by Deborah Lucy
He’d been trying to formulate a plan of action, going back and forth over whether or not to just go into Harker’s office and tell him what Gemma had said. But she’d pleaded with him not to and besides, any mention of discrediting Sloper, who was so crucial to Harker in Temple’s disciplinary hearing and who was no doubt nicely lined up to say anything Harker wanted him to, just wouldn’t be believed.
As for Prayer, his mind tried to reject the idea. It was insane. A girl he’d had no knowledge of, a girl he’d never met – who was apparently his daughter – was now caught up in Gemma’s miserable life. If he could believe Gemma, Prayer had been missing for twenty-four hours and was in so much danger it made his blood run cold.
But could he believe her? Did Prayer even exist? Or was this just some old moody story to get him involved in getting some drugs and money back? His mind worked overtime. Was she playing him?
Gemma had spent so long on the streets that this could be a load of bullshit, but he couldn’t think of what she’d have to gain by it, except setting him up. If that was the case, what was her motivation? Was it Sloper? Was he telling her to do this? Were they both trying to trap him? Perhaps it had suddenly occurred to her that she could embark on one hell of a revenge trip and get even with him for how he’d left her all those years ago?
Even if she did exist, was Prayer really his child? Gemma had shown him a picture and sure, the picture showed a pretty girl who resembled him, but was that what he wanted to see? It was certainly what Gemma had wanted him to see. She could have found any photo on the Internet to show him. What was it she’d said? She had been brought up well. If Prayer was his daughter, that was the only comfort he could find in all this.
He logged into his computer and checked the command and control log. There had been no sign of Gary Lewis or China reported. He started an Internet search of Land Registry on the address of Gemma Harker’s flat. It was indeed owned by Simon Sloper. She had been telling the truth on that at least.
He knew what he should do was go to Harker, tell him everything. He would mount an operation and they could start getting Prayer and the other girls back. But he wasn’t sure he would even get Harker to listen to him in the circumstances. Even if he could get Harker to believe him, Temple knew these sorts of operations took time to get going and were fraught with danger. He knew that time was running out and he had to act fast. The key to this was Sloper. Sloper would know exactly who had taken Prayer.
Chapter 27
Temple knew he had to find Sloper fast – that was the quickest way to resolve this. Looking at the computer, Temple found the shift record; Sloper was on duty.
His desk phone rang. It was the control room.
‘We’ve had a message to pass on to you from the night crew. They think they saw lights on in Gary Lewis’s flat last night and think he might have returned there. They had another call to go to, an RTC which kept them out until this morning. Sorry to have only just passed this on, we’ve been a bit busy.’
Temple knew it might be worth a visit just in case he had returned since he’d last seen him. What was it that Gemma had said? Gary Lewis was being leant on for the return of the money.
As Temple got up, his phone rang again. It was Buller’s PA telling him to report to his office at ten.
With no indication given as to why he was being summoned, Temple wondered if Buller had changed his mind about closing Op Acre. It would be a bit of a climb down if he had, but perhaps Richard had been onto him. He looked at his watch. If he set off now he might have time to call by Lewis’s flat first before his ten o’clock appointment. Seeing Gary Lewis and finding out as much as he could from him was paramount.
* * *
As he pulled up outside Lewis’s flat, he saw a couple of young women standing in the doorway to the building. He ran over and gained entry while they had the door open. He spoke to them both and asked one of them if, for £10, she would help him play a joke on a friend. They made their way up to Lewis’s flat on the second floor and found the number. Prompting the woman, he tapped on the door.
‘Hello? Gary?’ she said. Temple listened. He thought he heard sounds of movement inside.
‘I’ve got the money I owe you,’ she said hesitantly. Temple whispered a ‘thank you’ and looking over her shoulder, the bemused woman went back downstairs pocketing a £10 note. It was a cheap shot but it was all Temple could think of. He heard the familiar rushed sound of a padlock being unlocked and the heavy clunk of a chain. In his hurry and greed, and the sound of a female giving him money, Gary Lewis had forgotten to look through his security door spyhole.
