‘It was awful. Really awful. It wasn’t till I got back here it really hit me. I think I’ve cried solidly since then.’
‘Here’s the tea,’ Marie announced as she came in carrying a tray. ‘Do you want some Daphne?’
‘Please.’
She poured out four mugs and handed them round.
‘Hope it’s strong enough.’
‘Lovely. Thanks love.’ He was looking much older, Marie thought. He must be grieving badly. They all sat round sipping their tea and looking somewhat nervous. ‘What have they told you?’ he asked eventually.
‘Not a lot. She was strangled and put into her locker. We all have a locker in a staff changing room. There’s a small room they use for Christmas with two or three lockers in there. They have taller ones there so the clothes can be hung up. Otherwise, they’d never have got her into it.’ Marie was blabbing on and in Daphne’s mind, saying all the wrong things to the grieving parents. She caught sight of Daphne’s face and stopped talking. ‘Sorry but you did ask.’
‘That’s all right. Thanks for telling us. We do understand how difficult a time you must be having.’
‘She was still wearing her elf outfit wasn’t she?’ Mrs Bennett seemed to want to join in with the conversation.
‘Yes indeed. Evidently there was a bit of the green fabric sticking out. That’s how she was discovered. All very sad and tragic.’
‘I suppose you’ll be wondering about this flat. We shan’t be doing anything about it for a while so you can stay here till we decide what to do with it.’ Mr Bennett could see the relief on the girls faces. ‘No increase in rent of course but we’d rather you didn’t let Julie’s room. Leave it as it is please. We’ll come down and sort it out sometime. I don’t think my wife is up to it yet.’ She shook her head and muttered something about ghosts of the past.
‘Right, well we’ll get back to our hotel. Come on love. Bye then. We’ll let you know about the funeral when her b...body is released.’
‘Thank you Mr Bennett. Mrs Bennett. I hope ...’ she broke off. She didn’t know what to say. They left and drove away. The two girls went back inside and locked the door.
Chapter Three
It was now Friday. A somewhat half-hearted Jimmy North went to work and donned his Santa outfit. They’d been given a new changing area while the first one was taped off. A new elf had been found. It was exactly two weeks to go till Christmas. He knew he’d be exhausted by then, working every single day, even Sundays. The shop was open on Sundays which meant they’d all be working much longer hours. The sale was due to start in a week’s time so that would mean an absolute scrum beginning. On the other hand, he’d possibly be less busy then. The pay was always the same, however many customers he got.
‘Hallo. Is this where I come to change?’ asked the young girl who was to replace Julie.’
‘That’s right love. What’s your name?’
‘Matti. It’s really Mathilda but I hate that name. Can’t think what my parents were thinking when they called me that.’
‘Right. Matti it is. I’m Jimmy but you can call me Santa!’ he said with a laugh. ‘You will take care won’t you? I hope you’re not superstitious about it.’
‘What the other girl getting bumped off? Course not. I’m glad of the money, to be truthful. My dad works down in the goods reception area and he saw the job advertised on the notice board. He phoned me right away and I came in and got the job. Right, well we’d better get going hadn’t we?’
‘Oh yes. I suppose you’re waiting to change. I’ll wait outside for you.’
‘Thanks. It’s a bit of tight costume so I can’t wear much underneath. Oh don’t worry. It’s a new outfit. I couldn’t wear the other girls things. Won’t be long.’ Soon she came out clad in a new green outfit with a little cap hiding her hair. ‘How do I look?’ she asked giving a little twirl.
‘Fine love. Come on then. I’ll show you where you’ll be working. I suppose you’ve been told what you have to do?’
‘Yes, they made it quite clear. I collect the tickets and see the customers into lines and then show them in to you. Then if they want their pictures took, it’s up to me to take them. That it?’
‘Just about. The camera is usually left beside me on the chair. I say, you’re sure you’re not worried about being my elf are you?’
‘Like I said? The last girl got done in but I’m not her.’
‘Well, no, I know you’re not.’
