Lucy Spires – The Blind Detective

by Peter Hamilton

  Mr Singh sat on the edge of her bed and explained every injury she had sustained. The biggest injury she had was to her head. Mr Singh explained broken bones could be put in a plaster cast, or pinned and repaired. A brain injury was a lot harder to say how bad the damage could be. Lucy Spires moved her hand over her head. All her hair had been shaved off. She could feel a scar across the back of her head, ridges where her skin had been stapled. There was so much to take in. Lucy Spires felt tired, so tired. A familiar voice from a nurse asked her if she felt hungry, Lucy Spires just needed to sleep.

  Several days later and physical strength returning, Lucy Spires was beginning to realise she would be totally blind for the rest of her life. The test results all came back to confirm her optic nerves were damaged beyond repair. From the second of the crash, her life would never be the same again. The feelings of despair were alien to her. There were times she wished the van crashing into her had just killed her. She was never a depressive type of person. She had always seen a glass half full instead of empty. Her outlook had always been positive. Her father often quoted his favourite saying, ‘Tomorrow is a new day; the sun will always come up and shine somewhere!’

  It was often the feeling of isolation she felt, not knowing what time it was, or see approaching doctors or nurses. She heard lots of strange voices, even in different languages. She had constant headaches and because her mind was in total darkness, she felt ready to fall asleep almost at any time of the day. She felt very lonely. Being an only child and having lost both parents, there was no-one she could reach out to for comfort or major support. The situation she had found herself in was at times unbearable.

  Over the next weeks, Lucy Spires learned to walk again. Physiotherapists worked daily to help her regain her balance. Everything felt strange to her, from washing, to eating, to trying to dress herself. During her time in her coma, she had shed sixteen pounds in weight. She had been fed a liquid diet through a tube into her stomach and lost a lot of muscle mass. All her clothes didn’t fit; most, including underwear, were baggy and loose fitting. She would have to start and build a whole new wardrobe.

  During her time in hospital she had few visitors, including the Human Resource department of the police force. Two managers from her division came to see her on two occasions, once to learn the full extent of the damage to her body and a follow up visit to see if there were any roles within the police force. They explained that because of her injuries gained while working for the force, she would be financially secure, but her career within the force had come to an end. Chief Constable James Ingram visited. He had known Lucy Spires all her career. He made it clear she was no longer a police officer. He discreetly told her he had made it clear to every police department she was no longer an inspector and since her injuries from the accident meant she was now retired from the force. Therefore she could never be a threat to anyone. He also told her the crash was not an accident. The white van was stolen the day before and the driver was a known associate of Farooq El Haj. When the van was deliberately crashed into her car, the van’s steering wheel airbag had activated and it had gone into the driver’s face, breaking his nose. There was a trace of DNA in the blood residue. He then ran off. He was seen on CCTV getting into another stolen car and driven away at speed. The car was never traced. This also showed clear images of his face, so he was identified quite quickly. He was a known to be on the payroll of Farooq El Haj, a man called William Banks. The Chief Inspector went on to say he had disappeared, and that a large manhunt had yielded nothing. He believed he was at the bottom of the North-sea. Farooq El Haj wanted to make sure there were no loose ends and he wanted to make an example of this man.

  Chief Constable James Ingram had put the case on hold. He had suspended any action until a new team could revaluate how to proceed. The work Lucy Spires had done was extremely useful and thorough. To bring Farooq El Haj to court and successfully prosecute would have to wait.

  One of Lucy Spires’ visitors was her new member of the team, DC Emma Harper. She had visited every few days, even when still in a coma. During that time, Lucy Spires learned from Emma Harper there had been a further two murders, both female sex workers, both killed in the same way. On their knees, both strangled, both had earrings pulled from dead ears. Both at retail parks around the early hours of the morning. Both had trophies taken after they were killed. No DNA was found to link any suspect. No witness statement yielded anything of any importance. Their ‘Ghost’ appeared, committed these awful crimes and vanished into the night. Both women discussed the case at length. Lucy Spires said he must have left a clue, must have some way to identify this murderer. DC Emma Harper told her they had exhausted all lines of enquiry, looking nationwide for any similar type of criminal activity.

