CHAPTER TWELVE
‘Internet Trolling’ is a particularly distasteful act. It’s probably best described as the malicious posting on social media websites of provocative, inflammatory, sarcastic, cynical, libellous, untrue statements which are designed to illicit an emotional response from the target. A secondary intention is to disrupt the normal daily routine of the victim that is purposefully harmful, in a way which affects the victim’s world view and self-esteem.
More importantly, it is designed to affect how others may treat and view the victim. It is a particularly cowardly form of abuse, because the remoteness of the ‘contact’ often means that the perpetrators say and suggest things that they would never dare to do on a face to face basis. Indeed, it is such a cowardly form of abuse that the ‘practitioners’ of such acts rarely use their own identity and often adopt the name of a person known to the victim, thereby causing additional misery to others.
Though Dean Parks would never have used such a definition, he knew what he was doing, considered himself good at it, and knew above all, that he would ruin Katy’s peace of mind and the way she was seen by her peers. This was particularly callous, especially if he had considered the ordeal that he had already subjected her to. He loved it, and he loved it even more when he knew that the blame for everything would land firmly at the feet of the owner of the laptop that lay open before him.
Revitalised after an early evening meal in the Mile Castle Public House located at the bottom of Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, Dean Parks thought that now seemed as good a time as any to make his second visit to Katy in the guise of Lauren Weston.
He knew that this would only be a fleeting visit because in his haste to sell the laptop earlier, he did not have the foresight to take the power lead. However, during the course of the day he had decided to hang onto the laptop for a little longer. It was, after all, still useful to him, and he would only ‘pass it on’ when he had finished disrupting the lives’ of persons who had done him absolutely no harm whatsoever.
And so it was that Parks logged onto Lauren Weston’s Facebook account and whilst online, he saw that there were a number of messages from Lauren’s friends all bitterly scathing of ‘her’ last posting about Katy.
More of the same ‘was just what the doctor ordered’…so he posted ‘Frigid cow…she knew what she was doing. Fucking slapper’. He then posted the images that he had taken at the scene of Katy ‘spread-eagled, exposed and vulnerable in the bedroom at Hodder’s home. He would have to wait until the morning for the backlash. He cared little for the consequences that these postings may have on anyone, or what friendships that he may be destroying in the process. This was all just part of his game. A game like everything else he did, that was about him being in control.
Once again, he felt satisfied with his work. He closed down the lap top and began making his way on foot towards the doss house where once again he could slip quietly through the doors and remain anonymous amongst others who sought the same refuge.
In making plans for tomorrow, he decided to ‘off load’ some more jewellery on ‘Daft Larry’ for whom he had an extensive shopping list. The goodies on that particular list would free him from the doss house. He did not relish the possibility of a random police visit there and his revamped plans would allow him to live independently for a short time at least.
Though it was still relatively early, Parks made it to bed pretty much the same time as Baxter and Hannah, however, he was not burdened by a conscience and was able to get to sleep almost immediately unlike his adversary’s sidekick, for whom a very busy, though thoroughly pleasurable, night lay ahead.
On the other hand, pleasure was in very short supply in the Hodder household. Hodder was dumb-struck. There was a target criminal standing in his lounge. Not only that, he had been invited in by his wife.
Switching immediately into ‘Job Mode’ Hodder said ‘How can I help you Mr Bostock’?
Bostock who remained standing glared at Hodder raised his voice and said…’You knew all along when I spoke to you the other day…you knew and you brushed me off!
Hodder was not a big man and was certainly no match for Bostock, especially an ‘angry Bostock’…but he stood up to attempt to redress the height disadvantage, losing what little credibility he had as he stood there in his stocking feet.
‘Let me tell you Mr Weston’…’Err Hodder’ interrupted Hodder…’Jim Hodder’ Bostock continued ‘I am after blood and I am going to get it and I don’t care who I upset in the process’.
Internally, Hodder was in turmoil but attempting to appear to be as composed as possible he said ‘I would honestly urge you not to do anything that you may regret and if you don’t leave now I shall call the police’.
At this point Lauren walked into the room having obviously been disturbed by the raised voices…
‘What’s wrong? What is all this shouting about you woke me up’?
Grace who was baffled by the exchange between Hodder and Bostock, put a protective arm around Lauren, and spoke for the first time ‘Lauren, this is Mr Bostock…he is Katy’s grandfather’.
She continued ‘Jim what is going on…why are you talking this way’?
Lauren looked strained and startled as if the full impact of the earlier events came flooding back to her…she began to sob…’I’m really sorry…I had no idea that something so terrible would happen to her…I knew everyone here apart from Martin the guy she was with…nobody knew him…she met him at Uni and she invited him…I’m really sorry, I can’t sleep in my room thinking about what happened’.
Bostock seemed to calm down, maybe sensing a parallel between Katy’s and Lauren’s situations. Perhaps, he even thought something as basic as getting angry with Lauren would achieve nothing…but his eyes showed a simmering hatred for Hodder as they darted from person to person.
Bostock then said ‘Do you know Martin’s full name, where he lives or anything that may help me find him’?
Hodder interrupted. ‘I want you to leave now Mr Bostock. If you leave now I may talk to you tomorrow’. Hodder walked over to Bostock and gently touching his arm ushered him from the room into the hallway and towards the front door, not knowing if he was likely to be attacked at any time.
Hodder said in a harsh determined whisper which left no room for misinterpretation ‘I will meet you at 1.00pm tomorrow inside the grounds of Tynemouth Priory…I will be alone…I expect you to do the same…I will talk to you there on one condition that you NEVER and I mean NEVER come here again’. Hodder opened the door, and continued guiding the career criminal towards it and said ‘1.00pm. I do not expect to see or hear from you or anyone else before then or the meeting is off’. Bostock silently walked out of the house. Clearly, he was not used to being spoken to in such a way, but he recognised that he had little or no ‘currency’ on Tyneside.
