Next Victim

by Helen H. Durrant

  “I’d put it down to an overactive imagination, but it does merit checking out. You’ve met the family. Do you see the father being a killer?”

  Elwyn had a point. But the missing twin was troubling Rachel. What if he really did exist? Prove he existed, find where he and the mother were, and her mind would be at rest.

  “Harding thinks the mother left and took Alfie with her. We can’t rule that out. But if that’s what happened why doesn’t Brough tell her?”

  “Perhaps he’s ashamed, blames himself and wants to forget the event entirely.”

  Rachel wasn’t convinced. The violent streak Alice had exhibited made her nervous. Rachel couldn’t get it out of her head that it might be at the bottom of the mystery.

  “I got nowhere with Canal Street, ma’am,” Jonny said. “I spoke to loads of people, showed the lad’s photo around, but nothing.”

  “Doesn’t surprise me. I doubt he was a regular. He was probably just chancing his arm, begging round the tables. For reasons connected to some project of his, he was pretending to be a homeless person.”

  “We mustn’t forget the villain Oliver was allegedly working for,” Elwyn said. “Might be an idea to find out who that was.”

  Rachel nodded. She didn’t want to push that particular aspect until she knew more, particularly who this crook actually was. That way she stayed in control. “Jonny, you and Amy go and have a word with Greyson’s nightwatchman. I want to know why the alarm didn’t go off, and why he said he saw nothing. I think he’s lying. Find out why. This time of day, he’ll be at home. Get the address and go see him.”

  “There was a call for you earlier, ma’am,” Amy said. “Jason Fox from forensics.”

  “You’ve should have told me that immediately,” Rachel snapped. “We’re waiting on them.” She went into her office to ring him back. They had two suspects in the frame — well, almost. It would be the forensics that swung it.

  Dr Jason Fox was head of the forensic department they worked with. He was a pleasant bloke, her own age and unmarried, although he’d had a fair few relationships. He liked Rachel and made no secret of it. He’d asked her out numerous times, but she’d always refused. Not because she didn’t like him, because she did, but just not that way, not with Jed McAteer dominating her thoughts.

  “DCI King. Long time no speak. I’ve missed you.”

  “Only because you’ve been sunning yourself abroad somewhere, Jason. What have you got for me?”

  “There was Diazepam in his system, so he was definitely drugged. He’d been drinking too.”

  “Any Rohypnol?” she asked.

  “Can’t tell. It leaves the system very quickly. Not much chance by the time we got to him, I’m afraid. Something interesting though. There was a wound on his upper arm. It was deep, possibly inflicted with a knife.”

  “Not part of the attack he was subjected to before he died?”

  “I’d say not. The skin on his upper arm wasn’t too badly damaged and the wound had started to heal. I’d say it happened a week, perhaps ten days ago.”

  “Could it be the sort of wound you might get defending yourself?” Rachel asked. She was thinking about the fight with Alice.

  “Possibly, we’re still doing tests. But you have to understand these are taking time because of the condition of the body.”

  “He was skinny, obviously didn’t look after himself. Perhaps his money was going on the drugs and not food? You still working on the crime scene?”

  “We’ve got our work cut out there. It’s going to take a while. Anything interesting and you’ll be the first to know. There is something else. It’s for you to decide if it’s important or not. Those nuts and bolts we found, we did tests on them. No prints, but we did find traces of arsenic.”

  Rachel was puzzled. “I don’t understand. How does that happen?”

  “Like I said, it was only a trace. It could have come from the soil. Something for you to think about. You might consider whether that wasteland is contaminated. Check it out. There’ll be records, reports somewhere. That could be the reason it has never been developed.”

  She put the phone down. Perhaps that’s what Frodsham wanted to find when he broke into Greyson’s. But what did it mean? She checked the time. They needed to know more about Alice’s background, but the day was going by. They still had to have another word with the students at the uni, see who witnessed the barney between her and Oliver. Rachel wanted to know how many times, if any, Alice had lost it in the past.

