by Salkeld, J J
‘No, thanks, Ian. Too much to do.’
‘Come on, it’d do you good. Maybe talk things through, have a change of scene anyway.’
Hall got up slowly. His left leg had gone to sleep slightly.
‘Go on then. I’m getting sod all done, anyway. I’ve been going through everything we’ve got on the Plouvins and I can’t see anything that could connect them to Morrow, not a bloody thing. They lived in different worlds, and that’s a fact. And of course Jenkins is right, that photo proves nothing. And, more to the point, there’s a strong chance that it means nothing either.’
‘You’ve changed your tune, haven’t you, Andy?’
‘Probably. DCI’s privilege and all that. But really, what Christopher Plouvin said in there could easily be true. Maybe he and Morrow exchanged a few words, maybe they didn’t even do that much. And if the Plouvins aren’t involved then that leaves us back looking at the Traveller community, but I just don’t buy that.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because Morrow wasn’t really one of them, and they didn’t rate him at all, did they? It’s between the lines of every single statement we’ve got from them. They didn’t trust him with anything important, they didn’t take him into their confidence. So how come he got mixed up in anything serious enough to get him killed? I just don’t buy it.’
‘But what if he stole from them? What if they killed him for it?’
‘I agree, that would fit at least some of the facts and all of the prejudices, but why leave it a year before punishing him if that was the case? You know how it works in any organised crime hierarchy, Ian. Respect and fear are two sides of the same coin, and there’s just no way that a rip-off wouldn’t get dealt with straight away. The bosses would lose credibility, and with it control, if they delayed by so much as a day.’
‘Maybe they didn’t find out for a year. But when they did, that’s when they killed him.’
‘No, Ian. I’ve thought about that, but it won’t wash. This is a cash economy, remember, so they balance the books daily, and to the penny I’ll bet. How could a fraud stay hidden for any length of time? And Faa was so keen to co-operate, wasn’t he? I reckon that’s because he knows his community is in the clear. He may not know who did do it, in fact I strongly suspect that he doesn’t, but I reckon he’s pretty certain that it wasn’t any of his folks.’
‘So if it’s not one of the Plouvins, and it’s not a Traveller, then who are we looking for?’
‘That’s what I’ve been trying to figure out. I just thought there was something in one of those interviews, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. It’s doing my head in though. We’re missing something here, Ian, I can bloody well feel it. Can’t you?’
‘No, mate, honestly I can’t. But I can feel my ribs. So come on, let’s go and have a pie somewhere. It’s brain food, the pie. It’s a scientific fact, is that.’
It was the end of the shift before Jane finally made her decision. It would mean lying to Andy, something that she hadn’t done before, but there was nothing else for it. She could see what no-one else could, it was as simple as that, and it was her duty to investigate. But Jane Francis had never lived an unexamined life, and she always subjected her own decisions to the kind of microscopic analysis that she’d used back in her lab-coated days. So she knew full well that what she called ‘duty’ was actually something else, a certainty that she was right and that Andy Hall, Superintendent Gorham and all the rest of them were wrong. Tim Williams was the man who’d attacked Rita Bose, and Phil Mann was involved. He just had to be.
So Jane booted down her computer, and left the incident room without looking at Andy Hall’s office door. When she was in her car she wrote him a text, changed it twice, and finally sent it. She said that she was going to meet a friend who Hall knew was going through some tough times. She didn’t expect a reply, and she wasn’t disappointed. She knew that Hall would wonder if what she’d said was true, that was in his nature, but she also knew that he wouldn’t check. Sometimes she almost wished that he would, but not this evening.
But when she was parked down the street from Williams’ house she started to have her doubts about the whole thing. He worked at a bank in town, so she thought he was probably already at home, but there was no way of telling for sure. The sun had come out, for the first time in what felt like weeks, and even with her window down the car was getting hot. Jane was starting to get hungry and thirsty when she saw his front door open, and an expensive looking bicycle emerged, front wheel first. She watched him fiddle with something on the handlebars, and she slid down in the seat as he pedalled past her. For a moment she wondered if she’d been quick enough, but he didn’t look back as he accelerated away.
