‘Go on.’
‘She’d been prescribed medication but she hated taking it, even though it eased a lot of her symptoms. She accused her parents of tricking her into taking it.’
‘And were they?’
‘Yes. At first they used to trust that she’d taken them when she said she had, when they realised she was spinning them a yarn they’d watch her put the tablet in her mouth only she’d find excuses to leave the room and flush it down the loo. In desperation they admitted grinding the tablets down and putting them in her food, but that fuelled her paranoia.’
‘Tough call.’
‘The doc treating her at the local clinic here had told them she’d have to be hospitalised if her behaviour couldn’t be controlled. Ellie didn’t want to be sectioned but she wouldn’t comply with the doctor’s orders. She was quite adept by the sound of it. Mum and dad were pitted against each other a lot of the time. I think they were quite desperate by the time they made the call to the GP to get her admitted.’
Coupland waited a few seconds. ‘How are they doing?’
The FLO paused to inhale another lungful. Her outward breath was long and slow. ‘As you’d expect. They’re blaming themselves, blaming each other, blaming the world and his wife… They were wondering if any of her possessions had been saved. They’re desperate to find some way they can connect with her again.’
Coupland’s silence provided her with an answer. The main block, which housed the patients’ rooms, had been destroyed. It was unlikely anything salvaged would recognisably be their daughter’s. ‘Can you get a recent photo of her from them?’ he asked, ‘Email it over to me ASAP.’ Although Ellie’s photograph wasn’t needed by the pathology lab to help with identification, it would go on the incident board, along with the others, once the relatives had handed them in. Victims’ faces, looming down on the murder squad provided a focus; drove the team on when it seemed nothing more could be done. Coupland ended the call, dropping his cigarette onto the pavement, picturing the WPC he’d been talking to doing the same.
*
Coupland stared at the top of Superintendent Curtis’s head while he outlined the ongoing investigation into the arson attack at Cedar Falls. The senior officer had been tapping on his iPad when he’d barked entry to Coupland’s knock some twenty minutes earlier and he continued scrolling down his screen while Coupland brought him up to speed, all the while making humming and hawwing noises to indicate he was listening. He finished his tapping, said ‘OK,’ then leaned back in his seat, ‘So you’re telling me it’s not an insurance job?’
Coupland’s jaw clenched. High flyers like Curtis made it their business to back those lower down the rung into a corner, using phrases like ‘You said,’ ‘You permitted,’ and ‘You arranged,’ to cover themselves when things went wrong, yet if the outcome was successful they would bump up the part they played. Nice work if you could get it, Coupland supposed.
‘I’m saying that there is no evidence to support this, Sir. That although I haven’t ruled Alan Harkins out of the frame entirely, the scope of the enquiry still includes the residential home staff and his supply chain, although his business associates appear to be legit and he doesn’t owe anyone any money.’
‘When’s the PM?’
‘Professor Benson has requested the presence of a forensic anthropologist due to the extent of the burns on three of the victims. More a case of him dotting the ‘I’s and crossing the ‘T’s, but they are scheduled to be performed the day after tomorrow.’
‘Sounds like you’ve got it all in hand,’ said Curtis, closing the cover on his iPad.
Early dart for someone, Coupland suspected. The downside of DCI Mallender being away was there was no one to act as a buffer between the coal face and the powers that be. It was Coupland who had to step into the DCI’s shoes, Coupland who had to stand on the other side of the Super’s desk like a schoolboy summoned by the headteacher.
‘Do you know what kind of accelerant was used?’
‘Not yet Sir, I’m awaiting the Fire Chief’s report.’