  Back in the incident room, she had a word with Stella.

  “Investigations into that piece of land have just gone up a notch. Get onto the land registry. Find out who owns it. When that’s done, we want names of all parties who have shown an interest in buying it. And any reports of soil tests.”

  Chapter Twenty-one

  “I reckon this is a waste of time,” said Amy. She and Jonny pulled up outside the house in Failsworth where Douglas Croft, the nightwatchman at Greyson’s, lived. “The alarm will have failed or perhaps Frodsham tampered with it beforehand.”

  “The boss says we speak to him, so that’s what we do,” Jonny said. He wasn’t about to be led into a slag-off-the-boss session.

  “And she knows best! Listen to yourself! She does get it wrong, you know. She made a right cock-up of the Hindle case last year.”

  “I wasn’t here last year,” said Jonny. “Everything I’ve seen so far tells me DCI King is okay. She knows what’s she’s doing.”

  “Right little boss’s pet you’re turning into,” Amy scoffed. “She’ll have you running after her with cups of tea next.”

  “From what I’ve seen, that’s Pryce’s job,” he said, grinning. “I reckon he’s got the hots for her. Cut out the work crap and they wouldn’t make a bad couple.”

  “Don’t make me laugh. Pryce wouldn’t waste his time.”

  “Why so down on her?” Jonny asked.

  “She doesn’t like me, made that plain from the off.” Amy flicked her hair behind her ears. “I was hoping to go for DS soon. What are my chances with her as my boss? Nil, I’d say.”

  “I think you’ve got her all wrong. She takes the job seriously, that’s all. It’s not a question of liking or disliking a particular colleague.”

  “Wish I could get something on her,” Amy said. “I’d love to see ma’am squirm, get the rough end for a change. I get the impression Harding would like that too. The big boss isn’t keen on her either.”

  Jonny had heard enough. “Let’s find this bloke and get it over with.”

  They got out of the car and went up to the front door. “Bedroom curtains are shut tight. I reckon he’s in bed.” Jonny knocked loudly.

  “Works nights, who can blame him? Hey up, he’s just peeped out at us.” Amy smiled.

  More banging, and a few raps on the front window finally brought a response. A middle-aged man wearing a dressing gown opened the door.

  “What d’you want? I’m not buying anything.”

  “Police.” Amy flashed her badge. “We’d like to ask you a few questions.”

  He hesitated, looked them up and down. “Alright, come in, but I don’t have long.” He showed them into the sitting room.

  Jonny showed him the photo of Oliver Frodsham. “Do you remember the day this man came to your work premises?”

  “No. Should I?”

  “He broke in at night,” Amy said. “You’re the security person. So, yes, you should remember.”

  “You must be mistaken.”

  Amy shook her head. “We know he was there. We have him on CCTV, talking to Mr Greyson. Later that same night he climbed in over your fence.”

  Douglas Croft suddenly turned and went into the kitchen. “Don’t know nowt, me,” he called back. “You’d be best asking Greyson.”

  “We did, and he pointed us in your direction,” Amy said.

  Croft’s body language told them all they needed to know. He clearly knew exactly what they were getting at and didn’t
have an answer. They followed him into the kitchen.

  “Why didn’t the alarm go off, Mr Croft?” Jonny asked.

  He grunted. “Must have been faulty.”

  “Did you see him?”

  Croft’s hands were shaking. He had his back to them, aimlessly opening cupboard doors. “I’ve got nowt to say. I don’t know why I didn’t see him, but I didn’t.”

  “Were you asleep perhaps?” Jonny asked.

  “No. Sacking offence, that is.”

  “Then I don’t understand. Greyson speaks highly of you and the security system he has installed. I’ll ask you again, what happened?” Jonny said. He moved a little closer to Croft.

  Croft went back into the sitting room and poured himself a tot of brandy from a bottle on the sideboard, then threw himself into an armchair. He had gone grey in the face and looked like he was about to collapse. “Got me in a right state this has. You’re harassing me. I said I can’t help you.”

