BURIED ON THE FENS a gripping crime thriller full of twists

by Joy Ellis

  ‘That is Zena, with Maddie.’

  The photo, taken in the harsh glare of a flash, was bleached but clear enough for Nikki to make out the smiling faces. It showed several women at a bar, drinks in hand.

  ‘Where was this taken, Spooks?’

  ‘The Briar. It was someone’s birthday, I think.’

  ‘Anna’s,’ added Bliss.

  Nikki looked at the woman beside Madeline Prospero. Zena Paris was indeed no hard-faced battle-axe. She was stunningly and delicately beautiful.

  Bliss looked over Nikki’s shoulder. ‘Zena must be in her forties. She’s about your height and slender, with an incredible figure, and rich, chestnut hair that almost reaches her waist. She often wears it swept up, like in the photo.’

  ‘Enough! I’m starting to get jealous!’ Spooky assumed a fierce expression.

  ‘Well, you have to admit . . .’

  Spooky stuck her nose in the air. ‘Me? I’ve hardly noticed her!’ She gave a lascivious grin. ‘Except those eyes! You forgot them. Dark and mysterious, like liquid pools—’

  ‘Touché!’

  Bliss aimed a cushion at Spooky. ‘Hey! Assault! Inspector, you witnessed that!’

  ‘Were Maddie and Zena an item?’ Nikki was still looking at the picture.

  ‘No,’ said Bliss, ‘but they go way back. We don’t really know the history, but they are — were — good friends.’

  ‘If they were such good buddies, I wonder why Zena’s name never came up on our list of Madeline’s contacts?’

  ‘Like we said, Maddie was very clever at keeping her private life under wraps.’

  Nikki gave a wry smile. ‘I could have done with her on my team. She would have made a good detective.’ She paged through the album. ‘And these women? I recognise Dr Sylvia Caulfield and the two with her, and that one is a local solicitor, but who are these two?’

  Bliss looked over the page. ‘Ah, that one is Charlene Crawford, she works at the Greenborough Hospital, and that one is Maria Lawson, the opera singer.’

  ‘Oh yes, I recognise her now.’

  A muffled ringing emanated from her handbag and she pulled her phone out. It was the station.

  ‘This had better be good . . .’ Nikki listened. ‘Joseph?’

  ‘Nikki, there’s been another killing. Can you talk right now?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Then can you ring me back?’

  ‘Give me five, okay?’

  ‘Use my mobile number,’ said Joseph.

  ‘Affirmative, and thanks. I appreciate your call.’ She turned to her friends. ‘Well, that’s police work for you! Gotta go. Seems they just can’t cope without me.’

  Spooky went to find her coat. Frowning, Bliss looked at Nikki. ‘Something serious?’

  Nikki smiled awkwardly. ‘I don’t know, I hope not.’

  She thanked them and put on her jacket. ‘All the very best for tomorrow’s interview. Come and see me afterwards, promise?’

  Spooky nodded.

  Nikki stopped in the doorway. ‘And don’t forget about the candle in the window. It honestly wasn’t such a rubbish idea.’

  Nikki raced to her car and rang Joseph.

  ‘She’s not actually on your friend Spooky’s list, Nikki, but she is related to someone who is. Rather worrying, wouldn’t you say?’

  ‘Who is she?’

  ‘Louise Lawson, the daughter of Maria Lawson, the opera singer. Maria just happens to be number seven on the Briar Patch membership list.’

  ‘Jesus Christ! I’ve just been looking at a photo of her. Are you in the CID room, Joseph?’

  ‘Yes, I came back because I’d forgotten something, and the balloon went up while I was here. I rang you straight away.’

  ‘I’ll be there in five.’

  * * *

  Nikki made it in four.

  ‘Where? When?’

  Joseph looked pale. ‘The kid lived in a flat in Tennyson Street with a couple of other students. One of her flatmates found her a couple of hours ago.’

  ‘Same method?’

  There was a fraction of a second’s delay before he replied. ‘Not exactly. Prof Wilkinson is already on site and he reckons she was stunned, then tied up and her main arteries severed.’ Joseph took a deep shaky breath. ‘DI Mercer took the shout. She said it was worse than a slaughterhouse, Nikki. Reckoned it was a total bloodbath. The friend who found her is in Greenborough Hospital, poor kid. She just flipped.’

