by Ellis, Tim
‘That’s what most of us think.’
‘I’ve employed one of the top solicitors in the country. Not because we’re guilty of anything, but simply because the system swallows up working-class people who can’t defend themselves, and spits them out. Ray and I are just normal working-class people trying to live our lives the best way we know how, and with four children I can tell you that isn’t easy.’
‘It’s not easy with one child,’ a woman called.
‘Yesterday, police officers – led by DCI Debbie MacGregor – searched our home. It wasn’t a controlled search, it was a free-for-all...’ She put her hand in her bag, pulled out a handkerchief, and dabbed at her eyes. ‘They destroyed most of our possessions, tore pictures of my children up, and ripped my clothes to shreds. I’ve taken photographs if anyone is interested?’
Everybody was interested.
She found the memory stick that she’d downloaded the photographs to in her handbag, and slipped it into a skinny woman’s groping hand. ‘And you are?’
‘Becki Taylor from the Roding Journal.’
‘You all heard that. Becki Taylor has the photographs.’
‘What about your children, Mrs Kowalski?’
She dabbed at her eyes again. ‘Social Services have taken them from me based on a pack of lies. I have no idea where they are. This is just another example of how the authorities can trample over ordinary people. Well, I warn you now, I’m going to make them all pay. Will you help me?’
‘We’ll help you,’ someone shouted, and there were cries of “Yes”, and “Bolshevik bastards”.
‘You’re all so kind,’ and she dabbed at her eyes once more. She was beginning to think that she might be nominated for an Oscar if she carried on. ‘I have a hearing in the family court at Redbridge Magistrates Court in Ilford tomorrow morning at eleven o’clock. If you’re in the vicinity, I’d appreciate your support.’
‘We’ll be there,’ a few of them called to her.
‘I must go inside now, and see if they’ll let me visit my husband.’
They parted like the Red Sea to let her through.
‘Good luck, Mrs Kowalski.’
‘Thank you all so much.’
Inside, she caught the lift up to the ward that Ray was on.
There were a group of police officers outside her husbands’ room, and one of them moved towards her and barred her way.
‘I’m afraid your husband is under arrest, and as such...’
She glowered at him. ‘Who are you?’
‘I’m DCI David Mabe of the Drug Squad.’
‘Well, if you try to stop me from seeing my husband, I’ll create merry hell, and then I’ll go outside and talk to the press, and let them take photographs of my bruised breasts and abdomen...’
‘You’re the wife of a senior police officer.’
‘I’m a cornered lioness protecting her mate and her cubs, so you’d better keep out of my way.’
He stood to one side and let her pass.
Chapter Seventeen
‘Having the names of three victims is good, regardless of where they come from,’ Stick said. ‘They’re another lead, and let’s be honest, we haven’t really got much in the way of leads on this case.’
‘I suppose. I keep forgetting SDI Bollock is no longer in charge of the case – I am.’
‘Four days and counting.’
‘Four days! How did your calculator work that out?’
‘Today, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.’
‘Today is nearly over, and are you willing to work all over the weekend?’
‘If you get your DI, I’m willing to wade into the swamp and fight the monster.’
‘What swamp? What monster?’
‘It’s just a figure of speech to illustrate I’d do anything to help you to get your promotion.’
‘I think I’m going to puke. You’re just trying to get into my knickers drawer again, aren’t you?’
‘I am not. I have a girl...’
Xena banged the dashboard with the palm of her hand. ‘Of course, the moving bedroom curtain. Well, you’re full of surprises. What’s she like, Stickamundo?’
‘I can’t remember.’
‘You know I’ll wheedle it out of you one way or another, so it would just be a lot less painful for you if you spilled your guts now.’
‘Oh look! We’re here.’
‘It’s merely a hiatus in the interrogation, Stick. We’ll continue with it later.’
Toadstone stepped out through the door wearing his zip-up paper suit, pulled off the mask, and pushed the hood back.
‘You’re not really going to lunch with him, are you?’
‘Are you jealous?’
‘No, it’s just that... Well, he’s a colleague, and aren’t there rules about having relationships with colleagues?’
‘Calm down. I’m having lunch with him, that’s all for now. And anyway, if you have a girlfriend, why do you care?’
‘No, no, don’t misunderstand me, Sarge. I’m thinking of you. I wouldn’t want you to jeopardise your promotion by doing something stupid.’
‘And you think having lunch with a colleague is stupid?’
‘A romantic lunch might be.’
‘You want me to keep my virginity intact for you, don’t you? I’m afraid I have some bad news, Stick.’
‘I think we’d better go and do what we came to do.’
Xena laughed as she climbed out of the car.
‘Sergeant Blake,’ Toadstone said, walking towards them. ‘It’s nice to see you.’
‘Is it? You’re not just saying that, are you?’
Toadstone glanced at Stick.
‘Take no notice of her, Dr Toadstone. I think she’s got hormone problems.’
‘You leave my hormones out of this. Right, let’s take a look inside this ESP Logistics.’ She brushed past Toadstone and began putting on a paper suit, boots, mask and gloves.
Stick did likewise.
