Mortal Men (The Lakeland Murders Book 7)

by J. J. Salkeld

  ‘Don’t worry. I’ve got Ian with me, remember. He’ll look after a senior officer, if it comes to that.’

  ‘Senior citizen, more like’ said Mann, cheerfully. ‘Don’t worry, Jane. The job’ll be reet, don’t you fret.’

  ‘And you’ll wear your earpiece?’

  ‘I will, and I’ll tell Andy what he needs to know’ replied Mann, before Hall could start complaining. ‘Come on, boss, we’d better get moving.’

  They were still fifty yards short of the wrestling ring, and still too far away to make out the identities of any of the people standing or sitting around its roped-off edges. But Mann was listening to what the spotters were saying as they pushed through the crowds.

  ‘He’s there’ said Mann, ‘definite. His back to us, right in front, up by the rope. Appears unarmed. You’re right, Andy, he’s in running gear with a number on his back.’

  ‘What number?’

  ‘Does it matter?’

  ‘No. Ignore me. I’m just nervous, that’s all.’

  ‘You think he’s armed? Is that it? He could still have a concealed weapon.’

  ‘No, nothing like that. I just want it all to be over, for Jane’s sake.’

  Two young men were wrestling in the centre of the ring, their arms locked together and circling slowly. Hall just glanced at them as he walked forward, making an effort not to accelerate. When he and Mann were just a few yards away one of the men threw the other to the ground, the referee said something, and they both sprang up and shook hands. Hall noticed the grass in their hair. They both followed the referee towards the trophy tent on the far side of the ring. Hall gestured to Mann to give him some space, and Mann nodded and paused while Hall kept moving forward.

  ‘Did your lad do it?’ he asked, as he came alongside Winder.

  ‘No. He were beat, fair and square, like.’

  ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘Aye, me too. But there’s always next year, isn’t there? I dare say he’ll get his name on that pot one of these days.’

  ‘I’m sure you’re right.’ Hall stood in silence for a moment. ‘Would you like a word with your lad, before we go?’

  ‘No. You’re all right. I’m ready.’

  ‘He doesn’t know any of it though, does he? Wouldn’t it be better coming from you? And you don’t want him to think you’re disappointed in him, do you? That would just hurt him even more.’

  ‘You’re right. I don’t want that. Christ, I could never be disappointed in him. However he does from now on. Life’s hard, isn’t it? We all make mistakes. No-one wins all the time.’

  ‘That’s right. You go. I’ll stay here. But then come straight back to me, OK? We can talk, before we go. But don’t give my colleagues any reason to step in first.’

  ‘Aye, I’d like that. I won’t be long.’

  Hall moved quickly to Ian Mann.

  ‘Tell everyone to hold off. He’s talking to his boy, then coming straight back to me. Make sure that everyone keeps calm, OK? No sudden movements.’

  Mann made the call, and the two men stood together and watched. John Winder was doing all the talking, and after a minute or two Hall walked back to where he had been standing, and looked up at the sky, blue from fell to fell. He could see a few floaters in his vision, but he could also see small birds high above, singing. Were they swifts, perhaps? Or skylarks? He kept looking up until his neck started to ache, and he felt John Winder’s presence next to him.

  ‘OK?’

  Winder shrugged. ‘Life goes on. He’ll get over it. People do, don’t they?’

  ‘They do. It’s amazing really.’

  ‘What’s the alternative?’

  ‘There is that. So you told him about Frankie Foster.’

  ‘I did. And you know what? He’d guessed. Said he knew right from the second he first heard about it. Funny, isn’t it?’

  ‘And he knew why?’

  ‘Oh, aye. He knew. And I told him about, you know, my situation. He didn’t know about that.’

  ‘He’ll be able to visit you, on remand.’

  ‘Oh, I won’t be on remand, Mr. Hall. I’ll be on bail. One of the advantages of having money is that I have got the very best lawyers that money can buy. They’ve got my passport, and they’ve got my medical files too. I’m denying everything from here on in, like, and it’ll be months and months before it comes to trial. And I don’t have months and months.’

