‘I wouldn’t be so sure,’ Laura said, taking control of the laptop and running a search. ‘Look here: the rest of the gang are still behind bars. I remember the case now.’ She began to read, sharing the salient points. ‘Nowakowski was the getaway driver… but was only brought along at the last minute when the original driver wasn’t able to make the heist… The original driver was being questioned in relation to something separate, but the job they were planning was time sensitive, so they proceeded with Nowakowski… The raid was on a security depot in Fareham.’ Laura paused and looked up at Kate. ‘It was a couple of months before you joined the department, ma’am. I was still in uniform back then.’
‘Explains why I don’t remember it, then. What else can you recall?’
Laura focused back on the screen. ‘They kidnapped the depot’s manager and her family, and forced her to help them gain entry… The leader escorted the manager into the building – signed in as a visiting regional manager or something, I think – while the others waited in a lorry to take delivery of the cash trolleys. Nowakowski was supposed to be waiting in a fast car in case something went wrong, but he was running late and got pulled over for speeding…’
Laura stifled a chuckle. ‘They’d hit the place on a Wednesday, oblivious to the fact that the depot was due to test its fire evacuation procedures that day. Suddenly the fire alarm sounds and the workforce spill out and gather at the muster point, which just happens to be outside the loading dock where the gang are filling the lorry.
‘The patrol car following Nowakowski has now sussed what’s going on and called for backup. Within minutes, the place is surrounded by blue lights. Nowakowski confessed everything he knew, wanting to spare himself hard prison time… According to this, he served eighteen months of a four-year stretch.’
Kate didn’t see the funny side. ‘Was anybody hurt?’
Laura composed herself before continuing. ‘No, ma’am. I think everyone involved was pretty shaken, but the gang saw sense before shooting anyone.’
‘Just because the rest of the group are inside, doesn’t mean they couldn’t arrange for someone on the outside to complete the deed. You know what modern prison is like: operations are still run, regardless of whether the leader is inside. I think our first port of call should be the front runner to see what he has to say about it.’
‘So why send you the heart? You weren’t involved in the arrest.’
‘He grassed them up, so maybe the heart is symbolic of him turning on them… I don’t know. But they wanted us to know that they’d got to him, and I guess it sends out a message to the criminal underworld: grass and you know what’ll happen to you.’
‘So, where’s the rest of him?’
‘Your guess is as good as mine: burned; buried; chucked in a river. Who knows? We may never find the rest of him if this gang were involved. We’d better brief the team. I’ll send Patel to the prison to speak with the crew.’
Ben was just returning as they were leaving, and held the door open.
‘Thanks for this, Ben,’ Kate said. ‘Can you email me what you’ve got?’
He smiled. ‘Of course. Glad I could help.’ Moving closer to her, he whispered, ‘Come to mine for dinner tonight?’
After the last two nights of worrying about Tara, nothing sounded better. ‘I’ll bring wine.’
28
‘You think she’s home?’ Laura asked, as they pulled up at the mid-terrace property.
Kate looked at the overgrown lawn beneath the windows, which were covered by mildew. ‘How would you know?’
Having briefed the team on Petr Nowakowski, Kate had chosen to bring Laura with her for support. It was hard enough breaking the news that a relative had died, but they needed to ask Nowakowski’s sister, Ana, some questions about her brother’s recent activities too.
Laura was first out of the car, darting to the door and ringing the bell, relieved to get out of the rain and under the porch cover. She was just turning to shrug at Kate in the car when the front door opened and a large woman in a pink tabard appeared. Kate watched as Laura and the woman spoke, before the door was closed and Laura hurried back to the car.
‘I take it that wasn’t Ana?’ Kate asked when Laura was back inside.
‘No. That woman owns the house, and Ana rents a room from her. The woman said Ana’s at work, in the Sainsbury’s in Portswood, just up the road.’
Kate took another look at the rundown property, before starting the engine and completing a U-turn.
