by Ellis, Tim
‘If you’re calling me Paul, I am worried.’
‘It’s a simple task. A monkey could do it...’
‘I don’t employ monkeys.’
‘You know what I mean. I’d just like a straightforward evidence search. You know the things – fingerprints, hairs...’
‘Being head of forensics, I think I have a general idea of what an evidence search looks like.’
‘There you go then. So, this is what I’d like – I give you the number of the letting agent, they meet your people there and open the unit up. Photographs are taken, evidence is gathered, and I think there’s a telephone relay in there that I’d like them to pay special attention to. In an ideal world, I’d also like to know where that relay terminates.’
‘I see, and we’re still going to go out sometime?’
‘Too right.’
‘What’s the number?’
She gave him the number. ‘You’ll call me?’
‘I don’t recall you saying anything about me making telephone calls.’
The call ended.
She smiled. He had a bit of a sense of humour. Not much of one, but he wasn’t completely devoid of a smile or two.
‘He’ll expect you to have sex with him, you know.’
Xena jumped. ‘Are you crazy sneaking up on people like that?’
‘Just trying to help.’
‘You were eavesdropping on my private conversation.’
‘I was not. You were talking very loudly. A person hard of hearing standing on the hospital roof could have heard you.’
‘What are you doing here, anyway?’
‘I was here first. You sent me out here to arrange for a squad car to go round to Donald Tumbell’s house.’
‘I see, so you’re saying it’s my fault you were earwigging on my private conversation?’
‘I don’t think I said that.’
‘And you think I’ll have to give myself to him?’
‘That’s not what I said either.’
‘Are you jealous? Do you want to take my clothes off yourself and caress my curvaceous body?’
‘I’ll go and wait in the car if we’ve finished here.’
‘You don’t want to have a knee trembler in an alcove?’
‘Now, you’re being disgusting.’
‘Me? You started it, you pervert. And for your information, we haven’t finished here. We’re going to go to reception, find out where they’ve banged up the Chief, and visit him.’
‘Are you sure we should be doing that?’
‘You think he’s a Satanist who abuses children?’
‘I didn’t say that either.’
‘I’ve noticed there’s a lot of things you don’t say. So, are you coming up with me, or sitting on the fence again?’
‘I’m coming up. Do you think he’s innocent?’
‘Innocence is such a nasty word, Stick. None of us are innocent. I certainly don’t think he runs around in a white robe making child sacrifices to Lucifer, but innocent...? Like you, he’ll be guilty of something, it’s just a question of finding out what.’
‘And what are you guilty of, Sarge?’
‘Me? I’m guilty of allowing you to remain as my partner when I really should know better.’
As they stepped out of the lift, they met Mrs Kowalski with a scruffy-looking man.
‘Are you going to see my husband, DS Blake?’
‘That was the plan.’
‘He’ll be glad to see someone from the station.’
‘What, has nobody visited?’
‘Not to my knowledge.’
‘I’ll speak to people. They probably think they’re not allowed to.’
‘Thank you. This is Charlie Baxter by the way, our lawyer.’
Xena shook hands with him, and thought that the Chief probably didn’t stand a chance of getting off if all they could afford was a tramp to represent them.
‘I hope he’s found innocent, Mrs Kowalski,’ Stick said.
‘Thank you, DC Gilbert.’
The lift arrived on its way down. The Chief’s wife and their scruffbag solicitor climbed in and disappeared.
‘I hope he’s found innocent, Mrs Kowalski,’ Xena mimicked Stick.
‘Well I do, he’s a good Chief.’
‘More to the point, did you see that hot solicitor beneath those scruffy clothes?’
‘Hardly. Although I did think the Chief’s wife was quite good looking.’
‘You should be in an institution for boring farts.’
‘Thanks, Sarge.’
They found the Chief’s room. Xena flashed her warrant card at the uniform outside the door, and ambled in.
The Chief had his eyes closed.
‘It’s just an excuse to get a couple of days off, isn’t it, Sir?’
‘I could think of better places to be, DS Blake.’
‘Is it true, Chief?’ Stick blurted out.
‘No, it’s not true, Gilbert. Do you think I’d have time to do what they’re accusing me of with a full-time job and four kids?’
‘Probably not.’
‘Definitely not, I can tell you.’
They stayed chatting for about ten minutes then Xena said, ‘Well, we’ve had a breakthrough on the paedophile case,’ and she told him about the DNA traces found on little Hayley Miles.
‘That’s good. How’s SDI Pollock shaping up?’
‘As you know, I’m not one for beating about the bush, Chief – he’s an idiot.’
‘I guessed he would be. Promoted to his level of incompetence, and now they don’t know what to do with him. Sorry about that.’
‘Apology accepted, Sir. Well, DC Gilbert and I still have work to do. Is there anything you need – like grapes, oranges, or bottled water?’
‘An Indian takeaway would be excellent.’
‘That’s probably what put you in here in the first place, Chief,’ Stick said.
Chapter Twelve
He decided to phone Carrie again before he took the files along to Richards’ room. What he had to say to her was probably best said while he was on his own.
She picked up at the first ring.
‘Chief Colville’s office. How can I help?’