Jane drove to a take-away that was popular with the uniformed cops and bought some food. But she was parked up in the same spot, a few yards from William’s house, within twenty minutes of leaving. She had indigestion, and a nasty taste in her mouth. Forty minutes later her phone beeped, and she was just checking to see if it was a text from Andy when she caught sight of a cyclist passing the car. She slid down in her seat, but when she looked up she saw that Williams had stopped, just a few yards ahead of her. He was looking round, straight at her car, perspiration running down his face. She knew for certain that he’d seen her, before he got off the bike and walked back to her car.
‘Sergeant Francis. Were you waiting for me?’
‘No, no, someone else.’
‘Oh, a friend is it, or a case perhaps?’
‘A social call. I’m off duty at the moment.’
‘Really? Who is it you’ve come to see? I know most of my neighbours. We’re a pretty friendly lot, round here.’
‘It doesn’t matter. She’s not at home anyway. I was just checking my phone, and then I was heading off.’
‘That’s a shame. I was going to offer you a cup of coffee. Don’t worry, I’ll jump in the shower for a minute while the kettle’s boiling.’
Jane hesitated, even though she knew exactly what she was going to do. ‘Go on then’ she said eventually. ‘You get yourself sorted out and I’ll knock on the door in ten minutes.’
She watched him go into the house, and wondered whether she should let someone know where she was. It would be sensible, but who to call? She looked at her watch. She’d give it fifteen minutes before she knocked.
‘Coffee’s on. Can I offer you anything to eat? I’m just about to make myself a salad.’
‘No, thanks, I’m fine.’
‘You were waiting for me, weren’t you?’
‘What makes you think that?’
‘Because you wouldn’t have come in otherwise. Why would you?’
‘Perhaps I want to get to know you better.’
Williams smiled.
‘Perhaps you do. Phil Mann told me that you went to see him about the attack on that girl.’
‘That’s right. Just routine.’
‘He said his brother went absolutely mad when Phil told him about it. I bet that was awkward for you.’
‘Are you a keen cyclist?’
‘I am. Have been since I was a kid. I can’t understand why anyone joins a gym round here, because there’s so much fantastic riding.’
‘Isn’t it a bit dangerous?’
‘Can be, aye. Drivers are so impatient, and I’ve had a few close shaves myself. Been off once or twice, in fact. But where would we be without a bit of risk, a bit of danger? That’s what I say, anyway.’
‘I hope that attitude doesn’t extend to your work, Mr. Williams.’
He laughed. ‘Tim, please. And no, it certainly doesn’t. Since the credit-crunch the only way anyone can borrow any money from us is if they can prove that they don’t actually need it.’
‘That must make for a quiet life.’
‘Don’t you believe it. The bosses always find a way of keeping you busy, don’t they?’
‘That’s true enough.’
Jane sipped her coffee.
‘So h
ow is the investigation going? Phil said his brother reckoned that it was a total waste of time.’
Jane didn’t reply.
‘I understand. You can’t talk about it.’
‘No, I can talk about it. Aspects of the investigation, anyway. We’re linking the assault to another one, which happened a couple of days back. A dog walker was attacked in Staveley, but her dog went for the attacker.’
‘What kind of dog was it?’
‘You’re not the first person to ask that. Some kind of terrier, apparently.’
‘So that means that you can start to look for connections between the two cases then? Witnesses, all that?’
‘Something like that, yes.’
‘So there were witnesses, then?’
‘That’s the kind of thing that I can’t talk about. I can only discuss the cases in general terms.’
‘And what can you say? In general terms, I mean?’
‘That the offender has been very lucky, so far at least.’
‘Because he hasn’t been caught?’
