Murderous Betrayal

by M A Comley

  “Unfortunately, as the incidents took place over the course of a year, we didn’t really think anything of it. We investigated each case on its own merit and came to the conclusion that possibly the patients had either mislaid the items or given them to a family member to look after and forgotten doing that. A lot of our patients suffer from dementia, you see, Inspector.”

  “Or maybe someone used that fact to benefit from your patients. Did you question all the staff?”

  “We did, and at the time, nothing untoward was highlighted. As I say, it’s only since your visit earlier that my mind has revisited the incidents.”

  “Did you spot any links?”

  “As it happens, yes. All the incidents took place when Sharon Potts was caring for those patients. I never made the connection at the time. Silly of me, I know. I suppose I’m just a trusting person by nature.”

  “Not everyone has a suspicious mind like me, Sylvia. Please don’t be hard on yourself. Would you like to make a formal complaint now? It’s not too late.”

  “That’s why I was ringing up, to see if that would be acceptable or if there was a time limit on these things.”

  “I’ll send a couple of constables over to take down a statement from you, if that’s all right with you?”

  “That would be fine. Shall I highlight the latest incident?”

  “It makes sense to me. Thank you for getting in touch. The more we have on Sharon, the more likely we are to gain a conviction.”

  “It’s a pleasure to help. I hope you catch up with her soon.”

  “So do I, Sylvia. At the moment, it looks like she’s still running. Innocent people don’t run. I’ll get on to the station now for you.” Kayli pushed the button on the dashboard to end the call.

  “From that information, are we to surmise that Sharon is a greedy shit? And that she possibly killed her stepfather because of the money?” Dave asked.

  Kayli drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. “I’m thinking we need to delve into the will side of things. Not only Paul’s will, but also what was written in his wife’s and how her estate was distributed. Maybe that’s the trigger here.”

  Dave blew out a long breath. “If that turns out to be the case, they’re nothing but a couple of twisted fuckers!”

  “I’d add cunning to that accolade.”

  “You’re right. The list is endless—conniving, manipulative, just plain evil.”

  “Yep, all of the above and so much more. Poor Anita. I wonder if she knew what her siblings were capable of.”

  “I doubt it. They’re probably two-faced, as well, showing one side of their personas to Anita and another when they’re in each other’s company. Sick shits.”

  They drove the rest of the way each deep in thought.

  “Okay, this is their road. I’ll drive past at a normal speed to avoid raising any suspicions if they’re at the property, on the lookout for us. Keep an eye out for the vehicles, both of them.”

  “What then? We call for backup and go in there?”

  “That’s the plan, partner. The last thing I want is the two of them escaping. We’ve had enough running around after Nuttall the last few days to last me a lifetime.”

  “True enough. I can’t see anything yet. Hey, maybe there’s a garage at the rear of the property. One of us should check that out before we leave.”

  “‘One of us’ meaning me, I take it?” she said, shaking her head.

  “Well, I can hardly do it, can I?”

  “Granted. I’m going to pull up at the end of the road and see if there’s an alley that leads around the back.”

  Kayli parked in a large space and sprinted from the vehicle. She spotted a small pathway that led up the side of the row of terraced houses and took it. Her mouth was dry, and she swallowed nervously as she got to the end of the path. As far as she could make out, there were no garages to the properties. She ran back to the car. “Nothing. Okay, let’s get back to the station and see if Graeme can pick up anything on the CCTV cameras in the vicinity of the pub.”

  ~ ~ ~

  They arrived at the station a short while after. Donna and Graeme were both hard at work when Kayli and Dave entered the incident room.

  “Donna, can you get your hands on a copy of Maureen Potts’s will for me?”

  “I can try, boss. I might need to ring Samuel to get the name of the family solicitor who dealt with the will. Do you think he’ll mind me disturbing him?”

  “I’m sure he won’t. Tell him you’re ringing on my behalf.”

  Donna immediately picked up the phone.

  Kayli stopped by Graeme’s desk. “Anything?”

