Riddled on the Sands (The Lakeland Murders)

by Salkeld, J J

  They all sipped their drinks in silence. ‘I meant to ask’ said Hall, ‘did you think of anywhere where people might look to come ashore round the Bay? You know, like I was asking earlier.’

  ‘Aye’ said Atkinson. ‘But I wanted to ask you something first. Would they want to land near one of the towns, or away from them?’

  ‘Good question’ said Hall. ‘Let’s go for away, somewhere nice and quiet.’

  ‘Then round here would be as good as anywhere, I reckon. Always has been, since the year dot. This was a smugglers’ village, good and proper, years ago. But there are plenty of alternatives, of course. Morecambe maybe, because a few fishing boats still go out from there. And there’s always Barrow, of course. You know there’s a couple of islands, well one island and what used to be an island.’

  ‘Yes, I’d heard something about them. Peel Island is one of them, is that right?’

  ‘Aye, that’s it. Well they might fit the bill, especially if your smugglers wanted a different place to land from here. I’m no expert, but would they really try the same place twice?’

  Hall shrugged. ‘It depends how well-informed they are, Geoff. If they think we’ve got the place wrapped up, and under proper observation, then they probably would look elsewhere. They’d be mad not to. But I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if they’ve worked out that we’ve barely got enough people to investigate a double murder properly, let alone start staking the place out. So if I was them, I know what I’d do. I’d go back to plan A, and try again. They wouldn’t be taking any extra risks.’

  ‘You’re a good detective, Andy’ said Atkinson, ‘but it’s all guesswork, isn’t it? You don’t even know if they’re coming back at all.’

  ‘That’s true, I don’t. But unless they do we’ll never have a chance to nick the people who killed Jack Bell, or the people who were there when he was. So I’m telling anyone that will listen that we’re expecting them back.’

  ‘I can see that’ said Atkinson, the alcohol thickening his words, ‘but I’m not sure you’re man enough to deal with the likes of them, with your college boy voice and superior bloody attitude.’

  ‘Come on, mate’ said Mann, ‘you don’t mean that. It’s just the drink talking, that is. Andy can’t help being a soft southern pansy, now can he?’

  Hall laughed, and then Atkinson did too. They finished their drinks, and Hall and Mann got up to go. Geoff Atkinson stayed exactly where he was.

  As he drove back Hall phoned Jane, and told her what they’d got off the table.

  ‘So you were right. Capstick did leave a note, and he did have a local contact, assuming that’s who killed him. Well done again, Andy.’ She didn’t entirely sound as if she meant it.

  ‘Well yes, up to a point. But who was forced to do what?’

  ‘Capstick, surely? He was just making an excuse.’

  ‘I suppose that’s most likely, but what if he’s making an excuse for this third party, the middle-man between him and the gang maybe.’

  ‘One of the Coastguard?’

  ‘It would fit, wouldn’t it? But unfortunately they’re in the clear, the lot of them. I’m sure of it.’

  ‘So what about my boy, Skelton.’

  ‘Why? Have you turned up something new?’

  ‘Maybe. Just that Skelton really is in deep with his gambling debts. I’ve found another ten grand that he owes today, although what he said about stopping was true. He does seem to have kicked the habit, though God knows how. Anyway, he paid a grand in cash into his bank account, which paid his mortgage, only a couple of days before Bell died.’

  ‘Was it from his work? A bonus or something?’

  ‘No. I called the MD and they get their bonus at Christmas, and it’s paid into their bank account the day before their salary.’

  Hall thought about it.

  ‘OK. It might be totally innocent, but we need to know. So who was it from, why was it paid, and how might it fit in?’

  ‘I was hoping you’d tell me all that.’

  Hall laughed. ‘Give it a rest. I’ve just made a couple of sensible guesses. I’m not the bloody oracle, Jane. But it is strange. If Skelton was the contact man, then why might Capstick be giving him money, assuming it came from Capstick? Have you checked against his account, to see if he drew out a corresponding amount?’

