Taken to Die: A chilling crime thriller (DCI Danny Flint Book 4)

by Trevor Negus

As the time approached twelve thirty in the morning, Danny glanced at his watch. Just as he did so, the radio sparked into life again. ‘From PC Naylor. We have movement at the main entrance. Stand by.’

  The entire team waited.

  PC Naylor said, ‘There’s a single figure, dressed entirely in black, with a full-face ski mask. He’s loitering near the main entrance. He’s now in the cemetery and approaching Position Alpha.’

  PC Steve Grey was one of the two Special Ops officers manning the observation post nearest to Fosdyke’s grave.

  He took over the commentary: ‘From PC Grey, I’ve now got the eyeball. Suspect now at Position Alpha. He’s seen the bag but isn’t approaching it. Stand by.’

  Silence again.

  Two minutes passed by. PC Grey said, ‘He’s definitely clocking points, but has still made no move for the bag. Stand by.’

  Another minute ticked slowly by, then PC Grey said, ‘Suspect now moving back towards the main entrance. Bag is still in situ, at Position Alpha.’

  Danny said, ‘Nobody move. Hold your positions. I don’t want anybody following this person. The last thing we need is for them to get spooked now. Stand fast.’

  PC Naylor said, ‘Suspect has now left the cemetery. Direction of travel, towards Mapperley Road.’

  Danny said, ‘To PC Naylor, I want five-minute updates again, please.’

  The Special Ops team all acknowledged the instruction.

  Another hour passed slowly by, with updates being provided every five minutes.

  Suddenly, radio silence was broken. A sense of urgency in his voice, PC Naylor said, ‘PC Naylor to team. Motorcycle now approaching cemetery gates, at speed. Motorcycle into cemetery and approaching Position Alpha. Single rider, dressed entirely in black, no crash helmet visible.’

  PC Grey said, ‘I have eyeball. Motorcycle now at Position Alpha, the suspect has picked up the bag. Repeat! The suspect is now in possession of the bag. Motorcycle now at speed, towards main entrance.’

  Danny was horrified. This was one scenario that hadn’t been foreseen. He just prayed that the regional crime squad surveillance team were alert and in position to effectively follow a motorcycle.

  PC Naylor’s voice came on the radio again. ‘Motorcycle now approaching main entrance at speed. Through the gates and … Fuck me!’

  Danny shouted over the radio: ‘What’s happening?

  PC Naylor said, ‘The motorcycle’s down! Repeat. The motorcycle’s down. It’s been totalled by a white van at the crossroads. The van has stopped the other side of the junction. Stand by. Suspect isn’t moving at all; bag is now in the road and unattended.’

  Danny had a decision to make.

  He made it instantly. ‘PC Naylor, you and your partner move in. Secure the cash and arrest the rider. Move!’

  PC Naylor said, ‘Roger that!’

  Danny turned to Rob and said, ‘Get up there sharpish!’

  Rob started the car, and within seconds, they were skidding to a stop at the junction of Mansfield Road and Forest Road East.

  Danny could see the two Special Ops men on the scene. He and Rob sprinted across to the unmoving motorcyclist, who was lying on his back.

  Danny stood in the pouring rain and asked, ‘Is he dead?’

  PC Naylor replied, ‘No, boss, he’s alive. His left leg’s well and truly fucked, though.’

  The young driver of the van then approached warily. He was staring wide-eyed at the stricken motorcyclist and said, ‘Is he okay? He pulled out straight in front of me. I didn’t even have a chance to brake.’

  Danny said, ‘He’s going to be fine. Don’t worry, just give your details to PC Naylor here. The police will come and see you later today. Are you okay?’

  ‘Yeah. I’m fine, just a bit shook up. It’s a works van. I was just on my way in.’

  ‘As soon as you’ve given all your details, you can get off to work. There were witnesses to the crash, so don’t worry. Okay?’

  ‘Okay.’

  PC Naylor then walked over and began taking the details of the van driver.

  Danny looked down at the motorcyclist’s left leg. He could see white shinbone sticking through black jeans.

  As other officers approached the scene, PC Jarvis continued to administer first aid to the stricken motorcyclist. Danny reached down and removed the black ski mask worn by the motorcyclist.

