His Third Victim

by Helen H. Durrant

  “I spoke to her last night, and told her about the officer we were sending. She promised to stay in until he arrived.”

  “I presume Beckwith organised that one, but I’ve heard nothing.

  “Was Alison Wray at the house?” Matt was beginning to feel uneasy.

  “Nolan said she wasn’t, and to make sure, I rang her mobile. Alison didn’t stay over last night. She’s doing daytime only now. The last time she saw Bella was yesterday afternoon.”

  Matt took out his phone and rang Bella himself. No answer. “If she doesn’t turn up soon, we could have a problem. Where is Nolan?”

  “He’s minding Oliver.”

  Matt rang Beckwith next. “You did arrange for someone to watch over Bella last night? Only we can’t find her.”

  “Uniform were getting it sorted,” he replied. “Someone should have been there within an hour of us discussing it.”

  It looked very much like something had gone wrong. “Find out who was on duty and if they saw her. Get back to me urgently on this one.”

  They went into the room. Oliver Richards was sitting on the bed, dressed and with his bag packed. Nolan was talking to the nurse.

  Matt smiled at him. “Hello, Oliver. Can we have a chat while we wait for your mum to get here?”

  Nolan held up a hand. “Perhaps we should give it a little while longer. His mother should really be present.”

  “You’re Bella’s solicitor, why don’t you stand in for her?” Matt suggested. “I’m only going to ask the lad about that day.”

  Oliver started to look interested. “Are you a policeman?”

  Matt nodded. “Yes, but you are not in any trouble. It’s that nasty man we want to catch.”

  “He wasn’t nasty to me. He wanted to give me some comics.” Oliver lowered his eyes. “I shouldn’t have got into his car though. Mummy says I mustn’t do that again. But he seemed okay.”

  “Do you remember where he took you?”

  “No. I think I fell asleep.”

  Matt looked at Lily.

  “Did he give you a drink, Oliver?” she asked.

  “Yes, some cola I think. After that I don’t remember much. I woke up in a dark room. The lady who was there wasn’t nice. The room was cold too, and she didn’t give me much to eat. The other lady was a lot kinder.”

  “Can you remember anything else about the man?” asked Lily.

  “He had big tattoos on his arms. One was a dragon. I told him that I’m getting one too when I’m bigger.”

  Matt smiled. “Thanks, Oliver. If you think of anything else and want to talk to us, tell your mum.”

  Nolan checked his watch. “Bella must be running late. She obviously misunderstood last night when I said I’d pick her up. I’m not surprised. She was very tired.”

  “If she turns up or contacts you, let me know at once,” Matt told Nolan.

  Out in the corridor, Matt rang the station and brought DC Beckwith up to speed. They had to treat Bella’s no-show as serious. “What happened last night?”

  “A couple of PC’s in a squad car were given the job. They did speak to her early on, just after tea-time. But a little later they got an emergency call from the pub around the corner. A bloke was trying to rob the place. He was wielding a baseball bat at the punters. Our crew were the nearest and had no choice but to attend. As it was we’ve got two life threatening injuries and a broken arm.”

  “This morning Bella is not where she should be. Get round to that house. Ask the neighbours, knock on doors and find out when they last saw her. It’s possible she got the bus or a taxi to the hospital. If she did, Bella would have waited for it on the High Street. Ask the shopkeepers if they saw her. Let me know what you find.”

  “You’re worried, aren’t you, sir?”

  “Yes, Lily. Bella knew Oliver would be discharged this morning. There’s no way she wouldn’t come for that.”

  “The tat thing — first he has them, then he doesn’t. He’s playing us, isn’t he?”

  “Possibly in more ways than one.”

  “Are we still off into Manchester?”

  “Yes. Despite all this, we still need to know what happened to Anita Verity.”

  * * *

  As usual, the traffic on the M62 was heavy. After miles of tailbacks they eventually made it onto the Mancunian Way dual carriageway and into the suburb of Hulme.

