Dead Guilty

by Helen H. Durrant

  “I can’t promise anything, Mr Geddes, but I will try and get that post-mortem for you.”

  Geddes nodded. “What about the lad who died? Still think I did it?”

  “That lad was Sean Barber. You have just told me that he was one of the lads who tormented your son. You do have a motive, Mr Geddes. Do you still have the clothes you were wearing that night?”

  Geddes frowned. “Yes. Why?”

  “I’ll send someone round for them. They will have to go to the lab. For your sake, let’s hope we don’t find any of Sean Barber’s blood on them.”

  Chapter 16

  “Sean Barber’s phone data is in,” Joyce told Calladine when he returned to the incident room. “Sent through by the provider, from the mobile lost at the scene.” She handed him several sheets of paper.

  “Has the phone turned up yet?”

  “No, sir, the provider says it is turned off. They’ll monitor it, and when it’s turned on again, they’ll let us know.”

  Calladine scanned the list. “There are dozens of numbers on here.” He handed the sheets back. “Check them out will you, Joyce. They could well be the numbers of friends, family — that one is definitely his mother.” He pointed to a number. “Anything odd amongst this lot, let me know.”

  “What about his internet history?” Alice suggested.

  “There’s nothing on the list,” Joyce told her. “I did query that. But the provider assured me that all he used the phone for was calls and texts. Unusual, but there you are.”

  “We’ve got his laptop. That might give us something.”

  Joyce nodded. “I’ll push the techie for the data on that. Any social media accounts he had might be interesting.”

  “Geddes says he didn’t stab Sean. I believe him.” The others looked at Calladine in surprise. “True, he had a motive. But he’s a ruffian, not a killer. Get uniform to accompany him back to his house and pick up the clothes he was wearing the night Sean was stabbed. Get them to the Duggan and tell them to look for blood traces.” He looked thoughtful. “I bet they don’t find any.”

  “If not Geddes, then who?” Ruth asked.

  “A rival gang perhaps. Don’t worry, we’ll get there. Thorpe not shown his face yet?”

  Heads shook around the room. Calladine picked up his phone and rang the sergeant. “Where the hell are you, Don? We haven’t seen you in hours.”

  “Staking out the Alder gaff on the Hobfield, sir. Alf and Billy are both at home. There’s been a lot of coming and going. Young kids mainly. They’ve definitely got some scam going on.”

  “What age?” Calladine wondered if they were the same teenagers who’d been setting up the drug dens.

  “Kids, no more than twelve years, I’d say.”

  “They’ll be part of his football team. Billy coaches them. Any sign of the missing child, Sophie Alder?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Has he left the flat much, seen anyone?”

  “He went to the offy for booze, that’s all.”

  “Did you speak to Richard Alder’s employees?”

  “A few. No one had a bad word to say about him. The perfect employer, as far as they are concerned.”

  “Okay. Get back to the nick before five to report back.”

  “There is something else that will interest you, sir,” Thorpe said quickly before Calladine could hang up. “Billy Alder had that Halliwell girl trailing in his wake when he came back from the offy. It looked like they’d had a right set-to. Screaming at him, she was, but I couldn’t hear what it was about.”

  “Frankie?”

  “That’s the one.”

  Calladine hung up and looked at Ruth. “Alder’s older brother Billy and Frankie Halliwell have been seen arguing. What d’you make of that?”

  “They’re bound to know each other. Frankie was brought up on the Hobfield too, don’t forget.”

  “Check where she lives. I fancy having a word with that young woman.”

  Ruth nodded, but she wasn’t really listening anymore. Her attention was on the photo of Sophie Alder, the one of the little girl in her party dress. She was comparing it with the photo on the email sent by the abductor.

  “Alice, what d’you see on these?”

  Alice ran critical eyes over both pictures. “Different clothes. Can’t tell where either was taken, but that toy is the same, the blue teddy.”

  “Exactly! I’m kicking myself now for not noticing it before. It’s the same toy in both photos, but that can’t be. Annie said the kids didn’t take any toys outside.” Ruth picked up her phone and tapped in Joanne’s number. She had to double-check.

