by Paul Finch
When he went back into A&E, two other officers from the Serial Crimes Unit were waiting for him.
Detective Constable Shawna McCluskey was of short stature, in her mid-thirties, and of shapely, athletic build – ‘a neat little package’, as she’d written on a file for the personnel department when asked to describe herself. She was pretty, but in tough, tomboyish fashion, with a dusting of freckles on her turned-up nose, hazel eyes and lush, dark hair which she nearly always wore up. A broad Manchester accent, which she’d never moderated despite working in the south for several years, revealed solid blue-collar origins. Detective Constable Gary Quinnell was formerly of the South Wales Police. He was six-foot-three, barrel-chested and broad-shouldered. He’d have been handsome in a wholesome ‘family man’ sort of way, had a few too many Rugby Union forwards not kept breaking his nose for him. Despite being younger than Shawna, he was already thinning on top, so kept his reddish hair cropped very close. Had he realised that this combined with his cauliflower ears to give him a vaguely criminal aspect, he’d have been more upset than he could say.
Both had been into A&E once already, firstly to check that Heck was okay and then to congratulate him, which Shawna did by hugging him and Quinnell did by slapping his shoulder hard – the latter causing Heck to yelp in pain.
‘Press are gathering outside,’ Shawna said.
‘Shit,’ Heck groaned. ‘How did they find out?’
Quinnell chuckled. ‘How do you think? Half of Milton Keynes just got trashed.’
‘No supervision here yet?’
‘No one,’ Shawna said. ‘You sure you’re alright?’
Heck nodded.
‘Your Fiat’s a write-off,’ Quinnell observed.
‘Something good came from this then.’
‘And the word is they’ve found the gun,’ Shawna added.
Heck glanced up. ‘Yeah?’
‘In the back of the van.’
‘Thank Christ for that!’
Quinnell laughed again. ‘So even if they’re not the murderers, at least we could have done them for using you and Thames Valley for target practice, eh?’
Heck was about to respond when Shawna nodded past him. He turned. Detective Inspector Bob Hunter was approaching.
Hunter was in his mid-forties but hadn’t yet gone to seed. His short blond hair was running to grey and he’d thickened around the middle, but he was bull-necked, square-jawed, and his grey eyes brooked no nonsense. His jacket and tie were uncharacteristically dishevelled, though that wasn’t a surprise. He’d been off-duty this evening – it was his first evening off in months; apparently they’d traced him to a local health club, where he’d been in the process of having a swim and a sauna.
‘Sir,’ Heck said.
Hunter glanced at the other two. ‘Security are having problems with the press … why don’t you give ’em a hand?’ They nodded and left. ‘Sit down, Heck,’ Hunter said.
Heck pulled up the chair in the treatment bay and lowered himself into it. Hunter half-drew the curtain before getting straight to the point.
‘What made you think there were two of them?’ he asked.
‘It was just a thought,’ Heck replied. ‘It struck me as odd the perp was always able to perform sex twice so quickly in succession.’
‘Some blokes can.’
‘Like I say, sir, it was just a thought.’
‘And that led you to the Savage twins?’
‘Not straight away.’ Heck adjusted his position. It seemed that every part of his body had taken a beating during the crash. ‘Given we both agreed the investigation was stagnating … I took it on myself to go back through the case notes to see if we’d missed anything.’
He had to be careful how he worded this; he didn’t want to imply that Hunter had handled things incompetently. Hunter had not been the official boss of the enquiry, but once the Serial Crimes Unit had been brought in – and that had been at a relatively early stage – he’d taken over the whole show.
‘You’ll recall that Jordan Savage was one of several persons formerly of interest to us but later dismissed,’ Heck said.
Hunter shrugged. ‘Don’t even remember him.’
‘Well … it seems Savage was interviewed last October because he was stopped driving late at night on the outskirts of Leighton Buzzard, where, as you know, two of the early murders took place. The patrol that stopped him felt his description matched the suspect – blue eyes, red hair. Anyway, a stop-and-search was performed. When he was found to be in possession of burglary tools, he was arrested for going equipped, though as this was his first offence and there was nothing else to link him to the murders, he got cautioned and bailed.’
