by Joy Ellis
‘I know the one you mean. I was talking about her myself the other day. You should hear what Dr Foley has to say on the subject.’
‘All far too gruesome for me! I have such a delicate stomach. Now, having delivered the good news, I’ll allow you to trot off home, have a peaceful night’s rest, and I’ll no doubt see you on the morrow.’
Nikki hung up the phone, filled with elation. It was Avril Hammond!
‘Hi, Nikki.’ Joseph came in and slumped down into a chair. ‘You are not going to believe this . . .’
‘You first, then I have big news for you too.’
‘While you were out, I had a call from Father Aidan.’
‘Oh hell! Not more butchered bunnies?’
‘Not exactly. He saw someone moving about in the graveyard. He was reluctant to call us, but I’d made him promise not to go it alone again.’
‘Who went out there?’
‘I did, with Ben.’
‘Anything?’
‘Not by the time we got there. But there was a bunch of flowers on the spot where Hammond was found.’
‘Flowers? What sort of flowers?’
‘White lilies, Nikki. There was a card with “Rest in Peace” printed on it. No signature and no other message.’
‘Did they look as if they came from a florist? Was there a shop name on the back of the card?’
‘No such luck. They’re from the big supermarket on the trading estate, and the back of the card is blank.’
‘Christ, Joseph. Gordon Hammond isn’t exactly resting in bloody peace, is he?’
‘Neither is poor Father Aidan. I think he’s wondering what on earth is going to happen next. Any ideas?’
‘Not the foggiest notion, Joseph. Someone doesn’t want Gordon to be forgotten, that’s for sure.’
‘Then whoever it is doesn’t know that Hammond is connected to the recent murders.’ Joseph shrugged.
‘Probably. But whoever it is, they’re being a pain in the arse. We have more serious problems to deal with right now.’
Nikki told Joseph about Rory’s latest findings.
‘Thank God for that! At least we haven’t wasted our time searching for Millie.’
A uniformed constable pushed open the door. ‘Ma’am? Sorry to butt in, but PC Steve Royal from West Salterby is in Greenborough General Hospital. He’s been attacked.’
Nikki and Joseph stared at each other.
‘Yobs?’ asked Joseph.
‘No, it was a woman. Off her head, screaming and shouting apparently. She had a right go at the poor bloke’s face, by all accounts. Do you want to go over to the hospital?’
‘Of course I do!’ said Nikki, ‘and, Officer, do we know who the attacker was?’
The PC glanced at his notes. ‘She’s called Sarah Archer, ma’am. That’s all I know.’
Joseph stood up. ‘That was the one Cat and Yvonne interviewed! You know, the strange girl with the teddy bears and the animal sanctuary.’
‘And she’s injured PC Royal? Cat reckoned she was away with the fairies, but quite harmless.’
‘Really? Big mistake.’
* * *
Soon they were at the hospital, looking down at PC Royal. He lay on a trolley, looking pale and uncomfortable. A large dressing covered one side of his face.
‘DI Galena! I didn’t expect to see you here.’ His voice sounded as if he had just left the dentist’s chair, mouth numb after a massive filling.
‘I hear you had a run-in with Sarah Archer.’
‘She’s raving, ma’am. You should see what she did to my face.’
‘Can you tell me what happened, Steve, or is it too painful to talk?’
‘It hurts like hell, but talking doesn’t make it any worse. I had a call to a disturbance. It only took me five minutes to get there, and I found her rolling in the street, tearing at her clothing and screaming blue murder. A couple of the villagers had tried to help her, but she had fought them off. I’ve never seen anything like it, ma’am. I tried to calm her down, and I just took her arm to stop her hurting herself any further.’ He touched the dressing gingerly with one hand. ‘She came at me like a wild animal. I know it sounds silly, but I actually heard her snarling! I called for backup, and some of the villagers, the doctor and a couple of younger chaps managed to get a blanket over her, and pinned her arms to her sides. They held onto her until a squad car arrived, but then she broke free and our lads didn’t manage to catch her until she was halfway to the fen.’
‘Do you know where they’ve taken her?’