  “DS Bayliss here,” she said when Joanne picked up. “A quick question for you. When Jack and Sophie went outside that day, did they take any toys with them to play with?”

  “No,” Joanne replied immediately. “It’d been raining. Annie said they could play hide and seek or football. Toys would’ve got wet and muddy.”

  “You’re quite sure about that?”

  “Yes. Why, is it important?”

  “Just clearing something up. Thanks, Joanne.” Ruth didn’t want Joanne relaying her fears to Annie.

  “No toys were taken outside,” Ruth told Alice. “So how come Sophie is playing with the blue teddy after she’s been taken?”

  Alice considered this new bit of information. “Do we speak to Annie Alder again?”

  “Too right we do. And this time we want the truth.”

  Calladine had been listening. “Good work, Ruth. When you see Annie, ask to see the teddy. If she argues the toss, then present her with the evidence.”

  “Do I tell her we know about the hospital visit?”

  “Yes, lay it on. It’s about time we got some straight talking from that woman.”

  “It is possible that someone else took the toy from the house?” Alice suggested. “It might be an idea to get a list of who’s visited since that day.”

  Calladine nodded his agreement. Always one for thoroughness was Alice. “Let me know what happens as soon as.”

  “Sir!” Joyce called. “Richard Alder is on the line. He sounds angry.”

  Calladine took the receiver from her.

  Alder got straight to the point. “I got another demand. Pay up or they hurt Sophie. Why are you lot still dragging your feet? You should have found her by now. This isn’t good enough!”

  Calladine’s tone was matter-of-fact. “We are working very hard on the case, Mr Alder, I assure you. We are following a number of leads. What have they asked for?”

  “The money, what d’you think!” Alder shouted. “I was given account details and told to transfer it immediately. They said they’d contact me later about Sophie. I can’t delay for much longer. Heaven knows what they’ll do to my child if I do. And I can’t reach Annie. I’ve rung her several times but she isn’t answering her mobile.”

  “Try not to worry,” Calladine reassured him. “Annie is still in shock, she might be sleeping. We’ll need those bank account details. They are key in tracing the owner of that account.”

  Calladine gathered the team together for a briefing. “Alder has received a demand for the money from the kidnappers. We’re running out of time. We need to clear this one up and quickly.” He looked at Rocco and Alice. “You two, see what you can find out about Giles Pennington. I have a suspicion he’s not what he seems.”

  * * *

  Frankie Halliwell answered the door to the two detectives. “You lot again. Don’t you ever get tired of harassing people?” She’d been drinking and stumbled her way back to the sitting room, where she flopped onto the sofa.

  “We’d like to speak to Annie,” Ruth said.

  “Well, you’re out of luck. She’s not here and she’s not answering my calls either.”

  “Do you know where she’s gone?” Ruth asked.

  “No idea. The bitch never tells me anything.”

  Ruth turned to Alice. “Ring Annie’s friend, Joanne. See if she’s with her or if she kno
ws where she is.”

  “We’re here to check something,” Ruth told Frankie. “Would you fetch Sophie’s blue teddy for us please?”

  Frankie scowled. “What the hell for? What will that tell you?”

  Ruth had to bite back a retort. “Just get it, Frankie, and I’ll explain.”

  Alice had to help the girl to her feet. She reeked of whisky and Alice recoiled.

  “I’ve had a bloody drink! So what!” Frankie shouted at her, almost falling back. “That bloody bloke’s really pissed me off. Nothing’s ever good enough for him. That stupid sister of mine has a lot to answer for.”

  Ruth had no idea what she was getting at. “Is your brother-in-law at home?”

  “No. He doesn’t come home these days if he can help it. Bastard’s got a flat at that workplace of his.”

  “Do you mind if I come with you?” Ruth asked, seeing how unsteady the young woman was. “I don’t want you falling on the stairs.”

  “Do what you like,” came the sullen reply.

