***
ACC Wendy Smythe had travelled from HQ to Harrowfield incident room and was hovering outside Dylan’s office when he returned.
‘Vicky Hardacre has updated me. Is it him?’ she said.
‘I think so, we just need the evidence.’
‘What’s he saying?’
‘He’s playing the game at the moment. There is no doubt he’s savvy, he knows we haven’t got the evidence or we would have arrested him for the murders. He more or less just told Raj so in interview.’
‘Nothing new then?’
‘No. I haven’t put Vicky in interview with him yet. She’s met him on a couple of occasions. I think we’ll see if he is more forthcoming with someone he knows next.’
‘Have you searched the place where he’s living for his clothing? Could he possibly have gone home after the attack, put on his running gear and gone out again to see if there was any police activity in the area.’
‘He wouldn’t have had time but it was obviously his intention to get rid of the clothing he was wearing and maybe he wanted to get himself arrested knowing we had nothing on him. In fact he was actually making himself the distraction to already stretched resources. His flat is due to be turned over within the hour.’
DS Raj knocked on his door and walked in. ‘Did you catch what Woodcock said after we finished interviewing him?’
Dylan shook his head from side to side.
‘He asked us if we would feed his fish when we searched his flat!’
‘So, what does that tell us?’ said the ACC.
‘He knows our next move is to do a search and is confident we’re not going to find anything ma’am,’ said Rajinder.
‘Cocky bastard.’
‘Tell Vicky, John, Andy and Ned I want them to go in now,’ said Dylan to Raj.
‘Are we alright as far as staffing levels go,’ said Wendy Smythe.
‘At the moment we are.’
‘What results are imminent?’
‘His training shoes have already gone for blood and the sole pattern analysis in respect of Martin Crossfield’s murder.’
‘Anything you need from me?’
Dylan looked at Raj. She shook her head. ‘Not at the moment. I’ll let you know immediately if we get any evidence to arrest him in connection with the murders.’
‘I’ll be in the building for a while. I’ve a meeting with Hugo-Watkins. If I hurry up I might just get Janet to cut me a slice of the large custard tart he has with his afternoon tea,’ she said. ‘Let’s see how the Division is faring with all the cutbacks shall we? I’ll get from under your feet.’
***
Using the key Woodcock had on him when he was arrested Vicky, John, Andy and Ned suited and booted entered the flat belonging to the prisoner. Jim Woodcock’s flat was very clean and tidy.
‘He must have been expecting us?’ said Ned.
Vicky flared her nostrils. ‘Bleach,’ she said.
The small living space was dominated by a large four foot fish tank, which contained two very large fish.
‘Just look at the size of them!’ said Vicky.
‘I expected to find a couple of goldfish in a bowl,’ said Andy.
‘What the hell are they?’ said Ned.
‘I don’t know what they are but I do know who they are,’ said Vicky. ‘Look at their name plaque, Ronnie and Reggie,’ she read. ‘Named after the Kray twins do you think?’ She turned to the others.
‘They look like piranhas to me,’ said John.
‘Whatever you do don’t put your hand in. I heard a piranha can snap a finger off if you trail it in the water,’ said Ned, turning to Vicky with a grimace.
‘Our lad’s doing a project on them at school,’ said John.
‘Brilliant,’ said Vicky. ‘So what do you know about them?’
‘Nothing, I haven’t had the time to read it.’
‘You’re a rubbish dad,’ said Vicky.
‘I know,’ said John. ‘The downside of being a detective... I’m never at home.’
‘Let’s just leave the fish alone for now shall we?’ said Vicky, but her attention was drawn to them many times during the search which turned up nothing untoward. A passport was found and the places visited were marked by an array of stamps from far away countries.
‘I’ll seize it to take back for the boss, shall I?’ said Andy.
‘Good idea,’ said Vicky. She was distracted again by the room’s illuminated feature. ‘Reggie and Ronnie,’ she said purposefully walking backwards and forwards across the room. ‘Have you noticed that they follow you?’ she said to Ned as she walked once again to stand at the tank.
