by Diana Launt
“Not really, he was dressed in sadistic sex gear, a leather suit and mask, ball gag in his mouth and plastic bag over his head so hard to tell who it is, as we cannot contaminate the scene by moving or touching anything until forensics get him to the morgue and undress him, take DNA etc.,” Jake said.
“Oh No. That is terrible; you must keep me informed in case it is Reggie,” Rachel blurted.
“I personally think it is him Rachel, you know I sense these things, and it is Reggie,” Jake whispered.
Amelia asked Rachel whether she thought Reggie had any problems with anyone, besides his wife that is.
“Well no not really, he seemed a happy enough chap. He did have a bit of a run in with one of our new volunteers. I told dad about it because I needed his advice whether to let him go or not,” Rachel said.
“What happened in this run in?” Jake asked.
“They had a set to at this Bring and Buy sale, something about Reggie asking Harry to watch his stall whilst he went to the toilet. When Reggie came back, Harry had sold two throws for fifty pence each when Reggie’s wife wanted a fiver each or more for them. Reggie went off at Harry as if someone had pinched his last cigarette and Harry went crazy, pinning poor Reggie against the wall and threatening him, he was so volatile and I’ve never seen anyone change as quick. When I disciplined them both the next day Reggie said that Harry had threatened to kill him,” Rachel advised.
“Right looks like we are now waiting for the crime scene to get the body to the morgue. We cannot do anything until we find out whether it is Reggie. Do not say anything Rachel, this chat is unofficial, and don’t act suspicious in front of Harry as we have to get Harry in for questioning, especially as he had argued and threatened him,” Jake stated.
Jake and Amelia arrived at the Morgue to see whether the body had arrived. The Forensic Pathologist on duty said he there was little to no DNA, the body and leather gear had been cleaned and was laid out and had been undressed ready for identification by the police. They could see from the photograph that it was Reggie Brown.
He looked like he was sleeping, no apparent injuries, then the assistant turned him over onto his stomach and they saw whip welts covering his back; half of his bum was missing.
“My God, I have never seen anything like that, what have they done to him,” Amelia stammered.
“Well, it looks like more than rough sex, more like torture but they have had sex, no DNA must have used a condom, or several by the looks of it. He has had bottles of all sizes shoved up his anus as well as other objects that could be broom handles or poles, files, saw blades, half his bum cut away, most vicious. Cause of death suffocation through the plastic bag placed over his head and tied. Not been dead 24 hours, a fresh one,” the Pathologist said.
“OK we have to get off because we have to interview the man who we think might have done this to him. Can you let us have the CSI report and findings as soon as you get them back? Thank you,” Jake commanded.
CHAPTER 37
Amelia and Jake asked Supt. Oliver Blackwell to call an Incident Team meeting for a catch up back at the office.
“Right you lot, let’s have you listening.” Supt. Oliver Blackwell shouted to get the teams attention.
He then told them that they had an identification of Reggie Brown, to go on the storyboard on top of the picture of the Man in Black, as they had been calling him, not quite as bad as Batman.
“Does this have any connection to the Swap Skill killings?” one of the team asked.
Jake said, “Yes I do think it has a connection because this fella works at the Forum as a volunteer, so has access to the database, also he had an argument with another volunteer, and the other volunteer, Harry Mason, threatened to kill him.”
DSupt. Blackwell shouted to one of the WPC’s to run the name Harry Mason through the database, see whether he had form. Nothing came back, obviously a false name. They would have to see whether there was any DNA found, and were waiting for the CSI report.
“Do you want us to go and pick him up for questioning?” Jake asked.
“No I think we will ask him to come down to the police station to help with our enquiries. Just get his address and car registration from the Forum for future reference. You go and see Mrs Brown and take Amelia to break the news to the poor bugger,” Oliver said.
***
When Jake and Amelia arrived at Mrs Brown’s house, as soon as she opened the door she realized it was bad news.
“It is Reggie, isn’t it? I knew that he would not dare to stay out all night. I want to know how he died, the truth, no matter how hard it is for me. I have to know what happened to him.”
