‘Is he out of earshot?’ said Inspector Stonestreet.
‘He is sir, yes.’
‘Give me a description of what he’s wearing.’
‘White shorts, vest and trainers.’
‘Any ID on him?’
‘No, but that’s not surprising, dressed as he is. He’s just giving his name to Tracy... he says his name is Carl Bell, twenty-nine years old and he says he lives at Flat 4, Gillingham Place, off Hanson Lane.’
‘His description?’
‘Short, slightly built, brown hair, Yorkshire accent.’
Inspector Stonestreet listened intently as the Force Controller interacted. ‘At present we can’t verify that any person with that name is registered at that address,’ he said. Peter’s eyes found Dylan’s face. He held Dylan’s gaze.
‘What’re you thinking?’ said Peter.
‘If the officers with him haven’t got back-up get them some now,’ said Dylan.
‘Carl is the name of one our murder victims,’ said Vicky.
‘And Bell another,’ said Dylan.
‘Trying to create a diversion for us do you think?’ said Vicky.
‘I think he’s playing with us... He’s dangerous,’ said Dylan.
‘Then again, it may just be a dodgy jogger boss,’ said Ned. ‘The road sweeper says the attacker was dressed in dark clothing.’
‘His outer clothing could be easily discarded for shorts and vest,’ said Vicky.
‘I want him arrested,’ said Dylan.
‘On what grounds,’ said Peter Stonestreet to Dylan.
‘Suspicion of wounding but tell your officers to wait until back up arrives before they try to detain him in cuffs.’
‘That’s a brave move. It’s only circumstantial evidence,’ said Stonestreet.
‘At the moment it is but trust me on this one,’ said Dylan.
Inspector Stonestreet moved away from Vicky and Ned but he was within earshot as he spoke to the officer at the canal scene. ‘Back-up is on its way. DI Dylan wants him arrested on suspicion of wounding.’ He turned back to join the group, looking every bit his age. ‘I wish I was there...’ he said. ‘The two officers at the scene are nought but young kids.’
Dylan could see his kindly face was drawn, his jawline fixed.
‘I’m sure they’ll be fine,’ said Dylan. ‘They’ve had a good teacher.’ Dylan winked at the older man.
Lucy Jordan didn’t question the command. ‘PC Petterson is talking to him but he’s getting agitated, she said.
‘I told Control to ask officers attending to treat the severity of the call as officers needing immediate assistance,’ said Stonestreet.
There was a shout over the radio. ‘Tracy, PC Petterson, she’s down.’
The attacker was running and they could hear by the sound of her voice that PC Jordan was in pursuit. ‘Nearing Copley Bridge, PC Petterson is back on her feet, in pursuit, behind me,’ Lucy said. Her words were spoken in between short, jerking breaths.
‘Control to all units, PC Jordan and PC Petterson in pursuit of a man heading towards...’ was the update over the airways.
The group turned to see all available police cars disappearing. Redirected to help their colleagues.
‘Damn and blast,’ said Dylan. ’I hope they don’t bloody lose him.’
‘Not on my shift Dylan they won’t, you know that,’ said Stonestreet with a gentle nod of a proud head.
Chapter Thirty-Three
‘Man arrested on suspicion of wounding and assaulting a police officer. Prisoner en route to Harrowfield cells,’ came the somewhat relieved voice of PC Jordan over the airways.
The assembled officers gave a collective sigh – none bigger than the one Inspector Stonestreet gave. ‘Well, all you need is the evidence now Dylan,’ he said with a twinkle of an eye and a grimace hanging on his lips.
‘Where’s that bloody black cat? Let’s hope the luck we’ve had tonight continues. There’s going to be a lot of searching done in the next few hours and his custody clock will soon be against us... Get control to call DS Raj and DS John Benjamin out will you.’
Vicky and Ned climbed in Dylan’s car and left Peter Stonestreet at the scene. ‘We need to find the bastard’s clothes. He must have dumped them somewhere between here and the arrest site,’ Dylan said.