Closing the door, Hodder leant against it, eyes closed, head tilted to the ceiling, quivering with fear and anger. A few seconds later, he was alerted by sobbing as Grace and Lauren sheepishly came to the lounge door and looked directly towards Hodder…they too were terrified. How on earth was he going to explain this one away?
Hearing their laboured breathing, and Lauren’s intermittent sobs, Hodder returned to full awareness and he shuffled towards the lounge door. As he did so, Grace and Lauren, who were still entwined, shuffled slowly backwards like conjoined siblings, before silently sitting on the sofa, eyes wide in terrified, silent bewilderment.
Hodder sat opposite them on the edge of his seat, elbows on knees, head down, with his hands clasped tightly in front of him, deep in thought. Finally, he broke the silence ‘There are a couple of things that you should know, but believe me it has got nothing to do with me’.
‘Denny Bostock is Katy’s grandfather. He is a major criminal from Manchester who is out for revenge. I met him briefly the other day when he came to the office asking to see someone from the C.I.D. I advised him not to interfere with the investigation. He left, but when I disc
overed who he was, I informed the incident room’.
Grace said ‘But what does he want from us’?
‘He wants information to track down Katy’s attacker. He obviously did not connect Lauren to me, I mean, why should he? He obviously thinks that I am on the investigation but I am not. I don’t know anything about it. In the meantime, I’m going to call Ben Heath to update him. I have to be seen to be doing the right thing. I know that you are upset but don’t worry, he will not be coming back here again…
You know, he may be a criminal, but he just wants what any other parent or grandparent would want in similar circumstances…it’s just that the way that he goes about it is somewhat alien to most people…I think he knows that he is out of his comfort zone and that it would be foolish to cause too much of a stir here’.
Grace and Lauren though still distressed seemed slightly more at ease as Hodder rose to call Ben Heath.
Mobile in hand he dialled Heath’s number. He answered immediately the noise of a pub or restaurant in the background. ‘Ben? It’s Jim I need to talk to you’….’Can’t it wait Jim? It’s my daughter’s birthday’.
‘Not really Ben…Bostock has been to my house…Grace and Lauren are going spare. I thought that I had better tell you’. After a moments silence Heath said ‘Yeah, you did the right thing…do you want them relocated for the night? I can arrange that for you. It may just be one of the dorms at H.Q. but given the short notice that’s about all I can do until the morning’.
‘No. That won’t be necessary. He was told in no uncertain terms not to come back but I would appreciate passing attention from the nightshift just for some peace of mind for the girls’.
‘Consider it done. Are you are okay’ asked Heath. ‘Of course I’m not. But I have just got them back and I don’t want to uproot or unsettle them again, I’m sure that you can understand that…I know that he is a prig but he was as surprised to see me as I was to see him. He had no idea that I lived here. He knows now though’.
‘Leave it to me’ said Heath…’Leave your mobile on and call three nines if you are in the least bit concerned’. Before Heath ended the call he asked Hodder to come to see him in the morning.
The call ended with Hodder knowing that there would be a police presence at or near his home overnight and that should be enough to deter Bostock at least and until after his meeting with him the following day. A meeting which of course, Hodder was not going to tell Ben Heath about.
Returning to the lounge, Hodder reassured the ‘girls’ that they could rest easy in their beds overnight and that as a precautionary measure there would be patrols in the area. After a fraught discussion about ‘Martin’ Lauren decided that it was bed time. Grace agreed and together they went to Hodder and Grace’s room.
And so it passed that Lauren did spend a night in her parents’ bed, but under circumstances that she could not have envisaged only a few days ago. Hodder meanwhile spent another night alone.
C’est la vie.
Hodder spent much of the night wide awake, usually at the window, disturbed at the slightest sound. He was frantically working out a strategy of how to deal with Bostock. He knew that he would have to tell Baxter about his clandestine meeting with the criminal.
He was certain that Baxter would not approve, he would have to convince Baxter not ‘drop him in it’ but he felt that if he told him his real intentions, that he was simply placing too much responsibility on Baxter’s shoulders. Hodder also reasoned that what he (Baxter) did not know could not harm him. This was after all, his problem and one which he and he alone, would have to resolve irrespective of what happened to Parks, Palma, Bostock or indeed, himself in the process.
He wanted to, but did not check on Grace and Lauren whom he felt sure would be lying awake next door. However, he did not wish to disturb them or convey the impression that he too, was deeply worried.
Which of course, he was.
He was up and active at first light, shaved, showered and ready for work before he heard the first stirrings from Grace and Lauren. He knew that he had to go to work…Palma was still in the cells and his immediate future needed to be resolved but, far more pressing was the safety of Grace and Lauren whilst he was at work.
When Grace got up, all things considered, she was in a surprisingly good mood and when he suggested a ‘girls day out’ with ‘lashings of retail therapy’ no objections were raised. He promised to call Grace on the hour, every hour, and she agreed to meet him before she and Lauren went home so that all three could arrive together. Safety in numbers felt much better under the circumstances. What he really wanted was to avoid them returning to Rose’s home for another round of ‘I told you so’.
Hodder met Baxter at the office and they agreed to re-interview Palma, so, Randall-Ord was contacted. It transpired that he was in court at 10.00am, but his firm agreed to send a ‘Runner’, a non-qualified or partially qualified employee of the law firm. This usually meant a ‘hassle free’ interview during which the police could press home their objectives with virtual impunity. Hodder welcomed this practice.