‘Carrie, it’s Jed.’
‘Hello again.’
‘How’s Kowalski doing?’
‘You could ring the hospital yourself.’
‘They never tell you anything unless you’re a relative.’
‘He’s resting. Even if they find him innocent, it’ll be some time before he comes back to work. I’m beginning to wonder if he’ll ever come back.’
‘He’ll be back. And what do you mean, “If they find him innocent”? The idea of Kowalski abusing his kids – Satanic or otherwise – is preposterous.’
‘That’s what I would have said before, but you never know what people get up to behind closed doors these days.’
‘Has he got a telephone in his room?’
‘Not to my knowledge.’
‘Have you been to see him yet?’
‘Maybe tomorrow. Today’s been a bit hectic.’
He jumped in with both feet. ‘What you said earlier, about me being a super DI to you. What’s that about? I thought we’d...’
‘We – didn’t do anything. You – simply ended it.’
‘But...’
‘I fell in love with you, and you ended it.’
He thought he heard her sniffling.
‘I never knew.’
‘Of course you didn’t. Why would I tell you I loved you when you’d finished with me?’
‘You were married.’
‘A minor inconvenience. He was already seeing someone else. Our marriage ended shortly afterwards. The way was clear for us, but then you started a relationship with Richards’ mother... I’ll never understand that.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘Words mean nothing. Only actions mean something.’
‘I don’t understand why you got a job at Hoddesdon.
’
‘I wanted to be near you.’
‘Why? If I was with another woman, why torture yourself?’
‘We have a daughter.’
She said it so quietly, he thought he’d obviously misheard.
‘I’m sorry?’
‘We have a daughter. Her name is Melody. She’s nearly six months old.’
A daughter! Six months old! Carrie had obviously been replaced by an alien who was talking in a language that sounded like English but...
‘Your daughter is beautiful.’
He didn’t trust himself to speak. She must be mistaken. He cast his mind back to January of last year, and began counting the months – Nine months of pregnancy would take it to September, and it’s now the end of February – Six months, give or take a day or two. Jesus!
‘But I thought...’ What did he think? In fact, at the time his only thoughts were sexual in nature. Did it enter his head to stop and have a conversation about contraception, or sexually transmitted diseases? Not once. And now look.
It crossed his mind, but just as quickly he discarded the idea, but then his mouth took him by surprise by working before his brain was synchronised. ‘Are you sure...?’
‘I can’t blame you for asking, but yes – Melody is yours. You were the only one. I was on the pill, but because John and I weren’t having sex... Well, I stopped taking it. There’s been no one else.’
‘Why haven’t you told me before now?’
‘For a long time, I wasn’t going to tell you at all. Then, when I decided you had a right to know, there was never a right time...’
‘What makes this the right time?’
‘I don’t think there would ever be a right time for something like this. It’s just that... you’re away. I don’t have to face you. By the time you come back, you’ll have come to terms with the idea of having a daughter. You probably won’t blame me anymore, you’ll just want to see Melody.’
‘I don’t blame you. As they say, it takes two to tango. Christ, Carrie...’ He heard Richards and Angie outside the door.
‘Listen, I’ve got to go now, but I’ll ring again tomorrow if I can.’ He put the phone down, stood up, and went to greet his wife and stepdaughter. ‘I was just speaking to Carrie. She says Kowalski is resting, and I said what’s new?’
Angie laughed. ‘What about the other thing?’
‘She hasn’t heard anything. I think the only way to get some proper information is to speak to either Kowalski or Jerry. I was going to ring the hospital and ask if he had a telephone in his room.’
‘Good idea.’
‘Oh God!’ Richards said, picking up the stack of red files. ‘Harry brought the files and the DVD.’
‘Yeah, I was just about to bring them along to your room.’
‘You weren’t, you were talking on the telephone.’
‘After that.’
‘I could have solved the case by now.’
‘Don’t talk rubbish.’
‘I’m going to my room.’
‘You do know you’re not actually working on the case, don’t you?’
‘Of course.’
‘Make sure it stays that way.’
‘Huh!’ he heard her say as the door closed.
‘I’d better phone Marveen,’ Angie said, sitting down by the telephone. ‘This is not really what I had in mind when I came over here. We haven’t been out of the hotel once since we arrived.’
‘I know. Maybe we could go for a walk with Jack after you’ve made the call. Then we could come back and get ready for dinner.’
‘Yes, I’d like that.’ She picked up the phone and made the call.
What was he going to do? A daughter called Melody... He loved the name. Bloody hell! Should he tell Angie? Of course he should tell her, he had no choice, but now was not the right time. He sounded like Carrie. When would be the right time? Never, that’s when. His heart started racing at the very idea of telling her. He could imagine what Richards would say. From their first meeting at Redbridge Council she’d never liked Carrie.
Angie put the phone down. Her face was a ghostly white.
He went over to her, knelt down and held her hand. ‘What is it?’
‘Marveen kept trying the number of Alicia Mae’s parents, and eventually got through. They said that they’d had a daughter called Alicia Mae thirty years ago, but she’d died of meningitis when she was three years old.’
‘Bloody hell!’
