure she heard the key splash after she dropped it down there. As she stood up, she caught her reflection in the glass side of a parked minibus. Her face was scratched; she had dried blood on her chin, her cheeks and gathered in her nostrils. Her hair was a mess, her eyes puffy with emotion and exhaustion. She was holding her shoulder low, her hooded top was ripped and she could feel she was bleeding again from her chest wound. She was nearly there, though. She just had to find a place for the money and then get back to the phone box she had passed on the way and this could all be over.

  Chapter 28

  Aaron found a seat against the wall at the back. He was trying to keep his head down, trying to blend in. He’d intended on just dropping Danny off at the hospital and then leaving straight away, but he knew now that he couldn’t do that; he knew he had to bide his time for the right opportunity. He’d managed to get Danny into a taxi. He didn’t want to call an ambulance to the bungalow; he didn’t want that address linked with them. The less information people had, the better. So he’d carried Danny to a nearby fish and chip shop on Dover Road and asked the staff for help. There had been a taxi driver getting his supper and he took one look at Danny draped over Aaron’s shoulder and agreed immediately to drive them to hospital. The taxi driver, though, asked a lot of questions on the way over — too many questions. Aaron was already worried about him when they pulled up at A & E, but then when he insisted on coming in he knew the man was going to be a problem for him. He hung around while Aaron spoke to the receptionist giving Danny’s details. Now the taxi driver was at the coffee machine in the waiting room, he scooped up two drinks. He had hardly taken his eyes off Aaron since they had arrived.

  ‘’Ere y’are, son. Get this down your neck.’ The driver smiled reassuringly. He had said his name, but Aaron hadn’t taken it in.

  ‘Ah, yeah, thanks.’

  ‘Your mate’s gonna be alright. I can feel it.’

  ‘Sure he is.’ Aaron must have heard this ten times already. ‘Look, man, you don’t have to stick around. I know you got a job to do. I’ve got your number. I’ll give you a bell later, like — tell you what the deal is. Thanks though, yeah?’

  ‘Don’t you worry about me! I know you said you ain’t got no one down here. I’ll stick around for the cup of tea at least. I’ll tell you what, I’ll go talk to reception again, see if there’s any news.’

  Aaron watched him go. He was due an update. When Aaron had carried Danny in, he’d been in a bad way. He’d taken a big hit to the head, he was in and out of consciousness and his breathing had become more and more shallow. Aaron didn’t reckon he would make it. He didn’t think that would bother him so much — but he’d still felt something when he had been shepherded into an area with waiting beds. Numerous medical personnel had seemed to come from nowhere. They’d buzzed around Danny, cutting his clothes off and barking questions about what had happened. Aaron had been vague, said simply that Danny had been hit by a car — but he, himself, hadn’t seen it, he’d just heard the screech of tyres then his mate was lying on the road. He could tell from the looks they’d given him that they didn’t believe him. Whatever. He didn’t need them to. He’d only brought Danny to the hospital at all because that stupid bitch had made so much noise that people had come out of their houses. He had thought it best to pick him up and leave.

  Aaron still watched the taxi driver. He was well over six foot and had to stoop to get close enough to the glass frontage of the reception desk to talk to the woman sitting behind it. She looked suddenly over to where Aaron was and her expression carried fear. She jerked her eyes away immediately and brought a phone to her ear.

  It was time to go.

  Aaron stood up. He turned swiftly away from the counter and towards the exit. He heard a shout — the taxi driver’s voice. He didn’t look back. He turned right into a corridor with the main entrance at the end. The doors were automatic. They parted for two incoming police officers in uniform. They made eye contact and the one on the right reached straight for his handcuffs. Aaron knew they were here for him.

