by Joy Ellis
‘But no hacking, understand? I don’t want you losing a damned good job because of one of my investigations.’
Spooky sighed. ‘Understood.’
* * *
Mickey wiped his hands on a paper towel. ‘Sorry, Vonnie. I’ve never seen that one before, and living on the Carborough I thought I’d seen them all.’
Mickey Leonard was the adopted son of the only law-abiding member of the Leonards. Like a Mafia clan, the Leonard family had run the Carborough Estate for years. Archie, the oldest member, had been one of the last of the old-school “honourable” villains, and he and Nikki Galena had struck up an unlikely friendship. He had died not long ago, and his son Raymond had taken up the sceptre. Nikki and Joseph had saved Mickey’s life back in the bad old days, and he’d remained loyal to them ever since. He acted as a willing go-between and helped them whenever he could.
Now he held his hand out for the pictures. ‘Can I have those? There’s a lad I know who works in the pool hall down by the docks. He sees a lot down there. Maybe he could identify that sign for you?’
Yvonne smiled at him. ‘I could go find him, Mickey, if you give me his name.’ But she already knew what his answer would be.
‘Ah, well, no offence, Vonnie, but he’d run a mile if he saw your uniform come through the door. I’ll go down there tonight when I finish work, okay? And I’ll ring you. Might be late, though.’
Yvonne gave him her mobile number. ‘Thanks, Mickey. No problem, I’ll wait for your call.’
Yvonne walked back to the station, wondering where those two thugs could possibly have come from. And if they weren’t from the area, why pick on Lee Brown? He was hardly someone who merited the attention of some powerful gang from another town. Again, her thoughts returned to the Black House. Their church, for want of a better word, apparently had a large following of powerful people, but would any of them stoop to such a brutal warning? Joseph and Ben had mentioned secret societies that were a front for all manner of illegal goings on — fraud, money-laundering, and embezzlement. She hoped she’d lose her bet with Niall. If he did manage to get in, he might see something she’d missed. It would be well worth getting him a coffee and a doughnut!
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Around lunchtime, Nikki was called to the front desk. She was seized with panic when she saw Wendy Avery waiting for her. Was something wrong with Eve?
‘I wondered if I could have a few moments of your time?’ Wendy said.
‘Of course.’ Nikki hesitated. ‘There’s nothing wrong, is there?’
‘Oh no. It’s just that I have some information for you. I know that Eve promised to keep strictly to her house and garden, so I’ve been a bit naughty and kept her out of it.’
Nikki led the way to her office and offered Wendy a drink that was declined. ‘I won’t take up too much of your time, I promise.’ She lowered her voice. ‘Do you remember David Danbury?’
‘Your friend in GCHQ? How could I forget him? I’m not sure how things would have panned out without his help.’
‘Well, as a matter of fact, I spoke to him this morning.’ Wendy raised her eyebrows.
Nikki narrowed her eyes. ‘Oh, really? And did he have anything interesting to say?’
‘Interesting, but I’m not sure that it’s terribly helpful to you.’ Wendy avoided Nikki’s stare. ‘He was kind enough to make a few low-key enquiries for me, just a bit of background on the Applegarth family.’
‘And?’
‘It appears that Richard Applegarth’s happy family life fell to pieces at around the time of the fire in the summerhouse. David didn’t mention the fire, you understand, I just calculated the dates.’ Wendy took a breath. ‘David said that it followed a family get-together in Geneva. You already know he shipped the whole family off to Switzerland for a reunion party, well, Natalie was apparently taken ill and never attended. Lyndon and Polly were there, but then Lyndon came down with the same thing, reportedly a stomach bug. Richard told his friends and family that Natalie was probably not really ill, but angry with him for vetoing her “inappropriate” relationship with a religious man. He thought she’d get over it if he took her away from England, but he said it must have made the situation worse, because shortly afterwards, Natalie left home.’
Nikki puffed out her cheeks. ‘Convenient.’
‘Absolutely. Then David told me that two years later, Lyndon upped and left to live in France, leaving only Polly in Switzerland, where she married a scientist.’ Wendy shrugged. ‘As I said, not much help, is it?’
