I've Been Watching You

by KA Richardson

  He was lost in thought as he made his way towards the door and didn’t see Charlie heading towards him until she was under his nose.

  ‘Boss. I have the birth certificates. Our guy was named Mitchell Gordon Brown, twin to John Francis Brown who later changed his name to Whitworth. I’ve already checked with social and they have no trace of Mitchell claiming benefits or paying National Insurance – I haven’t managed to trace anything since his birth but it’s not exactly my forte. Maybe that techy guy, Ed what’s-his-name, can work his magic now?’

  Ali couldn’t stop the smile. ‘You are a bloody genius. Well done, Charlie.’

  ‘I’m heading over to Clarice’s house with Jason now. We’ll have a chat with Gill, go over her bedroom with a tooth comb, see if there’s anything that would indicate why she was targeted. It’s my gut feeling she knew the guy, but without proof that’s just a thought.’

  ‘OK, great. Thanks, Charlie.’ He took the slip of paper and put it in his pocket. He would head over to HQ the second he’d finished talking to Kevin.

  He still hadn’t managed to erase the smile when he walked into the supervisor’s office in the CSI corridor.

  ‘Hey, boss,’ greeted Kevin, waving his arm towards the vacant seat. ‘Take a load off. Just give me a sec to finish this paragraph and I’ll be with you.’

  Tapping away slowly on the keyboard, he held his lower lip between his teeth in concentration. He hated statements. There had been a time when prosecutors and the CPS hadn’t needed the ins and outs of a fart to get the job done. Now they did, and it made his statements even more time consuming.

  Finally, though, he looked up at Ali. ‘How can I help you?’

  ‘Just checking in really. The clean-up crew are at the centre today. I wanted to say good job to your staff. If they hadn’t been as thorough then we may have needed the scene for longer. Any additional evidence come to light yet? I’m heading over to see her mother and guardian later today. I want to be able to say, we’ll get the guy.’

  ‘Nothing as yet. I was going to phone the fingerprint lab later and see if anything’s pinged from the prints lifted from the wing of Jacob’s car. They said they’d rush it through, but it was waiting on quality checking at close of play last night. Is Ben OK?’

  ‘She’s holding up. Can’t say many other people would be as calm in her position. Jacob’s staying with her at her aunt’s. We’ve got two guys stationed outside 24/7. I’ve got a lead on a potential name so I’m heading over the HQ now to see what Ed can do.’

  ‘Well, a name’s a good start. We’ll catch-up later today.’

  Digital Forensics Lab, Sunderland HQ

  ‘Brown, you said his surname was, right?’ asked Ed as he looked up from his computer momentarily. At Ali’s nod, he turned back to the screen and frowned. ‘Nothing immediate standing out. This is going to take some time. I’ll get back to you when I have more.’

  Ali said thanks quietly and left the office. He’d been lost when Ed had flicked his computer screen to a black one with tiny white text that looked like a foreign language and started typing rapidly. Shaking his head in confusion, Ali thought, that’s why he does digital forensics and I don’t.

  Deciding to check in with the officers outside Ben’s, he made his way over and parked behind the marked car.

  ‘Everything OK, lads?’ he asked after tapping on the window.

  ‘Yeah, all quiet on the Western Front, sir. An old lady reported seeing a man in her garden last night when she went to the loo, but there’s nothing obvious. We had a look in her garden. She was probably imagining it. You know how these old birds can be. Couple of handsome coppers and they’ll keep you chatting all day.’

  Ali narrowed his eyes at the young officer. He was a joker, this one. Ali wasn’t familiar with him, and the other guy in the passenger seat was obviously relatively new, the sheen of enthusiasm not dulled by the mundane task of essentially babysitting.

  ‘Nice woman that,’ said the first officer, nodding his head towards the house. ‘Keeps us supplied with coffee.’

  Ali was not impressed, and it showed. He glared at him and bent so he was on eye level. ‘That nice woman is off limits and I shouldn’t have to tell you that. She is one of our own, in danger from a killer. Just keep your eyes on what’s going on out here and try to keep your mind out of the gutter. Now, where does the older lady live? I think I’d like to have a chat with her.’

