Tell Me No Secrets

by Lynda Stacey

  ‘She’s so young to be a widow. Did they ever find out who shot him?’ Her hand accidently brushed against Ben’s leg, sending electric shocks up her arm.

  ‘It was a deal that had probably gone wrong. Nothing was ever proven, the killer never caught.’ Ben got up and began to dig in a filing cabinet. ‘I have a file on his death in here somewhere.’

  Kate stood too and looked over his shoulder into the filing cabinet. The files looked neat, tidy and in order. She approved.

  ‘Ah, here it is,’ Ben said as he pulled the file out and placed it on the reception desk before both Kate and Gloria. ‘Take this into our office and start looking through it. I’ll be back in a bit. I have things to do.’

  Kate spun round on her heel as Ben walked toward the door. ‘But, wait, where are you going?’ Kate noticed his smile and backtracked. ‘Not that it really matters. I mean, it doesn’t matter at all,’ she rambled, ‘I just wondered if it was something to do with the case, you know, so I’d know what to do, next time.’

  Kate saw the amusement in Ben’s face. ‘Well, first, I was going to the bathroom. You can observe if you like, but I doubt you’d really want to. But after that, I have to go to the bank, and pay in the wages.’ He shook his head and pulled a face.

  Kate was still blushing when she sat down at her desk. The file was huge, at least a hundred pages, and she quickly realised that some of the notes went back for more than two years. Kate had been engrossed in the pages for over an hour when the door opened.

  ‘The drug they believe she sold was MCAT, just like her husband. It’s got many names and you need to know them all and what they look like,’ Ben said as he rushed in and back out of their office, making Kate look up from the file. ‘Give me a shout when you’re done. I’ll be out back dressing the van.’

  Kate worked on the case for the rest of the day. The file had been read and the photographs collated. She’d pinned selections of photographs to a dry wipe board and by the time she’d finished, Kate knew where Isobel’s hairdresser was, her beautician and her gynaecologist. She’d studied MCAT on the internet and had found numerous forums giving her other names that it was known as; Mephedrone and meow meow were the two most common. She knew what it looked like and that dealers tended to sell the drug to teenagers under the idea of it being a ‘legal high’, but the side effects were dangerous and the drug was highly addictive.

  There was a knock at the door and Gloria walked in, coffee in one hand, sandwich in the other. ‘Here, I thought you’d need this. You haven’t moved all day.’ She looked up at the evidence board that Kate had created. There were perfectly positioned photographs, all laminated, and typed sheets of information, again all in rows down one side of the board. ‘Gosh, you have been busy.’

  ‘It’s what I used to do in the force. They always gave me the job of organising the evidence board, knowing that my OCD would ensure that it was all in nice neat rows.’

  Gloria walked over to the board and tapped one of the pictures. ‘Is this what they sell?’ The photograph showed two types of drug: one a small coloured tablet, the other an ampule of fluid with a syringe by its side.

  Kate nodded. ‘It is. They sell it in two forms. Dependent on who is buying. It can cause fits, hallucinations and panic attacks,’ she said as Gloria studied her board. ‘It’s also a type of anaesthetic. Did you know Ketamine can actually stop you from breathing?’

  ‘Where do the kids get the money, that’s what I would like to know,’ Gloria said, shaking her head as she turned to where Kate sat reading the information that she brought up on the computer screen.

  ‘They’re selling the tablet form really cheap; just a few quid would get them some. Most kids have access to that sort of money these days, by way of pocket money.’ Kate tapped on the keyboard. ‘Look,’ she pointed to the screen.

  ‘Closely related to amphetamines, like speed and ecstasy,’ Gloria read out loud. ‘It’s renowned for being a dirty drug; it can be mixed with just about anything.’ She shook her head. ‘What does that mean?’

  ‘It means that the kids don’t even know what they are taking. We had a case in the Met where the drugs were mixed with both soap powder and rat poison. Kids were dropping like flies. It’s disgusting.’