  “I’ve got the Fiat following Potts’s car going into Wales. I’m just trying to locate the car coming back across the border. Nothing as yet.”

  “Maybe they took the scenic route home after the deed was completed,” Dave called out.

  “He might have a point, Graeme. Sorry to put all this on you. It’s a massive task. Can you do me a favour before getting back to that? Will you pull up the CCTV footage around the pub where Dylan works on Dave’s screen? He can be trawling through that to save some time.”

  “I’ll get on it now.”

  Kayli looked at the clock on the wall and expelled an exasperated breath. It was already four o’clock, and neither she nor Dave had stopped for lunch. She wasn’t really hungry, but she was in dire need of a caffeine fix. She bought four cups of coffee and distributed them to her grateful team. Perching on the edge of a desk near the whiteboard, she looked at her team, proud of the effort they had poured into the investigation so far. She placed her half-drunk cup of coffee on the desk beside her and picked up the marker pen. She wrote down the significant clues they’d uncovered and stood back to think about what direction the case was likely to take next.

  Suddenly, an idea entered her head. “Their phones…”

  “What about them?” Dave responded.

  “We can track their route via their phone data,” Graeme was quick to fill in.

  Kayli snapped her fingers and nodded. “That’s right. Let me make a call to one of our tech guys and get the ball rolling on that.” She ran into her office and placed the call. She managed to persuade the head of department to look into the case himself and get back to her right away. She emerged from the office and almost bumped into Graeme heading her way.

  “What have you found?” she asked him.

  “I’ve managed to identify both cars on the M5, heading south.”

  Excitement pumped through her veins. “Are they together?”

  “No. They’re only fifteen minutes apart, though.”

  “Good work. I wonder where they’re heading.”

  “My guess is probably either Devon or Cornwall,” Graeme said.

  “Hmm… notorious holiday destinations. Maybe a possible family cottage?”

  Graeme nodded. “Want me to ask Donna to do a search for that?”

  “No. I think that will only waste time. I’ll ring Samuel. He’s bound to know.” She returned to the office and sat on the edge of her desk while she rang. “Hello, Samuel. It’s DI Bright. How’s Anita? Has she come around yet?”

  “Not yet, Inspector. I’m still very concerned. There’s no colour in her usually rosy cheeks. I’m at a loss what to do.”

  “You’re doing everything you can right now by being there to support her. Have you tried talking to her? It’s often meant to aid the patient’s recovery when they subconsciously hear a family member’s voice.”

  “The nurse said something similar. I tried it for a little while, but I must admit I felt a little foolish.”

  “That’s understandable. Can I ask you a question? It’s to do with the case.”

  “Of course. Anything I can do to help. You only have to ask—you know that.”

  “Thanks. Can you tell me if the family has a holiday home in either Devon or Cornwall? Somewhere Paul and Maureen used to take the kids when they were growing up?”

  “Ye
s, they do.”

  Kayli hopped off the desk and grasped a sheet of paper and a pen to jot down the information. “It’s a long shot, I know, but I don’t suppose you know the address?”

  “Not off the top of my head. It’s in Mevagissey, Cornwall. Can’t remember the name of the road. The cottage is called Ivy Cottage, and it’s a stone’s throw from the town, if that helps. May I ask why?”

  Up until now, she hadn’t told Samuel that she suspected that Sharon and Dylan had killed his brother and attempted to kill his niece. That type of news, she preferred to tell someone in person. She had to think quickly for a plausible reason for requiring the information. “Just something that occurred to me. Thanks for the information. I’ll be in touch soon. Don’t forget to keep talking to Anita. I’ll drop by and visit when I get a free moment.”

  “I will do, Inspector. Thank you.”

  Kayli ended the call and immediately called the operator to get the number for the local police station in the Mevagissey area. “Hi, sorry to trouble you. I’m DI Bright of the Avon and Somerset Constabulary. Would it be possible to speak to the person in charge, please?”

