by Steven Dunne
‘He claims he didn’t know the Ashwells were dead.’
‘With all the media and shit. How’s he expect us to swallow that?’
‘He doesn’t have a TV, Andy.’
‘Well, there’s some weird shit right there.’ Dupree shook his head. ‘But he don’t deny being there?’
‘How could he?’ said McQuarry.
‘Or buying the knife and the coffee?’
‘The coffee was free but no, he didn’t deny anything about being there.’
‘So he coughed to murdering Ashwell and son.’
McQuarry raised an eyebrow and helped herself to coffee. ‘Damn, I forgot to ask him that.’
Dupree smiled. ‘And you think this Sorenson knew they killed the Baileys?’
‘We’re sure of it,’ said Drexler. ‘Why else would a rich and powerful man bother taking out those two lowlifes? He’s been flagging it up from the get go. He takes the rose petals to stuff into Billy’s pocket to tell us why the Ashwells have died. He writes some Wittgenstein on the cabin wall when he’s done, then starts quoting him at me almost before we’d said hello.’
‘Why the fuck would he do that?’ pondered Dupree. ‘We coulda looked at him for a while then moved on. Now he draws a lot more heat.’
‘Mike has a theory,’ said McQuarry with a hint of scepticism. Dupree turned to Drexler.
‘He wants the heat, Andy,’ nodded Drexler. ‘He wants the attention and for us to know he did it.’
‘Why?’
‘It’s some kind of Bored Rich Guy game. He kills Ashwell and his boy and is challenging us to prove it.’
‘More than that, Mike. He’s challenging us to care,’ said McQuarry.
‘And do we?’ asked Dupree. ‘Don’t give me that look, Ed. I’m serious! This Sorenson’s done the world a favour, far as I can see. Let’s give it a day then move on. Spend our time looking for some real bad guys.’
‘You’ve got a point, Andy. But there’s one thing I have to understand and it’s the reason we have to pursue this,’ said Drexler.
‘What’s that?’
‘Caleb Ashwell’s been bushwhacking folks on the Ghost Road for twenty years and not only did he not get caught, but no one actually knew that crimes were being committed.’
‘So?’
‘So how the hell did Sorenson know? How did he see what no one else has ever seen? How did he know to stop there? How did he know to pay cash? And how did he know not to drink the coffee?’
McQuarry and Dupree stared at the table. A few minutes of head-shaking later, they looked up at Drexler, who was waiting for his moment.
‘Okay, Mike.’ nodded Dupree. ‘Why don’t you tell us?’
‘There’s only one explanation, as far as I can see. This isn’t his first murder.’ Dupree and McQuarry considered the statement but neither could raise a counter. ‘Victor Sorenson is made of ice. He was looking for the Ghost Road Killer and because he knew Bailey’s route, he knew vaguely where to look. He’s a hunter. And a hunter knows how others hunt. That’s how he knew and that’s why we have to stop him.’
‘It’s bang out of order, sir,’ seethed Noble.
‘So you’ve said.’
‘You’re taking this very well.’
‘How should I be taking it, John?’
‘You should be sticking up for your division, sir,’ said Noble icily. ‘What about our reputation? I suppose you…’ He stopped in mid-sentence.
Brook stared at him, taken aback by this sudden glimpse of old grudges he thought had withered. ‘But I’m not from this division, am I? I’m an outsider who was imposed on it. That’s why I don’t care about its reputation. That what you wanted to get off your chest, John?’
Noble looked away, tight-lipped; Brook heard him mutter, ‘Not exactly … maybe.’
Brook sighed and looked around. ‘We shouldn’t be arguing in front of the troops.’ He walked Noble a little way from the house, although privacy of any kind was impossible. ‘John, look at it from Charlton’s point of view. Greatorix is on the sick list. And I’m in the doghouse because of Brian Burton’s book. I’m tainted, John. Past and present. There’s a long and well-documented history of my failure to catch The Reaper, on top of which…’
‘On top of which?’
‘On top of which … they’re here. And they’re already investigating a possible Reaper killing in Brighton,’ he added quietly.
‘What?’ exclaimed Noble. ‘What killing?’
‘Tony Harvey-Ellis.’
‘Who’s he?’
Brook nodded towards the Ingham house. ‘I’ll tell you later.’