  Lily looked around. “It’s not where you’d expect to find a top model. It’s all tower blocks and concrete.”

  “A model down on her luck and hiding away. It’s not too bad. There’s a lot of regeneration going on. The skyline towards the city centre is looking good. Where is this block? According to the sat nav, we’ve arrived.”

  They were in a large parking area right in the centre of a semi-circle of tower blocks.

  Lily pointed. “Crosby House. That’s the one. Anita lived at number eighty. What’s the betting it’s all the way up there?”

  They turned their eyes skywards. “If we don’t find her, we’ll see what the neighbours know.”

  The block had recently been refurbished, so the lift was working. Plus all the paintwork was spic and span, and there were flower boxes on several of the windowsills.

  “Looks lived in anyway.” Matt pressed the doorbell of number eighty.

  But the woman who answered was definitely not Anita Verity. She was Asian and elderly.

  “I am DI Brindle and this is DC Haines. We’re from the East Pennine police. We are looking for this woman.” Matt and Lily showed the woman their badges, and then Lily showed her the photo.

  The woman shook her head. “I do not know this person.”

  “Have you lived here for long?”

  “Two years. The flat had been empty for a while, so I was told. It was done up and then I moved in. My neighbour who lives along there, number eighty-six, she has been in this block for years. She may know the woman. Why don’t you ask her? As a rule she knows everything that is going on around here.”

  Matt thanked her and they walked along the corridor. “Keep your fingers crossed.”

  He banged on the door.

  The woman’s name was Gail Prosser. She appeared to be quite happy to talk. “You know, I said at the time that it wasn’t normal. He was a funny bugger too. Calling at all times of the day and night. And the noise! Played his music loud enough to wake the dead.”

  “And this was a friend of Anita’s?”

  “Love of her life, so he said. Mind you, Anita didn’t say much to back that up. I got the impression that he had some sort of hold over her.”

  Matt and Lily exchanged glances. “Did he boss her about? Stop her going out, seeing her mates, how did this ‘hold’ show itself?” Lily asked.

  “He certainly didn’t like her talking to folk. Always butted in if he found us chatting on the corridor. He’d take hold of her hand and drag her off, forcibly too.”

  “When was the last time you saw her?” Lily asked.

  “Well, that’s the funny thing. I didn’t even realise she’d gone. It went a lot quieter, but I didn’t think anything of it. It was Christmastime, I remember. I popped round with a card and got no answer. I gave it until the New Year, then I called again. I looked through the letter box and could see the mail stacking up. I didn’t think she’d be on holiday. Rarely went to the corner of the street, did Anita. Lived on her nerves, you know. In the end I rang the council. Someone came round and emptied the place. Said she’d done a moonlight flit. Not paid any rent for months.”

  “Have you heard anything from her? A phone call, a card? Or seen her out and about?” Matt asked.

  “No. It’s as if she’s evaporated into thin air.”

  “Has anyone come looking, apart from us?”

  “No, and that surprised me too. She has a cousin Huddersfield way. He used to come with his wife when she first moved in. But once she got with ’im that stopped too.”

  “Do you recall his name?”

  “Doug something or other.
I don’t know if I ever heard his surname.”

  Lily took the image she had of the tattooed man from her pocket and showed the woman. “Is this him?”

  “No! Nothing like. He had no tattoos for a start, and his hair was short. Quite good-looking though, I’ll give him that. Mind you, Anita had been a model. Successful too, in her time.”

  They made their way back to the car.

  “What do you think?” Lily asked.

  “My gut tells me we’re onto something. We can find no trace of Caroline or Anita. Neither of them had many people close to them. Both women are dead ringers for Bella Richards. The people we’ve spoken to about this ‘Doug’ all give similar descriptions. I think our killer has taken two of them, and is now making a play for Bella. She fits the specs perfectly.”

  Chapter 32

  The traffic was still bad, so it took them the best part of an hour to get back to the station.

  Dyson met them as they walked in. “We’ve got a problem. You left Beckwith investigating the whereabouts of Bella Richards. It would seem she’s disappeared. Gone, and no one knows where.”