‘They could be in the canal. We might never find them...’ said Ned.
Dylan looked in his mirror and proceeded to reverse the car briefly making eye contact through the glass with Ned Granger. Dylan’s look could have cut steel.
‘And then there’s the little problem that this guy could actually be an innocent jogger’ Ned continued.
‘Shut the fuck up will you Ned.’ Vicky turned on her colleague in the back of the car.
Dylan steered his car out of the car park. He put his foot on the brake and looked back at Ned as they reached the exit. ‘Anything positive you’d like to offer as to the way forward, officer?’ he growled. He put his foot down on the accelerator and the car leapt forward. The black cat jumped out of nowhere.
‘Nooo,’ squealed Vicky. Dylan hit the brake. There was a moment’s silence before the cat strolled casually out from Dylan’s side of the car. Vicky took her hat off, turned it around backwards and marked the windscreen with an X.
‘What the fuck are you doing now?’ said Ned.
She turned to Dylan. ‘It’s okay. You can go now,’ she said. Dylan wasn’t about to dispel any superstition no matter how crazy they seemed – not on a night as important as this.
‘The minute we get back to the station I want you to make arrangements for the collection and viewing of any CCTV we recover from premises between the China House and Copley Bridge,’ he said, flashing Ned a momentary look in his rear view mirror.
He nodded.
‘Within the same area I want a visual search carried out. We are looking for abandoned clothing or anything close to the scene that looks remotely out of place... Something, anything that looks as if it could have been used as a weapon in the assault. Speak to the cells and get the prisoner’s clothing, including his footwear seized Vicky. Raj and John should be joining us very soon.’
By half past six the organised search teams were briefed by Dylan and out walking the route that the would-be jogger was thought to have taken. After his arrest Carl Bell was sticking to his story that he was of that name, but had now changed his place of residency to no fixed abode. He was unemployed – he said.
‘If this is our man do you think he might have attended Timothy Woodcock’s funeral?’ said Vicky.
‘I don’t know Vicky but let’s remember our prisoner is under arrest at the moment for the wounding of Rachel Nicholson and we need to find evidence to prove it, otherwise he’s going to walk.’
‘But you think he’s our killer don’t you?’
***
The local duty solicitors Perfect & Best were called from the old Co-Op building offices by the Custody Sergeant in the cells at the prisoner’s request. Apart from this he had refused everything else offered to him. ‘He insists he’s done nothing wrong.’
Dylan asked that he be notified when the on duty solicitor named as Yvonne Best arrived.
‘Let’s us have a sneaky look at the prisoner without him seeing us,’ Dylan said to Vicky.
The pair waited for him to be taken from his cell to his meeting with his solicitor. In a side office where they stood they had a good view of him being walked past. Vicky could hardly contain herself when she saw him. ‘Bloody hell, I don’t believe it. It’s Jim bloody Woodcock,’ she said.
Dylan’s eyes widened. ‘Things might be more positive than we thought. All we need now is that little thing called evidence,’ he said with a frown. ‘It’s going to be interesting to hear if he tells Ms Best his correct name and address.’
‘We’ll find out pretty soon now won’t we?’ said Vicky.
***
The cell area was empty when Dylan approached the custody suite desk.
> ‘Anything on him when he was brought in?’ said Dylan.
‘Two keys,’ the Custody Sergeant said.
‘Keys? Where are they now?’
‘Still here with the prisoner’s property.’
‘Can you get them and sign them out to me?’
***
Dylan sat at his desk staring at the keys that were in a clear, sealed evidence bag. One key looked like a door key and the other like Dylan’s own briefcase key.
‘Do you want a coffee and a sandwich boss?’ said Raj. ‘I bet you haven’t had any breakfast seeing as you were called out at a ridiculous time.’
‘Thanks. I’m so glad it was Stonestreet who was the Night Inspector. If he hadn’t put the Operation Tangent sweep plan into action the officers seeing our man jogging on the canal bank may well have taken his fake name and address to follow up and allowed him to carry on.’
