Kill the Messenger

by Ed James

  Where the hell are they going?

  They’ll want Sandy. But they know we have her.

  So where?

  Fenchurch hared after them, bashing the horn as he ploughed towards them.

  Two buses barrelled down the road.

  Webster looked round then shouted something at Holly. They both shot off across the road.

  Only Holly made it to the far side.

  A screech of brakes and the two buses came to a halt either side of the junction.

  Fenchurch got out of the car and ran over.

  Holly screamed on the other side of the road.

  Desmond Webster lay on the road, bleeding and broken, his eyelids flickering. He coughed up a mouthful of blood and fell back.

  The Glock lay in the middle of the tarmac, sparkling in the headlights.

  Fenchurch lurched at the gun and picked it up.

  Holly rushed over to Fenchurch, clawing at his face. ‘You killed him!’

  Fenchurch pointed the gun at her. ‘You’re under arrest.’

  39

  ‘A gun.’ Chloe paced around Fenchurch’s office. ‘I mean, it was a real handgun. Jesus.’

  Outside, Reed was talking on her mobile.

  ‘This isn’t something you should be excited about.’ Fenchurch sat behind his desk, hunched tight. He kept looking at the door, wary of Holly walking through and killing his daughter.

  But she wouldn’t.

  She was downstairs, grieving for her old man, waiting on her lawyer. She wasn’t going to kill anyone else.

  He looked Chloe in the eye. ‘She was going to kill you.’

  ‘Dad, I saved your ass.’

  ‘It’s arse, not ass.’ Fenchurch gritted his teeth. ‘And you almost got me killed.’

  ‘Shut up…’

  ‘Chloe, if the gun had gone off, I’d have been shot.’

  She wouldn’t look at him. ‘Dad, admit that I saved your life.’

  ‘Chloe, I’m serious. Charging into someone who is pointing a loaded gun pointed at someone, with their finger on the trigger… It’s going to cause it to go off. You get that, right?’

  Chloe swallowed hard and finally looked over. ‘I didn’t think.’

  ‘No.’ Fenchurch shot to his feet. ‘You didn’t think. I’m serious about this, love.’ He walked over to her, eyes wide. ‘We lost you once, we can’t lose you again.’

  Chloe just shook her head, like she was annoyed at him for not liking the birthday present she’d bought him.

  ‘Look, I’m taking you to krav maga classes tomorrow.’

  ‘What?’ She glared at him. ‘Self-defence?’

  ‘You need to be able to protect yourself.’

  ‘I do?’ She laughed. ‘I wasn’t the one on my knees in front of someone with a gun, Dad.’

  Fenchurch didn’t have an answer. His mouth went dry.

  ‘Look, Dad, I—’

  Abi knocked on the door, Baby Al resting in a shawl. She stepped into the room and wrapped Chloe up in a tight hug. ‘Come on, let’s get you home.’

  Fenchurch wrapped his arms around all three of them and just stood there. His whole family, safe. He whispered into Abi’s ears. ‘Keep her safe, love. She’s going to crash, hard. Be there for her.’

  ‘Can’t you be there too?’

  Fenchurch broke off from the hug. ‘I’ll be home before you know it. Okay?’

  ‘Fine.’ Abi led their daughter along the corridor.

  But Chloe stopped and shrugged off her mother. She stomped back to the office. ‘Dad, I’m joining the police.’

  Fenchurch looked around, his gut churning. ‘What?’

  ‘You heard. I applied last week. When I graduate, I want to join the Met.’

  Over my dead body.

  In the line of fire, day in day out?

  Arresting scumbags with knives. Chasing scumbags down train tracks. Staking out scumbags’ operations.

  Danger and death at every corner.

  Stop being a prick. Get over yourself.

  It’s her life. It’s her choice. Support her, otherwise you’re only her father genetically.

  Fenchurch grinned at her. ‘Okay.’

  She smiled. ‘I thought you’d go apeshit at me.’

  ‘I’m very far from happy about it, but…’ He shrugged. ‘You’re my daughter.’ He smiled at Abi. ‘What’s worse, you’re Abi’s daughter. You won’t take no for an answer. Or you’ll just do it yourself.’

  She hugged him tight. ‘Thanks, Dad.’

