by M A Comley
“And why are the neighbours looking after the items?”
“We’ve yet to establish a suitable explanation for that, sir. You’re aware that the neighbour, the husband, in possession of the items, was abducted yesterday, aren’t you?”
“I heard something on the grapevine about a kidnapping. I’m disappointed you didn’t come and tell me yourself.”
“I would have, if I hadn’t decided to head out to the farm and carry out a detailed search of the area.”
“I’m sure you had your reasons. As for the items, yes, I would pick them up and safely store them in the evidence room until the victim’s Last Will and Testament has been read. I think it’s the safest bet, if you believe the items are behind the murder and the disappearance of the neighbour.”
“I’ll get that actioned ASAP, sir. Thank you for your guidance.”
“That’s what I’m here for, don’t forget it, Inspector.”
“I won’t. Thank you, sir.”
Sam hung up and her cheeks inflated as a large puff of air left her body. “Now all I have to do is trek out there and gather the items.”
“Talking to yourself again, should I be concerned?”
She glanced up to see Bob leaning against the doorframe.
“Not just yet, I hope. Only time will tell. We’ve got to go and pick up the medals and money, hold it as evidence until the Will has been read.”
“Makes sense. Also ensures that Brenda isn’t at risk, if that’s the perp’s main objective.”
“There is that. Okay, let me finish my drink and we’ll set off.”
Bob nodded and went back to his desk.
A few minutes later, Sam left her office and joined the others. She held a short morning briefing, going over old ground of what needed to be carried out during the day, then she and Bob got on the road.
They arrived at the farmhouse around twenty minutes later. She didn’t feel the need to ring ahead, just assumed that Brenda would be at home, along with the officer watching over her.
“Hello, Brenda, how are you holding up?” Sam asked, once the officer showed them through to the lounge.
The woman looked distraught, large bags under her eyes suggesting she hadn’t managed to get much sleep. “Not well. I want my husband back.”
“I take it there has been no form of contact from the person who took him?”
“No. No one has rung me except my daughter. What’s happened to him? Why hasn’t this person made any demands yet? David doesn’t deserve to be treated like this, he’s never done any kind of harm to anyone throughout his life. He’s the kindest, most inoffensive man I know.”
“I’m sure we’ll hear some news soon. In the meantime, I’ve had a word with my superior officer and he’s told me to take the medals and the cash in for safekeeping, at least until Tom’s Last Will and Testament has been read. Would that be okay with you?”
Brenda shrugged. “I suppose so. Do you want me to go and get them?”
“If you wouldn’t mind. Do you need a hand?”
“No, I don’t think so. Oh, wait, yes, okay, I might have trouble bringing them downstairs.”
“That’s okay. In that case, would it be all right if we come up with you?”
“Yes, you’ll have to excuse the mess; I’m usually very house-proud, but I didn’t have it in me to tidy up yet today. I feel so numb without David here. Not sure how I’m going to cope if anything goes wrong and he doesn’t return home.”
“Let’s keep thinking positively and please don’t concern yourself, we’re not here to judge you on your housekeeping skills.”
She smiled and led them upstairs, along the hallway to the main bedroom where she opened the wardrobe door and fiddled inside for a few seconds. Eventually, she released whatever she was after and stepped back. “In there. Help yourselves.”
Sam removed her blue plastic gloves from her jacket pocket and took a few steps closer to the wardrobe. She rooted around inside, and thanks to Bob shining a torch to guide her quest, found the opening she was after. Bob was also prepared and had his gloves in place. She handed the medals back to him, one at a time as they were loose inside the cavity. Then Sam spotted a bag wedged inside. She tugged it free from its confines and peered into the bag. Her eyes widened at the sum of cash it held.
“That was all Tom had of value. We haven’t touched a thing, I promise,” Brenda told them, her voice trembling with emotion.
“I’m sure it was in good hands with you and David. Tom knew that as well; otherwise, he wouldn’t have asked you to have hidden it for him.”
Brenda visibly shook and without replying, she turned to walk back downstairs.
“Poor woman. She’s so distraught.”
Bob nodded. “As we would be, if the tables were turned. I can’t imagine what’s going on in that head of hers at present.”
“Let’s get these back to the station and see if we can help her out by finding her husband before anything bad happens to him.”
“What about using the media in some way, to get the word out about us having the medals? Maybe the perp will have a rethink and set David free once he feels he’s wasting his time holding him.”
Sam pondered the possibility. “You might be on to something there. Let’s make a move and I’ll ring Jackie Penrose, see what she can come up with at short notice.” Jackie was the station’s press officer, who dealt with all forms of media on the Force’s behalf.
Bob carried the items downstairs and tucked them safely away in the boot of the car. Sam dipped back into the lounge to make sure Brenda was okay. “We’re going to leave now, Brenda. Is there anything you need before I leave?”
“Apart from hearing that you’re doing your best to get my husband back, you mean?”
“We are, I promise you. Even though Bob and I are here, the rest of my team are doing their very best to gather information for us back at the station.”
