A Long Way Down

by Ken McCoy

  ‘If I’d called it in it would have delayed matters and I thought I needed to get to him straight away before he took off. I thought I could take him on my own. Didn’t count on him being armed.’

  ‘Well, he was armed as you now know. We’re having ballistics check it out right now. What did you promise Butterbowl for the information on Roscoe?’

  ‘A lot of time off his sentence for being cooperative.’

  ‘Not every villain believes these lies of yours, Sep.’

  ‘I know – shame, that.’

  ‘Maybe you’ve lost your touch.’

  ‘I’d like you to cut to the chase, ma’am, and tell me what’s going to happen to me.’

  ‘You’re to be given a written warning as to your conduct and hope it keeps you on your toes if you want to stay with us.’

  ‘No loss of rank?’

  ‘That’s not what I’m recommending, more fool me. Next time I’ll recommend you to be bumped right down to sergeant. Assuming you do stay on, where do you want to work?’

  ‘I’d like to work with you, no matter what rank I am.’

  ‘You want to stay with the Cold Case Unit?’

  ‘I do, yes.’

  ‘I see.’

  Hawkins walked away from Sep’s bed, deep in thought, looked out of the window at the rooftops of Leeds, then returned to his side. ‘Look,’ she said, ‘I’m of the opinion that Roscoe Briggs might well have been the one to have killed Charlie Santiago, on Redman’s orders.’

  ‘It’s not a bad opinion, ma’am. He was certainly one of Redman’s hitmen and he was all for killing me just for fun. I think the world’s a better place without him in it.’

  ‘And we apparently have a rusty handrail to thank for that … do we?’

  There was a challenge in her last two words. Their eyes met; hers with the challenge in them, his with well-practised innocence.

  ‘You tell me, ma’am. I’ve no doubt you’ve established the cause of his death. He must have been leaning on the rail looking to see where I’d got to. After he shot me I crawled behind a two-foot-high wall. I was in bad shape down there. That broken handrail saved my life, no doubt about that.’

  ‘Yes, that’s pretty much our forensic conclusion, although the rain washed a lot of stuff away. After that, you managed to get yourself over to Briggs’s body and use his phone. How did you know he had a phone?’

  ‘Well, mine was dead. I heard his ringing and I needed someone to know where I was.’

  ‘We’d have known where you were, had you bloody well told us where you were going!’

  ‘True, and that’s a mistake I’ll never make again. There’s no bollocking you can give me that’s worse than the one I gave myself back there.’

  ‘And yet you asked DS Burnside to come on her own without alerting any of her colleagues.’

  ‘Did I? Back there I certainly really wasn’t thinking straight. If I told Burnside to come on her own, it was my responsibility, ma’am, as her senior officer.’

  ‘There’s a limit to how much I believe to be down to your disturbed mind, Sep. Personally, I believe you told her to come on her own so that she might help you cover up your stupidity.’

  ‘Possibly, but she didn’t cover it up, did she?’

  ‘No, she notified me and I told her to get straight out to you, but I notice she picked up your fiancée on the way.’

  ‘Yes, I remember asking her to do that as well. You see, I was fairly certain that I was going to die and I thought it only right to say goodbye to Winnie.’

  ‘How very polite of you, but you don’t die from a leg wound, Sep.’

  ‘You do if the bullet clips the femoral artery. On top of which, I thought I might be dying of hypothermia and I did lose about half a gallon of blood. I’m told was on the verge of bleeding out and that I was suffering from something called hypovolemic shock, which is what happens with major blood loss. It affects a man’s thinking, so I can’t be held responsible for my actions at that time. The ambulance got me here for a transfusion in the nick of time. A few minutes later and I’d have been a goner.’

  ‘Hypovolemic shock, eh? That’s a real beauty, Sep. I must write that down so that I remember it the next time you try and use it on me. For now, it might well justify me recommending that you’re not reduced in rank.’

  ‘Who told you she’s my fiancée?’

  ‘She did.’

  ‘Oh. I was hoping she might keep that quiet, with me being a copper.’

