Jane felt a bit better when she was in the car and driving home. She was looking forward to seeing Andy, even though she’d spoken to him on the phone two or three times each day and again in the evening. She’d been worried about him, but he said that his knee was less swollen, and that the pain was much reduced as well. Given his usually mild but consistent hypochondria, which she put down to a surfeit of imagination as much as to a deficit of optimism, that was a good sign.
She called him from the car, told him that she’d be late, and said she hoped that tea wouldn’t be ruined. He told her not to worry, and that he’d order an Indian take-away from their favourite place, if she’d just collect it on the way home. He didn’t ask what she wanted, because he knew her favourites, including side dishes.
Jane was tired by the time she got home, and she hurried into the house with the carrier bag of food. The smell had her salivating now, but she knew she’d be driving with the window down in the morning. Andy was obviously delighted to see her, and he’d gone to a lot of trouble, considering that he hadn’t actually cooked anything. There were fresh spring flowers in the vase, and her favourite wine in the cooler. They both ate fast, and hungrily. When they’d finished she reached across the table and took his hand.
‘Have you missed me?’
‘Of course I have. I couldn’t wait for you to come home.’
Jane looked surprised.
‘Really? And have you been thinking about what we discussed?’
‘Of course.’
‘Be honest, Andy. Which have you thought about most, the case or a baby?’
‘A hypothetical baby.’
Jane withdrew her hand.
‘How do you mean, hypothetical?’
‘Sorry, that wasn’t a good choice of words. I mean we couldn’t be sure that we could have one, even if we wanted to.’
‘You mean we don’t know if I could? You’ve already got two kids.’
‘Yes, but I’m not as young as I was. I’m just saying that it might be tricky, that’s all.’
‘Don’t you think I don’t know that? I’ve done nothing but read the papers on human fertility for weeks. I could tell you to the percentage point what our chances are, Andy. They’re not great, I admit, but it’s not impossible.’
‘I’d be the better part of seventy before the kid was Alice’s age now.’
‘I know. So what? Do you think that would make you a worse parent?’
Hall took a cautious sip of wine.
‘No, actually I don’t. In another couple of years I could retire, and they’ll probably pension me off anyway, what with the way things are. So I could take responsibility for childcare.’
Jane laughed, and only partly out of relief.
‘You, at a mother and toddler’s group? I can’t see it, I’m afraid.’
‘All right, maybe not that. But what I’m saying is that you’d have to be the main bread-winner, Jane. Go for promotion, all that. Realistically we’d need the money, and I can’t see the cuts easing back anytime soon. I don’t want to make this an economic decision, but in a way it would be.’
‘I understand, Andy, I do. Your ex will get part of your pension, and you’ve still got the girls to fund through university, I get all that. But this is our only chance. We can’t wait until we can afford it. It’s now or never.’
‘I agree. Let’s do it. You’d be a fantastic mum, and you deserve this chance. Of course you do. I’m just a bit worried that you’ll be really disappointed if nothing happens.’
Jane smiled.
‘Don’t worry, Andy. Until a few months ago I’d stopped thinking about ever having a child. I’d come to terms with it if we can’t, honestly I would. And I’m happy the way we are, I promise. But I’d just like to have the chance, that’s all I’m asking.’
‘That’s settled then.’ Hall smiled. ‘When would you like to start?’
‘There’s no time like the present.’
‘But what about my knee?’
‘You don’t have to jump off the bloody wardrobe. And you know what they say, don’t you?’
‘No, what?’
‘Where there’s a will there’s a way.’
Friday, 25th April
With the passenger seat right back Hall was able to get comfortable in his car, and Jane drove as smoothly as she could. And, as they usually did when they were on the way to work, they talked about the case.
‘So what have we missed then, Andy?’
‘Nothing. You’ve done exactly what I’d have done. I’ve only got two concerns, really.’
‘Go on.’