‘She’s been sectioned, ma’am. They took her to Lampton Psychiatric Hospital. But don’t waste your time visiting. I don’t think she’ll be back in the real world for some time, if ever. Those eyes! She was full of hate and madness. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get rid of that sight, and it looks like I may be reminded every time I look in the mirror.’
‘Did they say it will leave a scar, Steve?’ Joseph asked.
‘They are talking skin grafts, Sarge.’
‘What?’ Nikki’s eyes opened wide.
‘I told you she was crazy, ma’am. Look . . .’ He gingerly lifted the dressing from his once handsome face.
Nikki had to stop herself turning away. The skin was torn in three jagged lines, from just beneath his eye down to his cheek bone. Blood still oozed from the gaping wounds and something white showed through. She was not sure if this was bone, or a tooth. Suddenly a skin graft seemed quite feasible.
Niki spoke gently. ‘I’m not going to give you the usual platitudes, Steve. She’s hurt you badly. But the force will get you the best treatment, I promise.’ She knew he spent a lot of time at the gym. He took care of himself and was proud of his looks. This would hit him hard. Nikki wondered what the surgeons would be able to do for him.
‘Thanks for that, ma’am. If you’d said “I’m sure it’s not as bad as it looks,” I’d have probably been up for taking a pop at an officer!’
‘Do you know what set her off, Steve?’ asked Joseph.
‘No, Sarge. After she laid into me, I kind of lost interest in the whys and wherefores. I think that doctor — Dr Draper — has an idea about it. He put a temporary dressing on for me while we waited for the ambulance. He was saying something to his wife about seeing her talking to someone, then she just freaked.’
‘You didn’t hear who?’
‘Sorry, ma’am.’
‘Forget it, Steve. And you can also forget about the West Salterby sector. As soon as you are fit for duty, I’ll make sure that you are transferred back to town. I think you’ve done your bit for the cabbage patch country.’
‘Thanks, ma’am. I’d appreciate that.’
Joseph squeezed the young officer’s shoulder. ‘Rather a drastic way of getting a transfer though, wasn’t it?’
‘Probably not the cleverest plan in the world. Oh shit! Hurts to laugh.’
‘Is there anyone I can phone for you?’
‘No, it’s all right. My skipper was in just before you. I’ve told him to leave it until the morning before he rings my mum. Hopefully I’ll look a bit better by then. I don’t want to frighten her.’
Nikki nodded, thinking that it would be a very long while before the lad looked anything but frightening.
The curtain drew back and two nurses entered the cubicle. ‘Theatre is ready for you now, Steve. Sorry you’ve had to wait so long, but the surgeon’s finally sobered up.’
‘What a relief! Take me away, ladies! See you, ma’am. Wish me luck.’ Despite his bravado there was a slight catch in his voice.
Nikki gripped his hand. ‘Hang on in there, Steve. We’re all rooting for you.’
He returned her squeeze, and the nurses wheeled the trolley down the corridor. Nikki glanced at her watch. Probably too late to ring Dr Draper, but he’d be her first call of the morning.
Joseph looked at her. ‘Can we guess who Sarah Archer had been talking to?’
Nikki shook her head slowly. ‘As if we didn’t kno
w!’
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
As Nikki had anticipated, there was considerable disbelief when she told the murder team of the pathologist’s findings. She went on to describe PC Steve Royal’s injuries in minute detail.
‘Should any of you doubting Thomases believe that Avril Hammond is going to be a pushover just because she’s a woman, I suggest you consider what happened to Steve. He was attacked by an apparently harmless woman who loves animals and cuddly toys and has the mental age of a nine-year-old. For the last twenty-odd years, she has been caring and benignly crazy. The only thing different about her yesterday was that she met Avril Hammond, after which she left Steve looking as if he’d been run over by a lawnmower. The psychiatric hospital would not comment on her condition this morning. They told me that a visit would be inadvisable and a complete waste of our time, so draw your own conclusions as to the state she’s in.’
Nikki looked around the room. Her expression was glacial.
‘Are we sure she met Hammond?’ asked one of Gill Mercer’s men.
‘Who else would have that effect, Carpenter? But I’m going to see a witness this morning who will confirm it. If I’m wrong, you’ll be the first to know. Now, make sure you are all here tomorrow at two o’clock. Dr Foley is going to give us a talk on the female killer.’