  He gripped her tight. ‘But I mean it, you’re joining a krav maga course tomorrow.’

  ‘Fine.’ She pecked him on the cheek. ‘I’ve got to see Granddad, Mum. See you downstairs.’ She walked off along the corridor.

  Abi stood there, eyebrows raised, Al wriggling in her arms. ‘I thought you’d—’

  ‘You knew, didn’t you?’

  She nodded with a sigh. ‘She told me a few weeks ago.’

  ‘You should’ve told me.’

  She smiled. ‘I guess I should’ve done.’ She kissed him on the lips, careful not to squash their son. ‘She’s a lot stronger than you think.’

  ‘So I see. Just don’t keep things from me.’

  She looked down at their son, then nodded at Fenchurch. ‘Okay.’ She patted his arm and walked off.

  Fenchurch joined Reed outside his office and watched her go. ‘Can you follow them, Kay?’

  ‘Are you sure, guv?’

  ‘Long story. Just help me.’

  ‘Okay, I’ll keep an eye on them. It doesn’t feel right, but you’re the boss.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Fenchurch watched her follow.

  Bloody hell. She’s only just back in our life and she’s throwing herself into danger like that.

  Just like her old man.

  Someone cleared their throat behind him. Loftus. ‘I heard what happened. Are you okay?’

  ‘I’m fine.’

  ‘Sure? You had a handgun pressed to your forehead.’

  ‘Not my first rodeo, sir.’ Fenchurch went back into his office and picked up his tea. ‘I’m more worried about my daughter.’

  ‘Not about DS Ashkani?’

  ‘Is she okay?’

  ‘She’s fine. But still, this is on you.’

  ‘I wanted to but… I made a snap decision. Sir, Holly’s been—’

  ‘You think that Holly’s been killing people?’

  ‘Holly was stalking Chloe. Worked at the same Tesco store. That’s not something that happens quickly. Someone wanted her to act, then pulled the trigger.’

  ‘Mario?’

  ‘Hardly. It’s Zamir.’ Fenchurch shut his eyes. ‘Or Younis.’

  ‘What? Him?’

  ‘He’s got fingers in all of these pies.’

  ‘Right, well, that’s for Broadfoot and Nelson to progress.’ Loftus stank of cigarettes. ‘Come on, Dalton Unwin’s not a man you keep waiting.’

  Holly sat there, crying. Her eyes were red raw, like someone had taken a knife to the lids and started cutting away. But her gaze was as cold as packed snow, and trained on Fenchurch.

  Crocodile tears.

  ‘This is completely unacceptable.’ Unwin threw his notebook on the desk. ‘My client has just witnessed the death of her father and now you’re treating her like this? You really think any of this will stand up in court?’

  Loftus held up a hand to stop Fenchurch jumping in. ‘Your client has murdered two people. Both gang-related murders. Assassinations. Like the sort her father was famous for before he was put away.’

  Holly looked at him, mouth hanging open. ‘Don’t you dare bring him into this.’

  ‘He’s always in this, Miss Evans. Did he train you?’

  ‘Jesus Christ.’ Holly focused on the table, shaking her head.

  ‘What were you planning on doing with my daughter?’

  She didn’t look up, just kept her focus on the table.

  Fenchurch gripped the edge of the desk. ‘You were playing a long game, tryin
g to lure her as a friend, weren’t you? Got yourself a job at the same Tesco. Fifteen months in the making.’

  She shook her head again, harder this time, more defiant.

  ‘Who was it for?’

  ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about.’

  ‘Was it for your old man?’

  Holly laughed.

  Fenchurch leaned forward, trying to make eye contact, but she didn’t look over. ‘How about Younis?’

  ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Still focused on the table. ‘It’s a coincidence. I needed a job, I got one. She just worked there.’

  ‘A coincidence. Right.’

  But I’ve got her. She’s scared of Younis. Meaning he’s got something on her.

  Holly glanced up at him, then back down. ‘Kirk got out of prison just after you put…’ She tugged at her ponytail. ‘After you stitched up my old man. Meant I could get someone to look after Sandy for me. He’s pretty far from perfect and we’re not an item, no matter how much he wants it. But he took her for a couple of days a week, let me get a job.’

  ‘Holly, I don’t believe you.’

  ‘It’s the truth.’

