Never Say Goodbye: An edge of your seat thriller with gripping suspense (Detective Tom Fabian Book 1)

by Richard Parker

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Fabian waited for the lecture room to clear, quickly scanning the young faces that passed him before he entered. Banner followed. ‘Mr Brennan?’

  The man who stepped down from the front platform was tall, his build and dislocated nose that of an ex rugby player. He had unkempt dark hair and doughy features, his bright black eyes looking as if they’d been pushed there. He flicked his head back to confirm his name.

  ‘I’m Detective Inspector Fabian and this is Detective Sergeant Banner.’

  Brennan suddenly trod lightly in his trainers as he approached them, as if in respect for their presence there. ‘Is Ria OK?’ His eyes lingered a little too long on Banner.

  ‘She’s fine.’ Banner had to tilt her head up to him.

  He towered over both of them. ‘Has there been a development?’

  Fabian shook his head. ‘Do you have some spare time to speak to us?’

  ‘Sure. I’ve got an hour until my next class.’

  Brennan moved past them to the door and clicked it shut before returning to them.

  ‘I’ve already given as much information about Candice as I know to one of your officers though. Has there been a development?’ he repeated.

  Fabian took a step back so Brennan wasn’t at such close quarters. ‘We just have some additional questions.’

  Brennan nodded and gently rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet.

  Fabian wondered if it was the normal nerves of someone being questioned by police or if he knew what he was to be asked about a second time. He’d seen his responses to McMann’s questions but Fabian wanted to go further. ‘Previous questioning has established that you showed a sexual interest in Candice…’

  Brennan huffed. ‘Come on. No more than—’

  ‘All the other girls in your class?’ Banner finished the sentence.

  ‘It was some time ago. I’ve got a girlfriend now.’

  ‘An ex student.’ Fabian recalled the transcript he’d just read.

  ‘What has Ria been saying about me this time? She does have a bit of a reputation.’

  Fabian noted how swiftly Brennan had dispensed with his concern for Ria’s welfare. ‘For what?’

  ‘For being a gossip… if I’m honest.’

  ‘That’s certainly a choice thing to say about one of your students, Mr Brennan.’ Was Brennan the sort of character Tilly would be encountering in university? Fabian fought the urge to check his phone for a message from Harriet.

  ‘Why don’t you ask someone else in the class? She’s not exactly a popular girl.’

  ‘You asked Candice out during the first year?’

  ‘Yes and I told your officer that the last time. It wasn’t even on a date. Just invited her to join my CrossFit group.’

  ‘And when she turned you down?’

  ‘That was that. Look, I’ve already confirmed what I was doing the night Candice was attacked.’

  ‘You were walking your dog on Woodcock Heath with your girlfriend.’

  ‘Yes. If you need further proof—’

  ‘We may well do,’ Fabian interrupted. ‘Did Candice’s rejection make things awkward for you in class?’

  Brennan shrugged. ‘Maybe for a short time after but it wasn’t a big issue.’

  ‘Maybe not for you.’

  ‘It really wasn’t. I knew she was with an older guy.’

  ‘But you still asked her out?’

  ‘After. I found that out after.’

  ‘Who from? Ria?’

  Brennan seemed dumbstruck for a moment. ‘Uh… yeah.’

  ‘So you were still asking after Candice’s status after she turned you down?’

  ‘I could find that out on Facebook.’

  ‘And did you?’

  ‘Look, I was interested in Candice. I did go to her Facebook page once or twice. I asked Ria about her. That’s not against the law. I didn’t badger her. When I found out she was marrying some older guy I moved on. I saw the other guys in the class hitting on her and getting nowhere too.’

  ‘Your ego wasn’t damaged?’

  ‘I dated two girls from class after that.’

  Fabian tried to keep his tone level. ‘Did that redress the balance for you?’

  ‘I’ve been seeing Kirsten for five months now. Believe me, she’s paranoid enough about my students.’

  ‘So your girlfriend is worried you’ll hit on somebody else, like you did her?’ Banner gestured to the empty rows behind her.

