A Death in Winter

by Jim McGrath

  If Carver was scared, the others were concerned. Each, in their own way, had come to the same conclusion. Collins and Clark had to be killed, but Birmingham in the sixties wasn’t Chicago in the twenties. You couldn’t kill two coppers and expect to get away with it. The whole country would be after them.

  Not that Bishop was worried about that. He was too busy fantasising about how he’d kill that bastard Clark, who had defiled his home and burnt his book collection. He was looking forward to pulling the trigger. He’d already rehearsed the shooting in his mind several times. He’d start with the knees. One shot in each from behind, to cause maximum pain. Then he’d wait ten minutes, that would give Clark time to think about the pain he was in and what was yet to come. Then he’d shoot out Clarks’ elbows. Again he’d take his time, before blowing the little fucker’s balls off. To round things off, he’d put a hole in Clark’s head. The more he thought about it, the more excited he became.

  ‘Right,’ said the Major, ‘it would seem that Collins and Clark have become more than a nuisance. They’ve been warned off several times, but all that’s produced is a small fire in Eddie’s library and three idiots in hospital. They now pose a threat to the organisation and to every person in this room. They can’t be frightened off and I very much doubt that they can be bought off. It only leaves us with one option. We kill them.’

  ‘If we do that, we’ll be arse deep in coppers,’ said Carver.

  ‘Possibly, but not if they disappear for good – along with, say, £50,000,’ said Trevor.

  ‘I think they have to be taken out,’ said Bishop, ‘but no one is going to believe that Clark pinched £50,000. Not with his record.’

  ‘What they believe doesn’t matter. The evidence will say they took it,’ said the Major.

  ‘And you can arrange this?’ asked Morrison.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘How?’

  ‘The less you know, the safer you’ll be if the plod do come calling after the event,’ said Trevor.

  ‘Trevor’s right,’ said the Major. ‘I’ll handle the details and I’ll make sure that none of it can be traced back to any of us. Are we all agreed that they disappear?’

  Everyone in the room nodded – even Carver, although he was the last to agree.

  ‘While I get a drink, Trevor will outline what we discussed on the journey in.’

  ‘Before they disappear, it’s essential that we find out what they know and who they’ve told in that order,’ said Trevor.

  ‘That’s all well and good, but Clark isn’t going to tell us anything and he’s a dangerous little fucker. I say kill Clark and take Collins.’

  ‘You’re forgetting that we need them to disappear simultaneously. We can’t have any evidence or witnesses fucking that up. The best and safest way to do that is to get them both on our turf. When we’ve finished with them, they can go in the crusher with a couple of cars.’

  ‘Clark’s not stupid. He won’t just turn up here if we call him,’ said Morrison. ‘He’ll smell a rat.’

  ‘Of course he will,’ said the Major. ‘The trick will be to give him no choice.’

  ‘And how are you going to do that?’ asked Morrison.

  ‘I’ll tell you how,’ said the Major.’

  Handsworth, 22.20hrs.

  Shift over, Collins and Clark headed for Agnes’ house. Ignoring the bitter wind and the swirling eddies of snow that were being thrown up from the large front gardens they discussed how Bishop and the Major would react to their recent provocation and plotted a response to each possible scenario.

  When Collins opened the front door he was confronted by Agnes standing in the hall.

  Without any preamble, she said, ‘I know who the Major is.’

  Collins stopped dead and Clark bumped into him. ‘You do?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Well, who the hell is it?’ asked Clark.

  ‘It’s your Superintendent Hollis.’

  Clark shook his head, ‘Na. It can’t be. I don’t believe it. I’ve known him years. He’s as straight as they come.’

  ‘That’s probably why he’s never been caught. Everyone believed he was above suspicion.’

  ‘Where’s your proof?’ asked Collins.

  ‘I’ll show you.’ Agnes led the men into the lounge. Laid out on the table were the files from MI5. ‘My proof may be insufficient to stand up in court. A good lawyer would argue that at best it’s circumstantial, but unless you believe in coincidences, I think you’ll find it compelling.’

