Up Close and Personal

by Alan Fisher

  “Did he say who he was meeting or how he might be getting there?”

  “No he did not” she said with an air of indignance. “It was not my place to know such detail. As to how he might travel, that would much depend on who he was to meet. Sometimes a car would be sent for him, sometimes he would take a taxi. He gave up driving many years ago”.

  “Can I take it you live here Mrs Wallace? Or do you come in each day, starting at breakfast?”

  “I live here, I have two rooms to myself upstairs. It’s a big house Chief Inspector and the judge wanted me to live in so that I could keep house properly, leaving him free to concentrate on his work, and more recently, on his social affairs. He was a generous employer and a kind-hearted man. He made it very easy for me to look after him, I respected his privacy as he did mine. I came here shortly after my husband died, cancer you know. The judge had recently moved here and was looking for someone to look after both him and the house. A mutual friend suggested we could both benefit from meeting each other and the fact that I’ve been here ever since is testament to how sound that notion was”.

  “As a judge, he must have made many enemies” said Jack.

  “Probably, but he wouldn’t discuss such things with me. I dare say the Clerks of the Court in Durham may have more information. But given how long he was a judge, the numbers of people who may have been aggrieved by his decisions could be immense”.

  “I see, we’ll look into that. On a completely different matter, can I ask if the judge had a mobile phone?”

  “Of course. I know he was getting on in years, but he was up to date with technology and liked to keep in touch with people. Why do you ask?”

  “Because his phone is missing, it wasn’t on the body when we found it”.

  “Now that is surprising, he never left home without it”.

  “Thank you Mrs Wallace, that’s been most helpful. Before we leave would you mind if Mr Cole has a look at the photographs in the hallway?”

  “Of course, there are some taken when he was out with friends or colleagues, and some where he met people of importance, such as members of the Royal Family, or those who he had high regard for” she said, seemingly understanding Jack’s motive without being asked.

  Oliver saw the nod from Jack and immediately got to his feet and crossed the floor heading back into the hallway.

  “What happens now Mrs Wallace?”

  “In what way Chief Inspector?”

  “I mean to you and to this house. I understand that Justice Robertson did not have any family”.

  “Oh I see. Well that’s true, he didn’t. As for the house or what happens to me, I have no idea. The judge told me that if anything happened to him I would be well catered for and that he would make some provision in his will for me. I have no idea what that might be, but he was a man of his word, so I suppose I’ll find out in due course. It’s desperately sad that it should all end this way”.

  “I’m sorry” said Jack as Oliver appeared in the doorway with what looked like a question on his lips. Jack motioned him to return to the chairs.

  “Something of interest Oliver?”

  “Yes sir. There are a couple of photographs that might be of interest. I wanted to ask Mrs Wallace if it would be possible for us to borrow them for a while so we could take a closer look back at headquarters”.

  “Of course Mr Cole, take whatever you need, whatever may help you with your investigation”.

  Oliver headed back into the hallway and left Jack to conclude the interview.

  “Thank you” said Jack, “we’ll get along now Mrs Wallace. Be sure we’ll be in touch if we need to speak further and we’ll get these photos back to you as soon as possible”.

  “I appreciate it” she said, getting to her feet. “Let me show you out”.

  Chapter 28

  “Jack’s phone started to ring just as he was getting into his car, which was still parked on the drive at Justice Robertson’s house in Corbridge, Northumberland.

  “Collier”.

  Jack sat listening for a minute before he turned the engine on.

  “Understood, we’ll be back in about forty minutes or so. Make sure she’s comfortable and has everything she needs will you. And get someone to set up the TV facilities to look over the footage from the Radisson Blu Hotel as well, something I need to have a closer look at. Then get cracking on those fraud allegations, could be the key to all this” said Jack.

  He clicked his phone shut and fastened his seat-belt.

  “Tanya Golding at headquarters then?” asked Oliver.

  “She is. Now, what do you reckon to all that with Mrs Wallace?” said Jack as he turned the car around and headed out of the drive and onto the main road.

  “Erm, not exactly what I was expecting sir. Not that I should have had any real expectations I suppose, I’ve never met a housekeeper before. I though the profession had died out half a century ago”.

  “Apparently not. Get anything useful from the discussion?”

  “Not really. She’s quite protective of the judge I think, but then I don’t think she would lie either. She kept his house, not his secrets. And if he had any, I’m not surprised she’s unaware of what they might have been. The very nature of his profession opens up a wide possibility of enemies of course, but whoever carried the strength of feeling to murder him obviously carried similar feelings towards McMillan. Mrs Wallace clearly didn’t know McMillan, so we have to assume that he never visited the house. But there has to be a connection between the two, find that and maybe we find the killer”.

  “What did you want to take the photos away for, see something?”

  “Not specifically. There are three photos here all showing Robertson with different groups of people. The other photos were just of Robertson or Robertson in official pose, often with high ranking individuals. I thought the group ones might have something, but I avoided the one’s with any members of the Royal Family in them”.

