Christmas Killing

by Chrissie Loveday

  ‘Whatever else could happen?’

  ‘That I do not know. But Miss Pringle would never forgive us. It’s the highlight of the year for her.’

  ‘You’re probably right.’

  ‘I’d better go back home now or I’ll be in trouble. The in-laws are over for Sunday lunch.’

  ‘Good luck buddy boy.’

  ‘Thanks. I’ll need it.’

  Chapter Eight

  The two detectives went back to the station soon after the Board Meeting broke up.

  ‘We still need to interview the delightful Kevin. Not an interview I relish very much.’

  ‘Let’s hope he’s a bit more amenable today. Do you think he could have done it? Either of the murders?’

  ‘I did think he was in the clear but now I’m not so sure. He doesn’t have an alibi now we know he definitely wasn’t nicking phones with his mates. He may have insisted he’d never visited this store but I somehow doubt that. I bet he did come to see where his girlfriend worked.’

  ‘Let’s get him into the interview room. See what he has to say.’ Ted went off to collect Kevin and Ray went to the interview room.

  ‘Sit down over there,’ Ray told him. ‘Interview started at two-fifteen, Sunday, thirteenth December, twenty fifteen. Detective Sergeant Ted Wilkes and Detective Chief Inspector Ray Jones present along with, give your name please.’

  ‘Kevin. Kevin Riley.’

  ‘Now then Kevin. Where were you on Wednesday afternoon. That is, December ninth.’ He looked away. ‘Come on. You said you were with your mates, nicking phones. You weren’t though, were you?’

  ‘If you say so.’

  ‘So, where were you?’

  ‘At ‘ome. Me Mum’ll say I was.’

  ‘Yes, I’m sure she would. Especially if you primed her to.’

  ‘Whatcha mean?’

  ‘Never mind. Come on now. Tell me where you were.’

  ‘No comment.’

  ‘Don’t start that line with me. I shall get very angry.’

  ‘No comment.’

  ‘Do you really want a solicitor? This is serious case, you realise.’

  ‘No co... yea. All right. Get me one.’

  ‘Do you know who is the duty solicitor?’ he asked Ted.

  ‘I’ll go and ask. It might take him a while to get here.’

  ‘In that case, I’m stopping this interview. Interview suspended at two-thirty-five.’ This was for the benefit of the recording machines.

  Ted went along to the desk to ask for a solicitor.

  ‘I’ll call him now. It’ll take half an hour or so before he’ll get here. Who’s it for?’

  ‘Kevin Riley.’

  ‘Oh dear. Does that mean he’s guilty?’

  ‘I really don’t know. Maybe. Maybe he’s just getting a bit scared.’

  The officer’s phone rang. He answered it and called Ted back.

  ‘Will you speak to Kevin’s brother? He sounds rather upset. His name’s Malcolm.’

  ‘Okay. Give me the phone. Hallo? Mr Riley? This is Detective Sergeant Wilkes. How can I help?’

  ‘Have you still got my brother there?’

  ‘Well, yes.’

  ‘Can I speak to him?’

  ‘I’m sorry but no. He’s under investigation at this moment.’

  ‘I’ll under investigate him. Little bastard. He’s left my place in a tip and has drunk most of what was left in the place.’ Ted gave a grin.

  ‘I understand your anguish sir. We had to collect him from your house this morning. He was there with a group of friends.’

  ‘Friends be damned. I’ll bloody kill him. When can I see him?’

  ‘I’m not sure sir. It depends on whether we charge him or not.’

  ‘When will you know?’

  ‘I’m not sure, sir. We can give you a call when we’ve finished with him. Later this evening, if that helps.’

  ‘I suppose so. My number is 07932 687045.’ Ted wrote it down.

  ‘Right you are sir.’

  ‘Thanks. Tell him I’m not ‘appy with him. Tell ‘im that. Little bastard.’

  ‘Right sir. Thanks for your call.’

  ‘Yer. Right,’ he said as he hung up the phone.

  Ted went back into the interview room, where Ray and Kevin were sitting in stony silence.

  ‘The solicitor will be here in half an hour or so. Shall we take him back to his cell, sir?’

  ‘Might as well.’

