by L M Krier
'Now from talking to Flip and some of the others, the children are often taken to private houses but Flip had no real idea where he was taken the only time he went. We're going to arrange to drive him around a bit just to see if anywhere jogs his memory. Both he and some of the others said that Aiden boasted of going to what he called posh hotels.
'We have no way of knowing what was true and what he was embellishing, but he seems to have told the same or similar stories to everyone, so there may be a grain of truth in it. We're talking small, probably private hotels, not the big cheap and cheerful chains or motels. He mentioned a ballroom on more than one occasion, but I must stress some of this may just have been him trying to make himself look more important.
'That's about all I have for now, boss,' she said, looking towards Ted.
Ted stood up, glad of the chance to be doing something. He headed to the white-board and picked up markers to start logging what they had. Gripping a pen helped him regain control over the shakes. Aiden's name was already written at the top of the board. So far there was nothing else.
Sal had given him the name of the taxi firm where the driver he had tried to talk to worked. He wrote it at the side, linked with a line and several question marks. On the other side of the board he wrote 'small hotels' and linked that to the boy's name.
'Steve, another computer job for you,' Ted said. 'Pull up a list of all the small and medium sized private hotels on our patch. They may be listed as guest houses as well. It might even be worth looking at bigger B&Bs, although I'm not sure where the ballroom story would fit in with them. How have you got on with sex offenders?'
'I've given the DS the list of anyone within the patch who's on the register, sir. I'm still searching for anyone under suspicion but not yet convicted,' he replied. Now there was an assurance about the way he answered and spoke up, compared to how he had been when he first joined the team.
Ted stood back and looked at the board. 'What we need,' he said aloud, half to himself, 'is something linking the taxi firm with one or more of these hotels. That might help narrow things down a bit.'
Virgil Tibbs, always the joker of the team, piped up quickly. 'Boss, if I can put it on expenses, I'll take the missus out to dinner in all of them and ask for a taxi home, then see which firm they suggest.'
It raised a small laugh from all of them, despite the serious nature of the discussion. 'Nice try, but I can't see the new superintendent agreeing to that, Virgil,' Ted said. 'But I do think you've hit on something. Once Steve produces the list, you and Rob, separately, can go round them all and see what cards for taxi firms they have on the reception desk. While you're at it, check out which of them have function rooms with a dance floor, anything which a young lad like Aiden might have called a ballroom. Try saying you're looking for a venue for a party or something, pick up some brochures.'
Ted noticed that Rob O'Connell was not looking his usual self. He seemed distant, uncomfortable. He would normally have chipped in with a few ideas but he was unusually quiet.
'I know this case is a hard one, for all of us,' Ted told his team. 'If anyone is finding it particularly difficult for whatever reason, don't forget you can come and talk to me, in confidence. There are other cases we still need to work on. If anyone is struggling, there's no shame in asking to be reassigned.
'In the meantime, why don't we all have a quick drink together this evening after work, my shout? Jan, more often than this lot would have you believe, I've been known to put my hand in my pocket for a round at The Grapes. You're welcome, as our newest team member, unless you have family commitments to hurry back for?'
'I have two small children, sir, but I'm lucky enough to have a husband who works from home and can take care of them, so I'd love to join you,' she said. 'Without sounding too pushy, being the newbie, could I just say that I've had a lot of experience in this sort of enquiry. If anybody wanted to come and talk to me, in private, I would be happy to listen and advise.'
Ted looked appreciatively at his newly-seconded officer. Perhaps the Ice Queen had a good side after all, despite her formality and adherence to rules. She had certainly been right in her choice of Jan Reynolds to make up his team's numbers.
CHAPTER Ten
Sal was in his own clothes once more. He told Ted that his cousin had heard further from the other driver and they were going to meet him again, to see if they could get any more out of him.
'This time he wants to meet at a service station on the motorway,' he said. 'He's certainly acting scared and clearly trying to make sure no one is watching him.'
