by Colin Davy
“Not that old,” she said. Turning to Maria, she gave an easy smile. “I hear you’re worried about your sister.”
Maria looked from one to the other and nodded. “She never misses,” she said. “Every day of our lives, we talk, but It’s been two days now.”
“You checked with Gail?” Gary asked.
She nodded. “Gail’s worried too. She dropped her off at the flats on Sunday night and hasn’t heard from her since. She told me Debs was intending to ring me from the flat.”
Sophie leaned over to grip the back of Maria’s hand. “It’s only two days, Maria,” she said. “Has she ever done this before?”
“Never,” she said firmly, “But …” She swallowed noisily. “I had a premonition about the docks,” she continued. “I sensed there was a brooding presence, an evil entity. I assumed it was aimed at Gary, but now I’m not so sure.”
Sophia nodded and looked up at Gary. “Perhaps you need to check with security?”
“Oh, come on, Sophe,” he said. “Our security men are there to prevent illegal parking, not Satan. Although even they’d notice a massive, red-eyed goat with horns growing from his forehead, a dragon’s tail and a knob the size of an overgrown cucumber.”
Maria ‘s eyes flashed. “I’ve never suggested that,” she said fiercely.
Sophie tightened her grip on the girl’s hand. “No, darling, we know you’re not,” she said. “You’ll have to excuse Gary and Scott, they’re agnostics at best. It’s up to us to educate the pair of them.”
Maria gave her a brief smile. “Who is Scott,” she asked.
“My husband,” she said.
“Thanks, Sophie,” she said. “I do worry I’m being silly.”
“You’re not,” she said. “In the circumstances, I can understand.” She sighed. “I meant Gary should check with the security people in case they know anything about your sister’s whereabouts. I’ll take you and Gary to the flats and let you sorted this out,” She stood up as quickly as pregnancy allowed and looked down at Gary. “Come on, lazybones, we’ve work to do.”
She meant he had no time to finish his beer, and he stood with some urgency. No one spoke until they reached the car, but Maria seemed calmer. Without asking, he sat beside her in the back and felt her trembling. Taking her hand, he pulled her close, noting Sophie’s approving look from the driver’s seat “Don’t worry, Maria,” she called over her shoulder. “We’ll be there soon.”
It took a fraction over a minute, but soon they were slowing at the security barrier. Although Gary wound down the window to speak to the security guard, the barrier lifted immediately. The man must remember the car from previous visits.
Pulling to a halt beside the flats, Sophie leaned back and spoke soothingly. “It’s going to be fine.” Turning to Gary, she lowered her voice. “Once you clarify things, let me know. Don’t forget.”
With that warning ringing in his ears, he jumped from the car and took Maria’s hand. “Thanks, Sophe, we’ll check Debbie’s room first in case her phone’s out of action.”
Although Maria shook her head in doubt, she’d stopped trembling. When they reached Debbie’s flat, Maria took charge and knocked loudly. After waiting a few seconds, she knocked louder and he heard movement in the next flat. But hearing no sound from Debbie’s room, she tried the door and found it locked. “Debs?” she cried. “Deborah, open up.” She tried the door again with no result. “We need a key,” she said. “Can you …?”
He was inclined to advise caution, but seeing the expression on her face, he knew it wasn’t an option. “Come on,” he said. “I’ll see if I can persuade Tom.”
“Who?”
“Tom,” he said. “He’s got the same surname as me, so he might be persuaded. We Maddisons stick together.”
“Who are you talking about?” she sounded exasperated.
“The security man on the gate,” he said. “The one Sophie suggested.”
“Oh, him, come on, then.”
This time she led the way, galloping down the stairs so fast, he struggled to keep up. The security man frowned heavily when they arrived breathless at the gate. “Is there a fire?” he asked from behind his window before catching sight of Gary. “Hello, it’s the other Mr Maddison, isn’t it?” He switched to a beaming smile. A man with a Yorkshire accent and a cheerful face.
