“Wow. Good picture,” said Jack. “We should be able to get an ID with that.”
“Already done,” said Sarah.
“Really? No holding you back, today.”
“Well… it helped that I recognised him. Name’s Ted – though I didn’t know his full name.”
“So…?”
“So… I came straight back from the quarry – went into the office, hit the computer and the phone…”
“And got a name for Ted the mystery raver?”
“Yep. Jackson. Ted Jackson. Younger brother of Rikky – the tattooed owner of the burger van that sits up by the school.”
“Aha – so that’s how you knew him. They’re the guys you were telling me about…”
“The very same. Or – to call them by their catchy company name – ‘Rikky’s Burgers’.”
“Nice. And Alan came through with a search for you?”
“Not quite,” said Sarah with a smile that Jack recognised as Sarah’s guilty look.
“Oh – I get it,” said Jack. “You used your pal in London, hmm? What’s his name – Phil?”
“He’s very discrete, Jack.”
“Hmm, I sure hope so.”
Jack knew that Sarah had used a detective agency when she split up from her husband – or “that lying, cheating, two-faced bastard” as she referred to him.
The divorce had, by all accounts, been messy.
But she’d ended up with some contacts in the shady world of surveillance and hacking that had proved useful in their own detective work.
Not that Jack always approved.
“Who needs official access to the Police National Computer huh?” said Jack. “When you have friendly Phil, all ready and eager to hack into it.”
“Jack, to be fair, Phil doesn’t ‘hack’ into it,” said Sarah. “Though actually he is pretty good at hacking.”
“You mean he uses a dodgy cop, huh?”
“Come on Jack – how else are we going to get good intelligence?” said Sarah. “Anyway, that’s not all. Turns out Rikky’s Burgers has an office address in… Gloucester.”
“Hmm – now that is interesting.”
“So I rang the number – but, bit of a dead end. It’s just one of those mail forwarding places. You know? Like a phony office.”
“Shame.”
“Hey, that wasn’t going to stop me,” said Sarah. “Not today. I popped downstairs to Julie in the estate agents’ – and she rang her branch office in Gloucester, and they’re pretty confident they can find the address for us. Might take a day or two.”
“Well – that’s some morning’s work.”
“Oh – and that’s not everything. Remember those kids in the Ploughman’s that night? The ones Maddie thought were a bit dodgy. Well, I rang Grace – who sends her love by the way – and she came up with some addresses for them.”
“Tell Grace – nice work from her too,” said Jack. ”That it?”
He watched her sit back in her chair and fold her arms.
“Just about,” she said, grinning. “Now how about you? Think you can match that?”
“Hmm, well, I don’t know,” said Jack. “It’s a tough call.”
He reached down for the shopping bag and lifted it up onto his lap.
“But maybe, just maybe…” he said.
And he lifted the bag onto the table – just as the waitress turned up with their lunch.
***
“Well, hello stranger,” said the waitress, putting the food on the table and turning to Jack.
“Hey, Jennie,” said Jack. “How you doing?”
“No, how you doin’,” said Jennie, in a very English version of Joey from Friends.
Sarah watched Jack and Jennie laugh together.
Does Jack know everyone in this village? she thought.
“We’ve missed you – must be nearly a year.”
“Missed you guys too,” said Jack. “And my Sunday breakfasts…”
“We going to see you tomorrow morning then?” said Jennie.
“Well – why not,” said Jack.
“Been too long,” said Jennie. “Now don’t you go away again; you hear?”
Sarah caught Jack’s eye – then he turned back to Jennie:
“Try not to,” he said.
Then Jennie reached for the bag on the table.
“Want me to put this out of the way for you?”
Sarah saw Jack rest his hand casually on the bag.
“That’s fine, Jennie, we’ll make space.”
“Okay, I’ll be back with some coffee.”
“Thanks,” said Jack.
Then Jennie patted Jack on the shoulder and headed off.
Everyone loves Jack, thought Sarah. What’s not to love?
She started her welsh rarebit. Jack followed.
“Sweet kid,” said Jack looking up from his plate.
“You know the names of everyone who works here?”
“Pretty much,” said Jack, eating. “Though I see they’ve taken on a couple of new faces.”
Sarah put down her knife and fork.
“So…” she said. “What’s in the mystery bag?”
Jack slid it across the table towards her.
“I wouldn’t empty it out on the table,” he said, taking another mouthful of toast.
She looked down at the bag, then opened it up.
“Bloody hell!” she said, looking straight back at Jack. “Is this what I think it is?”
She saw him nod.
“Where did you get it?”
“Josh’s house. Under a floorboard.”
“Wow. I mean… really?”
She looked back into the bag properly this time – and, still keeping it discretely out of sight, lifted some of the contents closer so she could see.
“There are hundreds of pills in here,” she said, her voice low. “Hundreds.”
“Not just pills,” said Jack.
“But what is it all?”
“Guessing… MDMA, speed, weed, resin, acid, bags of coke too – it’s a kinda one-size-fits-all stash. Crazy, huh?”
“What’s it worth?”