Temple put all his energy into rushing the door as soon as he saw a gap open. As wiry as Lewis was, he caught him off guard and with the momentum of adrenalin, Temple shoved his fist into Lewis’s stomach and both of them crashed back into a narrow hallway and onto the floor. Pushing all his weight into Lewis, Temple made good use of his officer safety training. Pinning down a winded Lewis onto his front, Temple sat across his shoulders and managed to pull his arms up behind his back.
Although he bucked him, Temple freed the handcuffs from his pocket and snapped them around Gary Lewis’s wrists. Being careful to avoid his kicking feet, Temple jumped out of the way with Lewis still on the floor. Leaning against a wall, Temple caught his breath.
‘Right, you bastard. I’ve come to ask you some questions about China and the fucking mess you’ve got her in.’
Still winded and lying on his front, he glanced at Temple.
‘Where’s your dog?’ Temple breathed. The last thing he wanted was to be attacked by the bloody thing.
Lewis didn’t answer.
‘Tell me where your fucking dog is or I’ll taser it.’
‘Having a shit on the balcony.’
‘Right. Get on your knees and go in there.’
Temple grabbed hold of Lewis’s T-shirt and pulled him up onto his knees. With his hands cuffed behind his back and Temple’s hand pressed down on his shoulder, Gary Lewis walked on his knees along the floor into his lounge area. Temple told him to sit on the floor in the middle of the room.
From the tussle they’d had, Temple at least knew he didn’t have the long knife he’d had on him at their earlier meeting. He needed to keep him where he could see him while he searched the flat. He looked out onto the balcony and seeing the dog, he locked it outside and drew a curtain.
‘Now, you’re going to tell me all about your mates and China and the money that’s owing.’
‘Fuck off, lunatic. I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Gary was angry with himself for getting caught opening the door and for someone like Temple getting the better of him. He should have had the dog with him at the door.
‘I’m talking about money that’s gone missing, drugs money that China had. I’m talking about your sister having to pay off a drug debt, a debt that they’re probably also looking to you to pay too, since you’re her brother. Where is she and who are the people who’ve got her?’
‘I don’t know where she is.’ He watched Temple looking round as he spoke. Temple was looking at his things, pulling out all his CDs onto the floor, looking behind cushions, pulling up his sofa, kicking over a rug. He moved into the bedroom, shouting questions behind him. Temple pulled the bedclothes onto the floor and turned the mattress off the bed before going back to him.
‘Who’s got her, Gary? You know who’s got her, don’t you?’
‘I don’t know nothing.’
‘Oh yes you do. You know exactly what’s going on. And we’re both going to stay here until you tell me. Because I’ve got all day – all night if that’s what it takes. Now, tell me where she is. I know you know.’
‘What if I do?’
‘So why don’t you give them the money so that they can let her go?’
‘She’s a thieving little bitch and she needs to learn a lesson. She needs to learn some respect.’
‘That’s some lesson you’re making her learn, Gary. She’s f
ourteen. You know what happens. She’s your sister, your own sister. What kind of man doesn’t want to protect his own sister? How do you expect her to behave when you took her into that world? So, she’s stolen money from you in the past, and now you think she’s stolen money from her dealers, the dealers who are asking you for money because they think you’re controlling her and she’s done this for you. Is that about right?’
Lewis didn’t answer; his mind was working on how he could get himself out of the handcuffs and out of the flat. If Temple thought he could get to him by mentioning China, he couldn’t be more wrong.
‘I actually don’t care what happens to my sister, I don’t care how they treat her. It’ll teach her a lesson not to fuck with me.’ Lewis had no sentimental feelings for his sister. She was just something that had monetary value to him. He was such a dumb fuck, this cop. Lewis had no emotional connection to her at all. She was just a commodity. Something he could sell. And he’d been doing that for years.