‘What motor was he in when he was stopped?’
‘A green Mondeo, not a white van. That was the problem.’
‘Okay … go on.’
‘I assessed that stop-and-search again, sir. That was when I observed that Jordan Savage was actually going equipped with a pair of pliers.’
Hunter looked puzzled. ‘Pliers?’
‘If you remember, the medical examiner told us the wire bonds on the victims had been drawn so tight that it might have been done with a tool. I got thinking … pliers.’
Hunter pondered this.
‘That’s why I looked at Savage more closely,’ Heck said. ‘When I found out that he had a twin brother, Jason, I started wondering … did the two of them trawl the streets together but maybe in separate vehicles? Suppose the one in the van actually secured the victim and performed the oral rape? The second one then arrived a short time later – in the green Mondeo – to perform the anal? That would have explained the Maniac’s apparent virility.’
‘And this is what led you to Jordan Savage’s door?’
‘It was a theory, sir. I had nothing that wasn’t circumstantial. So I was only planning to speak to him, tell him we had a couple of things to clear up about the stop-and-search, and see how he reacted to learning that he was still a suspect …’
‘And that was when you caught them going on the prowl?’
‘That was a stroke of luck.’
‘“Give me lucky generals,” said Napoleon,’ Hunter mused. Then smiled, which was alarming because it didn’t happen very often. ‘That was excellent work, Heck. On-the-hoof, but still bloody excellent.’
Heck acknowledged the compliment, but couldn’t help thinking that it should not have come to ‘on the hoof’. As only one of dozens of junior and mid-ranking detectives attached to the Maniac taskforce, Heck couldn’t possibly be blamed that this vital clue about Jordan Savage had slipped through the net at an early stage, but Bob Hunter could. As deputy SIO, it was his job to keep everything under review. That Hunter had made this error in the first place was worrying, but his apparent unawareness of it was more worrying still.
‘Two of the worst bits of scum the Home Counties ever saw have been taken off the streets,’ Hunter said in a satisfied tone.
‘We need to be sure it’s them,’ Heck cautioned.
‘Don’t worry, we’re sure. The van’s been towed off for forensic – but I’ve already had word that its interior matches the description of the vehicle in which Pettigrew was abducted. On top of that, they’ve found rolls of wire in there, spent bullet-casings, and the not insignificant matter of the gun.’
‘I thought they’d have tossed the gun at the first opportunity.’
‘Wanted to go down fighting, didn’t they?’
‘That chase was a bit Wild West, boss. Sorry about that. Didn’t plan it.’
‘Bollocks. You had more than enough justification. There’d likely be a ton of physical evidence in that van. What if they’d torched it?’
‘That’s what I was thinking.’
‘How you feeling anyway?’
‘Stiff, but that’s all.’
‘Well you’ve done a cracking job.’ Hunter stood up. ‘We’re all in your debt.’ He turned as Quinnell came ambling back across A&E.
‘Going li
ke a chippie out there, sir,’ the big Welshman said.
‘No sign of Humphreys?’ Hunter asked.
‘Not yet.’
Hunter snorted, as if this was no more than he’d expect. ‘Hang fire, Heck,’ he said over his shoulder as he headed out. ‘But don’t dash off.’
‘I won’t, sir.’
When Hunter had gone, Quinnell grinned. ‘Did I hear that right? He reckons he’s in your debt? He can’t have said that to many people.’
‘It was a general term, not him in particular.’
‘He’s chuffed to buggery, I’ll bet.’
Heck sat forward. ‘It’s a result, but it would have been nice to know a bit more about them, eh – the Savage brothers? I mean why they did the things they did.’
Shawna reappeared. ‘Heck – the boss wants you out front.’
‘Why?’
‘He’s decided he’s making a statement to the press.’
Heck felt vaguely alarmed. ‘What about? We don’t know anything yet … not for sure.’
