It was now time for lunch and so the duo left, it would not be the police canteen today. Miss Evans the manager had a very bad cold, or so it was reported so there were no queues to attend there, for obvious reasons. It would be a tasty sandwich and cake at one of the local coffee shops.
Some miles away at the prison in Shrewsbury, Shropshire it was also lunch time.
Life for Kyle and Ron Gittins had been one of boredom, seated alone in their cells all day and every day. They were of course supposed to have exercise sessions but with the cuts in staff this was not bothered about by the officers who had been lucky enough to keep their jobs.
Having requested and been given solitary confinement away from other convicts as suggested by Hayes, they had been so kept. Killers of the elderly and children were not popular amongst the prison population. Police officers and ex police officers were universally hated.
The vast press coverage had been available on the televisions for the population to view and yes, to judge the case already, this applied equally to those in prison. The wild and untrue allegations against the two accused, nothing to do with the case but printed only to dramatise the case to sell more newspaper copies and attract a vast television audience, had only proved to exacerbate things for the husband and wife labelled the, “Judas Murderers.”
This lunchtime was no different than any other, looking at the clock in the hall through cell hatch Ron appreciated why he had stomach pangs; it was just after 2pm. They always dined with other vulnerable detainees, that is, after the main population had eaten. All were escorted to and from the dining room by two guards per prisoner and then seated on tables away from others. Though fellow diners were facing similar circumstances no chance of a sudden attack was risked by the Governor.
The cell doors of Ron and Kyle, though in different parts of the prison, opened about the same time. Both walked out of their cells, accompanied the officers. It had been noted by both that little or no conversation passed between the uniformed officers and them, it was simply, “Gittins out, Gittins what do you want? And similar, the basic that had to be done. The media, it seemed to them had done a good job, how the hell they would get an unbiased jury was to them in great doubt.
The escorts and prisoners walked along the corridor.
Ron’s route passed the prison laundry. As they approached the door there was suddenly loud shouting.
Ron glanced to the right and in a moment he saw two men in the blue prison garb suddenly commence to fight. Walking on there was suddenly a heavy push and in a moment Ron was lying on the ground writhing in agony.
He would never see the man run out of the laundry and approach from the rear carrying a large pan, nor the two others with him who struck both prison officers on the head with brush handles knocking them to the ground.
In a moment the attackers had turned and were gone back into the laundry which was now a place of peace and tranquillity not a thing wrong, or a miss word said, no prisoner the worse for any injury as a result of the so called fight between them.
Simultaneous, Kyle was walking for her lunch, she would never consume it.
One officer walking in front, another at the rear. The latter received a phone call and so stopped walking to take the call.
The other officer and Kyle walked onward and turned the corner approaching the toilet and shower block, as they did so a hand reached out of the side passage and violently pulled the officer inside, she was stuck and pushed to the floor.
Instantly two others came from the opposite passage, one pushing Kyle against the wall. In an instant Kyle collapsed to the floor screaming. The second officer arrived to find her colleague getting up from the floor. Kyle meanwhile was lying writhing in pain, the floor covered in blood.
An hour later Kyle and Ron found themselves in the casualty department of Shrewsbury General Hospital. It would eventually be specialised, very specialised treatment for Ron. He had been burned over his head with hot water laced with sugar causing additional heat and a syrup like substance which aggravated his condition.
Kyle would eventually require plastic surgery, she had been attacked with some sharp instrument, most likely a stolen teaspoon which had been taken from the staff dining room at the prison and then sharpened. Two massive deep cuts had been inflicted on each side of the face of this, “Judas bitch," as one prisoner was heard to say.
There would be the usual prison enquiry with the inevitable results. The victims were taken by such surprise they were unable to identify their assailants, no witnesses of course, no-one saw anything, a wall of silence. Instructions would be published for tighter security, yet again. Finally a report on the incident would be sent to the Home Office Department of Prisons stating that a new system had been put into operation to ensure this type of attack could never happen again. When received by the officials it would be filed with all the others submitted and filed over the years which ended with those words so popular these days, “to ensure this never happens again.”
Having left their office Jack and Doris headed into the city centre, it was a mid week race day. There was a vast increase in the volume of people moving to and fro. The large additional influx of people on horseracing day brought large groups of both men and women all spurting out strong Liverpool accents.
The atmosphere was mostly friendly and some might describe it as a carnival. Seeing those attending in their new stylish but also outstanding and exaggerated dress. Women in dresses far too short for them, heels on their shoes far too high causing them to grasp the side of buildings to prevent a disaster of them falling over. Men were dressed in the brightly coloured suits some as horses and jockeys. Yes, as they walked on it was all typical.