  The child’s bedroom was tidy, not a thing out of place. On a shelf was a row of soft toys. The bed, too, was festooned with them. Ruth and Alice both had a good look around, but there was no blue teddy.

  Ruth’s mobile rang. It was Calladine. She took the call in the hallway.

  “How’s it going? Is Annie there?”

  “No, but her sister, Frankie, is, and she’s very drunk. There’s no sign of the teddy either.”

  Ruth heard Calladine sigh. “I don’t like this, Ruth. We need to find Annie. I think she is involved in this right up to her neck.”

  Chapter 17

  Calladine arrived at Alder’s offices with Rocco in tow. The young detective was suspicious about the state of the businessman’s finances.

  “Trade may be good, but we have to ask where he gets a million from on top of all the investment he’s made recently,” Rocco voiced as they took the lift up to the top floor.

  “That’s for another day,” Calladine advised. “The man is upset. His daughter is missing. I doubt he’s up to an interrogation of his finances right now.”

  Calladine was right. Alder was genuinely concerned for his daughter’s safety. “What’s taking you so long?” He banged his fist on the desktop with frustration. “If you lot don’t find Sophie soon, I’ll have to pay up.”

  “Calm down, Mr Alder! Paying the ransom isn’t the best way to sort this,” Calladine said. The detective was well aware that if this was a genuine abduction, then there was nothing to stop whoever had Sophie from hanging onto the child and demanding more money.

  “You have the money ready, just in case?” Rocco asked.

  “Yes, of course.”

  Rocco was suspicious. “How did you get your hands on that amount of money so fast, Mr Alder?”

  “Why do you need to know that?” Alder asked angrily. “Where the money came from has nothing to do with this. I’m just glad I have it to pay over if needs be.”

  Calladine saw Alder’s eyes narrow. The man was hiding something. “We need to move quickly.” He addressed Alder. “Give me a copy of the email with the transfer details and I’ll get our experts working on it.”

  “I’ve printed you a copy.”

  The bank account details were standard enough. “This is a UK account,” Calladine told them. “In the name of Jones.”

  “Very original,” Alder scoffed.

  “Do you know where your wife is, sir?” Calladine asked.

  There was silence. The question was unexpected. “Have you tried her friend, Joanne?” His voice was suddenly calm. “Annie confides in her, tells her more these days than she tells me.”

  “Do you have her number?”

  Alder tapped the number into his mobile phone and passed it over. “Joanne? This is DI Calladine. Is Annie with you?” Short and simple. Minutes later, the call was over. “Joanne hasn’t seen her since yesterday. She hasn’t spoken to her on the phone either.”

  Calladine went out into the corridor and rang Ruth, who was still at the Alder’s house. “Find out if Annie has taken anything with her.”

  “You think she’s done one?”

  “If Annie has anything to do with this, she’ll have left. The ransom is to be paid by bank transfer into a UK account at the abductor’s request. We’re not dealing with experienced criminals here.”

  “Easily traceable in that case.”

  “That’s what I’m thinking. The account is in the name of Jones. Find out if the account holder ever visited the bank in person. If so, get the CCTV. We need to move fast, and we need to find Annie. She holds the key to this.”

  “Give me a moment, I’ll have a look in her room.” Ruth kept the line open as she started her search.

  Frankie Halliwell was sleeping off the drink in one of the bedrooms, so Ruth had the run of the house. She walked across the landing to the master bedroom. Women’s clothes were strewn across the bed. “I think she’s gone,” she told Calladine, who was waiting on the phone. “From the state of the bedroom, I’d say she’s packed a bag and left.” Ruth checked the dressing table. “All her cosmetics and jewellery have gone too. This looks like the work of a woman in a hurry.”

  “Thanks, Ruth.” He hung up.

  Rocco had followed Calladine out into the corridor. “Any chance of getting a warrant to look at the Alder accounts?”

  “What do you suspect him of?”

  “I’m not sure, but the figures don’t add up.”