‘Even so, no reason why this shouldn’t be wrapped up relatively quickly,’ Curtis said, his face brightening at the prospect. ‘Certainly no reason to request additional resources, nothing but good old fashioned shoe leather needed to bring this one to a conclusion.’ What he meant was there’d be no overtime, despite Coupland acting up in the DCI’s absence and carrying out additional tasks. Might as well shove a broom up his backside while he was at it. Coupland bit back a retort that in addition to door to door enquiries his team would be searching endless CCTV tapes surrounding the area as well as studying social media, manning phones and sending countless emails to forces around the country requesting information on previous staff or patients who were sent to Cedar Falls from out of the area, begging favours that would no doubt at some point need to be reciprocated. Bloody shoe leather. Curtis had been watching those re-runs of Heartbeat on ITV3 again.
‘Getting anywhere with that hit and run?’
‘I’m relying on the DC who’s pretty much taken it over. Obviously I’m still being kept in the loop. A white male was seen running from the area where the vehicle was dumped but that’s all witnesses are prepared to say.’
‘Sensitive situation,’ Curtis added, resting his elbows on his desk and making a steeple out of his fingers. ‘We can’t afford to lose momentum on this.’
‘Which is why I thought it was best to rope someone in to assist me, given the fire is now taking up a significant amount of my time – and resources.’ Christ, he was beginning to sound like the DCI.
‘The press office is looking for an update; you know how these incidents attract a lot of attention.’
‘I see,’ said Coupland, waiting.
‘I wonder if in the circumstances you should keep a closer eye on the case, be more hands on,’ Curtis said. ‘Might reassure everyone concerned regarding continuity, you know…’
Coupland summoned up reserves he didn’t know he had, ‘If that’s what you want, Sir,’ he said through gritted teeth.
‘By the way, the monthly stats are due in at the end of the week,’ Curtis added, ‘be good if this could be reported as a positive outcome by then.’
Coupland had heard enough. The Super was having a laugh, surely? At times he wondered what planet he was living on. ‘Salford’s not like other places, Sir, we’ve got long standing crime families here with established firms. Tools of the trade are passed down from father to son but instead of carpentry and bookbinding skills you’ve got protection rackets and extortion.’
‘We don’t know for sure the hit and run is related to any organised criminal activity.’
‘James McMahon was hit in broad daylight after walking his kids to school, yet not one witness has come forward. I think that tells us all we need to know.’
Curtis pursed his lips. ‘Then all the more reason progress is needed, the public need to be reassured we are doing everything we can to bring the perpetrators to justice.’ The Super had a knack of making every conversation sound like an electoral campaign, a skill that Coupland had never acquired.
He found a spot on top of the Super’s head that was starting to thin. Kept on staring. ‘We’ll do our best, Sir,’ he muttered.
Curtis’s head snapped up, catching Coupland unawares. ‘Everything spick and span for court next week?’
Coupland blinked. Curtis didn’t normally enquire about court days but then Judy Grant’s trial was the result of a high-profile collaboration between Salford Precinct Station and the National Crime Agency. The NCA had brought down the human trafficking gang, of which Austin Smith was a member; Judy Grant had supplied and administered medication bought online to make the migrants they’d smuggled in docile, which by Coupland’s reckoning made her responsible for a little girl’s death. ‘The CPS is confident of a conviction, Sir. Her old man’s already enjoying Her Majesty’s hospitality; she’s the last link in a very grubby chain.’
Curtis nodded,
satisfied. Coupland had taken a step backwards when the Super locked eyes with him. ‘Talking of evidence, how are you getting on with the preparation for your hearing, I trust you’ve given it your full attention?’
Coupland bared his teeth in what he hoped was a smile. ‘I’ve had my hands full, Sir.’ And now Curtis wanted him more hands on in the hit and run case.
‘One of the things you need to master if you want to get on in the police service is the ability to prioritise, DS Coupland.’
‘And there was me thinking it was delegation,’ Coupland muttered.
‘Sorry?’ The Super’s eyes narrowed, telling Coupland that his hearing wasn’t as bad as he was prepared to make out, that Coupland was already skating on very thin ice. ‘Anyway, I shall leave it in your very capable hands.’ Curtis had his amenable smile on, but something behind it suggested that he knew perfectly well that the detective nodding back at him had done bugger all. ‘Well, if there’s anything I can do…’ he said, but he was already looking beyond Coupland to the door, in case his DS had forgotten his way out.