  “I’m the duty officer, ma’am. Sergeant Brent at your service. This is a small community. Not much call for more than a few of us to be on duty at once,” he informed her in a strong Cornish accent.

  “I see. Thank you, Sergeant. It’s good to speak to you. How well do you know the inhabitants of your community?”

  “It’s a small fishing village. We have a population of just over four thousand, so I suppose pretty well. Why do you ask?”

  Kayli envisaged the man sitting up erect at his desk in his neatly pressed uniform, his buttons shining after being polished at the end of each shift. “Does that go for people who own holiday cottages in the area too?”

  “Of course. Most of them have been coming here for years. When they’re away, they let us know, and we keep a regular eye on their properties for them. If anything happens, like a suspected break-in, we give them a courtesy call immediately. Can’t remember the last time I had to do that, however. Not much crime in this area as such.”

  “Maybe you know the residents who own Ivy Cottage. Apparently, it’s close to the town centre.”

  “No maybe about it. That’s Paul and Maureen’s place, the Pottses. Why do you ask?”

  “That’s right. I need the address of the property, Sergeant.”

  “May I ask why?”

  Kayli debated whether to tell the man as a gem of an idea festered in her mind. “I believe two members of the family are on their way to the cottage, and I need to get hold of them in connection to a case I’m working on at present. Is there a landline at the house? Do you know?”

  “I don’t think so. Let me take a look in the book we note all the holiday residents down in. Just a tick.”

  Kayli chewed her lip as the plan grew clearer in her mind.

  Finally, the sergeant came back on the line. “Ah, here we are. No, the family said they all had mobile phones and refused to pay BT for a landline for twelve months of the year when they only use the cottage now and again. Do you have the family’s mobile numbers? You could call them direct.”

  Kayli sighed. “You’ve caught me out. Sorry, I know the numbers, but it’s a delicate situation, Sergeant.”

  “I’m listening. I’m sensing that you’re unsure whether to trust me or not, Inspector. Can I just say that I’ve been serving in the local police force for nigh on twenty-five years with an unblemished record? I always put members of my community first and have achieved several awards for going above and beyond my duty. I’ve won two awards for saving the lives of a couple of members too, I might add.”

  Kayli swallowed, feeling like a scolded teenager after being caught scrumping apples. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause any offence. Look, I’m just going to set off now. I’d much rather go over the details in person, if that’s okay with you? How long will you be on duty?”

  “I’ll be here until five in the morning. I drew the short straw of overseeing the night shift today. It must be urgent if you’re coming all the way down here.”

  “It is. I’m not sure how long it will take me. I’ll see you in a couple of hours. One last thing. Can you give me the postcode of the station? It’ll be easier for me to find.”

  He reeled off the postcode and said farewell. Kayli walked back into the incident room after pulling on her coat.

  “Going somewhere?” Dave asked, leaning on his crutch to stand up.

  “I am, but you’re not. You stay here. I’m going down to Cornwall.”

  “What? At this hour of the day? Are you insane? You are aware it’s going to take you about three and a half hours to get there, right?”

  Kayli winced. She had predicted the journey would take her around two hours maximum. She almost changed her mind, but the thought of arresting Sharon and Dylan as soon as possible promptly shoved that idea aside. “I’m going, Dave, and there’s no point you trying to talk me out of it. I want these bastards caught ASAP.”

  “I can understand that. Why don’t we set off first thing in the morning?”

  “Because I want to go now. I’m not asking you to come with me. I’ve been in touch with the local police sergeant, and he’s aware that I’m going down there to meet him. He’ll be the backup I need when I approach the cottage. There’s no need for you to be worried about me. If the Taliban couldn’t bring me down, then neither will Sharon and Dylan Potts.”

  “Really? You’re going to sling that shit at us every time you put your life at risk? I thought better of you than that, boss.”

  Kayli’s eyes widened. Dave was obviously livid, but she was shocked to hear him speak to her like that. “Don’t hold back, Dave. Let me know what you really think of my idea.”