‘He’s got to say something. There’s a whole raft of journos.’
‘What about Chief Superintendent Humphreys?’
‘Won’t surprise you to know he’s still not available.’
‘What’s Bob saying?’
‘If you come out, like he’s asked you to, you’ll know?’ Shawna said.
Heck allowed her to hustle him to his feet and steer him out of A&E to the front of the hospital steps, where DI Hunter was standing in front of a bank of mikes, Dictaphones and video cameras. Flash-bulbs went off constantly. At least fifty journalists were present, with more streaming across the car park to join the throng.
Heck stood nervously to Hunter’s rear. Shawna and Quinnell stood even further back.
‘So you’re attached to the Maniac taskforce, sir?’ one of the journos shouted.
‘Correct … I’m with the Serial Crimes Unit at Scotland Yard,’ Hunter replied. ‘As you’re probably aware, we regularly get seconded to regional forces in the event of major crimes like this.’
It was rare the DI allowed himself any displays of emotion while on duty, but as a clear indication of the immense pressure that had been removed from his shoulders, he was beaming like the Cheshire Cat – though maybe it went a little further than that. Heck wondered if Hunter had perhaps finished his sauna and had been in the health club bar when the team had reached him.
‘Can you identify the two fatalities?’ another journalist asked.
‘Not at this stage, no.’
‘Is there anything you can tell us?’
‘You must understand, these events have only just occurred. We’re still assessing the situation, gathering evidence and so forth, but I will say this … we’re very happy.’
‘When you say “we”, DI Hunter … do you mean the Serial Crimes Unit or the Maniac taskforce?’
‘All of us. There has been a double fatality and that’s always a tragedy, but I must reiterate … we are very pleased with developments to date. Ah …’ He noticed Heck lurking at the rear, and ushered him forward. ‘Here’s one of the officers who attended the scene. This is Detective Sergeant Heckenburg, also from the Serial Crimes Unit. As you can see, he’s had a tough evening, but let me assure you this is one top-notch officer who has more than done his job today.’
‘Were you involved in the pursuit, Sergeant Heckenburg?’ a reporter shouted.
Heck hesitated before replying. He didn’t have the first idea how much Hunter had revealed about the car chase, though given the severity of it, it was likely the press had already discovered an awful lot.
‘I was in one of the cars pursuing the suspect vehicle,’ he admitted.
‘Can you tell us what happened?’
‘As I’ve told you,’ Hunter interrupted, ‘we can’t say any more about that at present.’
‘Were you in the vehicle that rode the two suspects off the motorway, DS Heckenburg?’ a different voice asked.
‘There were a number of police units involved,’ Heck replied.
‘When was it that you realised you were chasing the M1 Maniac?’
‘I’ve told you, we can’t say anything yet,’ Hunter answered for him.
‘Did you know from the beginning there were two murderers?’
‘Please gentlemen!’ Hunter said. ‘We’ve told you all we can.’
‘And that would be that you’re very happy two men have died in a car crash, sir?’
Hunter’s smile tightened, but he retained his cool. ‘I think you know what I mean …’
‘Sir,’ Heck whispered, ‘we’ve probably said enough.’
Hunter raised his voice one final time. ‘All you need tell the public at present is that there’s been a major development in the M1 Maniac enquiry – a major development – and that we are very, very encouraged by it.’
He and Heck turned and walked back into the hospital, ignoring all further questions. Once they were safe in A&E, Hunter dabbed sweat from his brow with a handkerchief but still looked satisfied. ‘That gave them something to chew on at least.’
Heck didn’t say what he was thinking: Yes, sir … your arse.
Chapter 4
Todd really liked Cheryl, and Cheryl really liked Todd. In fact, if they were honest, it went a lot further than that. The first time Todd had told Cheryl he loved her it had been just before Christmas, while they were walking Monty, her parents’ pet Labrador, over the snowy ridges of Rivington Moor. She’d simply replied: ‘I know.’
Which had thrown him a little.