Gary nodded, but before he could begin, Maria broke in. “We’re worried about my sister,” she said. “She lives in room two-six-one and she’s missing.”
The man leaned forward in surprise, his spectacles thick and his grey hair neatly parted. “How long has she been missing?”
She shook her head in impatience. “We’re twins and we’ve been in contact every day of our lives, but she’s not answering the door or my phone calls.”
Hearing the panic in her voice, he came out the cubicle to calm her. “Steady on, young lady,” he said. “There’s lots of reasons young women apparently go missing for a few days. How long has it been?”
“Two days,” she said. “But you don’t understand, Debs would never go missing. It’s an emergency.”
“I’m sure you’re worrying unnecessarily,” he said, with an attempt at a smile.” She may have gone on holiday, or …” He left the other options open.
Silently, Gary agreed, but she wouldn’t be budged and Tom finally sighed in resignation. “Steady on, young lady, I see you’re upset, but what do you want me to do?”
“I want to check her room,” she said, suddenly calming and giving him a pleasant smile.
Nicely done, Gary thought, he’s nearly old enough to be your grandfather, but a pretty face and sweet smile work wonders at any age. The man wandered back behind his window and looked back at her. “What room number was it again?”
“Room two-six-one,” she said. “You’re a life-saver.”
He gave a low grumble, but brought up a list on his laptop.
“She moved in last month,” he said, after moving his finger methodically down the screen and finding the entry. “And you are?”
“I’m her sister,” she said, producing her passport and passing it over. “I’m Maria Kowalczyk, and my sister’s name is Deborah Kowalczyk.”
“Ah, Ms Kowalczyk, that’s correct.” he said pronouncing it perfectly. “Yes, she’s not been here long.” He frowned and stared at her for a couple of seconds. “That explains why I don’t remember you. Have you been before?”
“A couple of times,” she said. “But I don’t drive.”
“Ah,” he said.” That does explain it. Do you want me to open the door to her room?”
“Yes, please, we’re worried sick.”
He sighed. “There’s strict rules because of the insurance,” he said, but taking out a long and old-fashioned key, he walked to a two-metre high safe made from solid steel worthy of Fort Knox. Inserting the key with a loud clunk, he opened the heavy door and peered in, choosing a small key from inside before closing it slowly. Plodding from the cubicle, he locked the door behind him. After taking a walkie-talkie from his belt, he spoke into it. “Jane,” he said. “I’m checking on a room for a few minutes. Ten minutes tops.”
Turning it off and putting it back on his belt, he looked at Maria. “Lead on, I hope this is worthwhile,” he said softly, but as much as she urged him on, he continued at his own slow pace. “Is this Mr Maddison your boyfriend?” he asked.
“He is,” she said firmly. In the foyer, Tom refused to use the stairs, preferring to plod round to the lift, despite Maria’s impatience. They went up together but she rushed from the lift and waited impatiently at the door of her sister’s room for their arrival. Finally reaching it, Tom rapped loudly on the door and stepped back.
A door opened in the next-door flat and a man looked out. “Oh,” he said when he saw the security man. “Is there a problem? Can I help?”
“Everything’s under control, sir,” Tom said. “Nothing to worry about.”
The man glared but closed the door.
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nbsp; After another tap on the door with no result, Tom reached into his pocket to pull out his key and insert into the keyhole. Giving a grunt, he struggled briefly, but with a determined twist of his wrist, he opened the door and stepped back. “In you go,” he said. “How long will we be?”
Maria looked surprised. “We? You’ll be staying here?”
It was Tom’s turn to be surprised. “Of course,” he said. “It’s standard procedure. If you’d like to check the rooms and confirm your sister isn’t here, I need to re-lock the door. If you’re still worried, you can contact the police, but after only two days …” His scepticism showed in his face, and Gary suspected he’d only done this much to humour them. “Thanks,” he said to the man. “We’ll not be long.”