  Matt was worried that this was the case. “Our bloody watch was called to a job. Half an hour apparently, but that’s all it took. Did he ask down the street, like I told him?”

  Dyson nodded. “The lad did, and got nowhere. Although one of her neighbours said that colleague of hers was nosing around last night.”

  “Joel Dawson?”

  “Yes. I’ve sent Carlisle to bring him in. It looks like he was the last person to see her. I’ve also got a forensics team going over the Richards home.” Dyson shook his head. “You were right, Matt. I should have had her watched.”

  “What about her son?” Matt asked. “We left the boy in the hospital, ready to be discharged.”

  “The nurse is hanging onto him for a while. That solicitor is still there. He’s asked for a word with you.”

  “Okay, we’ll get down there. When Dawson is brought in, I wouldn’t mind a word myself.”

  “Don’t worry. He’ll be staying for a while.” Dyson walked away, shaking his head sadly.

  Lily looked at Matt. “You think she’s been taken, don’t you?”

  “It isn’t looking good, is it? We need to map out in detail where Bella went and who she spoke to after yesterday afternoon.”

  “Joel Dawson? Odd sort, is he?”

  “I met him at Fisher’s funeral. He probably looks weirder than he is. He’s keen on Bella though, and he shows it.”

  * * *

  When the two detectives arrived at the hospital, Nolan was pacing up and down the corridor.

  “Do you know what’s going on? I haven’t heard anything from Bella since last night. It’s mid-afternoon now, and I’m worried. This isn’t like her at all.”

  “We are investigating,” said Matt. “Tell me exactly when you last spoke to her, and what about.”

  “I took her home at about five yesterday afternoon to freshen up. She was supposed to contact me when she wanted to return. I texted her at about six. She replied not to come round, that someone else was giving her a lift here.”

  “Did she say who?”

  “No, but it’s easy enough to work out. It’ll be that Dawson chap. He was always hanging around, and Bella wasn’t happy about it either. He made her nervous. His clingy ways bothered her.”

  “Do you have the text?” Matt asked.

  Nolan scrolled through the texts on his phone and showed him. It was a short message. But right enough, Bella confirmed she was fine, and that Robert had done enough for one day. Another friend, unnamed, was giving her a lift.

  “What are you going to do about Oliver?” Robert asked.

  “I will be taking care of him.”

  They all turned around to stare at the woman who had spoken. She came striding along the corridor towards them and showed them her ID.

  “Melissa Gibbs, social worker, Huddersfield Emergency Duty Team. I’m here to ascertain the lad’s needs and place him in temporary care.”

  Matt was stunned. He hadn’t expected to see her again so soon, and certainly not in connection with his case. Melissa gave no indication that she knew him.

  “I have found him a place with foster parents. They live in Marsden, so should his mother turn up, we can get this sorted quickly.”

  “Mel, I don’t think you understand.” Matt had unconsciously used her first name, and the others looked at him in surprise. “Oliver has been ill. He was kidnapped and kept from his mother for several days. He’s traumatised, and will need special care. Not only that, he will have to be guarded night and day until this case is resolved.”

  “We know that. We have been fully briefed. But we have to act for the benefit of the child, and right now he needs to be out of here. He will be placed with caring people who will look after him.”

  Lily had been looking from one to the other. “He needs his mum.”

  “Well, she’s not here, is she?” Mel replied.

  Lily faced her. “We think she’s been kidnapped too. She’s in danger. She’s not a bad parent. No way has Oliver been abandoned.”

  “I can’t comment on her parenting skills.” Mel’s expression was stony. “Wasn’t she under police protection, too?”

  “Yes, but things went wrong. The upshot, Bella was taken. Can I speak to the boy?” Matt asked. “Ask if he’s remembered anything else about the experience?”

  “Not a good idea. He has enough on his plate right now. In a day or two, Matt, when he’s settled in.” Melissa handed Matt her card. “Keep me informed. When you find his mother, make sure you ring me straight away.”