  “We’re not harassing you, Mr Croft. It’s a simple question,” Amy said. “Were you helping Frodsham? Do you know what he hoped to find at Greyson’s?”

  “I’ve no idea,” he muttered.

  “Speak up, Mr Croft,” Jonny urged. “Just tell us what you know and we’ll leave you in peace.”

  Croft shook his head. “I knew it wouldn’t work. I said so at the time.”

  “What wouldn’t work, Mr Croft?” Jonny asked.

  “I should have remembered to doctor that film, taken out the bit with the lad in it. If I had, you’d never have been the wiser.”

  Amy looked at Jonny. “Are you admitting that you helped Oliver Frodsham that night?”

  “That’s not what I said.”

  “It amounts to the same thing,” Amy said.

  He poured himself more brandy. “I can’t take pressure. I’m bad with my nerves as it is.” He paused. “He said he’d pay me, but that never happened. Said that if he got what was needed, I’d get more. All I had to do was turn off the alarm for a little while. Turn a blind eye and let the lad get on with it.”

  “What did Frodsham do?”

  “He got into Greyson’s office. Said he was after some documents. I’ve no idea what they were and that’s the truth.”

  “How much money were you promised?” Amy asked.

  “A grand, with another to come later.”

  “How did Frodsham hope to manage that?” Amy said. “He was a student.”

  “No idea, and I didn’t ask.”

  Amy watched him closely. He was keeping something back, couldn’t look them in the eye. “Was Frodsham working for someone else? A rival of Greyson’s perhaps?”

  “How would I know?”

  “What are you afraid of exactly?” Jonny asked.

  “All these questions, you’re giving me a headache.”

  “He was, wasn’t he?” Amy said. “And it was that someone else who told you to turn a blind eye and was going to pay you.”

  That got a reaction alright. For a moment Amy thought he was going to fly at her.

  “Okay, the lad didn’t hire or pay me. But it wasn’t no rival. It were some villain. The nasty bugger came here to this house, and threatened me. He and Greyson are fighting over that land. Both of them are playing dirty, but as usual it’s the little people who get caught in the crossfire.”

  The two detectives looked at each other. They hadn’t expected this.

  “Does he have a name, this villain?” Jonny asked.

  “I talk and my life won’t be worth living. I live on my own. I wouldn’t last the week.”

  Amy took Jonny to the hallway for a moment. “We could offer him protection. What d’you think?”

  “We’d have to clear it with DCI King.”

  Back in the sitting room, Amy regarded Croft closely. “That is some allegation you’ve made.”

  “Do you think I don’t know that? Scared witless, I’ve been.”

  “Tell us who this villain is and we’ll put you in a place of safety. You can trust us.” She meant it. A quick word with the boss and they could have the man in a safe house within the hour.

  Croft thought about this, turning his bleary gaze from one to the other. He sighed. “Couldn’t carry on like this anyway. I’ll get taken out one day when I least expect it. That way I never talk and they stay safe.”

  “His name, Mr Croft,” Amy urged.

  “Liam Beatty.”

  Jonny nudged her arm. “Who’s Beatty?”

  “Not someone you mess with,” she whispered. “One of the real bad guys.” She turned to Croft. “You’re far safer trusting us. You know who Beatty works for?”

  Croft was still shaking. “Course I do. The whole of Manchester knows that.”

  Jonny nudged her again. “I’ve no idea who you’re talking about.”

  “He’s Jed McAteer’s right hand man.”

  Jonny was no wiser. “And he is?”

  “Something of a crime baron around these parts.”

  Chapter Twenty-two

  “Is something up?” Elwyn said. “You’re very quiet today.”

  “It’s the case. Something needs to break.” It was a lie. What was bothering Rachel was Jed. She pulled into a parking space at the side of the college and turned off the engine. “Forensics are still working on the crime scene. This whole thing, the way Frodsham died, it smacks of a psycho. As for Frodsham’s body, the only new thing we have to go on is the knife wound. That was down to Alice, and we know she didn’t kill him. Whoever did, took their time, possibly even planned it. We’re missing something, Elwyn.”