‘Nah. I’ll be fine. Anyone tries anything with me, well I’ll get ‘em somehow. Poke them in the eyes, maybe.’
‘Good girl. Stay on the alert and you’ll be fine.’
‘No worries. You ready to face the mob then?’
They walked out of the changing room and went to the grotto. There were one or two people waiting but nothing like the numbers there had been previously.
‘Good morning,’ Santa remarked cheerfully.
‘Oh so you are open again,’ said the first person in the queue. ‘Only we came yesterday and you weren’t here.’
‘I’m sorry but thank you for not giving up on us. We had a few problems yesterday. I’ll just get ready and my little elf will show you in.’ He went into the grotto and settled himself down in his giant armchair. The sack of presents was by his side and the camera tucked away beside him. The elf came in and he nodded. ‘Send them in.’ His day had begun. It was actually a quiet day with few customers. At one point he found himself nodding off and the elf came in and woke him.
‘Don’t you go falling asleep on me. You’re as bad as me dad. Put the tele on in an evening and he’s away with the fairies. And he snores. Terrible it is. We can’t even hear Corrie. I like Corrie, don’t you?’
‘I’m not sure. What is it?’
‘Coronation Street.’
‘Oh. Yes I do watch that. It’s good. I should imagine it’s pretty accurate for that area.’
‘Maybe. I just like the stories. So does my Mum. Oh, I think your next customer is here. Hallo love. You come to see Santa?’
The little girl nodded and stuck her thumb in her mouth firmly. Everything Santa tried would not dislodge it. He asked what she wanted him to bring her for Christmas: he talked about his reindeer: he asked if she wanted to sit on his big chair with him: he asked if she wanted a photograph. He met with a blank stare every question. He looked at her mother in desperation.
‘She doesn’t like men with beards,’ was her only explanation.
Why on earth did she bring her to see him then? he was thinking.
‘Would you like to stroke my beard?’ he asked her. ‘It’s very soft like your cat at home.’
A small hand came out and touched his beard. ‘There. Do you see what I mean?’ he said with considerable relief.
‘I want a dolly with a pink dress, a set of Lego, some books, some chocolate, a blackboard and some chalks and a CD of all the best pop bands. Thank you,’ the child said, almost without taking a breath.
‘I see. I hope I can remember all of those things,’ he remarked.
‘Can I sit by you and have a picture taken?’ He looked at her mother who nodded in amazement. She climbed up beside him and sat smiling. The elf came and took a picture.
‘You have to go to the counter where you got your tickets and they’ll print it for you’ she informed them.
‘Thank you very much. Come on now dear. Someone else might be waiting.’
‘Can I stroke your beard again?’ the child asked.
‘Go on then. It’s nice isn’t it?’
‘I like it. I’m going to have a beard like yours when I’m a grown up.’
‘Well good luck with that,’ Santa told her with a grin.
‘Byeee,’ she said, leaving him smiling at the thought of her getting a beard like his.
The day wore on without any more incidents. He’d half expected the police to be round again but there was no sign of anyone coming. Miss Pringle came to make sure he was still there before lunch and to check up on t
he new elf.
‘Everything all right with you?’ she demanded in a rather imperious voice.
‘I’m still here. No-one’s tried to bump me off yet,’ replied Matti rather cheekily, Miss Pringle thought. She gave a sniff and went back to her office.
The elf went into the grotto and told Jimmy he’d got another break from the stream of customers. He was somewhat puzzled as he was usually kept busy from opening time.
‘Must be cos I was absent yesterday.’
‘What exactly happened? I mean when the other girl was bumped off,’ Matti asked.
‘I don’t really know. It was nearly the end of the day. We’d been pretty busy and when someone asked for a photo, she’d gone missing. I just assumed she’d gone home early. Thought it was a bit odd she’d gone without saying goodbye but it was the end of the day. It was the next morning I saw a bit of her costume sticking out of her locker and I opened it and saw her there. It was awful. Proper upset me it did. She was such a nice kid.’ He sat shaking his head for a while.
‘Don’t worry. Nobody’s going to bump me off.’ She smiled confidently.