‘You probably look like a hearty meal to them, that’s why.’
‘You’re right they might be hungry we haven’t fed them.’
‘Dropping to her knees she opened the cabinet below to find container after container labelled with different dried foods. ‘Crayfish, worms, small insects, grasshoppers, crickets,’ she said. She looked from the container in her hand to the fish swimming at the bottom of the tank, its eye was firmly upon her. ‘What d’you fancy buddy?’ she said. The fish spewed a heap of gravel out of its mouth, it made a loud noise as it hit the glass. She jumped backwards. There was a pause. Vicky’s mouth dropped open.
‘Holy shit!’ she shrieked.
‘What?’ said the men who gathered at her side.
‘Look! Is that what I think it is?’
Chapter Thirty-Six
‘Oh my god it is! It’s a tooth!’
Dutifully one of the fish once more dug deep into the gravel with its lower jaw and scooped another mouthful of gravel. It proceeded head first to the front of the tank.
‘I don’t believe it. It’s eaten it,’ she gasped. ‘The bloody article! It’s eaten the tooth.’
No sooner were four faces up close to the tank than the fish spat the gravel out forcefully at the glass.
‘There it is,’ Vicky shouted, her splayed fingers pressed hard against the glass.’
‘Blimely O’Reilly, I think she might be right,’ said Ned.
‘We need a net or something to get it out quickly before it moves it again,’ said Andy who already had his head in the cupboard below.
‘Can’t you just put your hand in and pick it out?’ said Ned. Vicky was rolling up her sleeves.
‘I’m sure I once read it takes three to five hundred piranhas to actually eat someone,’ said Ned. ‘Go for it.’
Vicky hesitantly went to lift the lid. No sooner had she done so but both fish propelled themselves with a flick of their strong tails to the top. Water went everywhere. The group jumped back. The lid snapped shut. The men laughed. Wet as she was Vicky tried once again, all the time keeping eye contact with one of the fish through the glass. This time the ferocity of the attack made her withdraw her hand in fear. The water was becoming cloudy, one of the fish was agitated and alert. The other lay close to the glass in the bottom corner.
Ned was doubled up laughing, so much so he could hardly speak. ‘Woodcock certainly named them well...’ he said wiping tears from the corner of his eyes.
Andy passed Vicky a small net he had found. She squeezed the wire together and fed it through the feeding hole in the roof of the tank. Very carefully she tried to steer it in the direction of the tooth. The fish appeared to back off until the net was fully submerged and her fingers were laid bare to him and then it struck with force, attacking the handle of the net and yanked it from her hold.
Vicky’s hand safely out of the water the team watched the net slowly float to the bottom of the tank and settle upon the gravel, covering the tooth.
‘They certainly mean business,’ said Ned.
‘I think we need to identify what breed of fish they are before we do anything else,’ said Vicky. She wiped her hands and picked up her phone. ‘Boss,’ she said. ‘We need your help.’
‘Can you take a picture on your mobile and send it to me?’ said Dylan.
‘If anyone will know
what the fish are, it’ll be Ralph, Jen’s dad,’ he said.
Dylan forwarded it onto Ralph’s mobile with the relevant question in the text.
‘I’m pretty sure they’re Oscars,’ Ralph said by return. ‘A word of warning, they might try to jump out of the tank given the chance. Tell your officers not to attempt to pick them up without covering them with a towel first. They have razor sharp fins.’
***
‘Get me a towel will you, just in case,’ John said peering at the tooth jewel, in its gravel crown. Ronnie and Reggie had backed into a corner. Without hesitation he put his hand in the tank and with a forefinger and thumb pincher movement he picked up the net, discarded it in the fishes’ direction as a would-be shield, and gently, as if in slow motion to those watching, with bated breath, he moved the gravel in the water to locate the tooth. Picking it up he withdrew his hand sharply.
There it was. The human tooth for all to see was in the palm of John’s large hand. For a few moments the observers were silent. Then they looked from one to the other.
