Divide and Rule

by Solomon Carter

  Ten

  Eva’s working life was becoming more like a child minder than a professional PI. In his weakness, Dan had somehow been persuaded to stay at home tonight and recover, but before he left the office Eva got him to take his top off to assess the extent of the damage from the fight. There were deep purple and yellow bruises and welts over his hips and ribs. The left side of his chest hurt, but they had examined his ribs and found to their surprise he’d sustained no breaks. His face was split, and there were bruises everywhere. He looked bad, but compared to what she saw when they escaped Shad Thames, Dan looked pretty good in comparison. Even so, he was still in a bad way. Physically yes. And mentally? Much worse. The more Eva thought about Dan’s pained smile and his flickering eyes the more she began to worry that he was going insane. Eva put Dan’s face out of her mind. She was with Jess now. Tonight she took Jess out with her to reassure her that she was still a valued member of the team. One piece of employee trouble at a time. Tonight they were out to nail a liar.

  Jess had already been briefed about Coulson and the gym, and the fact that Jerry Burton had attended the gym as recently as the 19th, while Coulson tried to hide it. Coulson was in their sights. If they cross-examined him and frightened him a little with the consequences of his lies there was a slim chance he’d crack and give something away which could lead straight to the perpetrator. Eva had also briefed Jess on Dan’s fight at The Railway Tavern. Peter Serge had shown he was in the rottenest part of the political far-right, those prepared to physically destroy others on a whim by overpowering them with force of numbers and unrelenting violence - the same tactics the far right had used for a century or more. But Eva hadn’t expected Serge to show his colours so soon, or that he would be so brutal with Dan. Eva found herself hating Peter Serge with a deep, strident passion. She ground her teeth as she thought of him. Was Burton the same kind of man as Serge? No, she doubted it. Burton was a traditional modern politician, a big slick fish in a small but popular pond. It didn’t make Burton any kind of hero, but there was no way he was as vile as Serge. They had been driving in the Alfa for almost fifteen minutes before Eva pulled to a halt outside a semi-detached house with lead-light double glazing.

  “This is it. David Coulson’s house. 28 Dawlish Crescent. The college gym shut an hour ago, so Coulson should be munching his chicken pasta right about now.”

  The early evening was dark and cool. The summer dresses of just a couple of weeks ago were long forgotten. Eva was regaled in a woollen suit while Jess was wearing a heavy green parka with a fur lined hood. They walked to the door, pressed the bell chime and waited while the wind whipped a breeze through the street behind them.

  A short, thin figure came to the door, obscured by the bevelled porch glass and the orange glow from deep within the house. The figure opened the door. A pretty woman with short blonde hair and a serious face answered. She looked tired. The woman was maybe thirty five or a little older, the same age bracket as her husband.

  “Yes?” said the woman.

  “Is Dave Coulson here?” said Eva. The woman shifted fully into the door space and appraised Eva and her younger partner.

  “Who are you?”

  “My name is Eva Roberts, and this is Jess. We are private investigators.”

  “Excuse me?” said the woman.

  “Here’s our card,” Eva handed the woman one of her best business cards. The woman studied it and handed it back.

  “I didn’t think people like you existed outside of television.”

  “Well, here we are. Is Mr Coulson in?”

  “No… To be honest, I’m worried sick. He wasn’t even supposed to go out tonight. He’s always home on week nights unless he puts it on the calendar.

  “But he was supposed to finish a couple of hours ago, right?”

  “No. He finished work early today. Said he had some problem he needed to fix and that he’d be back later.”

  Eva and Jess stole a glance at each other.

  “And what time was that?”

  “About three thirty. I was just back from the school run. He turned up in someone else’s car. They were kids I think, young men really, the same types as the ones he works with at the college. Students. I think there were three muscly student types in the back and another man driving, but I didn’t get a good look at him. I saw the students though. I thought it was all a bit bloody odd, but Dave was in such a hurry I just watched him come and go. But I was going to give him the third degree tonight, but he’s still not back.”

  “What did he take from the house? Why would he come here and go again?” asked Jess.