When Tom nodded and positioned himself to one side, Gary looked to Maria for guidance. “What do we do?” he asked.
“I’ll check the bedroom,” she said. “You look around the living room to see if she left a note.”
While she disappeared into the bedroom, he began a search of the kitchenette and main room. As before, it was conspicuously tidy, but he moved a few cups and checked inside a small bookcase filled with DVDs. When Maria returned from the bedroom, he assumed from the look on her face, that she’d been unsuccessful. “Any luck?” he asked.
She glanced at the security man before answering. “No,” she said, sounding disheartened, and he began to share her misgivings. The sisters argued, but they were close, and he doubted Debbie would change the habits of a lifetime. “What do we do now?” he asked.
She sighed. “I don’t know.”
“We could let the police know.”
Her expression told him her answer. “Have you phoned round her other friends in the congregation?” he asked.
“Who?”
A good question, and he tried to think back to the service. “Raif?” he said. “He’s always looking for a financial backer, and she’d be attractive.” In more than one way, he suspected.
“Raif?” She seemed angry at the suggestion. “Debs would never go near him. You can see the slime trail he leaves a mile away.”
A bit harsh, he thought. “John Wemyss?”
“You must be joking.” She glanced at Tom, who’d begun bending his legs one at a time to ease the stiffness. “I could ring Keith, I suppose,” she said finally.
“We’ll do that,” Gary. “Use my mainline.”
“Thanks,” she said before looking at Tom.
Stepping to one side, the security man took hold of the door before suddenly tensing. “Wait a minute,” he said, stooping slowly to pick up something from the thick-pile carpet. “It’s a key,” he said. “It must have been in the lock and I pushed it on the floor when I put my key in.” He frowned, his forehead creasing as he realised what this meant.
But Gary was ahead of him. “The bathroom,” he said. “We haven’t checked that.” Turning, he rushed across. The door was closed, but not locked and he pushed it open. Ignoring the faint musty smell, he peered inside.
Debbie’s naked body lay spread-eagled on her back, looking as if she’d fallen from the toilet seat. Her sightless eyes peered from a face washed completely of colour, her mouth sagged open and she looked like a wax dummy. The purple bruising circling the flesh of her lower body deepened where it met the cold tiles.
He tried to stop Maria from following, but brushing him aside, she rushed in. Her high-pitched screams alerted Tom and he pushed past them both to stand in shock at the scene before him. “Jesus Christ, is that your sister?”
“Debs!” Maria screamed, kneeling at her sister’s side, trying to cradle her head and closing her eyelids. Her soft weeping sounded loud in the confined space as she hugged her sister’s face to her body. Tom reached for his walkie-talkie. “Jane,” he shouted, his voice croaking. “Ring the police and ambulance services. There’s a body in room two-six-one. Female, about thirty, it looks like an OD.” He listened for a second or two. “Yes”, he said, “Long dead. Lividity on lower body but no rigor.” He listened for a little longer and frowned. “It’s pointless,” he whispered and his frown intensified. “OK, I’ll try,” he said.
Moving close to the body, he scrambled with difficulty to his knees. “Excuse me, miss,” he said softly to Maria who looked back in shock. When he moved his arms over her sister’s breasts to locate her breastbone, she came back to life.
“What are you doing,” she screamed. “Mauling my sister like that.” She grabbed at his arm. “Stop it now,” she called, “She’s gone. “
“You’re right,” he said with relief. “She’s stone-cold. I’m a first-aider but I can’t do miracles.” Swallowing, he scrambled back to his feet. “I’m so sorry, miss, but the paramedics will be here soon.”
She nodded. “It’s hopeless, isn’t it? She’s gone.”
He swallowed again. “I’m not a doctor,” he said. “But you’re right.” When her lips trembled, he put his arms round her and gave her a hug. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, passing her over to Gary. Taking her gently, he put his arms round her and walked her back into the living room.