Chief Superintendent Charlton had emerged from around the side of the house. His face was ashen and he appeared to be having a little difficulty walking, to judge from the attention he was giving to where he stepped. Brook fancied he was blind to everything apart from what he’d just witnessed. Behind him followed Hudson and Grant. The latter detached herself and headed over to the gap in the fence. She gazed across at the darkened house opposite before approaching a uniformed officer. Brook watched her, trying not to be obvious about it. The uniformed officer pointed towards PCs Duffy and Parker who were kicking their heels next to a Scientific Support van. Grant marched over like any good detective would. Talk to the first officers on the scene. Basic police work. It wouldn’t be long now.
Brook flicked his eyes back to Charlton who, together with Hudson, was approaching. Brook realised he had never seen the Chief Super out of uniform before. Minus his protective suit, he was soberly dressed and wore a large camel coat from which he now extracted a pair of brown leather gloves. He pulled them on, without breaking his sightless, unblinking stare.
On reaching Brook and Noble, Charlton finally managed to find his voice. ‘My God.’ He shook his head and squinted up at Brook suddenly. Brook gazed down into his confused eyes and fancied he detected a morsel of sympathy in there. Sympathy for the victims no doubt, but also some realisation of what it must be like for CID, at the sharp end, to have to deal with such sights.
‘We need a win on this one, people,’ Charlton said. ‘We’ve got to catch whoever did this. And not just for the stats. Who could do such a thing?’
‘How long have you got?’ nodded Hudson grimly. ‘Honestly, that was nothing, Chief Superintendent. One of the neatest crime scenes I’ve ever seen.’
‘Is it The Reaper?’ asked Charlton, fixing Brook with a look.
‘It’s a creditable copy,’ replied Brook, keeping a peripheral eye on Grant, who was still talking to Duffy and Parker.
Charlton nodded. ‘You can tell me how you know that later. What’s being done now?’
‘We’ve forty or so uniformed officers searching all the neighbouring gardens. I’ve got my CID team going door to door for witnesses, asking about the history of the Inghams, feuds, disputes, known enemies. The Forensics people are obviously doing their thing. We’ve got a scalpel as murder weapon and a mobile phone, which may have prints on it. We assume it was the one used to call emergency services last night so we’ll be getting the tape for that this morning. We’ve got a brand new barbecue, which may provide a link to previous Reaper investigations. It may have been delivered to the Inghams as a prize. That’s a Reaper signature to gain access.’
‘What else?’
‘The bodies will be going to the mortuary within the hour and Dr Habib has got his team prepared…’
‘What about the survivor, Inspector Brook? This Jason Wallis. He’s now survived two Reaper attacks, shouldn’t we be looking at him as our killer?’
Brook looked doubtful. ‘Sir, I wish it was that simple…’ Brook broke off as DS Grant rejoined the group. At first her face had carried an expression of confusion, but this had given way to satisfaction as she approached. She locked her gaze onto Brook, a thin smile curling her lip.
‘It’s not possible, Chief Superintendent,’ explained Hudson, taking up the reins. ‘The surviving boy must have been seated throughout the attack. Tha
t’s why the back of his seat is clear of bloodstains. It would have been covered in the arterial spray of the boy next to him if he’d been moving around, cutting throats.’
‘I see,’ nodded Charlton. ‘Then why was he here? And why did he survive? Again.’
‘Those, sir, are two very good questions,’ agreed Brook.
Grant continued to stare at Brook, an odd grin deforming her features. ‘Maybe he’s some kind of mascot,’ she offered, making little effort to remove her gaze from Brook.
Charlton turned to her with a painful expression on his face. ‘Is that meant to be funny?’
‘No, sir,’ she replied. ‘Far from it.’
‘Someone trying to scare him, you mean?’ put in Noble.
‘Or impress him. Look at what I can do to your friends, any time I like.’ She shrugged. ‘Just a thought, but we have a living witness and it seems unlikely to be an oversight,’ she added.
Brook was the only one to notice her use of the word ‘we’.
‘Chief Inspector, is there anything you’d be doing that DI Brook’s not doing?’ asked Charlton. Noble took an audible breath and looked at Brook but he was staring at DS Grant and didn’t seem to be paying much attention.
