Coincidence. Right Place Wrong Time

by Terry Aspinall

  Chapter 2

  Norwich City Police Headquarters.

  9:26 pm. Sunday 14th June 2015.

  Back at the Norwich City Police station, a Doctor had been called out to check Dave Slater over, and bandage up a small open wound and bump to the back of his head. While the pain in his left arm turned out to be server bruising, caused when his full body weight fell on to it, as he collapsed to the floor.

  He then reported his findings to the duty officer,

  “He has received a violent blow to the back of his head at some time”.

  “But he is okay to answer a few questions.”

  Dave was then ushered into a vacant interview room, and ordered to sit down at a table, with his back to the wall. Which meant that he would be facing a two-way mirror on the opposite wall, allowing his every move to be video recorded as future evidence, if required.

  His first thoughts were that with a little luck he might be informed as to why he was helping the Police with their inquirers. Although he knew he had been caught leaving somebody else’s house, but he could have been leaving a friend’s house. There again, breaking and entering did not usually require an armed offenders squad to arrest and detain suspects into custardy. Being realistic, he had no idea how he was going to talk his way out of the situation.

  Detective Chief Inspector Eden and a colleague he introduced as Peter Davidson entered the room, and sat opposite Dave across a table that had long since seen better days. He then dropped a folder on the table to the sound of a dull thud, to be followed by a short period of silence. That was eventually broken by the DCI who after looking at Dave asked,

  “Who’s been a naughty boy then.”

  To which Dave remained silent. Then leaning back in his chair, he folded his arms as a minor act of defiance. Believing that the Police had screwed him a couple of years ago, and they were not going to do it to him again. Not if he had anything to do with it.

  Up to now his short-term memory was still not responding correctly, although gradually small items and snippets of information were returning. However, his long-term memory could remember almost every minor detail. After all he’d spent nine months in prison apple time to think about what might to be thrown at him once again.

  Realising that it did not matter how thick the file was he had a good idea of its contents, although he was not going to let them know.

  DCI Eden broke the silence once again by asking,

  “Out on bail, are we?”

  “What's this all about?” Asked Dave.

  “Just answer the question.” Eden replied.

  Dave could not help himself, and not wanting Eden to have the upper hand replied,

  “I was found not guilty, and released.”

  “Not guilty was never mentioned, that will take another court hearing to decide.” Eden was quick to respond.

  Eden further inform Dave that as he had been in prison, they already knew a great deal about him, and that if he told them lies they would know. Light heartily adding that if he cooperated, it might be of help to him at a later stage during the court hearing.

  Although Dave believed Eden to be correct, it still came as a bit of a shock how blatant and abrupt he was.

  It suddenly occurred to him that Eden might be trying to re-open the whole case once again. His thirst to know more, allowed him to ask,

  “What’s in your folder then, what have you got on me”, and sat back to hear what Eden had to say.

  “Well let’s start with the nine-year jail sentence you were originally awarded, for the murder of your then girlfriend Susan Darcy, on the 5th December 2013.”

  The remark once again caught Dave off his guard. It was like a bomb had exploded inside his head. Yes, it was true but there was no way that he was going back to prison.

  There followed a few minutes silence as nobody said a word.

  His memory was jogged further as he looked down at a tattoo on his left forearm. One could see that it was not a so-called professional job, as it lacked colour and sharp lines, looking a little blurred. It was a giveaway that he had spent time in prison. At least he had not had the backs of his fingers tattooed to read ‘Love’ and ‘Hate’, as was the custom that many of the other inmates showed around at every opportunity. A type of bragging right, to show around their local watering holes. That they were not somebody to be tangled with, and if upset could hold his own in a brawl. Dave remembered that at the time it was almost compulsory for all the prison inmates. However, on a couple of occasions he had used his muscle to try and refuse their wishes. Although it had led to a couple of bashings from the inmates, during which he gave almost as good as he got. Even though he was heavily out-numbered on each occasion.

  Eden started to read out that Susan had been murdered, and that he had been sent to prison, after being found guilty of murdering his then girlfriend Susan Darcy, and repeated that he had been sentenced to nine years.

  However, nine months into the sentence his legal team had managed to appeal, and assist in the granting of his freedom. Arguing that there had not been enough evidence to support that he had been at the actual scene, let alone commit the crime. It was also mentioned that although a small amount of DNA had been found on the disease's body. There was nothing to link or connect Dave to the crime.

  At the time of the appeal, questions had been asked as to who was financing the case for Dave. A question that had never been fully answered. Leading to a lot of media speculation of secrecy and behind the scenes backhand dealings.

  According to the paper work, the evidence against him showed that he had been in the same area where his girlfriend had been killed. In fact, he walked right past the very spot where her body had been found, in a local public park. Although to say that he was in the same park was a bit over the top, as it was also possible to be half a mile away from her, and still be in the park. A bit like being found guilty by association.