  “Too bloody right you did. Can you imagine what the Superintendent would say if he thought we were about to involve any of the Royal Family in a murder enquiry. My career would be toast, probably served with a slice of mouldy cheese and a jug of the finest piss, all delivered to my luxury room for one in the Tower of London”.

  “Just as well I avoided them then. Although most of the photos were recent, the ones I borrowed are a little older, probably from the 80’s or 90’s I would guess”.

  “Any particular reason? You think the connection might be historic?”

  “I don’t know. It’s just that these have more than Robertson on his own or Robertson plus one in them”.

  “And you think that might be significant?”

  “Again I don’t know. I keep coming back to the fact that both Robertson and McMillan had a message stuffed in their mouths, Jack of Hearts and Jack of Diamonds”.

  “I don’t see the connection. Why should that mean that you need old photos of groups rather than just Robertson and McMillan?”

  “I’ve nothing to support why sir” said Oliver.

  “But you’ve a theory”, said Jack with certainty.

  “Yes, but it’s a bit off the wall”.

  “I don’t care how off the wall it is lad, spit it out”.

  “Well what if the playing card is a pseudonym or nom de plume for them. Members of some group being referenced by the nom de plume rather than their actual name. So Andrew McMillan was known as the Jack of Diamonds and Robertson the Jack of Hearts”.

  “Known by whom”?

  “I don’t know” said Oliver exasperated. “Some group or other, I’ve no idea what. It’s just a feeling I get. Maybe rather than use their real names they were using pseudonyms like playing cards to protect identity, like in the Masons or something”.

  “The Masons is nothing like that” said Jack, leaving no doubt as to the accuracy of the statement.

  “Ok then. Suppose these two were part of some cult or something where their identities were protecte
d. Someone found out who they are and is killing them one by one for something that happened years ago”.

  “Oliver, even by your normal standards it’s a bit far-fetched. A high court Judge and a potential MP being members of some cult or other? Even if there was a cult or something similar, I can’t imagine that when deciding on names to protect their identity someone would decide to be known as the three of spades or the like. It’s crazy. Besides, that would mean we might have another fifty murders to come, surely you’re not suggesting that”.

  “No, not necessarily, maybe it’s a group of a dozen and they just used the picture cards. It’s not a new idea either sir. Remember the Americans used playing cards as code for the enemies they wanted to find during the Iraq war. Wasn’t Saddam Hussain the Ace of Spades or something?”

  “I see your point but you’re not suggesting some military connection are you?”

  “No sir, it was just an example to show that it was a possibility, however remote”.

  “No, it can’t be” said Jack shaking his head. “It’s just too……, too implausible. But don’t give up, keep thinking, the answer will be in there somewhere”.

  “Is that a vote of confidence sir?” smiled Oliver.

  “Do you need one?”

  “Not really”.

  “Then take it as a statement of fact. Now, when we get back I’ll go and have a chat with Tanya Golding. Not from a suspects angle but to see if we can fill in a bit more about McMillan and his other activities. I want you to look at those tapes and confirm your suspicions that she wasn’t at least directly involved and then get straight onto those photographs. We can catch up on anything you find before close of play.

  “What about DS Glover sir?”

  “What about him?”

  “I may be wrong, but I had the distinct impression that he wanted me on the edges of this investigation rather than in the middle of it” said Oliver, suddenly feeling that he needed to get the matter off his chest.

  “I knew something was bugging you, so that’s what it is. DS Glover is here for a specific reason and, as I said earlier, I’ll explain all that later. For the time being just do as I ask. DS Glover has a task to do, as have you, and as have I. Let’s hear no more of it”.

  The conversation was ended, and Oliver knew it.

  Had he overstepped the mark? Time would tell. But he was back in the game and that would do for now.

  Chapter 29

  Jason Glover sat at his desk wondering what was happening out in Corbridge. He appreciated that resources were stretched thin and that everyone was working on more than one avenue of enquiry, but his expertise in fraud had removed him from the front line, and he didn’t like it one bit.

  Why had Collier suddenly decided to take Cole with him out to Corbridge? Cole was still a DC and had spent the whole of the first week following his instructions. He’d got lucky a couple of times for sure, but luck was no substitute for proper police work and for following the trail methodically and diligently. He was a maverick and had no place becoming a DS, Jack would realise that eventually he felt certain.

  Until that happened, he knew he needed to continue to impress and to make sure that everybody delivered on the tasks set for them. He glanced around the room. They were a good team he thought. Everyone had done exactly as he had instructed, and he was pleased with that. Swan was efficient but seemed to have a soft spot for the maverick. It was a weakness that could be ironed out with the right management he believed. Wainwright was willing, but needed guidance. Moore just got on with the job, he needed to know more about him. The two new officers needed to be assessed but it was clear that there was some history with Cuthbert. Why had he left Northumbria to transfer to Durham? He would find out; the information might prove useful.

