Unravel a Crime - Tangle With Women

by Neil Wild

  It was not long before Durkin appeared, and Brakespeare recognised him immediately.

  “Hello Jonny mate.” He said. “Didn’t think I’d see you again. Come through”. He lifted the flap at side the counter, looking enquiringly at Lisa as he did so.

  “This is my assistant Lisa Barnes.”

  Durkin nodded at her appreciatively

  He led them through the building and back into the yard. Taking a key out of his pocket he opened what were once stables for the police horses.

  “Here you are, mates.” Durkin announced. “All yours.”

  The building was stacked with several times as many boxes of papers as they had received.

  “Do you know what is what?” asked Lisa

  “Thought you’d ask that.” Said Durkin, and pulled a sheet of paper from the inside pocket of his jacket. “If you look each box is numbered on the side and on the top. This is a list of what’s in them.”

  He handed the list to Brakespeare. It was on National notepaper.

  “You didn’t make this list?” asked Brakespeare

  “No, it came from the National.”

  “Mick Martin.”

  Durkin looked a little surprised. “You know him.”

  “Of him.”

  “Spoken to him?”

  “Maybe.”

  Durkin nodded his head thoughtfully. He knew to keep at a certain arms length.

  “I’ve not looked in the boxes myself. Can’t think that there’s anything in them that’s going to alter anything. Open and shut case – nothing in it. Total waste of time. Do you know what you’re looking for?”

  It was now Brakespeare’s turn for thought. It would be wrong for him to discuss the case with Durkin, the officer in charge. On the other hand Durkin had just made it clear that, as Joe had said, he thought that there was no case to answer – and he was still here in a declining outpost in the Black Country. Perhaps it would help to put in a Fifth Column.

  Brakespeare turned to the officer.

  “We’re looking for evidence of possible fraud by Redshaw, Linden and Steele.”

  Durkin gasped.

  “Say that again?”

  “You tell him Lisa. My assistant here discovered it.”

  Lisa threw Brakespeare an anxious look, but outlined to Durkin what she had found.

  “So Black cannot be an independent expert, after all.” said Durkin almost to himself. “But whose he defrauding?”

  “Whoever has paid him his fees.” Said Brakespeare. “Obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception? We reckon his valuations are distinctly dodgy – in fact, we don’t think that the valuations are worth the paper that they are written on.”

  “Can you prove it.”

  “Lisa?” Brakespeare indicated to the girl that she should recount her original findings. Dutifully Lisa recounted the contents of her graphs. She had remembered the figures and percentages, and calmly and scientifically trotted them out to the astonished Durkin.

  “Well?” asked Brakespeare.

  “You’ve certainly done your homework,” said Durkin admiringly. “I thought that there wasn’t a case because there was no evidence that your man Newberry had had anything to do with most of the valuations, and it also seemed to be his word against Black’s as to what the values were, but I never thought of doing what you’ve done. Then, I’m just a time serving woodentop,” he added self deprecatingly.

  “We need people like you to keep us lawyers in business.” joked Brakespeare.

  “But you say that at the time that Black was being paid to give valuations to the national, he was also trying to get commission for finding a buyer?”

  “Looks like it and that’s what we’ve come to find out; to see if there is any more correspondence which incriminates him, or rather his firm, because there were more than him involved.”

  “Mind if I have a look with you?” asked Durkin.

  Brakespeare looked at Lisa, as if she was able to advise him. She looked back blankly at him.

  “Well I can’t see anything wrong about that.” Brakespeare thought out loud. “After all if we use any evidence, then the Prosecution are going to see it; or are you going to tell them first?”

  “Definitely not. I got more or less thrown off this case, but I might tell the Chief Constable if there’s any hanky panky been going on with the National. He might be able to use that to his advantage.”

  “Chinese proverb say ‘Many hands make light work.’” said Lisa with an innocent look on her face.

