by L M Krier
Ted was intrigued by something on the PIEdpiper's page. It was a reference to the man liking to watch 'a child at play' whilst listening to his favourite Tina Arena song. It meant nothing at all to Ted. He was just about to take out his phone and ask Trev how he could find out what it meant. Then he remembered. For the time being at least, he was on his own.
He knew he would have difficulty sleeping alone again that night, but guessed it would be much worse if he didn't at least try to work the puzzle out for himself. He smiled as he thought of Trev telling him over and over, 'Remember, Google is your friend.'
Tentatively, he entered 'child at play' into the search engine. He got plenty of results, but nothing like what he was looking for. He tried adding the name Tina Arena to the phrase. In less than a second, results appeared and this time, the fourth result to display took him to a lyrics page for a song called 'Sorrento Moon (I Remember)'.
'Got you, you slimy bastard,' Ted shouted triumphantly at the screen. It was pure hint and conjecture again, but it was something, at last, which linked Danielson's name with a Sorrento reference. It couldn't be coincidence, surely.
Guiltily, Ted caught sight of the time at the bottom right of his computer screen. It was much later than he had realised. The cats would be hungry, waiting to be fed. He thought optimistically that there was even an outside possibility he would find that Trev had returned.
He was surprisingly hungry, despite the earlier bagel, so he called at an Indian restaurant on the way back and got a takeaway. There was plenty for two, just in case. But there was no red bike in the garage, and no one to greet him when he went into the house, just six disgruntled cats prowling round in search of fresh food.
He fed the hungry felines then got out his phone, hesitating over whether or not to try Trev's number again, despite Willow's words of caution. In the end he opted for a short text.
'Hope you ok. All well here, cats fine.' He reflected a minute before adding, 'We miss you,' hoping it didn't sound as pathetic as he felt.
CHAPTER Thirty-five
Ted wanted to talk to the Ice Queen before he briefed his team on his first day back from his time away with Green. He had returned burning with determination to bring in some of the bigger fish. He wanted her agreement on what their next moves and priorities should be.
Like Ted, the Ice Queen was always in early, so he was able to catch up with her before his team members were all at work. She scrutinised him as he entered her office and sat down as instructed, then said candidly, 'I hope your time away was successful. I must say you look marginally worse than when you went away.'
'There was some hard training involved, ma'am, but I did come away with some possible answers,' he told her. 'My contact, who is well versed in such matters, confirmed my suspicions that we might have spooks involved, due to the possible involvement of even a minor royal, and the security implications that entails. I don't even know how we would begin to go after someone at that level, that's one for you, I think. What I'd like to do now, if you agree, is go after some of those near to the top but at a slightly lower level. Like Chief Superintendent Simon Danielson.'
He outlined for her what he had found out from his internet searches the day before, pointing out that it was all pure conjecture, then added, 'I'd like to start bringing in more of the hotel staff, particularly the receptionists, to see if we can loosen a few tongues that way. We could perhaps suggest that they could face conspiracy to murder charges.
'I'm hoping, too, that Sgt Reynolds will have found the boy from the video. I would like him and the hotel staff to look at some photos. Those of David Evans, of course, and Danielson, to see if we get any sign of recognition from any of them.'
Her tone, as ever, was measured. 'I think that would be acceptable at this stage. I have nothing concrete for you immediately, but I have reason to believe that we may shortly be in possession of something very interesting, as far as the chief superintendent is concerned. I'm sure I have no need to remind you that we must proceed with extreme caution with a potential suspect of his rank. You must ensure that every action you take is beyond reproach.'
The team sensed a new resolve in Ted from the moment he opened the briefing. They quickly brought him up to speed, each adding detail of what they had done individually.
'Right, where is the owner of the Sorrento?' he asked them. 'We've effectively shut his business down. I'd have expected him to be kicking and screaming, but there seems to be nothing except a deafening silence. Why is that?'
'Staff are all still tight as anything, sir,' Mike Hallam said. 'The only thing any of them will say is that he's still in Sicily and can't be contacted.'
'So what happened to the info Steve found on the Internet? Has anyone been round to the address lodged with Companies House?' Ted asked.
There was a sheepish exchange of looks, then Mike Hallam spoke up. 'Sorry, sir, my fault, I should have checked up on that straight away. Maurice, can you get round there this morning and find out what's what?'
'Next, I want as many hotel staff as possible, and in particular the receptionists, brought in individually and questioned. If they're too frightened to speak, I want them to understand that they could potentially face conspiracy to murder charges, see if that produces any results.
'I want them shown some photos, which I will sort out, to see if we get any flicker of recognition at all from any of them. We'll include shots of David Evans, of course, plus any other known offenders on our patch. I also have another potential suspect. I don't want to name him at the moment, but I do want to see if anyone recognises him. We'll call him Suspect A for now.
'Sal, you did such good work on that last fraud case, I want you and Steve to find out everything you can about the Sorrento's owner. The hotel is a limited company, so, who are the shareholders? You know the sort of thing.