‘I hope you’re right.’
*
An incident room had been set up at the police station. Already there was a board with pictures of various people, their names written underneath them. Ray Jones was looking at it thoughtfully. His Sergeant crossed the room and stood beside him.
‘Who are you thinking might have done it?’ he asked.
‘Dunno. Kevin Riley looks a likely suspect. In fact the most likely we’ve seen, so far. We need to see him again. Let’s get him brought in here. I don’t fancy visiting Riley Towers again, not with his mother hanging around.’
‘I quite agree. Shall I ask someone to collect him?’
‘Leave it for now. I need to think a bit longer. No, get someone to collect him. I’ll see him later.’ He sat down in a chair and pondered. He felt puzzled about the whole business. It seemed so senseless, unless the girl who played the elf had a past that none of them knew about. He thought about her. She did seem more like a child than a twenty-two year old woman. She was very small, hence her job as the elf. She had a rough boyfriend who said he hadn’t seen her that evening but was he trustworthy?
‘Sir shall we make a move?’ Ted asked.
‘Yes. Let’s get Kevin in and see what he’s got to say for himself. Send the chaps to collect him.’
‘Right you are sir.’ He went to call the patrol officers.
They went into the interview room when Kevin arrived. He was grumpy and very defensive.
‘Dunno why I’m in ‘ere. I di’n’t do nuffink. Honest I di’n’t.’
‘All right. Can you give me an account of where you were on Wednesday afternoon. From, say three o’clock.’
‘I dunno. I ‘spect I was at ’ome. ‘Ave to ‘elp me Ma wiv the little uns. Me little bruver’s got summat wrong wiv ‘im. Needs ‘elp for everyfink. She’s got the babby too. And she expectin’ again.’
‘That all sounds very difficult,’ said Ray, somewhat horror struck by the way these people lived. He knew it was a dodgy area but it seemed like everything had landed on them that possibly could. ‘So where was your brother yesterday? I didn’t see him when we called round.’
‘’E was in ‘is bed. He sleeps a lot of the time.’
‘I see. You only think you were at home helping your Mum. Is that right?’
‘’Ow am I s’posed to know where I am every minute of the day?’
‘It’s perfectly simple. You must know what you were doing during the afternoon. You sure you weren’t at Foredyce’s Store?’
‘Course not. Like I said yesterday, it’s too posh for me.’
‘But you could have slipped in and found the grotto and I’m sure Julie would have come with you into the changing room. You could have murdered her and stuffed her in her locker. It would only have taken minutes.’
‘I dunno why you’re tryin’ to pin it on me. I ain’t done nuffink. Like I said, nuffink. You’re not gonna put it on me.’
‘I’m trying to get to the truth, Kevin. I’m not interested in pinning anything anywhere, except on the guilty party.’
‘Thass all right then.’
‘Now, I’m going to ask you again. Where were you on Wednesday afternoon?’
‘I was out wiv friends.’
‘And which friends were they?’
‘Joe and Alfie.’
‘Bit more please.’
‘How d’ya mean?’
‘Their surnames. We need to speak to them for confirmation of what you’ve told us.’
‘Dunno. Jus’ some blokes wot I know from the pub.’
‘Give me strength,’ sighed Ray. ‘Okay. Which pub?’
‘Several. Don’ always go to the same boozer.’
‘So which one did you go to, to meet your friends?’
‘Don’ remember.’
‘If you can’t corroborate your story, then we’ll have to arrest you, I’m afraid.’
‘Ya can’t do that.’
‘Oh but we can. Kevin Riley, I’m arresting ...’
‘Okay. I was out wiv my frens, like I say. We was out nickin’.’
‘And what exactly was ... were you nicking?’
‘Mobile phones and stuff.’
‘I see. And what have you done with them?’
‘Sold ‘em to a mate.’
A whole new line of investigations was opening up now. Ray felt weary and decided to put him in the cells till later. Maybe he could get someone else to interview him about his mobile phone business. For now, it seemed he was innocent of murder. That particular investigation was about to start over again.
