Solomon's Key

by Tim Ellis

  I arrived back at the station at twelve-ten. The Chief had obviously been looking out of her window, which overlooked the rear car park, and seen me arrive.

  ‘James?’ she called, her voice echoing through the corridor. The door to the lift hadn’t even closed.

  ‘Coming Chief.’

  ‘Coffee, Chief Inspector?’

  ‘Yes please, Pat. I need something to keep me awake and numb the feelings of persecution.’

  ‘The Chief Constable is very pleased, James,’ the Chief said even before I’d taken my coat off and sat down.

  ‘He is?’ I wasn’t expecting that. I thought the whole investigation, especially last night, had been a complete disaster. ‘Why, when Paul got away, and the likelihood is that he’ll probably start killing again soon?’

  ‘I’ll make a political animal out of you yet, James. Your bravery is what everyone wants to talk about. It has deflected the press away from the killer’s escape, the business concerning Letitia Darwin, and from questions about how he could have wheedled his way into your team. Although, forensics have confirmed that the bones they found in the flat belonged to the real Paul Padgett. Daniel managed to fool everybody because nobody knew Padgett in London.’

  I was a bit lost for words, especially when I didn’t think that there had been any bravery involved, from me or anyone else in the team. Suzie was the only person who deserved a bravery award. ‘Why don’t I feel brave?’

  ‘Take the adulation whilst it’s going, James. It will be short lived you can be sure, and it will also do your career no harm. I’ve scheduled a press conference for two o’clock.’

  ‘A press conference, but...’

  ‘But nothing, James, I want you to milk the situation for all it’s worth. The Chief Constable and I are relying on you. The press will forget about the five who were murdered, and focus on your bravery in saving Miss Palton. Make sure they understand it will only be a matter of time before Daniel Connell is caught and brought to justice, and explain how he was able to infiltrate the team by murdering the real Paul Padgett’

  Pat came in with coffee and biscuits and placed it in front of me.

  ‘Thank you, Pat, you’re an angel.’

  ‘Stop flirting with my secretary, James.’

  I winked at Pat. ‘As if I would, Chief.’

  Pat must have been in her mid-forties, but she was still good looking with blonde-grey hair and a slim figure. She was married to a Leading Fireman at the local fire station, and had five children between the ages of ten and twenty.

  ‘I don’t trust you around women, James.’

  I smiled. Except the ones you select for me, I thought.

  Talking of women how is Suzie?’

  I shook my head. ‘Not good.’ I told her what had happened during my visit.

  ‘To be expected, I suppose.’

  ‘Yes. It will take time for her to get over the feelings of vulnerability, fear and guilt.’

  ‘She has nothing to feel guilty about.’

  ‘She survived, the others died. She feels guilty.’

  ‘I hope she recovers soon. I will have to go and see her later today. Oh, by the way, Doctor Andrews phoned me earlier. She said she’s very pleased with your progress. I’m glad you’re co-operating now, James.’

  If you only knew, I thought. ‘Her methods are bit unethical.’

  ‘I know it’s not PC, but my view is that people have too many rights for their own good these days.’

  No sympathy here then. Her view certainly wasn’t PC. I could just imagine the press getting hold of a juicy quote like that. Avril was one of the old school coppers when ethical questions were merely food for the philosophical debate.

  ‘I think I’ll take a few days off to consider my future if it’s all right with you, Chief?’

  She laughed. ‘Isn’t that where we started from, James? Of course you should take some leave, and let’s have no more talk of resignations. I don’t want to see you until well into January. If you don’t use up your holiday entitlement, I will have to explain it to the Chief Constable, and I’ve spoken to him enough over the last week.’

  Standing, I picked up my coat and scarf. ‘I’m going to speak to the team, clear a few things up, and then I’ll go.’

  ‘You’ll be at the Christmas party tonight though won’t you?’

  ‘Wild horses…’

  ‘Good, I have a surprise for you.’

  Chapter Eighteen

  I walked along the corridor to the incident room. Pausing outside the door, I listened – nothing. I crept in. They all seemed to be in a daze; as if the world had stopped turning and they were waiting patiently for the universe to collapse inwards.