‘I think it is.’ Nikki thought carefully. ‘So, there is a very good chance she never left the Fens in the first place.’
‘You need to know about that flight out of the country, and exactly who was on it,’ mused Wendy. ‘I could ask David to dig deeper.’
Nikki pulled a face. ‘I better not, Wendy. I know we can trust David, but I don’t think I want to push things any further. If I get found out, my superintendent’s neck will be on the block, as well as mine, and the whole team with me. Thanks, but right now, I’ll hold fire.’
‘Then I have one more suggestion.’ Wendy’s smile was mischievous. ‘As you know, I hold a pilot’s licence, and I’ve been flying locally for years. What if I could track down the Applegarths’ private pilot from the time of the fire? We are a pretty close community and I know a whole lot of flyers. It’s a thought, isn’t it?’
‘Now that I can handle! But Wendy, be very careful who you talk to, won’t you?’
Wendy sighed. ‘I’ve been through wars, DI Galena, and worked at a very high level in the MOD. What do you think I’m going to do? Wave a banner with the Applegarth name on it?’
‘Sorry,’ said Nikki, chastened. ‘I’m just so on edge about this case, I was forgetting your history.’
‘You’re forgiven.’ Wendy stood up. ‘I must get back.’
‘How much does my mother know about this, Wendy?’ Nikki asked with a smile. ‘Everything?’
‘Some, but it was my decision to talk to David, not hers. And, Nikki, she does respect your wishes as much as she can. It really bothers her, though I suspect that if the boot was on the other foot, you’d do exactly what you thought necessary if it meant catching a killer.’
Nikki nodded slowly. ‘I know what you are saying, Wendy, but since my mother came back into my life, even I have moments when I hold back, just because of her.’
Wendy paused in the doorway. ‘Maybe you should both just do what you have to, in the full knowledge that you love each other, and nothing will change that.’
The door closed, leaving Nikki alone with the echo of her words.
* * *
Unable to sit and do nothing, John Carson rang his old friend from the fire-investigation team, then jumped in his car and drove to Skegness, where Dougie spent the summer season in his holiday chalet.
‘Dougie! Good to see you.’ John took stock of his old friend. Retirement seemed to be suiting him. He looked relaxed and, though a little heavier, still pretty fit.
Dougie made tea, and they sat on the veranda of the wooden chalet looking out over a pond.
‘Nice spot. Quiet too. Some of these complexes can be a bit busy, can’t they?’ John said.
‘Come on, John, no need for small talk.’ Dougie grinned, his smile toothy and a little crooked. ‘I’ve known you long enough to know you’re itching to ask me something.’ The grin widened. ‘And as the last conversation we had was about that hush-hush fire at the Applegarth place, I guess it must be that.’
John poured out his story. ‘We’re on borrowed time, Dougie,’ he concluded. ‘This killer wants his reign of terror over as much as we do, I’m certain of it. The next fire might not be tonight, but it’ll be very soon. I have to find out all I can about that fire, and find the identity of the remaining teenager. She, or maybe he, is in terrible danger. We must discover who they are and get to them before the killer does.’
‘A reluctant arsonist. That’s pretty unusual.’ Dougie pul
led a face. ‘But I’m not sure how I can help you. I didn’t even see the kids. By the time I was called in, apart from one small area, there was just a smouldering wreck in the garden, and everyone was desperately trying to play it down. All I got was apologies for wasting our time, there’d be no charges brought, just a silly accident, blah blah blah.’
‘Regarding that last comment, would you say they left it rather a long time before dialling 999?’
‘So the fire boys told me. It had really taken a hold by the time they were called.’
‘But one youngster had been burnt quite badly.’
‘Yes, and he’d already been taken to hospital when I arrived. I was told later that he’d been transferred to Nottingham for treatment. I did find alcohol and drug residue at the site, and my friend Simon, one of the firefighters, saw it too. Then we were politely told to drop the investigation.’
John leaned forward. ‘Do you think Simon saw the teenagers?’
‘Bound to have. He was first on scene.’
‘Is he still serving with fire and rescue?’
