His Third Victim

by Helen H. Durrant

  “God knows. You weren’t named in the newspaper article. Bloody prison. Information runs through there like water through a sieve. Unless Bella said something to him.”

  “Do you think I should go?”

  “Give it some thought. Don’t rush into anything. After all, Chalker’s not going anywhere.” The super paused. “Something else. We can’t find Dawson. He appears to have done one. Carlisle had to break into his house. Everything was okay, there was no sign of a struggle. They searched the place and they couldn’t find his passport. We’ve issued alerts and a description.”

  Lily was frowning. “Why would Joel Dawson run, sir?”

  “He must have got wind that we’re looking for him. He could be our man — our Mr Apology. What do you think?” The super looked at both of them.

  “Nolan thought that he was watching Bella. He said she was wary of him,” Matt said.

  Lily shook her head. “So why didn’t she say? Honestly, you’d think folk would get it. People have been killed, women have been taken, never to be seen again, and she sits on something like that.”

  Matt smiled at her. “He’ll be picked up soon enough. If it is him, we’ll know. We have DNA taken from Agnes Harvey that came from the killer.”

  “If he has run, what about Bella? What’s he done with her? Taken her with him?” Lily looked at him.

  “That’s what’s worrying me.”

  “Me too,” said the super, and walked away.

  “Not the only thing either, I would imagine.” Lily said, once the super was out of earshot. “I heard the bit about Chalker. Scary, if you ask me. The man’s a killer, and he’s clever. If you go, you’ll have to watch your step.”

  “I’m just intrigued to know what he wants. But we can’t ignore him. He might know something about Bella’s disappearance.”

  Lily pulled a face. “Then again, he could be plotting something. He’ll know about her disappearance anyway, sir. It’s been on the telly, last night’s local news.”

  Matt rolled his eyes. “I thought we were keeping things quiet.”

  “Don’t look at me. They got the story from someone, but it didn’t come from here.”

  Matt looked thoughtful. “It’s possible that our killer leaked the information.”

  “Why would he do that, sir?”

  “I don’t know, but he’ll have some twisted reason.”

  Matt had a pile of paperwork on his desk but he couldn’t concentrate. The days were passing, and things were just getting worse. Apart from finding Oliver, they were nowhere. Now they’d lost Bella, and Joel Dawson was missing. They desperately needed a break.

  Lily looked up from her desk. “Did we check out that ‘Doug’ person? I’ve just spotted his name circled in my notebook.”

  Matt was slow to reply. Lily had given him an idea. “Both Caroline and Anita had a new boyfriend called Doug. I know we decided that wasn’t his real name, but the man himself was real enough. So who was he?”

  “A man who’d come into their lives just before they disappeared,” Lily replied. “Someone with no distinguishing features, but who we think likes to disguise himself as the ‘tattoo man.’”

  “So what about Bella? Who is her ‘Doug?’” Matt asked, almost to himself.

  “We haven’t seen Bella with anyone like that. She was in love with Fisher. She wouldn’t have wanted anyone else in her life just yet. And Fisher’s dead, sir, so he’s not the killer.”

  “Bella led such an insular life that there aren’t many men to choose from. But Joel Dawson is one of them. She’s known him for two years, and works with him. If he is our killer, why would he choose now to strike?”

  Lily shrugged. “Because he could? An opportunity presented itself?”

  “I don’t think so, Lily. He’d have been better striking before she got involved with Fisher. That affair had only been going on for a few months.”

  “If not Dawson, then who? There isn’t anyone else.”

  Matt smiled. “Yes there is. You’re forgetting Robert Nolan.”

  “The solicitor? You really suspect him?” Lily asked.

  “Think about it. Caroline and Anita both had occasion to visit Huddersfield courthouse. They could have met Nolan there. I reckon it would do no harm to look a little deeper at our Mr Nolan, and his life. Like Dawson, he is always around, sticking his nose in. We could start by talking to Anna Fisher, Alan’s widow. Nolan is her neighbour.”