  ‘Sorry, boss. She lives in the house directly behind Ben’s. The gardens adjoin via the rear fence.’

  Nodding once, Ali straightened and made his way around the corner to speak with the woman. He couldn’t afford to make any mistakes. He didn’t rate that officer’s opinion and felt the need to verify the neighbour’s story for himself. He’d committed the guy’s collar number to memory when he’d leaned forward. Words would be had with his sergeant.

  He knocked at the door and waited patiently for a reply.

  Several minutes passed before it finally opened a crack, the safety chain firmly in place as a frail voice filtered through the gap. ‘If you’re selling, you’ve come to the wrong address. I’m old and don’t have money to buy.’

  ‘Not selling, ma’am. My name is Detective Inspector Alistair McKay from North-East Police. I believe you had a word with my colleagues in the next street over about someone who was in your garden?’

  ‘ID, sonny. I’ll not be letting you in without it.’

  Smiling, he held his warrant card up to the gap for her to see. He didn’t see her nod in satisfaction, but he heard her slip the chain and then the door opened.

  ‘Come on in, I’ll put the kettle on.’

  Ali followed her through the neat living room and into the kitchen. She gestured to the chairs around the table and he sat patiently while she made a pot of hot tea. Noting the milk and sugar were already on the table, he accepted the teacup with a grin. It had been years since he’d drunk from a proper teacup. It reminded him of his own gran.

  ‘Those other officers didn’t believe me, you know. They thought I was some senile old bat. But I know what I saw. Name’s Agnes Wright by the way.’

  ‘I apologise for them. I believe you. Tell me what you saw, Agnes.’

  ‘A man, maybe late thirties, balding on the top. He was in dark clothes. I only saw him a moment, he’d climbed into my garden from the one straight behind mine. Nice old woman who lives there, with her nieces, I think. Always asks if I want milk getting. Not that I accept mind you, I get myself out to the shop every other day. Keeps my legs from seizing up with this darn rheumatism.’

  ‘Can you remember what time this was?’

  ‘Must’ve been around midnight or so. I went to bed straight after the nine o’clock news like always. Always get up around the same time, body doesn’t work like it used to.’

  ‘Did he do anything else?’

  ‘He did look up at my window. He didn’t see me though; I always go to the bathroom in the dark so as not to wake my eyes up. I stood on the landing looking straight at him. The security light was on at the side of the house, that’s how I remember what he looked like. Creepy man though, very much doubt he was up to anything above board. Are the folks over the way having a problem?’

  ‘Possibly. Would you mind if I have a look in your garden?’

  ‘You wanna see if there’s footprints or the like. I watch that CSI show on the TV. American trash, really, but I do like that Grissom man. You fill your boots, sonny. The door’s unlocked.’

  Ali got to his feet and walked down the overgrown path to the fence at the back. He could clearly see where the vegetation was trampled in places. It was completely obvious that someone had been in the garden. He knew in his gut it had been the guy they were looking for. Unfortunately, though, due to the overgrowth, there were no visible footwear marks. The fence showed scuff marks on this side: he’d climbed over the fence into Ben’s garden. Heading back into the kitchen, he found Agnes where he’d left her.

  ‘Agnes, it looks l
ike the man climbed over your fence into the garden behind, then climbed back over and into yours which is when you saw him. Would you recognise him again do you think?’

  ‘Well, it was dark. But I might. Is this man dangerous, Inspector? Should I be worried?’

  ‘He could be dangerous, we’re not sure yet. But if you see him again would you be able to give me a call? I’ll leave you my personal number?’

  ‘I will indeed. And I’ll make sure all my doors are locked. You tell that woman and her nieces to be careful. He didn’t strike me as a very nice man at all.’

  ‘Would you mind if I ask one of our artists to pop round and try to build a computer description of the man you saw – it would take a couple of hours but often we find a picture much more effective than a description.’