Often at court, an experienced solicitor or barrister would try to ‘throw a spanner in works’ by suggesting that the police had ‘exploited’ this situation and by inference, their client. Hodder always found it useful to counter that the defence had a representative on hand to advise their client, and that it was not the police’s position to ‘vet’ the ‘quality’ of ‘their’ representative. The clear suggestion here being that law firms were not taking their client’s interests seriously, because they sent under qualified staff to the police station.
Hodder loved the cut and thrust of the legal battlefield.
Ben Heath was sitting behind his desk when Hodder gave the ‘obligatory knock’. As usual, the greeting was informal and friendly. The events of the previous evening were discussed and as expected, Hodder was given the opportunity for compassionate leave, predictably, as Heath had expected, he declined.
Heath assured Hodder that manpower permitting, patrols would pass his home as frequently as possible. This was typical of the police, when one of their own was threatened they all ‘pulled together’ in one direction and for once, all personal feelings and petty squabbles were set aside.
Before leaving the office, Hodder gave Heath the copy file of the ‘Sunderland Incident’ involving Parks. The Senior Officer set it to one side saying ‘Thanks Jim, I’ll get the D.I. to look at it later’. With an uncharacteristic show of hesitation Hodder said ‘You may want to look at who the O.I.C. (Officer in Charge of the case) was’.
Heath opened the file read the frontispiece, he took his glasses off, and rubbed his eyes as if he had just read a heavy tome in one sitting. He sighed loudly, as if ejecting some vile vapour from his innards…‘It’s the fucking D.I. He is working on this case, and he never thought to mention this to me…is he for fucking real’?
‘Thanks Jim, I’ll sort it’.
This particular meeting was over, but Hodder sensed that Ben Heath would be having another much less convivial meeting very shortly.
At 10.15am a young acne ridden ‘Runner’ arrived for the interview. The Custody Officer let him have a consultation with Palma and a few minutes later called the office, he spoke to Baxter said that it was ‘all systems go’ for the interview.
Hodder and Baxter wandered up to the ‘Custody Suite’, a name which always amused Hodder, in his day they were called ‘Cell Blocks’ or an even more base description ‘The Septic Tank’.
During the course of the interview, with the anonymous runner, whose face they both recognised, but whose name, neither Hodder nor Baxter could recall, they noted that he contributed exactly zero to his client’s defence by saying and doing exactly zero.
Palma maintained that he could not remember who had asked him to ‘look after’ the variety of ‘goods’ retrieved from the barn loft and his home, but he was clearly relying on his earlier explanation t
hat he only did so under duress and that he was not acting unlawfully. Hodder let him maintain this ‘tack’ but took the ‘wind from his sails’ when he said to Palma ‘Do you know Fred Tamblin’?
‘Who doesn’t? He is one of the local drunks well known around the town’.
‘Well, you are right on at least one of those scores…he WAS certainly well known…’WAS’ being the operative word’.
Puzzled Palma responded what do you mean ‘Was’?
‘He is dead. And we suspect that he died as a result of drinking counterfeit Vodka. Counterfeit Vodka of the same brand that has been seized from your barn loft and your home…You really do need to seriously consider your position. We are awaiting the result of toxicology tests from samples taken from his body’.
‘I know nothing about his death’.
‘I‘m not suggesting that you do, other than you know about the supply of counterfeit Vodka which early information suggests contains dangerously high levels of toxins including anti-freeze…do you have a conscience’?
‘It’s not my stuff’ mumbled Palma his colour and confidence draining by the second’.
‘Do you know Peter Sykes?
‘Yeah, he’s a mate of Fred’s don’t tell me that he is dead too’?
‘No. The hospital saved him so he can continue doing good in the community…however, he did lose his sight for a while…and his first act of human kindness may be to grass you up for supplying the booze…how do you feel now’?
‘Not my stuff’.
‘And they do say’ said Hodder ‘that things come in threes well a young girl was plied with snide Vodka and seriously sexually assaulted at a party. There is a full incident room running that investigation and they will want to talk to you sooner or later. So, Dave my friend, ‘Not my stuff is simply not good enough’.
Palma stared intently at his hands picking at a loose bit of skin on his left thumb…he knew that he was in trouble it was just a question of what tactics Hodder could employ to make him ‘open up’.
Taking what seemed like a wholly uncalculated risk Hodder continued ‘Do you know Dean Parks’?
‘Yeah, I’ve known him for years but I haven’t seen him for ages why’?
Hodder then terminated the interview leaving ‘Acne-boy’, Palma and Baxter all equally perplexed.
Proving he had a voice after all, ‘The Runner’ said ‘What do you intend to do now Sergeant’?
‘I am going to speak to my senior colleagues and possibly the C.P.S. but my gut feeling that our enquiries will continue to establish the origins and ownership of the property that we have recovered from your client.
Naturally, H.M.R.C. and Trading Standards may want to interview your client in the future. I think that there is a strong possibility that we will bail Mr Palma pending further enquiries. There is no need for you to hang around. I will call you before we bail him or if it is decided to charge him’.
The man who obviously bought his ‘Clearosil Cleansing Lotion’ by the gallon, responded by saying…’That is very kind of you. I will have a quick word with my client and then I will be on my way’.
Baxter took them to a detention room and left Palma and his legal representative discussing, who knows what. Baxter then informed the Custody Officer of the situation and that Palma should be placed back in his cell whilst his immediate future was determined.
Grace and Lauren were taking to their unplanned shopping trip with a rare enthusiasm and appeared to be in good spirits when Hodder called. He was just pleased to hear their voices and gauged their spirits as high. He hoped that after his meeting with Bostock that any dark clouds would be permanently lifted and that they could all get on with life.