“I believe you. This is all so hard to take. I barely slept a wink last night; every time I closed my eyes, I saw David tied up somewhere, either getting struck by this wicked person or in desperate need of food or drink. It’s hard to shift those types of images from your mind when you don’t have a clue what your darling husband is going through.”
“I’m sure. My motto has always been no news is good news in cases like this. The kidnapper hasn’t made any form of demands from either you or the police; in that respect, we have to look on that as a positive.”
She shook her head. “You know best. I can’t see it as that. No contact at all, how can I take that as a good thing?” She wiped a bead of sweat from her brow. “It doesn’t matter what I tell myself, I have this daft notion that I’ll never lay eyes on my husband again.”
Sam took a step forward to comfort her. Sensing what she was about to do, Brenda raised a hand to stop her.
“Please, don’t be kind to me, it’ll only make matters worse. My soul is lost without him. We’ve spent almost fifty years together and… well, I’d rather not finish off that sentence if it’s all the same to you.”
“Of course. I understand totally what you mean. I hate to leave you in such a state, are you sure there’s nothing I can do for you?”
“No, there’s nothing. Just find him, Inspector, before it’s too late.”
Sam rubbed her hand up and down Brenda’s arm. “Hopefully, we’ll do just that.”
“Oh, yes, there is something.” Brenda peered over her shoulder, towards the front door. “Now that you have the medals and money, I’d rather be alone, so take the female officer with you.”
Her suggestion went against the grain with Sam. “I’d rather she remained here for a day or two.”
“Well, I’d rather be alone with my thoughts. I can’t think straight with someone else in the house, watching my every move. I’m sorry, that was a bit harsh. It’s how I feel, though, as if I don’t have any freedom in my own house.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way, it wasn’t my intention for you
to feel suppressed or suffocated. I would rather the officer stayed put for a few more days, or at least until we’ve located your husband.”
Brenda shook her head. “I don’t want it. Please remove her at once.”
Sam was horrified by the suggestion, but was aware she couldn’t force the woman into having the officer remain at the farm. She offered up a compromise. “What if the officer stayed outside in her car? Would that make a difference?”
“No, not in the slightest.”
“Okay, I’ll order her back to the station then, on one proviso.”
Brenda frowned and tilted her head. “And what might that be?”
“That you lock all the doors and windows and you contact me regularly.”
“What? You want to hold me prisoner in my own home and expect me to check in with you? It’s no better than what I’m going through now. I feel suffocated.”
“I can’t emphasise this enough, Brenda, these measures have been put in place to protect you.”
“I’m not stupid, Inspector, I understand why the officer is here.” She paused and sighed, then sank into the sofa behind her. “Do what you want, I’m exhausted. All I want is my husband back and for us to get on with our lives.”
“I appreciate how you must be feeling. I’ll remove the officer, if you’re a hundred per cent sure that’s what you want.”
Brenda looked up and visibly brightened before her eyes. “It is.”
“Very well. I’ll be in touch if anything should crop up. In the meantime, stay safe, Brenda.”
“Thank you for your understanding, and your best wishes, Inspector.”
A feeling of rejection descended and Sam left the farmhouse and stopped to give fresh instructions to the officer at the door. “You can go back to the station now, it’s nothing personal, the lady of the house needs to be alone.”
“Are you sure, ma’am?”
“Positive. I can’t force her into doing something she doesn’t want to do. Thanks for your help.”
“Only doing my job.”
“I know.”
Sam walked back to her car and flopped into her seat. Bob pointed at the officer getting into her vehicle. “Where’s she going?”
“She’s been dismissed, through no fault of her own.”
Confusion clouded his features. “Do you like talking in riddles?”
“Not really. Brenda wanted her gone. She feels suffocated.” Sam started the engine and pulled out of the drive after the officer left the farmyard.
“That’s too bizarre for words. I can’t get my head around why she wouldn’t want protecting if her husband is in danger.”
“Our duty isn’t to ask why, it’s to seek results. People react in different ways when stress kicks in. I can’t force her to cooperate.”
“Take her in and bang her up in a cell then, she needs protecting.”
“Forget about it, Bob, there’s nothing I can say or do to make the woman reconsider. I’ve tried to reason with her. She’s sticking to her guns.”
“Bloody hell, so you’re just going to leave her to it?”
“Read my lips… I can’t force her to do something against her will.”
Bob muttered a bunch of expletives.
Sam chuckled. “Hacked off, are we?”
“And some. What is wrong with people?”
“Forget about it, let’s concentrate on bringing her husband home to her.”
“Makes you wonder why we frigging bother at times, doesn’t it? At a time, some people are taking potshots at us for not caring enough about what happens in the community, and then you’ve got the likes of Brenda. My brain hurts just thinking about it.”
“Then don’t.”
The drive back took place in silence apart from the radio on in the background. They were on the outskirts of Workington, three miles from the station, when Sam’s phone rang. She answered it via the Bluetooth facility. “DI Sam Cobbs, how can I help?”
“Sorry to disturb you, ma’am, it’s Nick on the reception desk.”
“Hi, Nick, is this about the officer I sent back to you?”