  ‘And the mother, Maria? Has anyone spoken to her?’

  ‘Not yet. She was singing at a charity concert. Gill Mercer said that she’s travelling back from Yorkshire as we speak. They haven’t tried to contact her, they couldn’t give her that kind of news while she’s driving.’ Joseph flopped down into a chair. ‘Nikki, I haven’t told DI Mercer that there is a connection to the Madeline Prospero case. Considering what the super said, I didn’t know what you wanted to do about it.’

  Nikki wasn’t too sure either. She sat down opposite him. ‘I was at Spooky’s when you rang. She and Bliss have had a rethink about the Briar Patch women, and why they are anxious.’ She told Joseph what they had said.

  He looked thoughtful. ‘Do you think they might have a point?’

  ‘I do. They probably all think the attack on Madeline was homophobic. And maybe it was. We need to talk to Gill Mercer, but I’m not sure how much to tell her.’ Nikki sighed.

  ‘She’s over at the Lawsons’ place right now,’ said Joseph. ‘Maria’s husband was away too, giving a lecture or something, but he’s back now and Gill’s gone to see him.’

  ‘At least Gill doesn’t know about the Briar Patch connection, so she can’t put her foot in it.’ Nikki shrugged off her jacket.

  Joseph watched her. ‘So, if Gill has people already out there, there is not much we can do until the morning, I guess?’

  ‘I’ll have to take it to Greg Woodhall first thing. He’ll know the best way to tackle this,’ she answered.

  Then she stared at Joseph and blurted out, ‘I’m so sorry. I was hateful earlier. I don’t know what I was thinking. Forgive me?’

  ‘Oh, it’s not your fault, Nikki. I’ve been totally neglecting you. It’s my fault entirely.’ Joseph lowered his head and shook it. ‘Everything is getting on top of me. I’m just not coping with things as I should.’

  ‘Tell me.’ Nikki took his hand and gave a small smile. ‘You can even include red 4x4s parked at your place in the middle of the night.’

  ‘Oh Lord.’ Joseph looked down at his hands. ‘She just turned up. I didn’t know what to do. She was sobbing her heart out. She’s so screwed up about her job, and Gavin, that bastard of a boyfriend.’

  ‘Has she actually lost her job?’

  ‘Let’s say that since she took that drug company to court, her services are no longer in demand.’ Joseph pulled a face. ‘Her employers haven’t actually sacked her. They still have to pay her something, because it would look bad if they ditched her because she told the truth, but it’s nothing like what she should be earning.’

  ‘And the gorgeous Gavin?’

  Joseph looked up. ‘He had wanted her to refuse the case right from the start. He saw which way the wind was blowing, and told her she would be committing professional suicide.’

  ‘Which she did.’

  He nodded. ‘Yes, but at least she was true to her beliefs. She acted in good faith, and she can sleep at night.’

  ‘Alone.’

  ‘Gavin liked the good life that her income provided. He was all sweetness and light until the money dried up, then he emptied their joint account and buggered off.’

  ‘Ouch!’

  ‘Precisely. I’m not sure which of the two disasters has affected Laura most. I suspect its Gavin’s duplicity.’

  Nikki nodded. ‘I’m not surprised. It’s always the personal stuff that really hurts. I guess when she stood up to Big Pharma she knew what she was going to get, but it must have been a complete shock when Gavin turned out to be a total arsehole.
’

  ‘I think you are right.’ Joseph rubbed his hands together as if he were cold. ‘She was really out of control last night, Nikki. I’m surprised you didn’t hear her screaming. I’ve never seen her like that before.’

  Nikki thought about it. ‘Yes, you always described her as level-headed, sensible and caring, especially where Tamsin was concerned.’

  Joseph looked pained. ‘She was. She was all that. She had a lot to contend with when I was in Special Forces, but she took it on the chin. And the way she has studied and become such a powerful figure in her field has been amazing. She had an important position in the WHO until this expert witness thing blew up in her face.’

  ‘I’m sure she’ll bounce back, once her hurt over Gavin has eased a bit. Does she have any plans?’ Nikki looked at him.