  Just as the face mask came off, Brian Hopkirk and Rachel Moore arrived. Brian took one look at the motorcyclist’s face and said, ‘That’s Florin Chirilov. He’s the Whitchurch au pair’s boyfriend.’

  Danny gripped Chirilov by the front of his black jacket, pulled his face close to his own and growled, ‘Where’s the girl?’

  Chirilov grimaced with the pain from his leg. ‘I don’t have her. I never had her. I just saw a way to make some quick money.’

  Danny turned to Brian and said, ‘You and Rachel go straight to his flat and talk to the au pair. I want her brought in for questioning, and I want that flat thoroughly searched. Understood?’

  ‘Right you are, boss.’

  Hearing Danny’s instructions, Chirilov shouted, ‘Alina knows nothing about this! This was all my idea. When she told me about the missing girl and how the parents had blamed her, I got angry. I thought I could get some money out of them.’

  Danny said under his breath, ‘For fuck’s sake’, then shouted, ‘Rob, is there an ambulance travelling?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Good. I want you to travel with Chirilov. Give me your car keys, and I’ll send DC Lorimar over to the hospital. I want this piece of shit interviewed as soon as the doctors say he’s well enough. I need to know if he’s telling the truth, got it?’

  Rob nodded.

  Blue lights appeared in the distance. Danny could hear sirens as the ambulance approached, speeding up Mansfield Road, from the city centre.

  Danny suddenly became aware of a presence standing behind him. He spun around and saw Adrian Potter clutching the black grip bag to his chest.

  Potter said sarcastically, ‘I suppose the one small mercy in this complete fuck-up is that we haven’t lost a quarter of a million pounds as well. I’ll get a lift back to headquarters with the Special Operations Unit. I’ll expect a full debrief tomorrow afternoon, Chief Inspector.’

  Potter walked across to one of the plain white Ford Transit vans, spoke to the driver and got inside.

  Danny stood in the pouring rain and watched as the ambulance crew now attended to the injured Florin Chirilov.

  He walked over and said to the nearest paramedic, ‘Which hospital are you taking him to?’

  ‘It’ll be the Queen’s Medical Centre. We need to stabilise that leg before we try to move him. It might be a while yet.’

  ‘Okay, thanks.’ Danny pointed to Rob and said to the paramedic, ‘This officer will be travelling with you when you leave. Your patient is under arrest. Is that clear?’

  The paramedic nodded.

  Danny turned to Rob and said, ‘I’ll be in the CID office at Central Police Station. Update me as soon as you can. I’m going to speak to the au pair as soon as Brian and Rachel bring her in.’

  ‘Okay, boss.’

  Danny walked slowly back to the Volkswagen and got in.

  He shook his head and rubbed his temple. His mind was in turmoil. If what Chirilov had said was true, the entire enquiry was back to square one.

  Danny felt totally frustrated. He still had no idea what had happened to Emily Whitchurch.

  Where was that girl?

  57

  2.15am, 15 October 1986

  Central Police Station, Nottingham

  Danny walked into the interview room and sat down facing Alina Moraru. Rachel was already seated, and Brian stood by the door.

  Rachel said, ‘Alina, this is Chief Inspector Flint. He’s the detective leading the search for Emily.’

  The young woman nodded.

  Rachel said, ‘Sir, this is Alina Moraru. Until recently, she was the au pair for the W
hitchurch family. She isn’t under arrest; she’s decided to come to the police station voluntarily to help with our enquiries. She understands her rights, including that she could have a solicitor here if she wanted to. She has declined legal advice. She wants to help us.’

  Danny nodded, then said, ‘Alina, do you really want to help us?’

  The young woman nodded. Danny could see that she was already close to tears.

  He said, ‘I want you to tell me about this evening. Was Florin at home?’

  ‘He was at home. We had a pizza earlier and watched the TV. He was very quiet, in a strange mood.’

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘We went to bed around eleven o’clock, but I read for a while. Florin was lying wide awake. At around a quarter to twelve, he got out of bed and got dressed. He said he had to go out. I protested, because it was raining so hard. I asked him what was so important.’

  ‘And what did he say?’

  ‘He just said he had some business to attend to.’

  ‘Did you ask what?’