‘Partly that, certainly. But I’d say that he’s lucky that he hasn’t committed a more serious offence. If he stopped now he might never even be detected. That’s entirely possible. But if he offends again, especially if he commits a more serious assault, then I’d say that he’d be looking at some time in prison. And let me tell you, that’s not much fun at the best of times, but for sex offenders it’s a living hell. Quite a few commit suicide inside, you know.’
‘But you reckon you’re on to him, do you?’
‘I do. I can’t prove anything, not yet, and maybe I never will be able to. But yes, I think I know who we’re looking for.’
Williams put down the knife that he’d been using to chop some tomatoes.
‘And if I were to call your bosses in the morning, they’d tell me that you are working on the case now, would they?’
‘As I told you, I’m off duty at the moment. I was planning to visit my friend. I had half an hour to spare, that’s all.’
‘You don’t look to me like the kind of person who has half an hour to spare, if I’m honest. I bet you’ve got kids, a husband.’ Jane shook her head. ‘No? Funny that, I can usually tell. There’s something about people who come home to an empty house every night. The way they look, or something. You know what I mean?’
‘I’d better be going’ said Jane, putting down her mug. ‘Thanks again for the coffee.’
‘Don’t mention it. I enjoyed the company, and the conversation. And maybe I’ll give your station a call tomorrow anyway. Just for the fun of it, like.’
Wednesday, 19th June
Andy Hall was thinking about Jane when the phone rang. Thirty seconds later he was thinking about nothing but the Morrow case.
‘Am I speaking to the officer in charge of the investigation of the body found at the Plouvins’ place?’
‘Yes, I’m DCI Andy Hall. Who am I speaking to, please?’
‘I’ve got some information. Are you interested?’
‘Of course. Go on.’
‘It’s Rupert Plouvin you should be looking for, Chief Inspector.’
‘We’ve spoken to him. He’s alive and well and living in South Africa.’
‘I can’t tell you if he’s alive, or well, or even where he’s living. But I can tell you that the person that your officer spoke to was not Rupert Plouvin.’
‘Was the officer male or female?’
‘Female.’
‘And when did this conversation take place?’
‘On Monday morning.’
‘Am I right in assuming that you’re the person that my officer spoke to?’
There was brief pause.
‘Here’s my advice to you. Follow the money.’
‘What money? The money that the Plouvins paid to Rupert? Is that what you mean?’
The line went dead.
Hall called tech support, asked for the incoming number to be identified, and played the recording back at the team meeting.
‘Jane, is that the man you spoke to?’
‘Yes, I’d say it is. I didn’t record my call, I’m sorry.’
‘That’s a shame. But tell me this, Jane. Did you mention the amounts of money that were being paid to Rupert Plouvin? The exact amounts, I mean?’
‘I don’t remember. Just let me check my notes. No, there’s nothing here, so I suppose I didn’t.’
‘Shame. I was just thinking that if our caller was the man you spoke to it might explain why he changed his mind, and decided not to carry on with playing the part of Rupert Plouvin. Because if he found out that the Plouvins were recycling the money that’s supposed to be going to him somehow, then that might make him decide to grass them up. And notice how keen he was to let us know that he doesn’t know what’s happened to Rupert Plouvin.’
‘Yes, I did’ said Jane, ‘I remember now, I did mention the monthly allowance. Two and a half grand a month. Yes. I mentioned it.’
‘He didn’t say it to you first? You’re sure it came from you?’
‘Yes, certain. I asked him the amount, he wouldn’t say, but confirmed it when I mentioned the figure.’
‘I’ll bet he did. OK then’ said Hall, ‘so it’s ten to one that the call came from South Africa, but let’s wait to get that confirmed. Meantime, I’m going to get hold of a picture of Rupert Plouvin and get it over to the South African police. Let’s see if they can find him, which I doubt. We also need them to show the picture to the lawyer who claims to have done all the legal work on the South African side, and anyone else who has had dealings with anyone claiming to be Rupert Plouvin.’