‘Presumably you’re hunting up any possible CCTV around the area?’ Hudson inquired of Brook. ‘And Traffic film should be examined in case our doer isn’t local. Vans are good. Harder to see into.’
‘Both in hand,’ answered Noble for him.
‘Have you got ANPR cameras here yet?’ asked Hudson.
‘Not yet,’ said the Chief Super. ‘Maybe next year…’
‘Pity. But you can still check with the motorway boys who will have them,’ interrupted Hudson. ‘Not only can they automatically recognise number plates, but any potential criminal’s car will have a marker on them.’
‘Marker?’ asked Noble.
‘If an ANPR camera sees a stolen car that’s in the system, the computer will throw out an alert within seconds. They’re state of the art, Sergeant,’ observed Charlton, happier now to be on home ground.
‘He’s probably long gone by now,’ threw in Grant. ‘Or he could be in our midst,’ she added, continuing to burn her eyes into Brook.
‘The helicopter cameras couldn’t find anyone,’ said Noble, missing the insinuation.
‘And I don’t have to ask if your search will include bins, grates and unlocked sheds, do I, Damen?’ asked Hudson.
‘Looking for what?’ asked Charlton. ‘We’ve got the weapon.’
‘Well, we’re assuming he has transport, but if he doesn’t he’s going to need a change of clothes if he wants to get far without being noticed,’ replied Hudson. ‘Which might mean dumping what he has on.’
‘Excellent!’ nodded Charlton. ‘Excellent thought.’
‘We’re all over that, sir,’ countered Noble. ‘Standard procedure.’
‘One other thing, Inspector Brook – why have you put a man on that house over there?’ asked Grant, pointing at the officer examining his nails in front of the dilapidated Wallis house.
‘That’s where Jason Wallis’s family were butchered two years ago, Sergeant,’ said Noble.
‘I’m surprised Wallis could come within half a mile of the place,’ she observed. ‘That doesn’t answer my question though.’
Brook smiled suddenly and Grant was taken aback momentarily. ‘She’s very good, Joshua,’ he said to Hudson. ‘Glad to see you’re not being allowed to soft pedal before you retire.’
‘She keeps me on my toes,’ answered Hudson.
Brook smiled again. ‘I see she does.’ She knew. She’d spoken to Duffy and Parker, assuming they were first on the scene. But they weren’t. And a detective of Grant’s ability wouldn’t accept the lie about Brook picking up the call on his radio as easily as Duffy and Parker had. And the fact that Brook didn’t have an in-car radio would soon nail that lie. ‘It’s part of our crime scene, Laura. The Reaper – sorry, the killer – was there last night before he came here.’
‘How do you know that?’ she said back at him.
‘Because so was I.’
A half hour later Charlton, Brook, Noble, Hudson and Grant had gathered in a small conference room back at St Mary’s Wharf for a meeting to get everyone singing from the same hymn sheet before the initial inquiry briefing at four p.m. and the media briefing after that.
Charlton ordered coffees before kicking off. ‘This is very difficult for me, having no background in CID, but I’m determined to get a positive result, and we must start out with that in mind. I’m very aware that nearly two years ago my predecessor lost her job on account of mistakes made on the Wallis Inquiry, mistakes that she didn’t necessarily make herself, but for which she had to bear responsibility.’
Brook was impressed that Charlton didn’t look over at him at that point.
‘We have to get the direction of this investigation right, from the start,’ Charlton continued. ‘I fully intend to be involved in all aspects of decision making and personnel, like it or not. Now, some might think that’s just me covering my back, and they wouldn’t be totally wrong, but my aim is to structure this inquiry for maximum efficiency. Comments, anyone?
‘No? Okay. The first thing we need to decide is who directs the investigation.’ Charlton looked around to see if either Brook or Noble were prepared to take offence, but as neither seemed to be reacting, he pressed on. ‘I know, Damen, that you’re nominally the Senior Investigating Officer on this inquiry but I don’t think I need to tell you what problems that throws up. Firstly, the publicity surrounding this journalist’s book…’
‘Sir. May I say something?’ asked Noble.