  ‘Maybe. But the point is, my dealings with Candice since were entirely study-related, nothing more. Ask Ria.’

  Fabian nodded. ‘And what about Ria? Was she ever in your sights?’

  Brennan snorted and shook his head.

  Fabian thought he’d done both a little too enthusiastically. ‘Well?’

  The lecturer’s eyes rolled upwards. ‘Because you can believe everything she says.’

  ‘You were just prepared to use her as proof you hadn’t hit on Candice since.’

  ‘Ask my other students about her.’

  ‘I’m asking you. Did you try it on with Ria Campbell?’

  Brennan seemed to make his mind up about something. ‘Actually, it was definitely the other way around.’

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  ‘So Ria threw herself at you?’ But despite how ludicrous it sounded Fabian suspected that made it more likely to be the truth.

  ‘Tried to. But I wasn’t having anything to do with it.’

  ‘Because of your moral code?’ Banner scoffed.

  Brennan briefly closed his eyes. ‘She came to me at the start of class. Told me she had something to tell me about Candice.’

  ‘When was this?’ Fabian had noticed he’d stopped rocking on his feet.

  ‘One Friday. Soon after Candice had shot me down. She told me she’d meet me at a pub in town after my late afternoon lecture.’

  ‘And that didn’t set off alarm bells?’

  ‘It was my local, The King of Denmark. I would have been going there Friday night anyway. Now that should have set off alarm bells.’

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘I bought her a drink, we chatted and she pussyfooted around telling me what it was she knew about Candice. Told me that Candice had been having problems with her partner but was pretty vague. I quickly guessed it was an excuse. I think she’d been drinking before we met and soon after she asked me if I wanted her to go home with me. Just blurted it out. I told her no.’

  ‘What was her reaction?’

  ‘She left soon after. I went to the bathroom and she was gone when I came back. I saw her in class the following week and she acted like it had never happened. She had been pretty drunk, so I thought she might even have forgotten making a pass at me.’

  Fabian doubted that. ‘And how come you didn’t mention this?’

  ‘Because it was nothing. I actually felt sorry for her.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘You’ve interviewed her.’

  ‘What does that mean?’ Banner asked sharply.

  ‘She’s a fantasist. She’d obviously convinced herself that I was interested in her, but I’d never given her the slightest impression of that.’

  ‘Maybe your glances in Candice’s direction had confused her.’ Fabian was sure Brennan had as much sensitivity as he had professional ethics.

  ‘How could she? She knew I was interested in Candice.’

  ‘Perhaps she thought you’d take her as a consolation. Particularly if you have a reputation.’

  Brennan’s features momentarily froze as he turned this over. ‘Look, you can talk to who you like. Candice was a gorgeous girl and I’m really sorry about what happened to her but there’s not much intrigue to be had here. I didn’t want to mention Ria’s little infatuation because it’s as irrelevant as anything else that went on in this classroom.’

  ‘Nothing’s irrelevant at this stage. What about these other students who hit on her?’

  Brennan sighed at Fabian. �
�I can tell you who they are if you really think it’s necessary.’

  Banner opened up her phone notebook.

  ‘But I really think you’re wasting your time. I know these kids.’

  ‘Some of them intimately.’ Banner kept her phone poised.

  ‘Names,’ Fabian demanded.

  He shook his head. ‘Patrick Dukes, Neil Vicar… er… Anthony Decker.’

  Banner tapped them in. ‘That’s it?’

  ‘From my class. I can’t speak for anyone else’s.’

  ‘Are they still in your class?’ Fabian noticed he was rocking again.

  ‘Two of them just left. They’ll be heading for home now.’

  ‘What about the other?’

  ‘That’d be Neil. I haven’t seen him for a couple of weeks.’

  ‘A couple?’

  Brennan frowned hard. ‘Maybe three weeks?’

  ‘Is he sick?’

  ‘They don’t have to make excuses to me. It’s up to them to keep up with the work.’