“It is a bit sensitive how he was found and it will upset you, so don’t you want to wait until you are feeling a bit better; you know when you have got over the nasty shock.”
“Never mind if it upsets me, I need to know the truth about what happened, as I’ve been worried sick since he went missing, I need to know why.”
“Well, if you insist Mrs Brown. They found him dressed in sadomasochism gear and dumped in the hedgerow on Horncastle Road. I don’t think that he was involved in that kind of thing, but I think the killer did that to him to punish him, embarrass him. He was raped and tortured, cause of death suffocation.”
“Whatever for, who would want to do that to my Reggie, he had a bit of a temper when he was wound up but he wouldn’t hurt anybody, so why should anyone want to hurt him,” she sobbed.
Amelia stayed with her to give her support whilst the family liaison officer arrived to look after her.
Jake drove back to the nick to see whether Harry Mason had arrived yet, and wanted to get in on the interview.
CHAPTER 38
It was as if Harry had expected them to want to question him. He strutted into the police station very confidently, was very polite and charming when he met DSupt. Oliver Blackwell, and was happy to help with their investigation into the murder of Reggie Brown.
Oliver Blackwell led him straight to the Interview Room at the end of the corridor. It was a nice light green colour with a table and two chairs, another two chairs lodged against the wall. There was a water fountain with plastic cups and Oliver got two plastic cups of water and placed them on the table in front of them.
“One of the WPC’s is here to help with the tape recorder. Do you want to take a seat Mr Mason, and make yourself as comfortable as you can in these darned seats?” Oliver scoffed.
“Hi, I’m Detective Superintendent Oliver Blackwell, Lincoln Police.”
“Hi, I’m Harry Mason, but I guess you know that, “he jeered in a smug voice.
“Okay then Harry, we need to speak to you and ask a few questions in relation to an incident between you and a Mr Reggie Brown. We’ve been told that you had an argument with him at the Forum Bring and Buy Sale and it was stated that you threatened to kill him, so we have to interview you, as he has been found dead. It’s OK Harry, we just want to hear your side of the story, we have to stay neutral.”
“I am now switching the recorder on. Today is April the 16th, 2016, the time is 3.30 pm. Present at this interview is myself Supt. Oliver Blackwell and WPC Sharon Mitchell and Harry Mason, and we are at Nottingham Police Station, Nottinghamshire, UK. I am now going to read you your rights. You have the right to remain silent but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something that you may later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be used as evidence against you. You have the right to talk to a solicitor and the right to free and independent legal advice. If at any time, you wish to stop talking and have a solicitor present, the questions will stop. Do you understand these rights Harry?”
“Yes I do.”
At that stage, Jake came into the room and asked whether he could join in. As he plopped himself down, he immediately recognised Harry as the man with the big nose, who had been pestering the girls at the seaside, but Harry did not recognise him, or did not show it.
Jake asked DSupt. Oliver
Blackwell whether he could have a quick word with him.
“Please turn the recorder off a minute Sharon,” Oliver commanded.
Jake explained to Oliver about Harry being the person that was bugging the girls at the fairground in Skegness. He reminded Oliver that he radioed in for someone to check him out as he might have been gone by the time Jake and Amelia got of the Big Wheel ride. They would have to question him about that too another time.
They drifted back into the room and Oliver said, “Switch the recorder back on please Sharon.”
“For reference, DCI Jake Hammond has joined the interview,” Oliver stated.
“We are here to speak to you today Harry because there was an incident at a Bring and Buy last weekend at the Forum when it was noted that you threatened to kill Reggie Brown during a heated argument about the selling of two throws. We won’t interrupt you whilst you’re talking but we want you to tell us exactly what happened at the Bring and Buy between you and Reggie.” Oliver commanded.