  ‘Yes, it was the first thing I did, and there’s no joy there. But that’s not necessarily a surprise. Capstick was known to keep quite a bit of money in the house in cash, and we found some after he died, didn’t we?’

  ‘Yes, just over three hundred, He got paid in cash for part of his catch, by local restaurants and the like. It was just his little tax fiddle, and I doubt he’s he only one who does it. So you think it might have come from Capstick, then?’

  ‘Only one way to find out.’

  ‘Bring Skelton in again? Yes, it has to be worth a try. Why not give him a call, and ask him to come in tomorrow, first thing. Suggests he brings a solicitor.’

  ‘Let him sweat a bit in between?’

  ‘Exactly, but it’ll also give Tonto a bit of time to see if he can get more off that table. I expect he’ll be at work ‘til all hours. And you never know, he might be able to get a bit more for us.’

  ‘But you do realise that even the name Skelton means nothing, unless the context is clear.’

  ‘Because it’s a place name as well you mean? It’s a village up near Penrith, isn’t it? Bugger. I hadn’t thought of that. You are a little ray of sunshine, Jane.’

  ‘I know. Let me make it up to you. How long until you’re home?’

  ‘Twenty minutes.’

  ‘Then I’ll race you.’

  Monday, 1st July

  As DI Hall drove to work, big, heavy raindrops hit the windscreen, and lightning flashed in the distance. He thought he could hear the thunder rolling down the fellsides, over Ambleside way. As he drove he wondered if his brolly was still in the boot. It had been weeks since he’d needed it, so he wasn’t absolutely certain. But he was a methodical man, so he had a little bet with himself that it would be in there. And he was right.

  And Hall had been right about something else as well. Tonto had been in the lab until all hours, and looking at the report he’d sent through at just before two in the morning it looked as if a few of his colleagues had come in to help as well.

  ‘Bloody hell, Andy’ said Ian Mann, as he knocked on Hall’s office door. ‘They should get SOCO these flash new toys every day. We’d get twice as much work out of them.’

  ‘I know. I’ve just been reading the report. From what I can make of it they don’t think there’s any more to be got off the table in terms of whatever he wrote last. Their software can’t cope, and it’s impossible to do by eye apparently. At least I think that’s what Tonto is telling us.’

  ‘Are you going to ring him?’

  ‘No, I’m not. Let’s give the bloke a bit of piece. I hope he’s fast asleep at home now. And he’s helped us a lot anyway.’

  ‘By putting Mike Skelton firmly in the frame?’

  ‘I wouldn’t say firmly, Ian. But Capstick could have been talking about Skelton, and when you throw in that witness statement and this unexplained cash deposit, well it all might fit together.’

  ‘Aye, but how?’

  ‘Buggered if I know. And talking of which, did you give the good news about our Coastguard friends to Jimmy Rae?’

  ‘Indirectly. There’s a number I call and leave a message. He hasn’t phoned back.’

  ‘He’s probably reducing granite blocks to powder with his bare hands as we speak. But, Ian, I was thinking.’

  ‘That sounds ominous.’

  ‘What the thunder said.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Nothing, it doesn’t matter. No, what I was thinking was this. Now that Rachel has tipped me off that Drugs think that something big is afoot I was thinking that might give us a bit of a reason to act on what Jimmy told us, and try to target the Flookburgh area for the next week or so. S
ee if we can’t nick this lot before Rae and his pals use unreasonable force, or extreme prejudice, or whatever it is.’

  ‘But Jimmy was wrong about the Coastguards.’

  ‘He was, but let’s not hang him out to dry for that. He’s not a copper, so his investigative method is probably weak. But his other information is solid, I’d bet on it. They’ve probably got a good idea where the drugs are right now, assuming the gang aborted the drop on the night they killed Jack Bell. I’m betting they’re on a ship somewhere in the Irish Sea, and Jimmy’s mates are tracking them every minute of the day. Probably using drones, or satellites or something, aren’t they?’

  ‘OK, let’s give Jimmy the benefit. And you are right, he certainly can call on resources that we can’t. So what have you got in mind?’