  Lucy Spires felt frustrated for the first time. She’d taken many positive steps since she became totally blind. She felt lucky to be alive; all she had lost was her sight. A massive thing to lose, but her determination to build a new life had kept her away from feelings of depression, or worse. She was given a blind cane with a small rubber ball on the end of it. She felt she would never get used to using this, but her independence depended on it. She went through in her mind every detail that DC Emma Harper had told her again and again about the murders, but she could not come up with an idea of who was committing these murders. But she knew there would be something, some tiny detail missed that would lead them to the person doing these crimes. As with the police policy, there had been a new Detective Chief Inspector appointed, Toby Butler, to take on the case. Emma Harper told her he didn’t have the drive or enthusiasm she had. This made Lucy Spires feel a little better. Lucy Spires told Emma Harper the team must give him their support to catch this killer. She couldn’t help herself, asking who was assigned to do what, how far the case had progressed, had they any suspects; too many questions for Emma Harper to answer. Lucy Spires felt a little hopeless. She wanted to help.

  The day before her planned discharge, Chief Constable James Ingram visited. He wanted to make sure she felt safe going home and to fill her in on his decision to stop work on the Farooq El Haj case. He went on to explain the crash he felt was a deliberate act. He went on to say he felt Farooq El Haj must have known her plans so he tried to stop her. In other words, he felt she was betrayed by a member of her team. He urged her not to discuss any cases with anyone.

  After a total of forty-four days, the hospital had a care package to release Lucy Spires. She was both looking forward to going home again, but a little scared at the thought of having to be an independent blind person. She knew it would be a gradual process to get used to living without sight. DC Emma Harper went to her home and brought a set of clothes to travel from the hospital to her home. All her clothes, including her underwear, still felt too big. She had gained a little weight as she had started to eat solid food.

  Chief Constable James Ingram had arranged for DC Emma Harper to collect her from the hospital and take her home. She duly collected her and after feeling a little nervous in the car, arrived at her home. There was little conversation as Lucy Spires felt a little queasy. Entering her own front door and the smell of her home was a feeling she could never explain. Within an hour, coffee made with DC Emma Harper’s help, all mail had been sorted. Luckily, all major issues had been sorted on her behalf by the Human Resources department from the police force. Lucy Spires felt comfortable with DC Emma Harper. She felt she could trust her as she was the newest member of her team and Lucy Spires felt she was a younger version of herself. She then didn’t realise just how good friends they would become.

  The carer met her at her front door, made her a light snack of a sandwich and muffin. She managed to eat them slowly as she still had a very poor appetite. The carer then ran her a hot bath. Lucy Spires added a lot more water. The carer explained she had to be very careful; if she slipped and banged her head and fell into the water, she could drown. Lucy Spires had a bath every night in that same house all her life. She knew every inch of
her house. She asked the carer to leave as she was about to go in her bubbly, sweet smelling bath. The carer reluctantly left. Lucy Spires sank into her favourite place. She had so looked forward to this, but soon realised she had begun to cry, tears running down her face, a little cough started the outpour of emotions. She was a very private person and she kept her emotions in check. She remembered her mother saying she should have been an actress! The stress of the last weeks all came out and she cried out loudly. Screaming profanities at this uncalled act of sheer cowardice, her whole life had changed totally forever. But the saddest feeling she had was of being alone. Being alone to face her life as a blind, single woman. With her position in the police force, a large team to keep her mind busy, high level cases to solve and manage, goals to achieve in her life, all taken from her.

  She emptied her bath water completely before she got out. Her soft warm, sweet smelling towels made her feel a little better. She went into her kitchen, found her wine bottles, reached into a cupboard for a wine glass, poured it and sipped it. It tasted so good, even though made her feel a little queasy. She stood and finished the glass; then she felt her way onto her sofa. She felt very tired. What the future held for her she couldn’t even imagine. Tomorrow is another day she thought as she leaned into a cushion on the arm of her sofa. A short time later, she was in a restful sleep.