  He turned back on himself and broke into a run. The taxi driver was standing in his way. Aaron had enough momentum to push through him. He stumbled but he kept going. He turned right, away from the waiting area and into the main hospital. He could hear footfalls behind him. He turned hard left, a long, empty corridor stretched out in front of him where he could really build up some speed. A shadow stepped out of a door on the right — Aaron hardly had a chance to notice it, just that the head was down and a clipboard was out in front. They collided hard and Aaron was sent sprawling to the floor. He fell forward awkwardly, striking both elbows, and his chin bounced off the floor. Before he could shake his senses free he felt a knee on his back and a hand grabbing at his wrist. Then came the cold metal of handcuffs. His face was pushed into the floor. He lifted his head to spit and blood came with it.

  ‘You’re under arrest, mate,’ growled a gruff voice from behind.

  ‘No shit!’ Aaron laughed. He spat again.

  Chapter 29

  Detective Sergeant Graham Wilson was fiddling with two sealed DVDs when Aaron strolled into the interview room of Langthorne House’s custody block. He looked as if he was out for a walk on a lazy Sunday with not a care in the world. He was wearing an all-grey tracksuit that looked a size too small. He had rolled one of the legs higher up his shin than the other. The forensic people had taken their time stripping him, then swabbing his hands, face and arms. The tracksuit would have been what they had given him to wear after. His own clothes now formed part of the evidence and they would have their own analysis. They had asked to swab his genitals, too, but Wilson had been told how Aaron had told them to fuck off. He could refuse of course; it was his right. And, for Graham, this wasn’t such a bad outcome — it could be used to cast doubt in the minds of a jury further down the line.

  Aaron had been led to the largest of the interview rooms by a jailer who then left quickly. The room was dreary and oppressive, it had no natural light, and the walls and ceiling were all white, the same white tiles covering both. They were punctured all over with little grey holes that allowed the sound in. Behind some of these panels was the recording equipment that would pick up the audio from the room.

  Graham had been standing when Aaron had entered. He moved quickly to one of the two fixed seats on the side of the table closest to the DVD machine, making it clear that Aaron should sit the other side. Aaron’s solicitor was already on a chair opposite him anyway.

  Aaron sat down next to her. He flashed her a big smile as his eyes moved over her body, enough for her to look a little uncomfortable and shift her position, crossing her legs. She was certainly an attractive woman. She wore a black pencil skirt with a matching jacket, a blouse unbuttoned a little from the top and killer heels. Her long brown hair was down with just a clip to keep it from falling over her dark, thick-rimmed glasses. She wore a touch of makeup, enough to retain a classy and business-like look overall. Graham had sat opposite her in interviews before and he knew she was sharp as a tack.

  ‘Maddie.’ Aaron winked at the solicitor. ‘We still hooking up when this is all done?’

  Maddie didn’t return his smile. No doubt she had heard it all before. ‘I don’t mix work and pleasure, Mr Ayeko.’

  ‘And I don’t tend to worry about following the rules. We’ll talk again later.’

  ‘Perhaps we should get to the matter at hand first, before we talk about what you are doing afterwards.’

  ‘Straight to business, Maddie. I appreciate that.’ Aaron finally looked over the table to the detective sat opposite. ‘Who the fuck are you then?’

  Graham smiled cheerily. ‘We’ll do introductions as part of the interview.’

  ‘Do what the fuck you like. I don’t care. I ain’t done nothing wrong.�
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  ‘The prisons are full of them.’ This was a new voice. Detective Inspector Tim Brace entered the room, his face fixed and stern. He was a large man, both in bulk and stature, but he carried it well. Graham had been told he was ex-military. That certainly made sense. Tim stood still, his hands pulled together behind his back, his back and legs locked straight and his head slightly tilted. He wore an expensive-looking suit, a white shirt with blue pinstripes and a solid blue tie with a square knot. ‘People that ain’t done nothing wrong, I mean. Maybe we’ve been locking up the wrong people all this time? What do you think?’

  Aaron relaxed back into his chair. He had crossed his arms and looked up at the inspector. ‘You trying to be funny? You the funny man on the station?’