  Rachel was about to say more when her mobile rang.

  “Well, well. Aren’t you the tricky one to get hold of?”

  Rachel’s heart began to race. How to deal with this? Not with Elwyn next to her, that was for sure. “Give me a minute alone, could you?” She knew Elwyn would ask questions but what choice did she have?

  Once her DS was out of the car, she cleared her throat. Her mouth was so dry that she could barely speak. “This isn’t on, Jed. No contact, remember?”

  “It’s not working for me, babe. What about you? Don’t you miss our times together?” Jed said.

  “What I miss isn’t the issue. We have an agreement. This is stupid. I can’t talk to you. You have to leave me alone.” Rachel ended the call. She was wound up enough without Jed McAteer ringing her every five minutes.

  “You okay?” Elwyn asked. “You’re as white as a sheet. Bad news?”

  “The worst.” She said nothing further.

  The two of them walked to reception in silence. Rachel knew Elwyn was holding back, keeping his questions under control. She couldn’t do this, she had to offer some explanation. “It’s nothing really, just something with the girls.” The words sounded stilted, false. Elwyn was no fool, he’d know she was lying. “Meggy’s got a boyfriend, with all the problems that go along with it.”

  “New phase then. You’ll have to learn new skills — how to cope with strange young men about the house, for starters.”

  “And the rest.” She laughed unconvincingly.

  Rachel saw the look. He knew she was lying to him. He wouldn’t let it drop, he never did.

  They were expected. Mrs Gaskell had organised a room for them on the ground floor. “I’ve ordered coffee,” she said. “I don’t know how I can help, but I’ll tell you what I can.”

  Moments later they heard a knock at the door, Hayley Burton with a tray of coffee. She saw Rachel and smirked. Word had got out. Alice was in bother and no one had any sympathy.

  As soon as Hayley left, Rachel turned to Mrs Gaskell. “Tell us about the skirmish between Alice and Oliver Frodsham.”

  “It all happened so fast. A dozen or so students were queuing for lunch when suddenly Alice lunged at the boy. Called him all sorts of names. Her language was atrocious. He gave as good as he got, though. He called her something I didn’t hear, but one of the girls said he’d told her she was a stupid bitch who deserved to be conned. That seem
ed to set her off. She went berserk, snatched a knife from the cutlery dispenser and flew at him.”

  “Did she stab him?” Rachel asked.

  “Oliver put his arms up to defend himself and suffered a flesh wound to one of them. There was a lot of blood, so to be on the safe side, I took him across the road to the hospital. The wound needed a couple of stitches.”

  “Was the assault reported?” Rachel asked.

  “Oliver said he’d do that. One of the girls said she’d go with him.”

  Rachel had checked. No report had been made.

  “What was their relationship like in general?”

  “Non-existent. Oliver only became interested in Alice in the last couple of months. He hung around with some of her friends.” Mrs Gaskell smiled at Rachel. “With some of your Megan’s friends, actually. Alice was one of the group. Megan took her under her wing. I think he learnt that Alice had money, so he saw his chance and duped her. Everyone knows about Alice’s obsession with her twin brother. She spends hours in the library doing research into her family and her parents’ background.”

  “That was very helpful.” Rachel could do with that research herself. Even though she knew Alice hadn’t killed Oliver, there was something about the girl that bugged her.

  “Has Alice ever lost her temper in that way before?” Rachel asked.

  “Not that I’m aware of. Normally she’s a gentle sort of girl. It’s just this brother thing. It seems to rile her.”

  Rachel and Elwyn went back to the car. “What now?” Elwyn asked, shaking his head. “I’m stumped. I hope the other two are getting better results than we are.”

  “We’re not doing badly. We’ve ruled out Alice, so now we need to look closer at that land — who wants it and why. Alice took us off track for a while. We were looking in the wrong place, now we have to concentrate on the land issue.”

  Chapter Twenty-three

  “Want to talk now?” Elwyn asked, glancing at her.