  ‘One unnecessary death is one too many,’ Ben snapped as he walked into the office. ‘People have no idea how death of the young affects others.’ The words were just a little too personal and Kate wondered who Ben had lost and looked towards Gloria, hoping for answers. But Gloria had looked away.

  ‘Right,’ he said as he dropped a small box on the desk. ‘Let’s move on.’

  Kate noticed Gloria dab at her eyes before excusing herself, leaving the office to return to the sanctuary of her reception.

  ‘Van keys, there are three sets to the vans that you’ll find out the back. Each van comes back here at night where they are then dressed and ready for the next day.’

  ‘What do you mean dressed?’ Kate pouted as she picked up each set of keys one by one and placed them in a row on the desk.

  ‘We need to be inconspicuous.’ He walked over to the window. ‘Out there are the vans.’ He pointed into the yard at the back. ‘We have various sizes and various signs. All are magnetic and easy to fix to the side. One day it could be dressed as a plumber’s van with ladders and plastic piping on the roof. Another day it could be TV licensing and another it could be double glazing or window cleaning. We park in different places daily and the surveillance team stay in the back. The driver takes you to the site and then gets out of the cab and walks away. It kind of gives the appearance that they’ve left for the day.’

  ‘Ah, okay. They did this in the Met, but I didn’t really have anything to do with it. We were the legs on the street, so to speak.’ She paused. ‘Just a thought, if they are working vans, wouldn’t they park on people’s drives?’

  ‘Not necessarily, lots of workmen park on roads so as not to block drives. Sometimes, they even park and get into other vans, especially if they’re going into town to work. Saves them paying double for parking.’

  ‘Next you’re going to tell me that there’s a toilet, bed, kitchen and sofa in the back.’ Kate was joking but the look on Ben’s face told her that she may actually find that at least some of her list would be found in each van. Her mind went into overdrive and she had the urge to run down to the yard, look inside each van and check the cleanliness of any potential toilets.

  ‘There’s also camera equipment in there. It’s simple to use. Just point and shoot. Shall we go down and take a look?’

  Chapter Seventeen

  Kate sat in the back of the van with Ben. Most of it was filled with computers and screens, a couple of chairs and a curtained area in the far corner. She’d been watching him pick up and show her one object after the other for the past two hours. There was one transmitter that sent out a signal, and a receiver where the signal came back to. Everything she looked at was new to her, and she did her best to study each piece of equipment. But even with detailed explanations on how and when she should use each item, she doubted that she’d ever remember what she’d been told and made notes in a small book, all in code language that only she’d understand, just in case it ever got lost or landed in the wrong hands.

  A dry wipe board was attached to the back door of the van and Ben drew a map on it. ‘These are the areas where you’ll be parked. Either here, or here.’ He drew two crosses on the map of the road. ‘I’ll get Patrick to position the van carefully. No one should suspect that the van is anything more than a tradesman doing a job. There’s video surveillance fitted in the grill of the van, in the back of the wing mirrors and in the back door. Always check who is near the back door through the cameras before opening it. No one gets in unless you know them. If you need to get out for any reason, use common sense, maybe wear a high-vis jacket, or a hard hat. Make yourself look like a plumber, a builder or a TV licensing inspector.’ He looked her up and down. ‘And, above all else, do not put yourse
lf in danger. Understood?’

  ‘Yes, sir. Understood.’ She turned and once again studied the map. ‘Won’t you be with me?’ Kate’s bottom lip began to tremble. She knew that all she was really doing was sitting in the back of a van and waiting to get the right pictures, but she feared the new technology and desperately hoped that Ben would be with her.

  ‘Sorry, not tomorrow, I have an appointment in London. I can’t miss it.’ Ben placed a hand on her shoulder and stared deep into her eyes. He saw her doubts, her confusion and her fear. ‘You’ll be fine. I’m sending Don out with you, he’s a good guy. You’ll like him. Patrick will be driving and he’ll come back for you, either when you call for a pick up, or at a time discussed prior to the drop off. You’ll never be on surveillance for longer than five or six hours. If you get a problem, call. Patrick won’t ever be far away and will be back with you within minutes.’

