Jon nodded his head. ‘They are indeed sir, and I’ve got the tapes here, all four of them, labelled, timed and dated.’
‘Excellent!’ Dylan was smiling. ‘Did you warn the manager it may be some time before we would be returning them?’
‘Yes, I told him they would potentially be exhibits for court. He was more concerned about attracting bad press for the hotel but I told him, at this stage, it’s about eliminating people from the investigation. Unless you’re going to tell me otherwise?’
Dylan shook his head. ‘Any news on the registration of the vehicle they were in?’
‘Yes, and I’ve had the registration number checked out on my way back to the station, it’s a hire vehicle.’
‘You’ve saved the best till last, tell me more?’
Chapter Twenty One
‘The hire company is over a hundred miles away,’ remarked Andy Wormald who was sitting around the desk in Dylan’s office with Dylan and Jon. It was dark outside and the incident room was reduced to a skeleton staff due to the early morning raids the next day for the Knapton murder.
‘Two counties boundaries to cross no matter which direction you travel,’ said Jon studying the map.
‘Unfortunately it tells us nothing more than the name and address of the company who own the Mercedes,’ said Andy.
‘It’s a good lead,’ said Dylan. ‘But now I want to know everything there is to know about Redchester Regal Hire Cars, and the vehicle, and any update we have on the Devlin brothers.’
Jon and Andy scribbled the actions down on their notepads as Dylan relayed them. He could feel their spirits had been lifted by the new lead, and there were positive vibes all round.
‘I don’t want any contact with this hire car company over the telephone. This enquiry needs a personal visit and that won’t happen until I’m satisfied that all the background checks have been done, and every ounce of intelligence has been squeezed from the databases at our disposal. Find out what local police know about them?’ he said with gusto. A fire burning in his belly at the thought of feeling the collar of these men. ‘Where is the vehicle now? Flag it up on PNC and ANPR, to show as ‘of interest’ to the incident room. I want it known that Detective Constable Andy Wormald is collating, as a priority, any intelligence in respect of the Mercedes in question, and any information about its whereabouts at the time of the murders. Has it been seen in the county before, Andy? Was it caught on a speed camera, stop/checked by patrol, had it collected a parking ticket at any time and if so, who were the occupants on that occasion?’
Dylan talked with Jon when Andy had gone. ‘This latest development will keep the review team at bay, won’t it sir.’
‘For a while. Arrange for the cash to be collected from the hotel, against receipt. Then the fingerprint bureau can make a start. There is no doubt it will be a long process, but just maybe a fruitful one. We’ll leave nothing to chance. Did you speak to Vicky before she left?’
‘No boss,’ Jon looked at his watch. ‘Time I was off to my bed too. The wife will wonder where I’ve got to.’
***
Dylan’s bedside clock numbers flipped over one by one, hardly audible but it was apparent in the still, darkened room. He turned his pillow. The illuminated numbers said 5:30. The night was over for him but Jen was still snoring softly. Dylan turned the duvet cover down carefully so as not to disturb her. He threw his legs out of bed and walked to the bathroom. With minimum noise and fuss he showered and shaved. He left Jen a brief note before leaving.
The traffic was sparse as he had expected in the valley, so early in the day. It was a little after six-thirty when he passed through the crested gates of Harrowfield Police Station. The sight of a near-on empty back yard where the meat wagons (transit vans) were usually parked, sent a rush of adrenalin through his body - the team were out, raiding houses. Slowly and smoothly he steered his car into his parking space, situated directly under his office window next to Detective Sergeant Rajinder Uppal’s car. He might have known she would have gone with them to cover the younger sergeant’s back and he was glad.