Chapter Eight
The two police officers spoke gently in the hushed tones reserved for funerals and scenes of what they explained were classed as ‘untimely deaths.’ The bulk of the explanations came from a female uniformed officer called Riya, a thin woman in her mid-thirties with a voice well-suited to the task, while her male partner returned to the bathroom to confer with two paramedics.
They’d been amazingly quick to arrive, beaten only by the next-door neighbour who must have exceptional hearing. “Problems?” he’d asked, when they opened the door expecting to see the paramedics.
“Yes,” he’d been told curtly, but he returned shortly after the arrival of the police and ambulance with a tray of teas and coffees which lay untouched on the hatch in the kitchen. He introduced himself as William, and Gary suspected he was the gay neighbour Debbie had mentioned, but he only accepted he wasn’t wanted when the police officers told him to move on. He finally left, disappearing with a grumpy “Suit yourself.”
The paramedics had rushed straight to the bathroom, but the police took time to size things up. “We need to examine the scene carefully,” Riya said after a short preamble. “To preserve the evidence. Scene of crimes officers will come soon, but in the meantime, we ask you to bear with us.”
“You’ll check for fingerprints?” Maria asked. Although her eyes were reddened, she held Gary’s hand firmly.
“It’s routine,” Riya said.
“Won’t you need our fingerprints for elimination purposes?”
Riya’s eyes narrowed. “If they need to do, they’ll be in touch,” she said before taking out her notebook. “I need to ask you a few questions. Do you feel up to it? We can do it later if you prefer.”
Maria took a deep breath before turning to Gary and nodding. “As soon as possible,” she said.
He nodded in response and looked out the French windows. Could he have done something? Should he have done something? Taking care to avoid Debs for the last two days would haunt him forever, but that was nothing to the anguish that Maria must be undergoing. Feeling the warmth of her body through the summer dress she wore, he realised they’d instinctively huddled together on the settee.
Riya sat across from them in the chair, and after seeing the nods, she leaned forward. “Did you two discover the body?” she asked.
He thought she had spectacularly dark eyes, even for someone of Indian extraction, but they gave the questions a softer edge than a person with grey or blue eyes would. “That’s right,” he said. “Me, Maria and the security man who let us in,” he said. “Maria was worried about her sister.”
Riya scribbled down something. “That’s fine, we’ll talk to the security man soon.” She looked up at Maria. “Are you next of kin?”
She nodded firmly. “I’m the only kin she has in this country,” she said. “There’s an uncle I’ve never seen, and another I never want t
o see again.”
“Where do they live?”
“One’s in Australia and the other’s in America.”
Her lips tightened. “When did you last see your sister?”
“On Sunday at the church. I went down with a migraine and Gary took me home. That’s the last time I saw her.”
Maria’s voice broke a little and Riya waited patiently until she recovered before replying. “It may take time for the forensics,” she said. “After that, we’ll arrange for an undertaker to store the body unless you have a particular choice.” Maria shook her head silently. “We’re all very sorry for your loss,” the policewoman continued. “I’ll take your details now if I may?”
She wrote the details down as they were dictated, giving a frown when Maria admitted to not knowing the number of her mobile phone. “I seldom carry it,” she said.
“Are you and Mr …” She checked her notes. “Mr Maddison …” She frowned. “Are you related to the security person?”
“No.”
She turned back to Maria. “Are you and Mr Maddison partners?”
“We are,” she said.
Fair enough, Gary thought.
“And you found your sister exactly as she is now?” Riya asked.
Maria shuffled a little. “I put a sheet over her,” she said. “But otherwise, we didn’t move her. The security man told us not to touch anything and leave everything intact until you arrived.”
The policewoman nodded and checked her notebook. “This is your sister’s flat,” she said.
Maria nodded.
“You say you have no other relatives in the UK,” Riya continued. “Do you live with your partner?”