*
‘Oh, I see,’ said the store manager, the blood draining from his face as they informed him why they wished to speak to Ana Nowakowski somewhere private.
‘Y-y-you must take my office,’ he offered.
‘That’s very kind,’ Kate said with an appreciative nod. ‘Would you mind bringing Ana in here? It would be more discreet if you collect her from the floor than us.’
He stood and made his way to the closed door. ‘Of course, of course, don’t want to set tongues wagging.’
Kate waited until he’d left before closing the door. ‘I’ll break the news to her, but I want you to watch her reactions as I do. Is she shocked, or does she already know; that kind of thing. Okay?’
Laura nodded, taking the store manager’s chair, allowing Kate to sit next to the remaining vacant chair where Ana would sit.
A knock at the door a moment later was followed by a frightened looking young woman entering. Ana Nowakowski couldn’t have been much older than twenty-five, a slight, gaunt frame with dark blonde, greasy hair pinned back in a ponytail. With no makeup, the skin on her face was smooth, but the supermarket uniform hung from her body.
‘Is everything okay?’ she asked, clearly sensing they were police.
‘Please take a seat, Miss Nowakowski,’ Kate encouraged.
Ana looked back at her store manager, terror in her eyes. ‘Have I done something wrong?’
He rubbed her arm. ‘No, Ana, it’s nothing like that. These detectives just need to ask you a few questions.’ He looked over to Kate. ‘I’ll make myself scarce,’ he said, closing the door behind him.
Ana stared at the door, as if trying to determine whether she should run. Was it the reaction of someone with a guilty conscience or someone with too many brushes with the law? ‘What sort of questions?’ she finally asked, looking back at Kate.
‘It’s about your brother,’ Kate said, patting the cushion of the vacant chair. ‘Please take a seat.’
‘Petr? Is he in trouble again?’
‘What makes you think that?’
Ana perched on the seat, ready to bolt for the door at the first sign of trouble. ‘Why else would you be asking about him? Once a criminal, always a criminal: that’s what you people think, isn’t it?’
‘Actually, that isn’t a view I subscribe to, despite the common level of reoffending we witness in this country.’
‘What’s he done this time, then?’
‘When was the last time you saw your brother, Miss Nowakowski?’
A dimple formed in her chin as she considered the question. ‘Two weeks ago? He was due to sail the Thursday before last and we went out for dinner the night before. If you’re looking for him, he isn’t due to dock until Thursday morning.’
Kate reached out and took the young woman’s hands in her own, surprised by how cold they felt, but forcing eye contact. ‘I wish there was an easier way for me to say this, Miss Nowakowski, but your brother Petr has passed away. I’m so sorry.’
Ana’s expression remained blank.
‘Miss Nowakowski? I really am sorry for your loss,’ Kate persevered.
Ana pulled her hands away and stood, but couldn’t move away from the chair. ‘There must be some mistake. Petr is away with work… how… he can’t…’
Kate rose to join her. ‘I appreciate this isn’t easy for you to hear.’
Ana’s eyes registered her confusion. ‘It’s not possible. You must have the wrong person. Petr Nowakowski? My brother?
He isn’t dead.’
‘I’m sorry, Miss Nowakowski, but we’ve confirmed it through a DNA match. There’s no doubt.’
A single tear escaped down Ana’s cheek, halting at the edge of her top lip, before continuing down her chin. ‘I don’t understand. How…?’
Kate took Ana’s arm and lowered her back into the chair. ‘We’re still investigating exactly what happened, but we have reason to believe that his death occurred under mysterious circumstances. You’ve said several times that you believed he was away somewhere. Can you explain where?’
Ana continued to blink, her vision focused on the wall beyond Kate. ‘He was a sous chef on board a cruise ship… they set sail on Thursday for two weeks. Did he die on the ship?’
‘We really don’t have any more information we can share at this point.’
‘Can I see him?’
