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

by Trevor Negus

  Just as Emily reached Stacey and Rachel, there was a low rumbling noise above their heads, followed by a loud cracking sound.

  Stacey said, ‘All of you, move now. Run!’

  Brian had almost made it out of the pot cave when he heard the crack. Suddenly, the entire roof of the pot cave fell, burying him beneath tons of wet sandstone.

  In the tunnel, more of the roof continued to fall as Stacey, Rachel and Emily staggered along, trying to follow Temple’s footprints on the wet, slippery floor.

  As they progressed along the narrow tunnels, gradually the roof falls lessened. Eventually, the only noise they could hear was their own laboured breathing.

  Rachel grabbed Stacey and stopped her. ‘I’ve got to go back and look for Brian.’

  ‘Rachel, you saw the same thing as me. That entire tunnel near the entrance to the pot cave fell in. I think he was still in the pot cave when it came down.’

  ‘I’ve got to go and look.’

  Stacey shook her head. ‘You stay here with the girl; I’ll go and have a look.’

  Rachel nodded and put her arm around the frightened young girl. As they watched Stacey disappear back into the gloom of the tunnel, illuminated in silhouette by her torch, Emily said quietly, ‘Who was that man? Is he going to be okay?’

  Rachel nodded. ‘He’s a policeman who’s been looking for you, Emily. Don’t worry; he’ll be fine.’

  Slowly, Stacey retraced her steps back through the tunnels, carefully stepping over the debris from the recent roof falls. When she reached the point where the tunnel had veered off to the right, she stopped in her tracks. There was a wall of wet, sludgy rock that completely blocked the narrow tunnel to the pot cave.

  She said a silent prayer, turned and walked back through the maze of tunnels until she found Rachel still holding Emily tightly.

  Rachel said, ‘Well? Did you find him?’

  Stacey shook her head and whispered, ‘There’s a major roof fall back there. The tunnel where the pot cave was is entirely blocked from floor to roof. We’re going to need expert help to get him out.’

  Rachel stifled a cry and wiped her eyes before setting off behind Stacey and Emily. The two women and the young girl were now only five minutes away from the exit that led into the garage.

  94

  11.45am, 18 October 1986

  Forest Road East, Nottingham

  The low rumbling noise that emanated from the hole at the back of the garage made Danny spin round and stare into the black void. The low gravelly sound had rolled on, like some distant thunderstorm approaching.

  The sound was ominous; it filled him with dread.

  He waited anxiously for another five minutes before he heard coughing coming from within the cave system.

  Stacey Bloom crawled out of the small hole first, followed by Emily Whitchurch, then finally Rachel.

  Danny continued staring at the hole as the two women and the young girl stood up.

  Still staring at the small entrance to the caves, Danny said, ‘Rachel, where’s Brian?’

  ‘He’s still down there, boss. There was a roof fall, and Brian got separated from the rest of us.’

  ‘How did that happen?’

  ‘He rescued Emily from a small pot cave. He had to climb down into the cave, cut her free from the ropes that held her, and push her up and out. He had lifted her out and was just coming out himself when the roof came down.’

  ‘So is he trapped or buried?’

  Rachel shook her head and said tearfully, ‘I don’t know.’

  Stacey said, ‘I went back to look for him, and the tunnel where the pot cave is located is now completely blocked. There’s a chance the pot cave roof may have held, and he’s trapped behind the roof fall in the tunnel. Either way, we’re going to need specialist help to try to get him out of there.’

  ‘I see. Are you Stacey?’

  ‘Stacey Bloom. I’m a geology student studying this cave system.’

  ‘Thank you for going back to look for Brian. That took a lot of guts. I need to start getting things organised here. Are you three okay? Have you got any injuries?’

  ‘Rachel and I are fine, but I don’t know about this young lady.’

  Stacey indicated Emily, who was now sitting cross-legged on the floor of the garage. The young girl was shattered by her exertions to get out of the caves.

  Danny turned to Andy Wills and said, ‘Get an ambulance for Emily. I also want enough uniformed staff here to establish cordons. We’re going to need to block Forest Road East entirely, so we’ll need to get diversions organised. It sounds like it’s going to be a long job getting Brian out of there.’