  ‘As I said, she’s a mess at the moment. I don’t think she’s got it in her to plan anything.’ Joseph puffed out his cheeks. ‘And I seem to be the only one she’s got to off-load on. She keeps ringing me, wanting me to meet her, and now she’s turning up at Knot Cottage. I don’t know what to do for the best.’

  Nikki had never seen him look so miserable. So this was why he had been so tired and preoccupied.

  ‘Last night I finished up giving her a couple of large brandies and sticking her in the spare room for the night. I heard her get up around three. I thought she was going to the bathroom, but then I heard her car pull away.’ He shrugged. ‘She was well over the limit, but I checked with uniform and there were no drunk drivers pulled at that time last night. I suppose that’s something to be grateful for.’

  ‘She’s not your responsibility, Joseph,’ Nikki said gently.

  ‘I know, but I can’t just ignore her.’

  ‘Tamsin is back tonight, isn’t she? Won’t that take the heat off a little?’

  ‘The kid has just got married, Nik, she’s on Cloud Nine. I can’t dump all this on her doorstep. Maybe I just need to give Laura a bit of time. Grief and hurt do turn to anger, don’t they? If she becomes seriously pissed off at Gavin, then she should regain some of her old toughness.’

  Nikki had a niggling suspicion that the lovely Laura might just be playing games with Joseph. ‘Let’s hope.’ She squeezed his hand. ‘And I was a great help, wasn’t I? Behaving like a spotty adolescent. What a prat!’ She gave him an apologetic grin. ‘I’m over that now, so is there anything I can do?’

  ‘Just be patient and help me to see this through? She’ll be off again as soon as she’s come out of this “everything’s against me” phase.’

  She bloody well better, and sooner rather than later. Nikki smiled. ‘Just keep talking to me, Joseph, I can handle anything then. It’s the not knowing what’s happening that gives you the heebie-jeebies.’

  ‘I will. I promise.’

  ‘So let’s go home, shall we? I suspect tomorrow is going to be a very long day.’ And Laura might have to find another shoulder to cry on, because I’m going to keep you working your arse off!

  * * *

  Despite the late hour, a number of people were still making their way across the town bridge.

  It was cold and dark, and collars were turned up against the biting wind. Most scurried along, anxious to get out of the cold, but there was one who hung back. The lone figure stopped, leant over the handrail and stared down into the deep tidal waters below.

  What had happened? It had never been like this before. The euphoria of that first kill had gone. Tonight’s slaughter had been a complete shambles. Nothing had gone the way it should. But worst of all was the emptiness. There had been no satisfaction, none at all. There should be elation right now, not misery. Misery, frustration and anger, that was all. But, oh, so much anger!

  CHAPTER NINE

  Superintendent Greg Woodhall sat staring at his desk. Looking at him, Nikki guessed she wasn’t the only one who had no idea how to proceed.

  Greg coughed. ‘Naturally there should be no withholding of information between departments. DI Mercer cannot be expected to conduct an enquiry if her own colleagues are keeping evidence from her.’ He inhaled. ‘But the murder last night, that is closely connected to another name from your list has complicated matters.’ He looked very grave. ‘This stays between you and me, you understand. I’m afraid there is a high-ranking officer, currently investigating a suspected case of corruption, who it appears is a member of this society.’

  ‘Bloody hell!’ Nikki pulled a face. ‘And is she also keeping her sexuality hidden?’

  ‘She is divorced, with two sons. She has an unblemished record and her lifestyle has always been heterosexual in all respects.’

  Nikki bit on her thumbnail. ‘We should talk to her.’

  ‘We will. Or rather I will. But until we have had a chance to speak to the members individually, the fewer people who know about this club, the less chance there is of causing some kind of witch-hunt. We certainly can’t provoke a bloody media fest.’

  ‘Sir? What if I take Gill aside, give her the facts, and ask her to keep it to herself until we fathom out how the hell to play this? I know she’s stretched to the limit right now, but as you say, we can’t keep what we know from a colleague, especially when she’s working the same case.’

  He gave her a tired smile. ‘My thoughts precisely. Ask her to keep on with the Louise Lawson investigation exactly as she would normally, but liaise with you all along the way, okay?’

  ‘Understood. I’ll go talk to her right away.’