  ‘Oh yes, your brother rang.’ A look of alarm crossed his face. ‘He’s very annoyed with you. He says you drank all his beer and generally made a mess.’

  ‘Yer, well that was your fault. If you ‘adn’t turned up and dragged me out, I’d have cleared up and he’d never ‘ave known. I’d probably have bought some more beer too.’

  ‘That’s right sonny, put the blame on someone else. I suppose it was down to us that you called your mates round in the first place was it? Come on. Back to your cell.’

  ‘It’s perishin’ cold in there. Can I ‘ave a blanket? An’ I need the bog.’

  ‘Yes, well you can go in there. Can you get him a blanket Ted?’

  The Detective Sergeant nodded as he escorted Kevin back to his cell. He picked up a blanket from the store cupboard and handed it to him.

  ‘A thank you wouldn’t go amiss.’ The young man scowled at him and turned his back. Ted locked the door of the cell and went back to the staff room. ‘So, what do you think Gov?’ he asked.

  ‘I don’t know. I’m not sure he’s capable of actually killing anyone. I think the fact he’s asked for a solicitor is just delaying tactics rather than guilt.’

  ‘Maybe. But who else could be guilty?’

  ‘I really don’t know. Perhaps there’s someone else we haven’t yet spoken to. My theory of someone who was sacked and wanted to damage the business of Foredyce’s, might carry some weight. We’ll go and see Miss Pringle again. She’s sure to know. That name ... Pringle. Drives me nuts. I used to have a teacher called Pringle at primary school. I wonder if she’s related? She could be. Same narrow little mouth and same sort of attitude to life.’

  ‘Couldn’t be her daughter if she was a Miss,’ Ted announced with a smile.

  ‘She was Mrs Pringle. Shouldn’t think she’s still alive. Perhaps I’ll ask our Miss P when we see her again. Now where’s this damned solicitor?’

  A couple of hours later, the solicitor convinced them that they didn’t have enough evidence to charge Kevin and so they were forced to let him go.

  ‘Your brother wants to see you,’ Ted informed him. ‘I said I’d ring him when you were ready to go.’

  ‘Don’ bovver. I don’ wanna see ‘im.’ He pulled up his hood and disappeared through the door and scuttled off down the street.

  ‘Back to square one,’ Ted said.

  ‘You get off now Ted. Spend some time with your family. I’ll stay on for a while and re-read the details of what we know so far.’

  ‘That shouldn’t take you long. Bugger all seems to be about it.’

  ‘Go on with you. Night.’

  There was only a skeleton staff on duty on this cold winter’s evening. Ray shivered and went to make himself a coffee. He sat down at his desk and looked at the pile of papers. The interviews conducted by the staff and those he and Ted had done. He read the report from Jimmy North’s off-spring and saw nothing suspicious. No contacts and no reason he’d been chosen by the murderer. There was nothing much to indicate anyone in particular. He hesitated over the two girls who shared Julie’s flat. Daphne had seemed very upset, while Marie had taken it all much more calmly. Did this indicate anything? He pushed the records aside. He was clutching at straws. It was somewhat disconcerting to think about. An hour later and no further forward, he rose from his desk, switched off the light and left his office. He didn’t want to go home to an empty flat and took himself to the local pub. There he met up with one of his colleagues from the uniform department and went to sit with him.

  ‘You on
your own too?’ he asked.

  ‘The wife’s gone to visit her parents. She’ll be back tomorrow but I thought I might as well come and get a bite to eat here. Don’t see much of you these days, now you’re upstairs among the gods.’

  ‘Hardly up with the gods. How’s it going in your world?’

  ‘Oh nothing out of the ordinary. But you, well you’ve got two murders haven’t you?’

  ‘Two murders and no suspects. There must be about fifty folks working in the store and every one of them has got an alibi.’

  ‘Go on with you. There must be one who’s under suspicion. Haven’t you got a nice butler of someone who could have done it?’

  ‘No butlers, I’m afraid.’

  ‘Oh dear. I’ll go and grab a couple of menus, shall I?’

  ‘Thanks. And get us a couple of halves while you’re there. Here you are,’ he said pulling out a fiver and handing it to his friend.