  ‘I’m thinking about having a word with the Super. Tell her I’m in a spot, that I can’t act on what Rachel told me because it was all unofficial, see if she can help. You know, ask for advice, all that shit.’

  ‘You ask for advice, Andy? Not a chance. She’ll never buy that. You know what she’s like. If it’s not in the book, it didn’t happen, and it’s not going to either.’

  ‘Maybe, but I think you underestimate her. She’s brighter than you think.’

  ‘By which you mean she’s just clever enough to realise how clever you are.’

  Hall smiled. ‘Busted, Ian, as the youngsters probably say. But I think it’s worth a try.’

  ‘And you won’t mention Jimmy Rae to the Super?’

  ‘Jimmy who?’

  ‘Are you sure that you don’t want a solicitor present, Mike?’ asked Jane, when the tape was running.

  ‘I haven’t done anything. Like I keep bloody telling you, I didn’t kill Pete Capstick, or Jack Bell come to that. I’ve got no idea what you’re on about.’

  ‘The reason that we’re interviewing you under caution today is because there are several things that we need to understand. So let’s start with this one. Do you remember paying a thousand pounds, in cash, into your bank account? It was just under three weeks ago.’

  ‘Aye, why?’

  ‘I need to know where that money came from.’

  ‘What’s that got to do with anything?’

  ‘Come on, Mike, it’s a simple question. Where did the money come from?’

  ‘It was a loan.’

  ‘I see. Who was it from?’

  ‘A mate.’

  ‘I need a name.’

  ‘No, it’s none of your bloody business. It was a private arrangement, between mates, like.’

  ‘Did the money come from Pete Capstick?’

  ‘No. No, it didn’t.’ Jane and Ray, sitting next to her, both thought the same thing: lie.

  ‘We’ll come back to that. Why not think about it for a minute? Because there’s something else. As I mentioned last time we have a witness who saw you with Pete Capstick when you say you weren’t there, and we think it’s perfectly possible that he gave you the money at that meeting. If that’s the case, we need to know why, and if it’s not, we need to know where the money came from instead. Do you see that?’ Skelton nodded. ‘And you know what ‘prime suspect’ means?’ Another nod. ‘Well right now that’s you, Mike. It really is. Now, let’s talk about Pete Capstick’s death.’

  ‘Do we have to?’

  ‘We do. Do you know how he died?’

  ‘Aye. he was stabbed.’

  ‘That’s true, but he was going to die anyway. Because he’d taken an overdose, a fatal one, and he left a suicide note. Now the killer took it, but we’ve been able to piece together a couple of fragments, and in it he talks about someone who he thought was his friend. That could be you, couldn’t it, Mike?’

  ‘It could be anyone.’

  ‘No, not really. Pete didn’t have many friends. He was a bit of a loner, always had been.’

  ‘He wasn’t talking about me.’

  ‘How do you know that?’

  ‘Just do. I’m sorry he’s dead. He was a good lad, was Pete, but I didn’t kill him.’

  ‘You really aren’t being much help; is he, DC Dixon?’

  ‘No, he’s not.’

  ‘And that’s a mistake, wouldn’t you say?’

  ‘Oh aye, that’s a mistake.’

  ‘You see, Mike, because you’re not willing to tell us where that money came from we have to work on the assumption that you’re involved in the death of Pete Capstick, the disappearance and probable murder of Jack Bell, and a major drugs conspiracy. And because of that we’re going to focus our attention on you, until we find out if you’re dirty. Or, more likely, until we can prove that you’re dirty. And that’s not just me and Ray here, that’s all the powers of the State. That’s lots and lots of people spending thousands of hours looking at you and everything about you. Can you imagine what they’ll find out? And I won’t lie to you, Mike, your family will suffer. Because we will be looking at them too.’

  ‘But they’ve done nowt.’ His voice rose, and Jane knew she’d hit a nerve.

  ‘I’m sorry, but that’s just how it is. They’re close to you, and that’s enough. But you’ve put yourself in this situation, and if you help us now it’ll be easier, I promise. If you’ve done anything, tell us now. This really is your last chance.’