At 12.30pm, Hodder and Baxter left the office by car. On Hodder’ instructions they drove to ‘The Spanish Battery Car Park where Hodder told his partner that he was going to have a meeting with Bostock inside the Priory grounds. Baxter, quite predictably, was furious. He quite correctly saw this as unnecessary risk taking.
He was instructed to stay in the car and monitor activity within the Priory grounds which are located opposite the car park on the other side of a small inlet known locally as ‘The Haven’. The priory itself sits proudly on the rocky peninsula of Pen Bal Crag. As he left the car Hodder said ‘If anything happens call the troops, I don’t want you getting involved’.
‘I think I am already involved’ muttered Baxter as he watched Hodder’s back disappear into the distance.
As the crow flies, Baxter would only be about 500 yards away but to actually get there by road along the winding Pier Road was in excess of half a mile…assuming of course, that he could get his car into the Priory grounds. Leaving Baxter in situ with a pair of binoculars, Hodder made it to Tynemouth Priory a good fifteen minutes before the agreed meeting time.
He did not trust Bostock and wanted to check out the grounds first suspecting that Bostock’s two ‘associates’ may be waiting for him. Hodder checked the ramparts, the cemetery, the locked chapel and even the grounds of the now ‘defunct’ Coastguard Station. Unless Bostock arrived ‘mob-handed’ it looked as if he may be sticking to the deal. But he suspected not, because he (Hodder) had reinforcements in the guise of Baxter and his police radio.
Hodder had previously advised Grace that he would be busy for ‘the 1.00pm phone call’ but she was in such high spirits, possibly because she was out of the house that she did not appear to mind.
Shortly after 1.00pm, Bostock walked into the grounds of the ruined Priory, his muscular physique framed by the medieval arch of the entrance. He was alone and the grounds were deserted. This local landmark would never feature amongst English Heritage’s most frequently visited sites and Hodder, began to rue his choice of venue now. Perhaps somewhere busier and far more public may have been safer.
The knot in his stomach began to tighten.
They met in the cemetery by a stone commemorating the internment of King Oswin of Deira.
Hodder had been inwardly ‘rehearsing’ what he was going to say and said to the criminal ‘I know who you are. I know what you do…I may talk to you if you can convince me that you are not recording this conversation’.
Bizarrely, Bostock turned his pockets out and unless he had a very small covert device, he appeared to be ‘clean’
‘Mr Bostock, I have to tell you that my wife, my daughter and I are victims too…for our part we had no idea what was happening at our home that night because we were not there. I also have to tell you that I am playing no part in the investigation and I do not know what if any progress is being made…but let me assure you that I know exactly how you feel. My daughter was assaulted too…Katy and all of your family have my deepest sympathy’.
Bostock responded by saying ‘If you know who and what I am, you will know that I despise you and your kind. You will also know that I will not rest until I have evened up the score…this is strictly family business…my business interests lie elsewhere and though I do not want to step on anyone’s toes I will if I have to. No matter who they are’.
Feeling strangely confident, Hodder responded, ‘For possibly the first time in your life you have something in common with a Police Officer, no matter how unpalatable that may be. Circumstances beyond our individual control have brought us together. I’m sure neither of us would have chosen this course of action’. Bostock listened intently, the clear sign that he had been interviewed many times over the years. Hodder assessed him as a formidable opponent…he continued…
‘I am unable to give you any information, but if you happened to be passing the police station at about three o’clock this afternoon you will see a young man called David Palma leave via the front door. You may find it beneficial to talk to him.
Then quite genuinely Hodder added ’How is Katy’?
For the first time, Bostock dropped his hard-man persona and said ‘She is recovering physically, but the bastard has taken something from her…it’s like he has robbed her of her peace of mind, he
r sparkle…
Do you know she is the first of my family to go to University…I am so proud of her. Most of my family if they ever did finish school, started a life that usually ended up in prison…We had high hopes that she would be the first of our family to choose another way’…Hodder saw tears roll down the big mans’ cheeks…he was certainly not recording this thought Hodder.
Throughout his career, Hodder had found out that though many criminals had a ruthless disregard for others, that they had very traditional approach to ‘family values’. They may live their lives’ by an entirely different moral code to ‘mainstream society’, whatever that may be, however, for many, the family came first and an attack on one was seen as an attack on the family as a whole.
Bostock, in the view of Hodder plainly fell into this category.
Though he was patently not very good at it himself, Hodder knew all about family loyalty. In his experience, only two groups displayed this intense level of loyalty, they were career criminals and the travelling community.
Hodder was strangely moved and said…’We are not so different you and I. We just want the best for our kids’. Then breaking the spell Hodder said ‘Do you want to stay in touch…I may have to pick up the pieces of Palma…you really do not want anyone else looking into him…I can tell you that he did not assault Katy…so, leave some pickings for me’.
‘Why should I’?
‘Because, we both want the animal who harmed Katy…you want him for your reasons, I want him for mine. Either way he gets stopped’.
Bostock said ‘ I won’t come to your home again…you have my word…I will call you at your office via public telephone using the name ‘Mr Trafford’…you will get the number of another public telephone to call me back on. Make NO MISTAKE Mr Hodder…I am not an informant. I am a grandfather seeking redress’.
Hodder then gave Bostock a ‘private’ telephone number that went directly to the office, so that he could avoid the switchboard, and the need to give an explanation or identify himself to a civilian call taker. The Police Officer thought it prudent not to mention to the criminal that the number that he had been given was the ‘Confidential Informants Hotline’…present in all C.I.D. offices. That additional information would not have gone down too well given Bostock’s jaundiced view of the police.
With that, Bostock walked off towards the main entrance. Hodder left it a respectable ten minutes before leaving the Priory grounds. He walked into the centre of Tynemouth Village from where he called Baxter who travelled from the Spanish Battery car park to collect him.