‘Oh yes. At the moment he’s the acting watch manager at Skegness fire station.’
‘What? Right here?’
‘Churchill Avenue. And he’ll be on duty this afternoon because it’s drill night tonight, so he’ll be on the lookout for new blood to join the on-call crew here in Skeggie. Fancy a trip down memory lane?’
John was already on his feet. ‘My car or yours?’
Dougie waved his car keys. ‘I know this patch better than you, John, so allow me.’
* * *
Simon Briggs was a tall man, with iron-grey hair and a ruddy face. ‘Lord! As I live and breathe! It’s the two legends of the fenland fire-investigation unit! Both together! I’m honoured.’
‘Cut the crap, Si! We want to talk to you,” Dougie said.
‘Then grab a seat and fire away, if you’ll excuse the pun.’
‘This enquiry is rather sensitive,’ John said sombrely.
‘Then you’d better shut the door before you sit down.’
‘Cast your mind back, Simon,’ said Dougie. ‘Do you recall the summerhouse fire out at that big house on Elm Lane, oh, some ten years back?’
‘Yeah, I do. That was the one with a load of pissed-up kids, wasn’t it? And one kid got burnt trying to rescue one of the others.’
This was news to John. ‘Do you know the facts, Simon?’
‘Only that the boy in question made a heroic dash into the flames to get one of the girls out. He did it very well too, except he took a roasting in the process. The girl had only a couple of very minor burns, as I recall. As did the other kids.’
John frowned. ‘Simon? Was there anything odd about that evening? Especially regarding the owners of the property?’
Simon exhaled. ‘Well, it’s a long while ago now, and it was pretty manic. People everywhere, trying to help the teenagers and get them to the main house, and,’ he paused, ‘the householder seemed to be all over us like a rash. He certainly wasn’t hiding behind a cordon and quaking in his boots. He kept saying that he was so grateful his own kids were away at the time, or they could have been involved too.’
Making a point, thought John. ‘I know this is a long shot, but do any names come to mind? I’m thinking about the teenagers.’
Simon closed his eyes. ‘The boy who got hurt, don’t hold me to this, but I think I heard him referred to as Michael.’
John smiled to himself. Nikki Galena needed to hear this. This wasn’t a wild goose chase, after all. This was behind what was happening in Greenborough.
‘Is there anything else? Anything at all that stood out, Simon?’ Dougie added, as they prepared to leave.
‘There was a bit of a fight, if that has anything to do with it. One of our lads, Brian — remember him, Doug? Brian Coots? Big lad, he was, well, he waded in and sorted it out. Three lads getting really stuck in. One got dragged off by the homeowner and taken straight into the house.’
‘Any idea why?’
‘Don’t forget they were well hammered, so no, I’ve no idea what caused it, but I got the distinct feeling that, even though the man had sworn his own children weren’t around, the boy who got frog-marched back to the house was his son. There was a clear family resemblance.’
‘You’ve been a fantastic help, Simon,’ John said. ‘Thank you. We might well be back to pick your brains again, if that’s okay?’
Simon nodded. ‘If I think of anything else, I’ll get in touch with Dougie straight away. Nice to see you, John. You take care.’
They drove back to Dougie’s chalet, where John picked up his car. ‘Thanks, mate. I owe you one. Anything else that comes your way, ring me, day or night, okay? This is vital.’
‘I know.’ Dougie looked at him pensively. ‘I’ve never seen you like this, John Carson, and I can’t say I like it.’
John knew he looked like some kind of tormented soul. Well, there’d be time to sort himself out after they caught the arsonist. ‘I’m fine, honest. I just need to make sure we get this killer before more innocent people die.’
‘Look out for yourself too, John. You’ll be no good to anyone if you burn out.’
‘Great choice of words, Dougie.’
‘Hell, John! You know what I mean. Just get some sleep! You look like—’
‘Shit. I know. I’ve been told already.’ He clapped a hand on his friend’s shoulder. ‘Thanks for all your help. I’ll be in touch.’