Raj shut Dylan’s door quietly behind her. She saw him pick up the phone and key in a number. In her experience that phone call would be to ACC Wendy Smythe informing her of the arrest and relevant background details. She wondered as she strolled through the office if they would see the ACC in the office that day – then she reasoned with herself; it was highly unlikely and even more so as it was a Saturday.
***
As staff arrived in the incident room the atmosphere became more and more electric.
‘I want any intelligence on Jim Woodcock that’s out there. Which school did he attend? College, university; isn’t he supposed to be studying something? What is he studying? Does he claim grants or have financial assistance? We need to house him, find the clothing he discarded, look for a weapon he used to assault Rachel with. He must have dumped it somewhere en route. I want an FLO to liaise with the family who are still at the bedside of the victim keeping a vigil at their daughter’s side. Who’s on?’
‘PC Burkett is the on duty Family Liaison Officer.’
‘Get her in to see us. His detention clock is ticking. Our first deadline according to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, as you are well aware is twenty-four hours.’
***
It was warm, Dylan was sweating, he picked up his ringing phone and he loosened his tie.
‘Sergeant Clegg sir,’ Simon said. ‘You’ll be pleased to know we’ve already had some success.’
Eyes to the ceiling Dylan breathed out through pursed lips and when he looked down again Raj was staring at him.
‘Approximately eight hundred yards from where Rachel was attacked, in the direction the attacker was seen running, we have come across an old wooden police truncheon. I don’t know whether this could be the weapon that was used in the attack but it just seems totally out of place where it is, and it’s relatively clean.’
‘Forensic will be able to match it to the helmet Rachel was wearing if it is the weapon we are looking for. Have you seized it?’ said Dylan.
Raj’s look was one of surprise.
‘We’ll have it photographed in situ before we recover it then continue with the search, sir,’ Simon said.
Dylan put the phone down. ‘A find already?’ said Raj.
‘A truncheon,’ he said.
‘Strange thing to be found on the street?’ she said with a furrowed brow. ‘Yvonne Best is ready for the interview with her client,’ she said. ‘You’re interviewing with Vicky I believe?’
‘Yes, can you give her a shout for me I’ll meet her in the cell area?’
Dylan was deep in conversation with the solicitor when Vicky arrived. They were standing outside the interview room, the door firmly closed on the prisoner.
‘Is he still using the name of Carl Bell?’ Dylan said.
Ms Best looked puzzled, then her look turned to anger. ‘Oh no, you’re not telling me he has he given me a stiff name are you?’
Dylan raised his eyebrows.
Her lips formed a tight straight line. ‘Damn and blast, I’ve filled in all the legal aid forms which I am now going to have to do again. Oh, joy!’ she said. ‘As if we haven’t enough to do. Go on, tell me, what’s his right name?’
‘Our prisoner is a James (Jim) Woodcock and he is twenty-nine years of age. The address he has given us is false too, we believe.’
‘Give me another ten minutes with him will you?’ she said. Yvonne put her hand on the door handle to the interview room and when it didn’t open, with a face like thunder, she put her shoulder to the heavy door, pushed, and it opened wide. Slowly it closed after her but not before Dylan saw the prisoner at the table.
Dylan stood looking out of the window into the back yard from the corridor. It spoke volumes to him that Jim Woodcock had not given his solicitor his true identity. After all, he had asked for her help in securing his release. Dylan’s eyes flew upwards to the bright blue sky. An aeroplane flew overhead. Would they fare any better in interview or would he make them prove every point right down to the minor details? ‘Is this the supreme test?’ Dylan asked himself. Woodcock was about to meet his match Dylan was fired up and ready to go. He turned as the door opened. They were all ready to begin.
Chapter Thirty-Four
The pathetic looking figure of Jim Woodcock sat back in his seat as far as possible, in the interview room.
The white coverall suit provided was larger than required and it made him look feeble. It was the first time Dylan had met the prisoner in person but since Vicky had already had the pleasure Dylan chose to change his plan and do the first interview with DS Rajinder Uppal.