  ‘Oh, and Nikki? We have another small problem.’ Greg frowned. ‘Part of the CID room needs to be closed off for a week or so. Maintenance has detected a leak behind the wall cladding that’s threatening the electrics, so the partitioning needs to be stripped out. I’m told the room will still be usable, but I suggest that your team relocate to the old mess room. It’s big enough, and you’ll be out of the way down there.’

  Nikki snorted. ‘Well out of the way! Has it even got electricity?’

  ‘It’ll be much better, Nikki, really. Especially as your other investigation is an old crime.’

  Nikki thought about it. ‘You’re right, sir. We could conduct an orgy down there and no one would know. I’ll go see Gill and then I’ll get the team to start moving house.’

  ‘Nikki?’ Greg called her back. ‘I’m beginning to see what you meant about the homophobia. Earlier this morning I overheard several officers having a private laugh about ‘lezzies’ and dykes, and their tone was far from complimentary. I think I must have had my head in the sand recently.’

  ‘Not everyone, as I said, is as accepting as you, sir. I could, but I won’t, give you the names of two of our very finest officers, and both keep their sexuality a closely guarded secret. And very few have the courage, self-confidence, and downright balls of Rory Wilkinson, do they?’

  Greg grinned. ‘Very true, Nikki, but I’m not sure I could cope with a station full of Rorys!’

  * * *

  Nikki found DI Gill Mercer alone in her office and it only took a few minutes to explain the state of affairs. As she hoped, Gill understood the situation immediately and they promised to be open with each other.

  Nikki marched back to her team and explained about the move. Then she grabbed Joseph and they ran down the stairs to inspect their new basement home.

  ‘Well, it’s not luxurious but the old place does have space.’ Joseph shrugged. ‘Why not? I’ll go tell the guys and girls to gird up their loins.’

  He disappeared and Nikki was left alone in the disused mess room. It had only one small window and the door led out to the bottom of the fire escape, but the long fluorescent lights were bright enough. It would do very well, and they would have more privacy than in the big main office or the swanky Serious Crimes murder room.

  In no time, Joseph, Cat, Dave, and their new addition, Ben Radley, had arrived with brooms, cleaning materials and refuse sacks. Nikki watched Joseph. He seemed much more enthusiastic today.

  By eleven o’clock they had three working computers
and three telephones. One wall held a large pinboard, already scattered with sheets of white A4 paper with names and dates on them. In pride of place, on a well-scrubbed Formica table stood a small stainless steel coffee machine. Cat refused to tell anyone where she had got it from. She then produced a set of china mugs, fresh coffee, sugar and an unopened box of UHT milks and creamers.

  Nikki turned her attention to the Gordon Hammond case. Yvonne Collins was the source of most of their information, and there was more than enough to keep the whole team occupied for some time. Madeline Prospero had to take precedence, Nikki knew, but the memory of Gordon Hammond’s harrowing death — if indeed it was he — continued to haunt her.

  Dave Harris had seated himself on a rather elderly chair. He looked around the makeshift murder room with evident satisfaction. ‘Just like the old days! Apart from the computers, of course. This old place is the perfect setting for a 1970s investigation.’

  ‘I’ll see if I can find you an old Hillman Husky to do your house-to-house enquiries in!’ Cat grinned at her old partner.

  ‘And if you get home on time, you might just catch Crossroads,’ added Ben, ‘or Starsky and Hutch!’

  ‘Very amusing, kiddies. But we did real police work back then, you know. We had no computers, smartphones or DNA.’

  ‘Oh oh! He’s off! “When I was young . . !”’

  Nikki smiled at her team. ‘Right, playmates! If we’re all sitting comfortably, then I’ll begin.’

  Nikki told them about the murder of Louise Lawson the night before. She said that DI Gill Mercer would be handling the case, and they would continue to help with Madeline Prospero until such time as they could amalgamate the two.

  ‘The super is going to tell us how to proceed with interviewing the Briar Patch women. Until he does, we push on with Gordon Hammond and Fred Cartwright.’ Nikki looked to Cat, the leader on this case. ‘I’m going to suggest that you keep Yvonne with you, and also Ben. He will be looking at Fred Cartwright, but as it’s connected with Quintin Eaudyke, I think it best that you work together. Is that okay with everyone?’