Harry replied cockily. “Well, it’s simple, Reggie wanted to go relieve himself and he asked me to watch his stall. He didn’t give me a hint about the prices he wanted to sell his gear at and there weren’t any stickers on the goods so I sold the throws for fifty pence each. When he got back about ten minutes later, he asked if I had sold anything and I answered two throws at fifty pence each. He went ballistic and said his wife would kill him and that they were new and she wanted a fiver each for them.”
“So what did you say to him in reply?” Jake asked.
“I wasn’t too pleased because of his shirty attitude. At the end of the day, I was doing him a favour, so I told him he should have stated specifically what he wanted for the goods in case I was to sell anything. I gave him a piece of my mind and told him in no uncertain words that he had a big attitude problem,” Harry bragged.
“Is that all, did you threaten him and pin him against the wall.” Jake scolded.
“I might have trundled him up against the wall because I was angry, but I don’t remember threatening him, only calling him Splat head but I wouldn’t say that is threatening him, maybe more like name calling as we did as kids,” Harry imparted.
“So what happened after that?” Jake asked.
“My boss Rachel Hammond came up and separated us, and sent me outside to calm down.” Harry cackled.
“And did you calm down?” Jake asked.
“Of course, and I came back in an apologized to Reggie for my aggressive behaviour, I’m not normally like that but he has a big mouth and wound me up,” Harry said.
“Okay Harry, is there anything else you want to add to this interview, anything you feel we ought to know about the circumstances on the day,” Jake asked.
“No. That’s all that happened, like I say, he really annoyed me with his attitude and I may have acted a bit harshly pinning him against the wall but it was not a threat,” Harry said.
“OK, so the time is 4.00 pm. and we are going to finish this interview. Thank you Harry, we appreciate you coming in and helping us with our enquiries. We may ask you to come in again to talk about the matter further, but for now you are free to go,” Jake commanded.
When Harry left the police station he was incensed, he knew that they were drawing the net in for the catch, but he had a plan he had to implement, and soon.
CHAPTER 39
Rachel and Maria reckoned they had done well with their car boot; they had sold over hundred and forty pounds worth of goods after taking five pounds out for the table costs. They decided to have a family meal to celebrate their success when Frank came back from fishing. There was a new Italian restaurant opened in town and they decided that they would go there for a slap up meal.
It was Rachel’s turn to cook a meal and she was just about to take the Shepherd’s pie out of the oven when she reckoned she heard the doorbell ring.
“Damn it, who is that, just when I am about to serve our tea. If it is that double glazing man that rang earlier, I am going to give him what for, he can see you’ve got double glazing.”
Maria shouted “Don’t worry Rachel I’ll get it, but goodness knows who it can be at this time in the evening; nobody usually calls on us at tea time,” she said as she had just finished setting the table.
Maria opened the door and was surprised to see Harry on the doorstep, with a bottle of wine in his hand.
“Hello Harry what a surprise to see you. What brings you here at this time in the evening, we were just about to sit down and eat. Whilst you are here, you may as well sit down and join us, as there is more than enough for the three of us. Rachel has made a shepherd’s pie, and it looks and smells absolutely delicious,” Maria said.
“Oh, if it’s not too much trouble, I didn’t mean to interrupt your meal, but it’s something urgent I need to discuss with Rachel, and I can’t talk about it at work in case the person involved overhears, as it is to do with another Forum member of staff,” Harry said.
“Grab yourself a glass and pour us all a glass of red wine and we can have a chat over dinner. I will just go to the kitchen and tell Rachel to dish you a plate up and I will place another setting out,” Maria said.
Rachel was a bit annoyed that Harry had turned up unexpected, after all, it was her Bank Holiday, even though she had worked all day, the evenings were hers and it was supposed to be quality time with her mum. Furthermore, he had no right to come over in the evening, whatever he wanted could have waited.
“What’s he doing here mum. I think it is a bit of a cheek turning up out of the blue?”
“Says he has something important to talk to you about and that he can’t do it at work in case the person involved overhears the conversation.”
“Why couldn’t he have messaged me or rang on my mobile?”
“Don’t know love, but he’s here now so better put another plate out rather than spoil our tea arguing about him turning up unexpectedly.”