‘Who did you employ as a nanny for our son, Jed?’
***
‘I’m in hell, aren’t I?’ Kowalski said to the demon sitting next to his bed chewing gum. It had multicoloured hair ranging between black and yellow, strawberry eye shadow all around its light grey eyes, five silver rings piercing its bottom lip, and a leather plaited choker around its scrawny neck.
‘I hate coppers.’
‘Demons hate everyone, don’t they?’
‘Especially this demon.’
‘I take it you’re Cookie?’
‘Yes.’
‘Do you have a last name?’
‘I have a first and a last name, but I don’t tell people in authority either of them.’
‘So Cookie isn’t your real name?’
‘Do you think my parents are imbeciles?’
‘You’re the one called Cookie.’
‘I don’t know if I want to help you.’
‘I don’t know if I want you to help me.’
‘Charlie said you didn’t do what they’re saying you did.’
‘Charlie’s right.’
‘How long have you been a copper?’
‘Twenty years.’
‘Have you ever policed demos?’
‘When I was younger.’
‘I bet you got away with murder then.’
‘Not murder, but the rules were certainly different. What makes you ask?’
‘I like going to demos and winding up the police. They can’t do anything to you now without it appearing on the TV, Youtube, or in the newspapers the next day.’
‘Very responsible. Is there a point to your visit, or are you just here to wind me up?’
‘Charlie said you’ve had a heart attack.’
‘Charlie’s right again.’
‘I’ll go easy on you then.’
‘Too kind.’
‘Unless, of course, you give me loads of attitude.’
‘Now that we’ve got to know each other, do you want to start?’
‘May as well, I can see you’re not going to be much fun.’
‘Are you going to take notes, or something?’
‘Or something.’
‘Which means?’
‘I remember everything.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘You’re not very bright, are you?’
‘Obviously not.’
‘I can’t forget, so I remember everything.’
‘Like the Rain Man?’
‘Except Kim Peek – who was played by Dustin Hoffman in the film – was a savant with congenital brain abnormalities. My brain’s normal. The doctors have no explanation for my extraordinary abilities.’
‘Lucky you.’
‘Lucky me.’
He recounted everything that he’d told Charlie.
‘Okay. It all sounds a bit suspicious. Now, let’s go back to the time you joined the police force.’
‘You’re not expecting me to remember everyone I’ve ever pissed off or arrested, are you?’
‘Why not?’
‘Unlike you, I can barely recall what happened yesterday, never mind twenty years ago.’
‘Charlie didn’t say you had dementia. Can’t you remember a few of the people you’ve fitted up?’
Kowalski laughed. ‘That’s how I got all my convictions.’
‘I guessed as much.’
‘You may not need to write things down, but I do. Go and ask the nurse for a pencil and some paper. I’ll try and make a list, it’s the best I
can do without having access to my personnel file. Tomorrow, I’ll get my secretary... Well, the woman who used to be my secretary until I was fitted up, to drop the file off. I should be able to fill in the gaps once I’ve got that.’
‘Okay, I suppose it’ll have to do. I can get started at least.’ She went out and came back with what he’d asked for.
While he pieced together his police career from the scraps of information that he could remember, she leaned back in the chair, put her Doc Martin boots on his bed, and blew bubbles with her chewing gum. She wore an old khaki Army jacket and a pair of black trousers with a multitude of pockets and zips.
‘Tell me about the Chief Constable.’
His name is Kennard Barrett-Croft. I think he’s married with children. That’s really all I know about him. He did most of his policing in Yorkshire.’
‘You’re turning out to be less than useless.’
‘Your bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired, you know.’
He passed her the sheet of A4 with his scribblings on. ‘That’s the best I can do.’
She scanned it and smiled. ‘You’ve been receiving money under false pretences. What did you do for the other nineteen years?’
‘This and that. Being a policeman isn’t about locking people up all the time, you know.’
‘I thought that was your raison d'être.’
‘What?’
‘Your reason for existence. If you’re not cracking skulls open with those bloody baton things, then you’re locking people in cells for a bit of torture and death in custody, which are made up to look like accidents.’
‘Where do you get that crap from?’
‘I have friends who have been through the system.’
‘They’re feeding you shit.’
‘Yeah, you would say that.’ Cookie stood up. ‘I’m going before you get any more boring. I’ll come back tomorrow night about the same time. Make sure you get your personnel file and do this list properly, otherwise...’ She drew her finger across her throat.
‘What the hell does that mean?’
‘I’ll terminate my services.’
‘I’m beginning to wonder whether that might be a Godsend. What exactly are you going to do?’
She let out a laugh as she opened the door. ‘Oh yeah, as if I’m going to tell you.’
Then she was gone.
Is this what his life had come to? He was a Detective Chief Inspector – untouchable, or so he thought. Instead, he was being framed, and his own people were complicit in the crime. It seemed that the only ones who could help him were two oddballs who plied their trade outside the system – the very people he was employed to fill up the prisons with. Maybe – if he got out of this in one piece – it was time to go. Maybe he should take early retirement before the job took him. He’d had two heart attacks now, the next one might be his last. He loved his job, but did he love it enough to die for?