'Be careful, Sal,' Ted told him. 'His behaviour suggests whoever he is working for is dangerous and cautious. Do not under any circumstances put yourself at risk. If you get the least sign that things are not right, you walk away. We'll find a way to get these people, but I don't want you or any of the team put at risk.'
As before, Sal walked to the place he had arranged to meet his cousin, this time a different place and a different approach route. Even without the DI's warning, he was not taking any chances of being seen anywhere near the police station before heading off to meet the driver.
The service station was crowded, as usual. It was a good place to meet with some degree of anonymity, easier to blend into a crowd. Sal's cousin was off duty and he too was wearing shalwar kameez. Although they were no more than a couple of miles from where Sal lived, he didn't spot a single face he recognised, which was encouraging.
This time they had an even longer wait until the other man showed up. They'd found themselves a quiet corner where they could watch the frequent comings and goings in the busy place, but there was still no sign of their contact.
'How long do we give him until we decide he's not coming?' Sal asked his cousin.
'As long as it takes,' Khalid replied. 'I think he will come. It's possible it was not him who picked up the little boy who died, but he might know something about who did. He told me he would talk to us again. We will just have to be patient.'
Sal felt awash with tea by the time the driver finally appeared through one of the doors and walked past them without acknowledging them, heading for the drinks counter. He had clearly finished his shift some time ago as he was also in his own clothes.
There were very few spare seats, so it appeared perfectly natural when the other driver, Mohnid, brought his tray across to their table, which had a spare seat, and asked to join them.
As before, the man's dark, beady eyes were darting about incessantly as he sat down with his cup of tea. When he spoke his voice was so low that Sal had to bend forward to catch what he was saying, with all the noise going on around them.
'There may be a way I can help you,' Mohnid said. 'They are always looking for extra drivers where I work, it is very busy. Once you get a job there and I see that you can be trusted, I can talk about you to these people. You have a clean driving licence?'
'Yes, but not with me,' Sal said quickly, having prepared his cover story in advance, not wanting to give too much detail to this man. 'Khalid drove me here so I didn't bother to bring it.'
'Once you're in, I will see about some extra work being put your way. You will be asked to collect and deliver certain things. It could be anything. If you want this work, you need to do as you are asked without ever asking any questions. That is very important.'
Sal nodded. 'I can do that,' he said earnestly. 'I would be so grateful for any help to get these people off my back.'
'When you start to receive payment from these people, you will, of course, have to pay me an introduction fee. Help comes at a price,' Mohnid said with a smile like a sneer, revealing bad teeth. 'My share will be half.'
'Half?' Sal echoed in amazement, raising his voice in astonishment.
The man glared at him and made shushing noises and gestures. 'My risk is greater than yours. If I introduce you and you let them down, it will go very badly for me,' he said. 'If and when things start to settle down and all is well, I may be able to reduce my
commission to one third. I will be in touch again with your cousin to see when you should come and ask for work. Then I will see to the rest of it. Now go, without saying anything. We are supposed to be strangers sharing a table.'
As they walked back to Khalid's car, Sal was still expressing amazement at the cut the other driver was proposing to take. 'If he's recruiting other drivers and taking half of everything they make, he must be doing very well,' he said. 'Now all I have to do is persuade my boss to let me go in under cover and see what I can find out from the inside. Persuading him won't be easy.'
Not easy proved to be impossible. Ted was adamant it was too soon to put anyone in under cover when they currently had no intelligence on who they were dealing with.
'But, sir,' Sal argued, 'the only way we are going to get that intelligence is from the inside. I've got an in and I blend in perfectly. I could do this, if you'd just let me.'
'Even if I agreed with you, Sal, which I don't, at this stage, the superintendent would never go for it,' Ted told him patiently. 'I've already discussed it with her and those are her instructions. We're not saying not ever, just not yet. You've done good work.'