  ‘Anything unusual about his behaviour the last time you saw him?’

  Banner pulled an oblivious face.

  Fabian guessed he didn’t take too much notice of the male students in his class. ‘Would you have a contact for him?’

  ‘No but one of the others probably will. Or you could ask at reception. They all have to register for passes.’

  Fabian nodded. ‘We’ll do that.’ He headed for and opened the door.

  ‘Have you finished with me?’

  Fabian halted and turned.

  Brennan caught his stern expression. ‘For today?’

  ‘For today.’

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  After they’d secured the details of Dukes, Vicar and Decker, Fabian and Banner headed back out to the quad.

  Banner checked the map on her phone. ‘Vicar and Dukes live close by. Vicar is ten minutes away, in fact.’

  ‘The other two probably won’t be home yet. Get McMann onto it. I want to know what all three of them were doing on the eighth.’

  Banner hunched her shoulders against the cold. ‘Where are we heading then?’

  ‘Back to the station. Need a team confab.’ Fabian checked his phone but there was no message.

  ‘Are you OK?’

  ‘It’s probably nothing but Harriet hasn’t heard from Tilly since last night.’

  ‘She has just started university. I remember what that was like.’

  ‘But it’s not like her to be out of touch with Harriet. She knows how much she worries about her.’

  Banner nodded. ‘There’s a lot to take in. And she’ll be meeting so many new people…’

  ‘That’s what I’m worried about. Particularly after our last interview.’

  Banner pursed her lips. ‘I expect you’ve got quite a few more moments like this ahead of you. When did you last speak to her?’

  ‘I texted her yesterday evening. No reply. Thing is though, we’ve never had moments like this with Tilly. Whenever she’s gone away in the past she’s always rung Harriet at an agreed time.’

  ‘Harriet OK?’

  ‘She’s not been alone in the house for longer than a couple of days since we moved there. Tilly knows that. It’s why I’m a little disappointed with her.’

  ‘They’ll both readjust and I’m sure Tilly will be in touch as soon as she gets a spare moment.’

  Fabian nodded.

  ‘Try calling her now.’

  ‘I don’t want to become the “pain in the arse” dad.’

  ‘She’ll live with it. Try her.’

  Fabian did again. ‘Voicemail.’

  ‘It’s not even a day. Give her a few more hours and try not to worry.’

  Fabian could see the humour in Banner’s expression. She’d probably been through similar scenarios with her son. Had many more to come. And he knew the sort of reassurances she’d just offered wouldn’t cut it for her either. But he also couldn’t shake the memory of the evening before – Toby parked up and skulking outside the house with no reason to be there.

  ‘Give me a minute.’ He called Harriet and she answered after two rings. ‘Nothing?’

  ‘Still no word.’

  ‘What about Toby?’

  ‘What about him?’

  ‘You said you were going to deal with him.’

  ‘And I will. I’m waiting to hear from Tilly first.’ She sounded exasperated.

  ‘OK, just call me when you hear from her. Straight away.’

  ‘“Straight away”? That’s novel. Are you not in the middle of an investigation?’

  ‘Straight away,’ he emphasised.

  ‘Where are you?’

  ‘Heading back to Westminster.’ Fabian balked at what he was about to say. ‘Got somebody who can keep you company?’

  There was a pause. ‘I’m fine.’

  ‘OK.’ Fabian felt awkward. ‘Speak soon.’ He rang off and Banner was just finishing a call.

  ‘Got that?’ She hung up. ‘Just passed those details to Finch. Nothing else to report.’

  ‘We need to focus on the route.’

  Banner walked in silence beside him.

  ‘It’s the only thing that connects the victims.’

  ‘We don’t know that for sure.’

  ‘They service it. There has to be an ultimate destination.’

  ‘Or maybe they’ll carry on along it until we stop them.’

  ‘Nothing else from McMann re past crimes in the area?’

  ‘Finch is helping him trawl.’

  ‘Until then we’re just waiting for the next name.’

