The Robert Finlay Trilogy

by Matt Johnson

  I stood for a while, gazing into the park, lost in a world of my own. I wasn’t certain whether to feel angry or anxious, fearful or dismissive.

  Although I owed it to Kevin to tell him, I first needed to talk with Toni before the feelings of anxiety I was experiencing began to affect me. To my mind, there was only one possible connection – one man who I knew might want to bug Kevin and who would be minded to force someone he had a hold over to do a dirty job for him – Howard Green.

  ‘Walk with me, Finlay.’ A female voice disturbed my thoughts. I turned to see Toni had joined me.

  As she walked purposefully through the entrance to the gardens and along the nearest path, I followed just behind her. She kept going until we reached a fountain that sprinkled gently into a small raised pond. There, she stopped.

  I stood to her left, about an arm’s length between us. As she said something, she faced toward the water jets. I couldn’t make her words out. Shuffling a little closer I raised my voice slightly to ask what she’d just said.

  ‘Nothing important. I just wanted to make sure you couldn’t hear me.’

  ‘That I couldn’t hear you?’ I asked, quizzically.

  ‘Talk towards the water, Finlay. It drowns out and absorbs sound very effectively – we want to avoid all possibility that our conversation is overheard.’

  ‘You think we may have been followed?’

  ‘No, I don’t think that at all. But you are definitely what we might call a “person of interest”, so it’s within the realms of possibility you could be watched, if not all the time, then as and when.’

  ‘I see. Err … do you come here often?’

  ‘Not really, at least not for work. I used to grab a sandwich and a Starbucks to spend some time here on one of the benches. But it’s becoming too popular now they’ve finished building the fountain.’

  ‘It’s new?’

  ‘Completed this year. Would you believe this was once a cemetery … where we are standing?’

  ‘It has that quiet feel about it.’ I kept polite, played the conversation game, but I was becoming impatient. I had things I needed to discuss, questions I needed answered.

  ‘That’s the trees,’ Toni continued. ‘Another good reason for meeting here. Apparently the local teaching hospitals used to pay people to rob the graves for research and so the surgeons could practise their dissection skills. Anyway … that’s not why we’re here, is it? You look edgy. There’s been a development, I presume?’

  ‘Yes, there has.’ I replied, relieved the small talk was at an end. I explained about the request to accompany Nina to see the Housing Minister, Omar Shabat, and of the revelation – to me – that he had been an MI6 agent. I then concluded by summarising the conversation that had taken place when Shabat had called me back in to the building.

  Toni listened intently and didn’t speak until after I’d mentioned my intention to warn Kevin about what might be a renewed threat. ‘Well, I can tell you who the MI6 officer is,’ she said.

  ‘You can? You knew about all this?’

  ‘No. But there’s only one man I know who has been in this up to his neck from the day it all started in Afghanistan … and he also chews the ends of his fingers until they bleed.’

  ‘Who’s that?’ I asked, already guessing at the name.

  ‘Someone I asked you about nearly a year ago, when this all came out. Howard Green.’

  I was right. ‘So, what is it with him?’ I demanded. ‘Why ask an agent to take out Kevin and me rather than the same people he used for the others?’

  ‘Plausible deniability. You and Kevin were never part of the clean-up operation but you came up on his radar. Before the Director shut him down he had every intention of taking you out of the game. He may have had a reason for wanting to use an agent rather than one of his team. We sometimes do things like that if we want to make sure things don’t come back to bite us in the arse.’

  ‘But Shabat said no.’

  ‘Which may well have bought you some time, during which the Director learned of Howard’s intentions and ordered him to back off.’

  ‘Why do you think the Minister would wait until now to speak to me,’ I asked.

  ‘My guess is he’s allowed it to fester and this chance meeting with you created an opportunity to finally get Green off his back.’

  ‘And he thinks I could do that?’

  ‘He comes from a country and a culture where such things happen. He thinks that by making it look like your life is under threat you will be prepared to help him. He doesn’t realise it’s old news and no longer a problem.’