‘Do you think there’ll be more?’ said Ned, he looked over his shoulder to the menacing stare of the Oscars.
‘We’re going to have to drain it to see,’ said John.
‘How can we? What’re we going to do with the fish?’ said Ned.
‘Do I need to ring the boss?’ said Vicky.
The tooth placed inside an exhibit container, John held it out to Andy.
‘Yes, it has got to be his call,’ said John.
***
‘We need photographs of the fish tank and the fish in situ. I’ll get CSI to you directly,’ Dylan said.
DS Raj scanned the internet for a local tropical fish retailer and arranged the removal of the fish for their safe keeping. Once this was done the water would be ready to be drained by the officers at the scene.
Ned stood close to CSI Jarv. They were both booted and suited. He offered Vicky the end of a plastic tube, the other he held under the water, in the tank. She ignored him. He threw a plastic bin at her feet. It bounced on the sterile sheet and toppled over. Sarah Jarvis picked it upright. ‘Come on, it’s right, you’ve got to put your mouth round it to get it flowing,’ he said to Vicky ‘... and suck hard.’
She shook her head and smacked her lips together. ‘I might be blonde but I’m not that bloody stupid,’ she said giving him a sideways glance. ‘Just get on with it will you...’ she said.
They removed the gravel by the handful and as they did so teeth were picked out one by one.
Vicky’s phone rang. ‘Is there any sign of any dental tools at the flat,’ said Dylan.
‘No boss, nothing of use other than the passport.’
‘Myself and Raj are going down to the cells, to arrest him for the murders and see what his response is.’
‘We have recovered so far, what we believe to be fourteen human teeth. We’ll get a quick confirmation from a pathologist, then we’ll have the DNA checked. The gravel needs checking too in case there are smaller fragments we’ve missed.’
***
The cell area was empty other than for Ms Perfect, Woodcock’s solicitor, a partner at Perfect & Best who had been summoned to the police station. Dylan disclosed to Ms Perfect their intention to arrest him with regard to the recovery of the teeth at her client’s flat. In the charge room Dylan told Jim Woodcock, in the presence of his solicitor. ‘Apart from the attempted murder for which you are under arrest. I am now arresting you for the murders of Davina Walsh, Carl Braithwaite, Alan Bell and Martin Crossfield.’ He cautioned him.
James Woodcock didn’t flinch or make comment. He was led into the interview room.
Dylan opened the questioning after the formalities of voice recognition and caution.
‘You have just been arrested, apart from the attempted murder of Rachel Nicholson, which is why you are in custody but also now for four other murders those of Davina Walsh, Carl Braithwaite, Alan Bell and Martin Crossfield. Is there anything you want to say about that?’
‘I’m astonished and appalled that you could even think I was capable of such things,’ he said. Neither his body language nor his manner showed opposition to the charge that he professed.
‘Well, one of the reasons that we have charged you is that we have recovered fourteen teeth from your fish tank. Which we believe to be human. As we speak they are being taken for further examination.’
‘So, on that basis alone you have arrested me for murder?’ he said. His brow held a frown as he looked sideways at Ms Perfect.
Dylan and Raj remained silent.
‘I bought them on the internet Inspector?’ He shook his head in little jerky movements. ‘Didn’t you know you can buy everything over the internet these days?’
‘So explain to me why you would put them in a fish tank?’
Jim Woodcock sniggered. ‘They’re a feature. Unusual decoration don’t you think?’
‘Really?’ said Dylan. His mouth turned downwards.
‘Tell me Inspector. What have you done with my fish? I know you wouldn’t have got the teeth out if you’d not removed the fish first,’ he said.
‘Don’t worry they’ve been moved to safety. Do you have someone you wish to nominate to look after them for you in the long term?’
‘Long term? You’re hoping aren’t you?’ Jim Woodcock laughed. ‘If anything happens to them, I’ll sue,’ he said with a more serious look on his face.
‘You know it’s only a matter of time before we get DNA results, so let’s put a stop to this nonsense now, shall we?’