Todd could only muster small-talk all the way back to the car park. But once Cheryl had installed Monty on the blanket in the back of her boyfriend’s periwinkle-blue Volkswagen Polo, and had climbed into the front passenger seat alongside him, she kissed him on the cheek. Not just any old kiss, not just a peck; it was long and moist and warm. He turned to face her, and their lips entwined and their tongues snaked together, and there’d been no going back really from that point on.
They hadn’t told anybody yet, especially not their respective parents, but they planned to marry in about two years’ time, depending on their ability to save up for a mortgage. Of course they were only nineteen and twenty, so they weren’t rushing anything.
Even so, they were electric together.
That was what Cheryl told her girlfriends: ‘We’re electric.’ If Todd so much as touched her hand, a warm jolt passed through her. And in one of their more intimate moments, he confessed the same about her.
They couldn’t wait to see each other that Valentine’s Eve.
As always, Todd arrived at Cheryl’s parents’ house bang on time, looking spick and span in his dark jeans, his bold striped sport shirt and well-pressed blazer. His gleaming, newly-washed Polo waited at the end of the drive – her chariot. That was one thing Cheryl’s parents really liked about Todd. He nearly always drove, so he rarely drank, which was a good thing in itself and in addition meant their lovely daughter was always assured of getting home safely.
It was Cheryl’s mum, Marlene, who answered the door. She was a bit of a looker herself, and she too was going out somewhere that evening, so she looked sexy, her voluptuous curves wrapped in chiffon and black lace, her blood-red toenails peeking out of patent black stilettos. But it was Cheryl who was the star of the show in a metallic-blue sequin dress with gloss tights and sky-high heels. Presenting Cheryl with ten red Valentine’s roses, Todd didn’t know what to say, except what he always said, which was that he was the luckiest man alive.
By seven-thirty they’d hit the road. After stopping for a bite to eat at their favourite pizzeria, they drove to a pub they knew, where they met up with two other couples they were friendly with. After a few drinks, the girls already getting tipsy on the landlady’s special Valentine’s cocktail, they headed off to Manchester together to hit one of the expensive, glitzy nightclubs.
It was a cracking event.
City centre clubs could get a bit crowded, a bit sweaty, a bit
noisy – but the atmosphere in this one was just right. The music was ultra schmaltzy, but Cheryl really didn’t care because tonight was all about love, and she had Todd. There was lots of dancing and lots and lots of kissing. Subsequently, by two o’clock in the morning, their intense affection for each other had become unmanageably passionate. So they said their goodbyes and hurried outside hand-in-hand, giggling.
It was another very cold night, their breath steaming, and the light sweat on their foreheads prickling like ice. As they made their way down the back alley to the car park, its cobblestones were rimed with frost.
The moment they got into the car and closed the doors, Todd put a hungry hand on Cheryl’s nylon-clad thigh.
‘Not here,’ she said, pouting.
Todd glanced around. She was probably right. People would be coming and going for a little while yet. ‘Usual place?’ he asked with an impish grin.
‘It’s a lot quieter there,’ she said.
So Todd drove them back out of Manchester along the M61 motorway. Their home town, Bolton, was only about eight or nine miles away, but before they reached it, they diverted along the A675 onto the West Pennine Moors. En route, Cheryl lifted the hem of her dress to reveal that she wasn’t wearing shiny tights at all, but shiny stockings fastened to pretty white suspender straps. She wiggled her bottom as she drew a pair of panties down her shapely legs.
‘Watch the road,’ she said sternly as Todd kept glancing down, his eyes popping.
There were few other cars around at this time of night, especially here on the West Pennine Moors, though these weren’t wild moors as such – more like open countryside alternating with reservoirs and dense tracts of woodland. But only one or two main roads led through this area, with few streetlamps.
Todd eventually decided he couldn’t wait any longer and pulled up in a lay-by – only for Cheryl to glance around, discomforted. ‘Here?’ she said. ‘We’re still on the road.’
‘There’s no one out at this hour,’ he replied, loosening his seatbelt.
‘I thought we were going to the usual place?’