Back in his car, he called Nikki and told her what he’d discovered, ‘So somehow, you have to check out the Applegarths’ son, Lyndon. If he waded in and attacked the teenagers on the night of the fire, he could be the man you’re looking for now. A man with a long memory and a grudge to settle. It’s my very strong belief that his sister Natalie did die in that fire. He blamed her drunken friends, and still does!’
* * *
Nikki called Joseph into her office and told him what John had said. She felt supremely cool and calm, as if a light was emerging over the horizon and everything was becoming crystal clear.
They discussed their options for almost half an hour, and then went to find Superintendent Cameron Walker.
‘We are aware that this doesn’t constitute irrefutable evidence, Cam, but it leaves us believing that we could well be looking at Lyndon Applegarth as our arsonist. It all fits. Including using fire as a means of revenge.’ She glanced at Joseph, and noted his tight smile and encouraging nod. ‘We’ve talked it over, Cam. A short while back, this team was involved in a cover-up. The investigation we were conducting was closed down and taken out of our hands. That’s not going to happen again.’ Her expression hardened. ‘We are going to pursue this lead like we would any other. We’re going to use every channel available to us, and do it openly. I don’t care if this man is privileged. I don’t care if he’s the son of a diplomat or the crown prince of bloody Woo-Woo Land. If he’s a suspect in a series of horrific murders, he’s going to be hunted down, brought in and charged, like anyone else. We’ve locked up peers, lords and high court judges before. This case will be no different. It’s about the restoration of order in our town.’
‘And about truth and justice.’ Joseph nodded vigorously. ‘We don’t want to drop you in it, Cam, but if this police force isn’t allowed to do its job properly and fairly, then we don’t want to be part of it. After what we’ve seen, it’s gloves off regarding this killer. We’ll do whatever it takes to find him — press, media, the whole lot, and sod red tape. Sorry, but that’s the way it is.’
Cameron sat back, obviously digesting what he’d just heard. Then he said simply, ‘I agree.’
Nikki felt as if a chain had been cut from her. At last she was free to move forward.
‘Thank you, Cam.’
‘No need. It’s the simple truth. If we can’t do what we signed up for, and protect life and property, then we might as well give up. But we’re not going to do that.’ His brow furrowed. ‘If you say that this Lyndon Appleg
arth went to France to live, the first thing you must do is get onto all the European official bodies — border control, employment records, everything you can think of — and find out if and when he returned to England. These murders were well planned, so he clearly didn’t turn up last week.’ He stared at Nikki. ‘But I don’t have to tell you how to do your job. Do whatever it takes to find him. Just do it as quickly as possible. I’ll throw a blanket over it for as long as I can, but be prepared for heavy artillery when the shit finally hits the fan.’
‘Wilco, sir!’ Nikki and Joseph stood up.
They hurried back to the CID room and gathered everyone together.
‘We need photographs of this man, and if we can’t get recent ones, find whatever you can and get IT to produce an age progression image for us. Then get out there and show the whole of Greenborough. He’s been moving among us, someone must know him. Stick his picture in every single shop window if you have to.’ Nikki looked at Ben. ‘Get this onto the PNC, and issue an attention drawn to all forces. He’s about to kill the remaining survivor of that Mischief Night fire all those years ago. We have to find him before he can complete his task. So go! Do your job! Find him!’
Nikki’s phone rang in her pocket. She glanced at the display and saw Wendy’s name.
‘Can you talk?’ she asked.
‘Go ahead, Wendy.’
‘A friend of mine, a chap called Dennis at the Greenborough Airfield, knew the pilot who worked for the Applegarths. His name is Nathan Lowe. Apparently Lowe came into some money and emigrated to somewhere hot and sunny around ten years ago.’
‘Oh, did he?’ Another underhand dealing the Applegarth family may have been involved in.
‘Dennis told me Lowe was very stressed in the weeks before he left the country. One night he even had to be prevented from flying because he’d been drinking. That had never happened before. Lowe was a good, well-respected flyer, and certainly not a drinker. Dennis said he seemed to be very bothered about something, but he never told him what it was.’
‘Then I’d hazard a guess that he’d either done something he wasn’t comfortable with, or had witnessed something equally distressing.’