  “Right let’s make a start. Here’s your list, where are the National to Redshaw correspondence files?” he asked Durkin.

  It did not take long for the files to be identified.

  “You carry on”, said Durkin. “I’ll make us some tea.”

  It was clear that someone had been through them, because much of the correspondence had been taken out of it’s retaining tags, and some of it had been placed out of date order, and even out of context. Only selected bits had been included in the prosecution papers.

  “What do you think?” asked Lisa.

  “I think that we’ve found what we are looking for. It’s quite clear from the correspondence that Redshaw Linden and Steele were actively engaged in trying to sell properties; Black was more than an independent valuer. I think that we ought to see if we can get these files copied.”

  “Tea’s up.” Called Durkin’s voice from the depths of the Station.

  “An invitation we can’t refuse”, said Lisa. “Come on, we can come back to these later.”

  Durkin ushered them into what must have been his office. It had been lavishly equipped some time soon after the Second World War, and nothing seemed to have changed. It had the smell that old offices have; stale tobacco; ink, paper and dirt.

  On Durkin’s chipped, stained but imposing desk was a tray with a large brown teapot and three Staffordshire Constabulary mugs; Staffordshire Constabulary side plates and a selection of biscuits.

  “Welcome to Durkin’s domain. As you can see we’re giving you the red carpet treatment. Take a seat. How do you like it.”

  “White, no sugar.” Said Lisa.

  “Same” added Brakespeare.

  “Take a seat then, while daddy serves.” said Durkin, and both sat down on the plain wooden chairs. Durkin obviously had time on his hands, and the visitors were a welcome interruption to his day.

  “So, you’ve seen what we’ve got. What do you want to do?! he asked.

  “Well it hasn’t taken long to find what we’re looking for, and the rest seems to be just irrelevant.”

  “I thought so too. I don’t know why the National dumped their scrap paper on us.”

  “So who sorted it. Some of it we’ve seen before; it’s part of the exhibits.”

  “A couple of women from the C.P.S. in London spent best part of a week here, almost a year ago. They sorted what they wanted to copy, and took the copies away with them.”

  “So you have a copier here?”

  Durkin laughed. “Yes, don’t ask me why. It’s the only new thing that this station’s had in the last 20 years. It’s an ‘all bells and whistles’ job. Used to be in Police HQ at Lloyd House, I’m told. I think they must have replaced it with one with even more bells and whistles.”

  “Do you think we could use it.”

  “No problem.”

  “What about paying for the stuff we want.”

  Durkin thought. “Well I suppose I should ask the Inspector about that, but he’s based in Sandwell. There’s only me here in the C.I.D department. In fact I am the C.I.D. There’s only one uniformed copper on each shift, here and he’s out on patrol.”

  “Do you mean that there’s only two people here at any one time?” asked Brakespeare incredulously.

  “Not necessarily. If we have to go out, we lock the station up.”

  “But what if you need help.”

  “We just radio Sandwell and they send someone over. Today I’m in charge, so take as many cop
ies as you want; make a note of the number of sheets and I’ll send a memo to the Inspector. You may get a bill for it.” He smiled. “On the other hand, you may not! Just one thing though.”

  “What’s that asked Jonny.

  “Can I see what you’re copying. If there’s something going on as you suggested, I’d like to know what the evidence is.”

  Again Brakespeare looked at Lisa, who shrugged her shoulders.

  “No problem. Can’t see any secrets to hide.” he said.

  “Not for you to hide perhaps, but there may be some for the National.”

  “Are you hoping we’ll find something?”

  “Put it this way, I’m still stuck here because I did a proper job. I prepared the case, and couldn’t see that there was any way that your man Newberry should have been charged. I’ve got a lot of flack for that. So has the Chief Constable, especially now that the London C.P.S. have taken the case on. I think that the National are just a little too eager to want someone, preferably your Mr. Newberry, to be nailed for something. That to my mind means that they’ve something that they want covering up. If I can find something against them – with your help of course, then I might, just might, be able to do myself a favour.”

