by Trevor Negus
They were both still laughing as they sat down.
A few minutes passed by, then the brushed stainless-steel lift doors on the other side of the foyer opened, and a young woman stepped out. She was dressed in baggy blue denim jeans and an old navy-blue sweatshirt with the words Oxford University Rowing Club on the front. Although the clothes were loose-fitting, it was obvious that beneath the baggy clothes, the woman was actually lean and quite tall. She had short, spiky, dark brown hair and large brown eyes. She wore no make-up and looked rosy cheeked, as though she had just scrubbed her face.
The woman spoke to the receptionist, who pointed across to the two detectives. The woman walked over, smiling as she got closer. It was a generous smile that was genuine and warm.
Brian and Rachel stood as the woman approached.
She held out her hand towards Brian and said, ‘Good morning. You must be Detective Inspector Hopkirk. My name’s Stacey Bloom. I’m Professor Temple’s assistant; pleased to meet you.’
As they shook hands, Stacey Bloom glanced at Rachel. Brian said, ‘Ms Bloom, this is my colleague Detective Constable Rachel Moore.’
Stacey shook hands with Rachel and said, ‘Pleased to meet you.’
Introductions completed, Stacey said, ‘Follow me, please. The professor’s waiting in his office.’
They walked back over to the lifts, and Stacey pressed the button for the fourth floor.
As the lift ascended, she said, ‘I’m really sorry, but Professor Temple has another appointment he can’t put off this morning. So you’ve only got fifteen minutes with him. If that isn’t long enough, hopefully I’ll be able to fill in any gaps. I’m sorry, but he’s a very busy man.’
Brian looked at Rachel before saying, ‘That’s fine. As you say, I’m sure you’ll be more than capable of answering any questions we may have. We appreciate Professor Temple taking the time to see us at all.’
Standing immediately behind Stacey Bloom, Rachel mouthed the word creep towards Brian, who stifled the urge to grin.
Stepping out of the lift, Stacey walked down a long corridor, followed by the two detectives. When they were almost at the end, she knocked on a door.
The door was opened from inside by Professor Brandon Temple. There was no smile or courteous greeting this time. It was just a very curt, ‘Come in.’
Brian and Rachel walked in and sat in the chairs offered.
Brandon Temple said, ‘Detective Inspector, how can I help you?’
Brian said, ‘Thank you for taking the time to see us today. I appreciate you’re a very busy man, so I’ll get straight to it. I’m interested in the cave systems around the Mansfield Road, Forest Road East area of the city. I want to know the extent of the cave systems and where the entrances are.’
Brandon Temple stared at the detective and said one word, ‘Why?’
Brian was a little taken aback. He said, ‘Excuse me?’
‘Why? Why do you want to know this?’
His composure recovered, Brian said, ‘I’m sorry, Professor Temple; I didn’t explain on the telephone yesterday. We’re currently investigating the disappearance of a young girl. I have a theory that she may have been abducted and hidden in the caves. She disappeared on her way home from the Nottingham High School for Girls, on the second of October. That’s why.’
‘I see.’
The professor was deep in thought for a couple of minutes. Then he turned to his assistant and said, ‘Stacey, can you grab a copy of the survey map? It will make it easier for me to show the inspector.’
Stacey said, ‘Of course.’
She went to a wall unit, opened a large drawer and took out an A2 size sheet of paper. On the paper was a diagram that showed the cave system beneath the city. Street names had been superimposed to show the locations of the caves. Large swathes of the map were coloured red.
Professor Temple placed the map on his desk. ‘Inspector Hopkirk, come and have a look. It will make things simpler. You’ll be able to see where the caves are located.’
Brian and Rachel both stood next to Temple as he looked down at the map.
He placed his index finger on the chart. ‘This is Mansfield Road at its junction with Forest Road East. You can see there’s a vast cave network that runs from Mansfield Road towards Peel Street, beneath the length of North Sherwood Street. This cave system is what remains of Rouse’s Sand Mine. It’s vast. What you can see on the map is just what we’ve managed to explore and document so far. There’s a school of thought that suggests these mine workings extend all the way up to Forest Road East and beyond, into the cemetery. The catacomb caves are well known within the cemetery. It’s believed that these workings also extend beyond Forest Road East, back towards the city. Where, eventually, they would join up with the Rouse Sand Mine system.’