'So what do I say if this other driver gets back to me about starting some driving work?' Sal asked, looking stubborn. 'If I turn him down now, I've blown it.'
'You're inventive, Sal, you can think on your feet,' Ted told him. 'He may not get in touch for some time, by then we might be ready for you to go in. If he does, try telling him you're under so much pressure from the people you owe money to that you're too afraid to leave the house.'
He could tell that Sal wasn't happy about the decision but there was little more he could do at the moment. He was reluctant ever to put the lives of any his team at risk, especially when they had so little intelligence to go on.
It was the day for the self-defence club for kids and for Ted and Trev's judo session. Ted always tried to get away from work in good time if he could, and today more than most he was in need of the kind of release from tension he could find only through his martial arts. He wondered if Flip would be there tonight and if things would be awkward between him and the boy.
Living with Trev, Ted had come to like Queen rock music but sometimes in the car alone, he indulged in his guilty pleasure of listening to country music. Trev teased him mercilessly about his taste but always bought him the CDs.
It was only a short drive from the station to the house but long enough for Ted to enjoy singing along loudly to Willie Nelson. Ted had a good voice but lacked confidence to air it except on his own. Trev, on the other hand, frequently sang with great enthusiasm and always hopelessly out of tune.
Trev was in and watching the news on television as Ted walked in.
'Have you seen this?' Trev asked, pointing towards the screen, as Ted leaned over the back of the sofa to plant a kiss on his cheek. 'It's Rory the Raver, his house near Wilmslow is being raided for child porn.'
Ted looked at the screen, his heart suddenly pounding. Police were swarming round a big, impressive house while journalists, cameramen and even a helicopter were all over the scene.
'Who is he?' he asked.
'Modern rock, not anything you would listen to,' Trev told him. 'Plays in a band called Toof. Very alternative, but he models himself on the old classics. Likes smashing up hotel rooms, that sort of thing. Rumoured to like young groupies, very young, and not fussed as to the sex.'
'Toof?' Ted echoed blankly.
Trev smiled as he explained, 'Stands for Too Fucking Much.'
He was about to continue when they were interrupted by Ted's much more classical taste of Freddie Mercury singing Barcelona, his mobile phone ring tone. He knew who it would be without needing to look at the caller display.
'Inspector? I need you in my office, as soon as possible,' the Ice Queen said, sounding colder than usual.
'On my way, ma'am,' Ted replied and hung up. 'I'm really sorry, can you do club without me tonight? Ring Bernard to give you a hand. I have to go back in. The shit's about to hit the fan in a big way. Kevin and I were told about this upcoming raid a couple of days ago and it was firmly on the top secret list. There'll be all kinds of witch-hunts now to find out how it got leaked to the press. Heaven knows what time I'll be back. The Ice Queen is probably rolling out her rack and thumb-screws as we speak.'
'Good luck,' Trev said. 'No worries about club, I'll sort it, and I'll plate up some food you can heat up whatever time you get back.'
'I might not get back,' Ted said as he headed to the door. 'She might send me to a Gulag if she can't find another scapegoat.'
CHAPTER Eleven
Kevin Turner had clearly not yet made his escape when the Ice Queen had issued her summons. He was lying in wait for Ted's arrival, lurking near the car park, as if he needed the moral support before facing the storm that was no doubt to come.
'You heard, then?' he asked Ted as they fell into step together and headed for the superintendent's office. 'Heads are going to roll for this one, in a big way.'
'Trev had the news on when I got home,' Ted said. 'I didn't even know who he was, modern rock's not my thing. Trev had to fill me in.'
As they got to the door of the Ice Queen's office, Kevin shoved Ted and said in a low voice, 'You go in first, you can do martial arts.'
'Sit down, gentlemen. We have a serious problem,' were her opening words. 'I take it you are both fully aware of the massive leak on this raid?'
The two nodded warily.