‘John!’ warned Brook. ‘You don’t know the full…’
‘No, I think it needs to be said, sir.’ Chief Superintendent Charlton invited Noble’s contribution with a wave of his hand. ‘I was on the Wallis Inquiry with both DI Brook and DI Greatorix and I’ve read Brian Burton’s book. As far as I’m concerned there was nothing more that DI Brook could’ve done to hunt down The Reaper. Most of Brian Burton’s book is complete nonsense. It’s full of unsubstantiated rumours and half-truths that have been twisted to fit Burton’s own prejudices…’
‘The content’s irrelevant, John,’ put in Brook. ‘It still puts the inquiry and my involvement under more of a spotlight than normal. It muddies the waters in which we have to swim.’
‘Which puts the investigation at an immediate disadvantage,’ added Hudson.
‘What about the advantage of having an SIO who’s uniquely qualified to catch The Reaper, sir?’ said Noble.
‘Not helped so far, has it?’ observed Laura Grant with a humourless smile.
‘Take it easy, Laura,’ said Hudson. ‘We’re all friends here.’
At that moment, Charlton’s secretary brought in the tray of coffees to shortcut potential bad feeling. After she’d left, Charlton removed a contemplative forefinger from in front of his mouth. ‘Sergeant, I won’t be basing any judgement I make on the contents of that book. But, as DI Brook has pointed out, its existence will impact on the amount of scrutiny we come under.’
‘We’re talking about The Reaper here, sir. How much more scrutiny can we attract?’ asked Noble.
‘A good point, Sergeant, but Burton’s book is not the only impediment here,’ added Charlton. He looked over at Hudson, who nodded and turned to Noble.
‘I don’t know if you’ve been brought up to speed by your DI, Sergeant, but let me do that now. The reason DS Grant and myself came to Derby is to question DI Brook about a murder that took place in Brighton ten days ago.’
‘While Inspector Brook was on leave,’ chipped in Grant.
‘The victim was the husband of DI Brook’s ex-wife. Tony Harvey-Ellis was his name. I’m not comfortable going into detail about why DI Brook and Mr Harvey-Ellis might be, shall we say, enemies – for want of a better word – but suffice to say that two years ago, at the height of the Wallis Inquiry, DI Brook turned up in Brighton and as
saulted Mr Harvey-Ellis.’
Noble turned to Brook. ‘Is that true?’ Brook looked squarely back at Noble and gave an imperceptible nod. ‘And now he’s dead and you’re a suspect?’
‘So it seems, John,’ conceded Brook.
‘A strong suspect,’ added Grant.
‘It’s purely circumstantial at this juncture,’ noted Charlton.
‘But added to last night’s events…’ continued Grant.
‘Last night’s events?’ exclaimed Noble. ‘You can’t possibly think Inspector Brook…’
‘That’s enough, John,’ said Brook. ‘We’re all grown-ups here. I can see why I’m a suspect. As for last night, that’s an unfortunate circumstance…’
‘Unfortunate for the Inghams,’ noted Grant.
‘…an unfortunate circumstance which I can explain.’
‘We’re listening,’ smiled Grant.
Brook paused to choose his words with care. ‘I was first on the scene but I arrived too late. I was in the Wallis house before I realised what was happening. I got to the Ingham house a few minutes before PC Duffy and PC Parker. I surveyed the situation and secured the scene. When Duffy and Parker arrived, we called for back-up.’
‘But you were there first, Inspector, and we’ve only your word for how long you were there.’
‘That’s true, Sergeant. But I have no motive to kill the victims. And it won’t be hard to prove that I didn’t make that emergency call, which puts someone else at the scene before me. Also, you were alert enough to check my clothing this morning when you arrived at the crime scene. I would have been covered in blood if I’d killed the Inghams.’
‘Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Damen,’ interjected DCI Hudson.
‘You were at the crime scene alone,’ insisted Grant. ‘You could have changed, dumped the evidence before the responding officers arrived.’
‘Let me know when you find the clothes.’
‘That’s just it. With you as SIO we never will.’
‘That’s enough, you two,’ soothed Charlton. ‘DCI Hudson’s right. We’re losing sight of the main objective.’
‘Sorry, sir,’ said Grant. ‘But if we’re going to entertain the notion that DI Brook should be involved in this inquiry, let alone run it, then I think we’ve a right to know what the hell he was doing at the Wallis house at that time of night.’