  Chapter 5

  Two weeks later, Lucy Spires had fallen into her routine. Her alarm went off at seven thirty. She managed to shower, dress herself, make coffee and make her own toast. She had a carer, coming to her at eight forty-five, to make sure she had breakfast and was set for the day. She now listened more to the radio as the television was not needed. A further carer visited at one o’clock, followed by a final carer at around seven thirty at night. She went to bed around ten thirty. She had realised, in her new of total blackness, it was a struggle to keep her mind from feeling it was permanent night time. She also felt that losing her sense of sight had meant her other senses had become sharper. When she listened to conversations, she would hear the words, but because there were no facial movements or body language, she found she listened in a new way. Time passed slowly. Days seemed to drag. Lucy Spires felt she needed a new challenge. Her confidence had grown and she was becoming the independent person she used to be.

  Her favourite time was spent in her garden. She loved the warmth of the sun on her face, and each day she began to feel she had been both very lucky to survive the accident, but unlucky to have lost her sight. DC Emma Harper called regularly. She was living with a member of the fire service. He worked shifts and was a fitness fanatic, so he spent a lot of time at his gym maintaining a high level of fitness as needed in his work. Lucy Spires enjoyed her company as she gave updates of cases for Lucy Spires to deliberate over. She also brought updates on the team members. DC Phil Henderson had a new girlfriend; she was almost eight years younger. They both laughed as he was not blessed with good looks, but a fantastic personality, a funny man and an excellent detective. DC David Evans, a genial Welshman, a great husband, great family man, always trying to win the lottery, would waste most of it on holidays, loved the police force, but would retire if he had the funds and spend all his time with his children. DC Emma Harper said to Lucy Spires he was the clumsiest man she had ever met. He’d fallen out of his car and got a black eye. Fallen off a ladder trying to change his outdoor security light and had bruised his back, but his pride hurt more! They went on to discuss the other members of the team. All sent best wishes on her recovery.

  DC Emma Harper called the following Wednesday. She brought her usual treat; this week it was cream cakes. Once they’d sat down with coffees, Lucy Spires was surprised to hear DC Emma Harper sound genuinely excited. She went on to discuss the outcome of a meeting with Chief Constable James Ingram. He had called DC Emma Harper into his office to discuss Lucy Spires as he knew they were in regular contact. He was frustrated the sex worker’s murderer had not been caught, nor was the current Detective Chief Inspector, Toby Butler, any closer to bringing this man to justice. He wanted to use Lucy Spires’ experience to help to solve this case. He wanted her to be ‘an advisor’ to the help solve the case. He felt a fresh outlook, with an open mind to re-look at intricate details, would bring massive benefits.

  Lucy Spires’ heart skipped a beat. DC Emma Harper had updated Lucy Spires with aspects of the case, but Chief Constable James Ingram actually wanted the help of Lucy Spires. DC Emma Harper went on to explain the details of her working for him. Lucy Spires would not be paid. She would have any expenses paid and any work done would be on a voluntary basis. Lucy Spires was speechless. She had too many questions buzzing around her head. Who would she report to? What resources could she use? How on earth could she assist on a complicated case such as this without her sense of sight?

  For the first time in her memory, DC Emma Harper sat in silence as Lucy Spires digested the conversation they just had. Both didn’t speak for what felt like five minutes. DC Emma Harper spoke first. “I don’t think our Chief Constable meant to upset you. I think he meant this as a huge compliment and you would bring a lot to this case.”

  Lucy Spires didn’t know where to begin. Of course she wanted this chance to help. This was the fresh challenge she felt she needed. After a few moments, the other side to this began to unravel. Lucy Spires would need a new wardrobe. She had lost a great deal of weight, her hair was now growing back, but was still very short though the scars on her head had faded greatly.

  Within an hour, the two women had ordered online new appropriate clothes, had arranged an appointment to give Lucy Spires a new makeover, new hairstyle, manicure, facials and a re-launch of her career as a police advisor. Lucy Spires rang the Chief Constable to arrange a date for a visit to the police headquarters and reconnect with her old team and get up to speed with this case. She knew this would be difficult as this could bring back the trauma of her life changing accident. Lucy Spires knew she had to move forward with her life.

