Trodds Lane

by Nick Roteman

  When they had finished their meal, and were having coffee, Ash having waited patiently enough brought up as delicately as she could, the subject of Tom Phipps.

  “Can I ask you Alice how long have you known him?” She saw the flick of her eyes. “Sorry is that too impertinent, it’s the police officer in me.”

  “It’s ok I understand. Well actually known him, not that long, but of course he was a good friend of my late husband. In fact that’s how we met, he came to the funeral and stayed with myself and Peter...”

  Her voice trailed off as she mentioned his name, she faltered and glanced down at her hands, Ash could see they were trembling.

  “I’m sorry,” Ash said and truly meant it.

  Alice looked up almost searching her face before answering. “No don’t apologise, I have to get used to talking about poor Peter. How could someone have been so cruel as to send me emails purporting to be from him?” her eyes blazed. “How sick is that, and why, I’ll never understand and will never forgive whoever was responsible, never!” She stopped and pulled a face. “My turn to apologise: allow me to continue about Tom. I know he can come across as arrogant, which some may take for rudeness, but he had been so supportive and I couldn’t have survived all the legal paperwork, and understood half of the share certificates, without his help. I owe him my sanity you know, he’s a good friend.”

  Ash decided to leave it at that, she would only alienate Alice if she proceeded at this stage. Listening to her talk about him and how wonderful he was made her sick, this wasn’t the Tom Phipps they knew. They would have to interview her at length, and maybe after that she could try and warn her about the real Tom Phipps, but let that be another time it wouldn’t be fun.

  They finished coffee and Ash paid the bill and together they walked back to the station, and onto where Alice had parked her car. They formally shook hands, before Alice leant forward and kissed Ash lightly on her cheek.

  Ash returned to the station and down to the office she shared with her boss.

  He was still at his desk, his feet upon it, and reading a newspaper.

  “My god that was some meal. Well, tell, tell?” he said screwing up the paper and depositing it on the floor.

  “I wish there was. She hasn’t a clue who could have killed her son and genuinely thought he was in Brazil, also said how wonderful Tom Phipps was. In her words, she could not have survived after her husband’s death without him.”

  “Lovely. Ok tomorrow I want you to start going through what he does for a crust, what’s in his bank account and his close friends, everything, you know the procedure Sara.”

  She was shocked, ‘Sara,’ he hardly ever called her by her first name, this must be serious; he was definitely after Tomas Phipps.

  The journey back allowed her time to get her thoughts in some kind of order. She had not been strictly truthful to Ash. Had she asked her how she felt about Tom right now, she would have been honest and replied she was not certain anymore. A week prior to that, she would have shouted it from the rooftops, she was in love with a capital ‘L.’

  After the news about Peter, she suddenly didn’t trust him anymore. Had she been a stupid fool, had he duped her all along, she really didn’t know any more. Was he really responsible for those horrible sick pictures? Surely he couldn’t do something like that. So many nagging questions popping up, but she knew the first thing she must do.

  When Tom finally surfaced earlier that morning and realised she had already left for Bournemouth without him, alarm bells started to ring loudly in his head. He couldn’t afford to lose her or more especially her money, he was as usual not only broke but heavily in debt.

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Freddy had the day off today, so was able to enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Taking his coffee mug into the living room, he switched on the news. When the BBC switched to the local area news suddenly there it was, a picture of Peter, found murdered.

  Freddy shouted out to Auburn in her bedroom. “Aub, quick in here, come on, come on quickly!”

  She stomped in, her face screwed up in annoyance and a rebuttal on her lips at being summoned like some pet dog, but she caught sight of the picture on the TV and stopped dead, her mouth fell open.

  “Oh god, I don’t believe it,” Freddy wailed, rocking back and forth on the couch. “Both Rach and Pete, it can’t be oh Jesus!”

  Auburn stood transfixed in the doorway and watched the news item from there, before coming in and standing right in front of Freddy.

  “I was right see I do know some things. I need to go and see DS Ash, I need to show her all I have.” She calmly stated almost to herself before walking out of the room leaving Freddy in shock with tears running down his cheeks.

  He suddenly realised what she had just said and getting up he caught up with her in her bedroom putting on her bright red moccasins as these required no lace tying, the bane of her life.

  “Where you going Aub, you can’t just run off we need to talk about this.”

  “No I need to act, people have to listen to me especially now. DS Ash seemed a good person, she will listen and we can catch Tom. I have said all along it was him you know,” she added putting her hands on her hips. “No one listened, not even you, you just thought I was a funny freak. You’re like the rest of them, no one thinks I have a brain!”

  Freddy attempted to protest and put out a hand to grab her arm but she dodged it, grabbed her laptop and dashed from her bedroom.

  Freddy just collapsed onto her bed, this was a nightmare. If Tom were in anyway responsible, and he was still unconvinced on that front, he would surely come looking for Auburn who had spent the last few weeks mouthing off about him. Neither of them were safe, especially now she was off to the police station to stir things up even more. He was petrified; Tom was more than capable of hurting either of them without compunction.