Baxter said…’How did it go then’?
Hodder filled in Baxter with selective highlights of the meeting and when he was finished Baxter said…’You really do need to watch your back…after you left Bostock’s two heavies came out of the chapel…he obvious likes or trusts you’. Then he added ‘For now at least’, which echoed exactly what Hodder was thinking at that precise moment.
Back in the office, Hodder decided that bailing Palma was probably the best course of action under the circumstances, though he inwardly conceded that he really should have told the team investigating the assault on Katy that Palma was in custody. This was just another example of Hodder’s blinkered, reckless approach.
As usual, the ever obliging Custody Officer and his staff were run off their feet, so they did not object too much when Hodder offered to deliver the ‘good news’ to Palma. Entering the cell Hodder said ‘Follow me’ and led Palma to a vacant interview room. No tapes, no solicitor…’What’s so different this time’? thought Palma.
Palma was clearly uncomfortable, and his brief but traumatic stay in custody had done much to take the edge of his previously confident almost arrogant persona. Addressing him Hodder said ‘There are a number of reasons why I should charge you. Not least the death of Tamblin and your very obvious link to the supply of the lethal Vodka that we have taken from you…but I want you to listen and listen good’.
Hodder then pulled out his digital voice recorder located the sound file that he wanted and played it to Palma. A look of abject horror crept across his face as he heard the voice of Dean Parks providing Hodder with detailed information of ‘smart phones’ stored at the barn.
‘Do you know who that is’?
‘It’s Dean Parks the ‘grassing bastard’
‘You do have a good memory for someone who has not seen him in quite some time. Where is he now’?
‘I don’t know’.
‘I want you to find him for me’.
‘Why would I do that’? replied Palma
‘How many reasons do you want…you are implicated in the distribution of counterfeit goods, those phones are probably stolen, you may face charges in relation to the death of Tamblin, and you are a person of interest to H.M.R.C. and even Trading Standards. Both agencies will be happy to have a go at you…none of this will happen unless my report recommends that you are charged…you find Parks for me and I may feel inclined to view your involvement in this sorry mess as nothing more than peripheral’.
‘No way…I’m not a grass’.
‘You have a lot to learn David…everyone talks…only the thick and the foolish don’t believe that…If you stay here any longer the incident room investigation team will be beating down your cell door to stick a serious sexual assault on you. Now, we both know that you are not involved in that. But, guilty or not, if you are charged we get a detection…case closed. You get remanded for six months to a year, and whether you get off with it or not you will be labelled a ‘nonce’ for ever. Entirely your choice’.
A momentary pause then…‘What do I have to do’?
Hodder wrote his mobile number on a business card and told him to memorise it.
‘I expect to hear from you every day whether you have anything to tell me or not. If I don’t hear from you, you will be charged when you respond to bail, and if you don’t respond to bail you are going to have to keep your head down and your nose clean for a very long time because you will be circulated nationally as ‘Wanted’. You can change your name and your appearance however many times as you like, but you can never change your DNA’.
‘Do we have a deal’? said Hodder.
‘Do I have a choice’? said Palma.
‘I think that you know the answer to that one Dave. Remember I want to know everything that you have.’
‘Okay. Can I go now’?
‘Not before you can repeat that number back to me from memory. And, as you would expect there is some paperwork to be done but tell me this. If I accept that you are working for someone you have to tell me who it is so that I can protect you’.
‘I can’t’.
‘No problem. That means no deal. I’ll go and prepare my charges and tell the incident room that you are ready for interview…I take it that you are available for court in the morning? Have you ever been remanded in custody before...I will let a few people that I know in Durham that you will be joining them for dinner tomorrow. I’m sure that they will make you most welcome’.
The pressure was clearly beginning to get to Palma. Some prisoners can take ‘time’ in police custody, some can even take ‘time’ on remand but others crack more easily. Most show some signs that the experience ‘gets to them’…Palma was no different.
‘You don’t have to trust me’ said Hodder ‘but’ he continued ‘you do have to believe me. I will have you remanded in custody, and I will find out who you are working for and he will get to know that you have provided me with information’.
‘But I haven’t’.
‘I know that. You know that, but that does not matter because life for you on the inside will be sheer hell. Help me and you stay out. What is not to like about that’?
Drawing ever closer, so that Hodder could hear his exaggerated strained panting Palma uttered the words ‘First Aid. I work for First Aid. For fucks sake don’t tell him…help me’.
‘I will’ said Hodder ‘as long as you play by the rules
…there will be no second chances for you. Do you understand’? Not waiting for an answer and keeping his voice down to a serious whisper Hodder said ‘This starts here and now…I have got to get that Vodka off the streets. Where is it stored’?
‘I don’t know…it gets delivered’.
‘If it gets delivered why do you need a Transit van? Come on, you have done the hard bit tell me where it is. I will make sure that the recovery of the stuff is not connected to you…if you don’t tell me I will make sure that everyone and his dog knows that you are a grass’. At this point Hodder produced the voice recorder which he had discreetly set to ‘record’ after playing the recording of Parks earlier in the conversation. He quickly located the appropriate file. Palma’s head dropped as if made of lead as it banged the table between them as he listened to himself implicating ‘First Aid’.
Both men knew at this point, that Palma’s life had changed for ever. ‘Okay Dave. Where is the stuff stored’?
Palma began to sob ‘This will get me fucking killed’.
‘If you don’t tell me, you are on your own. Tell me and you will be looked after’.