It was the question Kate had been dreading. Having discussed Ben’s findings with the supe before leaving the station, they’d decided it was best not to mention the circumstances under which they had arrived at the news themselves. ‘We don’t require you to formally identify your brother, Miss Nowakowski, as the DNA test has already confirmed it.’
‘But for me, I’d like to be able to say goodbye.’
‘I will see if that’s possible at some point in the future, but right now I want to concentrate on finding out exactly what happened to your brother and how he came to die.’
Ana frowned. ‘I don’t understand… are you saying he was… murdered?’
‘We don’t know for sure, but it’s an avenue of enquiry we’re following. I appreciate this isn’t easy for you, but I’d like to ask you some questions about your brother if you’re happy for me to do so?’
‘If you think it will help.’
‘Thank you,’ Kate said. ‘If there is anything you don’t feel comfortable answering at the moment, just say, and I’ll move on. Okay?’
As Ana nodded, a second tear ran down her cheek.
‘When you last saw your brother, how did he seem within himself?’
‘He was… fine. He was telling me how this next cruise would pay well, and that when he was back we would look to see if we had enough deposit to get a place of our own to rent.’
‘He didn’t live with you, then?’
‘After his release from prison he stayed in a halfway house, but then he got the job with the cruise company and spent a lot of time on the sea. But I think he was growing bored with the job. He was really keen to lay some roots, I think.’
‘You were close, then?’
‘He’s my only family. After our parents died, he looked after me.’
‘How long ago did they pass away?’
‘Twenty years ago this year.’
‘So, you would have been—’
‘I was five and Petr was eight. We went from one foster family to another, but he was always there, watching out for me, making sure nobody took advantage, and ensuring I always ate. I owe him my life.’
‘He sounds like a great brother to have.’
‘He was, and apart from that stupid robbery, we never fell out.’
‘Do you know if he had any contact with the gang after his release from prison?’
‘Are you kidding? He wanted nothing to do with them. He knew he never should have agreed to help that day, but he was desperate for money and it seemed so easy. He regretted that decision every day. So, when he was released from prison he swore he would never allow himself to get into that situation again.’
‘Did your brother have any enemies that you know of, or had he received any threats he told you about?’
‘No. None. That gang he helped put away swore they would get revenge, but he… oh God, is that what happened? Did they get to him?’
‘We’re investigating all possibilities at this time. So far there is nothing to directly implicate any of his old crew in what happened. But we will look into the possibility.’ Kate paused, keen to avoid saying too much. ‘Can I ask you to write down your brother’s address, and the name of the cruise liner he worked for?’
Ana nodded, and took the pad of paper and pen that Laura offered.
‘Is there anyone else you’d like us to inform?’ Kate asked when Ana had finished.
‘No, it was just the two of us. Will you let me know when I can sort out funeral arrangements, and anything else I need to do?’
It was never easy breaking this sort of news, but Kate felt for this young woman. In losing her brother, her whole world had been turned upside down. ‘I’ll be in touch,’ Kate assured her, handing her a business card. ‘This has my mobile number on it. You can call at any time if you remember anything else, you have any questions, or if you just need someone to talk to. Would you like me to tell your boss that you should go home for the rest of the day?’
‘No, please don’t. I’d rather finish my shift; I don’t want to be alone.’
Kate watched her leave the office, captivated by Ana’s resolve against such adversity. And in that moment, Kate made a silent promise that she would bring Petr’s killer to justice.
29
Kate stuck Petr Nowakowski’s mugshot on a clean board, writing his name in thick black letters beneath it. ‘Here’s what we know so far: he told his sister he was about to come into a small windfall, enough to put down a deposit on a flat for them to rent. But where was the money coming from? He had form for armed robbery – his sister swears blind he’d turned his back on crime – but I want one of you to follow up on it. Check his room for any sign of planned activity; has he been scoping any areas out for a smash and grab job?’
Freeborn raised his bony arm into the air. ‘I’ll take that, ma’am. I’ll ask my contacts on the streets too, see who’s planning what.’