'Jan, any luck yet with the boy you thought you recognised from the photos?'
Jancis Reynolds explained that she had tracked him down to a different home to the one where Aiden had lived, although the two had been to the same school. He was a frequent absconder from the home and had not been in residence when she had visited. The staff there had agreed to call her as soon as he reappeared.
'The Sorrento is the link for us here, that's the lead we have to nail down. The more we can tie suspects into it, the more chance we have of getting convictions. I can't yet tell you who the new suspect is, but I can say that it's someone satisfyingly high up. Right, get to it,' Ted said in conclusion.
The phone on Ted's desk was ringing as he returned to his office. A voice he didn't know announced, 'I'm the governor of the prison which is currently holding your man Anthony Ross on remand. He's been to see me and is asking to see you, in person.
'He says he has information for you but he wants to do a deal. Of course, as you know, every single man in here is innocent, they've all been framed, or so they say. I get requests like this all the time. But I'm the father of five small boys and I particularly dislike paedos, although I know I shouldn't let personal feelings get in the way.
'I'd just never forgive myself if I dismissed what he's saying out of hand and didn't get in touch with you. If you want to talk to him, I can get him shipped over to you later today.'
Ted thanked him profusely, grateful the man had shown some initiative and co-operation, and agreed a time for Ross to be brought to the station. Then he went back down to see the Ice Queen to bring her news of a potential breakthrough.
'I hope he realises we can't offer him a deal on the spot,' she said. 'It will have to go higher up for clearance. But if there is the potential to bring down those further up the chain, there's a chance something could be worked out.'
'I wondered if you would care to preside over this meeting, ma'am?' Ted asked her. 'It might show him we are taking him seriously to see someone senior willing to listen to him. And certainly you can tell him more than I could about his chances of getting any sort of a deal.'
'We will ha
ve to proceed with extreme caution from the outset with this. I take it he is coming without his solicitor present?' When Ted nodded, she continued, 'Even if he wants to talk off the record, we must ensure he says nothing with which he could incriminate himself, in the absence of his legal advisor. It will be very delicate. I'm happy to take the lead. Let me know the moment he arrives at the station.'
Ross arrived with two prison officers escorting him, handcuffed to one of them. He was taken into an interview room, where Ted and the Ice Queen soon joined them. Seeing her there, he immediately started to protest. 'I only want to talk to you,' he said to Ted, 'no one else.'
'Not possible, Mr Ross, that's not how it works. This is my senior officer, Superintendent Caldwell. Either she sits in or the interview is off.'
Reluctantly, Ross took a seat facing them when the prison officer had released him from the handcuffs.
'You two officers can go and get a coffee,' Ted told them. 'Just ask at the front desk, they'll show you where.'
The two hesitated, looking at one another. 'We're not supposed to leave him unattended, sir,' one of them said.
Ted smiled reassuringly. 'He's in a police station. I have black belts in four martial arts and believe me, the superintendent is very fierce. I don't think he's likely to do a runner. If anything happens, I'll personally take full responsibility.'
Without further encouragement, the two men left and Ted turned his attention to Ross. 'Superintendent Caldwell is here to oversee this initial meeting. She will advise you if at any point we should caution you further and tape what you say.'
Ross nodded reluctantly. He had clearly envisaged a quiet chat between Ted and himself, but was going to have to settle for some sort of formality.
'Now, what was it you wanted to say to me, Mr Ross?'
Ross licked his lips nervously. 'I didn't have anything to do with that little boy getting killed,' he began. 'Yes, I touched him, to see if he was still alive, but I didn't kill him. I panicked, I got that halfwit Iosif to get rid of him and I shouldn't have. Then things very quickly got out of my control, because of the people who were involved. I can name names, I can tell you exactly what happened and who was involved. But I want protection. I've already had a taste of what it's like in prison for a nonce, and I'm only on remand. I'm not going down for it. But these people are ruthless, they will kill anybody to protect their own. You saw what happened to Iosif. I want to know that if I talk to you, I will be protected.'
The Ice Queen leaned on the table which separated them and looked directly at Ross. 'Mr Ross, I must stop you there. You are in danger of incriminating yourself, in the absence of your legal advisor.
'I understand that you are hoping for some sort of trade-off against whatever information you have. However, I must stress that any sort of deal is not something which can be arranged now, at this level. I would have to talk to other people to see what, if anything can be offered, and there are no promises. It also depends on the quality of the information you are proposing to give us.'
Ross made a noise like a snort. 'I can give you names right to the very top. If necessary, I would testify in court against them, but only if I could be sure I would be safe, on some sort of witness protection programme, something like that. These people have a very long reach. I would need to be sure.'
'Very well, Mr Ross, leave it with me. Contact will be made with you if we can offer you something, but I must stress there are no guarantees. If and when that happens, we will begin this interview all over again, formally recorded on tape.'
As they saw Ross safely on his way between the two prison officers, the Ice Queen turned to Ted, one eyebrow arched, and something like a smile playing around her mouth. 'Four martial arts, Inspector? You certainly don't do things by half.'