  ‘I’ll get them.’

  ‘No, it’s all right. Here, take this.’ He came back moments later and plonked down the beer.

  ‘Think I’ll go for a steak pie. Haven’t really eaten much today. In fact, come to think about it, I rarely do eat very much. It’ll be nice to have a decent meal.’

  ‘Think I’ll join you.’

  ‘I’ll go and order, shall I?’ He went to the bar and ordered two pies.

  ‘Chips or new potatoes?’ asked the barman.

  ‘Chips on both please.’

  ‘Right you are. It’ll take a few minutes.’

  ‘Okay. We’re over there.’

  ‘Not a problem.’

  ‘It’ll be a while,’ Ray told his colleague as he sat down again. ‘Oh, I ordered chips with the pie. Hope that’s ok?’

  ‘Sounds perfect. I’m not allowed chips at home so it’ll be an extra treat. Do you want to tell me about your case? Might help to talk it through with an outsider. Well, one who’s sort of in the ring.’

  ‘Not a lot I can say. The main suspect we’ve just had to let go. Nothing to keep him there. Evidencewise, anyway. God I hate those sort of terms. What am I doing using them?’

  ‘Nobody from the store and what about flatmates or family?’

  ‘Not really. It’s bugging me. In the words of the late Santa, who’d want to kill an elf? And now he’s gone too.’

  ‘Sounds like someone doesn’t like Christmas very much. Or wants to get at Foredyce’s.’

  They chatted on for a while and talked about anything but the case.

  ‘Oh, here comes our food. My, that looks wonderful,’ he exclaimed as the waitress brought two large plates and set them down before the two men.

  ‘Cutlery’s over on the side and salt and pepper and stuff.’

  ‘Thanks. I’ll go and get some.’

  ‘So, no wife at home waiting for you?’ asked Charlie, the colleague.

  ‘My wife died a few years ago. Never have time to look for anyone else. Not that I’d really want anyone in my life.’

  They ate in silence for a few minutes.

  ‘You said the store you’re involved with is Foredyce’s?’

  ‘Yes, that’s right. Why?’

  ‘I was thinking back. It must be a couple of years ago now, we were investigating various nefarious goings on. Stuff had gone missing and they suspected a chap working in the ... what did they call it? ...Goods Reception or something.’

  ‘Really? It wasn’t Bert something or other?’

  ‘I think that was the name. Slightly dodgy character, or so we all thought. Nothing proved of course. He seemed to have got away with it, if he was guilty, that is.’

  ‘I interviewed him the other day. I discounted him from the murders but I’ll certainly take another look at him. Thanks for the tip off, anyway. He does seem a bit of a dodgy character.’

  ‘Not as bad as his brother. He used to work there too. Awful chap. Dickie Pryce. That’s it. Bert Pryce.’

  ‘So what happened to him?’

  ‘He was sacked. He was nicking stuff and saying it hadn’t arrived. We caught him out one day and charged him. Think he was serving time ... well I know he was. He must be out again by now, come to think about it. Blimey, how time flies. It must have been about four years ago.’

  ‘Worth following up anyway.’

  It was a reasonably companionable evening and the two arranged to meet up again after Christmas.

  ‘Right, I think I’m about done. I’ll go and pay up and then I’ll be off.’

  ‘Hang on, I’ll pay for mine. How much was it?’

  ‘Don’t worry. Your turn next time. It’s been nice chatting.’

  Ray left the pub and walked the rest of the way home. He hadn’t drunk much but it was a short journey and the cold air refreshed his tired mind. He could collect his car the next morning.

  He went home to his flat. It was his great loss when his wife had contracted breast cancer and being unwilling to seek help soon enough, she had died. He had stayed in their marital home for a few months but decided it was all too painful and he bought a reasonably modern flat and moved there. He’d been there for the past few years and was resigned to being a permanent bachelor. At least he no longer had to excuse himself for being late home.

  He poured himself a large scotch and settled down to watch some garbage on television. Needless to say, he fell asleep and woke some time later, wondering where on earth he was.

  The next morning, he went to look at the old records. The archives were kept down in the basement, where Sam Smythe looked after them meticulously.