  Andy said, ‘How are we going to get him out?’

  ‘I’m going to put a call into the Mines Rescue Station at Mansfield Woodhouse. They train for this sort of thing every day. I know their gaffer, Ray Machin. Hopefully, they’ll be able to get here quickly and get him out.’

  There was a brief pause as Danny thought about his options. ‘While I’m organising that, I’ll need you to remain on scene here to co-ordinate the cordons and the road closures. Rachel, I want you to go with Emily to the hospital. Don’t worry about getting a first disclosure unless she volunteers something. That will keep. I’m going to try to contact Rob, to establish where he is and what he’s doing. I’ll get him to pick up Emily’s parents from Richmond Drive and take them to the hospital with DC Bailey. As their family liaison officer, it’s better if Helen remains at the hospital with them. As soon as they arrive, I want you and Rob to come straight back here. Okay – does everyone know what they need to do?’

  Andy said, ‘I’ll get onto it.’

  Rachel said, ‘Should we contact Brian’s wife, Maggie?’

  Danny shook his head. ‘Not yet. Let’s see how things develop for now. There’s no point dragging her down here and frightening her to death.’

  Rachel nodded.

  Stacey said, ‘Would you like me to do anything, Chief Inspector?’

  ‘Stacey, I’m going to ask the Mines Rescue teams to help get my colleague out. Would you mind staying and speaking with their boss, Ray Machin? I’m sure he’ll appreciate your expert knowledge of the type of rock he’s going to have to get through.’

  ‘No problem. I’m happy to help in any way I can.’

  ‘Thanks, Stacey.’

  Danny walked out of the garage and saw DS Travers, who said, ‘Everything okay?’

  ‘Not really. My DI’s still trapped down there. He’s got the girl out, but then the roof caved in on him.’

  ‘Bloody hell! Is he going to make it?’

  ‘I don’t know. As soon as uniforms start arriving, you and your staff can resume.’

  ‘We’ll stay if there’s anything we can do.’

  ‘Thanks for the offer, but there isn’t. It’s going to take an expertise far beyond our skills to get him out of there. I appreciate all you’ve done today. Please tell DCI Carlisle that I’ll call him first thing tomorrow.’

  ‘Okay, boss.’

  Danny then spoke into his radio: ‘DCI Flint to DI Buxton.’

  Rob was in the cell block at Central Police Station, preparing to interview Freddie Fletcher. He picked up his radio. ‘Go ahead.’

  ‘Where are you, Rob?’

  ‘Central cells. I’m just about to interview Freddie Fletcher with Glen Lorimar. We found Fletcher earlier in possession of a substantial amount of Class A drugs.’

  ‘Can you leave Glen to do the interview? I need you, as a matter of urgency, to travel to Richmond Drive and pick up Dominic and Rebecca Whitchurch. Take them and DC Bailey to the QMC. We’ve located their daughter in the caves near Forest Road East. Tell them she’s okay, and hospital is just a precaution. Rachel’s travelling with Emily to the hospital by ambulance. When you’ve delivered the parents, leave DC Bailey at the hospital with them. I want you and Rachel back here on Forest Road East.’

  ‘That’s great news.’

  ‘It’s great news, but it’s come a
t a high price. Brian’s still trapped in the caves. Rachel will fill you in on what’s happened. I need to get to a telephone and make some calls to the Mines Rescue people now.’

  A much more sombre Rob replied, ‘Okay. I’m on my way. Glen’s more than capable of interviewing Fletcher on his own. Tell Rachel I’ll see her at the hospital.’

  ‘Thanks, Rob.’

  Danny then got in the car and drove to Central Police Station. He abandoned the car in the rear yard and ran inside. He sprinted upstairs to the CID office and picked up the nearest telephone.

  DC Fran Jefferies answered the telephone on the second ring. Danny said, ‘Fran, I want you to look at the records for the Jimmy Wade enquiry. I need the telephone number for Ray Machin. He’s the man in charge at the Mansfield Woodhouse Mines Rescue Station. I need his telephone number urgently.’

  Fran said, ‘Just a second,’ then quickly scanned the computer records for the Wade enquiry. As soon as she had found Ray Machin’s details, she picked the telephone back up and gave Danny the number he had requested.