Sunday
Chapter Five
Morning briefing
A low hum echoed around the perimeter of the CID room as civilian staff and officers not assigned to the fire at Cedar Falls went about their business. Those involved directly with the case sat facing Coupland, pens and notepads ready. Coupland acknowledged the core members of his team with a brief nod. ‘DS Moreton has traced the histories of Ellie Soden, Sarah Kelsey and Roland Masters and has circulated the details to you.’ He waited while pages were turned and skim read, salient points circled or underlined, questions jotted down. He pointed to the whiteboard beside him, where he’d placed Ellie Soden’s photograph the previous evening after it had been emailed from the FLO assigned to her parents. Beside it was a picture of Sarah Kelsey, one of those mother and baby studio portraits, holding her infant while her older two children stared at the camera in coordinating outfits.
‘We’ve still to get backgrounds on Catherine Fry and the care worker, Barbara Howe, but so far we’ve not uncovered any patterns between Roland, Ellie or Sarah, none of them had stayed in the same residential care homes prior to moving to Cedar Falls, nor were they known to each other. Once we’ve got full back histories we’ll know whether that’s the case for all of them. Likewise, without the care worker’s full employment history we can’t be certain she wasn’t known to any of the residents prior to working at the home.’
Coupland looked over at Alex who was sitting closest to him. ‘Barbara Howe’s life prior to her previous job is sketchy. Her old boss remembers she’d been in a series of temporary jobs before going to work for her but doesn’t recall what they were. I get the feeling they were cash in hand, washing dishes, bar work here and there. There’s certainly no record with DWP of any national insurance payments being made. I get the impression the job was a step up in terms of commitment – and regular pay.’
‘Some folk spend their lives living under the radar,’ Coupland observed. ‘What about family though? Friends? Someone who gives a toss she’s no longer around.’
‘I keep drawing a blank. She kept in touch sporadically with a woman at her previous post but she’d not heard from her in ages…’ Alex didn’t look happy.
‘I don’t get it, she’s been working at Cedar Falls for the last two years yet Harkins has no emergency contact details for her. And he’s been slow sending Catherine Fry’s files over. What’s his problem? Is he inept or a slippery sod, and if so, why?’ Coupland looked around the room.
‘He’s never been arrested, Sarge,’ said Robinson.
‘Doesn’t mean he’s squeaky clean either,’ a DC on the front row said.
‘Sarge.’ Coupland turned to look at Turnbull. ‘We’ve spoken to several staff members. There’s a disgruntled employee but nothing of any consequence. No serious disputes, just your typical internal grumbles, not enough overtime, always more work. No one was after him for money. The financial checks haven’t flagged up any cause for concern either. No special one off payments and no direct debits to bookies or online wanking sites. He paid his bills on time by all accounts. You’ll have a list of suppliers typed up and on your desk by close of play.’
Coupland nodded. ‘He sounds a model member of society. Anything at all set that nose of yours twitching?’
Turnbull thought about this, ‘Nothing untoward, specifically, Sarge, though there’s a regular monthly payment from a company by the name of Stannis Holdings. I was going to pay him another visit, see if he couldn’t shed a bit more light on it.’
Coupland looked down at his notes, added the name of the company. ‘Krispy can you do the honours on that? See if what Mr Harkins tells Turnbull matches what you dig up.’
‘Will do, Sarge.’
Turnbull was on a roll. ‘I’ll arrange to see him at Cedar Falls. The residential block might be out of action but at least we can take a look around the office.’
A DC beside him sniggered. ‘What, in case he has a can of petrol hidden under his desk?’
Turnbull blinked. ‘Stranger things have happened. Besides, there’s a lot to be gained seeing folk in their natural habitat, isn’t there, Sarge?’
Coupland raised an eyebrow. ‘What, agree with you and destroy my credibility? Seriously though, you’re a good ’un, Turnbull. Whoever said the IQ goes up when you leave the room needs to come and see me.’