  ‘No, it’s not. Someone knew where my daughter was working. Someone who could get you a gun. Someone who wanted revenge on me.’

  ‘It’s a coincidence.’

  Heard enough of this bullshit now.

  ‘Listen to me, Holly.’ Fenchurch got another glance. ‘You’re going to prison for a long, long time. Two murders, you’re probably looking at a minimum of thirty years, with time served. Sandy will grow up without you.’

  She shot him daggers with her eyes.

  ‘Sandy will grow up without a mother. Imagine what it’ll be like for her visiting you in prison. She’ll want to stay with you, you’ll want to stay with her, but you won’t be allowed to. Then she’ll start to resent you. Thirty years, Holly. Minimum. She’ll be thirty-two when you get out. You’ll be, what, fifty?’

  Real tears started to flow. ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about.’

  ‘You’re repeating your mother’s mistakes. You and Kirk having a kid, then him going inside. Just like your own mother. Except you’re the one inside. You’ll be the one repeating your father’s mistakes, too. Sandy will grow up with Kirk, as long as he’s not in trouble. Only a matter of time before we find out who he’s stashing those burners for.’

  Holly brushed away her tears.

  ‘You remember how hard it was growing up without a father, do you? Imagine what it’s going to be like for Sandy without her mother.’

  Holly stared at the table, tears dripping into the scarred wood.

  ‘That what you want for your daughter? The love of your life?’

  She looked up at him, with glistening eyes. ‘What do you want out of me?’

  ‘I know you killed Casey and Adrian. I know.’ Fenchurch left it hanging for her. ‘I want to know who it was for.’

  She kept quiet.

  ‘Was it Younis?’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘Don’t play that game.’

  ‘I’ve no idea who you’re talking about.’

  ‘Really? Because I’m sitting here, processing all that’s happened today. Your old man passed his profession down to you, didn’t he? Younis got him to kill someone. Now, if you’re not dealing directly with him, that’s by the by, but he’s writing the cheques. Doesn’t matter how you hear from him. Smoke signals. Morse code curtain twitches. Maybe a call from one of those burners in Kirk’s garage. But you hear from him. You kill for him.’

  ‘This is such bullshit.’ Holly started pleading with Loftus. ‘I’m just a mother.’ Her pleas bounced off Loftus. So she rounded on Fenchurch again. ‘Thanks to you, Sandy’ll grow up without her grandfather.’ She shot to her feet. She brushed off Unwin’s hand and stabbed a finger at Fenchurch. ‘You killed him!’ She thumped the table. ‘You’ve been victimising him! He never killed nobody, but you got it in your head that he kidnapped your daughter.’

  Fenchurch felt his mouth go dry.

  ‘There’s no proof he did anything, but you wouldn’t let go. You just kept on coming to the house, picking him up, bringing him here, getting him to answer your questions. He’s got a bloody parole officer. You should’ve asked him, but you didn’t. You just kept harassing him. Then you chased me and him on our bikes. And he died.’ She thudded back in her seat. ‘You. Killed. Him.’

  Fenchurch sat back, letting the words rattle around his head.

  Is she right?

  Was I victimising Webster? Because I think he took Chloe? Because my old man thinks he did?

  No way. He’s guilty. Chloe recognised him, even said Webster visited her parents… Those maggots who wanted to be her parents.

  And Webster killed Amelia, got Terry Oldham to take the rap. Younis got them out.

  But Casey and Adrian… I was wrong. Holly did them. Getting into the family trade.

  ‘I’m sitting here with two unsolved murders.’ Fenchurch sat forward and stretched out his thumb. ‘Casey.’ Forefinger. ‘Adrian.’

  ‘My old man killed them.’

  Fenchurch looked at Loftus. Hard to read his expression. Even harder than usual. His fingers twitched, like he needed another cigarette.

  ‘Inspector.’ Unwin drummed his thumbs on the table. ‘Here’s the thing. Mr Webster gave you alibis for all three murders. The first one, you’ve got Terry Oldham on the record saying he did it. My client’s father told you that he was somewhere else during all three events. But my client can give you something in exchange for immunity from prosecution.’

  That’s how he’s playing it, then. Getting Webster to take the rap. A dead man.

  Loftus leaned forward, eyebrows raised. ‘I’m listening.’