Rachel remembered her conversation with Jake and Amelia about getting Harry in for questioning in relation to the murder of Reggie Brown, and she assumed that he might have had an interview with Jake and wanted to talk about that. Jake had told her not to mention anything to Harry or anyone else, so she guessed she would have to tread carefully and improvise.
Rachel angrily slammed an extra plate on the work surface, dished out the shepherd’s pie, and took it through. Harry was happily helping himself to another glass of red wine.
“Oh look at this, the shepherd’s pie looks smashing, what an unexpected treat.” Harry said, followed by “You don’t happen to have any brown sauce; I like a squirt of brown sauce on my dinners.”
“Yes, I will go and fetch you some.” Rachel said sharply.
Maria said, “Come on now, let’s get stuck in, we don’t want it to get cold do we?”
They were enjoying their meal when the telephone rang.
“Oh for God’s sake, am I ever going to get my tea,” Rachel said spitting feathers.
Rachel picked up the phone and barked ‘YES’.
Frank stammered. “Rachel its dad here, I have something very important to tell you and I don’t want you to speak just yet, listen very carefully. Do you know when I told you there was something about Harry that I could not click on to, something in the back of my mind niggling away? Well, I know what it is now and I don’t like it at all. You know the serial killer that caused my head injury fifteen years ago. I did not see him, he came from behind, but there was something about him. It’s come to me now Rachel. When he leaned over me, I got the strong scent of aniseed, the same smell I recognize on Harry. I have a horrible feeling about Harry and I think the fortune teller might have been right when she warned you that he was a dangerous man and to stay away from him. He is the killer I am positive of the fact,” Frank said.
Rachel shook her head. “No. I can’t have you round tonight Hilfe, I have a friend that has unexpectedly turned up out of the blue and he’s staying for tea and a chat, so perhaps we can get together anoth
er time.”
Frank said. “Rachel are you trying to tell me that Harry is with you and you need help, ‘Hilfe’ is help in German, am I correct. I just hope he does not speak German. Is Harry your unexpected guest? Keep calm; I’m on my way home, twenty minutes away. You and your mum are in extreme danger. Do you understand me it’s a trap? Try and get rid of him or keep him talking. Think of weapons that are to hand, wine bottle, corkscrew, knife and fork even. I will ring Jake and try to get him over there urgently. Take care love, beware of any erratic behaviour and don’t whatever you do turn your back on him.”
“Yes you’re exactly right Hilfe, I will do that, will see you soon, and love you too,” Rachel said.
“Come on Rachel, sit down your tea will be cold.” Maria said.
“Pass me that wine mum I feel like another drink,” she said, to get the wine bottle near to her to clout him one if he started anything.
“Who’s this Hilfe?” said Maria inquisitively.
“Oh it’s a new woman that has started up at the gym. We mentor each other; it helps with the training programme. I told her she could come round one evening for a couple of glasses of wine and nibbles,” Rachel explained “That’s what she was ringing about, but I put her off until another day, excuse being we had an unexpected visitor,” Rachel scorned.
“Yes, we don’t like folk just turning up,” Maria said.
“Anyway Harry I remember that you had something you wanted to talk about that you didn’t want to mention at the Forum,” Rachel said tucking into her Shepherd’s pie.
Rachel was watching the clock, it was now five past seven, and her dad would be here in twenty minutes, so she had to keep Harry talking until then.
Harry nodded. “Yes. It’s Becky, when she was running the refreshments I saw her pocketing the money the people were passing over in payment for their sandwiches,” Harry said.
Taking another mouthful of Shepherd’s Pie and wiping her mouth with a serviette, Rachel said, “Oh I’m sure you’re wrong Harry, that’s preposterous; she wouldn’t do anything so underhanded. Becky is a very responsible, trustworthy person. She has been responsible for handing the petty cash out to volunteers for their bus fares and lunches. Nothing has gone missing whilst she has been handling the petty cash. Perhaps she had thrown some change in the till because she was short on change and was taking it back,” Rachel objected.