  ‘You’re sure? I mean really sure? Don’t guess or assess here, Toni. This is my life we’re talking about.’

  ‘Trust me, I’m in that loop now and I can tell you unequivocally that Howard has been ordered to stay away from you and Kevin.’

  ‘You don’t think that bug Kevin found in his home was from MI6 then?’

  She shrugged. ‘Not impossible. He’s the kind to keep a watching brief on you, just in case things change, but the latest I heard was that Nell had it as being a Met device.’

  In case things change, I pondered. Like Brian McNeil emerging from the woodwork with a copy of the very document Green had been at pains to keep secret, or like Kevin being stupid enough to Google the name of that document. I wondered whether to tell her what I’d learned from Kevin but decided to hold back. It was still within the realms of possibility that I could persuade both my friend and Brian McNeil to abandon their idea, then recover the new copy of the Al Anfal document and to have it destroyed before the shit hit the fan.

  ‘Is it possible Howard Green could use a bug given to the Met?’ I asked.

  ‘Not in normal circumstances. And why would he? MI6 have plenty of their own.’

  I decided to try something. ‘OK,’ I said. ‘Is it alright to mention all this to Kevin?’

  ‘Kevin?’ Toni hesitated as she appeared to weigh up the pros and cons of my suggestion. ‘Err … best not. Let me think. How are Jenny and the girls?’ she asked, as she turned away from the fountain and headed back towards the street.

  ‘Pretty good,’ I said, confused as to why Toni was changing the subject so abruptly. ‘Becky loves having a sister and they’re all doing fine. So, what do I do about the Minister?’

  ‘Let me give that some thought,’ she said, letting out a small sigh. ‘He clearly has no intention of doing what was asked of him but it would be useful to know exactly when he was asked. My first thought is that you should go and see him, tell him you know it’s Howard. That should be enough to satisfy him. It might be better coming from me, but if Shabat told Howard I’d done that, it could prove awkward. Like I said, let me think about it.’

  ‘OK, I will. But soon, please. I want this over with.’ A beep from my jacket pocket told me a text message had arrived. I apologised to Toni as I checked it. It was from Grahamslaw, asking me to contact him ASAP.

  ‘Grahamslaw wants me,’ I said.

  ‘Have you spoken to him today?’

  ‘I haven’t, no. But, getting back to what we were saying, I’d appreciate some help on this. Truth is, Toni, I think my judgement is shot to pieces. Sometimes I just can’t think straight.’

  ‘I thought your stay with the Combat Stress charity addressed those issues?’

  I shrugged. ‘I’m not denying I was better after that – I was. But PTSD isn’t something that goes away easily, Toni. You have to learn to live with it, to manage it so that it doesn’t get the better of you. I thought I had it all under control. But Kevin finding the bug … and now this thing with Shabat – it’s like it’s starting all over again.’

  ‘At the risk of repeating myself, it isn’t. So, Grahamslaw hasn’t called you, then?’ There was an emphasis in her tone, an urgency that revealed a feeling of concern.

  I felt my stomach lurch. ‘Something up?’ I asked.

  She didn’t reply until we reached the gate onto the street, where she stopped walking. ‘
You’d best make him your first port of call when you get back to the Yard.’ She looked straight ahead as she spoke.

  ‘What’s happened?’ I demanded, now feeling confused at her evasiveness. ‘I don’t understand. Has something happened?’

  ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘Sorry? Why? What’s going on? You don’t seem to be getting this. I’ve had people trying to kill me and my family for reasons I don’t really understand, and now I seem to be heading back into the position of being a patsy, a pawn, and all you can say is you’re sorry. I mean, if Howard Green is listening-in on Kevin, that means he’s looking for a reason to target us, surely?’

  Toni turned as if in a hurry to get away. ‘I can’t say much Finlay, but please do believe me when I say there is no credible evidence suggesting Howard has you in his sights again. What’s happened has nothing to do with MI6, I’m sure.’

  ‘So, what’s this big thing you’re keeping from me?’