  ‘I see.’

  ‘Does it bother you? That I’ll escape justice, like.’

  ‘It’s not really escaping though, is it?’

  ‘It’s no different than what comes to us all. Even the new born bairn, like. I often wonder if people think about that, when they have a baby.’

  ‘Did you?’

  ‘No. Of course I bloody didn’t. How about you?’

  ‘Me neither. And I’m well known as a gloomy bastard. I’m having another kid, if you can believe that.’

  ‘Not that gloomy then.’

  Hall smiled. ‘No, I suppose not. But before we go, can I ask you a couple of questions? Just for my own satisfaction.’

  ‘Aye, all right.’

  ‘Do you regret it now, killing Frankie Foster? I just can’t see what it achieved. Not really.’

  ‘I don’t regret it, no. He needed to give us all back some of the time he took from us, when he grassed us up like that. You do see that?’

  ‘A day for a day, then?’

  ‘Something like that, aye. But, like I say, I’m admitting nowt. As soon as your mate comes over.’

  ‘You recognised him, last night?’

  ‘As a copper? Aye, of course I did. But what else did you want to know?’

  ‘I understand why you used that particular gun, because you wanted to drop Tyson in it, at least for a while. I assume you’d have owned up, in the end?’

  ‘Aye. That was the plan.’

  ‘But why bother planting those cartridges on Jez Taylor?’

  ‘Easy. He deserves to be inside, doesn’t he? But I’m guessing that’s where he’s going, with no help from me. Am I right?’

  ‘You are. He was arrested earlier in connection with some very serious offences. And you’re right, it couldn’t happen to a nicer bloke. But how did you know about that?’

  ‘I know a lot of things. Too many, I dare say. But be honest, Mr. Hall, I bet you’d much rather put him away than me, like.’

  Hall smiled. ‘Honestly? I don’t even think about it anymore. People who I think should be put away for life are back out on the streets in five minutes, and people who I know will never pose a threat to a soul go down for years. I’m just addicted to knowing, I suppose, and when I do, that’s it for me, really. Close the file, and move on.’

  ‘And you don’t think about them again? The victims, the criminals? None of them?’

  ‘Not usually, no. But with you it will be different, John. I’m pretty sure of that. Are you ready to make a move now?’

  ‘Aye. As ready as I’ll ever be, like.’

  Mann looked in his mirror as they drove back to Kendal.

  ‘We’ve got a Police escort, John’ he said over his shoulder.

  ‘Oh, aye. Well I’ve done nowt, like I was telling your mate. Nowt.’

  ‘Save it for the tape, mate. You know how this works. Unlucky about your lad, by the way. He nearly won it, apparently.’

  ‘Aye, he did. He’ll be stronger next year, mind. His name will be on that pot soon enough, you mark my words.’

  ‘Something to look forward to, eh?’

  DI Jane Francis wasn’t surprised to get called in to the Divisional Superintendent’s office, but she was surprised to see the Chief there.

  ‘We’re in exalted company today, Jane’ he said.

  ‘I can see that, sir’ she said, smiling.

  ‘No, I meant that John Winder has brought a whole team of lawyers with him. A phalanx, even. Oh, I see, you already know. You were just joking. Very droll, Jane.’

  ‘Thank you, sir.
They’re hard to miss, really. There are six of them in total, plus assorted drivers and PAs. We’ve run out of clean mugs, I hear.’

  ‘And what are they saying?’

  ‘That they are willing to disclose parts of their client’s medical records, to confirm that he isn’t expected to live more than another six months, maximum. Beyond that they’ve been mainly asking what our case against their client is actually based upon.’

  ‘And what does the CPS say?’

  ‘Much the same, sir. They say that if he doesn’t confess then we probably won’t be able to charge him. Not at the moment, anyway. But at least we do know that it’s him now.’

  ‘Because he confessed to Andy Hall?’

  ‘Yes, sir, that’s right.’

  ‘But Andy wasn’t wearing a wire, so it’s entirely un-corroborated. Is that the case?’

  ‘I’m afraid so, yes.’