  The following day, DC Emma Harper collected Lucy Spires at nine-thirty, as arranged. First point of call, the hairdresser. After a quite brief discussion about hairstyles and colours, the stylist set to work to give Lucy Spires a modern look. Lucy Spires felt a little sad. She had always taken great pride in her appearance; hair, make up and all her clothes. After many compliments on her new hairstyle and colour, she was moved to a seat to begin her hands’ makeover. She was placed on a chair with a towel under her hands. A young sounding stylist asked what colour she would like on her nails, if she was going on a date, or on holiday to Spain. This made Lucy Spires smile and asked for a subtle shade of pink as she was going back to work in a few days. As she told the young stylist this information, she felt a great deal of pride. DC Emma Harper took hold of her hands and looked at the finished nails.

  “You look a million dollars, as my mum would say,” said DC Emma Harper. “Lucy,” she said. “I don’t know how to say this, but have you considered wearing dark glasses, or have you any sunglasses?”

  Lucy Spires was speechless. This was possibly a question she would never consider. She realised this was a difficult question her friend Emma had asked her.

  “Emma,” said Lucy Spires. “I hadn’t even thought of that. If you think I should, then I’ll need you to pick some for me as they were in my wrecked car and I didn’t get them back.”

  There was a little pause, then DC Emma Harper spoke softly, “Lucy, since your accident, your eyes are a little different. One is a little red and the other is like a fixed stare.” There was no other easy way to tell her. Lucy Spires, inhaled deeply and nodded in her direction.

  “Emma,” said Lucy Spires. “You should have told me. I never gave a second’s thought to…” her voice trailed off.

  “I’ll sort out a good designer pair, modern sunglasses,” said Emma Harper.

  Lucy Spires smiled towards her friend and nodded. “Nothing too outrageous. Let me know how much and I’ll sort it,” said Lucy Spires.

&n
bsp; “Will do,” came her reply.

  The following days, all of Lucy Spires’ new wardrobe of clothes and shoes were delivered to the home of DC Emma Harper. She brought them to Lucy Spires. This seemed to give her more confidence, making her feel ready to take on the new challenge. She felt a little uneasy at the thought of catching up with her old team and a little worried at how Detective Chief Inspector Toby Butler would feel about the Chief Constable bringing in an advisor. But there had now been six brutally murdered women, and with no suspects and no positive leads, the case had stalled. The Chief Constable had to be seen to be doing something as he was under pressure.

  Chapter 6

  17th May

  At six-thirty, Lucy Spires alarm sounded, although she was barely asleep. This was to be her first day back in police headquarters. She’d met Detective Chief Inspector Toby Butler on several occasions. She had a good opinion of him; he was diligent, courteous, polite and thorough in his methods. He’d had a very good crime success rate. He also didn’t suffer fools. If you were not a team player, he didn’t want you on his team. He led by example. He often worked eighteen-hour days and wouldn’t ask any officer to do anything he hadn’t done or wouldn’t do himself.

  As she prepared herself to be picked up at eight o-clock, a flutter of nerves gripped her. She steadied herself as she got into DC Emma Harper’s car. The drive in the early sunshine was pleasant, the music on the radio never seeming to change. As they reached police headquarters, familiar things started as they pulled into the car park. There were two sets of speed humps and Lucy Spires thought how many times she had driven over them; it must number in the thousands. DC Emma Harper opened the door for Lucy Spires. A deep breath taken, she exited the car, held gently but firmly DC Emma Harper’s arm and heard the click of her heels as she walked toward the building. She imagined a few lines of people at windows, wanting to have a look at the returning member. Lucy Spires walked in upright and as confident as possible. The two women paused at the front door as DC Emma Harper leant forward to press her electronic entry badge at the entry point. The door swung open with still the same creak as Lucy Spires remembered. The stairs had the same smell, a light dusty smell. Three flights later, DC Emma Harper opened the door for Lucy Spires, the noise of her heels disappearing on the carpeted floor. This was the top floor of police headquarters. Lucy Spires realised they weren’t going to see the team of detectives, but instead to the office of Chief Constable James Ingram.