  ‘I’m sorry, Finlay, but I promised Grahamslaw to leave it to him. Just make sure you see him without delay.’

  ‘But what … what is it?’ My voice was raised now, my anxiety clear.

  I only just heard Toni’s final words as she walked away, all the time avoiding eye contact. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘It was wrong of me to have mentioned it. Just make sure you call Commander Grahamslaw.’

  Chapter 24

  ‘Mick.’ Grahamslaw called loudly to his Superintendent through the open office door. He’d just caught a glimpse of his number two heading towards the main squad office.

  A moment later, Parratt leaned his bulky form around the door post. ‘You rang, m’lord?’

  ‘Come in and shut the door, will you?’

  Parratt did as ordered. ‘Developments?’ he enquired.

  ‘You first. What’s the latest from the hospital?’

  ‘He’s still unconscious. According to Mellor, he’s swallowed ketamine. If the son hadn’t found him, he may well have died.’

  ‘And Complaints Branch are certain it’s a domestic?’

  ‘A bit early to say, but it looks that way. Does Finlay know yet?’

  ‘That’s why I called you in. He’s on his way up right now.’

  A loud knock on the door interrupted the conversation. Parratt turned towards the sound. ‘Want me to stay?’ he asked.

  Grahamslaw lowered his voice. ‘Best you do. This is gonna be a toughie. They go back a long way.’

  Parratt opened the door, called the Inspector in and then closed it again behind him.

  The Commander indicated they should both sit down. Finlay was sweating and looked flustered, as if he’d been rushing, or even running. ‘Can I get you a brew, Inspector?’ he asked, trying to create a sense of calm.

  Finlay took a deep breath. ‘Perhaps later, if you don’t mind, sir. I was out at a meeting when I got your text.’

  ‘OK … well, I’ve been mulling over how to break this to you for the last hour and I haven’t come up with a good way. So, I’m just going to tell you straight. There’s been an incident involving Kevin Jones.’

  ‘What kind of incident?’

  ‘A bad one. Yesterday afternoon a lad arrived home from school to find his mother dead and her boyfriend unconscious on the living-room floor having taken a drug overdose. The woman I believe you know. Her name is Sandra Beattie. The suspect is your mate, Kevin.’

  Finlay sat stony-faced for several seconds, before turning his gaze towards the window. It wasn’t the response Grahamslaw had expected.

  Parratt came to the rescue. ‘Kevin is alive, Inspector,’ he said, his tone kind and warm, as reassuring as seemed appropriate. ‘Mrs Beattie’s son arrived home from school early and found them. He called an ambulance and they managed to get Kevin to hospital in time.’

  ‘Can I see him?’ Finlay said, his voice quavering as he continued staring out the window.

  ‘He’s in custody, under arrest. I doubt if he’ll be allowed visits just yet.’

  ‘What happened?’

  Parratt continued. ‘It’s all a wee bit sketchy at the moment due to Complaints Branch having taken over supervision of the enquiry.’

  ‘Is that normal?’

  ‘Yes. The immediate criminal investigation will be conducted by the local Major Investigation team, but CIB will have a big say in decisions.’

  ‘So, what do we know?’

  ‘It seems to have been some kind of sex-game gone wrong. Jones was unconscious near the front door. Mrs Beattie was found upstairs in the main bedroom and from the fact that she was tied to the bed wearing just her underwear, it looks like Kevin might have … killed her…’

  ‘He wouldn’t do that … not Kev.’

  ‘All aspects have to be looked at, as I’m sure you know, Finlay. And all possibilities explored. It’s quite possible it was an accident, but, even then, Kevin could be facing a manslaughter charge.’

  Finlay stood up, the legs of his chair rubbing noisily on the carpet. ‘I need to make some calls,’ he said, quietly.

  ‘I’m sorry you had to wait to hear this,’ said Grahamslaw. ‘But, I thought it best you got the news from me. I’ll get Mr Parratt here to find out as much as we can and we’ll be in touch.’

  ‘I just came back from seeing Toni Fellowes. I thought her reaction was odd when I said I was going to ring Kevin. Now I know why.’