The officers dispersed and Nikki made ready to visit Quintin Eaudyke.
‘Joseph, will you stay here and do all you can to source a photograph of Avril Hammond?’ Nikki said.
Joseph nodded. ‘Of course, but wouldn’t you like some company, going back to that awful village.’
‘I’d like not to be going at all.’ Nikki shrugged. ‘But we need to keep up the momentum and it doesn’t need two of us to talk to the doctor and his wife.’
* * *
Nikki drove into Quintin Eaudyke past the pile of rubble that was all that remained of the Hammond home. She wondered why the land had never been sold off and developed. Maybe the tragic events of past decades still clung to the weed-choked debris, and had seeped through the mossy paving, down into the crumbling foundations.
The doctor’s surgery was still open, but there were few patients.
Linda Draper looked tired and unwell. ‘DI Galena, do come in. It’s more comfy in the study, and John will be through quite shortly. Kettle’s on. Tea or coffee?’
‘Tea, if it’s not too much bother, Mrs Draper.’
When Linda returned with the tea, Nikki asked her if she had seen what had happened the previous afternoon.
‘Well, the aftermath anyway. That poor boy! She scratched his face to ribbons! It was horrible. John did what he could, but he’ll probably be scarred for life.’
‘I saw him in the hospital last night. They were about to operate, first of several, I believe. Mrs Draper, did you know Sarah Archer?’
‘Of course I did. I’ve known her for most of her life.’ She wiped her brow with the back of her thin hand. ‘I don’t understand it, Inspector! The poor soul was certainly mentally challenged, but she was like a silly child, nothing like the howling banshee of yesterday.’
‘I think your husband may have seen her talking to someone just before her outburst.’
‘I certainly did, DI Galena.’ Dr Draper came towards her, his hand outstretched.
‘Was it a woman by any chance?’
‘Yes, it was, and before you ask, I didn’t recognise her.’
‘What did you see exactly?’
‘Just Sarah and a woman sitting under the lychgate. They were there for about five minutes. The woman must have left because Sarah was alone for a while. Then she started to scream. I was helping my friend Kenny trim up an old conifer and was on a step ladder. I could see her quite clearly.’
‘Would you recognise the woman again?’
‘No. I’d recognise the clothes, but her face was hidden under a floppy hat. Her coat was a long, shapeless affair. I wouldn’t even be able to guess at her height, since I never actually saw her leave. One minute they were both there, and the next Sarah was alone. Have you heard how that young PC Royal is?’
‘The hospital cleaned him up last night, but he will have to go to a hospital where they specialise in facial reconstruction. You would never believe that a woman, well, girl, could have done such terrible damage with only her bare hands.’
‘I thought he’d lost his eye when I first saw him. She only just missed. The bottom lid was torn. How’s he taken it, Inspector?’
‘He was more worried about what his mum would think, poor boy. I guess he was still in shock. He’s a good-looking lad, and probably a little vain. I just hope they manage to do a good job on him.’
‘Absolutely, absolutely. Now, DI Galena, you seem to know already that the last person Sarah spoke to was a woman. Do you know who she was?’
‘Unless I’m way off course, it was Avril Hammond.’
There was a crash, and Linda Draper stood rooted to the spot, her cup and saucer in shards around her feet.
‘Linda!’ The doctor rushed to his wife’s side and gently led her to a chair. He turned on Nikki and spoke through clenched teeth. ‘If that was meant to be a shock tactic of some kind, I hope you are satisfied with the result!’
Nikki had not expected anything of the sort. She bit her lip.
Linda touched her husband’s arm. ‘Please, John. It wasn’t the inspector’s fault. I was just being silly. We’ve always known she could still be alive. It was just a shock to hear it, that’s all. I’m sorry, Inspector.’ She stood up, and brushing off her husband’s objections, went to fetch a dustpan.
Nikki apologised to the doctor.
John Draper ran a hand through his hair. ‘Inspector, forgive my rudeness. You didn’t live through the awful torment that family caused this small village, so of course you wouldn’t understand. My wife was terrified of Gordon Hammond, and no matter what she says, we both believed that Avril was lying in a shallow grave somewhere on the marsh.’ He sat down heavily. ‘You really believe that I was looking at Avril Hammond yesterday?’