Inside the bowels of the building atmospheric anticipation enveloped him. Those working in the artificially lit incident room had heads down scanning printouts, reading logs, feeding information into computers, researching live enquiries and looking for leads to others. Stood in semi-darkness at his office door; a partitioned office within the large lower level open plan area of the police station, he impatiently rolled his eyes waiting for the strip-light to give him light. His first point of call, once he had dumped his briefcase at the side of his desk and taken off his overcoat, was to collect a radio. Eagerly pressing the button on the device he asked Control to pass a message to DS Vicky Hardace, that he was in the office if she wanted to contact him with an update. They were using a dedicated channel so that it didn’t interfere with daily operational policing and enabled officers to speak freely to each other on talk-through.
Just before ten o’clock Vicky and the rest of the troops wandered back into the incident room. Dylan had listened in to radio conversations but wasn’t aware exactly how successful or not they had been. The DS knocked softly at the door to his office.
‘How did you get on?’ asked Dylan, eagerly searching her face for a sign.
‘Fine,’ she said, Vicky’s expression was buoyant. ‘We managed to locate all seven. They’re being booked into the cells.’
‘That sounds encouraging. I just knew when I saw Raj’s car this morning she wouldn’t be able to resist going with you.’
Vicky gave a little laugh. ‘She’s like a mother hen, she’s already instructed the teams to interview as soon as the on-duty solicitor arrives.’
Dylan tutted. ‘It’s impractical for one solicitor to sit in the interviews for all seven. Unacceptable.’ He winced.
‘The custody sergeant has been on to the duty solicitors Perfect and Best informing them that, due to the numbers in custody, they’ll need help to prevent delays,’ said Raj who joined them.
‘Good, any notable reaction from anyone arrested?’
‘Some of them were cocky clever, others in shock, as are some of the arresteds’ families,’ said Raj.
‘Did you arrange for the custody officer to do the chart on the dry wipe board showing the names of those brought in for all to see?’
‘That boss...,’ she said, cocking an eyebrow. ‘That was done by my fair hand this morning, before we went out on the raids. It’s displayed behind the charge desk so none of them can miss it.’
‘Great, while that tactic has been used many times before, it still works. It’s good to let them see who else is locked up, especially when they’re all in it together.’
‘Let’s hope that today, seven is a lucky number for us, I’ve got search teams at this moment seizing everything that might link them to Freddy Knapton’s murder, primarily they are instructed to look for bloodstained clothing and footwear, mobile phones and computers.’
‘I’m impressed, well done. It’s going to be a laborious task interviewing seven but we don’t have a choice - we need to find out what went on.’
‘I’m just hoping at least one of them opens up in the first interview. There is no reason not to if they’re on the periphery of what’s happened,’ said Raj.
‘I’d like to think so too, when they’ve no reason to face a charge. But you and I know that misguided loyalty or the thought of being tagged as a nark is one hell of a barrier,’ said Dylan.
‘It’s amazing what talk of prison does. Most of this lot are first-timers.’ Vicky winked as she succumbed to one almighty yawn.
Dylan lowered his head and peered at her through half closed eyes. ‘You better enjoy the short break; it’s going to be a long day.’
Vicky belched. ‘I know, and I also know that I shouldn’t have had that mucky curry last night,’ she said grimacing.
‘Yes well, you’ll learn. Remember the interviews need to be thorough and you don’t get extra time added to thei
r detention purely on the basis that you’ve arrested a large number of people at once. You’ve got twenty-four hours to interview seven people, less their statuary sleep and break times – I suggest you hit the ground running.’
‘Vicky slid off her chair. ‘You’ve not got an energy drink in that drawer of yours have you?’
Dylan shook his head.
‘A strong large black coffee it is then.’
***
Dylan was speaking to his opposite number in North Yorkshire. ‘Do you remember when we joined up Dylan,’ said Terry Hawk. ‘It all seemed so easy didn’t it - none of this performance shite? We took more people home than we locked up, and we put the wrong ‘uns away and threw away the bloody key!’
‘Yes, well I’m turning a blind eye to the paperwork tomorrow and going with my DS Jon Summers to speak to them at Redchester Regal Hire Cars.’
‘And we’ve arranged to see your crime prevention officer DC Rupert Charles here today so I’ll let you know how we get on.’
