The Judas Murders

by Bill Williams

  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.

  “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.

  Chapter 9

  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.”