  Walking to the table, Agnes picked up two carbon copies. ‘I found this,’ she said, handing the copies to Clark. ‘It’s a copy of the report that Tobin’s commanding officer sent to his Colonel recommending that Tobin’s field commission be confirmed, It’s signed by Major W. Hollis.’

  Clark placed the report on the table. ‘Hollis, good God. The devious cunning bastard. Yoe know what this means, don’t yoe, Mickey?’

  ‘Yeah, we can’t trust anyone at the nick. He’s bound to have others on his payroll.’ Collins stopped, then, looking at Clark, said, ‘Oh God, Richards.’

  Clark immediately went to his breast pocket and pulled out the paper with Richard’s number. ‘I’ll call him.’

  ‘Why don’t we go in the kitchen and make some coffee? I’m sure we could all do with it,’ said Agnes. Collins followed Agnes, all the time straining to hear what Clark was saying to Richards.

  Moments later, Clark joined them. ‘He’s coming round and he’s bringing someone with him. He didn’t say who.’

  Agnes was still outlining the other information she’d found in the files when the doorbell rang. Taking no chances, Clark took up position behind the door as Collins opened it.

  ‘You!’ said Collins.

  ‘Me,’ said Hicks, stepping into the hall and taking his coat off.

  Clark stepped out from behind the door, looked Hicks up and down, and said, ‘Bloody hell. Is he working with yoe?’

  ‘It’s a long story. I think we all need to sit down and put our cards on the table,’ said Richards.

  ‘Suits me,’ said Clark.

  ‘I think this could be a long night,’ said Collins.

  A few minutes later, and comfortably ensconced in the lounge, Clark said, ‘You show me yours first, then I’ll show you mine.’

  ‘I don’t blame you for being suspicious of me,’ said Hicks, ‘but the truth is, we’re all after the same bastard. However, we’ve been searching for him for different reasons.’

  ‘Explain please,’ said Agnes.

  ‘Mrs Winters, Sir Aubrey sends his best wishes and apologises for not being entirely frank with you when you met earlier today. He told me to mention Hut X as proof of my bona fides.’

  ‘You’re MI5?’

  ‘No. Until I saw Richards at the Station on Monday, I had no idea that MI5 was interested in the case. I’m on secondment from the Met’s Anti-Corruption Squad. You see, ACC Morris has had his suspicions for some time about Hollis. Nothing specific and nothing concrete, but big cases were being lost because evidence disappeared or witnesses were reluctant to give evidence. He thought that Hollis might be taking backhanders, so he asked the Met for the loan of an officer. I was selected and the story about me being under a black cloud because of missing evidence was cooked up. We thought it might encourage Hollis to make an approach, but he didn’t. I think he was suspicious of me from the start.

  ‘My inquiry was going nowhere, but then you pair of reprobates found Simone’s body. Hollis had to assign me to the case, but he demanded daily reports and wanted to know about every line of enquiry that we were following. Now that might be a bit odd, but for a Superintendent to let another force take the credit for solving a murder case is unheard of. I asked myself why he would do that. However, that was the wrong question. The real question w
as why the body was dumped in Handsworth and not in the middle of nowhere?’

  ‘He wanted the body to be found under his jurisdiction,’ said Agnes.

  ‘Precisely. He wanted to control the investigation.’

  ‘But when it led back to Stratford, he unloaded it to Burgess – someone he could trust to close it down,’ said Collins.

  ‘Exactly. I couldn’t continue investigating the case. He was watching me like a hawk. It would have aroused his suspicions, but fortunately this pair were daft enough to take the risk and go on digging.’

  ‘Like I said, Sir, strong in arm and weak in head.’

  ‘Alright. I’m a bit clearer about your role in all this, Sir,’ said Collins, ‘but how did you two link up?’