  ‘And why was that?’

  ‘He was with DS Mann, sir. But Winder indicated to Superintendent Hall that he wished to speak alone. Both officers confirm this account.’

  ‘I see. And why did Andy agree to Winder’s request?’

  ‘Because he was fully aware of the weakness of our evidential position, sir. And, as I say, at least this way we do know who was responsible for the killing of Frankie Foster.’

  ‘Could Winder have been covering for someone though, Jane? After all, he hasn’t got long to live.’

  ‘It’s possible of course, but unlikely in my judgement.’

  For the first time the Chief looked encouraged.

  ‘So answer me this, Jane. Do you think that, when Winder and his band of legal-eagles are safely off the premises, that we could issue a press release saying that our investigations continue, but that we’re not looking for anyone else in connection with the murder of Frankie Foster?’

  ‘Yes, sir, I think we could. And we could say something else as well, sir.’

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘That we’re bringing charges against the persons responsible for the series of thefts by deception against old folks, including conspiracy charges against a local council officer.’

  ‘Excellent. But wasn’t there a possible manslaughter as well?’

  ‘That’s right, but the CPS says that there’s not enough evidence to proceed.’

  ‘And you’re happy with that?’

  ‘In this case, yes, we are. I just thought it might make a bit of a double-whammy, as it were. You know, putting it all out on one release. Show we’re really on the job.’

  The Chief smiled, indulgently, as one might at a precocious child.

  ‘I hear you, Jane. But that would be a terrible waste. We’d get no coverage for the conspiracy at all. So here’s what I suggest we do. Release on the burglaries today, because we’re charging on those. And then go with Winder tomorrow.’

  The Superintendent nodded so hard that his collar must have started chaffing.

  ‘Will do, sir.’

  ‘Well then, that’s an excellent day’s work, Jane, well done. And to your team too, of course. There have been doubters, I won’t deny it, but we held the line, didn’t we?’

  It was Jane’s first direct contact with the Chief since the case had started. But this didn’t seem like the time to mention it.

  ‘We did, sir. Thanks for your support. And one other piece of good news, while I’m here. On a more personal note.’

  ‘You and Andy are getting married? That’s excellent news.’

  ‘No, sir. I’m having a baby.’

  ‘Well, I see. That’s excellent news too, isn’t it? Better, possibly. Well done to both of you. We’ll be sorry to lose you, obviously.’

  ‘I’m not going yet, sir. And I’ll be coming back. You can count on that.’

  ‘Of course, yes. I didn’t mean…. We’re an equal opportunities employer, Jane. You know that.’

  ‘I do indeed, sir. Well, if you’ll excuse me, I’d better go and get the Winder interview over with. Us sitting here has probably cost him about five grand in fees. Although I doubt that’s too much of a worry for him. And of course we’ll all be going for a drink later, sir, if you’d care to join us.’

  The Chief couldn’t have looked more surprised if Jane had told him that he was the father of her child.

  ‘Thanks very much, but I need to get back to HQ, meetings you understand. But I’m sure that Superintendent…’

  ‘Same meeting, sir.’

  ‘Yes, of course. Silly of me. Well, Jane, don’t let me keep you. And well done again. If there’s one thing I like it’s a tidy file, following a well-ordered investigation. It’s a thing of beauty, Jane, and it brings with it a feather or two for your cap as well.’

  Ian Mann was buying when Keith Iredale walked in.

  ‘You’re a bloody master of timing, lad. What can I get you?’

  ‘A pint of whatever you’re having.’

  ‘A wise decision. And, talking of which, I hear that you finally charged your girlfriend, plus Taylor and that creep from the Council.’

  ‘Aye, the lot. It took bloody ages, because Eric Graham cried like a bairn, and he couldn’t bloody wait to pin the blame on Jez Taylor. Meanwhile he’s still denying everything, which even his lawyer says is a shit plan. If he tries that on in court he’s looking at drawing a really long stretch.’

  ‘Happy days then.’

  ‘Aye, exactly. I’m made up about it, honestly.’