  DC Ian Beckwith almost ran into the incident room. “Forensics have found blood on the carpet in the sitting room of Bella’s house! Also a discarded cigarette end in the porch outside There’s an overturned coffee table and crockery scattered all over the place. All the signs of a struggle.”

  “Did you ask the neighbours if they heard anything?” asked Matt.

  “I asked if they’d seen Bella yesterday. The woman next door, the one who let the kid slip through her fingers, recalls hearing shouting at about seven last night. Reckons she heard a car drive off.”

  “Did she see it?”

  “No. It was dark and her curtains were drawn.”

  “Okay. Jot it down on the board. It might prove useful.”

  “There is something else. We found her second mobile. It was hidden in the greenhouse. I had a quick look before forensics took it away. There were only two contacts. One was the dead woman, Agnes Harvey — she was listed as ‘Auntie.’ The other was simply listed as ‘James.’ Here’s the number.” Beckwith handed Matt a piece of paper.

  Matt smiled at the DC. “Good work. We should have a word.”

  Lily looked up from her computer. “What are you thinking?”

  “This is probably her contact from witness protection. That day she went into Manchester, I think she went to meet him. She had the phone with her then. He may not be aware of what’s happened.”

  “That’s a bit of a leap. This ‘James’ could be anyone.”

  “No, Lily. He’s someone Bella had to keep secret. I will ring him and find out.”

  “Where does Anna Fisher live, sir?” asked Lily.

  “Back of Marsden. That new housing development near the reservoir.”

  “The one they call ‘Millionaire’s Heights?’”

  “Yes, that’s the one. It’s a big house, with plenty of land around it. I’ve been there, remember? Fisher’s funeral.”

  “You’ve met his wife?”

  “No. Oddly enough, I didn’t. Anna Fisher wasn’t there. I didn’t give it much thought at the time, but now I’d like to know why.”

  * * *

  Lily was looking up at the Fisher house. “What d’you reckon these go for, sir? I remember them being built, about ten years ago. Caused a right stink. This area is supposed to be green-belt land.”

  “Come on, let’s get this done.” Matt had no idea what to expect from the visit — or Anna Fisher. She had not attended the funeral. Why, since she’d never divorced her husband?

  “She isn’t here!”

  An elderly man appeared through a side gate carrying a garden spade. “I’ve not seen Mrs Fisher for several weeks. She never said anything to me about going away, and the house is all shut up.”

  “Do you have a key?”

  The man shook his head. “Only to this gate and the shed. I come every fortnight to help in the garden.”

  “Do you remember exactly when you last saw her?” Matt asked.

  “The day before her husband was killed. She rang and asked me about some begonias for the summer display. I brought some round for the greenhouse that afternoon.”

  “Did she seem okay?” asked Lily.

  “Right as ninepence.”

  “Do you know Robert Nolan, the solicitor who lives next door?”

  The man nodded. “Nolan? Big bloke. Lawyer. I don’t know him, but he and the Fishers were friends.”

  So Nolan checked out. Matt couldn’t make up his mind if he was pleased about this. “Do you know anyone who might know where Mrs Fisher has gone?”

&nbs
p; “She has a sister in Cornwall — Carol Sykes. Mrs Sykes and her husband have a pub in Truro, the Bull Inn.”

  Chapter 34

  Once they got back to the station, Matt called a short briefing. He wanted the team brought up to speed with what they’d got. The news wasn’t good.

  “Joel Dawson?” Matt asked.

  Beckwith shrugged. “No trace. He’s disappeared off the face of the earth. I’ve asked his neighbours, the college. I even had a word with the group of students he’s course tutor for. Nothing.”

  “It is possible that Anna Fisher has also disappeared. Of course, she may have gone on holiday, but we can’t presume that. The gardener hasn’t seen her since the day before her husband was killed. But we have got a lead. A sister in Cornwall.” He handed Beckwith the name and address. “Check it out as soon as you can. If she’s there, I’d like to speak to her myself.”

  “Is she important?” Carlisle asked.

  “Truth is, I don’t know. But Anna Fisher wasn’t at her husband’s funeral. We need to find her. She may know something. She may even have been threatened herself.”