“I’m a little out of touch but I’d say – ten thousand? Twenty? Maybe more, street value.”
“Two coffees,” said Jennie, suddenly appearing at the side of the table.
Sarah froze. Sitting in the middle of the busiest tearoom in Cherringham with a bag full of Class A drugs was not how she’d planned her day.
Jack and I do get up to things, she thought.
She saw him reach slowly across to the bag, scoop it up and put it back on the floor.
“Make a bit of room for you, huh?” he said, smiling up at Jennie.
“Thanks, Jack.”
Sarah waited while the waitress laid out the coffees, then left.
“Jack… I don’t know what to think any more. Does this mean that Josh really was a dealer?”
She watched Jack stirring his coffee.
“I don’t think so,” he said.
“I don’t understand?”
“Here’s the thing,” said Jack. “I didn’t have to look hard for that stash. It was hidden – so that anyone really searching the place would find it easily.”
“You mean it was put there deliberately? Planted?”
She saw Jack nod.
“My guess, Josh dead… somebody wanted to frame him,” he said.
“Which means that what happened to Josh that night was premeditated?”
“Yep, I think so,” said Jack. “And whoever did it, didn’t care whether Josh was dead or alive at the end of it.”
Sarah lifted her coffee, sipped. Thought about this.
Something didn’t make sense.
“But wait a second,” she said. “If you’re going to frame somebody – you don’t use ten grand’s worth of drugs to do it. I mean, that’s just throwing away money.”
“I know,” said Jack. “Beats me too.”
“God, I thought we were making pr
ogress. But we’re no further ahead.”
“No,” he said, “though, we do have a very large stash of drugs.”
“You not going to give it to Alan?”
Jack hesitated. Shaky ground here.
“Um… not yet.”
“Any particular reason?”
“I’ve got a feeling the waters we’re about to go swimming in could be shark infested. And we may well need this bag.”
“To feed the sharks?”
“Let’s say… lure them.”
26. Down with the Kids
Jack held open the door of the Ploughman’s for Sarah, then followed her in, the door swinging shut behind him.
He looked around the pub.
Pretty empty – though he could see that the tables outside on the deck were busy.
Not surprising. Who would sit inside on a hot Saturday afternoon like today?
He followed Sarah to a quiet corner of the bar, where he saw Billy and a couple of barmaids busy pulling pints and serving.
“All right, Jack, Sarah,” said Billy, looking up. “Good to see you! What you having?”
“Diet coke for me,” said Sarah.
“Same please, Billy,” said Jack. “And when you have a moment – we got a small favor to ask you. We’ll be right here.”
He saw Billy nod – maybe understanding where this might lead – while he pulled a pint.
“Back on your detective lark are you?” he said.
Jack smiled. “You could put it like that.”
Though he’d never thought of it as a lark.
***
“Bloomin’ madhouse it was that night, I can tell you,” said Billy, leaning in close across the bar.
“I hear a lot of people were running tabs?” said Sarah.
“Too right! There were a fair few teachers in – guess they were treating it like an end-of-term party. Near a hundred quid one of them tabs came to by the time they left…”
“Good natured crowd, was it?” said Jack.
“Well, yeah. On the whole,” said Billy. “That poor lad that went off the bridge, though. He was in a state. If he hadn’t left on his own – I would have kicked him out. Otherwise – just your usual weekend high jinks.”
Jack leaned close, voice low despite the pub being near empty. “You think it was busy enough for someone’s drink to get spiked with no one noticing?”
Another nod from Billy. He was thinking it over.
“Well, it’s possible. I mean,” said Billy, “that can happen anywhere, any time – busy or not. You know that, Jack.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” said Jack. “Just wondering if you’d heard anything else about that night?”
“Not sure I catch your drift, Jack…”
“Word is there were a few underage kids in here, Billy,” said Sarah.
Billy turned to her, his face still.
Serving underage kids? Not a charge he’d welcome, Jack thought.
“Not that I knew about,” said Billy. “And if they were, they would have been served soft drinks and nothing stronger. We always check IDs.”
“Of course,” said Sarah.
Jack saw Billy’s eyes narrow.
“Not criticising you, Billy,” he said quickly. “Just wondered if you might have noticed a couple of individuals we’re interested in chatting to.”
“Jake Pawson. Callum Brady. Liam Norris,” said Sarah.
“Them three, hmm?” said Billy. “They might have been in.”
“Only might?” said Jack.
“All right – okay, yes they were.”
“Behaving themselves?”
“No more than usual. No less, either.”
“Thanks, Billy,” said Sarah.
“Any idea where we might find them?” said Jack. “On a sunny Saturday afternoon like this?”
Big pause now.
Jack liked Billy – and it was tricky pressing him like this.
Finally – Billy answered.
“Yeah, I reckon I do.”
Jack waited.
Then he saw Billy look up to the ceiling.
“Upstairs in my pool room,” he said. “And before you ask – they’re drinking shandy. All right?”
Jack laughed. “Can I buy you a drink, Billy?”