  However, the Police had recovered her handbag lying nearby that contained her mobile phone, and his last message to her. Along with her purse, that still contained a little cash. That alone assisted the investigation team, informing them that the attack had not been a robbery gone wrong. The phone message was also of interested to them, informing them of his meeting her at that very same spot.

  According to the Police who investigated the crime at the time, it was an open and shut case, and in their view Dave had committed the crime. Although at the time nobody could come up with a motive, or place him at the spot at the exact time. Dave had always insisted that he had passed the scene, after she was already dead. Not knowing why, the Police were there, or realising that some body had been killed there.

  During the appeal, it was also pointed out that Dave’s DNA was not found at the scene of the crime. However, they believed that the last phone message Dave sent to her was deliberate, to try and put the Police off his scent. The same can be said about him sitting on her doorsteps, in full view of people passing bye. It was all an elaborate alibi. As many might have seen him but as for the time, no two people could agree on the exact time. How many people would look at their watch if they saw somebody sitting on a doorstep. Many of the investigation team believed it pointed the finger straight at Dave, as the phone call had been sent from the same area as the crime scene. Well it would be, as he was sitting on the steps of her accommodation at the time, just a couple of minutes up the road.

  Dave’s first response to the details being read out was,

  “So, what’s that got to do with you picking me up for questioning.”

  Eden was swift to reply that they had been tipped off that somebody had broken into the house, and that upon their arrival he had just happened to be leaving the premises, and had walked straight into their arms. Furthermore, they had also found a body in the house. Although they had no idea as to whom it might be. However, it was believed that it was the owner, a Mr Clive Manning.

  Trying to direct the attention away from him Dave asked,

 
“Do you have anybody in the frame for killing Susan?”

  “That's confidential.”

  “Well, have you?”

  “Ehh, apart from you, no.”

  For the first time in the discussion Dave found himself mentioning her name. He had fell in love with Susan after seeing her on and off for about six months. Usually meeting at pubs or on a few occasions at a local restaurant. However, on the night of her murder they had arranged to meet at one of the gateways leading into the park. Sadly, he recalled that her body had been found in the bushes just inside the park, a few meters from the gate that was always open to the public. Upon reflection, he had always blamed himself of agreeing to that location to meet her. Although it had been at her suggestion, being very close to where she was living.

  Dave had been heading towards the gate from the other side of the park. By the time, he had the gate in view, Police officers were already at the scene. Although at the time Dave had no idea what was happening. He had no idea that it would soon involve him, and change his life forever.

  He could see Susan was not standing by the gate, and so he walked right past the Police, and headed for the terrace house she was renting just up the road. Upon arrival and after knocking on the door for a few minutes, he sat down on the steps to wait for her return. Believing that if she had missed him, she might make her way home.

  It was during that time that he tried calling her on his mobile phone, but she never answered. He hastily left a message for her to get back to him as soon as possible. After waiting a further twenty minutes he called it a day, dropping in at the 'Greyhound' local pub for a drink before he headed back to the rented accommodation he used while in London.

  Dave had no idea that the Police at the scene had heard the call, not sure what they should do, nobody had answered.

  It was the following day, and the reading of the daily newspaper head line that he discovered why the Police had been near the park gate, and that it involved Susan. Although the newspaper article at the time made no mention of her, or further information as to what had happened?

  Raising his voice Eden asked,

  “What were you doing at the deceased’s house?”

  Dave was jolted from his silence and leaned over the table and picked up Eden’s pen and wrote a phone number on the file cover telling him,

  “Here ring that number, and you might be enlightened as to what I was doing at the house.”

  Once Eden got through, and started chatting Dave watched as the expression on his face gradually changed from a bit of a smirk to that of surprise, and then to a bewildered and humbled look. He did not seem to be able to ask any questions, all he seemed to do was listen. Eventually, he closed his mobile down and looked at Dave for a few moments. Finally, he opened his mouth and spoke,

  “You think your bloody smart don’t you Slater.”

  “Why the hell could you not tell me?”

  Dave quickly responded,

  “Because I’m covered by the official secrets act, and can’t talk about it.”

  Then adding,

  “And now, neither can you. So, can I go home now?”

  “Yes, but we need to know where you are staying.” Adding,

  “We will need to speak to you later.”

  With a smile on his face Dave told him to,

  “Use the same phone number to make further contact with me.”

  With a slight smile Dave pushed his luck further and asked,

  “What about a taxi ride home?”

  “Working for MI5 and you want me to pay for a taxi ride.” Adding,

  “I’m sure your boss Mr Jones would love to pay it.”

  After DCI Eden announced that the interview with Dave was over, he was released from the Police station during the early hours of the morning.

  Dave made his way back home to the 'Lodge' in Great Finborough Suffolk.

  Even though he was dead tired, he checked the place out before retiring to his bed for a long-awaited rest and hopefully a deep sleep.