‘I hope you’re not going to be disappointed,’ Toadstone said.
‘With you?’
‘With what’s inside this industrial unit.’
‘All I’m expecting is a relay switch. Anything else will be a bonus.’
‘You’re in for a surprise then.’
‘I like surprises.’
Although there were a few frosted roofing panels it was dingy inside, and out of necessity the lights had been switched on. The unit measured approximately twenty feet square, and it was empty except for a long bench against the rear wall, a leather executive chair with castors, and above the bench, a cork board secured to the wall, which had been covered with hundreds of photographs.
Forensic officers were busy taking their own pictures as they approached the board.
‘I take it that these are Smith’s victims?’ Stick said.
‘We haven’t verified that yet, but it seems likely.’
They walked the length of the board staring at the pictures. There was a collection of ten photographs taken of each victim, which were grouped together on the board...
‘Have you counted how many?’ Xena asked.
‘Forty-five.’
‘Christ, that coincides with the amount Di Heffernan has found at Smith’s house.’
‘Yes, it does,’ Toadstone said. ‘I’ve checked it with her.’
The photographs revealed a work-in-progress. The first one showed the victim alive and smiling, the last was a bloody dismembered mess. With each group of photographs a Christian name had been printed above them: Maria, Susan, Alice, Giedre, Eloisa, Sibyl....
‘A lot of the names aren’t English, Xena observed.
‘Immigrants,’ Stick said. ‘That’s probably why nobody has missed them.’
‘Immigrants would still be missed,’ Toadstone said.
Xena scratched her nose through the mask. ‘Illegal immigrants wouldn’t though.’
‘How would Smith find all these illegal immigrants?’ Stick asked. ‘If that’s
what they are. I mean, it’s not as if they’re waiting on street corners...’
‘Prostitutes?’ Toadstone offered.
‘It’s a possibility,’ Xena said. ‘But not all illegal immigrants are prostitutes, and not all prostitutes are illegal immigrants. In other words, Smith is hardly likely to trawl the streets asking each one if they’re an illegal, is he?’
‘No,’ Stick said. ‘I think we’re missing something.’
‘What about the relay switch?’ Xena asked, changing the subject.
‘What about it?’
‘Do you know where it terminates?’
‘Yes and no.’
Xena sighed. ‘Don’t say that.’
‘Unfortunately...’
‘And don’t start your sentences with “Unfortunately”.’
‘Sorry. It’s a remote control relay switch, which means that it can be accessed from anywhere in the world, and all calls go to any remote phone.’
‘Can’t you interrogate it?’
‘Yes we can, but it’ll take some time, and there are no guarantees we’ll find anything, or that what we do find will be useful.’
‘Are you ever optimistic?’
‘No, not really.’
‘Should we go to lunch then? Stick’s volunteered to stay here and keep the train moving.’
‘There’s a place not too far away called Edelweiss...’
‘Like the song?’
‘Yes. It’s an authentic German restaurant. They sell things like bockwursts, bratwursts, jæger schnitzels, and sauerkraut.’
‘Things! What about food? Do they sell any food?’
‘Let’s be optimistic for once, shall we?’
‘While I’m stuffing my face with schnitzels,’ Xena said to Stick. ‘Talk to that woman outside...’
‘Pauline Curren from Radcliffe Estates?’
‘Yes, that’s the one. Find out what she knows about the man who rents this unit from them. You know the thing: Did anyone ever meet him? Did he pay by cheque or credit card? Have they got a contact number or an address for him? Do...’
‘I think I get the idea.’
‘Good. And walk down to Unit 5 to see the sign man...’
‘Sean O’Flynn?’
‘The very one. Ask him...’
‘You can go to lunch now.’
‘I think I will.’
‘Don’t worry about me. I’m sure I’ll be able to find a dead rat, or a cockroach or two...’
‘Are you trying to make me feel guilty?’
‘Is it working?’
‘Not in the slightest. But I wouldn’t want anyone to suggest that I don’t care about the wellbeing of animals...’
‘You’re referring to the rat and the cockroaches, aren’t you?’
‘Of course, what did you think I meant?’
‘Nothing.’
‘As I was saying, I’ll try and bring you back a sandwich. What filling do you like?’
‘Beluga caviar and...’
‘Starve then.’
‘I’m just joking. Cheese salad.’
‘I was joking about bringing you a sandwich back as well. Come on Dr Genius, let’s go and munchen.’
***
‘Where to?’ Gus asked holding the limousine door open.
‘We’d like to see the sights of Richmond,’ Richards said. ‘Are there some sights?’
‘We got sights, Ma’am.’
Richards laughed. ‘No, don’t call me “Ma’am”, Gus. Call me “Mary”.
‘Okay, Ma’am. What sights are you interested in?’
‘I don’t think we have a preference,’ Parish added. ‘Do we?’
‘There’s not much of the morning left, but I could take you to Monument Avenue. There, we got a fistful of statues, and boutiques for the ladies to do some shopping. Without getting myself into too much trouble, I know how the ladies like to shop. You could also have lunch there, because there’s some mighty fine restaurants along the street.’
‘That sounds good,’ Angie said.