‘Yes, I do. We also believe, and have some evidence to back it up, that a woman was responsible for the three recent Greenborough murders as well as the death of Gordon. She may also have driven two people to suicide.’ She paused. ’And now she has had Sarah Archer committed to a psychiatric hospital.’
Dr Draper lowered his head into his hands. ‘Dear God! You really think that she slaughtered her own father?’
‘Yes, I believe she did.’
‘Lord have mercy. And now she has come back, and is following in his footsteps.’
‘If she is responsible for the deaths in Greenborough, then she has already gone much further than her father ever did.’
‘How many others are going to die because of something that happened a lifetime ago?’ The doctor seemed to have aged ten years in as many minutes. ‘It was bad enough back then. My wife almost collapsed with nervous exhaustion. Lord knows what will happen this time.’
‘We are a lot better placed these days, Dr Draper. Technology, science, forensics. We’ll catch her.’ Nikki stood up. ‘And once again, I really didn’t mean to upset your wife. It was thoughtless of me to speak so tactlessly. Thanks again for your help. I’ll keep in touch.’
‘Please do, Inspector, and again, I am sorry for my rudeness.’ Dr Draper saw her to the door. ‘They are a rum lot here all right, but not much gets past them. If I hear anything that might be of use to you, I’ll contact you. You can be sure of that.’
Before going back to her car, Nikki walked down to the lychgate. She wanted to take a look at the place where madness had overtaken the hapless Sarah Archer.
Nikki could tell from the scattering of sweet wrappers and used gum that children still used it as a meeting place. Nikki sat for a while, wondering why their killer would consider poor Sarah to be any kind of threat. Cat and Yvonne had mentioned the name Hammond when they interviewed her, and there had been no flicker of recognition. Whatever had happened to y
oung Sarah in that pill box would probably have stayed deep within her, if she had not met with Avril Hammond.
Nikki took a deep breath. Sitting outside a churchyard and pondering would not resolve the case. She had promised the super that she and Gill Mercer would begin formally interviewing some of the Briar Patch women. She strode back to her vehicle, and headed back across fen and farmland to Greenborough.
* * *
Cat greeted her with a smile. ‘Hello, ma’am. Got a bit of news for you. One of our Quintin kids is on remand in Lincoln Prison! Avril might have a spot of bother getting at him there.’
‘Terry Harvey, I presume? Ah well, at least that’s one we won’t have to spend money on watching. Even so, I’d give Lincoln a ring and tell them to monitor his visiting orders very carefully,’ Nikki said.
Cat stopped smiling. ‘Are you serious, ma’am?’
‘Deadly serious. Five minutes was all it took with Sarah Archer. How long do you think she’d need with a nutter like Terry Harvey? By the way, have you seen Gill Mercer around?’
‘She’s in with the superintendent. They are trying to get some extra manpower. We need help with all these background searches. The work gets boring after a while.’
‘If you want a break, Cat, why not take Yvonne and have another try at those old buddies of Avril’s in West Salterby? You know, the ones she used to hang out with.’
‘Yeah, why not?’ Cat pushed her chair back. ‘We’ll drop in on that old school caretaker again too. He might just remember something more. At least he was willing to speak to us, which was a very refreshing change for Quintin Clamsville! I’ll get hold of the prison, and then grab Yvonne.’
Nikki was on her way to see Gill Mercer when Dave waylaid her in the corridor.
‘Sorry, ma’am, but I’ve got something here that you might like to look at.’
Dave was clutching a sheaf of newspaper clippings. ‘Ben gave me these, they are the ones you found by Fred Cartwright’s bed. He thought you might want them back. The thing is, I think I’ve found why Fred kept them. Look . . . this one: “Remains of a cat found nailed to a tree close to the church of St Thomas.” And here, “A reward offered for the return of a missing dog.”’ Dave pointed out several other small ads or short articles, all referring to missing, mutilated or dead animals. He ran a hand through his thinning hair. ‘I cannot think why that old man would want to keep them, but I’m certain that’s what they are.’