  ‘But, I don’t know Patrick or Don.’

  ‘Kate, I’m sorry. I can’t be there.’ His voice was stern and he immediately regretted it. He knew it was daunting to begin a new job and he knew he’d promised Kate that he’d train her, look after her and show her the ropes, but he couldn’t miss the appointment. The meeting with a marketing team. It had been planned for weeks and if the marketing and adverts were well placed, who knew how much more work they’d bring in through the door. Besides, his father was breathing down his neck, insisting he do more promoting of the business, more sales and Parker & Son needed the revenue if they were to grow during the next year. It had been a job he’d been putting off. Julia had been working on a marketing campaign before her death. Posters, adverts, and a new website. But that was four years ago and he knew that if he were to ever honour her memory, it was time to move on, time to pick up the reins and time to turn her work into something for the future. Ben sighed. Just thinking of Julia hurt, and the thought of seeing her posters and adverts again played on his mind, especially today, the anniversary of her loss.

  ‘Ben, are you okay?’

  Ben’s eyes were fixed on the dials; his face showed signs of distress and Kate wondered what was going through his mind.

  ‘Yeah, I’m fine.’ But Kate could tell that ‘fine’ was far from how he was really feeling. There was either something about this case that was bothering him or something more personal that was going through his mind.

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘I said I’m fine,’ he snapped, closed his eyes and turned away.

  Kate sat back in her chair, held her breath and waited until Ben spoke again.

  ‘So shall I go over the camera functions again?’ Ben eventually asked, changing the subject. He picked up the camera and flicked on two separate switches. A panel with over thirty buttons was fixed into a board behind the driver’s seat, each one having a different use or purpose.

  Half an hour later Kate finally felt that she had a grasp of the equipment.

  ‘It’s amazing, I knew these kind of vans existed, but I never had any idea just how much went on in one.’ She indicated the van as she climbed out and inspected it from the outside.

  Ben laughed. ‘Luckily it does look like a normal van, and it’s probably a good thing that Joe public doesn’t have a clue what technology we really have.’

  Kate smirked. ‘We really are spies, aren’t we?’

  Ben locked the van. ‘Of course we are, this is what gaining intelligence means. This is spying, it’s what we do, albeit as my father said, it’s important that we always stay within the law.’

  Kate laughed nervously.

  ‘And this,’ he said, handing her a mobile phone and charger, ‘it looks like a normal phone. Keep it charged and keep it with you.’

  ‘What do you mean by looks like?’ Kate asked as she turned the phone over and over in her hand.

  ‘Have a play with it sometime. It has some interesting apps and features. Most importantly, it has an emergency code which Gloria will give you and if you ever need assistance fast, key it in. We will be able to find you really quickly, as the tracking device would tell us exactly where you are. All our operatives have one. Now, go on. Get off home. Tomorrow is going to be a long day. Be here for seven o’clock. That way you’ll have the van parked before anyone else is around.’ He rocked backwards and forwards, from one foot to the other. It was obvious that he had something on his mind. ‘And Kate, be careful,’ he finally said. ‘I’ll see if Eric’s available too. I’ll give him a call, get him to come and help you.’

  Kate walked to the front of the building, where her trusty yellow Beetle was parked, and climbed in.

  She looked at her watch; her dreaded mother would be waiting and after the earlier phone call about the mousetrap, she knew that she’d have to go home and face her. Unless of course, her putting the phone down on her had sent her into a spin, and maybe, just maybe, she’d get home and Mother would have gone to Eve’s, just as she’d suggested – or even better, back to York and her father.

  ‘Kate?’ Ben shouted, just as she was about to drive off.

  ‘Yes,’ she answered, carefully lowering her window to look up at him. He looked tired and washed out. The day had obviously taken its toll and he stood looking down at the floor. His crisp white shirt was undone at the collar, his tie had long since been abandoned and his hands dug deep down in his trouser pockets.