  Ash was back at the station by seven thirty the following morning and already busy with acquiring authorisation to look into all bank accounts belonging to Tomas Phipps, when Auburn marched into the police station. She approached the counter, where a police constable who appeared to be no more than a boy stood with his hands resting on it, as he stared through the glass at her.

  “How can I help you miss?” he asked.

  “I need to see Detective Sergeant Ash, it’s urgent,” she replied before adding, “Oh yes, please!”

  “Do you have an appointment, have you been asked to come in?”

  “No, it’s urgent I need to see her now, right now!”

  The police constable may have only been young but he already had an air of tiredness about him. “What’s your name, I’ll see if she is on duty.”

  “Auburn Grimley, now please hurry!”

  In no particular hurry he leant across the counter and picking up the telephone spoke into it, replaced the receiver and turned back to her.

  “Please take a seat; she will be with you shortly.”

  Auburn stood her ground.

  “Please miss,” he repeated pointing in the direction of that enormous black settee filling the corner of the otherwise empty reception area, save of course for that hot beverage machine next to it.

  She tutted and reluctantly left him. She hesitated at the machine as she would have loved a coffee, but it stood there proud, coloured lights flashing at her, and she backed off and sat down instead.

  About ten minutes later she noticed Ash opening the counter door, which separated the reception area from the offices, and walking through it.

  “Hi Auburn, how are you?” she called out heading for her.

  Auburn stood up and fidgeted, she stared at her feet. “Good morning,” she answered expressionless.

  Ash stopped in front of her. “Have you come to see me about something in particular?”

  Auburn nodded her head. “Yes it’
s urgent. I have things to show you.”

  “Well why don’t you follow me up to one of the rooms and we can talk. Oh would you like a coffee to take with you?” she suggested, looking at the machine.

  “Yes I would love one, but I would only spill it along the way.”

  Ash not only paid for her coffee but also carried it for her as they made their way upstairs to one of the free interview rooms. She liked her, there was a refreshing honesty about her and although having a tendency to abruptness, through that showed her true intellect.

  “Well Auburn what have you got for me?” she finally asked as they had sat down in one of the interview rooms.

  Auburn opened her laptop and went into her picture folders. She clicked on a set and put them to run as a slideshow.

  “You need to see these, they’re not nice, but you need to see them all, ok.”

  She turned the laptop to face Ash, and moving herself around next to her pressed start.

  Ash watched the slideshow in total without commenting, although inside she was repulsed, she kept her silence. She then asked to see again the ones of Peter.

  She sat back in her chair relieved that was over, and glanced over at Auburn, whose face had remained passive throughout.

  Very clearly she said. “Who took those images, and I notice besides Peter Chandler there were some of your cousin Freddy.”

  Auburn nodded back. “Yes Peter and Freddy, they’re both gay, some mean people also call them poofs amongst other things you know.”

  “I didn’t know Peter was gay, do you think that might have a bearing on his death?”

  “Yes of course.” She answered in a matter of fact way, as if it was so obvious. “Tom killed Peter, the others I don’t know about, you will have to find that out. You’re good at digging, almost as good as I am on the internet I expect.”

  “Who took the pictures do you know Auburn?”

  “I downloaded the run of photos off Tom’s computer while he was not there of course.”

  “You mean all these,” she questioned, tapping the laptop. “Were copied illegally off Tomas Phipps’ computer?”

  “I don’t expect he would have let me do that had he been in the room, do you?” She said this in all seriousness, not as a quip.

  “I’d like to take a copy of these. You realise, and I don’t mean to upset you, but we only have your word and of course no proof these were taken off his computer. For now I only know they are on yours.”

  “But I’ve just told you so, I don’t lie you know, I don’t!”

  “No I know that Auburn, I know, but it won’t be admissible as evidence.”

  “But he took them, he is a terrible man, he’s evil,” she was adamant. “And he killed Peter and I’m sure my friend Rachel. Please stop him, please...” she went quiet as if somebody had pulled her switch.

  “I’d like my DI to see these right away, and I’ll be back with a memory stick. You ok to stay here, I won’t be long?”

  Auburn seemed about to burst into tears, so Ash sat down again.

  “You’ve been very brave bringing these in. Can I go and get DI Simpson, you have met him remember?”

  She brightened up almost instantly, so Ash left her and rushed off to find her boss.

  Simpson watched the slideshow but remained silent. Ash had begged him not to question Auburn, she was delicate enough and close to breaking down without his input.

  He remained tight-lipped. “Take a copy Ash,” was his only reply.

  He stood up, glanced over at Auburn and walked to the door. There he turned said, “thank you,” and left Ash to it.

  Ash took a copy. “Does Tomas Phipps know you have these pictures?” she asked softly.