  “The blood found at Bella’s house was hers,” Beckwith confirmed. “So she’s been injured. But now the juicy bit. Saliva from the cigarette butt belongs to someone known to us. Tommy Johnson, a small-time villain who used to work for Chalker’s firm.”

  “Chalker? Are you sure?”

  Beckwith shook the paper at him. “Forensics are.”

  “Was there any sign of a break-in at her house?” Matt asked him.

  Beckwith shook his head. “No.”

  “Bella is unlikely to know someone like Johnson. A lone cigarette end means nothing. I still think Bella knew her attacker. She would not open the door to just anyone. She is well aware of the danger she’s in.” Matt sighed. “So that leaves us with Dawson or Nolan.”

  “We can’t ignore the evidence. Was anything else found?” the super asked Beckwith. “Fingerprints for example?”

  “No, just the fag end.”

  Carlisle nodded. “Well, if we are going with her knowing him, my money’s on Dawson.”

  “Don’t be so quick to judge,” Matt said. “We should look closer at Nolan. We know very little about the man. His address checks out and he is a solicitor, but we need meat on the bones. A detailed account of what he’s been doing during the past twenty-four hours will do for a start.” He turned to Lily. “Find out where he is today. We need to see him.”

  “And what task are you getting on with, Brindle?” Carlisle sneered.

  Matt smiled. “I’m going to speak to someone from witness protection.”

  The incident room was a hive of activity. Matt sat at his desk and pressed the number for ‘James,’ from Bella’s second mobile phone.

  “Hello.” The voice was clipped and business-like.

  “This is DI Brindle, East Pennine CID. I believe that you are Bella’s contact in the witness protection team.”

  There was a silence.

  Finally, ‘James’ spoke. “You should not ring this number. It is for emergencies only.”

  “This is an emergency,” Matt said. “Who am I talking to?”

  “The phone you are using — where did you get it?”

  “We found it at Bella’s house, but that isn’t important. You may not be aware of this, but she is missing. There are signs of an altercation at her house, and she has disappeared. We strongly believe that she has been kidnapped.”

  Matt waited.

  “I am aware of the case you are investigating. How much do you know about Bella’s past?”

  “Enough. I know she is on the protected persons programme, because of the threat from her ex-husband, Ron Chalker. And I am guessing that you are her contact.”

  Matt heard a sigh.

  “I told Bella it was a mistake to visit Chalker. She insisted that he would learn nothing from her, but you will have seen the papers. He would have been able to find out her location. I did warn her. I urged her to move again, but she refused, said her son was too poorly.”

  “I am trying to ascertain if Bella’s disappearance is to do with her ex-husband, or a case we’re investigating.”

  “I have nothing positive to offer, sorry. But if I had to go with one or the other, I would choose Chalker. He has seen his chance and grabbed it. The man still has influence, there are people he can call on to do his bidding.”

  “You should know also that Ronnie Chalker has requested a visit from me.”

  “Be very careful. He is a villain and an accomplished liar. Do not take anything he tells you at face value. There will be an ulterior motive behind everything he discusses with you.”

  “Given the man’s reputation, I would like to be able to rule Chalker in or out. Look, I realise that it is in the nature of your work to operate with a high degree of secrecy, but Bella is in danger. She has already told me she is in the programme. Are you aware of a definite threat from Chalker?”

  “You will have to make up your own mind on that one once you’ve spoken with him.”

  “You still haven’t told me your name. I may need to contact you again.”

  “You do not need to know who I am. If you want to speak to me, ring the same number. Best of luck. I hope you find her. Keep me informed of progress.” He ended the call.

  Lily was watching him. “You don’t look happy.”

  “He wasn’t any help. He had no real information to offer. What about Nolan? Any progress?”

  She smiled. “I looked him up. He’s a partner in a firm in Halifax, called Bradfield and Nolan. I rang, and got the receptionist. She said he is scheduled to appear in court in Huddersfield this afternoon, and may be back in the office later.”

  Matt was beginning to think they would never get anywhere.

  “Mobile?”