‘First, can we rely on the work of all the other coppers on the team? The locals, I mean.’
‘Because of what Ian said to Smith and Hodgson before the assault and the theft of Baker’s gear?’
‘Partly, yes. But if we assume that there is some kind of gang connection to Chris Brown’s death, then we have to be aware of that possibility. Long-standing criminal enterprises like those two gangs survive and thrive for various reasons, but we both know that police corruption is often a factor. Maybe more often than the stats suggest, in fact. Sophisticated criminals don’t just rely on violence and intimidation, and if you’re right about Matt Hayton being well-briefed on managing his electronic trail then we have to assume that the Hayton organisation is genuinely sophisticated.’
‘Point taken, Andy. And I agree with all of that. But riddle me this. Why would anyone want to kill Chris Brown? Are we missing something? Should we look at him all over again? I’m beginning to doubt my own judgement, to tell you the truth.’
‘No, absolutely not. It’s not just your judgement you’re backing, it’s the evidence. So when we attend that funeral today it will be to show our commitment to, and respect for, an entirely innocent victim of a horrendous crime. I’m completely convinced about that. I’ve gone over every aspect of his background three or four times, and there’s just nothing to suggest any form of gang association. Just the opposite in fact. Everything points to this being a young lad just making his way in the world in a completely honest way. A credit to his parents, in fact. But you tell if I’m wrong.’
‘I agree completely. But that doesn’t help explain why he died.’
‘Maybe it does, in a way.’
Jane frowned, and looked across at Hall. His taste for a good paradox could become irritating, but today he’d be getting the benefit of the doubt.
‘How do you mean?’
‘Well, if we assume that he was completely innocent, and had no gang connection, but that he was indeed killed by a gang member, most probably Matt Hayton, then where does that take us?’
Jane thought about it. And then she saw what Hall was getting at.
‘You’re saying mistaken identity? Is that it?’
‘It does fit the facts. And I’ve compared the clothes that Chris Brown was wearing with those that Tony Gambles had on. They’re very similar, Jane, and it was virtually pitch dark, especially in the scrum.’
‘They’re the same size and build too, aren’t they?’
‘Pretty much. Gambles is a few years older, but there’s not that much in it really. Not between friends, I mean.’
Jane smiled, and drove on in silence for a mile or two. They still had plenty of time, because she’d only just reached the A66.
‘All right, Andy, so let’s examine that idea. Were Chris and Gambles really the only two blokes of roughly the same size and build wearing similar clothes that night?’
‘I asked my self the same question, and I’ve been through that video dozens of times. Sure, there are other lads wearing very dark hoodies over blue jeans, but none are as tall and slim as Gambles and Chris.’
‘So, to put it another way, you’d say that the person in the scrum that night who most closely resembled Chris Brown was Tony Gambles.’
‘Exactly. Exactly.’ Hall almost shouted, and Jane wasn’t used to him raising his voice. ‘That’s exactly the right question to a
sk, if we assume that Chris’s death was actually a case of mistaken identity. You’d have to get my conclusions checked though, by the analysis team. I could be wrong.’
Jane smiled.
‘That’s not very likely, is it? But, as you always say, knowing isn’t the same as proving. You’ve come up with a theory that does fit the facts, and I’m seriously grateful for that, but in evidential terms we’re no further forward.’
‘Granted. That’s true, and like I said I don’t think you’ve missed anything so far. I really don’t. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t evidence to find, does it?’
‘So keep going as we are? But what happens if we don’t get anywhere with Matt Hayton? What else have we got?’
‘Don’t rush your fences. You know the method, Jane. Just keep pursuing any active line until it’s either proved useful or not. Don’t pre-judge the outcome, whatever you do. And you’ve always got that burglary to fall back on, remember.’
‘It might be unconnected.’
‘It might, but we both know better than that. So where’s the car? The one that the burglars used.’
