“Come in young man I hope you are the motorcyclist I asked for, please do come in, that is a good chap.”
With that the officer walked forward and removed the helmet. Jack had put his foot in it, again. In his time the risky motorcycle department, was where more officers than any other section were killed and injured on duty and were without exception, men. He was taken aback to now see this very attractive girl, aged in her twenties with blonde hair and makeup standing before him.
Breaking the silence, he said, “Officer, do you know me?”
“I have heard of you, in the parade room,” she replied.
Clearly what had been said and now his opening gambit had not given her the best impression of him.
“Officer, over the coming days and possibly a week or so I will require the service of a fast motorcyclist, I hope you carry panniers still on your machines.”
“I am and we do,” she responded.
“It will be journeys to and from the Lab in Birmingham so if you do not already know it I suggest you research the route.”
“We have satellite navigation," she replied, abruptly.
He had not thought of that, of course he himself had such a device but still had no idea how to use it. Anne always coded in the destinations and looked at it on the journey. Even she, a loyal wife, thought it better he should not take his eyes off the road to view the screen.
“There is another thing, please excuse me for saying but regretfully in view of events thus far, it does have to be said.
She remained passive and silent, waiting for him to finish his spiel.
“Confidentiality officer," he replied. “It is of the most vital importance officer, I cannot over emphasise this point.”
“I understand. I have signed the Official Secrets Act declaration the same as all other officers, including your good self I suspect,” she replied.
“Well thank you officer, oh your name please.”
“George Turner,” came the reply.
Jack nodded and replied, “Thank you officer that is all for now, oh my name, I forgot to tell you, I am Mr Richards.”
She turned and left, leaving him alone, they both had views going through their minds.
She thought, “What a miserable bigoted old bugger he is, Mr Richards indeed, what Joanne Watkiss sees in him as the master detective I do not know. Christ, what must it have been like to be a woman cop in his day?”
He, on the other hand thought, “George, eh, probably short for Georgina, still one never knew there days, cross dressing and crossed sexing was now not uncommon. Gay relationships were no longer punishable by life imprisonment as it was when he joined the police. Still, a woman and therefore not a Freemason that was all to the good. So often in these cases those in the higher sphere of society were often lodge members and thus security was always a problem, one brother was always prepared to assist another, even coppers, lawyers and doctors.
He had one final task before settling in to complete the review. He picked up the telephone and rang the Chester High Court. An enquiry as who the judge was sitting to hear the case of Regina Vs Gittins and Gittins revealed it was Lord Justice Stevens; the case was listed for at least one week. Other mundane matters during this period would be heard before Her Honour Edwina Cunningham.
He made a note and sat back, thinking of the main points he considered to be in contention or not fully brought out. The trial would soon come around there would be no time to waste.
The following morning Jack arrived at nine and his first call was to the office of Hayes. An inquiry with his secretary revealed he would not be free to see Richards today as he was booked out to visit two clients currently in custody at Shrewsbury. Jack seized on this faltering news immediately, this fitted in nicely with his own plans.
“Please contact Mr Hayes and inform him Jack Richards would like to interview his two clients Gittins and Gittins to clear up points of ambiguity. Today would be ideal, if he would agree to me attending. If you might just confirm he will agree to this and the time of the interview.”
The call ended but there was to be bad news. He could hear footsteps coming along the corridor and in only a moment Doris Scott-Ling appeared.
“Good morning Mr Richards, bad news I am afraid. You will have heard of the recent terrorist upgrade. Unfortunately, as the Gittins case is to all intents and purposes completed, Miss Watkiss being under pressure from the Commissioner so has placed all available officers on standby in case we are needed. I am one and so I will not be able to assist you, at least for several days. The second bad news is that the case is listed to commence in two weeks.”
She could see his face drop and could read his thoughts, “How he wished he was still a serving officer and he could get on with it himself.”
She smiled now coming back with good news, “The good news is that the Chief has instructed a replacement officer to assist you. Ah, just a minute I can hear footsteps; it will be the officer now. I did speak before I left Chester nick.”
In a moment before Jack had time to answer, the figure of motor cyclist George Turner arrived.
“You have both met I believe, George is the officer who has been directed to assist you Mr Richards, I have updated her.”
Clearly from her expression, he was as pleased as she appeared to be. Doris smiled, turned and left the new team to, as she would say, “get on with it.”
George would have said, “Put up with it.”
Jack on the other hand would have said, “Make the best of it.”