  “Rocco, you don’t know that for sure. You haven’t seen the figures. We have no idea how much the factory makes. Anyway, we’ve got more urgent matters to attend to. If it becomes vital to the investigation, then I will ask for a warrant. But until then we can only look at what Alder allows us to.”

  “The new factory and office buildings alone must have cost a fortune, not to mention that house of theirs. And now the ransom money. He’s told us he has the cash ready. That amount came from somewhere,” Rocco pushed.

  Calladine shook his head and went back into Alder’s office. “Your wife is missing, sir. She’s packed some of her stuff and disappeared.”

  “What are you’re telling me?”

  “I’m not sure myself, yet. But it is possible that Annie is somehow connected with Sophie’s disappearance.”

  Alder frowned. “I don’t understand. Why would she do that?”

  “I’ve no idea. But if she gets in touch, let me know immediately.”

  “I know your new chief superintendent, Calladine. We’ll see what he has to say about this. He’ll make bringing my wife and daughter home a priority.”

  Calladine ignored the threat and left him to it. They needed to get back and speak to the techies. He tossed Rocco his car keys. “What are you thinking?”

  Rocco looked thoughtful. “I’m puzzled, that’s all. Have you considered that Richard Alder might have something else going on apart from manufacturing biscuits?”

  “Do you have any suggestions?”

  “No. But I’m not happy.”

  * * *

  Calladine needed to know if Annie was behind the abduction of her daughter. Only then would he be satisfied that Sophie Alder was not in any immediate danger. But the bank confirmed that Wendy Jones had only been to the branch once to open the account and that was several months ago. There was no CCTV available.

  “What d’you reckon?” Rocco asked Calladine. “Is Annie Alder behind this?”

  “At the moment I’ve got an open mind.” He watched Rocco yawn. It had been a long day. “I’ll wait and see what comes through. You get off.”

  “I won’t say no, if you’re sure?”

  “See you in the morning,” Calladine said.

  He made himself a strong coffee and settled down to read through the Sean Barber murder file one more time. It might be a long wait.

  Chapter 18

  Ruth went straight home after visiting the Alder house. Calladine was happy to wait for any results and there was nothing she could do. But on ent
ering the house, Ruth wished she had somewhere else to be. Harry was screaming his lungs out and there was a strong smell of burning coming from the kitchen.

  “Ruined the chicken, I’m afraid.” Jake gave her a sheepish smile. “I can’t get the hang of the new oven. And it’s been bedlam round here tonight. I think there’s some sort of rave going on at the top end of the close. I haven’t checked because I didn’t want to take Harry outside in the cold, but they’ve been chucking fireworks about and music is blaring out of the end house.”

  Ruth frowned. “Old Mr Hopkins lives there. That doesn’t sound like him. Has he got visitors?”

  “A black Range Rover went roaring up a couple of hours ago, and there’s been a steady stream of vehicles since. If there’d been kids playing, they wouldn’t have stood a chance.”

  “I’ll go and have a word, make sure he’s okay.” Ruth surveyed the kitchen. How could one man and a child make so much mess! Jake was usually fine with the cooking. “There’s a casserole in the freezer. Whack it in the microwave. I won’t be long.”

  Ruth put her coat back on and walked the few metres to the elderly man’s house.

  Jake was right. Mr Hopkins’ house was lit up like a beacon and the front door was wide open — no need to knock then. Ruth could hear voices and music. A tall, dark-haired lad stood in the kitchen doorway, handing out cans of beer.

  “What’s going on?” she demanded. “Where is Mr Hopkins?”

  The lad spun round and grinned at her. “Nosy old bat!” he said. “We put him to bed. He were tired, couldn’t keep up.”

  “Who are you?” She had to raise her voice over the blaring music.

  He sniggered. “I’m his grandson, David.”

  “And this lot?”

  “Me mates. It’s cool, no need to stress. Me grandad don’t mind.”

  “We’ll see about that.” Ruth climbed the staircase. “Mr Hopkins, you okay?” She tried the bedroom door but it was locked from the inside. “It’s Ruth, from down the close. Will you come out?”