‘But boss, we know that Rupert Plouvin flew to Cape Town from Heathrow two years ago, almost to the day’ said Dixon. ‘It was his Passport, I checked. And he hasn’t re-entered the UK since.’
‘Maybe he did leave the UK, Ray, but maybe he didn’t. Jane, can I ask you to liaise with the South African police please? Just explain the position, and see how they want to proceed. We can always give them a bit of a nudge if we think they’re missing anything, but be diplomatic. We’re relying on them to help us out here, because the Super will do her nut if I suggest that we send officers down there. Anyway, that’s all out of our hands, so let’s focus on this end. What exactly happened around the time that Rupert is supposed to have left? Was it sudden? Did people know where he was going, did he talk about it himself? You all know how this works. So Ian, as soon as we know that this call did come from South Africa I want everyone on that aspect. Tomorrow, first thing.’
‘Why not now, boss?’
‘I was just coming to that. I want to talk to Barbara Plouvin first. Let’s hear what she to say about the circumstances around her husband’s decision to leave, and let’s get a photo from her as well. Ian, with me for that please. Let’s aim to be away from here in half an hour, tops.’
Mann looked uncertain. ‘Are you going to give them some notice though, boss? That bastard Jenkins will go mad if you turn up unannounced. He’s already shouting about harassment.’
‘No, I want to catch her unprepared, or as unprepared as we can. And it’s her we’re talking to, not the terrible twosome this time. So let’s risk Jenkins’ wrath, shall we?’
Jane made contact with the South African police, and promised that a picture of Rupert Plouvin and a more detailed email was to follow. Then she went to see Andy Hall.
‘I’m sorry, Andy. I should have smelt a rat when I spoke to that bloke. I don’t know why I didn’t.’
‘Don’t worry, no-one else picked it up either. And anyway, you flushed the truth out by the looks of it. At the moment it’s a bloody big stretch to assume that Rupert Plouvin never left the UK, and an even bigger one to assume that he’s dead, let alone that we’ve got two connected crimes here, but even so this could just be a break in this case. God knows we’ve grafted for it, but as we both know hard graft doesn’t guarantee you anything in this job, worse luck.’
She looked across the meeti
ng table at him. He looked happy. There was no other word for it.
‘And I’m sorry about last night too.’
It seemed to take Hall a moment to realise that the discussion had moved from work to their personal life.
‘Why? We all need our friends. And, like I keep saying, I don’t own you, Jane. You do what you want, when you want. One thing I’ve learned is that we all have to make a new decision about our lives every day. Are we happy where we are, or do we want something new?’
‘Yes, you do keep saying that. But are you happy, Andy? Are you really?’
Hall thought about it for a moment.
‘Happier than I was, certainly.’ He looked up at her. ‘Is that enough for you?’
She smiled. ‘Well, it’s a start, anyway.’
‘I thought Mr. Jenkins made it clear to you that we weren’t to be harassed’ said David Plouvin, when he answered the door. Hall could smell the booze on his breath from six feet away.
‘He did’ said Hall, smiling.
‘Then why are you here? I’ll call him, right now.’
‘Be my guest. But we’ve come to see Mrs. Plouvin, not you.’
‘I see.’ Plouvin hesitated. ‘You’d better come in then, but I insist on being present. And I’m calling Jenkins. You’ll have to wait until he gets here.’
‘That’s not possible’ said Hall firmly. ‘We’re not going to be speaking to your wife under caution.’
‘You’ll still have to wait.’
‘Do you want to be arrested for obstruction, Mr. Plouvin? I really can’t see any point, because we’ll talk to your wife, I mean Mrs. Plouvin, anyway. Now why don’t you show us in, and then go back to your work.’ Hall emphasised the word ‘work’, and Ian Mann smiled slightly. But Plouvin didn’t seem to notice. ‘There’s no point in becoming agitated. It won’t make the slightest bit of difference to our investigation.’
‘I’ll be taking this up with your superiors.’
‘I’m sure you will, and before we leave DS Mann will give you all the relevant contact details, OK?’