‘Mrs Leonard?’
‘Can I help?’
‘I’m Detective Inspector Harry Blaker. I work for Major Crime and I’m investigating the murder of Ron Beasle. May I have a few minutes of your time?’
‘Oh!’ Her eyebrows lifted. She backed into her home. She seemed unsure which way to turn before moving off to the right. ‘You’d better come in.’
Harry followed her into the kitchen. The gloves were discarded on a worktop. She bit down on her bottom lip and waited for Harry to talk.
‘You know Ron Beasle, is that right?’
‘Well. Yes. I know him very well. Or I knew him at least. Murder you said? I heard it was some awful accident.’
‘That may yet be the case, Mrs Leonard, but I like to be sure about these things — as you can imagine. There are some parts of this that don’t seem quite right to me.’
‘Oh, I see. Well, no . . . you have to be sure. I’m not clear on how I can help though.’
‘Just a few questions. Ron’s wife seemed to think that he was looking out for a piece of land that belongs to you. Somewhere between Dover and Deal, is that right?’
‘Oh, yes. We used to live there. Unfortunately we had some problems with the house. Major problems. We were there twenty years. The house has been there hundreds and we suddenly started getting cracks — small at first, then more substantial. We got someone out and we were told that the place was suffering from subsidence. One of the barns, too. They reckoned it was all part of the same thing. I don’t really understand it. Can you imagine? Twenty years in a house — our home — and you’re being forced out to let it crumble to the ground.’
‘Subsidence?’
‘Yes. The land is giving out underneath it. I don’t understand it all too well — I mean I’d never heard of it at the time. I guess I know a little more about it now. It’s the chalk cliffs apparently. There’s always a small chance that you can get problems. The water can erode them and the land basically washes away from under you.’
‘Ah, that certainly makes a little more sense.’
‘Makes sense?’
‘Sorry. We drove across the land — just to get a feel for it — and we saw that the house was boarded up and the barns looked as if they had been used until recently. My colleague and I both commented on how beautiful it is down there. We couldn’t see why anyone would choose to move away.’
‘No, quite. It is beautiful indeed. I can assure you we would never have considered it. That was our forever home. They did a survey of some sort and the results were not good. There are gullies and hollows threatening most of the buildings. It will get worse, too, we’re told.’
‘Sounds expensive.’
‘Not financially viable, the insurance company said. There are simply no guarantees it can be fixed. I still don’t fully understand it.’
‘But you have some people interested in buying it to renovate it? They must know about the problem.’
‘We’re in talks at the moment and they know as much as we do. I think they plan on converting the barns up there. Two are quite old themselves — the smaller of them is just as old as the main house. One of the newer barns has been condemned too. It’s the worst. We actually had a sink hole appear behind it. But there is still at least one that’s been largely unaffected. It would seem it’s on much firmer land. We considered doing it ourselves, but I just wanted to move away. I love that house. The last thing I wanted to do was stare out of my window every day and watch it fall down. And you never could be sure if and when that might happen . . . that’s what we were told.’
‘I guess not. Have your insurance people made an offer?’
‘Yes. But it’s based on the value of the house only. The building companies make offers based on the potential of all the buildings and a number of other factors. The difference is not even comparable.’
‘They must see something your insurance company can’t?’
‘They’re proposing to knock it down, I think. They’ll convert the barns and there’s an old cottage at one of the entrances, too, that can be renovated. The roof fell in on that a long time ago. We had visions for developing that, too, at one time, but you get old, don’t you? There just wasn’t the need. Maybe if Jim’s health had been better. The big barns are good. There’s another, smaller barn near to the southern entrance, but the roof has fallen in on that too. It’s just a shelter for the rats, really. Once Jim’s health failed and it meant that he couldn’t use the land anymore, well, that’s when we started looking at other options. We didn’t have the money to be doing what’s necessary. We bought this place outright and we figured we could happily retire on what came from the sale of the land.’
‘And do you know who you are selling it to yet?’
‘Still nothing certain. Jim tried to get something definite done. It was stressing him out. I sometimes wonder if it didn’t speed up his . . . problems. Stress can do that, can’t it?’
‘It never helps. Are you aware of a company called McCall’s?’
‘Yes, of course. They’re one of the firms that we’ve been talking to. I think they’re the only one left in the frame, actually. The subsidence issues seem to have scared everyone else off.’
‘But not McCall’s?’
‘It would seem not.’
‘Have you had any contact with them?’
‘Yes. They still seem keen. I hadn’t had any contact initially, but when Jim died . . . Well, I had to pick it all up.’
‘Did you approach them?’
‘No. They were already talking to Jim. When he died they approached me. Pretty soon after as well. Jim wasn’t even in the ground yet. I remember telling him that.’
‘Him? Who was he?’
‘Oh . . . I forget his name. There were two of them actually. Two different men.’ Mrs Leonard tutted. She turned into the kitchen and pulled open a top drawer that was stuffed with paperwork. She pulled some out, put it on the side and continued her search.
‘Two?’