  ‘So this is what you do when I’m not here, is it?’

  There were a few fleeting smiles, some weak, “Hello Govs,” and a grunt from Brian.

  ‘Right, come on, out with it.’

  Nobody spoke.

  ‘KP?’ She had on a grey trouser suit, and looked like a model relaxing between shoots.

  ‘We’re fed up, Sir.’

  ‘I’m not blind. Because...?’

  ‘Apart from the fact that he got away, I rang the VSO out of curiosity…’

  ‘…and Paul never phoned them,’ I finished for her.

  ‘How did you know?’

  ‘It’s fairly obvious now. There were numerous opportunities for someone else to ring, but instead we kept with the familiar. There’s a lesson to be learned there.’

  ‘She changed her flight for an earlier one to surprise her parents.’

  ‘What’s interesting is how Paul knew she arrived earlier, I guess we’ll never know now.’

  ‘We feel as though we’ve been had, Sir.’

  ‘We have, but we did save Suzie, and if you hadn’t noticed, I’m a hero.’

  ‘We’re all pleased for you, Sir.’

  ‘That is clearly evident from the pats on the back, the feelings of bonhomie I get when I look at you, and all the chocolates I’ve received. Is there any coffee going, Jane?’

  Jane pushed herself up wearily and made her way to the percolator.

  ‘I thought you didn’t do sarcasm, Sir.’

  ‘Sometimes Sergeant Preston, sarcasm is the only sane response to an insane world. Anyway, why are you all moping around here? The case is closed for now. Go home, get changed, and make yourselves beautiful for the Christmas party.’

  They laughed then, stood up and prepared to leave. Jane passed me a mug of coffee, which was lukewarm and had the consistency of mud. I put it down on Ali’s desk. ‘I’ll see you all tonight,’ I said ushering them out.

  ***

  The wolves were smiling. That was a first. I sat down. Cameras flashed, and I was sure the light from a television camera spotlight had damaged my retinas.

  ‘Jack Rodrigo, London Weekly. We’ve been unable to gain access to Miss Palton and the hospital only provides the usual noncommittal statement, but you went to see her this morning, Chief Inspector. Can you tell us how she is?’

  I could imagine Sister McFarlane on guard duty. ‘Miss Palton, as you can imagine, has been traumatised by her ordeal, but I am assured by the hospital staff, that she will make a full recovery.’

  ‘Pauline Stewart, London Gazette. Can you give us any more news on how Daniel Connell managed to infiltrate your team?’

  I wondered if the Chief had primed the Canis Lupus. They were asking exactly the right questions. ‘Forensic officers have confirmed that the skeletal remains found in his flat were those of the real DC Paul Padgett. He was transferred here from a small place in Oldham, but was killed by Daniel Connell before he could take up the post. As a result, everyone thought Daniel Connell was Paul Padgett when he reported for work.’ I didn’t think they needed to know how he’d hacked into the Met’s ultra-secure computer system and altered Paul Padgett’s personnel files and replaced the photograph with his own.

  ‘Cathy Cox, Manchester Evening News. ‘Weren’t you surprised that as a tr
ained forensic psychologist and profiler you didn’t spot any signs?’

  ‘Miss Cox, I don’t know how familiar you are with the psychopathic personality, but they are very good at hiding who they really are. So, the answer to your question is no, I wasn’t surprised. He was very resourceful and methodical in the planning and execution of his subterfuge.’

  ‘Fred Dalrymple, Weymouth Echo. ‘Are you any nearer catching Daniel Connell, Chief Inspector? And could you enlighten us as to how he managed to escape in the first place.’

  ‘I’ll answer the last question first, Mr Dalrymple. As I have already said, Daniel Connell was meticulous in his planning; his escape therefore was no surprise. And rest assured it will only be a matter of time before Daniel Connell is in custody. He won’t get far with his face all over the television and newspapers.’ Nobody seemed to grasp the thread of logic, that if Daniel Connell was so resourceful surely he would elude capture.

  ‘Emma Potter, London Herald. What does it feel like being a hero, Chief Inspector?’