  “I don’t know, do I? I don’t even know where he’s gone. He had his gym bag with him. He could have put some kit or clothes in there. I don’t know, I didn’t get any time to ask him.”

  “Think, Mrs Coulson. Have you seen him with any of those students before? The ones in the car?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t have anything to do with his job. I’m busy with the kids all week and he doesn’t ever talk about work. Not really.”

  “Think, Mrs Coulson. Why was he in such a hurry?” said Eva.

  “I don’t know,” The woman was upset. Eva knew she was pushing the confused woman to the limit.

  “Okay. Think back to the car. Can you tell me what model it was? What colour?”

  “Metallic brown or orange maybe. I remember that part.”

  “Good. Can you remember the make and model?”

  “Um. No… Vauxhall maybe.”

  Eva nodded, and she moved the woman on to a small crucial detail.

  “Mrs Coulson. If I asked you if you could remember one thing about the driver – just one thing, do you think you could?”

  The woman shrugged. “I couldn’t see him really. But…”

  “But what?”

  “I think he was bald. Bald or had a shaven head.”

  Jess looked at Eva again, and Eva rolled her eyes to the sky and took a sharp breath.

  Eva stood looking at the sky, and then she wrapped her hands around her face. She breathed out and shook her head. “Damn it. I’m sorry to take your time, Mrs Coulson.”

  The blonde woman frowned and shook her head at Eva and looked to Jess. Jess shrugged, and improvised. “Yeah, sorry for wasting your time. I hope your husband gets home soon.”

  “What is all this about? You’d better bloody tell me,” said the woman, anger breaking into her voice for the first time. But Eva turned away, reeling from new fears spinning helter-skelter around her head.

  “What is this about?”

  Eva turned back to answer “We’re investigating the attack on Will Burton’s son, Jerry Burton. Have you heard about that?”

  “Yes. And? What’s that got to do with Dave?”

  “Probably nothing. But Jerry Burton used the gym and we needed to check over something with your husband, that’s all.”

  The woman shook her head. Anger burned in her eyes. “Then call for him at work and leave us alone. It’s late, and you’re frightening me. We don’t need this. Go on. Leave us alone. Dave can call you in the morning.”” The woman grimaced at Eva, and shut the door and bolted.

  Jess gave Eva the ‘what the hell?’ look.

  “Get in the car.”

  They got in Eva’s red Alfa Romeo and drove away fast. Eva’s driving was like her emotions, all over the place. “What is it Eva?” said Jess.

  “It’s me. The bastards are always one step ahead of me. Everywhere I go, they close the doors as soon as I open them.”

  “Maybe that’s a good thing, eh? It means you’re getting close and you’re worrying them.”

  “No it doesn’t Jess. It means this is a very serious and dangerous business. We’re being watched. It means they’re using me as a problem finder. I find the weaknesses in their cover, and they either fix the weakness or get rid of them altogether.”

  Jess’s face changed. “So you think they’ve gotten rid of Dave Coulson?”

  “That’s a gig
antic leap in the dark, Jess. No one’s been killed yet. And I hope that never happens. But it seems like one of the skinheads was driving that car, and three youths were with him. I’m not sure what Coulson is involved with, or even if he knew he was involved. When I exposed Coulson’s lying at the gym, we found a lead taking us toward Jerry Burton’s attacker. Now Coulson is gone and I’ll bet you any money that the database has been doctored since our visit today too.”

  “You’re seeing it all in a negative light, Eva. You’re getting close, don’t you think?”

  “Not really, no. What with you arguing with Dan and Dan acting like he’s got a screw loose… and now this… I’m not being negative, Jess, just honest. A mess is all I’m making here, and the opposition is taking advantage of it. I’m putting people in danger, Jess. I’m losing my way and other people are paying for it. Maybe it’s time I handed this one over to someone else.”

  Jess shook her head, wincing at the blame sent her way. Jess did share some of the blame, but ultimately Eva knew this was her fault. Another victim - David Coulson - had gone missing because of it.