‘Thanks, Ewan. Next, Ana said he was working for a cruise company as a sous chef. I can’t see that a company dealing with such a wealthy clientele would hire a former thief as a chef, but we need to make contact with them to be sure. Ana’s provided the address. If he was employed, find out why he wasn’t on board the ship like he’d told his sister. That brings us on to the box the heart was in: who sent it? And why?’
‘No usable security footage of our suspect at the depot,’ Freeborn said glumly. ‘And no sign of him at Bitterne train station either, or on any buses that stopped there or nearby in the time around when the box was left on Saturday. It’s like he appeared out of nowhere, left the item, and then vanished like a ghost.’
‘We can’t give up on this, Ewan. That depot is our only confirmed sighting. Go back to the depot, check every business and residence nearby for additional security cameras. Someone, somewhere must have picked him up. We need to know what he looks like so we can narrow our search.’
Freeborn knew she was right, and nodded to hide his embarrassment for not already having made those calls.
‘Where are we with the air fresheners? Any prints?’
Rogers raised her hand into the air. ‘SSD said no. The ink used to write the message to you is the same as you would find in any dry wipe board marker, commonly found in schools, offices and,’ she nodded towards the board, ‘police stations. No prints on the air fresheners in the gymnasium either. In fact, no discernible prints have been found in the gymnasium. There are smears on the walls where the technicians believe his hands may have brushed, but they believe our suspect was wearing gloves. All they can confirm is that the air fresheners at the gym are the same brand as those in the box.’
Kate sighed. A foot from a female victim left at the school, and a heart belonging to a male victim sent in a box. The air fresheners suggested a connection between the crimes, but little to steer them towards identifying their suspect. ‘What about stray hairs? Anything?’
‘They’re still processing the scene, ma’am.’
‘What about the box and gift wrap?’
‘The box was the sort used to store paper for printers and the like. This particular brand is quite common, available wholesale to l
ocal authorities and businesses.’
‘And schools?’ Kate asked.
Vicky nodded. ‘I checked and St Bartholomew’s currently has ten boxes of the stuff in storage. It’s possible our suspect collected the box from there, though we may never be able to prove it for certain.’
‘Where are we with chasing down Ismael Vardan?’
‘Vardan was at the school this morning,’ PC Barnes interjected. ‘Family wedding in Leicester, which is why he was away at the weekend. Spoke to his sister on the phone and she confirmed he was there.’
‘What did he have to say about Friday night’s discovery?’
‘I was at the school when he arrived. He hadn’t even got the message that the school would be closed until further notice. Took the opportunity to question him about his movements on Thursday and Friday. Interestingly, he didn’t have any classes between midday and three on Thursday, and when I asked where he was and what he was doing, he said he was reading alone in his classroom. I asked if anyone could verify that, but he said he couldn’t be sure. He said it’s possible someone could have come past and seen him working inside, but nobody stopped to say hello.’
‘You believe him?’
‘I think it would be hard to disprove. I can reach out to the rest of the faculty and ask if anyone saw him during those times, but that will mean revealing to the rest that he’s a suspect.’
‘Why was he in his classroom and not the staff room?’
‘I asked him about that,’ Barnes said, ‘and he told me it’s quieter in the classroom. He says he doesn’t have too many friends in the school and prefers the solitude of the classroom.’
‘We know that TUTD Surveyors had vacated the sports hall by that time, so it’s possible he could have been in the sports hall all that time.’
‘Doesn’t explain how he got the victim in there, though, ma’am. Plus, why do it on school property, unless he wants to get caught?’
Kate fixed Laura with a hopeful look. ‘Any news on the photocopy engineer?’
‘Chris Jackson was called out to the school on Thursday morning to fix the machine in the administration office, which he did, by all accounts, leaving just before midday. But when I asked the administrators why Jackson had been called back on Friday, they said he hadn’t.’
Cold Heart: Absolutely gripping serial-killer fiction Page 14