  Lily nodded. “I tried it, but it’s turned off. I could nip into town and find him.”

  “Do that, would you, Lily? Ask him to come in and see me.”

  Beckwith knocked on the office door. “Anna Fisher. I’ve found her. Here is her mobile number, and she’s happy to speak to you.”

  Matt dialled the number. Anna Fisher answered immediately.

  Matt introduced himself. “I have a couple of questions. The first is a little personal, I’m afraid. Can you tell me why you didn’t attend Alan’s funeral?”

  “I went to the service, DI Brindle. I arrived late and sat at the back. I doubt anyone will have noticed me. I left before the end. I had my bags packed in the car, and went to my sister’s straight away. I couldn’t face the wake, or the weeks to follow. Alan and I had had our problems, but things were still reasonably okay between us. In my own way, I still loved him. We shared a lot of history. And I knew that Bella Richards would be there. She must be devastated. I feel for her, but there’s nothing I can do to help. I simply wanted to be out of the way.”

  “Did you notice anyone hanging around your house before Alan was killed? In fact, anything odd at all in those last few days?”

  “No. Everything was as usual. No strangers, no funny phone calls.”

  “And Alan never voiced any fears about being followed or watched?”

  “No, but I doubt he’d have told me anyway. If Alan were to confide about something like that to anyone, it would have been Robert, our neighbour.”

  “Yes, I’ve met him. Thank you, Mrs Fisher, you have been very helpful.”

  DC Beckwith called out excitedly. “We’ve got Dawson! Traffic have just chased him up the M60. He came unstuck at the pyramid junction, hit a barrier and narrowly missed being trashed. He’s in Manchester Royal with concussion.”

  Matt checked the clock. It was the rush hour, and the traffic would be horrendous. “Can he talk?”

  “He’s in Resus under guard. The nurse reckons he’s in no fit state tonight. Doesn’t even know his own name. She says tomorrow at the soonest.”

  “Was he alone in the car?”

  Beckwith nodded. “It’s being towed into
forensics as we speak.”

  If Dawson had taken Bella, what had he done with her? Matt was tired and couldn’t think straight. He should really go home. His leg was aching so much that he could barely get up from his chair. He was about to go down to the canteen and get something to eat when his phone rang.

  It was Lily. “No one at the court has seen Nolan today, sir. Proceedings had to be cancelled. He hasn’t rung in or anything. They are as mystified as we are. Apparently he’s never done this before. If it’s alright with you, I’m going home. It’s taken an age just to get here. Finding a parking spot was a bugger too.”

  Matt had a bad feeling about this. First Joel Dawson had disappeared, and now it was Nolan’s turn. What was going on? These were the only two men Bella Richards had had any dealings with recently. Was either of them Mr Apology?

  Matt could see Dyson’s bulky frame from his office. The super was standing in front of the incident board, staring at it.

  Dyson tapped the board. “It’s a bad do. Gone to ground, the bloody lot of ’em.”

  Matt hauled himself up and went to join him. “Not quite. We’ve caught up with Dawson now. Hopefully he’ll talk to us tomorrow. We certainly need him to, because the truth is, Talbot, we haven’t got a clue. We’ve exhausted all the leads, even the second mobile Bella had. She used it to ring her aunt and her contact on the programme. I rang him. Wouldn’t even give his name. Big on sympathy but no help at all.”

  “We’ll have to see what tomorrow brings. It’s been a long day and like you, I’m knackered.” He looked at Matt leaning heavily on the desk. “Why don’t you get off home? That meeting with Chalker has been arranged for tomorrow afternoon at two. A uniform will drive you there.”

  Chapter 35

  Day 18

  Forensics had retrieved Joel Dawson’s mobile phone after the car crash. On it were dozens of messages to Bella, plus numerous photos. Many more had been taken over the last couple of days. He had obviously been watching her closely. By the time Matt arrived at the station, everything found had been put on the system.

  Lily was scrolling through a screenful of messages. “He kept texting her, but she rarely replied. Weird, if you ask me. Bella knew he was stalking her but she didn’t complain to us.”