  ‘Well, that was sheer luck,’ said Richards. ‘There were rumours circulating in London that certain influential people – politicians, civil service bods, police officers, councillors and others – were involved with a group working out of Birmingham. The word was that they could find you whatever you wanted, whether boy or girl, young or old, blonde or darkie. Well, that presents all kinds of security risks and lays the participants open to blackmail. We were concerned. Then, a promising junior minister committed suicide. He’d opposed the building of a new hotel in his constituency. When we went through his belongings, we found some pictures and a blackmail note. We were worried. If criminals had gained access to such photos, how long would it be before Russia or East Germany became involved?’

  ‘So you weren’t looking for the Major,’ said Agnes. ‘You were after a blackmail gang.’

  ‘Correct. We thought it was Bishop who ran things, but slowly I heard things, hints and nudges about another top man. By the time you two burst into Bishop’s office, I knew he was called The Major, but that was all.

  ‘When I reported back to Wise that Bishop was battening the hatches down because of your visit, he was furious and insisted on reporting you. I didn’t see any harm in it because I had no idea that Hollis was under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Squad. If I had, I may have put two and two together. Fortunately, Inspector Hicks saw me in the station and recognised me as MI5 and caught up with me in the lavatory – which, considering my cover, was somewhat appropriate. We arranged to meet outside the nick, but he suggested that I hang around and speak to you two. I couldn’t tell you who I or Hicks were because there was a very slight risk that you, Constable Clark, were part of it. And obviously I didn’t return to Bishop’s, just in case he was connected with Hollis.’

  ‘Yoe know, Britain is well known for having the best spies in the world. Given how well wi manage to confuse and bugger up our friends, it’s no wonder our enemies don’t know what the hell we’re up to.’

  ‘So where do we go from here? Arrest the lot of them?’ asked Collins.

  ‘Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as that,’ said Richards. ‘Somewhere, there is a stash of dirty photos – maybe even cine films – lying about. We have to find that before we nick Hollis and his friends. Otherwise, they’ll barter their way out of it.’

  ‘So what are we going to do?’ asked Collins.

  ‘You’re our best hope. You pair have really pissed them off. They’re bound to respond and when they do, we grab them in the act. Then, we hope that one of them does a deal and tells us where the pictures are.’

  ‘So we’re the bait?’ said Collins.

  ‘The poor sods at the bottom of the heap are always the bait, but wi can’t complain. Wi asked for it. At least this way, we’ll have some cavalry to rescue us when wi fall in the smelly stuff.’

  ‘Nothing is going to happen tonight, so I suggest that we all get a good night’s sleep,’ said Hicks. ‘I’ll get some lads down from London tomorrow to discreetly guard you. Until then, stay out of trouble and don’t go into work tomorrow.’

  ‘I’m staying the night at Clark’s, just in case,’ said Collins.

  ‘Good idea,’ said Hicks. ‘I’ll give you pair a lift.’

  Thursday 28th, February 1963.

  Handsworth, 10.30hrs.

  It was nearly 2am before Collins stumbled into bed in Clark’s spare room. Oblivion came the moment he closed his eyes, but his sleep was restless. He dreamed of Ireland, of black doors he couldn’t open and a banshee wailing as a headless man drove a taxi down O’Connell Street. On waking, the dream was vivid in his mind, but by the time he’d stretched, yawned and checked that it was nearly 10.30 on his watch, he’d forgotten it entirely.

  He could hear Clark moving about in the kitchen and, finding his shaving gear, headed for the bathroom. Twenty minutes later, he was downstairs.

  ‘The tea in the pot is fresh and I’ve left yoe out an egg and a couple of rashers.’

  ‘So what’s our plan for the day?’ Collins asked, laying the bacon in the pan and cracking his egg.

  ‘I disagree with Hicks. I think wi should carry on as normal, but make sure wi have each other’s backs covered every minute of the day. They’ll have to come at us soon. I told ‘em Monday would be the day of reckoning, so they don’t have much time.’

  ‘Aren’t you afraid?’ Collins asked.

  ‘Scared? No. Nervous? Yam damn right I am. I’d be a fool not to be. Nerves keep yoe on your toes and the adrenalin pumping. Them yoer friend. They keep yoe alive as long as yoe don’t let them control you.’

  ‘The only way I could be more on me toes would be to slip on a pair of stiletto heels.’