  They stood and watched her march off towards Oliver’s room. Lily nudged Matt. “Bloody social workers. Don’t you just hate them? But I got the impression you knew her. Apart from being on first name terms, I could sense a ‘thing’ between you. I’m good at that.”

  Matt grinned ruefully. “I do know her, or rather I did. As for the ‘thing’ you’re on about, that’s all gone.”

  Lily smiled. “An ex. Wouldn’t have thought she was your type.”

  “Mel has her work hat on today. She isn’t usually so officious.”

  They had forgotten about Nolan. “I’ll leave you to it,” he said now. “Everything appears to be under control here. Let me know if you find out anything about Bella’s whereabouts.”

  Lily was still watching Mel disappear. “She might talk like a social worker, but she doesn’t look like one. Jeans and a hoodie? She’s a bit too casual. And she has a tat on her wrist.”

  Matt smiled. “A heart. Nothing to do with me either. Something from years ago, before I even knew her.”

  They walked back along the corridor. Lily’s phone buzzed. It was a text from Beckwith. Mary Mason had been taken ill during her interview with him and Carlisle. The paramedic who’d come to the station thought it was a heart attack. She showed it to Matt.

  He groaned. “Great! Another bloody witness we can’t talk to.”

  * * *

  Bella opened her eyes. Had she been asleep, or unconscious? She struggled to remember. She’d been tied up in a small space, but now her limbs were free, and the gag gone. A beam of sunlight filtered through a half-open door. She blinked. Was it real, or part of some drug induced dream? She could see outside! There was nothing stopping her making a run for it. Bella turned her head and realised she was lying on a bench, covered in a blanket. Her head was still fuzzy. Would she be able to stand?

  Bella raised herself up on her elbows. She was in a windowless room, cold and dark apart from the strip of light shining through the doorway. But more importantly, there didn’t appear to be anyone about. Bella pulled off the blanket and slipped off the bench. She put her feet on the ground and realised she was barefoot. Her limbs ached and so did her head, but she had to try. She inched towards freedom, hardly daring to breathe.

  “No, you don’t, my lovely.”

  She recognised that voice. It belonged to a man she tr
usted. Bella spun round. For one glorious moment, she thought he’d come to rescue her. But then she looked into his face. It was gloating. He was seated in an armchair, half-hidden in the shadows. Had he been there all the time, watching her? Bella stared back, horrified. How could she have been so taken in by this man?

  She found her voice, and screamed at him. “You! I don’t understand. Why are you doing this? You can’t keep me here. I need to go. I have a sick child, and you know it!”

  He was leaning back in the armchair, quite calm, quite matter of fact. “Calm down, Bella. It isn’t good for you to get angry. If you behave, I’ll give you something to eat. I’ll let you come into the house.”

  “It was you all the time, wasn’t it? You did all those dreadful things. You are the one who made my life hell!” She swayed on her feet, and her head span. This was beyond awful.

  He laughed. “I had no choice. They were in my way, all of them.”

  “You killed Alan. You took Olly from me. My child could have died.” She looked at him in disgust. “You are a monster!”

  “No, I’m not. I am a man who loves you. And you will love me back.”

  Bella shook her head vehemently. “Never! Go to hell! I want nothing to do with you. You will not get away with this. People will come. The police will be looking for me.”

  He shook his head and tutted, as if she were a naughty child. “You are wrong. I will get away with it. Think about it. The police know nothing. What exactly have they got? How are they going to find me?”

  “They are clever, especially that Brindle. He will know what to do.”

  “You are fooling yourself. I can do what I want, and no one will stop me. And as for you, Bella, either you love me — or you die.”

  Chapter 33

  Day 17

  “You’re not going to like this.” When Matt came in the next morning, Dyson was waiting for him. “We’ve had a request from Ron Chalker’s solicitor. Chalker has asked to see you.”

  That threw Matt completely. “Why would he want to see me? What does he imagine I can do for him? How has Chalker even got hold of my name?”