by JJ Franklin
Grant remained silent.
‘Bloody hell, Grant, you’re not making this easy. If you’re not willing to help, I can’t do a damn thing. Don’t you understand, this might be your last chance?’ Matt waited, and as the silence lengthened, wondered how long he should give the man.
Grant finally spoke. ‘It’s a long story.’
‘I’ve got time.’ Matt sat back, making sure his posture was open and relaxed. He didn’t think Grant was going to reply as he watched the man fight with the demons in his head.
‘It’s the job.’
‘It’s tough at times.’ Matt couldn’t help thinking of the danger Eppie had been placed in because of his position.
Grant looked up. ‘You think facing up to the villains makes us men? That’s the easy bit. It’s the way it takes over, creeps into your head, leaves no room for anything, or anyone. You’re a policeman twenty-four seven, no turning it off. You hear the neighbour shouting at his kids and think you should interfere, a pal fiddling his tax and wonder whether to report him.’
Matt watched as Grant became lost in his thoughts. He decided to wait, let him continue in his own time.
‘I was in the middle of my Inspector’s exams, living and breathing the bloody job.’
In the stillness, Matt became aware of the ticking of the wall clock.
‘I didn’t want to know. I knew what he was going to say and I couldn’t face it. She’d asked me to have a word with him and I kept finding excuses.’ Grant lowered his head into his hands.
Aware that whatever was bothering Grant had been torturing him for a long time, Matt knew he didn’t have the skills to deal with the man’s pain, yet, if this was the first time he had opened up, there was nothing else he could do but listen and wait.
‘I didn’t know what to say to him.’
‘What happened, Grant?’
‘I left it too late.’
‘Too late?’
Grant took a deep breath and the words shot out. ‘He killed himself because I couldn’t face the fact that he, my son, was gay.’
Matt sat back, stunned. Whatever he had been expecting, it wasn’t this. He had been thinking of the usual marriage break-up due to stresses of the job. Grant’s persecution of homosexuals made sense now. It was as if he had turned all his grief and anger onto them. No wonder Jane’s relationship with Jenny had riled him.
‘I’m sorry.’ It tumbled out as he searched in vain for something adequate to say. Grant’s shoulders relaxed. Maybe it was a relief that it was finally out. ‘Thanks for telling me, Grant.’
Grant gave a grunt.
Matt thought of the implications of Grant’s position. He’d need the man’s cooperation if his job was to be saved. Realising this might be difficult to get, he laid it on the line. ‘Grant, do you want to keep your job?’
‘Of course. I’ve nothing else.’
‘Then we’ll need to work out what we do next. For a start, we’ll have to get McRay on side.’
Grant looked up at that.
‘No other way, sorry. Then, there will be no driving.’ Matt waited to see if there would be a reaction from Grant, but he merely gave a shrug, so he continued, knowing that the crux of the matter was to come. ‘You’ll cut down on the drinking and, if that means getting help, then you will accept it.’
‘See the counsellor?’
‘Yes.’
‘Fat lot of good that will do.’
‘It’s part of the deal. If this goes through the system, as it should, you won’t stand a chance.’ He paused before adding, ‘I certainly don’t want to lose you.’
Grant stayed silent as if assessing the truth. ‘For how long?’
‘As long as it takes.’
After a long silence, Grant nodded consent.
‘Good. I’ll talk to McRay.’
Grant shuffled to his feet.
‘And we’ll keep this to ourselves until then. Okay?’
Receiving a brief nod from Grant, Matt took this as a yes. Now all he had to do was talk to McRay.
Grant left the office and Matt couldn’t help sighing. He didn’t need this. Before approaching McRay, he’d have to get his argument clear so he could persuade him that Grant was worth the risk. Matt cheered up at the sight of Sam walking into the office, stopping to give his usual grin as he received the well wishes of colleagues.
Chapter 29
Last night she’d watched him at the rehearsal. Harry seemed shy at first but relaxed once they started singing. Kathy could hear his clear tenor adding strength to the row behind her. This alone would ensure his welcome as there was always a shortage of tenors.
During the break, she saw him chatting to some of the others and caught glimpses of that wide smile. Would they still welcome him if they knew what he had done? She still couldn’t believe he’d ever been vicious enough to take part in Jack’s horrific death. Could anyone really change that much? She wanted to hate him, was prepared to kill him, rid the world of a wicked character, but now everything was turned on its head, leaving her confused and uncertain.
Besides Harry, there was another newcomer, Angela, and Ida had asked Kathy to help her. Kathy personally thought that no one, Angela or Harry, ought to join at this late stage, but it wasn’t up to her to decide. As for helping her, Angela was convinced she knew it all and tried to tell Kathy what to do. No matter what the passage called for, Angela was intent on singing louder than anyone else and Kathy was relieved when, at the break, she made a beeline for the men.
This morning she’d woken from a fretful dream about Harry. Trying to push him from her mind, she prepared for a busy day at college. She enjoyed working on reception and sometimes felt like a mother hen to the students. Although Ida had told her when Harry started his course in the drama department, she’d resisted seeking him out, her need for revenge only nebulous then, a hot angry lesion slowly turning itself into a solid cold ball of hate.