  Nodding, Agnes pushed out her chair and got to her feet. ‘That’s fine, sonny. I don’t get out much so send them round whenever.’ Ali stood and followed her to the front door. She was a prime example of the body failing but the mind remaining intact, and he was again reminded of his gran. She’d died years before, when he was a teenager, but he remembered her sparkling eyes, so mischievous; the cackle of her laugh – and she’d laughed often. He was a little surprised to feel such overwhelming emotion. Occasionally in the job he came across people who felt familiar, but it had never been this strong before.

  ‘Agnes if you’re ever worried, or you need anything, I want you to ring me, OK?’

  ‘I’ll be fine, sonny,’ she replied softly, patting his arm gently. ‘Don’t you worry about an old bat like me. You just keep those women safe.’

  Ali waited as she closed the door behind him and smiled as he heard the click of the lock. He knew Agnes would be checking the garden every night now. It made him feel more at ease knowing someone else had Ben’s back as well.

  He couldn’t stop the frown though as he approached the surveillance car again. The sound of the two officers giggling like children with the window open really riled him.

  ‘Right you two, for your information, there is evidence in the garden that indicates someone has been in there. That old lady is as sharp as they come, and it would pay you next time to listen when someone is trying to tell you about a potential killer. Do not expect to be given this duty again, I want people here I can rely on to protect Ben, not dicking around taking the piss. I’m going in to see her now. I expect by the time I come back out, that you’ll have your heads in the game otherwise you’ll be on desk duty for a month doing nothing more than HOLMES updates and filing. As it is, your sergeant will be made aware – this will be a black mark on your records. Understand me?’

  The chastisement was felt by both of them, and the driver had the graciousness to blush. He looked Ali in the eye and said, ‘Yes boss, sorry.’

  Major Incident Room, Sunderland City Centre Depot

  ‘Boss, have you got a minute?’ Charlie’s voice cut through Ali’s concentration and he looked up from his policy book. The policy book was essential to every murder. It held all his notes, points of investigation, and a whole host of information required for the enquiries to commence.

  ‘Sure, what’s up?’

  ‘We found something at the house. I wanted to speak with you first before we send the CSI back in.’ Charlie took a breath, obviously whatever it was, it was big. Ali leaned forward and pulled her a chair over.

  ‘It was well hidden. We almost missed it, to be honest. It was only ’cos there was a faint reflective flash off my torch light that we saw it at all. Inside the window vent above Clarice’s computer desk is a small camera, boss. We think he may have been watching her for some time before killing her. She may even have known him. We’ve left it in situ.’

  ‘A camera? Well, that’s a game changer. I knew this guy had technical knowhow. I just knew it. Did Jason mention whether it seemed like the camera was turned on?’

  ‘He doesn’t think so – there wasn’t a red light or anything, but we haven’t disturbed it and went about as if we hadn’t noticed it. Just in case it was motion activated or whatever. I’ve asked Gill to stay out of the room for the time being. Figured you’d want to call round yourself.’

  ‘Yes, I do, thanks. I’ll call Ed to have one of his guys attend with a CSI later – Jason if he’s not tied up since he already has knowledge of it. See if he can’t track down an IP address for where the signal was going to. Well done for finding it. This proves that he’s organised, and of above average intelligence. Hopefully this will lead us straight to him. Charlie, put this case in your personal development record, OK? And next time the sergeant’s exams come up I want to see your name on the list. There’s not a lot of officers that would have seen something so discreet as a hidden camera. I’ll endorse your application and give you coaching for your interview if you need it.’

  Charlie grinned at him widely. ‘Aw, I dunno, boss, I’m sure whoever worked the room would have. But thank you, I am thinking of looking at the sergeant’s exam in the next run.’

  ‘You’d be surprised, I’ve known them miss a cannabis farm growing right under their nose. Thanks, Charlie.’ Ali had the phone in his hand, punching the number for the digital forensics team before she’d even got to her feet. After explaining the situation, he rang Kevin and arranged for a CSI to meet him and one of Ed’s team at the house at three. Finally, he felt like he had a break in the case. Something that might well help him find Mitchell.