  ‘I imagine there’s a lot of people in your life keeping quiet about you, Sep.’ She stared at him for a long moment and asked, ‘So, you think searching for Santiago’s killer might well be a waste of police resources, do you?’

  It pleased Sep that she thought his opinion was of some worth to her. ‘Well,’ he said, ‘I imagine we’re still looking for Graham Feather’s killer.’

  ‘We are, but it was Santiago’s murder that kicked this whole thing off and we’re still no wiser. Us saying it was Roscoe Briggs is no more than convenient guesswork and we’re better than that. I mean, throwing victims out of high windows, would that be Briggs’s usual MO? That’s an act of violence, not cold-hearted killing for money.’

  ‘I’ve got no idea, ma’am – never heard of him until this thing kicked off, but it’ll do no harm to keep Santiago’s unresolved death in mind during the Feather enquiry, which, I strongly suspect, is connected with Santiago’s case and if a definite lead drops into our lap, to follow it up.’

  Hawkins nodded her approval of his thinking. ‘You know, Sep, you might do better keeping yourself off the streets and spend more time in the office where we can make better use of your strategic mind. I’ve heard talk of us being disbanded and we really need a good result to head it off.’

  ‘There’s always a lot of bollocks banded around police stations, ma’am.’

  ‘I’m aware of that, Sep, but I’m not sure this is bollocks.’

  ‘I’m not much of an office boy, ma’am. If you’re wanting to keep me in the office I’d rather go back into CID. I believe they’re short of a DCI right now, with Wood gone.’

  ‘You’re a damned nuisance, DI Black! You know that, don’t you? I’m sure your fiancée would prefer you to be kept in the office. Where is she, by the way? I expected her to be with you when I got here.’

  ‘I’m wondering where she is myself. You don’t think she’s left me, do you? Why would she do that?’

  ‘Because you’re a hard man to love, Sep. A lot of the time she doesn’t know if you’re going to live or die. It’s too hard for her to take.’

  ‘You think that’s it, do you?’

  Hawkins nodded. ‘Sorry and all that, but I think it might be, Sep.’

  THIRTY-ONE

  Four weeks went by and Sep hadn’t had a visit from Winnie. Fiona had been to see him several times, as had his daughter, Phoebe; but no word from his fiancée. He had a mobile with him and he’d rung her every day but had only got a woman’s voice telling him that the number he was ringing was unavailable. Roscoe was out of the way for good, so that was something, but with Winnie also gone for good it took the gloss off everything.

  From a purely practical point of view, he would need her help when he was discharged, but he missed her, mainly because she was the only woman he had ever loved and he was desperately worried as to why she’d hadn’t rung him.

  ‘The odd thing is that the Piper brothers have disappeared as well,’ he told Fiona. ‘I wanted to have a word with Adam but the troops can’t find either of them. Both them and Winnie are connected in some way to Carl Redman. I hope he’s not exerting some sort of influence from beyond the grave. Is there some Mafia Mr Big behind all this that we don’t know about?’

  ‘I honestly don’t know, Sep, except that the Mafia don’t work much in Leeds. Oh, by the way, an estate agent from York’s been trying to get hold of you. He’s rung the station a couple of times. I told him I’d get you to ring him. I’ve got his number in my book.’


  ‘If it’s the one I’m thinking about, he’s the one responsible for the attack on the cottage.’

  ‘Oh, so you don’t want to ring him, then?’

  ‘Of course I do. If only to tell him what I think of him. Could you get him for me, please?’

  Fiona stabbed in the numbers and handed the phone to Sep.

  ‘Dunhill and Broome?’

  ‘My name is Black I wish to speak to Mr Dunhill please.’

  ‘What is it in connection with, Mr Black?’

  ‘If you tell him it’s Detective Inspector Black, he’ll know what it’s about.’

  Dunhill came on the line within seconds. He spoke quickly without giving Sep a chance to berate him.

  ‘I need to apologize to you, Inspector, for giving Wood the location of your cottage. I understand it caused you a heap of trouble.’

  ‘It cost a dear friend of mine his life, Mr Dunhill and it destroyed my cottage.’

  ‘Yes. I understand Mr Wood is in custody right now.’