The introductions for voice recognition, for the purpose of the recording of the interview, along with a video was completed and the caution administered by Dylan. The prisoner appeared unfazed as he sat pulling hair from his already wild, fine and wispy mane.
Dylan spoke first. ‘Would you tell us your full name please?’
Unexpectedly, Woodcock smiled at Dylan and looked him straight in the eye. ‘Yes, of course.’ He shuffled in his seat and sat up straight leaning towards the detectives. ‘I’m genuinely sorry. I now realise...’ he said with a sideways look at his solicitor, ‘...that, that was very stupid of me.’ Woodcock bowed his head and looked at his hands. He put them palms down on the table before him.
‘Your full name please?’
‘James Woodcock but everyone calls me Jim.’
‘And can we call you Jim?’
Woodcock gave Dylan a quick half-smile. His lips were pressed together.
‘Is that a yes?’
He nodded.
‘Mr Woodcock is nodding in the affirmative,’ said Raj.
‘For the tape please could you speak your answers in future? So, tell me Jim why would you be jogging along the canal in the middle of the night?’
Woodcock cleared his throat and Dylan leant forward maintaining eye contact.
‘I go running when I can’t sleep.’
‘So, tell me why you couldn’t sleep last night?’ said Dylan.
Woodcock stroked his chin. ‘I think it was probably because I ate late. A cold curry isn’t the best food to go to bed on is it?’ His lips curled down at the edge of a smile.
‘Okay, but what I don’t understand is why you would assault a uniformed police officer in the line of duty and then try to run away?’
‘They shocked me, jumping out in front of me like that, in the dark. I told them I was out for a run. Then the police officer said they were investigating an attack on a woman that had occurred earlier in the town centre.’
‘And, what happened then?’
‘I asked her why she was asking me. Was the person who attacked her dressed like me? I couldn't think why else she would have stopped me. The officer spoke to someone on the radio and the other officer started pushing me around. She said I wasn’t to behave like a smart arse and kept demanding that I gave her my name. I was out of breath. I could hardly speak. She annoyed me. I’d done nothing wrong so I didn't see she had any right to be so threatening, uniform or not so I lied.’
‘And you thought pushing her ou
t of your way and running would help in what way?’
‘Well, I guess it was a poor effort on my part to get on my way once I had lied. But, they had just put the fear of god up me. She pushed me so I pushed her back and she fell to the ground. I panicked when I saw her fall and I ran. The pair ran after me and the next thing I knew I was being wrestled to the floor and handcuffed. Now I find myself here and for god’s sake I’d only gone out for a run. Wish I’d stopped in bed now.’
Woodcock pulled his hands back and placed them on his knees. He raised his chin.
‘Okay,’ said Dylan. ‘But once you arrived here, you continued to lie to the custody sergeant and your solicitor? Why would you do that if you were not guilty of something?’
‘I’ve already apologised for that. I know it’s absolutely idiotic, but once I’d started lying... Let’s say it just seemed like a good idea at the time.’
‘But Ms Best is your solicitor. You asked that she be called out to help you. How can she do that if you lie to her about something as simple as your name?’
‘If I’d have told her,’ he said nodding sideways in the solicitor’s direction, ‘I knew she would be obliged to tell you lot.’
The detectives were quiet. Woodcock avoided any eye contact and started tapping the pads of his fingers on the table. ‘It was wrong, I know that now, but I have never been arrested before have I and I thought they’d just take what I told them at face value and let me go on my way. Again...’ he said making eye contact with Dylan, ‘... stupid I know. I didn’t have time to think it through.’
‘Where did you set off from, for your jog?’ Raj asked.
Woodcock fidgeted in his seat and adjusted his clothing. ‘Home,’ he said.
‘Where is home?’
‘Flat 1, St Matthew’s Square, Harrowfield.’
‘So the address you gave the officers was also false?’
‘Yes,’ he said. He rubbed the back of his neck and looked down at the table.
Killer Smile Page 29