  Dave’s head dropped onto his chest, and he slammed the pen he was holding onto the desk. “Pardon me for caring about what happens to you. I’m sure we’re all thinking the same.”

  “Are you?” Kayli challenged Donna and Graeme.

  “We trust your intuition, boss,” Donna said. “However, I have to partially agree with Dave. I don’t think you should go alone. Take one of us with you, if only to share the driving. You’ve had a pretty hectic day, and driving on the motorway all that way can have a devastating effect on your concentration levels.”

  Kayli smiled. “Guys, I know you mean well. I’m fine. The adrenaline has kicked in, and all I want to do now is bring these shits down before they either kill someone or put another person in hospital. I’m not arguing about this. I’m wasting valuable time. I’ll keep in touch. I promise.”

  With that, Kayli marched out of the incident room.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  After filling the car with petrol, Kayli headed down the M5 towards the West Country. Ten minutes into her journey, she plucked up the courage to ring Mark. After the way her team had reacted to the news of her imminent departure, she had a feeling that Mark was going to be equally livid about her decision. She braced herself before she dialled his mobile.

  “Hello, love. It’s only me.”

  “Hi. Is something wrong?” he asked immediately.

  “Not really. I’m ringing up to say I probably won’t be home tonight.”

  “What? Why? Do you have a night on the town with the girls planned?”

  “Hardly. I haven’t done that in ages. I’m on the case, love. If you must know, I’m on my way down to Cornwall.”

  “What? I take it Dave is with you.”

  Kayli sighed heavily. “No, he’s not. I felt with his bum leg, he’d be more of a hindrance than a help. I’m alone. I’m not in any danger, so don’t worry about me.”

  “Don’t worry about you? You’re crazy if you think that, love. Why are you going to Cornwall? Tell me the truth, Kayli.”

  “I’m following the two suspects down there. Please, don’t start getting heavy-handed with me. I know what I’m doing. The local police are aware of the situation and are going
to assist me.”

  Mark let out an agonised groan. “Christ, you can be such a pain in the arse. Let me come with you.”

  “No. You have your own job to attend tonight. I’m fine. Trust me. If I thought I was in any danger, I wouldn’t be going. You have my word on that, love.”

  “You’re insufferable at times. Stubborn beyond words. Okay, keep me informed when you can. I’ll be thinking about you. Stay safe.”

  Her shoulders slumped in relief. The last thing she wanted was to fall out with him over what essentially was only her carrying out her job. “Thanks, love. You know I’ll be careful. Have a good evening at work. I’ll ring you when time permits.”

  “Make sure you do, and for goodness’ sake, be careful.”

  “I will. I love you.”

  “Ditto. You know that.”

  Tears misted her eyes when she heard Mark hang up. She could tell he was angry about the choice she had made.

  Kayli put an upbeat CD in the player, more to keep her concentration from wandering during the journey than anything else. The journey was longer than she had anticipated, and she experienced eye strain due to the amount of traffic driving with headlights on full beam in the opposite lane.

  She entered the Mevagissey police station car park at eight forty-five, and Sergeant Brent was everything she’d expected him to be. He welcomed her with a friendly smile and poured her a cup of coffee in his office before she even had the chance to formally introduce herself. “I really appreciate this, Sergeant.”

  “Would it be too much trouble to fill me in on the details now, Inspector? Or would you rather leave it until the morning and get your head down at a local hotel for the night?”

  “No, I’m fine. I’m buzzing, if the truth be told. Where do I begin? First of all, can I ask how long you have known the Potts family?”

  “That’s a very good question. I suppose the answer would be around fifteen to twenty years. They used to visit a couple of times every year when the kiddies were younger. Not so much now that they’ve all grown up and flown the nest. Even the grandparents used to come down a few times a year to stay at the cottage. It was so sad when they passed away in that accident. Then Paul told me that his wife had passed last year. Well, it floored me, if I’m honest. Lovely family, they were. Never any trouble. The kids were all well behaved, not like some of the brats that come down here from the larger cities.”