‘I think you might be a bit premature Inspector. You may find yourself releasing me soon.’
‘We’ll see. Tell me. Why didn’t you go into dentistry Jim? Your mum, Edna says your dad was disappointed you weren’t interested in following in your father’s footsteps. Did you not aspire to be a dentist like your dad when you grew up?’
Rajinder was eyeing Jim Woodcock’s mouth with interest. ‘Your two front teeth,’ she said. ‘They just don’t look right...’
Jim Woodcock opened his mouth. ‘Good observation skills,’ he said, and with a simple hand movement he pulled out two teeth from the front of his mouth. Saliva ran down his fingers and dripped onto the table. He put them down on the desk in between himself and the detectives. Next he snatched them up together and swallowed them. He wiped his mouth with his forearm.
‘And the purpose of that was?’ said Dylan.
‘What evidence?’ said Woodcock, taking out a top plate. He smiled a wide, gummy, wet smile and laughed at the expression on his solicitor’s face. ‘If my father was still breathing he’d take great delight telling you what a disappointment I was to him. Even he couldn’t ensure I had nice teeth. I developed anodontia at a young age – much to his disgust. The son of a dentist having no teeth – shock horror! He wanted me to be a dentist – spent hours showing me the ropes before he became a sad old lush. But why on earth would I want to look after other people’s healthy teeth when I didn’t have any of my own?’
‘So why kill people to take out their teeth?’
‘Those are your words, not mine Inspector. And now maybe I’ve swallowed all your evidence. Now that’s sad isn’t it?’
It was Dylan’s turn to smile. ‘It’s not a problem to us Jim,’ he said. ‘We have a drugs toilet in your cell that’s available for you to use when you’re ready. You aren’t going anywhere. You’re not unique. We are quite used to people like you trying to swallow evidence in an attempt to conceal or get rid of things.’
Jim Woodcock looked perturbed and made no comment.
‘We are used to people telling us lies too, but our job you see is to be patient. We are evidence gatherers. Then we put the best available evidence forward at a court of law. I’m sure as a psychology and criminology student you will be well read on these subjects, won’t you Mr Woodcock?’ Dylan said. ‘Or haven't you got around to those points of law yet?’
‘Maybe I am... But do you know what? I need the toil
et right now,’ he said and proceeded to try pull off his coverall.
Dylan ended the interview and he was escorted back to his cell.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Dylan had missed several phone calls whilst they had been arresting Woodcock for his involvement in the murders, most of the calls were from Jen. Before he returned those calls he was duty bound to let the ACC know of the arrest status of the prisoner.
Granting the extension of detention to keep Woodcock for a further twelve hours wouldn’t be an issue for the Divisional Commander. Dylan knew after this time had elapsed, if necessary, he could apply to the court to extend this for a longer period of time and it would be granted.
Dylan’s head was buzzing. The team was working flat out. The most important aspects of the case were prioritised by him. Lisa brought in a coffee and put it down on the corner of his desk.
‘Will there be a debrief tonight?’
‘Yes, just tell everyone to give me a minute will you. I’ll only be a minute,’ he said. Picking up the telephone he dialled home.
She nodded and closed the door behind her when she left.
***
Maisy’s face was growing increasingly dim as Jen sat watching the sleeping child. When she moved, the light from the lamp behind her opened up the bedroom. As she rose from her daughter’s bedside she reached for Maisy’s hand and enveloped it in hers. She leant over her and kissed her fleetingly on her forehead and put the storybook back on the shelf. When the phone rang Jen ran down the stairs. Jumping off the bottom two steps she ran into the moonlit lounge and picked it up.
‘Jack?’ she said. ‘I’ve been waiting for you to ring. I’m sorry. I know you’re busy but the Hampshire Police have had a DNA hit on the swabs they took from Ozzy. Dad told me Ozzy’s been arrested for the burglary at the post office and his friends’ house in Godshill. I’ve told him they’ll probably search the house. I’m right aren’t I?’ The room dropped into darkness in an instant as a cloud passed over the moon.
Killer Smile Page 31