  They’d reached the Audi and Banner opened her door as soon as Fabian unlocked it. ‘We could always find out why Vicar has been absent for the last couple of weeks.’

  He considered it. ‘How far away?’

  ‘Ten minutes. Marshfield Estate.’

  ‘OK. While we’re here.’ Fabian got in his side and started the engine.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Fabian had a rare run of luck with traffic lights and they sailed through greens until they were on the Marshfield Estate, the ride an inverse representation of their progress with the inquiry. The route was proving to be nothing more than a brazen provocation, a declaration of intent that offered no clue as to why or where it was being followed.

  ‘Turn right and right again,’ the female satnav voice instructed.

  Fabian obeyed. The Marshfield Estate was a new-build maze of pristine, sand brick, back-to-back houses.

  ‘You have arrived at your destination.’

  Fabian was glad they’d have the satnav to direct them off the estate and considered how slavishly he complied with the device. Was he blindly doing the same along the killer’s trail?

  ‘Number 88.’ Banner nodded at the home in front of them and got out of the car.

  Fabian followed her across the narrow road and up the short driveway that had a small square of lawn either side. There was a window over the front door that had dark blue curtains drawn over it. Banner knocked. He turned to the row of homes on the other side of the street. They’d really packed them in here. Although the houses were free-standing, each one had barely a couple of feet between it and the next.

  A motor buzzed somewhere nearby but Fabian doubted it was a lawnmower. Not enough room for a garden.

  ‘Yeah?’

  It was difficult to tell how old the man was who opened the door. He wore a camouflage bandana and the bottom half of his features were covered by a thick dark beard. His eyes were clear blue, however, and Fabian guessed he was younger than he appeared.

  ‘Neil Vicar?’ Banner asked.

  The man took them both in, suspicion immediately slanting his eyes. ‘I’m his brother.’

  ‘Is Neil around?’ Fabian hesitated to pull out his ID.

  ‘Who are you?’

  ‘Is he in?’ Fabian took in the man’s Clutch T-shirt, soiled grey sweat bottoms and purple-socked feet.

  ‘Who shall I say’s calling?’r />
  ‘Police. Can you go and get him?’ Banner said sternly.

  The man bounced his eyebrows. ‘Neil!’ He shouted without turning inside. ‘Some friends of yours!’

  They waited and after a few seconds the man grunted and headed back into the narrow hallway. ‘Neil!’

  Fabian swapped a glance with Banner and looked up at the window over the door. The curtain had been pulled aside.

  The pound of footsteps on concrete.

  Sounded to Fabian like it was coming from the rear of the house. ‘You take the right.’

  Banner complied and Fabian headed to the left side of the house and trotted down the tight passage there. When he emerged at the other end a male figure shot past him along the walkway. ‘Stop!’

  But they pelted on, their dirty trainers echoing off the walls of the houses behind.

  ‘Police, stop!’ But Fabian knew he wouldn’t and turned left into the passage. He could hear Banner quickly catching up. The figure ahead was slim, wearing a hoodie and jeans and was rapidly opening up the distance between them. Fabian shifted to the left as much as he could so Banner could get past.

  ‘Police!’ Banner yelled and shot by, her arms pumping in compact strokes.

  Banner swam… a lot. Fabian wasn’t completely out of shape but knew his solo cooking exploits meant any of the training he’d been subjected to in his early years would do him little service. As the passageway bent around towards the street at its end he just managed to keep both of them in view. He watched Banner unzip her claret parka so her body wasn’t restricted. It blew back behind her.

  ‘Give it up, Neil!’ Banner was only feet from him.

  They emerged onto the road and their quarry sprinted across it and disappeared into the next passage at the side of the house there. Banner rocketed after him and when Fabian reached it they were already out of sight. He could hear his own laboured breaths in his head but knew Banner could be in danger.

  The footsteps ahead suddenly stopped.

  Fabian used his remaining reserve of energy to quicken his pace and ran into Banner kneeling on the floor beside Vicar.