“It’s not, ma’am, she explained the situation upon her return. Umm… a member of the public has just reported seeing a dead body. I thought you should know right away.”
She slapped her hand on the steering wheel. “Damn, is it a body of a man?”
“Yes, an elderly gentleman. I immediately thought about your investigation, hence the call.”
“Shit! Not what I wanted to hear. Where and when?”
“About an hour ago at Ullswater. He was fished out of the lake there.”
“Jesus. Okay, we’ll head over that way now.”
“I thought you might.”
Sam ended the call and bashed her head against the headrest a few times. “Shit, shit, shit!”
6
Sam felt numb, although her stomach was tied into knots by the time they arrived at the scene. Des Markham and his team were hard at work, erecting a marquee because of the amount of prying eyes at the location. “Shit, we need to get these people back; better still, tell them to fucking do one, will you, Bob?”
“Leave it with me. Bloody rubberneckers, they boil my bloody piss, gawping as though we’re putting on a show for them.”
“Agreed. What if it was one of their family on show in that state? They’d soon be kicking up a stink, wouldn’t they? Trouble is we’re on the tail end of the holiday season, people with nothing better to do than stick their bloody nose in where it’s not wanted.”
They exited the car. “I’ll deal with them, with pleasure.”
Sam cautiously approached the pebbled area close to the shoreline. This was such a stunning location, the lake surrounded by the hills in different shades of greens, turning into subtle browns on either side. Sailboats milling about on the still water, a steamboat ferrying passengers the length of the large body of water, and then this… a dead body spoiling the peace and tranquillity.
“Hello again, Sam.”
She smiled at Des, but kept her distance. “Have you got a spare suit? My stocks are running low.”
“Take a few from the back of my van.”
Sam trotted over to his vehicle, slipped into the protective clothing and then returned to stand alongside Des. “What have we got?” The victim was lying face down on the stones, so it was impossible to tell if it was David Chatley or not.
“A man in a boat saw something in the water, realised it was a body, reported it and then pulled it ashore.”
“Did he do the right thing?”
Des nodded. “He did, you can’t disrupt a crime scene if it’s in the water. Do you think it might be the man who was abducted?”
“David Chatley? I’m not sure. Can we turn him over and have a look?”
“Past experience tells me it won’t be pretty. Of course, that depends how long he’s been in the water.”
“Have the fish taken chunks out of him? Is that what you’re telling me?”
“Possibly. Just prepare yourself.” He approached the body, Sam followed, and they both crouched down. “Here goes.” Des turned the victim over and Sam had to swallow down the bile which surfaced in her throat.
“Shit! What a mess. I think it’s him. No, I’m certain it is. Well, as certain as I can be.” Sam stood and Bob joined them, wearing the obligatory proper clothing.
“Is it him?” Bob asked. He peered over Sam’s shoulder.
Sam sighed and nodded. “It seems to be. Don’t take a closer look, it’s not very pleasant.”
“That’s not good. Jesus, why dump his body here? Miles away from where he was abducted?”
“Both valid questions, we’ll ask the perp when we find him.”
“If we ever find him,” Bob corrected her.
“PMA, we have to hang on to that, partner. It’s not like we have anything else at our disposal for now.”
“I’ll get him shifted to the mortuary and conduct the post-mortem this afternoon. Do you want
to attend?”
“If we must,” Sam replied, glancing in her partner’s direction.
Bob pulled a face, his dissatisfaction clear. “Do we have to?”
“It’s been a while since you attended one, if I recall rightly,” Des countered with his eyebrows raised.
“Okay, that’s settled. Can you give me a call later, let me know at what time you intend to start?” Sam searched the immediate area. “I’m going to need to chat to the person who discovered the body, are they still here?”
“I’ll send a text.” Des scanned the crowd and then pointed to a young man at the edge, just behind the crime scene tape. “I asked him to hang around, presuming you’d want a word.”
“Thanks. We’ll get the interview over with and report back before we leave,” Sam replied.
She and Bob headed towards the man. “You didn’t do very well shifting the crowd back, Bob.”
“I did my best, unless you want me to tell them they’ll all be arrested if they don’t shift their arses?”
Sam sniggered. “It might come to that, if they continue to piss me off. Try again, be more resolute this time.”
Bob grumbled his discontent and set off. Sam stopped a few feet in front of the man she was after and beckoned him. “Would you like to duck under the tape and come with me, sir?”
He didn’t need telling twice. He joined her, and Sam led them over to a picnic bench off to the right. She took out her notebook and introduced herself. “I’m the Senior Investigating Officer on this and another ongoing case, and you are?”
“Phil Jackson. I’m an accountant, although today is my half-day off. I thought I’d come down here for a bit of relaxing and sailing. Look where that got me, never thought I’d be pulling out a dead body from the lake.”
“Sorry you had to deal with this imposition, Mr Jackson.”
“Call me Phil. It’s no bother, well, saying that, I think I’m going to have a few nightmares after turning him over to check his pulse. Wish I hadn’t bothered, have you seen him?”
“Yes, not very pleasant, I have to admit. Can you tell me at what time you found the body?”