  With Tanya Golding sitting downstairs with a coffee and a range of magazines to browse through, he felt able to look into the documents that suggested the possibility of some fraudulent activity by McMillan. He opened the file and started to read.

  When Oliver Cole entered the office three quarters of an hour later, he’d finished reading through all the papers and was excited about what he’d read.

  He looked at Cole as he took off his coat to hang on the back of the chair;

  “Proper police work Cole, following the trail methodically and with due diligence. That’s what gets results, not wild theories and a bit of luck” he thought.

  He picked up his file and went across to Oliver’s desk.

  “Where’s DCI Collier Cole, I’ve some important information for him”.

  “He’s with Tanya Golding downstairs sir. He said he would interview her straight away and I was to have a look over the CCTV footage from the hotel in Durham”.

  “For anything in particular?”

  “Just a thought I had. I’ve only seen the stills from the footage, and I think there might be something worth looking at”.

  “You bring any concerns or any thoughts you have to me Cole, through the chain. You don’t go off on a whim to look at something that you think might be important”.

  “Yes sir, but I did check with the DCI and he said it would be ok if I had a look whilst he interviewed Tanya Golding”.

  Glover ignored the response. He was clearly annoyed at being bypassed.

  “And did the DCI say how long he would be?”

  “No sir”.

  “Right then, you’d better do as he has suggested. The kit is all set up in the conference room. What are those?” he asked, pointing to the photograph frames Oliver had put down on his desk.

  “Some old photos from Justice Robertson’s house sir”.

  “Something in them of interest?”

  “I don’t know sir; I haven’t studied them in any detail yet”.

  “Well I can do that whilst I’m waiting for the DCI, let me know if you see something in the CCTV footage that you think I’ve missed, won’t you” he said, barely disguising his annoyance.

  “Of course sir” said Oliver.

  Jason grabbed the photographs from Oliver’s desk and turned to return to his own. Oliver immediately headed for the conference room before another word could be said, glad to be away from the main office.

  He’d barely closed the conference room door behind him when it opened again, and Debbie Swan came into the room.

  “What the hell was all that about?” she asked as Oliver switched on the TV monitor.

  “You heard then” said Oliver without emotion.

  “The whole office heard, what have you done to piss Glover off?”

  “Nothing as far as I know. He wanted to talk with the DCI and seemed to blame me that he’d stayed downstairs to interview Tanya Golding. It wasn’t my fault, I don’t dictate what the DCI does, it’s the other way around”.

  “We know that. Glover’s been a right pain in the arse since he got back from picking Golding up”.

  “Maybe that’s it then. Maybe he’s pissed off at being sent to fetch her in whilst I went out with the DCI to Robertson’s house”.

  “Then he should take that up with the DCI rather than having a go at you. And what was that about some photos?”

  “I brought some photos back from Robertson’s house that might need a closer look. I had a feeling there might be something in one of them, nothing specific, just a feeling. The DCI wanted me to have a look at them when I’ve finished here” said Oliver, as the tape started to roll.

  “And how are you going to achieve that if Glover has them?”

  “Look Debbie” he said, pulling up a chair to watch the footage. “I can only do what I can do. If the DCI asks I’ll just have to tell him the DS Glover wanted to have a look first and I haven’t had a chance yet. Maybe he’ll find what I was looking for, so it won’t matter”.

  “Oh, I see now. I get it”.

  “Get what?”

  “It’s the search for McMillan’s crime scene all over again isn’t it? Glover wants to be the one to find the something that will lead to the killer
. He’s after stealing your credit” said Debbie, getting increasingly irate.

  “I told you I don’t do credit. And keep your voice down, will you. Look, I just want to help where I can to catch the killer. Who gets a pat on the back is neither here nor there to me, as you well know. If he wants the credit or the kudos so desperately, he’s welcome to it. Anyway, who’s to say those photos are important, there might not be anything in them worthy of note”.

  He stopped the footage when it reached a point he was interested in and clicked the mouse to print off a still picture of the frozen shot. In a couple of seconds the printer clicked and started to whirl into action.

  “Christ you frustrate me sometimes” she said as she moved towards the door. “And if you’ve brought those photos back here to have a closer look at, I would put a year’s mortgage on there being something in there worthy of a suitcase full of notes never mind one”.

  And clearly feeling exasperated, she left the room and closed the door behind her with a loud thud.

  Chapter 30

  Jack was surprised to find that Oliver was not at his desk when he arrived back in the office late on Thursday afternoon after having interviewed Tanya Golding. The interview itself hadn’t been over enlightening, except perhaps that he’d managed to form the same impression as Oliver had in that it was unlikely that she’d had any involvement in McMillan’s murder.

  He’d filled in some background elements of her relationship with the politician and some differing views on his character, but he doubted if any of it would prove to be relevant to the case.