  Eleven

  It was late, so late the streets outside were empty, and the big clock on Eva’s office wall looked somehow bigger than ever before. She dialled up the voicemail only to hear one more of those long messages full of breath and no words. Just her secret admirer again, she told herself. Jess had long since left the office, sulking under the weight of Eva’s passing judgement. By now Eva would have normally vacated to her flat upstairs, but the loneliness up there was the same as in the office. Eva figured when you were alone drinking white wine at almost 3am it really didn’t matter a jot which floor you drank on. The office wasn’t as cosy or secure as the flat. But right now, Eva had trouble feeling secure anywhere. She was losing the case because someone was one step ahead of her. Someone with access to people and power. It wasn’t hard to guess who, but so far she had no evidence. She felt powerless. They were using her as nothing more than an alarm bell. Or like one of those sacrificial canaries the miners used to use to warn if there was a poisonous gas leak ahead. Added to which the agency was falling apart under a ton of argumentative bullshit and there were plenty of reasons for drinking a bottle of white wine. A tap at the door interrupted her drinking. By now the wine had settled into her veins, so Eva felt no more than a temporary jitter as she looked to the window, and recognised Dan’s silhouette standing the other side of the blind-slatted window. Eva sighed, but inside there was a drunken smile. She was glad of the company, even if the company was going slightly mad. Dan laughed when he saw Eva’s face.

  “You’re drunk.”

  “Very perceptive,” said Eva, slurring her words. “What’s your excuse for the late night visit?”

  “Pain. And anger. They make for bad companions when you want to sleep.”

  “Well, the bruising around your eyes is certainly coming out now.”

  “Yep. The swelling’s down but I’ve done a very bad job of my eye shadow.” There was blue and purple and yellow stretching all across Dan’s eyes. Eva nodded. “I suppose you want some of my wine.”

  “You got enough booze for two at this pity party?”

  “Always.”

  Dan retrieved two cans of Kronenbourg from the fridge. One for now and the other for in two minutes time. For some reason, nostalgia maybe, she always bought in a few cans of Dan’s favourite beer.

  “So, tell me. What causes the intrepid Eva Roberts to be up drinking at three in the morning?”

  Eva smiled wanly and blinked her tired eyes.

  “I’m not on this case, Dan. This case is on me. You remember Coulson?”

  “The charmer at the college gym who lied about Jerry Burton?”

  “Yes, him. Well, I think he’s gone missing on account of my interference.”

  “What? He disappeared after your visit?”

  “Coulson’s wife saw him getting into a car with three gym boys. And he was driven away by a man who looked like a skinhead. Coulson took a bag with him. Like a kit bag.”

  “But he went away voluntarily? So that’s not your fault.”

  “But he didn’t come back to his family home. He has kids. Parents don’t do that stuff. He’s acting out of character by staying away. It’s too much of a coincidence that he does his disappearing act after I tell him he was lying at the gym. Besides, if he’s not home now, and he hasn’t told his wife where he is, my guess is that his absence is no longer voluntary.”

  “He’s still not home?”

  “I called by the Coulson house again a second time. From the way she’s treating me, his wife seems to think I have something to do with his disappearance. And I have, in a way. Dan, I feel like shit. I’m a part of the problem now. Politics, race hate, attempted murder… maybe this case is too big for me. The people involved are all rotten, and they are spinning this to make me look stupid. Maybe you were right. Maybe I should never have taken it on.”

  “Don’t do this, Eva.”

  “Do what?”

  “You know what.”

  He gave her the look, and for the first time in a couple of weeks his eyes didn’t seem to have the crazy flicker. Yes, she knew what Dan meant. Self-pity. Dan didn’t do self-pity and as a rule neither did Eva.

  Eva nodded and tucked a lock of red hair behind her ear.

  “Last glass for me, I guess.” She emptied the bottle of white into a large glass at her side.

  Dan would have said not to drink the last glass. She was going to feel it in the morning, but he’d just used up all his lecture points, so he stayed quiet and drank his beer. He changed the subject.

  “Had any more crank calls?”