  Fenchurch crunched back in his chair and shot a glare at Loftus. ‘Sir…’

  Loftus waved him off. ‘Give us what you’ve got on Younis and we’ll see what we can offer.’

  Fenchurch whispered: ‘This is a trap.’

  Loftus smiled at Unwin. ‘Continue.’

  ‘I have in my possession a signed and witnessed document where Mr Webster took credit for all three murders. In addition, Mr Webster has a recording of a meeting with representatives of Dimitri Younis, including transaction detail regarding payments for the murders of Casey Nicholas and Adrian Hall.’

  Holly shivered but stared right at Fenchurch.

  He didn’t let her look away. ‘You killed them, Holly. I know.’

  Loftus gripped Fenchurch’s arm. ‘Miss Evans, I need your testimony against Younis.’

  ‘I can’t…’

  ‘Superintendent, my client doesn’t need to add to the evidence. It’s comprehensive.’

  ‘Holly, I can offer you a way out of this.’

  ‘I can’t go in court and—’

  ‘Holly.’ Loftus snorted. ‘It’s only a matter of time before we find enough evidence to prosecute you. We can match your movements with your father’s bicycle. Then it’s a case of a jury believing our version of events over yours.’ He smiled at her again. ‘I reckon this’ll take us about a year to bring to court. Your father’s case was fifteen months. That’s time you’ll be on remand. No chance of bail. At least a year without your daughter.’

  Holly looked at Unwin, then whispered in his ear.

  Unwin drummed his thumbs again, longer, faster. He leaned over and whispered.

  Fenchurch looked round at Loftus, trying to get him to stop this, but he wouldn’t even look at him.

  Unwin smiled at them. ‘Give me a minute with my client.’

  Fenchurch checked the wall clock and leaned forward into the mic. ‘Interview paused at 21:43.’ He got up and walked over to the door.

  Loftus glowered at him as he followed him into the corridor. ‘What the hell are you playing at?’

  ‘This is a big mistake. Can’t you see what they’re doing?’

  ‘Can’t you see what you’re doing? We’re getting a confessi
on here. Two murders. Possibly on the Oldham case.’

  ‘They’re playing us. Getting a dead man to take the rap.’

  ‘Simon, I don’t know what’s going on inside that head of yours but it needs to stop. We’ve got her. With what she’ll give us, we can get Younis.’

  ‘And what if she doesn’t?’

  Loftus didn’t have an answer. He grabbed the door handle. ‘Do I need to bring in someone else to shadow me here?’

  ‘She’s guilty. She pulled a bloody gun on me.’

  ‘And there’s no bloody proof of that.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘DC Bridge has been combing the CCTV for that supermarket. The cameras out the back where you allege this incident happened were offline.’

  ‘She did it.’

  ‘Simon…’

  ‘Ask my daughter. She was there.’

  ‘And that’s going to stand up in court, isn’t it? Unwin’s not going to try and tear a hole in her testimony? Are you happy to let your daughter go through that? Are you?’

  Fenchurch stood there, shaking, trembling. ‘Like I said, sir, I think this is a mistake.’

  Loftus narrowed his eyes. ‘Then it’s my mistake, Simon.’ He went back into the interview.

  Prick.

  Fenchurch joined him but couldn’t sit at the same table as the woman who’d tried to kill his daughter, so stayed standing.

  Loftus hit record again. ‘Interview recommenced at 21:45.’ He refocused on Holly. ‘Well?’

  Holly trained her teary gaze on Unwin and got a tight nod. Then she nodded at Loftus. ‘Okay. I want to set the record straight.’

  Loftus sat back, twisting round to rest his elbow on the chair back. ‘Let’s start with Casey.’

  ‘Dad knew Casey from the cycling cafes around London. You know, the places you can get a posh coffee while they fixed your bike. He wasn’t happy that he had to kill her.’ She swallowed hard. ‘Dad got someone to place an order for a pizza. Went round and shot her. Tap, tap, tap.’

  Loftus gave Holly a new smile. ‘Why?’

  ‘Someone knew she was talking to you lot.’

  Loftus sat there, his tongue flicking over his lips. ‘Who?’

  She shut up, staring into space as she brushed her hair.

  Fenchurch stepped round the table towards her. ‘We’ve got CCTV of the murder.’