  ‘Of course. He just told me to read my book, and that he wouldn’t be long.’

  ‘Then what?’

  ‘A little later, I heard him come back into the flat. He didn’t say anything. He just picked something up from the sideboard cupboard and walked straight out again.’

  ‘How long is a little later?’

  ‘I don’t know. Maybe twenty minutes.’

  ‘Are you sure he didn’t say anything?’

  ‘He said nothing.’

  ‘Is this normal behaviour? You don’t sound too surprised by his actions.’

  ‘I wasn’t surprised at all, Chief Inspector. Florin comes and goes at all hours of the night. I never ask where he’s been, or he gets angry.’

  Rachel said, ‘Is he ever violent towards you?’

  ‘No, never. He just gets angry and tells me to mind my own bloody business.’

  Danny said, ‘Does Florin own a motorcycle?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘When he was arrested tonight, he was riding a small black Suzuki motorcycle, but there were no registration plates on it.’

  ‘That motorcycle belongs to old George; he lives in the flat opposite ours. He can’t ride the bike anymore, so he told Florin if he ever needed to borrow it, he could. He even gave Florin a key. If he was on the motorcycle, I bet it was the key that he came back for.’

  ‘Have you and Florin ever discussed Emily Whitchurch?’

  ‘Only when she first went missing. He hasn’t talked to me about her since then. He was really angry when Mrs Whitchurch fired me.’

  ‘Has he ever taken an interest in Emily before she went missing?’

  Alina looked at Rachel. ‘I told this detective that Emily wanted me to ask Florin to get her drugs. Florin was upset because he doesn’t do drugs. The only other time he showed any interest was when I bragged about the Whitchurch house. I would tell him how beautiful it was and all the expensive things they had. Florin would make comments about how rich they were. He would say things like “they must be loaded”, but that’s all. What’s he done, Chief Inspector?’

  ‘You really don’t know, do you?’

  ‘No, I don’t, and I’m scared.’

  Danny turned to Rachel. ‘Has the flat been searched properly?’

  Rachel nodded and said, ‘Yes, boss.’

  ‘Anything?’

  ‘Nothing at all.’

  ‘Okay, I want you to take Alina home. Check out the story about the motorcycle with this neighbour, George.’

  Rachel nodded.

  Danny turned to Alina and said, ‘Thank you for talking to us. We may want to speak to you again later today, okay?’

  ‘Okay. You still haven’t told me what Florin has done. Will he be home later?’

  ‘Florin is still at the hospital. He’s under arrest, and we’ll be speaking to him a lot more today. I’m sorry, but he won’t be home anytime soon.’

  A single tear trickled slowly down Alina’s cheek.

  Danny stood up and walked out of the interview room.

  He went back upstairs to the CID office, picked up his radio and said, ‘DCI Flint to DI Buxton.’

  Rob Buxton replied, ‘I’ve got an update, boss. Are you near a landline?’

  ‘Central CID.’

  Within seconds, the telephone began to ring. Danny snatched up the handset and said, ‘Danny Flint.’

  ‘Boss, it’s Rob. We’ve been speaking to Chirilov for the last half hour, with the doctor’s consent. This all seems like some hare-brained scheme he’s dreamed up to extort money from the Whitchurch family. He says he always knew they were very wealthy, and that they would pay good money to get their daughter back. He made up the kidnap story to demand money from them. He’s a blackmailer, not a kidnapper. He’s got no idea where the girl is. On the day she went missing, he was at his flat screwing Alina. When she was abducted, he was naked in bed at home. There’s no way he’s involved.’

  ‘Did you ask about the motorcycle?’

  ‘Yeah. It belongs to an elderly neighbour who lets him use it. He took the plates off it tonight. He’s not a very competent rider; that’s why he crashed the bloody thing tonight. He was the figure in black who walked into the cemetery and looked at the bag. He didn’t want to just take it there and then, because he thought it would be a trap. So he cooked this plan up on the spur of the moment, to ride in on the motorbike and lift it. He just didn’t see the van at the junction as he accelerated out of the gates.’

  ‘Does he realise how much shit he’s in?’

  ‘Yeah. He’s been a petty criminal all his life. He just saw an opportunity to make some easy money.’