  ‘And if I did tell you where the money came from, would that be the end of it?’

  ‘You mean, if it was some non-legitimate source? Would we grass you up to the taxman or whatever? Well look, Mike, we can’t make any promises, and we can’t turn a completely blind eye to whatever it is you tell us, but this I can say. We’ve got a double murder on our hands here, and that’s our priority right now. It has to be. I’ve got a serious case sitting on my desk at the moment, arson in fact, and this has taken priority over that. It’s just how it works, and it doesn’t take a genius to work out that a bit of cash-in-hand fiddling isn’t exactly going to be at the top of anyone’s pile. Does that help?’

  Skelton sat and thought about it. Both officers were silent. Dixon noticed that Jane had a fixed, encouraging smile. He found it slightly disturbing somehow.

  ‘All right, the cash did come from Pete Capstick.’

  ‘And...’ said Jane.

  ‘It was a loan, like I said.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Mike, but I don’t believe you.’

  ‘Why not? It’s the truth.’

  ‘Then why did you deny having been at his house? I assume it was when you were seen?’

  ‘Aye, it was. Must have been. I was ashamed like. Ashamed at having to borrow money from a mate.’

  ‘No, that won’t do. It won’t do at all. Do you seriously mean to tell me that you were willing to make yourself the prime suspect in a double murder just to save face? Sorry, but I don’t buy that. You’ve never made any secret of your gambling debts, have you? So why the sudden bashfulness over borrowing from Pete Capstick?’

  Skelton didn’t reply. Jane gave him plenty of time before she went on.

  ‘Let me tell you what we think happened here. Like I said before, you introduced Pete Capstick to some people. Maybe they were old army pals, maybe they were people you owed money to, and you persuaded Pete to help them out when they were bringing gear in. Originally you were supposed to drive out across the sands to meet their boat, or whatever it was, but the more often you went out with Pete the more you realised that you couldn’t do it. The sands were too difficult, too dangerous. And that’s why you got Pete Capstick involved.’

  ‘No’, Skelton shouted. ‘How many times do I have to tell you? Just repeating things doesn’t make them true, does it? Look, the reason I didn’t tell you about the loan, and about seeing Pete, was that I had to persuade him to loan me the money.’

  ‘Persuade how?’

  ‘Nothing physical, I don’t mean that. It’s just that he said he wouldn’t loan me the cash, because he was a bit tight, like. But I knew he had it, because I’d been out with him once or twice, selling salmon and sea trout. Always for cash in hand, like.’<
br />
  ‘So you’re saying you blackmailed him, on the basis that you knew he was poaching?’

  ‘No, not really. I was desperate, absolutely desperate. I just had to persuade him a bit. I’m not proud of it. But you do believe me?’

  ‘What I believe doesn’t matter. It’s what a court believes.’

  ‘Court, what court? You’re not charging me, are you? I’ve stopped gambling, honest I have. I couldn’t live with myself, the way I got that money from Pete. That’s what made me stop.’

  ‘What do you want, a medal?’ said Jane. Dixon noticed that Jane’s encouraging smile had gone, and he knew that they’d just eliminated Skelton as a suspect. He couldn’t prove it, but he knew for certain that this time Skelton was telling the truth. He wasn’t mixed up in any of this.

  DI Andy Hall didn’t seem especially surprised, or remotely annoyed, when Dixon and Jane told him what Skelton had said, and the conclusion that they’d drawn as a result. Dixon put it down to Jane and the boss being an item, but that wasn’t the reason. He just wasn’t the type to take out his disappointment on junior officers. And by the time they left he’d already decided what his next move would have to be. So when they’d gone Hall picked up the phone, and asked the Super if she could spare him five minutes.

  ‘So you still can’t connect Capstick to anyone who could have been his link with the gang?’

  ‘That’s right, ma’am.’

  ‘Always assuming there is one.’

  Hall nodded.

  ‘Do you still believe that there was one? This link, I mean.’

  ‘The fragment of the suicide note supports that theory, so yes, I do.’

  ‘So where do we go from here? I take it that you do have another line of enquiry?’