  ‘Wood will end his life in a secure loony bin, Mr Dunhill! What was it you wanted me for?’

  ‘Oh yes. Well, I might have some good news for you. You see, the land on which your cottage used to be has just been re-designated as residential building land. It’s to do with the government saying we need to build more houses.’

  ‘And how is that good news for me? I’m not a builder.’

  ‘No, but I know at least two building companies who would be interested in buying it. With it being next to a main road and all services, it’s three hectares of quality building land, just waiting to be developed.’

  ‘Really?’ How much is it worth?’

  ‘Well, it would take at least fifty quality homes, so my estimate is around one hundred and fifty thousand, although if I get these two firms bidding against each other it could well be more and if other firms become interested, who knows? Would you like me to handle the sale?’

  ‘Er, yes, I suppose I do.’

  ‘Good, I’ll send you details of our terms, which are quite reasonable. Our fee will be 1.5 per cent of the sale price plus costs. Does that sound agreeable?’

  ‘Er, yes, I think so. Yes, go ahead with it. I’ll give you my address and bank and solicitor details.’

  ‘That will be excellent, Mr Black. Oh, there is one other thing which I imagine you’re well aware of.’

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘The cottage was insured for building and contents and your payments were up to date.’

  ‘How would you know that?’

  ‘Well, we’re also insurance agents, Mr Black. We specialize in building insurance with it being connected to our main business. I arranged the insurance myself as well as the standing order from your bank.’

  ‘Did you? I didn’t realize that.’

  ‘No, you were a busy man back then, Mr Black. Anyway, all is in order and if you wish to make a claim, I’ll send the forms and help you with the details if you like.’

  ‘Yes, I’d appreciate that. How much is it insured for?’

  ‘Well, back then it wasn’t in very good condition so we kept the insured amount down to one hundred thousand buildings insurance and twenty thousand for the contents. I imagine you could put in a claim for those amounts and have it approved without any trouble.’

  ‘Could I really?’

  ‘Yes. If you give me your details I’ll send the paperwork through to you and we’ll get this started immediately.’

  Sep handed the mobile back to Fiona with a frozen look on his face.

  ‘What?’ she asked.

  ‘I think my luck’s changed. I’ve just come into a bloody fortune!’

  It was during the following week that Sep’s mobile buzzed with an incoming call.

  ‘Hello.’

  ‘Sep it’s me, Winnie.’

  Sep almost screamed her name. ‘Winnie! Jesus, Winnie! I’m really glad to hear from you. I was beginning to think the bad guys had got to you.’

  ‘What bad guys?’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know. Both you and the Piper brothers disappear off the face of the Earth. What the hell was I to think?’

  ‘I’m sorry if I’ve worried you Sep, but if I have, it’s no worse than the worry you’ve caused me.’

  ‘What are you saying, Winnie?’

  There was a long pause, then, ‘Sep, I’m saying I can’t marry you and live like this, never knowing if someone’s going to hurt you or even kill you. Your lifestyle’s too much for me to cope with. I’m really sorry but I’ve left you for good, Sep.’

  ‘Left me for good? Bloody hell, Winnie! I’m in hospital with a leg that won’t be better for weeks and no end of other problems.’

  ‘Yes, I know you need someone, Sep, but that someone can’t be me. I love you too much and I couldn’t bear to be around when bad news comes through about you, which it will one day. This last thing really shook me, seeing you half-dead out there in that awful place. And don’t tell me you’re giving it all up for me, Sep. I know you can’t. It’s in your blood. It’s what makes you tick.’

  ‘Where are you now?’

  ‘I’m ringing from New Jersey.’

  Sep only caught the last of that. ‘The Channel Islands? Whereabouts in Jersey? St Helier?’

  ‘No, New Jersey, It’s next door to New York in America. I’m with the Piper boys.’

  ‘What? You’re in America? Bloody hell, Winnie! What’re you doing over there? If the Mafia find out about this Snowball racket, you three are toast. How come you haven’t gone to Auntie Maude’s in New Zealand?’