‘With tears streaming down his face Palma said ‘There are some containers on a small Industrial Estate off Double Row, at Seaton Deleval, they are placed next to genuine containers belonging to a double glazing company…the last three on the right belong to ‘Him’…
I don’t have a key…I get met by one of his lads when there is ‘gear’ to be picked up. They contact me using different pay as you go mobiles every time. I get one call then the phone is ditched. I am given a time to go there. If I don’t arrive on time they leave and call me back later using another throw away phone. Honestly, that’s all I know’.
‘Who sells it for you’?
‘People like Sykes, Tamblin and other ‘low lifers’ they only do it for a few bottles. Tamblin…is he really dead’?
‘As dead as he will ever be’.
As silence grew between them, Hodder was hoping for more revelations but, quite reasonably decided enough was enough. It was time to prepare Palma for the great unknown. ‘Get practising that number…I will be back soon’. Palma was placed back in his cell’.
Liaison with the Custody Officer and a check on Hodder’s shift pattern found a suitable bail date three weeks hence. Hodder did not know what if anything would develop during the interim, but he knew that he could cancel Palma’s bail, let him respond or re-arrest him if new evidence came to light at any time. This was certainly one of those occasions when Hodder was going to use the complexities of the law and procedure to his advantage.
At 2.55pm that day David Palma walked out of the front door of the police station, taking in his first breath of the damp air of North Shields. He felt strangely elated and internally began planning ways that he could get out of his ‘pact with the devil’. In fact, he was so deep in thought and pre-occupied with his survival plans, that he failed to see the black Infiniti motor car which was slowly rolling along Upper Pearson Street behind him.
After the trauma of the last day or so, Palma decided that it was time for a drink and thought that the best place to catch up on the local gossip and about Tamblin in particular, was probably ‘The Bottom Dolphin’ on the quayside. He walked down Stephenson Street crossing over Saville Street before arriving on Tyne Street, which gave wonderful views over the River Tyne to South Shields beyond, though Palma was not taking in the vista.
On another day, with less on his mind, he may have been motivated to explore the origins of his surname, and he may have established that his name was derived from the popular Gibraltan name Palmier. Given the present circumstance, he neither cared nor knew that his locally born ancestors were the product of a liaison of a visiting Mediterranean seaman, who left his semen in a local girl, and that his name was a ‘Geordieised’ version of his name. Hence the phonetic spelling.
He was planning to walk down Naters Bank Steps which lead down to the riverside and eventually ‘The Bottom Dolphin’ and alcoholic sustenance.
As Palma was walking towards ‘The High Lights’, an unmanned lighthouse which stands upon Tyne Street, which when illuminated and aligned with the ‘The Low Lights’ on the quay below, helps sailors’ to navigate a safe passage into the gut of the harbour. Of course, Palma did not know this crucial maritime fact, he was ‘navigating’ his own passage to an all-day session at the Dolphin, and with any luck, a ‘lock in’.
His mind was obviously elsewhere, because had he been aware, he may have noticed the Infiniti following behind. He may even have noticed the large black man get out of the rear of the car just before it passed him. He may even have noticed the car stop about 10 yards ahead of him. He might have noticed the driver’s window slide down but being an Infiniti it was probably infinitely silent anyway.
He did however, react when the driver, a black man, with a strange ‘non Geordie’ accent asked him for directions. Always helpful in the extreme, Palma bent down to be on the same level as the driver. He did not notice the first black man approach him from behind. He was however keenly aware that a sack which smelt vaguely of potatoes had been placed over his head a micro second before he was struck on the side of the very same head.
He was not however, aware that he had been bundled into the boot of the Infiniti, that his hands and ankles had been bound with duct tape and that he had been driven away…this would all become apparent much later on.
As Dean Parks walked into ‘The Clock’ he found ‘Daft Larry’ in his usual seat in his usual condition. In the corner. Pissed.
Parks approached him gave him a couple of pieces of Jewellery, and told him that he could keep the gold if he was able to get him the things that were on his ‘shopping list’.
‘Daft Larry’ was called ‘Daft Larry’ for good reason. Parks went through the list in painstaking detail. He told him the shops that he wanted him to visit, and what goods in particular, he needed that day. As usual, Parks expected Larry to steal the goods in the mistaken belief that he was getting a good deal. He clearly did not have the capacity to comprehend that he was taking all of the risks and that if he did get arrested, he would be found with stolen gold on him. And not just any old gold. This was gold stolen from a Police Officers’ home. Parks had no discernible religion but thanked the lord for idiots like Larry.
Parks left ‘The Clock’ making his way to ‘The Union Rooms’ where he ordered an all-day breakfast and ‘hooked up’ to the Wi-Fi. He was delighted to note that there had been a number of responses to Lauren’s latest Facebook postings. These responses ranged from the outraged to the outright offensive.
He continued looking through the computer and found a number of letters from Lauren Weston to a variety of places including her university. Looking further he saw an acceptance letter to Northumbria University. Now he knew her address and her course. Surely, there was some fun to be had there.
He then searched ‘My Photographs’ again, just to confirm that the image that he had previously seen on the pc in the ‘Five Swans’ was actually that of Detective Sergeant Jim Hodder, the copper that he had escaped from the other day. He was elated. This was even better than he had expected!
Searching through the files on the computer he went to ‘My music’ and wondered just what sort of music ‘posh birds’ listened to. He saw the lists…just ’Goth Shit’.
The file ‘Dad’s Work Tape’…. Proved to be very intriguing. This could be a real laugh, maybe it was someone taking the piss out of their boss or something. This was definitely worth a listen.
As he was sitting in a secluded booth he did not need headphones, because in keeping with Weatherspoon’s policy, there was no background music. Parks could not believe his ears when he heard two voices that he recognised. One was that bastard of a policeman Hodder, and the second voice was his solicitor. They were talking about him, about something that he did in Sunderland that the police couldn’t prove. As he listened he came to the
conclusion that his solicitor was ‘grassing him up’ to the police.