‘And you’ll wait for us?’ Richards asked.
‘I certainly will, Ma’am.’
Parish climbed in and was swallowed up by the soft leather seat. ‘We could do that until about two o’clock, and then do something else.’
‘There’s a mess of brochures in the side door for you to decide. We got art galleries...’
‘We’re not really art gallery people...’ Parish said.
‘Speak for yourself, Jed Parish,’ Angie admonished him. ‘We’re not all uncultured heathens. An art gallery would be very nice, thank you, Gus.’
‘Yes, Ma’am. I recommend the Sarah Monteith Gallery, which exhibits artwork by local artists as well as the more famous.’
‘What else you got?’ Richards asked.
‘History. We have lots of history here – Richmond was the capital of the confederacy. There’s the Virginia Historical Society Centre, the Richmond National Battlefield Park, and the American Civil War Centre.’
Parish pulled a face. ‘As much as we’d like see all those siights, there really isn’t enough time today. Maybe we could fit them in on Sunday and Monday.’
‘There’s your very own Agecroft Hall, which was actually built in Lancashire, England in the fifteenth century, and moved over here in 1925.’
Richards screwed up her face. ‘We’ve got enough old buildings in England without coming all this way to see more of them.’
‘Well, unless we get going, we won’t be seeing anything of Richmond, because it’ll be midnight. When you’re ready, Gus, let’s go to that Monument street. I’m beginning to feel a bit peckish.’
Gus set off.
‘Again?’ Angie said. ‘You’ve only just disposed of a massive breakfast.’
‘Your massive and my massive are worlds apart. A piece of bacon, a tiny helping of hash browns, and a piece of toast is hardly massive.’
‘You haven’t seen the breakfasts he orders, Mary,’ Angie said.
‘I can imagine. He eats like an elephant all the time.’
‘Exaggerate all you like, but you don’t see me piling on the pounds, do you? I’m still the hunk I’ve always been.’
‘Skunk more like,’ Richards said. ‘You jumbled up your letters and came out with the wrong word.’
‘Ha, ha, ha. See, that’s why you should come up on the stage with me tomorrow. You can keep them occupied by telling them rubbish jokes while I bumble through my presentation.’
‘Why aren’t you doing the presentation with him, Mary?’ Angie said. ‘I thought you were a partnership. Don’t partners do things together?’
‘Nobody is getting me on that stage. I’d just die of embarrassment.’
They arrived at the north-west end of Monument Street at the junction with Roseneath Road.
‘I’ll drop you here,’ Gus said. ‘Just keep on walking until you reach the roundabout with North Lombardy Street. I’ll be there waiting for you. If you need picking up, just call, and I’ll come get you.’
‘What are you going to do while we’re enjoying ourselves?’ Richards asked him.
‘Don’t you worry none about me, Ma’am. I’m studying to become a lawyer. Done two years already, got one more year to go.’
‘That’s great. Okay then.’
Once Angie had settled Jack in his buggy, they set off along Monument Street.
***
‘I’m surprised they let you in to see me,’ Kowalski said, pushing himself up in bed with his one free hand. The other was still handcuffed to the metal frame.
She leaned over and kissed him. ‘Even the condemned man is allowed a visit from his wife. I also told them that if they didn’t let me in I’d scream blue murder.’
‘It looks bad, doesn’t it?’
‘Don’t worry, Charlie and I are busy trying to make things right.’
‘I’m not optimistic. The charges and the evidence are mounting up against me. Someone’s really gone to a lot of effort on my behalf.’
/>
‘Charlie’s got that Cookie trying to find out who that someone is.’
‘She was a bit young... and weird.’
‘Aren’t they all these days? You’ve not said anything to those idiots outside, have you?’
‘I’ve told them everything.’
‘I just thought I’d ask.’
‘And anyway, what can I tell them apart from that I’m innocent?’
‘How are you feeling?’
He opened up his pyjamas jacket. ‘Look at the bruise from the defibrillator.’ There was a black mark – approximately six inches in diameter – on the left side of his chest. ‘And I sleep all the time, of course.’
Jerry touched the ugly looking mark. ‘Does it hurt?’
‘No, but pain is good. Pain tells me I’m still alive. They’re planning on doing another angioplasty on me tomorrow morning at eleven. I’m still getting the odd stabbing pain down my left arm. The doctor reckons I shouldn’t have had a second heart attack so soon after the first one, and maybe they need to put a couple more stents in to keep the arteries open. I said, pretty soon I’ll be more stent than human – he didn’t laugh. Doctors don’t have much of a sense of humour.’
‘Charlie’s arranged a hearing for tomorrow morning at eleven o’clock to see if we can get the children back.’
‘That’s more important than holding my hand during a routine operation. Christ! I wish could get out of here. I feel so useless.’
‘You’re not to worry. Mum and dad have come down to support us, and it’s time I did my bit. The press are on your side, you know. They don’t believe you did any of the things they’re accusing you of. I spoke to them outside, and they said they’re going to help us.’
‘That’s not like the press. They must like you.’
‘Well, I had to promise to be a Page 3 girl one day next week.’
‘You’d better...’