  ‘The only hero arising from last night was Miss Palton.’ I stood and held up my hands. ‘Ladies and gentlemen thank you for your co-operation, but that is all I have for you. Should there be any further developments, you will be informed.’

  ‘That was a master stroke, James,’ the Chief said when I got back to my office. She had obviously watched the live briefing on the two o’clock news. ‘The press likes nothing better than a reluctant hero.’

  I smiled weakly. I was simply too tired to protest my innocence.

  I spent an hour weeding out and dealing with urgent paperwork, wrote a cheque for £2,550 to Mr Stokes and popped it into an envelope, then made my way to the High Street to do some last minute Christmas shopping before going home.

  ***

  I arrived home before Lexi had gone to bed for a change. It was five-fifteen. The evening meal bubbled in the kitchen and smelled suspiciously like beef stew and dumplings. Angie had been the worst cook since Lucretia Borgia. If there had been laws about the quality of home cooking, I would have arrested her – she’d have probably got life. Harry, on the other hand, could have won awards for her cooking.

  Lexi saw me. ‘Daddy,’ she screamed and ran to me. I picked her up and puckered my lips. She put her small hands on my cheeks and kissed me.

  ‘Should we have a different story tonight?’

  ‘NOOOO, LITTLE PRINCESS,’ she squealed. I carried her into the living room.

  ‘I smell another work of art being created in the kitchen, Harry?’

  She looked up from her only book Gone with the Wind, which she must have read over a hundred times, and said, ‘I threw some meat and vegetables in a pan before they went rotten, nothing to jump up and down about.

  It was worth jumping up and down about, and I said as much. I bathed Lexi, tickled her into her pyjamas, then read two pages of The Little Princess meets Puff the Dragon before she was fast asleep.

  I had to move fairly quickly so that I wouldn’t be late for the Christmas party. I was in and out of the shower, dressed and heading towards the door in double quick time.

  Harry had already made herself comfortable on the sofa in front of the television. The rustling of chocolate wrappers accompanied Bogart’s gravel voice.

  ‘What’s the film?’ I asked.

  ‘To Have and Have Not, 1944, Bogart and Bacall. A lovely wartime romance.’

  ‘Enjoy. I’ll be back around midnight.’

  ‘Have a good time, James. I’ll probably be in bed when you get back, I expect to be up early with Lexi tomorrow morning.’

  I nearly asked why, but then remembered it was Christmas Day tomorrow.

  ***

  The first person I saw, when I strolled into the function room at the rear of the Slug and Lettuce, in my dinner jacket was Doctor Bloody Gail standing with the Chief.

  Shit, I thought. I looked around for an escape route, but I had gone too far into the room, I was within spitting distance, too damned close to make a break for it.

  ‘James,’ the Chief said grinning like Tweedledum on coke, and signalling for me to join them.

  Unable to escape, I reluctantly made my way over. ‘Good evening, ladies’ I said in my most charming voice. ‘You both look stunningly beautiful tonight.’

  ‘He talks like a gigolo,’ the Chief said to Doctor Bloody Gail.

  ‘He certainly has a way with words,’ Doctor Bloody Gail said, looking as if butter wouldn’t melt.

  I smiled disarmingly. ‘I think I’d like to call my lawyer now, if that’s all right with the two of you.’

  ‘Very droll. I invited Dr Andrews on your behalf, James. I knew you wouldn’t think of it. You will be her escort for the evening so make the most of it.’

  My mouth opened with all the intention of objecting in the strongest possible terms, but I closed it again knowing that anything I said would be like trying to sell ice cream to an Eskimo. The Chief was matchmaking again, but what she probably didn’t realise was that even though I was strangely attracted to Doctor Bloody Gail, nothing could happen between us because of the doctor-patient-relationship.

  At least Doctor Bloody Gail looked half presentable tonight, and damned sexy if I was being honest. She wore a long purple dress – she seemed to have a thing about purple, in fact any bright colour, like a Magpie – the neckline of which plunged to her navel and showed the firm swell of her breasts; a necklace hung around her neck with matching earrings made from large multicoloured beads. Her hair had been bunched on the left side of her head with elastic attached to a purple glass flower. There were no matching spectacles, she either didn’t need them for socialising, or had put in contact lenses.