  ‘I could imagine yoe in a pair of stilettos. You’ve got the calves for them.’

  ‘It’s nice of you to notice. So few men do,’ said Collins. Smiling, he relaxed a little and returned to the pan.

  The phone rang and Clark went to answer it. ‘It’s probably Ruth. She can’t go a day without hearing me dulcet tones, you know.’ Picking the phone up, he said, ‘Hello my lovely. What you been up to?’ His tone quickly changed. ‘Sorry, Dad, I thought it were Ruth.’

  He listened for fifteen seconds or so and then shouted to Collins. The cry sent Collins running into the hallway. He was shocked by the look on Clark’s face. ‘They’ve taken my Ruth.’

  ‘How? When?’

  Still holding the phone, Clark held up his finger for silence. ‘No, Dad, I don’t want yoe to call the police. I’m not sure who wi can trust. I’ll deal with it.’ Collins could hear the sound of Mr Clark’s voice, but couldn’t make out what he was saying. Finally, Clark said, ‘Don’t worry, Dad, I’ll get her back. And there ain’t a snowball’s chance in hell that I’m going to go off half-cocked on this. I’ll ring you as soon as I have news. Tell Mom not to worry. Tar ah.’

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘She went to get the paper. The shop’s only 100 yards from the house. When she came out, a big burly bloke took her arm and led her to a black car by the curb. The newsagent saw it all, but he reckoned that the bloke was one of me mates. That he was another copper and he were taking her somewhere.’

  ‘But how did they know where she was?’

  ‘It’s my fault. In all the excitement last night I never thought about Ruth. Everyone in the nick knows that I’ve got an Auntie Dianne. I’ve told hundreds of stories about her. It wouldn’t have taken much for Hollis to find Di’s address and check if Ruth were there.’

  ‘Bastards,’ said Collins, with feeling.

  Both men were silent, reflecting on what this meant. When Collins spoke, his voice was unsteady, ‘You do know that they will kill her, don’t you?’

  ‘Yep. They won’t even exchange her for me. Next to murder and treason, kidnap carries the longest sentence. No, them going to use her as bait and then kill us all.’

  ‘In that case, you’d better work out a plan for how we’re going to get Ruth out and kill every last one of those fuckers.’

  Even in the midst of his concern for Ruth, Clark had to smile. It was the first ti
me he’d ever heard Collins swear in anger.

  For the next twenty minutes, Clark sat writing at the dining room table. He wrote quickly and precisely. Every minute or so, another note or list would be laid on the table.

  Collins remained quiet and ate his breakfast – not because he wanted to, but because he had a feeling it would be a long time before he ate again. Finishing up, he made two fresh cups of tea and added a shot of whisky to Clark’s. He left it on the table without saying a word. Automatically, Clark picked the cup up and took a long swig. He didn’t seem to notice the spirits.

  When Clark stopped writing, he looked up and smiled. The smile sent a shiver down Collins’ back. It was the cold smile of a man doing what he was best at and what he had been trained for. It was the smile of a killer on the trail of his prey. At that moment, Collins was certain that whatever Hollis, Bishop and the rest did to him or Ruth, Clark would find a way to kill every last one of them – even if it meant he had to die in the process.

  ‘Mickey, I promised I’d get yoe through your first months’ probation if yoe did everything I said. Well, lad, what’s going to happen today or tonight is way beyond what yoe signed up for. So take my advice and piss off. I won’t think any the worst of you.’

  Collins raised his head and looked into Clark’s eyes. ‘Bollocks. Show me what you’ve done.’

  ‘Well, at least yoe picking up the lingo. That’s sommut, I suppose. There’s nothing here worth talking about yet. Them’s just notes, lists and reminders to meself,’ Clark said indicating the notes he’d made. ‘Once we know where they want us to go, I’ll be able to put different pieces together and make a plan.’

  ‘Oh I get it. They’re like building blocks. You’ve summarised everything you might need and then when you know where Ruth is being held you’ll select the bit’s you need for your rescue plan. I suppose you learnt that in the commandos as well.’