‘It’s probably been torched long since. But we’re trying to find out where it went afterwards, after it left the vicinity of the hotel.’
‘Good, and if I were you I’d try to find out where it came from as well. Earlier that evening, before the robbery.’
Jane banged her hand on the steering wheel in frustration.
‘Sorry, Andy. Shit, yes, I should have thought of that. You’re looking for a connection back to George Hayton?’
‘Ideally, yes. Because we shouldn’t ignore the possibility that this is going to turn into a conspiracy to murder case. If we can’t pin the killing on Matt Hayton himself then maybe we can build something bigger, and take him and a few of his mates down too. In some ways that’d actually be a better outcome. If you close your ears for a minute I’ll call the ACC Crime for her daily update, and I’ll tell her that we now have both a working hypothesis to explain Chris Brown’s killing, and try to tantalise her with the organised crime angle.’
Jane laughed.
‘I can’t imagine Val Gorham being tantalised. Andy.’
‘That’s a bit harsh. I’m almost sure that there’s a beating human heart, somewhere underneath all that starch.’
Jane laughed, and put her foot down to get past a caravan. Andy was surprised that his old car could actually still accelerate that hard. He decided that he’d have to try it sometime, and to hell with the fuel consumption.
The team meeting was a solemn and subdued affair. The funeral was only an hour away, and everyone knew it. DCI Hall simply introduced himself to the team, complimented them on their work to date, and handed back to Jane. She didn’t talk for long either.
‘Myself and DCI Hall will be leaving for the funeral shortly, along with DI Smith of course. You all know what needs to be done, and you all know why we’re doing it. There is absolutely nothing to suggest that Chris was involved in any form of illegal activity whatsoever, and DCI Hall has suggested that the close similarities between the clothing and appearance of Chris and Tony Gambles might suggest that Gambles was the intended target for the attack.’ Jane waited for the inevitable mumbling to subside. She saw quite a few nods, and that Waters had his hand raised. ‘Yes, Ron?’
‘So the ACC is happy that this wasn’t an accident?’
‘Absolutely’ said Hall, before Jane could reply. ‘The category of this killing has not changed. And please don’t worry about the ACC Crime, everyone. Just concentrate on the tasks assigned to you. Jane, back to you.’
Jane nodded, and tried not to smile. Waters had been asking for a put-down, and in her experience no-one did them quite as effectively, or as quietly, as DCI Hall.
‘So let’s get to it, everyone. Where did that stolen car used in the burglary get to? And I’ve already mentioned this question to Jenny, where did it come from on Tuesday evening? Where had it been since it was nicked, I mean. Let’s connect it to the killing, or eliminate it. Quick as we can, please. And let’s really firm-up what we know about Matt Hayton. What’s his timeline for the day of the murder, and can we connect him to this death in any way at all?’
DI Smith drove Hall and Jane to the crematorium. It was a lovely, sunny morning, and that just made it even more depressing. They were five minutes early, so they sat in the car and waited for the previous funeral party to leave.
‘You know this sends a message, sir?’ said Smith, eventually.
‘Andy, please. And yes, every decision that we take has a meaning, and consequences. So what message do you think us all being here sends?’
‘That we’re watching the family. That we think the lad was at it, somehow.’
‘I hope not, Jimmy. I’ve talked to family liaison a number of times over the last few days, and yesterday I made sure that the Browns know exactly where we stand.’
‘I see. So where’s that, then? Exactly, like.’
‘It’s very simple. We’re certain that their son was in no way involved with any gang or criminality of any kind, and that we do regard his death as suspicious.’
‘But what if it turns out to be an accident? Like I keep saying, it’s a dangerous game, and folk do die playing it. It’s happened before, and I’ve no doubt that it will happen again.’
Hall straightened his leg and grimaced.