  Eva shook her head. “Nothing more than some heavy breathing. Good effort, Dan, but pity or no pity, I haven’t got anything on finding this attacker”.

  “It’s Serge.”

  Eva looked at Dan. He nodded, and the flicker was evident in his eyes again. It wasn’t his eyelids or anything else, it was a flicker in his brown eyes glistening in the electric light from the cheap office bulb.

  “That’s my guess. But we’ve got nothing.”

  “That’s not what I meant. Serge is a spoiler, a true villain, yes, and he’s out to put Will Burton in the shade. You get that part, right? I don’t know if he’s capable of upstaging Burton now his son has been put in hospital. But I heard him saying he would bide his time for another opportunity. If he tried a mutiny against Burton now it would only work against him.”

  “So you think he didn’t do it, then? If you’re right, I’m more lost than I thought,” said Eva.

  “I don’t know. But I do know he’s capable of it. I’m the proof of that, aren’t I? The man is a psychopath. I think he actually believes he’s going to get to the top of British politics one day. He believes it. I heard him.”

  Eva grinned, noticing Dan’s chiselled cheek bones and strong chin. He looked pretty attractive right now. Then she remembered his black eyes and realised the alcohol was playing a key part in all her thinking.

  “What would you do, Eva, if you were alive in 1930 and Adolf Hitler was right in front of your face? The war hasn’t happened, but this warped and evil guy is on the rise. He’s going to start a world war. A holocaust. What would you do?”

  “That’s a strange, fanciful question for 3am.”

  “Indulge me. Go on.”

  “The truth? I’d talk to him, but I’d be ready for a reply I didn’t like. And if I got one – knowing what we know now…”

  Dan waited, nodding eagerly.

  “I’d have to kill him. What choice would I have as a human being?”

  “Exactly, Eva. This man has the same certainty about him. A maniacal determination.”

  “Dan? Stop. This man is not Hitler. This is Southend, Dan, not Berlin. You need to calm down. You’re talking like you did about Marka back when it all went wrong…”

  “My point exactly, Eva. Was I wrong about Victor Marka, Eva? You know the answer to that.”


  Eva went quiet and stern and put her glass down with force. “Dan. You are not going to kill Peter Serge. The man is a Nazi scumbag, but he got elected as one. He had you beaten up, Dan, I know that. But you can’t kill him for it! Listen to yourself!”

  “I’m not going to kill him or anyone else, Eva. Though I can’t say I hadn’t thought about it. He’s evil. Just as evil as Victor Marka, but even more indiscriminate about it. The man is hatred personified.”

  “Snap out of it Dan, you’re worrying me... you’ve been worrying me for days.”

  Dan nodded. “At least you said it. It’s been all over your face for a week. Yes, I’m on edge, Eva. You can see that. But I’m not finished, I promise you. When I’m truly finished, I’ll know, and I’ll tell you first. Don’t give up on me.”

  She laid a hand over his. “I didn’t say you were finished… I wouldn’t give up on you, Dan.” But somewhere inside, a part of her was lying. Eva felt bad and pushed the feeling away.

  “You in the mood for company tonight?” said Dan, looking at Eva’s slender hand over his.

  “I’m way too drunk for that, Dan, and it’s way too late. But the sofa said she’s missing you.”

  Dan shrugged. “Then I’ll take the sofa… and Eva… don’t give up on yourself, either. Serge is a bully, he’s trying to frighten you off the case and close all the doors you’re pushing. But he’s a villain. A real one. You can’t let him win.”

  “I’ll do my best, Dan.”

  “No, you’ll do better than that. You’re going to win because I’m going to help you. Starting tomorrow, we’ve got two whole days to turn this round. That’s enough time.”

  Eva swirled the last of the wine in her glass. She was too drunk to argue, so she didn’t say a word.

  “Listen. Before I got my beating from the skinheads, I heard something from the mouth of Peter Serge himself. He said something about Joe’s boys being a liability. You think there’s any chance ‘Joe’s boys’ could be the boys with Dave Coulson in the car? I mean, what if this Joe guy, the skinhead, was the one driving the car? Neat, right?”