He was even more shocked when he heard the second recording it was the policeman again and him (Parks)…talking about David Palma…fucking hell!
What was he going to do about this?
Parks was quivering inside. He could not comprehend whether this was fear, anger or excitement. No matter what it was, he knew that it was a ‘game changer’ and that he would either have to re-think his plans or change them altogether.
He finished his meal, barely tasting it, his mind was in utter turmoil. He was not sure whether he should run, hide, stick it out or ‘up the ante’. He resolved to sleep on it and made his way back to ‘The Clock’ where ‘Daft Larry’ was virtually hidden by a mountain of bags. He had clearly had a successful shopping trip. In another life he could have been a professional shopper for the rich and famous, as long as they did not mind the smell or getting arrested on a regular basis for handling stolen goods.
Parks checked the goodies…everything he wanted was there. Naturally, ‘Daft Larry’ had no receipts, and he could hardly return anything if it had failed to meet with his requirements. As a ‘thank you’ Parks gave ‘Larry’ the debit card in the name of Lauren Weston. Truth was ‘Daft Larry’ did not look much like a ‘Lauren’ but Parks was getting a monkey off his back. Besides that, Larry would probably pass it on to someone who did, thus putting more distance between Parks and the stolen card.
‘Larry’ deserved a drink for his sterling efforts and whilst at the bar Parks borrowed a copy of ‘Yellow Pages’ and noted two addresses on a soiled napkin.
Parks then took all of the bags to the toilet and transferred everything into a very nice ‘Berghaus’ rucksack that ‘Larry’ had ‘acquired’ on his behalf. He then left the pub and headed back to the west end for his final sleep in the doss house. He planned to pay for another night but he would not be staying overnight. He would be sleeping elsewhere tonight but he knew that he needed a good rest first, as there was much work to be done.
En route, he called into the Tesco Express, where he bought a pack of envelopes, first class stamps and some ‘Love Heart’ sweets. He was, in truth not much of a writer, but he did consider himself to be very generous with his sweets.
Once in his room, he turned on the laptop, obtained the information he required and powered it down. He addressed three envelopes inserted the contents and before he had an early night, he walked to the Post Office on Adelaide Terrace, and posted the envelopes hoping that the Royal Mail service was as ‘first class’ as they boasted.
He slept fitfully for about five hours. Why did people always mess with his plans?
Just after David Palma had left the police station, Hodder rang his lawyers and informed them that their client had been bailed. He gave them the bail date and lied to them that he had advised him (Palma) to contact them. The solicitors thanked him.
It was now approaching 4.00pm and Hodder made another call to Grace. As he waited for her to answer he found himself thinking ‘I hope this is all over soon…I will never be able to afford my phone bill if this keeps up’.
Lauren answered and it was clear from the background noise that Grace was driving. They would, he learned, be home in fifteen minutes, and Hodder agreed to meet them at home. All things considered, things were beginning to look up.
Rank has its privileges. Hodder did not have much rank, but in the grand scheme of things, it followed that he had more privileges than Baxter who was not best pleased that Hodder asked him to get a warrant for ‘First Aid’s’ containers on Double Row, Seaton Deleval. He asked Baxter to execute the warrant immediately and to update him of the result of the search whilst he was at home.
Hodder was about to leave the office when the D.I. stuck his head around the office door and said in a monotone voice. ‘A word please Jim. Now’! There were other guys in the office. They immediately sensed the atmosphere and they looked from person to person in muted amusement and embarrassment. To a man they were all thinking ‘Well, at least it’s not me today’.
As he walked into the D.I.’s office, Hodder was instructed to close the door. The D.I. was holding a file that Hodder recognised immediately. It was the ‘Sunderland Copy File’…The D.I. was furious. ‘What do you think you are doing, going above my head making me look like an idiot in front of the D.C.I.? Are you trying to shaft me…you should have given that file to me. You have deliberately broken the chain of command I should put you on paper for it. (Formally discipline Hodder) What have you got to say for yourself’?
‘The D.C.I. asked me for the file when it arrived. It arrived this morning and as per his request I gave it to Mr Heath. May I suggest that you raise the matter with him’?
‘He raised the matter with me alright. He chewed my arse off…did you know that I was OI.C. on that case’?
‘I did not look at the file…I simply passed it on to Mr Heath…if you had asked I would have handed it to you…you didn’t. I resent your insinuation that you seem to think that I have a private agenda…I do remember you saying to me that the name Dean Parks was vaguely familiar to you…I cannot be held responsible for your poor memory. Now, if you will excuse me…My wife and daughter are still traumatised by the events at home and I am going there now’.
With that, Hodder turned on his heels and left the D.I. speechless in his office. This was typical behaviour by people like the D.I. blaming others for his own ineptitude. That said, Hodder would still have to watch his back.
Under normal circumstances Hodder would have fretted about the ‘set to’ with the D.I. and it would probably have kept him awake overnight. However, the events of recent days had brought a new focus to his life…he had no idea how long it (the new focus) would last, but he resolved to make the most of it whilst it did.
When he got home Grace and Lauren were already in the kitchen cooking…he liked this scene of domesticity after so much recent disruption. He apologised saying that he had been ‘captured’ by the D.I. on his way out of the building. This was all true, but he knew that if he even sniffed of alcohol that his ‘excuse/explanation/justification’ for being later than promised would not be believed.
As it was, it was all true, and, for once, he did not smell of booze. It looked like he was accumulating ‘Brownie Points’ no matter how temporary.