After a busy day, she arrived home, annoyed to find herself still thinking about Harry. Tired of the dilemma, she mentally put Harry to the bottom of the list, and decided she’d check out David Beeson. Relieved at making a decision, she made a cup of tea and sat down to relax with the local paper.
‘Heartbroken mother’ the caption read underneath a picture of Jonathan’s mother. That pathetic little woman who had hovered, lost, as the court officials ignored her. She had felt empathy for her then. The article told her little she didn’t know already – Mary James couldn’t understand what had turned her son into a killer, but she thought having a violent father hadn’t helped.
What would the newspapers make of her? Would heartbroken mother be the headlines, or cruel and heartless killer? She always imagined herself on the side of good, but Mary James would think differently. Kathy hoped she would never have to face her.
Chapter 30
Phil Nodding lived in a high rise flat on the outskirts of Leamington Spa. Seeing at least one vehicle propped up on bricks, Matt was uneasy leaving his car, but there was nowhere else. He pushed down his fears of coming back to find all four wheels gone and followed Jane to the entrance. The flats had the pretence of security, and needed a code to enter. Trying the caretaker’s bell brought no response and Matt was starting to get impatient when two young mothers, complete with pushchairs and numerous toddlers, came out. Matt held the door open for them and ushered Jane inside.
Declining to take the lift after only one sniff, they began the long climb to the eighth floor.
‘I’ll go up on my own if you like?’ Her reply was a raised finger and he gave up. He would have been glad if she had stayed in the car to keep it safe. By the time they reached the eighth floor, Matt was slightly out of breath as he laboured up the last few steps, while she stood at the top waiting. ‘Okay, I get it.’
She nodded at his resignation and turned to walk along the co
rridor. Phil’s flat was two doors along and she banged on the door. By the time Matt reached her, she had resorted to banging again, this time louder, before bending to peer through the letterbox. ‘Someone’s home.’
After another attack on the door, they heard shuffling inside, followed by bolts being drawn back. The door opened an inch secured by a chain. ‘What?’
Matt stepped forward. ‘Phil Nodding? We just need a quick word. We are investigating the death of Jonathan James and I understand that you were friends with Jonathan? I’m DI Turrell and this is DC Meadows. May we come in please?’ Both of them held up their warrant cards.
Cursing came from inside, followed by fumbling before the chain was released and the door opened. A skinny young man stood shivering in his boxer shorts. He stood back to let them in, before ushering them into the tiny room that served as a bedroom, living room and kitchen. The sofa obviously doubled as a bed, with a dingy pillow and duvet laying half on the floor. Matt guessed they had woken him up.
Phil picked up the duvet to wrap around him. ‘Jon dead?’
‘Yes. Sorry.’
‘When?’
Jane checked her notebook. ‘He was found early in the morning on the sixteenth of December. Were you with him that night?’
‘Suppose so.’
‘Where did you meet?’ Matt asked.
‘By the shops.’
‘Which shops?’
Phil waved his right hand vaguely. ‘By the off-licence.’
‘The one on Alderton Road?’
‘Yep.’
‘Why there, Phil?’
‘Sometimes one of the punters will get us cider.’
‘Did you get lucky that night?’
‘Nope. Least we didn’t.’ Phil stopped as if recalling something. ‘Nope.’
‘Who got lucky, Phil? Was it Jonathan?’
‘Dunno.’
Matt sighed. It was obvious Phil had remembered something and had just as quickly shut it away again. He tried a different tack.
‘What time did you last see Jonathan?’
‘Dunno.’
‘Please think. It could be important.’
Phil plonked himself down on the sofa and pulled the duvet tighter around him. ‘It was cold. No hope of getting anything. The off-licence had shut. Some of the lads went into town. I came back here.’
‘What were they going in search of, Phil?’ Matt hoped the answer wasn’t going to be, Dunno.
‘Booze I suppose.’
‘Not drugs?’
‘Jon didn’t do ’em.’
‘And the others?’
‘Maybe. I dunno.’
Matt thought it might be best to wind it up for now before they lost what little cooperation they had. He decided to risk one more question but he could guess the answer. ‘You have been very helpful, Phil. I’d like to ask you just one more question and then we’ll leave you in peace. Do you know the names of any of the lads who were with you that night? Just a partial would help.’
Phil looked as if he were scanning his memory, but eventually shook his head. ‘Nope.’
‘Well, if you remember anything, anything at all, it might be a great help to us. Here’s my card, just call me. Thanks for your help.’ He would have liked to add such as it was but refrained.
Going down the stairs was much easier than coming up, and reaching the car park, Matt was relieved to find the car intact. He guessed that at night time it would be different. All the layabouts, like Phil, would be out roaming, looking for any opportunity.
Safely in the car, he turned to Jane. ‘Impressions?’
‘He remembered something, but didn’t want to tell us.’
‘Yes, that was my feeling too. Maybe a trip down the station would encourage him.’
‘Could do, or shut him up completely.’
‘Let’s check out the off-licence.’