  Thompson Residence, Sunderland

  Ali took a deep breath before knocking on the front door. Craig and Max, the technician from Ed’s team, stood a few steps behind him. He’d already phoned and spoken to Gill to advise her that he needed to attend.

  When she opened the door, he was surprised to see her with full make-up on and dressed to kill in dark green. Her green glasses had white dots on them, and her hair had been styled in a fashionable up do. But behind the exterior primping, her eyes were red and bloodshot. She’d obviously been crying not long before they’d arrived.

  ‘Ms Thompson, my name’s Ali. We spoke on the phone earlier?’

  ‘Gill is fine. Please, come through. Clarice’s…’ she paused and coughed, trying to rectify the hitch of grief. ‘Clarice’s room is the second on the left down that hall. I haven’t been inside as per the request from your officer earlier.’

  Max and Craig made their way silently down the corridor, both uncomfortable. The cops dealt with families in grief. It wasn’t normal that the CSIs and technicians had that much interaction after the fact. What did one say to the people left behind, anyway? It wasn’t a job they envied Ali.

  Gill led Ali to the right and into the living room. It was spick and span, nothing out of place. Clarice’s mum, Bernice sat on one end of the sofa, silently wringing her hands. She looked like her daughter, and for a moment Ali was taken aback by the similarities. Sitting in the chair opposite the sofa, he waited a moment while Gill poured what looked suspiciously like home-made lemonade from a large jug filled with lemon slices, and handed him the glass before sitting beside her friend and putting a hand on her knee.

  Ali inhaled slowly. He hated this part of the job, knew his brother Alex did too. There was nothing right in talking to parents whose children had died. Or anyone else touched by such horror for that matter.

  ‘As Charlie explained to you both earlier, when our CSIs visited this morning, they found a hidden camera in Clarice’s room that may help us with the investigation. I know Charlie would have asked but sometimes when we’re put on the spot, we can’t always remember everything straight away. Can you tell me who has had access to the house over the last few months, Gill?’

  ‘Nobody really. I work the day shifts – the evening youth club is too boisterous for me, and Clarice is – was at uni. Except for her friends, there’s no one really who comes around.’

  ‘No workmen or engineers?’

  Gill cocked her head to one side, thinking. Suddenly her eyes widened. ‘Actually, there was a guy from Northumbrian Water about six weeks
ago. I thought it was odd ’cos he knocked at like half six one night. He said there was a leak somewhere and he had to check the water pressure.’

  ‘Was he left alone at any point?’

  ‘Not unattended, exactly, but I was on my way out of the door, so Clarice said she’d deal with it. She told me he went to the bathroom while she made her tea…Oh my God. It was him wasn’t it? That man is the one who hid the camera and killed Clarice?’ Gill’s face went ashen as tears filled her eyes.

  ‘We don’t know that yet. Even if it was, you weren’t to know, Gill.’

  Bernice interrupted now, her voice monotone as she glared at her friend. ‘You let that monster in the house with my girl? You let him in and left him with her, and now my baby is dead?’ Her voice broke and she got to her feet and walked out. When the front door slammed a second later, Gill winced. She didn’t move, her silent tears falling onto the carpet as she replayed her friend’s words over in her mind.

  ‘She’s right, this is my fault.’ Her whisper was horrified,

  Ali got to his feet and sat beside her. ‘This is not your fault. Bernice is upset and looking for someone to blame. You just happened to be the closest person. She’ll come around. You had no way of knowing that he was doing anything untoward. I’m guessing he was in uniform and showed you ID?’

  Gill nodded, but Ali could see she was barely holding it together. It didn’t matter what he said now. In her mind, she let the killer inside her home.

  ‘Can you tell me what the man looked like?’

  She closed her eyes trying to remember. Later she could beat herself up all she wanted over letting him get close to Clarice, but she knew the information Ali wanted might help catch him.

  ‘Not really, we literally crossed paths on the doorstep. He was white, wearing uniform, but he had a cap pulled right down over his face. I think he had a beard, but I may be wrong. I’m sorry.’ Gill’s voice finally broke and she started to cry softly.

  Ali handed her a tissue from the box on the table. ‘I’ll give you a couple of minutes.’