In a scene more reminiscent of a BBC situation comedy from the ‘70’s depicting Middle Class life in Middle England, Hodder, Grace and Lauren sat around the kitchen table laughing, simply enjoying being together. Grace got up and poured some wine for all of them. Hodder began to laugh under his breath but was unable to suppress it to such an extent that though they had no idea what was making him laugh, both Grace and Lauren burst into spontaneous, contagious laughter.
This was great…they just looked at each other and laughed….when he was able to control his jollity Grace asked why he was laughing. He cleared his throat and said ‘I know it’s not funny but last time we tried to drink a glass of wine something horrible happened…I bet my face was a picture last night’.
Grace said ‘I was going to ask you if you met Mr Bostock today after Lauren went to bed but saying as you raised the subject’….’
Yes we met. He has apologised for coming here…he is simply a man who wants to see justice done…it may not be our version of justice but to his eyes at least, it’s justice. He has told me that he will never bother us again…and I believe him’.
The subject was then dropped and for the second night in a row Hodder almost suffered a heart attack in his own home when Grace and Lauren told him how much money of the plastic variety that they had spent during the day.
However, he had not been completely forgotten…he got a ‘Family Guy’ tie. All things considered, he felt pretty good and took this as a pretty good omen.
They all laughed again and Hodder began to think that it may be a ‘coded message’ from Grace and Lauren. He might just have pulled his marriage back from the b
rink. He also mused that if he had done so, then he may owe much to Denny Bostock for teaching him some important lessons in family values, though he could not agree with Bostock’s skewed logic on other matters…no matter how understandable.
After the meal, Hodder set about washing the dishes and was joined by Lauren. He could not remember the last time this had happened. As he washed and Lauren dried he said ‘I’m really sorry about what happened to Katy’ and after a moment’s hesitation he added ‘Oh and you too’.
Lauren did not make eye contact but she said ‘I’m really sorry too. I should never have went behind your back and arranged a party…none of this would have happened it was all my fault’.
Hodder turned to face her…’None of this was your fault. None of this was Katy’s fault…whoever, did this will get his comeuppance just you wait and see. You know, we police are not very good at most things but we are very good at the important things, and believe me this is important and not because of who you are, who I am, or where everything happened…there are a lot of people out there looking for this guy…don’t worry we will get him’.
Lauren nodded silently, tears not far from her eyes. Then she said…’Mum and you bought me a new dress…and before you ask its’ not Goth…Marks and Spencer don’t do Goth’…they both laughed again so loud that Grace smiled as she sipped her wine in the lounge, thinking that it was good to hear the sound of happiness at home. She felt a little uneasy as she thought that it took something as awful as the attacks upon Lauren and Katy to bring her family closer together.
During the day Lauren had told Grace that some cash, her debit card, some jewellery that she had inherited from her paternal grandmother and her laptop had been stolen. She also confided in her mother that she could not bear to sleep in her room. Grace had told her not to worry and promised to discuss her concerns with Hodder. She did however, say that she would get a new laptop in a matter of days…it was after all, crucial to her studies, not to mention her social life.
Speaking of which, her social life had suddenly become very silent. Not a phone call or text…very strange…maybe her friends were giving her some space to get over the trauma.
She hoped so.
Dishes done all three of them sat in the lounge. Lauren on the sofa, feet tucked under herself cuddling a cushion in a way that reminded Hodder of a very young child hanging onto a favourite blanket or toy for comfort. Maybe she was not that grown up after all.
Looking at her he no longer saw a ‘Disciple of the Church of Goth’, but a vulnerable, delicate, fallible child.
After a while, Grace said ‘Jim Lauren wants to either move rooms or have her room decorated…I think that it’s a good idea’…’I agree’ said Hodder…’Why don’t you move into the spare room until we get your room decorated, new bed, new carpet, new everything…you can choose whatever you want, or we can do up the spare room…what do you think?
‘Lauren shuffled uneasily, ‘Well, I like my room, but I don’t want a constant reminder of what happened there…so can I move out until it is done’…a look of horror spread across Hodder’s face…’Not out of the house surely’….
’No. No, not the house just the room’ said Lauren.
‘Phew, you had me worried there…No problem’…In that instant it suddenly dawned on Hodder that after years of false starts and failure, that he may actually be getting to grips with ‘this parenting lark after all’.
‘There is one other thing Jim said Grace’
He felt his cynicism mounting, ‘No worries’, he said. ‘Nothing has happened that we can’t sort out…you have to remember that we are behind you all of the way’.
Lauren shuffled uneasily and said ‘Well, some cash, my debit card, some jewellery from Gran have been stolen along with my laptop’.
‘Don’t worry, let’s hope the jewellery may turn up somewhere…I will get it circulated…Do you have any photos of the jewellery? Everything else can be replaced’.
‘It’s not that simple’ said Lauren ‘There is a load of my uni work on the laptop’.
‘I’m sure that given the circumstances, your lecturers will understand. Would you like me to talk to them’? said Hodder.
‘It’s not just that…those files I copied for you were on the laptop too’.
Hodder’s felt an internal shudder in the pit of his stomach as he contemplated the potential ramifications. From somewhere deep within himself he managed to feign a casual indifference and said ‘No worries. Why don’t you two go out tomorrow and get a new laptop? But remember, I am not an oil baron just a humble copper so keep the price within reason’.
Lauren burst into a broad radiant smile and quietly got up walked over to Hodder and gently kissed him on the cheek and quietly but sincerely said ‘Thank You’.
He knew that she meant it but he also knew two other things for certain namely that Parks now held the balance of power and that he had the potential to inflict even more damage upon Hodder, his family and his career.
It was also blindingly obvious that there was no situation that a Police Officer could not make worse.
The Sweet Smell of Rain Page 12