CHAPTER Thirty-six
Ted was just getting ready to leave for work when his mobile rang and the caller display showed it was Willow. He snatched up the phone and said anxiously, 'Hello?'
'Don't panic, Ted,' Willow told him, hearing his tone. 'Trev asked me to phone you. He's fine, he's just gone to Berlin.'
'Berlin?' Ted asked incredulously.
'He's gone with Rupert. Rupe got a modelling job, big bikes, boys' toys, that sort of thing. Right up Trev's street so they've gone off together for a bit of a boys' jolly,' Willow told him. 'Are you free tonight? Since you and I are grass widows at the moment, I thought I could come round to keep you company. And see the lovely cats, of course.'
'I'd really like that,' Ted said, and meant it. 'Shall I cook?'
'I know you're busy at work at the moment, so why don't I just pick up a takeaway on the way over?' she asked. 'Is there anything you don't eat?'
'Not much,' Ted laughed. 'If you can buy it here, I'll eat it. Is seven thirty all right for you?'
Willow agreed and rang off, leaving Ted to head off to the station. He bumped into the Ice Queen in the car park as she parked her immaculate BMW estate next to his decidedly shabby Renault.
'Ah, just the person I wanted to see,' she said ominously. 'Follow me into my office, will you?'
Ted took her at her word and followed dutifully behind her tall and elegant figure. He found himself wondering if she ever relaxed, if spending time with her husband and sons ever saw her in jeans and wellingtons. He couldn't picture it somehow.
'Come in and sit down,' she said, switching on her coffee machine. She sat down at her desk facing Ted and started up her computer.
'I had a phone call last night from a contact of mine,' she told him. 'The chief superintendent we are interested in has, shall we say, come under some covert surveillance, or rather his computer use has. He clearly thinks he's rather clever, or quite well protected. He's been putting some fairly unpleasant images of himself in compromising positions with under age children into the cloud. He's clearly not aware of how easy it is for certain people to view what he has in storage. Either that or he thinks he's flame-proof.'
She was scrolling through her emails as she spoke and clearly found the one she was expecting as she continued, 'Ah, here it is. In the absence of much information to go on, I told my contact that if there was anything featuring four-poster beds I wanted it sending immediately, and he has done so.
'Now, I'm told that what he's sent here is comparatively mild, level one content, but it will nevertheless be difficult viewing, I have no doubt. I understand there is no real doubt over the identity of Chief Superintendent Danielson in the video footage he has sent, although the quality is not good. It looks like secret filming.
'The question is, Inspector, as you know the hotel that might appear in it, would you be willing to look at it and see if you recognise the background? As ever, with material like that, you are at liberty to refuse should you not feel up to it.'
Ted felt himself start to go hot all over, but fought the sensation and worked to control his breathing.
'That's fine, I'll take a look at it. It makes sense for me to do it, I've been in the hotel, I might recognise some of the fixtures.'
'If you're sure, I'll forward it to you now and you can deal with it and get back to me. It goes without saying that I don't want anyone else to see it at this stage, or to know of its existence.'
'Ma'am,' Ted said in agreement, before he went upstairs to talk to his team, and then face the ordeal ahead. He made himself a mug of tea before he sat down at the computer, loosening his tie. Level one was the lowest level of indecent images involving children. He still knew it was going to be harrowing to watch, especially for him.
As with the still shots he had seen, the quality was not good. Sometimes he could see only a part of the people involved, but there was sound with the film. The camera was obviously being operated remotely as it panned the room, trying to keep the face of the adult involved in shot as often as possible. The quality was completely different from the shots of Rory the Raver.
It was clearly Danielson, his face was visible several times, and his angular frame and stooped shoulders were unmis
takable. He was naked. Ted had a shock when he saw the boy with him. It was Aiden Bradshaw, also naked. Aiden did not look particularly ill at ease, which Ted found strange.
Clearly the rumours on the website were true. To begin with, it seemed that all Danielson was interested in was administering not particularly severe corporal punishment. His flaccid penis hung resolutely between his legs, with no signs of a reaction.
Suddenly, he reached under a pillow and produced a pair of handcuffs. Ted heard Aiden's voice say loudly, 'Hey, I don't do no kinky stuff, that's not what you paid for,' but he was quickly overpowered by the tall man and soon had his hands attached to one of the bedposts.
Now Aiden was struggling hard, clearly getting frightened. Danielson put one hand over the boy's mouth to muffle the sounds he was making, while with the other hand he started to caress and fondle the boy's buttocks and between his legs.
Ted hit the pause button and closed his eyes, desperately taking himself away to the safe place in his head. Warm sun on his face, the sound of a nearby waterfall, birdsong above him, the soft feel of heather beneath his back. He just had to reach out with his hand and he could make contact with Trev's hand, close by.
Only this time Trev was not there. His reaching hand found no warmth of return contact, only the harsh stems of the heather. His breathing started to speed up. He felt the familiar sting of chlorine in his throat, the sensation of his lungs on the point of exploding. Panic was seizing him, he was going under for the third time.