  ‘I came with the Piper brothers, Sep. I’m kind of looking after them and they need some looking after, I can tell you. Adam’s got his old job back so he’s OK, but Simeon doesn’t know his arse from his elbow at times. When Adam got picked up for drunk driving, he thought he’d had it, especially with you interviewing him. Was it your doing that he was let go?’

  ‘Not really, but I didn’t object to him being released, if that’s what you mean.’

  ‘Well, thanks for that on his behalf.’

  ‘What are you doing for money?’ he asked her. ‘Living off their ill-gotten gains?’

  There was an angry silence that told Sep he’d maybe gone too far, accusing her of this.

  ‘No I’m not, Sep,’ she said, quietly. ‘As a matter of fact I brought a lot of money with me. Got a loan against my house, which is up for sale and I’ve sold my business. I don’t need to live on anyone’s ill-gotten gains!’

  ‘Well, you didn’t do that overnight. You must have been planning this for a while!’

  Then he realized that he was still on the offensive against this woman he loved. ‘OK, sorry I’m having a go at you. You can do what you like with your stuff. None of my business. Although I’m curious as to who would buy your business. Are they aware of who your suppliers are?’

  ‘He’s actually my main supplier. He’s been buying shops to cut out the middlemen.’

  ‘It also makes him more high profile with the police and customs people,’ Sep commented. ‘Not having a middleman has certain disadvantages, I’d have thought.’

  ‘I agree, Sep, but he’s bought it and paid my asking price.’

  ‘And the goods will still come from Naples, will they?’

  ‘Sep, if you’re asking this so you can nail him and I hear about it, you’ll also put the final nail in our particular coffin.’

  ‘Really? I thought that was already nailed shut.’

  ‘I just said your way of life’s too much for me to handle – right now.’

  ‘So, there’s hope for us yet, is there?’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know, Sep, but I love you too much to rule it out completely. Look, I’ve been planning on cashing in my assets for a while, but I wasn’t planning on leaving you until that last awful business. It shook me up more than you’ll ever know, Sep. It was a hell of a wake-up call.’

  ‘And for me.’

  ‘But that’s just it, Sep – it probably wasn�
�t a wake-up call for you. I wish it had been. It’s just the way things have panned out. The boys aren’t short of money either. Truth is, they’ve got this scam of theirs working over here.’

  ‘Like I said, if the Mafia find out about that you’ll all be toast.’

  ‘The Mafia’s practically out of business over here, Sep.’ There was no reply, so she continued: ‘Adam thinks you can’t do anything without knowledge and proof, neither of which you’ve got and even then, if this became public you’d cause a major financial panic in the stock market.’

  ‘He’s too clever for his own good is that lad.’

  ‘Nails in coffins, Sep! Leave well alone! Anyway, one of the reasons I’m ringing you is to tell you about Santiago and who killed him.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I know you still don’t know who killed Santiago.’

  ‘We have a good idea.’

  ‘Come on, Sep, you don’t have a clue. All you have is guesswork, which means you haven’t charged anyone. Tell you what, I’ll do a deal. You leave the boys alone and I’ll tell you how Santiago died.’

  ‘I know how he died. He fell out of a high window.’

  ‘I know but did he jump or was he pushed?’

  ‘How would you know that?’

  ‘Do we have a deal?’

  ‘Oh, go on then.’

  ‘No come back from you, for me or the boys?’

  ‘You have my word.’

  ‘Thanks, goodbye, Sep. I’ll tell you the story when I’m good and ready.’

  ‘When will that—?’

  The phone buzzed to tell him she’d gone. He stared at it for a full minute, then he smiled, ruefully, as he realized that she had every right to leave him. He wasn’t fit to be a husband to anyone, the way he disregarded his own safety. He thought back a few weeks to his ordeal in the old foundry compound and how he’d cursed himself for his stupidity, a stupidity that had ended with him lying there with a shattered leg and no hope of survival – until he heard the ice-cream van. Jane Hawkins’s suggestion that he spend more time in the office might not be a bad idea. He brought up Winnie’s number on the screen and made sure he had the right number on his list. One day, when he was ready, maybe he’d contact her and bring her home. That’s if she hadn’t taken up with someone else – someone who made her happy. That very thought sickened him. Was he able to make any woman happy?