Arriving at one of the outdoor cafes and soon seated it was a pleasant break from the almost harrowing occupation of reading into murder files. Guessing the motive and reasoning for the killers, the pain, suffering and in some cases he had dealt with, the terror of the victims was always traumatic.
They had nearly finished their break when Jack announced that in the coming days he would now be obliged to visit the witnesses and yes the scenes of the crimes. Finally there would be a visit to the prison to clear up points with the accused, that is if they would speak.
This caused Doris to realise she would in fact have a very busy week. She had not yet told him that there had been an increased risk of terrorist attack from London. Not that it would affect Jack or the enquiry he was doing directly but indirectly resources may well be tied up and heaven forbid if there was an attack she could be drawn into it leaving him to press on alone. All very well from the investigative point of view as regards witnesses but when police powers were required, Jack, no longer holding the office of constable, he had no actual power or authority to act. Not knowing what he had in mind she opted not to say anything but to deal with this possible problem if and when it arose.
Meanwhile she thought, as he was able to spend the time in reviewing that which had been done she would continue to read through the papers she had received on the complicated fraud just reported.
It was inevitably time to resume the tedious work back at the office when around the corner arrived two very large men. Standing well over six feet tall, with broad shoulders, heavily tattooed heads, shaven save for one very long bunch of hair which had been left at the top of and in the centre of their heads, this was tied so that it cascaded down like a piece of rope.
Any police officer recognised the duo, thugs, trouble makers, looking for entertainment hurting someone.
Jack had been fortunate during his police career, being on CID for the vast proportion of his service he had escaped the harrowing duties of dealing with men such as these on Friday and Saturday nights just after 1am when the clubs and diners were closing, leaving them to enjoy the final entertainment of the night, beating up someone.
Doris and Jack rose from their seats and commenced to walk away.
With that there were screams causing them to look around and in
doing so they saw a child in its transporter had been lifted high above the shoulders of one of the men. Simultaneously the other villain had caught hold of the young man and a woman with the child. They were clearly Muslim from the colour of their skin and she wearing headgear which concealed her facial features. Without hesitation this villain brought the couple together banging their faces into each other resulting in blood spurting everywhere.
A look on the faces of the thugs told its own story; clearly they were under the influence of some drug. This had more than likely been bought from some Liverpool dealers taking a business opportunity of selling to those attending the race, it was regular occurrence. Unfortunately for the consumers all types of items were placed in these so called legal highs.
People were scattering, it had instantly become chaos when there was even louder screams as the man holding up the child carriage proceeded to throw it causing it to land violently on the floor, the child inside now rolling out onto the floor.
All was saved the pubic thought when two centre security guards arrived. Doris and Jack recognised them, having seen them walking to and fro over several years when of course nothing really happened, today was much different. The two men were clearly not suited to attend the scene they were faced with. Both in the forties very obese, with waist measurements of at least 48 inches if not larger.
They approached the scene but then stopped and one instantly made a phone call, no doubt calling the police and an ambulance. The other stepped forward but as the two villains looked at him he stopped in his tracks. No doubt he would have run off if his physical make up had permitted him to do so.
With that the villains looked up to see Doris walking towards them.
“A fucking slit eye eh, want some of what these Muslims have had, come on lady, do three get one free you might say." he shouted.
All those present, at a distance of course watched in awe of what would happen next.
“I am a police officer,” called Doris, “I am arresting both you two on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and criminal damage.”
She was unable to speak further for the two men were laughing loudly and then moving the few steps towards her.
Jack flinched, he knew what was coming; he had seen Doris in action on similar occasions before. She was only just over five feet tall, very slim but my, was she able to take care of herself. Yes indeed, her father had ensured when he knew she was to become a police officer than she was properly prepared to deal with all physical situations. Her masters at the monastery and since, with guidance from her brother, Kato, a special forces soldier working with Al Justice and the men in black had enabled her to adequately deal with what she was now faced with. As for the two assailants they were not so informed and so came onwards, their aggression building even more.
“You two, the security officers have called the police; you are under arrest do not make your situation worse.”
She commenced the caution, “you are not obliged to say,” but she was interrupted when the first thug reached forward grabbing her by the front of her coat, clearly about to pull her forward.