‘Yes. I had a phone call from one of them. He told me his name but I didn’t write it down. It was the man that Jim had been dealing with and, bless him, he didn’t know. When I told him, he was horrified that he had called so soon after Jim had gone. He couldn’t have apologised more. It wasn’t his fault — I told him that. I said I would call him back, a bit later, you know. He said to take my time, that it was nothing that couldn’t wait. Then a different fella turned up at my door just a few days later. He said he knew all about Jim and that he was sorry, but it was obvious he was there to talk about the sale. I told him I wasn’t ready. He was very insistent on giving me his card, on making sure it was him I called when I was ready. It’s in here somewhere!’ She continued to ferret until she called out in triumph. ‘Ah!’ She held a business card out. Harry took it and studied it: Ryan Clarke — Acquisitions Surveyor.
‘Ryan Clarke?’
‘That’s it. He was the pushy one. I have a number for the other fella on my phone. That was the number I was going to call when I was ready, to be honest. I know how these things work. I know they all earn commission when they get sales. I’ve got no problem with them earning a bit, it’s how the world works, but I’d rather the first fella got it. He’d done all the work with Jim and he was considerate with me.’
‘Have you got his number to hand?’
‘Eh, yes, of course.’ Her phone was plugged in on the kitchen bench. She picked it up and turned the screen to face Harry. He wrote the details down.
‘So you will be getting back in touch with them soon to get the deal done?’
‘Yes. It was all systems go at first, but this sinkhole problem has scared them off one by one. I wouldn’t buy a place up there now, would you?’
‘No. I don’t think I would.’
‘I feel lucky anyone’s interested at all. The insurance company’s offer isn’t really enough. It’s time-limited, too, otherwise I’d need to go back through the rigmarole of filling out the claim details again
. I can’t work anymore and we were supposed to be sorted for our retirement years. You work all your life to make sure and then something like this happens. I really should get back on to McCall’s to be honest — get this deal done while the going’s good. I just haven’t had the motivation. Me and Jim, we built our life on that land. I suppose a part of me thinks that when it goes, that’s the last of what we had. Yes, I know. . . I’m a silly old bird!’
‘Not at all. Makes sense to me. But I’m sure Jim would want you to be comfortable — financially, I mean. I reckon he would have wanted you to finish the deal.’
‘Oh, yes — one hundred percent. It was a real bind on him towards the end. He wanted it all finished for that reason, but McCall’s were dragging their heels. Ironic really. Now they’re chasing me and fighting among themselves to get it done.’
Harry reached into his pocket and put his card down gently on the bench. ‘This is my number, Mrs Leonard. I’m investigating what happened with Ron so I will be the man to phone if you think of anything significant. And don’t hesitate — even if it seems silly. Give me a call.’
‘Okay, thanks.’
‘And if McCall’s bother you, if this Ryan Clarke fella turns up again and you don’t want him here, you let me know. I’ve met him actually. I feel like I could go and have a quiet little chat with him. Maybe his behaviour might change.’
‘Thank you.’
They said their farewells. Mrs Leonard stayed leaning against the surround of her open front door as he moved off. Harry had missed a call from Maddie. He felt too tired for a conversation but he could sense that Maddie was starting to get sensitive about perceptions, that if he didn’t return her call she might take it personally. He pressed to call her back and the phone rang through the speakers.
Maddie was quick to pick up. ‘How did it go?’
‘What?’
‘You went to see Mrs Leonard.’
‘Right. Just coming away.’
‘So, what then? How did it go?’
‘I didn’t realise I was reporting back to you.’
‘Really? I thought that would be obvious by now.’
Harry allowed himself a smile before he replied. ‘You’re tenacious, Maddie, I have to give you that. She’s suffering. She’s still grieving for her husband and trying to sort her life out at the same time.’
‘I’m sure she is. Did she tell you anything useful?’
‘She told me that McCall’s have been bothering her about the land. That upsets me a little.’
‘I get the impression people shouldn’t upset you.’
‘People shouldn’t upset decent people who haven’t long lost their husbands. Not when it’s about money.’
‘You tell her that?’
‘I did. She got a call from our friend the fleet manager at McCall’s. Seems he’s a little more bothered about bringing in the projects than he led us to believe.’
‘The money has to be good. If you get the right plot, I mean.’
‘Well, yes. But this plot isn’t as straightforward as it looks. There’s subsidence up there. That’s why it was abandoned. The house is basically condemned. It can happen on chalk apparently.’
‘That makes more sense. I guess a building company is best placed to sort that out. They must still stand to make good money out of it.’
‘You’d think so or they wouldn’t be interested at all. She did say that everyone else had backed off. Maybe McCall’s have more experience dealing with subsidence. I think I’ll go and ask Ryan Clarke how it all works. He can explain to me how they can turn a profit. After he’s explained his own actions towards Mrs Leonard.’
‘Are you going now?’
‘I figured I would. I have a box of employee details on my desk. His address should be in there. I was hoping he might be in on a Friday night so I could go ruin it for him.’
‘You want some company?’
‘No, Maddie. It’s late.’
‘You think I want to go back to my hotel? And I mean, ever again.’
‘You don’t like hotels?’