The telephone rang again, he answered, it was Hayes secretary confirming Ron and Kyle Gittins would be available for interview, after Hayes had taken his further instructions. The call concluded with the fact that the interview would take place at a rather unusual venue, Shrewsbury General Hospital.
Jack instantly guessed the reason. These two as anticipated had been attacked by fellow prisoners.
“Right officer,” he said, “I will get my things together, you return to your place of residence and change into civilian clothes, we have to visit a hospital it will be more suited for you not to be in uniform.”
She nodded but did not speak though he did.
“If you might return within the hour and of course bring your warrant card.”
She was gone, he smiled as he could see from her expression she still had not taken to him, nevertheless, duty was duty she would have to be like him, “keep mum,” as they said and get on with it.
They eventually arrived at the hospital, having paid what Jack considered to be an extortionate parking fee then finally arrived at the enquiry desk. An officer from security arrived and after seeing the warrant card of George he led the visitors along the various corridors finally coming to a halt on the other side of the hospital. In the corridor were four uniform prison officers’ male and female acting as escorts for the prisoners Ron and Kyle.
Warrant card again produced and checked, the door into Ward 4B, a side ward with only two beds was opened and the investigators entered.
Jack stopped in his tracks at what he was confronted with. He had seen many attacks from prison victimisation but Kyle and Ron had really suffered more than most.
Poor Kyle had two very long scars held with sutures. Both were the full length of the side of her face and had clearly been very deep.
Ron was badly burned, the whole of his face had been scalded, the hair at the top of his head burned away.
Clearly both victims would be badly scarred for life as a result of the attack upon them.
Hayes updated the duo as to what had occurred to his clients. Jack then offering his sympathy. He then introduced himself and George who said.
“I have to remind you both that you are still under caution. Our intention visiting you here today is to go through the questions and answers you have given previously and also to read over the statements you made to Mr Hayes. If there is anything else you wish to tell us please do so, otherwise as you have been charged we cannot put
further questions to you as such. There is however some ambiguity that we would wish to clear up with you.”
They nodded and Hayes commented, “Mr Richards has a reputation of being thorough and he does have an incredible record of conviction rate but in fairness he does investigate and give his evidence in an impartial manner. This is why I have agreed to the interview. Please, Mr Richards clear up the points you wish to clarify.”
Jack commenced, “You say you had no idea in advance that you would be left money from any of the victims. Do you stick to this story? I do however warn you that I have other enquiries to make and therefore if you now wish to change what you have said previously, this is an opportunity to do so.”
Both could say nothing further other than agree to that what they had previously stated was the truth and what they would present to the court in their defence.
Jack hesitated, then said, “there is just one other matter now let me see. Sorry about this I must get this question accurate so I will need to refer to my notes. He rummaged in his briefcase and finally produced the paper.
Hayes interceded, “please Mr Richards may I please see that?”
“By all means,” replied Richards, “if you will read and then permit your clients an opportunity to answer I would be very grateful.”
He read it and then handed to each of his clients. They in turn read it.
Richards came in again, “This seemingly straight forward question is I can assure you very important. Again I must warn you this might well be your last opportunity to answer before you stand before the jury.”
Hayes again interceded. “ Mr Richards I think I would like to take further instructions upon this and advise my clients. I suggest that they be given an opportunity to consider this and I will respond to you in due course in writing.”
“Thank you Mr Hayes," said Jack, “In that case to quote a phrase, these proceedings are now closed. I wish you both a speedy recovery.”
He stood, collected his papers and in moments both he and George were gone.
When outside George made her first comment, “Did you see the look on their faces, they were taken aback you had put that to them. In my view you might well have pulled the rug from underneath them. Clearly if they had nothing to hide they would have answered immediately.”
Jack failed to respond save to say, “We must get on, time is short. I think we should return to our office for lunch then see where our enquiries take us.”
Lunch taken, Jack and his new and not so keen assistant who had changed back into uniform but minus her crash helmet and breeches for a pair of regulation trousers.
The remainder of the day and part of the next was spent re-interviewing the families of the deceased, systematically going through the circumstances surrounding the deaths of their loved ones and of course the relationship they had with those charged with the subsequent murders. The leaving of the money to the them, in the Wills was a facet not overlooked. He methodically covered the repeated aspects, he could see the look of boredom on the face of George even a sigh, as one question after another simply covered the same points.