He’d learnt long ago that he could exploit her for his own ends. He’d even auctioned her once, auctioned her virginity – got a fair price too. Since then he sold her regularly, so she meant nothing because, as he’d learnt, there were plenty more like her who would be far less trouble. No, he hated his thieving sister and he was right to hate her. She brought nothing but trouble. She was his Achilles heel. She was a pain in the fucking arse to him, so if she got sliced, or worse, he really didn’t give a shit.
Yes, they were looking to him to pay the money she owed but he was fucked if he was going to give over three and a half G for her. In fact, it would enhance his reputation if he showed just how little he cared what they’d do. They could kill her for all he cared. And he really didn’t. That’s why he didn’t want this cop looking for her. He didn’t want the police to find her. He wanted her to stay exactly where she was because when he didn’t pay, she would get sliced or worse and his kudos would skyrocket. He would have shown no weakness to these people. That’s all that mattered.
‘So I’m right. You do know who’s got her. Do you think she took the money, the money that was in Gemma Harker’s flat?’
Lewis looked back at him and said nothing.
‘Because you’re wrong. She didn’t take the money – I know who did and it wasn’t China. Who are they, Gary? Just give me a name.’
‘She had the money and it went missing, therefore it’s down to her. She knows that. She knows the score. She knows what happens then.’
‘It was stolen from her, Gary. Stolen from her by a man I’ve got in custody. So I’ve got the money. Me. He didn’t know what it was that he was stealing, he just saw it and took it. He didn’t realise the trouble it was going to cause. And it’s brought you and China to police attention, attention you can do without because of what you do.
‘So here’s what I’m going to suggest. At this point there’s still only me and you that know I’ve got the money. If you tell me who’s got China and I can find her, I’ll give you the money, then you can pay the dealers. Everybody’s happy. You won’t know who took it and the person that did won’t know what trouble they caused. What do you think about that?’
‘And why would you do that?’
‘Because China’s been reported missing and I need to find her. And if I don’t find her we will keep looking for her. In twenty-four hours’ time, we’ll be all over you and your mates, we will tear this fucking town apart to find her and it’ll go on until we do. You won’t be able to as much as take a shit without the police knowing about it. But that all takes time and police resources.
‘Now, you know who’s got her and I want her back. I’ve got the money you want to get her back, the money that was stolen from her, so we can either do this quietly between ourselves or the whole circus will be unleashed. All the little deals you’ve got going will be gone, all your networks gone; the place will be flooded with police. China’s name will be all over the news and you’ll be in custody.’
‘What do you get out of it?’
‘I’ve just told you – I get an easy life. China back, case closed. She’s got a mate with her who was snatched from Gemma Harker’s flat in retaliation. I need to get her back too.’
‘How do I know you’ll give me the money?’
‘I’ve just told you I will. I have the money – let’s just rectify the situation between ourselves.’
Lewis considered the proposition. Here was a cop saying he wanted to resolve a situation between dealers. To get China back. The thing was, he didn’t want China back; he didn’t care if she never came back. He did, though, relish the prospect of getting the money.
Temple could see Lewis was thinking.
‘How are we going to do this then?’ Gary Lewis was shifting on the floor. The handcuffs were biting and he was uncomfortable. But if he could work this situation to his advantage, he could get a few thousand pounds gratis. He could get this dopey cop to give him the money and still leave China where she was.
‘All I need is for you to tell me who’s got her and we can move this thing on.’ Temple hoped he’d done enough for Gary Lewis to finally confide who was holding China and Prayer. Hopefully Megon too. They both looked at one another. The silence hung in the air.
‘So let me get this straight. I tell you who’s got her and then what?’
‘As soon as I’ve had sight of China, you get the money. I have to see her first though.’
‘Your plan’s all very well but I don’t know who’s got her and I don’t know where she is.’