‘Never have. I got to spend a lot of time in them in my previous job. You get to see what they’re used for.’
‘I bet you did. I’m heading back to the station now to pick up the details. I won’t stop you coming out. I can’t be bothered trying to talk you out of it anymore.’
‘Very wise. I’ll get the details. It’s Ryan Clarke, right?’
‘It is.’
‘How far out are you?’
‘I’m still sat outside the Leonards’ place. I’m going to be twenty minutes.’
‘Sat outside? Are you making sure she gets to sleep okay?’
‘Don’t forget yourself, Maddie. No, and I’m sure she won’t be getting to sleep for a long time yet. You earn your retirement together. They should be planning the rest of their lives.’
‘That genuinely bothers you, doesn’t it? Harry Blaker — the caring detective. I didn’t see that coming.’
‘Because I’m a miserable old bastard?’
‘Yes.’
Harry couldn’t help but smile again. But as he pressed to end the call, his attention was drawn to Mrs Leonard’s house. The sun had now dipped behind it and soon it would be dark. What might she be doing right now? It was a good few hours from when she might go to bed. Three years on from losing his wife, this was still the time of day he hated the most.
Chapter 33
Maddie narrowed her eyes to the lights of the Discovery as they dragged across the frontage of the police station, engulfing her for a brief moment. She walked over and climbed up into the passenger seat with a bundle of papers.
‘Have you seen the amount of paperwork up there? There must be hundreds of people with access to that building and to those car keys!’
‘It was never going to be a small number.’ Harry was deadpan.
‘McCall’s employees are just the beginning. You’ve got suppliers, agency staff, temps, apprentices — even college kids. The list goes on.’
‘We need to be smart. We’ll factor in some criteria for narrowing the list down.’
‘You mean like running them for criminal records?’
‘It’s a start.’
‘Ryan Clarke . . . I ran him through PNC while I was waiting. He has three convictions for violence and a lot more arrests. The three convictions were for fighting on nights out. The arrests that came to nothing were all DV assaults.’
‘She never supported?’ Harry said.
‘No. And there wasn’t just one she. There are twenty or more reports so I only skimmed them, but I counted at least four different women. None of them ever went through with it.’
‘We see a lot of murders between partners. Nine times out of ten the offender has been nicked before but released with no further action because the other half didn’t support.’
‘This guy must be scary. Scary enough that they don’t think it’s worth it.’
‘Let’s go find out, shall we?’
The address was after another twenty-minute drive towards the coast and in a village on the outskirts of Langthorne called Hawkinge. The first thing Maddie noticed when they drove through it was the sheer rate of expansion that must have gone on.
‘It’s like someone built a brand-new town!’ she said, as street after street of similar looking, new-build houses passed her window. When they stopped, Maddie looked out at three big blocks of flats with the same white façades and stainless steel entrance doors. They were arranged in a sort of clumsy circle around a small green area.
Harry stepped out and headed towards the middle block. ‘What number did you say?’
‘Flat 7, Marsh House.’ She took a second to assess: the streets were empty of people and cars. Harry was already at the communal door and he tugged it open.
‘Trade button works,’ he said. Maddie followed him in.
Flat 7 was up two flights of steps. The floor was carpeted but in a material that felt thin and cheap. Every step
had a metal strip running along it — most of them were loose and they clanged with every footfall. There would be no sneaking up to the door. Harry didn’t seem bothered by that. He strode right up close and hammered it with his fist. Maddie stayed back and waited. There was a light visible through the frosted panes either side of the door but it was weak, like it might be from a distant room. A minute passed, maybe more. Harry beat the door again. This time he didn’t stop; he fell into a rhythm and stuck to it. Another minute passed before the door fell open.
‘Alright, alright! Jesus! What the hell are you beating my door down for! I’ve got neighbours here.’
‘Not nice is it, Ryan? Being harassed at home. We need to talk.’ Harry stepped in far enough that the door couldn’t be closed. The light was still weak but there was enough from the stairwell to positively ID Ryan Clarke. He was in just a navy blue robe. His hair was slick and damp and his skin flushed red. Maddie guessed they had disturbed him from a bath.
‘I don’t have the time to be talking to you. You’ll have to come see me during work time. This is my time now and I’ve got plans.’
‘I don’t think you understand how the police work, Ryan. This isn’t a work enquiry — this is about you.’
‘Are you arresting me?’
‘Are you letting me in?’
Clarke still held his ground. A front door opened elsewhere, possibly the level above. There were no footfalls or sounds of it closing again; they were attracting attention. He stepped back.
‘Five minutes. But I ain’t happy.’
‘That makes two of us.’ Harry moved into the flat and Maddie followed him in. They walked through the low light of the hallway to a much brighter living room.
Clarke fell into a sofa but Harry remained standing and positioned himself so that he was standing over him. Maddie leaned against the back of a table. The room looked like it ran the full width of the flat and there was a kitchen area down the other end. Clarke looked uncomfortable. He stood back up and moved backwards to lean against the window. He put his hands behind his back and his feet shoulder-width apart. He looked every bit a man who was bracing himself for an attack. Maddie got the impression that their visit was not entirely unexpected.
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