At high speed Doris brought up bother hands striking the arm which had grabbed her. It was knocked high. Her knee came up and struck the man in his groin. As he began to crumble she caught hold of his hair lock and pulled his head forward. Instantly she spun around and with her left foot now high in the air, she struck the second man in face. Pulling the first man over and then grabbing the hair of the second man with her free hand she brought their heads together with severe force.
The two men sunk onto their knees. Doris was in full cry, she banged both their heads several times onto the ground. Blood now spurted freely from both the men as she released them to roll in agony on the floor. There was a loud cheer from the crowd and all now rushed forward to assist the Asian couple and their child.
The scene was calm now but like a disaster area when the paramedics arrived and several police officers. The scene was instantly calmed and under control.
All looked now at the once noisy group of young men who had just arrived and had been singing, “you will never walk alone,” a Liverpool football anthem and all coppers are bastards. Seeing the events taking place before them they cast their minds back to the days at Liverpool docks when the large cops there had dealt similarly with thugs. They no longer sang but seeing the results of Doris going into action they turned and quietly left.
Jack meanwhile had stood watching, not in the least surprised, he had seen Doris act as necessary several times before. One thing that had amazed him previously, was when Doris had been in police uniform and in shirt sleeve order. Finishing her performance those Chinese tourists forever present in Chester had bowed seeing the scars on the inside of her arms. The locals thus being inquisitive enough to ask, what the bows were for. When told she was Shaolin and to be respected they had smiled then walked off none the wiser, save that they would ensure never to upset Doris, the copper of mixed Chinese and Welsh origins.
The situation now returned to the regular forces to deal with so Doris and Jack walked off. It was back to the mundane duty of ensuring two murderers were convicted and taken out of society.
They had gone only a few paces when a voice called, “Detective Inspector, that was a close thing. I thought you acted pretty quickly there but had you not thought of trying to calm the men rather using such violence, no different than they had done?”
It was the local reporter and therefore a write up could be expected in the next edition of the local newspaper, police violence again, little mention of the poor victims.
“Miss Bessie Bromley, it is you, the now famous reporter of the Chester Herald. I had thought being such a local celebrity you would have stepped in there to help those poor Asian folks, think what that would have done for newspaper sales amongst that community.”
This took the wind out of the sails of the reporter but only momentarily for she came back, “What have we here, is Jack the Hat of London on the case then?”
Jack sighed, thinking, “What bloody luck to have this bitch chiming in, poking around, interfering, call it what one may.”
Doris called, “You are well aware, at least if you wrote the article attributed to you, you should be, that the case is done and dusted, so to speak. Those arrested have been charged and we simply await the course of justice and the trial. I take it you will be attending, will you?”
This did throw the reporter off balance, “I will of course, it will be the story of the year, I am certain about that.”
Doris and Jack made no further comment but simply walked on as is if nothing had happened. Gone a few paces they looked at each other, Doris winked, Jack shrugged his shoulders and thought, maybe, just maybe, they had got away with it.
Arriving back in the office Jack sat and then said, “Inspector, I suspect you will be off now to put in your statement about the fracas, keep me updated how the poor Asian couple and in particular their baby got on. If I may I would just detain you a moment. Would you please arrange for a good and reliable motor cyclist to assist me? I am aware it was previously agreed but stopped by Kinsella. I would wish to have such an officer. We will require his service very soon I suspect. I will then put other matters in hand.”
“I will contact information room,” she replied, “I will speak with Inspector Shannon and arrange this now when I go, as you say to put in the statement. What a cock up it is, me on CID now I thought such things as mixing it with yobs was gone when I was promoted from the uniform branch.”
Jack turned and with a smile threw one in, “once a wooden top, always a wooden top.”
She looked, then left without a reply, “not mortally wounded I hope” thought Jack.
He then sat and finally opened his address book making two very important calls. Speaking with Professor Janet Hallam, Home Office Registered Pathologist. Informing her of the case, as far as he knew it and noting most of the post-mortems and tests had been carried out by the
new private company. He suspected they were cheaper but not so good. After these many years of cooperation she agreed to assist.
One hurdle crossed it was now time to speak to Professor Bolister the world renowned forensic scientist. Jack informed him of the case and added that there were items already checked that would require a review but he suspected other items would soon follow.
Bolister as usual agreed, the cases of Jack Richards were always both interesting and a challenge.
These important facets complete there was a knock on the door and on looking up Jack saw a police motorcyclist in full regalia, standing at the door..
Of medium height but slim, even in the full motorcycle kit and helmet with visor down Jack identified the officer as being young.
The Judas Murders Page 18