‘They’re not going to go away, Gary. They will want their money whether they harm China or not and if I was them, I’d be coming after you. If I was them, I’d be after getting rid of you. Because if you don’t tell me where she is, I’m going to start putting it around that you told her to take the money and you’ve got it. I’m going to confirm what they already think. You won’t be able to walk down the street. You’ll be a dead man.’
Lewis was thinking. The cop was right; he was already being leant on but there was no way he was going to pay up. But if this cop gave him the money he could pocket that and tell him the deal didn’t come off. That way he’d have the money and tell the dealers they could do what they liked with China. Harming or killing her would settle the debt. Everybody’s happy.
‘I’ll make a call. Arrange a meet.’
Temple undid the handcuffs and handed Lewis his phone. He stood and watched as he dialled.
‘It has to be soon. Tonight. And if there’s no China and her friend, no money.’ Now Temple had to find Sloper.
Chapter 28
Back in his car, Temple wondered if his plan would work. It was pretty desperate; even if Lewis did contact him and set up a meeting, he had no money yet to complete the exchange. But he was thinking of a plan for that. He now had to wait for Gary Lewis to contact him.
Temple arrived at DCC Buller’s office. He didn’t have time for this right now; if Buller was going to change his mind about Op Acre, he could have emailed him. He was late. He knocked on the door. From inside he heard Buller tell him to enter. When he opened the door, Buller was sitting with Harker at his desk. Thinking he’d interrupted them, Temple went to wheel round and go back out.
‘You’re not interrupting us, we are both waiting for you. You’re late, Inspector Temple. Shut the door and come and stand here.’ Temple noted his tone and did as instructed. ‘I’ve called you in today to serve these papers on you: a notice of disciplinary action for disobeying a lawful order and a notice of your imminent suspension from duty.’
Temple turned the words over in his mind. Disobeying a lawful order? Suspension? He hadn’t been expecting this. His first thoughts were that he had to find Prayer and China. And then there was Megon too. He couldn’t be suspended.
Perhaps PSD had caught up with him after all. His mind went immediately to Roger Hunt, Leigh’s ex, whom Temple had beaten up months ago. Perhaps Roger had suddenly found his backbone and reported him? Or else perhaps it was
the gun, his gun, the Chamelot-Delvigne revolver he’d disposed of; perhaps he hadn’t cleaned it enough, perhaps they’d found his fingerprints on it? Both had the potential to get him a custodial sentence. His mouth went dry.
‘Can I ask what this relates to?’
Buller drew himself up to his full height. Harker was standing beside him with a smug look of satisfaction that he did nothing to disguise.
‘This relates to me giving you a lawful order to leave Op Acre alone and then you being seen on CCTV taking a quantity of DNA kits from custody.’ The tone of his voice was officious and he was animated.
Although he shouldn’t have been, Temple was relieved. It could have been much worse, but it was bad enough if it resulted in suspension. Suspension would render him unable to find the girls and unable to work, as he knew the next thing he would be asked was to surrender his warrant card. Without it he couldn’t function as a police officer. Then they would ask for his phone. Thinking fast, Temple knew he had to keep his phone in order for Gary Lewis to get back in touch with him. He’d also given his number to Gemma and Amy Davidson for them to tell him any more information. Somehow he had to get out of there.
‘Now, if you could hand over your mobile phone to Mr Harker please.’
‘This has come as a bit of shock, sir. I need the toilet, now.’ As neither Buller nor Harker were expecting this response, without giving them time to react, Temple made towards the door.
‘If you could just sign—’
‘I’ll be straight back.’ Temple moved fast and once out of the office, made straight for the gents’ toilets. Expecting Harker to be hard on his heels, he didn’t go to the nearest toilets but ones further away. He hoped the distance might buy him some extra time and make it take longer for Harker to find him.
He bolted himself into a cubicle and started to send telephone numbers to Ana’s phone. After a few minutes, he heard the washroom door open and someone come in, but he stayed where he was until he finished the task. When he’d sent all the phone numbers he needed, Temple flushed the toilet. As he expected, when he opened the cubicle door, Harker was there waiting for him.