When it came to the witness, solicitor Gordon Rochester, as far as George could ascertain they had learned nothing. The case remained as strong as ever against the Gittins Couple. In addition she had a feeling of a smirk that this so called famous detective had discovered nothing that Doris and Kinsella had missed. Perhaps the chit-chat that he was a dinosaur from a by gone age was correct, it appeared that way at any rate as they finally arrived at the office of Rochester.
George was unable to decide if it would be better if she learned something new or that it was all a waste of time and she could get back to her machine. One thing for certain was that this brief encounter with the master investigator had put her off ever applying to become a detective, a dog handler at some time in the future, perhaps, a detective and this boring lot, never.
Arriving at Jordan’s` office he was at the counter speaking with his secretary and so on seeing Jack arrive he turned and looked, when about to speak he glanced at George, the smirk on his face dropped off.
He recognised her immediately and she him, he had recently been booked for speeding and she was the very energetic officer responsible for booking him, as he had referred to her at the time.
The atmosphere was reciprocate by George who also recognised him for his obnoxious comments about women police officers and their apparent ability to read a speedometer and check a speed for a mile at 80 miles per hour.
Jack looked and saw the staring between them; he opted to say nothing save, “Mr Rochester if I might just have a moment of your time. It is just a matter of clearing up a point or two of ambiguity in the Gittins and Gittins cases.”
Rochester now changed his attitude, “You had better come in”
Realising it was not prudent to comply with the normal introductory formalities Richards failed to introduce George but waded in immediately to the matter in hand. He read through the statement made and the facts it contained. Particular emphasis was made on the relationship he had had with all the families concerned over the many years.
He covered the relationship and goodwill between each of the accused and the deceased. Rochester confirmed that he knew both of the accused. Kyle he knew was visiting as a trained nurse but of course he had not actually witnessed her during a visit as one might expect.
He added that all those who had tragically died had spoken well and given Kyle the highest praise. As for Ron, it was a slightly different matter. Rochester had in fact seen Ron at the addresses when he had visited taking various instructions. Again as in the case of Kyle he confirmed the clients all spoke very well and his work as a gardener had gone unsurpassed.
This in fact all added up to the fact that Rochester unlike the relatives was not at all surprised that the clients had returned the kindness and good deeds of the Gittins couple. He added that if the truth was told, especially as they were not present some of the relatives could well have done more to assist their benefactors. The amount of money they had each been left around £200,000 in most cases it was chicken feed what the nurse and the gardener had received £10,000 each for what they had done.
It was however with sadness, he said, that evil had come to minds and hearts of the couple in not waiting until their benefactors had died. The obvious reason being of course that Kyle was planning to retire at sixty to join Ron who had retired the few years before at fifty five and the couple had planned to spend their lives in a warmer climate. Jack had nodded but did not verbally respond, he did however make a note of the various points at the side of the type statement made previously.
Rochester had confirmed as the other witnesses had done there was no–one they could suggest who might have wished to see the victims dead. It was in fact, illogical to even consider any other suspect.
Various questions were asked concerning the wills of the deceased, all technical items, George thought, the only benefactors had been relatives with small items from the house save for the next of kin who had received the massive amount. This all revealing nothing additional to what was already recorded.
Rochester produced a copy of the wills which Jack took even though copies were already on the file. He glanced at them confirming they were identical.
The interview now concluded, Rochester stood and said, “I have an appointment with Mr Scott-Ling. We represent the company, Mr and Mrs Scott-Ling are the family of a colleague of yours, officer,” indicating his remark to George. “A very intelligent officer, did a fine job in public relations, yes a worthy officer.”
A clear remark aimed at her, she failed to respond but could have said,” Drive without a shoe on your right foot next time or you will get another ticket.”
“I must get off Mr Richards,” he said as he put on his overcoat over his very nice suit, “If I can assist further please do not hesitate to contact me.”
The proceedings concluded they went their separate ways.
; Arriving back in the office George excused herself and went downstairs, Jack could hear her speaking with Sergeant Ted Large and a group of schoolchildren. From what he could hear Jack ascertained she was describing in detail the police motorcycles and the duties of a motorcyclist. The machines were retained in the museum down stairs for such visits. Clearly he could see that traffic duty was to be her forte and not serious crime, a sign of the times, he thought.
He opened the computer and then continued his mundane, work, typing that which would be needed to continue the enquiry. He did venture to smile on completion that one of the duties to follow would test his now assistant a little.
George arrived back to see Jack standing, hat and coat on, clearly waiting. He was gazing out of the window onto the busy street below.
“If you are ready we should be off,” he said.
The Judas Murders Page 19