‘Listen, Jimmy, here’s how it is. Do I know for certain that Chris Brown was deliberately attacked? No, I don’t. But we certainly do know, by your own admission, that violence was always intended to occur that night. We also know that Chris Brown resembled Terry Gambles, who may well have been a target for an attack. Finally, we’ve got the mugging of our video man, Baker, and the burglary of his hotel room.’
‘That might be unconnected.’
‘Which one?’
‘Sorry, you’ve lost me, Andy.’
‘Which one might be unconnected? The mugging or the burglary? We know that different people were involved in each offence, so are you saying that Baker was just very, very unlucky? Personally, I doubt it. Because do you know how many other muggings occurred on Tuesday night, and into Wednesday morning, on this division’s patch?’
Smith shook his head.
‘Zero. Not a one. Same goes for other hotel rooms being broken into. So that gives us a conspiracy, doesn’t it? We’ve got a minimum of three individuals, acting in concert. And given that we have a clear connection from Baker and his filming to the death of Chris Brown we’ve got ample reason to proceed with a murder investigation as well, and for the foreseeable future too.’
‘I see.’
‘It’s ironic really, because whoever it was who brought Baker and his filming to George Hayton’s attention is probably responsible for our ongoing interest, and for me being as certain as I can be that we’re looking at foul play here.’
There was silence in the car for a long moment.
‘Aye, that is ironic’ said Smith, eventually.
The funeral passed as funerals do, with every person who wasn’t sitting in the front pews thinking about when it would be their turn. Who would turn up? Who would really miss them? Hall spoke briefly to the Browns at the end of the service, leaning on his left crutch so that he could free his right hand to shake theirs.
‘Will you come back to the house?’ asked Mrs. Brown, and Hall accepted immediately. He would have preferred to get back to the station, but it looked as if it was what she wanted.
Smith followed the family liaison officer’s car back to the Brown’s house, and the officers stood uncomfortably in a group in the living room, quite near the door. After a few minutes Hall’s knee started to hurt, and Jane borrowed a chair from the dining room for him to use. Smith turned away and spoke to a couple of mourners, but only for a few seconds each time. Hall was becoming increasingly frustrated, because he couldn’t see who was in the room.
He was just about to suggest that it was time to go when Smith turned
, spoke to someone, and then brought him into the circle. Instinctively Hall got up to shake hands, and it was a moment before he recognised who it was. The photo he’d seen was a few years old, and the man had looked a good deal less smart in his mug shot.
‘DCI Hall, DS Francis, this is George Hayton.’
They shook hands.
‘You knew Chris?’ asked Hall.
‘By sight, aye.’
‘And the family?’
‘Much the same. Old Workington family, are the Browns. Been here as long as the Haytons, I dare say.’
‘So you came to pay your respects?’
‘I did, aye. Respect is important, and I like folk to know I care. You know who I am, Mr. Hall?’
‘I know what’s in the file.’
‘And what’s that then?’
‘This isn’t the time or place. But I’ll be at Workington police station all day. Feel free to drop in and see me.’
‘I might just do that.’ Another man, much younger than Hayton, appeared at his side.
‘We should be going.’
‘Just a minute, Lee. I’m having a chat with DCI Hall here, and his lovely assistant, of course.’
Hayton introduced Lee Bell. He didn’t offer to shake hands.
‘I was just saying that the Browns are an old family, like the Haytons. Been here for ever, like.’
‘Aye’ said Bell, sounding as if he had heard it all before. But Hayton hadn’t finished.
‘Of course just being here for generations that doesn’t mean a thing, not in itself, like. No offence to the Browns, but they’ve never made much of an impact on the town.’
‘And the Haytons have?’ said Hall. ‘Made an impact, I mean?’
Hayton smiled. It was every bit as warm as the one that Hall got from his dentist before he sat in the chair.
‘Oh, aye, we have. At least, we are making an impact now. This is my community, and I do a sight more to look after it than you lot do. Shall I tell you something that might surprise you?’
Hail and Farewell (The Lakeland Murders) Page 11