There was a knock at the door of the interview room.
‘Come in,’ Ray called. ‘What is it?’
A constable came in.
‘Sorry to bother you sir. I need a word. If you could just step outside for a moment.’
‘Okay. Take him down to the cells. I’ll leave him to think about his misdeeds for a while. Now, what is it constable?’
‘We’ve just picked up two lads with a collection of mobile phones. They claim Kevin Riley was with them on Wednesday when they went on their nicking spree.’
‘Okay. Thanks. Can you put them in separate interview rooms and see what you can get out of them. I wish you luck with it. Interviewing Kevin was a nightmare. I need to gain some strength before I see him again.’
‘Right. Thanks for that,’ the constable said sarcastically. ‘I’ll get someone else to interview the second lad. Honestly, what do they think they’re doing? Must be mad. No-one makes much out of cell phones these days.’
‘Maybe not but it’s something we need to stop. Right. I’m going back to the store. You come too, Sergeant. I want to interview some more of the staff.’
*
Foredyce’s was a large independent chain store, situated in a good part of Brixeter. The owners had received a number of offers for the site but they had held on, believing they were somehow essential to the town. Their Christmas festivities were well known in the area, especially the Christmas Grotto. Jimmy North had been hired to play Santa for the past ten years, from the end of November, through to Christmas Eve.
The store had the advantage of a large car park with a clever system of free parking for those who shopped in the store and rather extortionate fees payable for those who merely used it to park near the centre of town. It was largely owned by a family who had been members of the board for over a hundred years and often, they didn’t seem to have changed much for most of that time. There was a distinct air of something rather old fashioned about the place.
Ray and his sergeant walked in through the main doors. He looked around, trying to decide who to tackle first.
‘I think maybe we should go to HR. Miss Pringle will sort out the various members of staff for us. Come on. Upstairs.’ He was looking around him as he went. There were large displays of decorations hanging down from the top of t
he stairs, huge balls in silver and gold with trails of something metallic between them.
‘Pretty, aren’t they?’ said Ted.
‘If you like that sort of thing. I’m happy with a small tree and a few fairy lights myself.’
‘Yer, but the kids expect a bit more don’t they?’
‘I suppose so. I don’t have any kids myself, thank the lord. Mind you, not having a wife helps.’ He looked away, remembering his wife who had died some years ago. Ted looked slightly awkward. He spoke again.
‘So what do you do with yourself at Christmas?’
‘Me? I usually settle down with a bottle of single malt and a good book. Unless I’m called out of course.’
‘How sad are you? I’ll have a word with the wife. Maybe you could join us for dinner at least.’
‘Kind of you but I don’t think so. Now, I think this is the office we want.’ He knocked at the door and opened it before he heard anyone say come in. ‘Miss Pringle? Good morning. Detective Chief Inspector Ray Jones. And this is my Detective Sergeant, Ted Wilkes.’
‘I know exactly who you are, thank you. How can I help?’ She looked nervous they both thought.
‘Do you have a complete list of all your staff? I really need to see it.’
‘Goodness me. It’s a huge list, if you include all the temporary staff, especially at this time of year. We take on lots of extra folk for the Christmas rush. I don’t think I actually have a list of the sort you’re wanting.’
‘I think you possibly do. If not, perhaps you could make me one. Meantime, I’ll go and speak to some of the staff. Is there somewhere I could use to interview people?’
‘You can use one of the offices. Leave it with me and I’ll find you somewhere. Come back later today and I’ll be ready for you.’
‘I’m sorry but I’m here now.’
‘Oh very well. Give me a minute and I’ll see what I can do. I’ll print off one of my lists but it won’t have everyone on there.’ She pressed various buttons on her machine and a printer buzzed into life and soon pushed out a string of sheets of paper. She picked up the phone and asked if someone was in today. ‘Thanks,’ she said into the phone. ‘Two policemen will be along soon.’ She sounded rather derogatory when she used the word policemen. She handed them the sheets from the printer and sent the two men along to the appointed office.
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