Richards failed to respond but walked on by and then climbed the stairs and disappeared. Arriving at the door he pressed in the code, it worked.
He entered the room, took off his raincoat and placed his briefcase on the desk. Leaving his hat still positioned on his head he sat and waited the arrival of Doris, who he hoped would have all the case papers.
Meanwhile, he could hear the bustle and shouting in the rooms below, clearly the school party had arrived early. He stood, walked over to the door and then changed the code in the door lock. His previous visits and experience here proved the place had to be kept secure. Large was a reputed gossip.
It was only ten minutes before he heard the thud of heavy footsteps and voices approaching.
“Good morning, Mr Richards,” it was Doris; she was accompanied by a tall handsome young man aged about nineteen years of age. Jack looked and instantly recognised the blue shoulder flashes and then he saw the words, Police Cadet. The arriving duo were laden down with files which they were clearly relieved to place on the table.
“Thank you Charles,” said Doris”
The Cadet reciprocated, “Thank you maam. Is there anything else I can assist you with?”
“Not at the moment. I will contact you if we need further assistance. Oh, I don’t think you have met Mr Jack Richards a retired detective of New Scotland Yard, recalled once again to assist the force.”
The young lad looked across at Jack with a smile and said, “I have heard of you Mr Richards, in fact you were the topic of conversation in the communications room only minutes ago.”
“Was I now?” replied Jack, “good comment I hope?”
The Cadet didn’t reply, Jack took the message.
“Why do they call you Jack the Hat?” Came the next question.
Jack lifted his finger and pointed to his trilby, “I keep this on all the time, it keeps my brains intact you see,” he said with a smile.
“Cadet, please do not be so rude, now continue your duties,” called Doris.
The young man walked away, Doris and Jack simply laughed.
“I take it Mr Richards you will now spend considerable time reviewing the papers here. I confirm everything is here, including a list of exhibits.
“Thank you Inspector, if you have other duties to attend to please feel free to do so. I would however appreciate a contact number, just in case I need to liaise with you."
She smiled and replied, “It is the same number as last time, I assume you still have it."
He nodded in confirmation.
She turned and left, he called to her, “Inspector, a moment please."
She poked her head around the corner.
“The key lock number, I have changed it. Sergeant Large remains in charge here. The contents of these files will remain highly confidential with the cases being sub-judice. I seem to recall there has already been a leak to the press, at the time of the villains arrest and arrival here I seem to recall.”
Doris nodded, then walked over, he gave her the number which she inserted into her telephone directory.
“I have a feeling from what I know from the meeting in London things could prove very awkward if there is a leak. It will be of vital importance therefore to have the tightest security. I will update you fully later today, once I have had an opportunity to peruse the files.”
With that a voice called, “Is Mr Richards there? I have his drink here.”
He recognised the voice, it was May Day the office cleaner and general assistant but also the cleaner at his own home every Saturday, one of her rest days from her full time job. She appeared to be dressed as old as him, an ancient fold over and tied apron a scarf on her head, which, when fitted was tied similar to a turban.
She walked around Doris and placed down a tray containing the drink for Jack. Lo and behold, there was a plate containing four fig biscuits, his favourites but banned at home due to him putting on weight.
“Thank you so much Mrs Day,” he said.
“A pleasure I am sure,” she replied, smiled, turned and left.
He then looked down and commenced to read the file beginning with the covering report of Doris.
“I will leave you to it, ring me if you have any queries or when you have solved the case," she replied with just a hint of sarcasm.
He failed to respond, she walked towards the door and away, “he is in deep thought” she said to herself, “He will hear nothing now.”
She was wrong of course, he had heard, a close scrutinizer would have seen his lips move in response, “bugger off, sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.”
Over the next four hours he trolled through the file, stopping occasionally to go back and recheck. He made notes on his pad as he systematically reviewed the papers.
He occasionally stopped and looked through the window at the crowds of shoppers below. They were scurrying to and fro about their business whilst he was digesting and yes, planning murder. From the facts he was reading he was as usual making every effort to get into the minds of the killers.
A knock came on the door which finally caused him to return to reality, it was Doris, “Mr Richards, it is one o’clock; you didn’t drink much of your tea, time for a break I think.”
He looked up, pushed back his hat which by tradition if not deliberate requirement he had not yet taken off.
“I was consumed by the facts Inspector. My initial reading indicates several loose ends, pointers overlooked, vital facets they are, and yes, some missed important items.”
She looked amazed and yes disappointed, she recalled how inexperienced and yes obnoxious Kinsella had been but she too had been involved and she was therefore rather disgruntled at his comments.
He could see this of course but this was after all a case of national interest and clearly of importance not only to the families but to the government it transpired.
He did however now stop and folded over the papers, then walked to the wall safe amended the code, put in the file and returned to his desk.
Turning to Doris he looked up and with a stern facial expression and said, “Inspector I must advise you now, at the outset of this review. It will be of vital importance to keep matters confidential. At no stage must any documents be left insecure. No loose tongues, I suspect there is a loose one. I want no leaks to the press as there was at the time of the arrest. Any unauthorised publication may well have serious consequences yet to come. I suspect a trace of corruption here, money for information. Please therefore ensure you secure all documents and keep the office door closed whilst in conversation, that is unless it is deemed necessary to cause a leak for our own operational purposes.”
“Really Mr Richards is it that bad?”
He failed to respond to that directly but added, “I am afraid that is the case, please be mindful of this even when updating the Chief. Just have in mind our police commissioner, he is politician and due for re-election, our press officer, a man in constant contact with the media is not I think the only who communicates with the media.”
Doris was astounded but what could she do, he was after all Jack the Hat with many more years experience than she, in fact he had taught her all she knew. He was a man of few words normally, to have made such statements, clearly he was concerned. The visit to London had left its mark. She then thought of the reports of public enquires and the consequences they could bring and so she said nothing in reply.
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 ha
d 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 oppor
tunity 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.
The Judas Murders Page 21