Brian said, ‘I see. I had no idea they were so vast.’
‘Not many people do. We walk these streets every day, and nobody really knows what lies a few metres below their feet.’
‘What about entrances to the caves? How do people get access?’
‘There are known entrances into Rouse’s Sand Mine on Peel Street and Mansfield Road. The problem is, there are likely to be many other entrances. You see, although Rouse instigated the main development in this area, historians believe that many people excavated the sand from this area. A myriad of private enterprise mines, creating a veritable honeycomb of old mine workings, if you will.’
‘I know this sounds a silly question, but what were they mining for?’
‘It’s not a silly question at all, Detective. Some parts of the caves underneath Nottingham were mined for the sandstone itself. It would be quarried in building-block size. Around the Mansfield Road area that I’ve pointed out to you, the sandstone is much more friable. It’s far too fragile to be mined like that, but it was perfect for sand. They mined for sand.’
‘Wasn’t that dangerous?’
‘Extremely dangerous. The old miners used a technique known as “pillar and stall”.’
‘What’s that?’
‘The miners would excavate the sand, leaving rounded pillars to support the cave ceiling. These were shaped like a huge egg timer. The pillars supported the roof, while everything else was excavated around them. The friable sandstone was then removed as sand. Although a dangerous enterprise, it was very profitable. The sand was very clean and used by the numerous glass makers in the city.’
‘So, if I’ve got this right, although these workings are only marked on the map this far, you believe they could extend much further. All the way up to Forest Road East?’
‘That’s correct. It’s a labyrinth down there. Hundreds of caves we haven’t fully discovered yet.’
Rachel asked, ‘Why are these areas you’ve shown us all marked in red?’
‘Red for danger, Detective. Shall we say the caves in this area are notoriously delicate. Time and erosion have damaged some of the pillar and stall caves. This entire area is now extremely prone to roof falls and cave-ins. That’s one of the reasons our survey hasn’t progressed as far as I was hoping. It’s extremely dangerous down there.’
Brian asked, ‘What if I wanted to search the caves in that area?’
Temple looked horrified. ‘That’s totally out of the question!’
‘Why?’
‘Detective Inspector, I need you to understand how dangerous it is in those caves. We only ever work in pairs because the slightest noise or vibration can cause a roof fall. We know exactly what we’re doing down there, and we haven’t been into the cave system for almost a month now. Due to the torrential rain we’ve experienced over the last few weeks, it’s just far too risky. As I’ve already said, the sandstone in that area is extremely friable, and water affects it very badly. The wetter the sandstone gets, the more unpredictable and fragile it becomes. A search party in those caves, at this time, would be a suicide mission. It’s utterly preposterous and out of the question. People would be killed. It’s as simple as that.’
Brandon Temple glanced at his watch. ‘I’m very sorry, Inspector Hopkirk, but I need to leave for my next appointment. I’m meeting members of Bassetlaw Council at Creswell Crags. I hope this meeting has been useful. If you don’t mind, I’ll leave you in the very capable hands of Stacey. Stay out of those caves, Detective!’
Temple grabbed his coat and hurried out of the room, as though his life depended on making that next appointment on time.
When he had left, Brian smiled at Stacey Bloom and said, ‘Is he always in that much of a hurry?’
‘Not really. He’s usually quite laid-back about things.’
‘Must be a very important meeting he’s going to?’
Stacey shrugged. ‘I don’t know. He just said he had another appointment when he came in this morning.’
Brian said, ‘He seemed pretty adamant that I shouldn’t put men into the caves.’
Stacey said, ‘He’s right about that. The caves are very dangerous, especially with the amount of rain we’ve had lately. It can be extremely disorienting down there. I’ve been down in the caves dozens of times, and I still get lost. I can’t tell you how frightening it is to be down there and not be sure of where you are. Or more importantly, how you get out.’