'The Cheshire top brass, from the chief constable down, are incandescent with rage,' she continued. 'So are the CPS. Unfortunately, we are right in their collective sights. They've been planning this operation for months in the utmost secrecy, not a sniff of it anywhere. Then they share it with Greater Manchester, this division to be precise, and suddenly the press are all over it like a rash.'
'Ma'am, surely no one seriously suspects either Inspector Turner or me of leaking this?' Ted asked. 'We have the murder of a little boy to wrap up and the possibility of intelligence which might help us in that. What possible motive would we have?'
The Ice Queen gave him a hard stare. 'Money, Inspector,' she replied coldly. 'Whoever has leaked this will have had a nice little hand-out for their efforts, no doubt.'
'But ma'am, without stating the obvious,' Ted continued, 'neither of us knew the name of the person being raided. You didn't give us that information.'
This time she studied him as if he were some strange laboratory specimen. 'Sometimes, Inspector, your naivety astounds me,' she said. 'You may not have heard of this character but the press have, of course. One simple phone call to say that a raid was going to take place on a rock star's house near Wilmslow would have been all that was required to set the circus in motion and cause this complete and utter cock-up.'
Ted rather wished he could kick himself in the seat of the pants. Somehow almost every time he opened his mouth in front of the Ice Queen he managed to make himself look like an incompetent idiot, and he knew he wasn't. He realised Kevin had exactly the right idea in keeping quiet and only speaking when spoken to.
'Let me outline for you both just how serious this leak is, then we'll talk about where it might have come from,' she continued. 'The target is Ruairi MacKenzie-Douglas, spelt the Gaelic way, although he keeps very quiet about that handle and is universally known as Rory the Raver. Lead singer with a group called Toof. Spoiled little upper-middle-class rich boy, family are loaded. He's the black sheep but, because of his connections, he has very few convictions.
'He's known for heavy drinking, recreational drugs, and trashing hotel rooms. Rumours of under-age sex follow him everywhere he goes. He's said to like to take his pick from the youngest groupies. So far nothing has stuck. Some of the kids who follow him round seem to take it as some sort of badge of honour to be picked.'
Ted knew they were in for a long evening when the Ice Queen suddenly broke off and asked, 'Would you gentlemen like coffee? Please help yourself.' She indicated the coffee
machine in a corner of her office. She already had a cup in front of her. Ted decided to do the honours for Kevin and himself. It gave him something else to think about, apart from what an imbecile he kept making himself appear. He hoped the fancy coffee machine was not as complicated as it looked or he would seem even more stupid if he fumbled with it.
She carried on speaking as he managed to sort the drinks. 'He's been under observation for some time now because of things he's been posting in various groups on the internet, some of it very graphic. It's believed that there is a lot more stuff, much worse, on his computer or computers inside the house, hence the need for the raid.
'But now, whatever they might find when they go in, it's going to be very hard to bring charges against him that can be made to stick. His lawyers are already ranting about pre-trial prejudice, and it certainly gives them grounds to challenge any attempt to bring this to court.
'Not only does that ruin the chances of getting this person, who is almost without doubt a piece of filth, behind bars where he belongs, it also means there is no chance of getting him to name names in exchange for a lighter sentence or protection on the inside. And we all know what fate awaits sex offenders like this once inside, unless they have negotiated in advance to be kept safe.'
Ted couldn't resist putting his head above the parapet once more. He knew he risked the Ice Queen writing him off as a lost cause but he had to have his say.
'Ma'am, is it just possible this leak has come from others involved as an attempt to discredit Rory as a witness, or even to stop him getting his chance to name names in court?' he asked.
'Go on, Inspector,' the Ice Queen said, watching him with a new expression on her face.
'Well, ma'am, it's just an unformed idea at the moment and I'm not sure if it takes us anywhere,' Ted said. 'But now all of this is out in the open, the case might not only fail to make it to trial but it could also have ended his career, surely?