  ‘No. They called me down from the other end of the county to speak to you, Aaron. I have a reputation for taking things like this very seriously. And for getting the right result. I am Detective Inspector Tim Brace. I’m one of the major crime inspectors in the county.’

  Aaron shrugged then fell silent.

  ‘I can call you, Aaron, right? That is your street name? I bet it’s only your mother that calls you Abdullahi Ayeko, right? Maybe when you’re in trouble. What do you reckon she would call you now if she was here?’ This might have been an attempt at a joke. Graham honestly couldn’t tell. Tim’s facial expression didn’t budge.

  ‘You can call me what you like. I ain’t gonna be here long.’

  ‘Ah, I see. Well, that’s fine then. I’ll stick to Aaron for now. I take it that means you want to get on with this? I shall get started — if there are no objections?’

  ‘Yeah, let’s do this. You can get me a hot chocolate, though, before we start. Maddie, you want anything from the funny man here?’

  The inspector sat next to Graham. He steepled his fingers and locked a stare on Aaron just long enough for things to get uncomfortable. Aaron stared right back, but he broke first, shaking his head and forcing a laugh. ‘What is this? This all part of the act? You think you can intimidate me or summin’? This ain’t my first time, man. You people don’t bother me at all.’

  ‘Of course it isn’t. You’re quite the seasoned petty criminal, aren’t you, Aaron? But this is big time now. This is murder. This is rape. You might have come in here before full of your own piss and wind and you might have ordered yourself a chocolate and had some probationary officer tottering after your every whim, but this is all a bit different. I will get your drink. Then I will start the tapes. I have some very serious questions to ask. Do I make myself clear?’

  ‘Just do whatever, man. I don’t want to talk to you about the time of day. Ask me your questions and kick me the fuck out. That’s all you’ve got to do. That’s your job, right?’

  ‘Locking up violent criminals. That is my job.’

  ‘Good luck with that.’

  Tim held his stare. Graham looked over at him, waiting to see what he’d do next. He was aware that Tim Brace had a reputation. It seemed people either loved working with him or hated it. Graham had a feeling he would have his own opinion by the end of this interview.

  Tim stood up. He was gone less than a minute and returned with a hot chocolate. He also brought Maddie a water and a black tea for himself. The DVDs were noisy at the start, they got a little quieter as the machine warmed up. Tim covered all of the formal introductions. Aaron did his best to look apathetic, he even yawned at one point as Tim repeated the official police caution then checked his understanding of it. Everyone was ready to go. Tim was very much the focus of the room and everyone waited for him to ask the opening question. Even Graham peered across with his book open and his pen resting in his hand. Tim didn’t have anything in front of him. He didn’t look any more relaxed now he was sitting down; his back was still stiff and straight as he held his hands together on the table in front of him.

  ‘You’re under arrest for murder,’ Tim said. ‘I mean, this is very serious indeed. So tell me about that?’

  Aaron turned to his solicitor. She had a piece of paper lying face down on the table in front of her. This was obviously her cue. She turned it over.

  ‘My client has prepared a statement that I will read on his behalf. I, Abdullahi Ayeko, came to Langthorne about two weeks ago. I came here with friends and to meet up with a girl I met on the internet. I found out some of my friends were members of a gang that operate in London. I am not a member of that gang, or of any gang and I do not deal drugs. I have not made any money from dealing drugs. I am on benefits and that is my only source of income. You will not find any money in my account. I am not a man of means. I have not harmed anyone since I have been down here. I have no idea why I have been arrested for murder or for a sexual assault. I will not answer any questions about these matters as I am confused and alarmed and I do not wish to incriminate myself.’

  Maddie reached out with the piece of paper towards Tim. He ignored her, staying fixed on Aaron. She put it on the table in front of him.

  ‘So tell me about murder,’ Tim said.

  ‘Tell you what? What murder is? I know what murder is, but I don’t know nothing about why I got nicked for it. I ain’t murdered no one. This is shit.’ Aaron stifled another yawn.