  ‘How is Miss Palton?’ I asked.

  ‘You know I can’t talk about another of my patients, James, but it is no secret that she blames you.’

  ‘Yes, I realised that myself when I visited her this morning.’

  ‘We’ll make her better and see where we go from there.’

  A waiter came up with full champagne glasses on a tray. I gave one each to the two ladies and took one myself. ‘Shall we sit down?’

  I led the way to the top table and did the honours with each chair. I had been placed between the two of them. I didn’t know who had organised the seating plan, but I vowed to make it my life’s mission to find out and then transfer them somewhere hellishly cold and windy, with no hope of ever being promoted.

  Throughout the evening, I had to be on my best behaviour. I danced, smiled, chatted and joked. In short, I played the perfect companion. I didn’t want Doctor Bloody Gail misinterpreting anything I said or did.

  During the evening, KP came over and rescued me for a dance. She looked stunning in a dark blue gown that contrasted perfectly with her blonde hair and blue eyes.

  ‘Having a good time, Sir?’

  ‘You weren’t involved in the seating plan were you?’

  She smiled. ‘It took some time, but we managed to find out who your lady friend was. You make a lovely couple.’

  ‘I was thinking earlier how I could do with a new team. The transfer window opens in January.’

  ‘That’s for football players not policemen.’

  ‘I probably wouldn’t get much for you lot anyway.’

  The dance ended. She kissed me on the cheek. ‘Enjoy your Christmas, Sir.’

  ‘And you,’ I said pulling a Christmas wrapped bottle of Chanel No5 out of my inside pocket and passing it to her.

  She looked embarrassed. ‘I didn’t get you anything.’

  ‘I know.’ Her surprise was my Christmas present.

  Terri Holmes grabbed my arm before I could sit down. ‘You don’t escape that easy, James.’

  Her words were slurred. She seemed to be slightly under the weather, but I held her up whilst we danced to a Barry White song. ‘I had no intention of escaping from the most beautiful woman in the room,’ I said. ‘Where have you been?’

  ‘You don’t mean that, do you?’ she said, sm
earing make-up onto my white shirt and the left lapel of my dinner jacket. ‘I’ve been sat at the bar watching you with that young tart.’

  My eyes creased up in confusion. The conversation was becoming slightly bizarre. ‘Terri, I think you’ve had enough to drink.’ To confirm my words, she went limp in my arms. I saw Ted Salway at a table and signalled him over.

  ‘Ted, do me a favour, can you make sure Dr Holmes gets home in one piece?’

  He scooped her up in his arms. Terri seemed to effortlessly change partners. ‘No problem, Sir, leave it to me.’ I put a hundred pounds in twenties in his top pocket. He danced her towards the exit. Relieved, I sat down.

  A car came for Doctor Bloody Gail just before midnight. I wondered what she’d turn into if she stayed. I escorted her to the front door and helped her on with her coat. She turned towards me, reached up on tiptoes and kissed me half on the cheek and half on the mouth. I had to use all my willpower to stop myself from picking her up and carrying her off to my castle.

  ‘Thank you for a lovely evening, James,’ she said and then she hurried out and was gone.

  The Chief had decided to leave as well. I said goodnight then rang for a taxi myself.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Wednesday 25th December

  I had no memory of how or why it had happened. Except for canary yellow bows in her hair and a monstrous notebook under her arm, Doctor Bloody Gail was naked as she came out of my en-suite bathroom and climbed into bed with me. Shocked, wasn’t the right word for the expression engraved on my face.

  Embarrassed, I closed my eyes. ‘Get out,’ I said hoarsely. ‘You’re just a teenager.’

  She looked at me over large flesh-coloured glasses. ‘You know you want to, James, let me in.’

  I did want to, but I forced myself to say, ‘No, I want Angie.’

  She wrapped herself around me and said, ‘You know Angie’s dead, take me instead.’