Although Mrs Johnson at the off-licence was helpful, they drew a blank. The CCTV worked on a loop and the footage from the night of Jonathan’s death had already been taped over. Mrs Johnson never worked the evening shift, but looked up the rota and gave them the name and number of a Reg Storey, who had been on duty from four to ten pm on the evening before Jonathan’s death.
Chapter 31
After finding out that Dave Beeson lived with his married sister, Kathy found the Pritchards’ house with the aid of the sat nav. Parked opposite the house, she questioned what she was doing, sitting here in a strange street on one of the coldest nights of the year. She’d promised herself she’d just stay for ten minutes, to get the lie of the land. The lights were on in the front room and Kathy could see the flicker of a television set. At just gone ten, a man entered the front bedroom and drew the curtains while downstairs the lights remained on.
Eight minutes later, freezing and feeling a bit of a fool, she was about to head home when the front door opened and a lanky youth came out. He wore dark colours and blended silently into the shadows. Arguing with herself as to whether she should follow, she reasoned that this was her chance to find out more about him. Despite the bitter cold, she forced herself out of the car and pulling up her scarf to cover her mouth, began walking after him, stepping gingerly to avoid patches of ice.
The youth turned towards town and she realised a man, about ten yards in front of her, also seemed to be trailing him. Each time David turned a corner, the man turned too. He only became visible when a streetlight illuminated his face and from those brief glimpses, Kathy didn’t recognise him. At a guess, she’d say he was about 5’11”, thick-set and muscular.
Worried by his presence, Kathy slowed her pace and increased the distance between them. Now certain the man was following Dave, she made up her mind and returned to the car, glad to get inside out of the biting cold.
Chapter 32
Vinny spotted him shambling forward, keeping in the shadows close to the buildings, as if afraid the rays of the streetlights would annihilate him. He decided to follow for a while, see what he was up to, but guessed he was out to score.
Why hadn’t Jon dumped this idiot? He had warned him, but Jon always liked to surround himself with the weak and easily led. The sort who jumped at his bidding, making him appear the big man. The stupid little sod hadn’t realised a unit was only as strong as its weakest link. This was the useless specimen who yelped to the pigs before they’d even laid a hand on his shoulder and got them all nicked.
It should be easy to get the information he needed, but Vinny decided to follow him anyway, just to check. If he had contacts in the drug world, then he could be the one who killed his son.
The dealer was some low-life Vinny didn’t know but he didn’t seem much of a player. He watched from the shadows as the deal took place.
The idiot turned for home. Vinny waited until he came to a patch of waste ground before pouncing. ‘Arsehole, I want a word with you.’ He pulled the unresisting bundle into the dark side of a skip and raised his fist. ‘You’re going to tell me what I need to know. Understand.’
Taking the creature’s nod as agreement, he dropped his hand. The sight of its terrified eyes and the slack, dribbling mouth disgusted Vinny. Clenching his teeth in an effort to control the anger, he reached into the lad’s pocket to retrieve a packet of white powder. ‘You know where to get this filthy stuff.’ Vinny tore open the packet and threw the powder all over him. ‘This is what killed my Jon. Did you do it?’
‘No. No.’
‘Then who was it?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘You’re supposed to be his mate.’
‘He put bad thoughts in my head.’
‘And I’ll knock ’em out if you don’t tell me.’ Vinny raised his fist to emphasize.
It flailed its thin arms in a useless effort to protect itself.
But it was easy to push them a
side. The first punch was like hitting a leaking balloon. The coward made no attempt to defend himself, or hit back, just collapsed on the ground, whimpering like a lost kitten. Vinny stood over him. It didn’t seem right for this pathetic coward to be alive while Jon was dead. He reached down and drew him to his feet, ramming his body so hard against the skip that bones cracked. The mewling increased and he brought his face closer. ‘Who was he with?’
‘Don’t know.’
‘Don’t know, don’t know. Pretty useless, aren’t you?’
‘Yes.’
‘Where’s the old gang?’
‘Don’t know.’
This was a waste of time. In frustration, he aimed a blow to the side of its head. The creature whined and sank to the floor, covering his head with his hands. Kicking out, Vinny discharged his anger into the unresisting softness.
Chapter 33
There was something sad about Dave in life, but in death he was pathetic. He lay there like a baby, curled up into himself, with one arm over his head as if to ward off blows. Livid bruises showed on his pale skin, while blood matted his lank hair and streaks ran down his face. Someone had done a right job on him. Who would want to pick on such a defenceless young man? His vulnerability reminded Matt of Gracie and the familiar feelings of inadequacy arose of letting them both down. The only difference between them was that Dave hadn’t fought back. Matt guessed he must have slid out into the night, probably in search of drugs.
Matt had seen enough and he moved back to let the forensic team erect the tent over the body. Slim would feed him the gruesome details later.
His next job was one he didn’t relish. Dave’s sister would have to be told. Matt was just wondering if Jane was on her way when she drew up at the outer perimeter. Matt moved towards her as she got out of her car, noticing the dark circles under her eyes. There wasn’t going to be much of a chance to ease her in now they had a second suspicious death on their patch. He could send her back to the warm office, but knew it would be best if she came with him to inform Julie Pritchard.