Dylan’s eye strayed to the Merton Manor bible; the SIO’s policy log that was a daily reminder to him of what decisions he had made on the job, why he made them and why he discarded other lines of enquiry. It was stuffed full of his thoughts and actions that all seemed such a pain to have to document at the time, but eighteen months down the line when the investigation had finished and he was stood in the dock of a court swearing on oath, it would be his saviour. It was hard enough to remember these days what he did yesterday never mind in two years from now and with several more investigations under his belt.
As the day progressed he and Jon worked diligently on the information the team had collated regarding the background for the car hire company. According to local police, the car hire business had not caused them any concerns in the past. It was a known coffee spot for some police officers, a company used by others, but their uninvited visit would never-the-less take place as planned. As Dylan was preparing to leave the station he got a message from DI Terry Hawk that troubled him. DC Rupert Charles had failed to turn up for his interview with the North Yorkshire Police officers.
Dylan wondered why? He looked at his watch, it was late but he didn’t want to leave the station until he had an update from the team on the Knapton murder who were still interviewing. He rang Jen to check that her and Maisy were okay.
Due to the artificial light and the continued buzz of staff in the never-sleeping incident room he hadn’t realised how quick the evening had passed until he heard the CID office doors swing open and his eyes shot up to the clock that read ten-thirty. Damn, he would be apologising to Jen again. Vicky arrived back in the incident room with some of the team.
‘Reading your body language you seem positive,’ he said.
‘Raj and Shelagh were late going into the last interview. But we’re getting there. It’s the right group and they’re talking at the moment. Some more than others.’
‘It’s down to this lot boss,’ added Ned
‘Jason Paul seems a reasonable lad. He tells us there has always been this ongoing aggravation between Knapton and the group, but recently he’d been telling the dog to attack them. This really pissed them off. McIntyre and Farah Ruwal came up with an idea to teach him a lesson. In simple terms some would throw stones at Freddie, and then run into the car park getting Freddie to chase them, where the others would be waiting for him,’ said Vicky.
‘According to Jason, on the day of the murder Martin Lister brought along a dog pole that his dad, apparently, had been given when he worked as a dog warden,’ said Ned.
‘So, to be clear, two lads bait Knapton, they run into the car park and he and his dog give chase?’ asked Dylan.
‘Jason Paul and Joe Grayson were the ones acting as bait,’ added Vicky. ‘The lad using the dog pole and attack sleeve is Martin Lister, Jason says it was all about scaring Knapton till Farah Ruwal took the knife off Dean. She fronted Knapton up while everybody else surrounded him and the dog was held on the pole. Knapton gave her a load of verbal and others were egging her on to dig him with the knife. Suddenly she stabs him. McIntyre apparently shouts, ‘get him down.’ She stabs him in the legs. Everybody then sticks the boot in and Dean McIntyre eventually gets on top of him and cuts his throat. Knapton is left motionless, like a rag doll. He says everyone was just euphoric and Dean and Farah went off for a quickie.’
‘Really?’ Dylan’s face was unbelieving.
‘That’s what he says,’ said Vicky.
‘Okay, whatever, so why throw Knapton off the roof, do we know?’ asked Dylan.
‘Apparently McIntyre’s idea, according to Jason, just in case Knapton wasn’t already dead. And before walking off into the sunset with Farah and the dog, he warned the others they’d be killed if they ever spoke of it,’ said Vicky.
‘No doubt they will all try to minimise their involvement,’ said Dylan.
‘Probably. But the suggestion is, more than one of them used their mobiles to film it.’ Vicky looked at her watch and frowned. ‘Where’s Raj, she should have finished fifteen minutes ago?’
‘Are we presuming that Dean and Farah beheaded the dog?’
Vicky shook her finger at Dylan. ‘We never presume boss,’ she said with a smile like a Cheshire cat. ‘But, if we are to believe the others then it was them who took Satan out of the car park.’
‘Have you found the restraining pole and sleeve?’ said Dylan.