Rachel shuddered and said, ‘The professor mentioned the possibility of other entrances. Where are they likely to be?’
‘They literally could be anywhere. There was one found six months ago, by a young couple who had bought a house in The Park. When they explored the garden of their new home, they found an entrance into the cave system. New entrances are being found all the time.’
Brian said, ‘Is there anything else you can tell us?’
‘The only thing that hasn’t been mentioned is the different types of cave in that area. The professor told you about the pillar and stall caves, but there are also long tunnels dotted with “pot” caves. These were used as storage by the miners. The pot caves are generally very small and round. They were excavated below the level of the main tunnels; some of the bigger ones even have steps down into them. Rouse’s Sand Mine is actually on two levels, as well. As Professor Temple said, it really is a labyrinth down there, and most of it is still unexplored. Which is a very exciting prospect for me.’
Rachel said, ‘And an absolutely terrifying one for me. I prefer to see the sky above my head.’
Stacey laughed. ‘Each to their own, I suppose. Let me give you my card. Then, if you need anything else, you can contact me direct. I’ve generally got more free time than the professor.’
Rachel took the card and said, ‘Thanks, Stacey.’
‘If that’s everything, Detectives, I’ll show you out.’
After exiting the Newton Building, the two detectives walked back to Central Police Station in silence.
The heavy rain was still falling.
Brian broke the silence. ‘What do you think of my theory now?’
Rachel replied, ‘It’s possible, I suppose. I hope to God you’re wrong, though.’
‘How come?’
‘If that young girl’s being held somewhere down in those caves, she must be absolutely terrified. The thought of her being down there in the darkness, all alone for two weeks, is horrifying.’
Brian remained tight-lipped and silent.
When they got back to the car and got in, Brian said, ‘I know it’s a red area on the map, and I get that it’s dangerous … but did Professor Temple seem a little too keen to keep us out of his precious bloody caves?’
‘I know what you mean. He left the room like his clothes were on fire, as well. He’s a strange one, alright. Stacey was great, though.’
‘Yeah, she was,’ Brian said. Then, ‘As soon as it’s stopped raining for a day or two, I’m getting in those caves. Whatever the bloody professor says.’
73
11.00am, 17 October 1986
Fiskerton, Nottinghamshire
The house on the banks of the River Trent was stunning.
Rob Buxton and Glen Lorimar had left their car outside the Bromley Arms public house in the village of Fiskerton. They had then walked along the path at the side of the river until they came to the house owned by Virginia Drew.
The house was built entirely of sandstone. The heavy rain had given the stone a mustard-coloured sheen. The dark grey slate roof contrasted beautifully with the orange hue of the walls. The house sat in a large, mature garden, clearly well cared for, with manicured lawns and colourful trees and shrubs.
As they approached the house along the riverside path, Glen let out a low whistle and said, ‘Bloody hell, this place is beautiful. I think I’ll ask Virginia Drew to marry me, too.’
Rob nodded. ‘Can you imagine what it’s like in the summer? The weather’s awful today, and it still looks gorgeous. Let’s go talk to Mrs Drew and get out of this bloody rain.’
Having knocked on the front door, the two detectives waited under the overhanging porch. Eventually, there was a voice from inside: ‘Just a minute. I’m coming.’
The heavy wooden door was slowly opened, and a diminutive, elderly lady stood in the doorway. She was dressed impeccably in a dark green tweed suit; her hair was grey and tied back in a tight bun. She wore wire-rimmed spectacles that magnified her bright blue eyes.
She said, ‘Can I help you, gentlemen?’
Rob took out his warrant card, showed it to the woman and said, ‘My name’s Detective Inspector Rob Buxton. I’m from the Major Crime Unit. I was hoping to speak to Mrs Virginia Drew.’
‘It’s Ms Drew, and you’re speaking to her. What does a detective inspector want to speak to me about?’
‘I’d like a quick chat about a friend of yours, Frederick Fletcher.’