  “Should we be talking like this?” Lisa asked Brakespeare anxiously.

  “Probably not, but it’s all off the record isn’t it?” he asked Durkin.

  “We’re not having this conversation are we. I’ll have to put in a report as to what’s gone on today, but as far as I’m concerned, I shall be just checking what you have copied and the number of pages.”

  Brakespeare nodded appreciatively. Durkin was an old hand. He could never have had this conversation with a young officer trained in political correctness. Both men were in their different ways, interested in seeing justice done. On behalf of the Police, Durkin was entitled to know what papers they were copying. If he had his own motives, that was a matter for him.

  They made small talk while they finished their mugs of strong tea, and ate some of the biscuits, so fresh that Durkin must have gone out to buy them that morning.

  “Right?” said Durkin. “How are we going to play this.”

  “Any ideas?” Brakespeare asked Lisa, as now seemed the habit.

  “Sure,” she smiled. “What we need to do is sort out those files. The correspondence needs putting back in chronological order; then we need to make sure that there are no letters missing from one file which appear on the other, and then take copies of the files.”

  “You won’t need me for that.” Grinned Durkin. “You can use this office though. I shan’t be too far away. Just shout if you need me.”

  For the rest of the day Brakespeare and Lisa did just what she had suggested. Lisa worked very quickly and her deft hands soon sorted both sets of files into chronological order. Then she took the one set containing Redshaw’s correspondence, and Brakespeare the other containing the national correspondence, and they compared pages to ensure that there was no correspondence missing from either.

  At lunch, Durkin offered to take them round the corner to what he described as the ‘best pub in the Black Country’, but both graciously declined. Brakespeare knew from dealing with the Police, that lunch would have been of the mainly liquid type; of no assistance to their powers of concentration.

  “We’ll work on and try and get the job done today” Brakespeare said by way of excuse.

  As they read the correspondence, both became excited at what they found. Lisa’s eyes shone. “I can’t believe this,” she said. “No wonder this wasn’t included in the Exhibits.”

  “No, but if the C.P.S. read this, as they must, then why did they launch the prosecution. No, that’s a silly question. Clive Masters of course.”

  “Could it be a malicious prosecution?”

  “Don’t know. We’d have to show that there was manifestly no basis on which to charge Newberry, - Durkin says that of course, and that there was malice in the decision to prosecute A not guilty verdict wouldn’t be sufficient. “

  “Well we’re seeing that there was no basis.”

  “Yes, but how can we show the malice? O.K., we may believe that Masters is behind all this, but whose going to make a statement saying that?”

  “But isn’t the criminal offence of making false allegations covered under the common law offence of perverting the course of public justice.

  “Where did you get that from?” gasped Brakespeare.

  Lisa gave one of her coyer smiles. “I have been looking at the law books in order to keep up to speed.”

  “You’re ahead of me. Anything else?”

  ”Consideration could also be given to an offence under section 5(2) of the Criminal Law Act 1967, which covers wasteful employment of the police, better known as wasting police time.”

  “Maybe that’s what Durkin is after.”

  “Although he probably doesn’t know it yet.”

  “No, but he will when you tell him, won’t he.”

  Lisa raised her eyebrows questioningly. Brakespeare nodded affirmatively.

  “We’re lucky he’s around. Usually the Police put up the barriers in situations like these. The guy needs a break. We’ve got to help him, it’s only fair.”

  “Then, I suppose if we give him something to go on, he might just be able to help us,” said Lisa, slowly.

  “You mean a rearguard action against Masters?”

  Lisa smiled a wicked smile. “The Fifth Column”.

  Brakespeare leant across the desk towards her.

  “You know you really ought to qualify. You’re ahead of me on this. You are a good lawyer.”

  Lisa looked back. “I’ve got a good teacher.”