  ‘What about the letters?’

  ‘He’s admitted sending them. He hand-delivered the first one and posted the second one, because Mrs Whitchurch nearly saw him when he delivered the first one. He says he cut up old copies of the Sun newspaper to make the letters.’

  ‘Okay, Rob, thanks. I’m going to see Dominic Whitchurch first; then I’ll drive over and pick you up from the hospital. You can drop me home on the way back.’

  Danny put the phone down and exclaimed, ‘Shit!’

  He felt dreadful. His suit was still soaking wet, and his head was pounding. He wasn’t looking forward to telling Dominic and Rebecca Whitchurch that he was no nearer finding their daughter.

  58

  10.30am, 15 October 1986

  MCIU Offices, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire

  After the debacle of the night before, Danny had assembled the entire MCIU staff and all the Special Operations Unit officers involved. He wanted to review the operation to learn from any mistakes that had been made.

  Prior to starting the debrief, Danny sat in his office, talking to Mattie Carlisle and Rob Buxton.

  Mattie Carlisle said, ‘If you want my honest opinion, we got lucky when that van wiped out Chirilov on his motorbike. There would have been no way we could have kept up surveillance on a motorcycle. We could easily have lost that bag of cash.’

  Danny said, ‘I still can’t believe I didn’t consider it. I never dreamt a motorcycle would be used inside the cemetery.’

  ‘Nor did I, Danny. That’s definitely one I’ll take away for the future.’

  ‘Rob, as soon as you’ve briefed everyone about the interviews with Chirilov and what charges he’s going to face, I want you to get back to the hospital, ready for when they release him.’

  Rob nodded as he tried to stifle a yawn. ‘Will do. Sorry for yawning; my eldest was up all night, throwing up.’

  Danny grinned and said, ‘The joys of parenthood, eh?’

  Rob said, ‘Yeah, something like that. Wait ’til it’s your turn.’

  Danny turned to Mattie and said, ‘Thanks for coming over this morning. Did you want to have any input on this debrief?’

  ‘No, thanks. It’s best kept in-house. I just wanted to come over for an update this morning. I’ll leave you to it. Don’t forget if there are any new developme
nts, I’m always available.’

  ‘Thanks, Mattie, I’ll keep you informed. Thank your staff for their efforts yesterday. I know it was a long day.’

  Mattie nodded and left.

  Danny said, ‘You ready, Rob?’

  ‘The sooner it’s done, the sooner I can get back to the hospital. Let’s go.’

  The two senior detectives walked into the briefing room. Rob gave the details of the interviews he’d conducted with Alina Moraru and Florin Chirilov. He outlined how the kidnap plot had all been an elaborate fabrication, made up by Chirilov, in order to extort cash from the Whitchurch family.

  The general mood in the office was sombre. Danny brought the debrief to a close by asking for any suggestions or ideas to move the enquiry forward.

  The lone voice to speak up was DS Lyn Harris, who asked, ‘Now that it’s no longer a kidnap enquiry, should we consider lifting the media blackout and holding a full press release?’

  ‘That’s a good idea, Lyn. It’s definitely on the agenda for later today. I’m meeting with the chief constable at headquarters this afternoon; I’ll have a meeting with our press liaison officer while I’m there and set the wheels in motion. A full press appeal is something that could easily generate fresh lines of enquiry.’

  ‘Okay, you’ve all still got tasks to get through. Let’s remember it might not be a kidnapping enquiry any longer, but there’s still a young girl out there somewhere. Let’s find her.’

  Danny tried to sound upbeat, but he was struggling. He walked back into his office, closed the door and sat down heavily in his chair. He was dreading the meeting later with Jack Renshaw and Potter.

  He just wished he had something new to say to them.

  There was a knock on his office door. Danny shouted, ‘Come in.’

  Andy Wills walked in, saying, ‘Have you got a minute, boss?’

  ‘Grab a seat. How are you getting on with tracing Sam Jamieson?’

  ‘That’s what I’ve come to see you about. Yesterday, I made a call to HMP Leeds. I wanted to speak to the prison officer on the gate the day Jamieson was released. It occurred to me that sometimes a released prisoner is in such good spirits that they disclose snippets of information to the prison officer during the release process.’