  ‘Tell me that then.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘What murder is.’

  ‘What murder is? Fuck you! This ain’t no game. No comment!’

  Tim leaned forward. He somehow seemed to increase his intensity, all of it fixed on Aaron. ‘You seem to have the impression that you are in charge of this situation, Aaron. I understand that, because I think I know where that comes from. It’s stupidity, it’s naivety. You’re too dumb to know where you are and why. Am I right?’

  Aaron leaned forward himself a little. ‘What the fuck? You can’t sit there and call me dumb, man? I ain’t done nothing wrong, plain and simple. If you can’t understand that, you’re the dumb one, man.’

  ‘I know what you did and I know how you did it.’

  ‘No comment!’ Aaron smiled, seemingly enjoying himself all of a sudden.

  ‘That’s why I don’t need to ask you a damned thing. But you do need to give me answers. You need to tell me how you’re not guilty of murder, how you didn’t kill your mate by running him down in your car, how you didn’t stab a man to death in the street, how you didn’t sexually assault a sixteen-year-old girl and how you’re not here dealing heroin and crack cocaine. You need to tell me all that, Aaron, and I suggest you start from the top — from when you arrived in my county thinking you could come here and peddle your misery.’

  Aaron flicked a look back to Maddie. He sat back and she sighed.

  ‘I can only remind you, Mr Ayeko, of my advice in our consultation. That advice remains.’

  Aaron turned back to the detective inspector. ‘No comment.’

  Tim took his time sipping at his tea. Then he reached down to where he had propped a folder against the wall. He pulled out some paperwork, A4 papers stapled together. It was a typed document with yellow highlighter running through it.

  ‘When we have very serious allegations, particularly if they are from someone aged sixteen or less, we tend to interview someone on tape, rather than take a witness statement. No doubt Maddie here explained to you that we got our victim statement this way. Do you know Rhiannon Davis?’

  Aaron’s lips curled in a sneer. ‘No comment.’

  ‘She knows you. How does she know you?’

  ‘No comment.’

  ‘I interviewed her, late into the night. I’ve been doing this job a long time, Aaron. I’ve seen and heard some terrible things, but taking her account, that got to me. It really upset me. She’s terrified of you, Aaron. Why is she so scared?’

  Aaron shrugged. ‘No comment.’

  ‘Let me summarise the account she gave of you — so you know what she says happened. That’s only fair, right? And I’ll warn you now Aaron . . . I’ve wasted enough of my time in this stinking room with you already, so I’m just going to pause at
the key bits and you can jump in and defend yourself if you want to. And if you don’t, then I will just assume that it’s right. Okay?’

  ‘No comment.’

  ‘With respect, Inspector, my client is exercising his right to make no reply to your rather oppressive questioning.’ Maddie flushed red; she was clearly rattled. ‘You cannot make assumptions that the allegation is correct because he chooses to continue with that right or because you’ve been upset by one side of a story.’

  ‘You’re right. Thank you.’ Tim said, but his gaze was still fixed on Aaron, not wavering an inch. ‘But a jury can. And they will, Aaron, they will ask themselves why an innocent man accused of murdering two people didn’t shout his innocence from the rooftops the first chance he got.’

  ‘I didn’t murder no one,’ Aaron said.

  ‘Well, let’s go through it, shall we? I’ll keep it chronological, for everyone’s ease, okay? So the drug dealing we know and accept. And you were doing that from William Dryden’s house, right?’

  ‘No comment.’

  ‘Really? Okay, we’ll come back to the drugs — they’re the least of your worries, after all. Rhiannon Davis believes you were dealing drugs from William Dryden’s house. She says she was brought to this house by someone called Danny. Who is Danny to you, Aaron?’

  ‘No comment.’

  ‘And you raped her.’

  Aaron’s eyes flashed wide. ‘She’s a lying bitch.’