And Billy laughed as well, tension gone. “Why a pint of 6X thanks, Jack,” said Billy. “I’ll keep it in the barrel.”
Jack paid for the pint, then he and Sarah went through the bar and climbed the stairs to the pool room.
***
Sarah heard the sharp crack of pool balls before they reached the top of the stairs.
There was no door to Billy’s pool room because, really, it was just the open space above the bar.
At the far end, she could see a couple of pool tables. Two lads were playing at one table. Another sat on the other table, watching.
He looked familiar, but Sarah couldn’t quite remember from where.
Behind them on the wall, a big TV screen ran a Saturday afternoon sports programme, with the volume low.
Sarah looked around. The rest of the space was empty apart from stacks of tables and chairs.
Billy liked to call it his pool room – but really it was his storeroom and occasional events space.
Last time Sarah had been up here; the local band Lizard had played to a packed house.
An event that had more than a little to do with her and Jack solving a murder.
With Jack at her side now, she walked down the room towards the three lads.
One of them was about to make a shot – but as she and Jack approached, he pulled back from the stroke and stood up.
“Private game,” he said. “Do you mind?”
“Don’t mind at all,” said Jack. “You just carry on.”
“Yeah, that’s not what I meant – is it?”
“And what did you mean?” said Jack, taking a step forward.
Sarah watched the guy who’d been sitting on the other table, now ease himself off the table and step forward, a couple of pool balls in one hand.
Tall, ginger hair, a ring in one ear – and now Sarah remembered.
He was the kid with the bike who she saw talking to Rikky the other day up at the burger van.
“I think he meant – we don’t like spectators,” said ginger-haired guy.
“Well, that’s too bad,” said Jack. “Because we’re not going away–”
“–until we’ve all had a little chat,” added Sarah.
She smiled at the frozen group, looked from face to face.
“So. Callum, Liam and Jake. Who’s who?”
“And who the hell’s asking?” said the kid with the cue.
She thought: These tough guys are in the same year as Chloe?
“Name’s Jack Brennan. We’re talking to everyone who was in the pub the night Josh Owen died.”
Silence. Then:
“You police?” said the kid with the cue.
“Nope,” said Jack. “Just investigating on behalf of somebody.”
“So who’s who?” said Sarah.
She watched as they all looked at each other – making a joint decision somehow without speaking.
Like pack animals, she thought. Maybe they’ll say nothing.
“I’m Callum,” said ginger-haired guy.
“Liam,” said guy with cue.
“So… guessing you’re Jake,” said Jack looking hard at the third guy.
The other two turned to Jake as if maybe he was the suspect.
Sarah saw the confusion in their faces and stopped herself from laughing.
“Yeah. What if I am?” said Jake, now looking nervous.
Sarah looked each of them in the eye.
“You’re all up at Cherringham High School, aren’t you?” said Sarah.
“Yup. So?” said Liam.
“And you were in the pub the night of the prom,” said Jack.
“Sure. It’s not a crime,” said Jake.
“Might be – if you were
drinking,” said Sarah.
Callum picked up his glass of shandy. “Nothing stronger than this. Just having a bit of fun.”
“Did you sit with the teachers?” said Sarah.
“Bloody hell, no! You gotta be kidding,” said Liam. “Come on – what’s this really about?” said Jake. “We want to get back to this game.”
Callum, who seemed somehow older than the others, was quiet.
“Did you see Josh Owen that night – in the pub – or after?”
“Yeah, we saw him,” said Liam. “Out of his head he was.”
“You could tell, hmm?” said Jack.
“Everybody knows, now don’t they?” said Jake. “Topped himself.” Then, under his breath, “Good riddance.”
“Not a fan, hmm?”
“Owen? He was a bastard,” said Jake.
“Oh really?” said Jack. “What I hear, he was very popular.”
“Yeah. If he liked you.”
“And he didn’t like you?” said Sarah.
Jack moved to one side and leaned against one of the tables.
“You see any people using drugs that night – down in the pub?” said Jack.
“We’re at school, Mr. Brennan,” said Liam with a grin. “We’re too young to know about stuff like that.”
Sarah watched them all turn to each other and laugh.
Big joke, thought Sarah. Interview over. Almost…
She caught Jack’s eye, gave him the slightest of nods to indicate: Just run with me, Jack.
“I guess they don’t really know anything, Jack,” she said. “We’d best be off.”
She saw him nod and join her.
He was on board with whatever move she was about to make.
“Thanks anyway, guys,” he said. “Enjoy the rest of the game.”
“Yep, thanks,” said Sarah.
They didn’t reply. She watched them pick up cues and return to their game. Then she turned and headed for the stairs, with Jack next to her.
As they walked, she caught his eye again – and yes – she guessed he knew what she was about to do.
A trick from the master.
She stopped and turned.
“Callum,” she said.
She watched him stand up, surprised.
Probably thinking that the questions were done.
“Next time you’re up at the burger van – say hi to Rikky for me will you?”
“What?”
“You know – Rikky. Say hi, next time you see him?”
“What? I don’t know anyone called Rikky.”
Dead in the Water Page 13