  They gazed at each other across the table.

  They were still like that when Durkin walked into the room. He took the situation in but said nothing, as both quickly pretended to resume their task.

  “We’re almost done. What we need is this lot copying.” said Brakespeare to the policeman, indicating the two piles of papers.

  “No problem, but…” and Durkin sat on a vacant chair. “What have we got? Anything?”

  “My colleague here thinks that she may have something for you to go on.”

  “Really?” Durkin became visibly enthusiastic. “What is it?”

  Lisa repeated what she had just said to Brakespeare.

  “Christ” said Durkin. “Do you think that there is really enough evidence to start looking at charges against the National.”

  “Well, this is what we’ve found.” Said Lisa, and methodically went through the substance of the correspondence for the policeman’s benefit.

  There was a silence as she finished. Durkin looked slowly from one to the other.

  “Bugger me, why didn’t I look at all that? Oh, sorry Miss”

  “Different mindset?” asked Brakespeare.

  Durkin looked puzzled.

  “When you looked at the papers, you were trying to see if you could build a case. We’ve been looking at them to find the holes in the case.”

  “And you wouldn’t have expected Mr. Black to have been so unreliable.” added Lisa.

  “Bloody well didn’t. But it proves I was right don’t it. There is no case.”

  “Well, that’s what we hope the Judge will think.”

  “And if he throws it out, you’re vindicated.” Lisa smiled her most beguiling smile at Durkin as she spoke.

  “Yeeees.” Said Durkin slowly, and sat back in his chair.

  Lisa leant towards him. ” Perhaps we could work together?”

  Brakespeare looked anxious, wondering what she was about to say. Durkin looked interested. “What do you mean. I can’t help you defend your man. I’m a copper.”

  “Directly, no. Indirectly, yes. You asked if there was enough evidence to look at charges against the National. Well there may be, but not just yet. Even if Black was up to no good, that does not mean that the National was involved. However, I expect”, she looked directly at Brakespear
e, “that our defence will be that the fact that Black appears to have had a dual capacity, and a close business link with the National means that he cannot be regarded as an independent. There may be more to his connections with the National”

  Durkin nodded, warming to her line of reasoning.

  “Now if you want to go back to your Chief Constable, and ask permission to make further enquiries….”

  Durkin broke into a broad smile.

  “You mean run a sort of spoiling exercise for you; get the C.P.S. worried.”

  “If they get to hear about it.”

  “Oh, they will. Mr. Black will tell them after I have questioned him.” Brakespeare said.

  “Well you need to speak to the Chief about that. At the moment he’s a witness, so you can’t really arrest him and interview him under caution.”

  “So what can I do?”

  Lisa leant forward and reaching across and patted Durkin's thigh. “Speak to this Jonathan Skinner. See what they have to say. Get a statement confirming that they had approaches from Redshaw Linden and Steele. See if you can find out how close the relationship between the two companies was. In particular try and find out whether it was Black trying to match the price that Skinners clients were prepared to pay, or whether Black was setting the prices in order to get a sale.”

  Brakespeare could see that Lisa was having the same positive effect on Durkin as she did on him. He decided to contribute to the conversation.

  “That way, Black is bound to get to hear of what you are doing, and we can see what happens.”

  “We’ll see if he becomes destabilised.” Said Lisa.

  “Christ Jonny, you should never have left the C.P.S. The Police could do with you.”

  “Thank Lisa as well”, said Brakespeare. “We’re a team.” He glanced towards her and was pleased to see the glance appreciated and returned.

  “Do you want me to keep in touch.”

  Brakespeare hesitated. “What if you get caught. I’m not sure that it’s a criminal offence for a Police Officer to assist a defence; it probably isn’t, but it might be a disciplinary matter. Better go through Joe Gargan.”

  Durkin thought. “Bugger that. Thing’s can’t get any worse. If the case against your Mr. Newberry collapses, then, well….”