‘Cheers, Sarge. I think,’ Turnbull said, his voice uncertain.
Something occurred to Coupland. ‘While you’re there I want you to bring back details of patients who left with an axe to grind. Were there any disgruntled relatives unhappy with the way their loved ones had been treated? They’d know their way round the place, would know the schedule the home worked to and where the most damage could be caused.’
‘If it was an ex-patient wouldn’t they have targeted the staff quarters? As it is that block is intact.’
‘Their gripe could be with another patient. In fact it’s worth looking at any internal complaints, patient against patient, rows over the remote control, that sort of thing. Anything supposed to be resolved where one party could be harbouring a grievance.’
Turnbull caught Robinson’s eye. What Coupland was asking him to do was potentially open up Pandora’s Box. Depending on the number of residents this line of enquiry could create dozens of trails and not all of them worthwhile, going by the care home manager’s organisational skills.
‘How far back do you want us to check?’ Robinson asked.
‘Let’s start with two years. This was a callous act; I can’t see it being something our killer has let fester for too long.’
Both detectives nodded.
DC Ashcroft spoke up next: ‘Two of the arsonists on the list you gave me checked out. Darren Gray, A.K.A Special Brew, was on a date when the fire started and Warren Douglas is on a tag. Tyson Gemmell, A.K.A UB40, was under a curfew at the time of the fire, although no one checked on his whereabouts on the night in question so technically he could have been anywhere. His dad’s backing him up, surprise, surprise, but I thought I’d pay him another visit, let his father know it’s my intention to keep going round if I feel he’s telling porkies.’
Coupland turned to the youngest member of the team for an update. Krispy’s suit was starting to look a little creased around the elbow and knees, clumps of chocolate icing had smeared onto his lapel, yet Coupland regarded him like a proud father at sports day.
‘I checked through the names of onlookers taken by uniform at the scene Sarge and cross checked it with the video footage taken by the CSIs. Bearing in mind it was dark, I’ve been able to confirm the ID of most of those present from Facebook. None of those I’ve checked are known to police, a couple had minor traffic violations, nothing to get bent out of shape over. Three youths stood out in the video purely because they kept to themselves. They dressed like they were in a gang, you know, same colour neckerchiefs poking out of the top of their anoraks.’
/> Coupland nodded, it was the trio that had caught his eye.
‘I’ve not been able to ID them though,’ Krispy added. ‘They’ve pulled their hoods up so their faces are partially covered.’
‘Get in touch with the security at the hospital,’ Coupland instructed, ‘I think the same group of lads were hanging about A&E when I got there. Go and check out the CCTV by the main entrance. You might get a better look at them.’
Krispy nodded eagerly.
‘You come back here when you’re done, you hear? No going all Ray Mears on me.’ There’d been a junior DC join Coupland’s team a couple of years before. Keen, eager to please. Ambushed during an unofficial stakeout. Coupland blamed himself for the young officer’s death. He wasn’t going to make the same mistake again. Krispy smiled and shook his head, making a note on his pad to google Ray Mears as soon as the briefing was over.
Coupland jabbed the whiteboard with his index finger, ‘As a result of this attack three kids have lost a mother. Parents have lost a daughter. Relatives are mourning loved ones they thought were somewhere safe.’ Several heads nodded around the room. He handed out actions, satisfied the team were doing their best with what little information they had to go on. Investigations like this started frustratingly slow at first, all the necessary fact finding and admin that needed to be carried out before the proper detecting could begin. They had to start somewhere, and inroads were being made.
The phone on Coupland’s desk rang. ‘Get that for me, Krispy,’ he called out. He turned to Alex as the team dispersed. ‘We need the information on the other victims pronto. For all we know Harkins could have been having a fling with this Barbara Howe and then broken up with her. She then starts the fire to get back at him.’
‘A woman scorned?’ Alex asked, eyeing him as she returned to her own desk. ‘Speaking from experience?’
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