  ‘Thanks, Fran. I’ll make this call; then I’m going to call you straight back. Don’t go anywhere. I’m going to need you to co-ordinate things over there.’

  A puzzled Fran said, ‘Okay, boss.’

  Danny hung up and then quickly dialled the number Fran had just given him.

  There was a long delay before the telephone was answered. ‘Hello, Mines Rescue.’

  Danny said, ‘Could I speak to Ray Machin, please?’

  ‘Speaking.’

  Danny breathed a sigh of relief and said, ‘Ray, I don’t know if you remember me, it’s Chief Inspector Danny Flint. I came to see you about the death of Albie Jones at Warsop Main pit. It was a couple of years ago, during the strike?’

  ‘I remember you, Chief Inspector. That was a bad business. What can I do for you?’

  ‘Ray, one of my officers has just rescued a young girl who’d been abducted and held in the caves below Nottingham. Unfortunately, before he could get out himself, there was a roof fall, and he’s trapped. I need your expertise to try to get him out. Can you help me?’

  ‘Is he trapped and alive, or buried?’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘But there’s a chance he’s still alive?’

  ‘Yes, there’s a chance. I’ve got an expert on the caves here with me, who says it’s possible that he was trapped behind rock as the tunnel collapsed. He was still in a small pot cave, so he may still be alive and in an air pocket.’

  ‘I’ll scramble my team. If there’s a chance he’s still alive, we’ll do our best to get him out. Is your expert still on-site? I’ll want to talk to him as soon as we arrive.’

  ‘He’s a she, Ray. Her name’s Stacey Bloom. She’s a very gutsy lady and is quite prepared to go back down into the caves if you need her to.’

  ‘Keep her there, please, Danny. Where exactly is the entrance to the cave system?’

  ‘It’s on Forest Road East, near to the Goose Fair site. By the time you get here, the roads will be closed. I’ll let the officers manning the roadblocks know that you’re on your way. Thanks for this.’

  ‘No problem. We’ll be with you in thirty minutes.’

  Danny hung up and dialled the MCIU number again. This time, he explained to Fran exactly what was happening on Forest Road East. He instructed her to send all available MCIU officers to Central Police Station, to await further instruction.

  95

  12.05pm, 18 October 1986

  Nottinghamshire Police Headquarters

  Jack Renshaw was thoughtful as he sat alone in his plush office. He had only been the chief constable for a few weeks and already he had a major conflict between two of his senior officers to try to resolve.

  He reflected on the appointment of Adrian Potter as his head of CID. Was the newly appointed detective chief superintendent out of his depth?

  Renshaw knew that in a force the size of Nottinghamshire, finance was the key. It was imperative that all departments were cost-effective. He knew the intelligent Yorkshireman would see to it that the CID remained on budget.

  He had to weigh that particular talent against his obvious lack of interpersonal skills. Jack Renshaw had been with the Nottinghamshire force long enough to know what a talented detective Danny Flint was, and what a great asset the MCIU was.

  It was his first real test of leadership, and he hadn’t expected it to come so soon.

  He had formulated a strategy that he hoped would satisfy both men. He took a deep breath and dialled the number for the MCIU office.

  It was answered on the first ring. ‘MCIU, DC Jefferies. How can I help you?’

  ‘DC Jefferies, it’s the chief constable. Is your chief inspector in his office?’

  ‘No, sir, he’s at the incident on Forest Road East.’

  ‘What incident’s that?’

  ‘I’m sorry, sir, I thought you would have heard by now.’ She quickly explained the situation at Forest Road East.

  ‘Is DI Hopkirk alive?’

  ‘We don’t know, sir. DCI Flint is on scene, coordinating the attempted rescue. He’s mobilised the Mines Rescue Service from Mansfield Woodhouse to try to get DI Hopkirk out.’

  Jack Renshaw had instantly forgotten all about the petty squabble between his senior officers. One of his men was now in grave danger, and he knew where he had to be.

  He said calmly, ‘Exactly where is Chief Inspector Flint, and when did this happen?’

  ‘It happened about forty minutes ago; the rendezvous point is on Forest Road East, at its junction with Addison Street.’