‘Yes, it was located in the garage at Martin Lister’s house. So somebody returned it.’
DS Rajinder Uppal entered the office with a tray of drinks.
‘Where’ve you been?’ demanded Vicky reaching up to take a mug of tea off the tray.
‘Washing up the dirty pots left in the sink! My first job tomorrow is putting a notice in the kitchen. Pots that are left dirty will be thrown out!’
Vicky and Ned looked at one another and grimaced.
‘I’ve been interviewing Martin Lister. He said he hasn’t slept since the incident and cried throughout. He brought the pole along to restrain the dog as he tells me it had bitten someone he knew previously and his intention was that the device would keep everyone safe. He says it was his understanding that the gang were going to let the dog chase them, then kidnap it to teach Knapton a lesson. He says he had no idea that they intended to harm it - he loves dogs. He likened the attack to a violent video game, his words not mine.’
Dylan clapped his hands together and sat forward as if to rise from the chair. ‘Okay, let’s call it a day. We’ve made great in-roads. It looks like our main players, if we believe what they’re saying so far are Dean and Farah. Dean’s locked up but before we release any of the others and the word gets out, we need to lock Farah up. I’ll get Uniform to do it for us. Do your team briefings in the morning as usual and we’ll have another scrum down at six o’clock tomorrow night, if that suits everyone?’ There was a resounding nod of tired heads. ‘I’ll speak to Chief Superintendent Hugo-Watkins, explain to him that enquiries are progressing diligently and we need extended detention on each of these individuals, which will give us up to another twelve hours, but what a shame, that means he’ll have to be up early for once.’ Dylan’s smile was forced. ‘By then we should be able to clarify who has done what, or not, as the case maybe, and we should also be clearer as to what else happened and what we need to do next. I’ll chase forensics re the knife examination.
‘Have any of them mentioned anyone else being present that we haven’t arrested?’ said Dylan.
‘No,’ the others said in unison.
‘Thanks everyone for today. It’s difficult when there is such a large number of people involved but you’ve done a fantastic job so far, well done. In the next round of interviews, I want you to ask each of them to name all those present just to ensure there is no one outstanding, other than Farah.’
Dylan arrived home, dragged himself up the stairs, got into bed and snuggled close to Jen.
‘Progress? Is that why you’re late?’ she said.
‘Yeah, things are bubbling.’
‘Try get some sleep Jack.’
‘Are you okay?’
‘I’m fine, honestly, I don’t want you being poorly.’
***
The following morning the office was once more a hive of activity by seven o’clock. The atmosphere was electric, as it always was in an incident room close to a breakthrough in detecting a murder.
The next interview team on the Knapton murder had their work cut out. So far they’d had only had one interview with the seven arrested. Ideally they aimed to interview them at least twice. The number of people in custody allowed them the opportunity between interviews to liaise with each other to understand what was being said and therefore the intelligence continued to gather momentum. The Chief Superintendent had been in the cells earlier and extended the detention times on all those arrested without any objections from solicitors or prisoners.
‘Poor chap, you had to feel sorry for him, he was exhausted after doing all those extensions,’ said Vicky.
‘And he was quick to tell me as much in the message he sent me,’ said Dylan.
‘He didn’t? I was taking the piss. He should try interviewing them, then he’d know what bloody exhausted was, the knob!’
‘Hey be careful. He could be sitting on your next promotion board,’ said Dylan.
‘Yeah, we’ll I’m showing enough of my arse up the bloody tree at sergeant level, I’ll not be going for no more boards, I can assure you.’
‘Never say never Vicky,’ said Dylan with a knowing look.
Dylan was eager to speak to forensics. Traces of blood had been found on the knife blade which they were able to match with Freddy Knapton’s. Surprisingly another unidentified minute trace of blood had also been found, where the blade met with the handle. What forensics required from Dylan was any further suspects DNA samples sending for comparison.
When The Killing Starts: A DI Jack Dylan novel Page 23