  ‘I … I owe you an apology,’ he blurted out as he looked up and toward her car. She could see pain in his gaze and Kate wondered what she should do. She knew he was hurting, but didn’t know why. If this was a girlfriend of hers she’d be offering her a hug. But Ben was not a girl or a close friend, he was her colleague. There was a difference and she had no idea how to handle a situation like this.

  ‘What are you apologising for?’ She turned off the engine and climbed out of the car.

  ‘Earlier. I shouldn’t have snapped at you.’

  ‘Listen, it’s fine. You must have had a reason.’ She paused and wondered what to do next.

  ‘It’s hard to explain.’ He finally looked at her. ‘I lost my wife, she died.’ Again he paused. ‘It was four years ago … four years ago today … meningitis.’ He looked down at the floor and appeared to be studying his shoes. ‘She was pregnant … I lost them both.’

  Kate’s mind exploded. She’d known something was wrong, known that something had been on his mind, and it had occurred to her that Ben had lost someone, but had had no idea that it was something as huge or as life changing as this.

  ‘Oh my goodness.’ She felt awkward and searched her mind for all the platitudes she’d been given after her brother had died, but knew how useless they were.

  ‘Look, do you … do you want to go get a drink?’ she asked. It was all she could think to say. Kate found herself also looking at the floor. She was nervous of his answer and had no idea why she’d suggested it, except that she really didn’t want to go home and he didn’t look like he wanted to go home either. Besides, Ben looked as though he needed both a drink and a friend, and not for the first time that week, she needed both too.

  Kate looked up and into Ben’s eyes. They sparkled back at her, full of tears that wouldn’t fall. A gentle smile crossed his lips and gone was the anger and frustration from earlier. In its place was a tired, but peaceful expression.

  ‘Do you know what? I could murder a drink. Where would you like to go?’ Ben said as he held out an arm, indicating that she should lead the way.

  Kate thought for a moment. ‘Well, we could drive all the way into Richmond, there are great cocktail bars there, but then, we could always pop into Vino’s.’ She pointed to the wine bar next door and laughed. ‘Think it’s a bit closer, don’t you agree?’

  Chapter Eighteen

  Kate led the way into Vino’s. It was beautifully decorated in a traditional style, with the lively hustle and bustle of a town centre bar. It was still early, yet couples sat in small booths that lined one side of the room, while others stood at the bar clinking glasses as they enjoyed the end of another work
ing day. Candles flickered with a luminosity that gave the whole bar a genuine feeling of warmth. Kate led the way through the crowd. She looked back to where Ben followed; he caught her eye and smiled.

  A fair-haired waiter spotted Ben, obviously recognising him and he immediately ushered them away from the crowd and into a private booth near the back of the bar. He passed a wine list to Ben, but Ben shook his head. ‘Bottle of Rioja, please, the nice oaky one that you do,’ he said as he held an arm out to Kate. ‘Rioja, is that okay with you?’ he asked, indicating that she should take a seat. Ben stayed standing up and began emptying his pockets of his phone, keys and wallet, which were all dropped in a heap onto the table, before returning his attention to Kate, who nodded at the thought of a good wine.

  ‘So, how are you enjoying being at Parker and Son’s?’

  Before she could answer the waiter returned with a bottle and two glasses. ‘Do you want to taste the wine, sir?’ he asked.

  ‘No, I’m sure it will be fine. Thank you.’ Ben took the wine from the waiter, and checked the label.

  ‘Well,’ Kate said, answering his question. ‘On my first day I was a little scared of the boss. But now, I’m more scared of his son.’

  Ben smiled. ‘Scary, am I?’ He poured the wine and passed her a glass.

  ‘Thank you.’ She lifted her glass to tap against his, lifted it to her lips and drank a huge slurp of the wine. ‘That is so good and so very needed tonight.’ It was delicious. ‘I hope my car is safe where I’m parked, as this is too good to just have the one glass.’ She looked to Ben for reassurance. ‘I’ll get a taxi.’