  Auburn frowned. “No, well not yet!” She grinned.

  “No Auburn, he mustn’t know. Your life could be in danger, you must be especially careful, let the professionals take it from here.”

  “I think I want to go now, it’s not very nice in here.”

  It was Ash’s turn to smile, “It’s not supposed to be!”

  “Well I guess you’ve got that right!” Auburn conceded as she pushed back her chair and picking up her laptop, waited for Ash to lead her out and down to the front reception.

  Ash opened the reinforced door and let Auburn through into the reception area, and followed her out. She offered her hand to Auburn, who instead suddenly hugged her before quickly walking out the station. Ash watched her go, she couldn’t help grinning.

  Alice awoke alone in her bed and feeling quite got straight up rather than having a lie-in. She quickly showered and dressed before going downstairs.

  She found Tom in the study, he appeared to be working on his computer.

  “Good morning,” he said looking up.

  “We need to talk.” She replied stone-faced.

  She had had all night but still hadn’t figured out how to say what was on her mind. In all honesty she didn’t know whether Tom was involved in any way with the death of her son, but could she take that chance? Also those pictures Auburn had insisted were taken by Tom, how could she really justify dismissing her out of hand. Was it simply because she suffered from a slight mental disability or was the truth too painful to contemplate? Too many questions filled her tired mind, and no answers, but the seeds of doubt had been sown.

  “I’m sorry Tom it seems to have come down to this, but I want you to leave this house. Take all your belongings and just leave, I think it’s for the best.”

  She turned around to leave.

  “Whoa wait, you can’t just say something like that without at least explaining or better still allowing me to have my say.”

  She stopped and turned to face him, there were tears in her eyes.

  “I can, please don’t make this any harder, just leave, now please.”

  She walked out the study before he could respond to her.

  At about the same time Auburn was returning home from her visit to the police station so Tom had arrived back at his flat and was unloading his belongings from the car.

  He was still enraged at the way she had thrown him out, and to pass the time on the return journey he had thought of all kinds of nasty ways to teach her a lesson, she hadn’t got rid of him yet, he wasn’t finished with her.

  Auburn was pleased she had gone to see Ash, but not so pleased with the outcome. It appeared from the way Ash had talked, that all the trouble she had gone through to get those incriminating pictures had been in vain. She liked Ash but that didn’t stop her from being annoyed, in fact angry was a better word to describe her current feelings. She was not just going to sit and wait, patience was not part of her makeup.

  “Right Ash have you found out where Tomas Phipps is?” DI Simpson asked his Sergeant.

  “Yeah I rang Mrs Chandler and she said he has returned here.”

  “Well that’s handy, come on let’s go make his day!”

  Tom opened his front door, and judging by his expression was not pleased to see them on his doorstep.

  “Yes and what do you two want?”

  Simpson answered. “We have a few questions, if you don’t mind Mr Phipps?”

  “And if I bloody do?”

  “We’ll take you down the station and interview you there!” Simpson warned him.

  Tom sat down in the middle of his leather couch, forcing both Simpson and Ash to stay standing in front of the TV looking at him.

  “Some pictures have come into our possession. They are pornographic pictures of men, young men probably in the age range 16-24 or there about. Ring any bells, you like young men don’t you Sir?” Simpson said deliberately trying to rile him.

  “What my sexual preferences might be is of no concern to you. What makes you think I should be interested?”

  It was As
h’s turn. “Because the person who delivered them to us said you took them.”

  “Me? Yeah who’s this then; some man I’ve offended or a jealous girlfriend getting her own back, either way it’s crap, I don’t even own a camera, and why naked men for fuck’s sake.”

  “But you knew Peter Chandler didn’t you?” Simpson continued.

  “You already bloody know that!” Tom growled back at them, his eyes narrowed and fixed. “Right!” he added. “I’ve had enough of this, any more questions you can speak to my solicitor, now get out.”

  He got up off the couch and walked to the front door, which was directly off the living room, and opened it wide for them to leave.

  “Good day!” he said with a broad grin.

  Simpson and Ash left but not before Simpson promised to be back.

  “Are you threatening me, it certainly sounds like that. I’ll let my solicitor know thanks!” Tom winked before slamming the door shut.

  Back inside the car Simpson said he needed to be back at the station. Ash dropped him outside saying she had an errand to run.

  Ash parked the car outside The Owl and Parrot and entered. She stood in the doorway and looked around her. It being lunchtime the pub was full and it took her a few moments to find who she was searching for. They were sat in their usual corner near the bar counter and Ash walked over to speak to them.

  Auburn had walked back to her house deciding having spent half the morning at the police station, she would skip the Library today.

  Freddy was still at home and dying to know exactly what she had told the police. Although he couldn’t face eating, he offered her lunch out, her choice, and of course she readily accepted his invitation. They went to a local burger bar and while she ate he pumped her for details. His worst fears were realised as she told him she had left them with a copy of all the pictures, even those of him.