  As the door closed behind the departing Inspector, both men exhaled, but neither spoke.

  No words seemed suitable.

  Chapter 25

  ‘How did he take the news?’ Toni said from the kitchen.

  As she watched, Bill leaned forwards from the settee to rest his mug on the coffee table. Toni was in the tiny kitchen of the flat preparing omelettes as he flicked through the Evening Standard. He appeared to guess immediately what she was referring to. Putting the newspaper to one side, he stood up and came to join her.

  As he entered the hallway, she pointed towards the drawers next to the sink. ‘Want to put the eating irons out? Even police commanders have to help you know.’

  Bill returned her smile. ‘He didn’t look too good, to be honest. On the surface he seemed composed but he was tense and I got the feeling that, behind those blue eyes, his brain was working ten to the dozen.’

  ‘Not every day you find out one of your best mates has been arrested for murder.’

  ‘True. That listening device Jones found is bothering me. It may be a coincidence, of course, but…’ Bill walked back into the living room and began laying the dining table.

  ‘Nell’s been doing some digging but nothing’s come up so far. Like you say, it may simply be a coincidence.’

  ‘Keep me posted will you? Having a PC find a listening device in his home is something I really should be investigating, especially given what’s happened. I’m happy to leave it to you for now but the moment you find out who’s behind it, I want to know.’

  ‘I will, I promise. Do you think Finlay will keep away from the enquiry?’

  ‘Finlay? Not a bloody chance. Here … put this somewhere safe.’ He handed her a small card bearing a mobile telephone number.

  ‘What’s this for?’ she said. ‘A secret number to contact you on? Don’t tell me Mick Parratt suspects?’ She grinned mischievously, as she followed him with their food.

  ‘Mick Parratt probably knows,’ he replied, sniffing gently at her neck as she eased past him. ‘I’d trust that man with my life, though.’

  ‘Careful, you’ll knock the plates over and, even if I say so myself, these are damn good omelettes. So what’s the number for?’

  Bill sat beside her. ‘Smells good,’ he said, as he ran his eyes over her cooking efforts. ‘It’s a phone I plan to give Finlay as soon as I get a chance. The Complaints Superintendent is someone who’s had it in for him and Jones since the Home Secretary gave them immunity from prosecution. I wouldn’t be too surprised if he comes looking to stick him with a disciplinary charge if he so much as sniffs the same air as the Murder Squad a
re breathing. I’ll tell Finlay to transfer all his numbers onto that phone and to keep it somewhere nobody will find it. If the shit hits the fan and CIB seize his work phone, you’ll have a way of keeping in touch with him.’

  ‘You think it’s that serious for Finlay as well, then?’

  ‘I do, yes. There’s this particular Superintendent in CIB who seems to be on a mission to get something he can pin on both him and Jones.’

  ‘This Superintendent have a name?’ said Toni.

  ‘Jim Mellor. He’s the one I expect will want Finlay’s phone.’

  ‘Well, in that case I can probably go one better for him. I’ll get him a burner.’

  ‘You sure?’ Bill asked, tucking in with enthusiasm.

  ‘I am. It’ll have the advantage that we can use it to keep tabs on him as well. Are we staying tonight? I brought a change of clothes in case.’

  ‘I’d like that, if you can? Going home to an empty house isn’t much fun, as you know.’

  ‘You’ve heard nothing more from your wife since the divorce request then?’

  He shook his head.

  It was only as they finished eating that Toni noticed how the conversation had dried up, and only then because Bill asked her if something was wrong.

  ‘How do you mean?’ she asked.

  ‘You’re very quiet, like you’ve got something on your mind. Not having any regrets about us are you?’

  Toni smiled and reached a hand out to his. ‘No, it’s nothing like that. I’m having trouble putting some threads together.’

  ‘Because of what’s happened to Kevin Jones?’

  ‘Yes … Can I be straight with you?’

  Bill nodded as he piled the plates together and started to clear the table. ‘Of course,’ he replied. ‘That was delicious, by the way.’