  ‘Thank you, Detective.’

  Renshaw placed the telephone on the receiver, picked it straight back up and spoke to his secretary. ‘Caroline, I need to be in the city immediately. Contact my driver and have him outside the front doors in five minutes, please.’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  He hung up the telephone and grabbed his tunic from the coat stand. He buttoned up the tunic and grabbed his hat and an overcoat, then strode along the corridor.

  When he reached the office of Adrian Potter, he banged on the door with his balled-up fist. He opened the door and said, ‘Get your coat, Adrian. We’re going to the city. I’m going to show you exactly why Danny Flint never made the meeting this morning, and you and I are going to have a serious conversation on the way there.’

  Potter looked up from behind his desk, nonplussed.

  He could tell the change in attitude of the chief constable was not in his favour, and he wondered what had happened to cause that change.

  He grabbed his overcoat, and the two men made their way to the front of the headquarters building.

  PC Dave Pepper, the chief’s driver, was already waiting with the rear doors of the powerful Jaguar saloon open.

  As the chief constable was in full uniform, PC Pepper saluted as he got into the vehicle. Jack Renshaw acknowledged the salute and said, ‘Forest Road East, at its junction with Addison Street. Quick as you can, please, Dave.’

  The instruction was music to the ears of the experienced traffic officer. As soon as the rear doors were closed, he gunned the powerful engine and said, ‘Seat belts on, please.’

  The dark blue Jaguar raced down the lane from headquarters and approached the traffic lights at the Seven Mile House junction. PC Pepper activated the two tones and the blue lights that were beneath the grille to safely negotiate the junction. As soon as he had turned the vehicle left onto the A60, he accelerated the powerful car.

  In the back of the vehicle, Jack Renshaw said, ‘The reason Danny Flint didn’t make your meeting this morning is because one of his men is trapped in a cave beneath the city. There’s no way of telling whether the officer is still alive, or if he’s dead.’

  Potter said, ‘What on earth was he doing in the caves?’

  ‘Rescuing the Whitchurch girl, by all accounts. By some miracle, he managed to get her out before the roof of the cave collapsed, trapping him.’

&n
bsp; ‘So the Whitchurch girl’s okay? That’s great news.’

  ‘Yes, the Whitchurch girl’s okay, and that is good news, Adrian. Don’t you see that comments like that are the reason I have a problem with you?’

  ‘I don’t understand, sir. What problem?’

  ‘You never think about the consequences of what you’re saying. Yes, it’s great that the young girl is safe and well. Right now, that is scant consolation to Danny Flint, when the life of his friend and colleague is still at risk. Of course, we’ll all rejoice in the fact that the young girl is safe and well, but let’s get our man out as well. Do you understand what I’m saying?’

  Potter nodded. In reality, he hadn’t a clue what the chief constable was talking about.

  Renshaw went on, ‘You and Danny Flint need to bury the hatchet. I don’t know why you’ve got this bee in your bonnet about the MCIU. I know you’re a stickler for the cost of everything, but I’m telling you here and now, the MCIU is staying whatever the cost. They’re far too valuable a resource to be disbanded. Is that understood?’

  ‘But, sir …’

  ‘No buts, Adrian. Is that understood?’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  ‘Let’s get this mess sorted today. Then I’ll arrange a proper clear-the-air meeting with you and Danny Flint. You’re both very valuable to me and to the future of this force. I need you to be able to work together in the future.’

  Potter knew when to acquiesce. He said simply, ‘Of course, sir. No problem.’

  From the front of the vehicle, Dave Pepper waited for the two senior officers to finish speaking, then said, ‘We should be there in fifteen minutes, sir.’

  ‘Thanks, Dave.’ Then he reiterated, ‘Quick as you can, please.’

  96

  12.15pm, 18 October 1986

  Forest Road East, Nottingham

  Danny breathed a sigh of relief as he watched the convoy of bright yellow vehicles turn into Forest Road East and drive towards the row of derelict garages. Two Ford Transit vans, full of experienced mines rescue personnel, were immediately followed by the large equipment trailer that had the appearance of a converted horse transporter. The last vehicle was an articulated lorry that towed the large mobile generator on a trailer.