‘Oh, young Freddie. You’d better come inside out of the rain. Can I get you both a drink? Perhaps a tea or coffee?’
‘No, thank you, Ms Drew. I don’t think this will take long at all. It’s just a few questions.’
Virginia Drew directed the detectives into a sitting room that overlooked the river. She said, ‘Please take a seat. Is Freddie in any trouble?’
Ignoring the question, Rob said, ‘How well do you know Mr Fletcher?’
Sharp as a tack, the elderly Ms Drew said, ‘Inspector, you didn’t answer my question. Now, is young Freddie in any trouble or not?’
‘My apologies. The answer to your question is that we don’t think he is. Hopefully, you’ll be able to confirm that for us.’
‘Very well. What do you want to know?’
‘When we spoke to Mr Fletcher, he told us about the Nottingham Bridge Club. I understand that you’re both members?’
‘Yes, that’s right, we are. Forgive me, Inspector, but the last time I checked, playing cards in one’s own home wasn’t illegal.’
Rob smiled, ‘And it still isn’t, Ms Drew. I’m particularly interested in the evening you hosted the club here. I believe it was on October 2?’
‘That’s correct. That’s the last time I hosted.’
‘How many people were here for that meeting?’
‘It was a particularly good turnout that evening. There were twelve players here.’
‘Was Mr Fletcher one of them?’
‘Yes, he was. I’ve got to tell you, I was a little miffed with young Freddie that evening.’
‘Why was that?’
‘I’d asked him to come over early, to help me set the tables up. I live here on my own, and although I have a cleaner and a gardener who come in and help, neither of them were available for that week. So I asked Freddie to help me.’
‘Was there a problem?’
‘Yes, Inspector, there was. The first hand of the first rubber is always dealt at precisely five o’clock. Freddie didn’t arrive here until four thirty. He came bursting into the house, full of apologies for being late. He was waffling on that something or other had come up.’
‘Was he too late, or did he manage to get the tables set up before five?’
‘Yes, he did. But that’s not the p
oint, is it? He should have arrived at three o’clock, as promised.’
‘Did he tell you why he was so late?’
‘No. He just fobbed me off with some story that he’d been forced to deal with something in the city first.’
‘And he didn’t say what, exactly?’
‘No, he didn’t. I won’t be asking him for any more favours. He’s a thoughtless airhead at times.’
‘Do you have a list of the names of the people who attended that night?’
‘I’ve got one somewhere. Do you really need it?’
‘I’m sorry to be a bother, Ms Drew, but it could be extremely useful, thanks.’
‘Just a minute. I’ll go and find it.’
As soon as she left the room, Glen said, ‘Well, well, well, sounds like Freddie was telling us a few lies in Manchester.’
Rob said, ‘Emily Whitchurch left school at three twenty, Freddie didn’t arrive here until four thirty. That would give him ample time to abduct her, hide her away somewhere, and then drive here.’
Ms Drew came back into the room clutching a piece of paper. ‘Here you are, Inspector. All the telephone numbers are on the list, as well. I hope it helps.’
Rob said, ‘Thank you so much, Ms Drew, that’s great. Just a couple more questions and we’ll leave you in peace. How did Mr Fletcher seem when he arrived that day?’
The old lady was thoughtful for a minute; then she said firmly, ‘He seemed different to normal. He appeared agitated about something. He was excitable and seemed full of energy. I was just too annoyed with him to take much notice at the time. But thinking back, he looked scruffy, too. Freddie’s normally impeccably groomed and very well dressed. He turned up at my house that evening wearing clothes that I would only deem suitable for gardening or some other menial task. I went off him big style that night, I can tell you.’
‘One last question. What time did he leave the card game?’
‘We play four rubbers every meeting. That’s a maximum of twelve games. Freddie shot off like a scalded cat as soon as the final rubber finished. He didn’t stay to help clear away the tables or say goodbye. I recall that I had to ask a few of the other gentlemen players to assist me in putting everything away. It was most embarrassing; I wasn’t happy at all.’