  ‘Now, what exactly do you want?’ Sam asked.

  ‘The file you must have lurking somewhere on Dickie Pryce. He was done for stealing stuff from Foredyce’s about four years ago.’

  ‘Oh dear, now you’re asking. Four years ago you say.’ This was his usual ploy, suggesting it was a difficult, almost impossible job but he’d do his best. ‘You’re gonna wait there? It could take some time. I could send it up to you when I’ve found it, always assuming I can find it.’

  ‘Okay. Do that. I’ll be waiting.’ He left the elderly man, smiling as he went back to his own office. His next task was the morning briefing. All the officers who were working on the case were crammed into the room and he stood up and updated them on what had happened. Not very much, it seemed. Several of them gave their reports and he asked them to re-visit several of the people they had previously interviewed.

  ‘Even those we’ve completely discounted?’ asked Lisa Durrell, one of the younger officers.

  ‘Even them. We don’t seem to have anyone in our sights at present. Two murders and someone must have done the deed. Now we need to find out who. Go to it.’

  The room cleared in seconds as they all left to pursue their tasks. Ray sat at his desk, staring into space. Ted came to him with a file.

  ‘Sam said you wanted this one. Anyone we know?’

  ‘Dickie Pryce is Bert’s brother. Bert in goods reception or whatever they call it. He was sacked and served time for his crime. I was wondering if he’s desperately trying to get his own back on the company.’

  ‘Bit of a long shot but probably worth following up.’

  ‘I’ll read up his case and we’ll go and see him.’

  ‘Right. I’ll go over some of my interviews while you’re doing that.’

  For the next half hour, he read the reports on Dickie Pryce. He sounded a thoroughly bad lot from what he could make out. He and his brother had worked in the store for some years and when he was arrested, his brother got off with no more than a warning. The store kept him on with a new assistant. Since then, he seemed to have kept his nose clean. One thing that was missing was his current address. They needed to go and see Bert again to find out where he was now living.

  ‘You all right Ted?’ he asked.

  ‘Fine. Haven’t found any holes in people’s statements as yet. You want to go and interview Bert’s brother?’

  ‘Need to see Bert first. We don’t have Dickie’s current address.’r />
  They parked in what was becoming a familiar parking space. Inside the store, it was all activity. There was an argument going on outside the grotto, with several police trying to work and various store members trying to persuade them to let them into the wretched area. The little changing room was also still sectioned off and a couple of cleaners were asking to be allowed in to get the place ready for the new incumbent. Ray shook his head and left them all to it. They went down to the basement where Bert’s territory was. The whole place seemed to be piled up with boxes. A very harassed young man was desperately trying to keep some control of the flurry of stuff that was coming in.

  ‘What do you want?’ he demanded when the two policemen arrived. ‘Only I’m here on my own and we’ve got new orders pouring in. Everyone else has gone off sick with this bug they’re all getting.’

  ‘We’ve come to see Bert.’

  ‘Well tough luck. He’s off today. Typical of him. Leaves me with all this stuff to sort out and decides to have a sicky.’

  ‘Oh dear. I’m sorry to hear all that,’ said Ray consolingly. ‘Must be very difficult for you.’

  ‘Difficult? Damned near impossible. There’s another load due any minute and where the heck do I tell them to put it?’

  ‘Isn’t it a bit late to have new stuff arriving?’

  ‘Tell that to them upstairs. Stuff for the sale next week. Some bright spark bought a load of seconds, thinking they’ll make their fortunes no doubt.’

  ‘Perhaps we should leave you to it. Best of luck.’ Ray turned away and smiled at his colleague. ‘You haven’t got the worst job in the world after all.’

  ‘So you think. Are we going round to Bert’s home now then?’

  ‘I think so.’

  Chapter Nine

  Miss Pringle was undergoing a crisis. She simply could not find an elderly man who was willing to play the part of Santa. She had tried theatrical agencies, old folks homes, warden controlled housing and she was now desperate. It seemed they’d all heard about the deaths of Jimmy and his elf and were simply not willing to risk spending time in Foredyce’s. In addition, Geoffrey and Sydney were both plaguing her to let them know what was going on in the grotto area and changing room.