  PC Nobby Styles walked in, dressed in his street clothes, and pumped Iredale’s hand hard.

  ‘The hero of the bloody hour. Anyone who can deck Jez Taylor and get him nicked for something worth some proper jail time, then you’re a bloke I want to drink with. What are you having?’

  ‘Ian’s just got them in.’

  ‘Bugger me. That’s worth celebrating as well. I’ll have a pint then, Ian. Just a small one, like.’

  A few other officers slapped Iredale on the back, or shook his hand. One or two did both. They all offered drinks, and more than a couple were accepted over the next hour or two. The place was packed now, and Mann had to push his way back to where he’d left Iredale, still propping up the bar. Or, more likely, the other way round.

  ‘You all right, lad?’

  ‘Aye, Ian, never better. But then you already knew that, didn’t you? You big bastard, you.’

  ‘Haven’t I kept telling you, lad? There’s nothing like it, is there? It doesn’t matter how much shit you have to take from the bosses and the cons, they can’t take moments like this away from you, can they? The best feeling in the bloody world, getting a right little shitbag like Taylor safely off the streets.’

  ‘There’s no need to rub it in, mate. And I’d already decided. I’m staying. I quite fancy your job, to tell you the truth.’

  ‘Glad to hear it, Keith. And I hear there’s a vacancy for an ACC, so I might have a go for that.’

  Iredale laughed. ‘The only way you’d ever get that job is if you had to fight people for it. Like a bare-knuckle interview. I bet they already do that, over in America, like.’

  ‘That might be a better way than however it is they choose the pillocks who get these jobs at the moment.’ Iredale pointed unsteadily over Mann’s shoulder, and Mann turned round. ‘Evening, Andy. You going for the ACC’s job then?’

  ‘I might, if I wasn’t in the dog-house with the Chief over not getting corroboration of Winder’s confession. I tried to explain that if you’d been right with me he’d never have said a word, but that didn’t cut much ice. He spent twenty minutes telling me how disappointed he was with me, and I spent the next twenty minutes agreeing with him. It didn’t seem to help much, though. Anyway, Keith, you did get a nice result today. Really, really good. I’ve got no clue how you did it, but who cares about that? What can I get you?’

  Sandy Smith had turned up with a couple of her team, and the throng parted as she approached Jane.

  ‘What’s your poison, love?’ she asked, nodding at Jane’s empty glass. ‘Y
ou look a lot more sober than most of the judges I meet.’

  ‘Just a mineral water, thanks.’

  ‘Bollocks. You’ll have a gin and tonic, and like it.’

  ‘No, I can’t.’

  ‘Get a cab home. Christ, get Andy to carry you.’

  ‘It’s not that.’

  Sandy thought about the available evidence for a second.

  ‘Fuck me. You’re up the duff. Congratulations, though you must be off your fucking head, like.’

  ‘Shhh, Sandy. No-one knows.’

  ‘I hope Andy does.’

  ‘Of course. I mean the team don’t know.’

  ‘Oh, right. Like that, is it? Mineral water it is then.’

  But Sandy hadn’t even moved when one of the civilian staff came up to Jane.

  ‘Congratulations, Jane. When’s it due?’

  ‘February the 14th. Thanks. But how the hell did you know, Janice?’

  ‘Is it a secret? Someone from HQ told me when I was checking on where those new computers are. She got it from the Chief’s PA, apparently.’

  ‘And have you mentioned this to anyone?’

  ‘No. Well, yes. Maybe one or two people.’

  So Jane wasn’t surprised when Hall told her, a few minutes later, that half a dozen people had already congratulated him.

  ‘Come on’ he said, ‘let’s get you out of here. Your feet must be killing you.’

  ‘Which means that you’ve had enough. But you’re right. I could do with something to eat.’

  They pushed their way through the crowd, accepting more congratulations and the odd joke as they went.

  ‘Bastards’ said Hall, smiling, when they got out into the warm evening air. They strolled slowly down through town, Jane commenting on the design of a pushchair that she saw.

  ‘No’ said Hall firmly, ‘I want one with a disk brake. You can’t be too careful, you know.’