The Alibi

by Jamie Raven

  ‘Mr Kline?’ I said.

  A polite smile. ‘Yes, that’s me.’

  I flashed the phoney warrant card, holding it up for just a second.

  ‘I’m Detective Constable Karen Smith. Met police. I wonder if I could have a word.’

  He frowned. ‘What about?’

  ‘It might be advisable to talk inside, sir. Are you alone?’

  ‘Yes, but this sounds serious.’

  ‘I can assure you that you’re not in any trouble, Mr Kline. I’m just hoping that you can help us with our inquiries in respect of another individual.’

  His face creased with genuine bewilderment. ‘You had better come in then.’

  I felt a rush of nerves as I entered the house because now I was committed, and if I slipped up things could go horribly wrong.

  Kline steered me into a living room which had pale walls and modern leather furniture. I could tell a lot of money had been spent on it.

  He stood with his back to a large fireplace. ‘So how can I help you?’

  ‘We’re gathering information on a woman I believe you’re acquainted with, Mr Kline. Her name is Tamara Roth.’

  His eyes grew large, like those of a startled animal.

  ‘What makes you think I know her?’ he said.

  ‘Well, we understand you engaged her services as an escort and she paid you a home visit.’

  I took out my phone. It was already cued up on the online photo of Tamara from her website.

  ‘Take a look at her picture. It’ll help jog your memory.’

  He glanced at it briefly and I saw a flash of recognition in his eyes.

  ‘We need to know if that woman spent Friday evening here with you, Mr Kline,’ I said.

  He wet his upper lip with his tongue and swallowed. ‘Why do you want to know? Has she done something wrong?’

  ‘I can’t discuss that with you right now, I’m afraid. But it’s very important that you confirm whether or not she was here with you.’

  ‘Has she told you that she was?’

  ‘Indeed she has. But we want to know if she’s telling the truth.’

  His face was full of anxiety and he suddenly didn’t seem to know what to do with his hands.

  ‘There’s no need to be embarrassed, sir,’ I said. ‘Please just answer the question. Tamara was either here on Friday or she wasn’t. That’s all I’m asking, and I promise there will be no comeback on you.’

  He pushed out a sigh and seemed to visibly relax. ‘Yes, she was here. It was the first time. A friend recommended her.’

  Bingo!

  I let out a trembling breath and felt every muscle in my body go stiff.

  ‘Look, I don’t normally entertain those women—’

  ‘That doesn’t matter, Mr Kline,’ I interrupted him. ‘What you do with your time is your business. Please tell me what time she arrived here and when she left. Be as accurate as possible.’

  He didn’t have to think about it.

  ‘She turned up just after nine and then left shortly after midnight,’ he said.

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Of course I am.’

  I could barely contain my excitement. Posing as a detective had paid off, and I now had proof that Shapiro had lied when he said he was with Tamara when Megan Fuller was murdered.

  Jesus.

  ‘That’s all I need to know, Mr Kline,’ I said. ‘You’ve been most helpful. I’ll ask you not to contact Miss Roth about this and another officer will be in touch again to get a formal statement. But that’s just a formality.’

  He was clearly relieved, as well as curious, as he walked me to the door.

  As I was stepping outside, he said, ‘Can you leave me one of your cards Constable? Just in case I have to contact you again.’

  Instinctively I reached into my bag for my business cards, the ones emblazoned with The Post’s logo and the words: Bethany Chambers – Crime Reporter.

  But I realised my mistake in the nick of time.

  ‘I’ve just remembered I’ve run out,’ I said. ‘But I shouldn’t worry, Mr Kline. I very much doubt you’ll find it necessary to speak to me again.’

  26

  Ethan Cain

  Cain arrived at the house in Bermondsey just before 8 p.m. It was a run-down mid-terrace property in a grim street close to Southwark Park. Whenever Danny Shapiro wanted to talk to him face to face this was where the meeting took place.

  Other coppers on the firm’s payroll also came here, and the house – one of many Danny owned in the city – was kept empty for that very purpose.

  Cain hated being summoned like he was just another of Danny’s minions. And what really grated was that the calls always came from that prick Frankie Bishop.

  ‘Danny needs to see you,’ he’d said without preamble. ‘So drop whatever you’re doing and get your arse over to the usual place.’

  Cain hadn’t bothered to ask what it was about. That was bloody obvious. Danny would want to be briefed on how the investigation was coming along, and Cain knew he would have to tell him because he had no choice. The firm had him by the bollocks. Since the moment he took that first backhander four years ago he’d been forced to do their bidding.

  He had no one to blame but himself. It was what he’d signed up for. Every young whore he’d fucked and every line of coke he’d snorted had got him deeper into their debt.

  It was Frankie Bishop who answered the door. Just the sight of him made Cain’s flesh crawl. The man was built like a brick shithouse, with a face that was ravaged by scars and an ugly, shapeless nose.

  He treated Cain to his trademark shark’s smile. ‘Hello, Detective. How’s it hanging, my old mate?’

  ‘Same as ever,’ Cain responded as he stepped inside.

  ‘That’s great. Little Ania told me you gave her a good seeing-to the other night. Just let me know when you want her over again and I’ll arrange it.’

  ‘Thanks, Frankie. I’ll do that.’

  ‘And if you’re interested we’ve got a new bird on the books. Name’s Chloe. She’s seventeen with huge tits and a mouth that was made for sucking.’

  ‘I’m always interested in someone new, Frankie,’ Cain said. ‘But I’m not sure that now is the right time to talk about it.’

  ‘Yeah, you’re right,’ Bishop said. ‘Best to get the serious stuff out of the way first.’

  Cain felt a ripple of unease as he walked along the hall and into the living room. The house was filled with cheap furniture and a stale, unlived-in smell permeated the air.

  Danny was sitting in one of the armchairs. He was wearing a leather jacket, jeans, and a baseball cap that sat high up on his head.

  ‘Good to see you, Ethan,’ he said. ‘Thanks for coming at short notice. I know you’re a busy man.’

  ‘It was no problem.’

  Danny cracked out a thin smile, revealing a set of unnaturally white teeth.

  ‘Take a seat, mate,’ he said. ‘Relax.’

  Cain sat down on the other armchair and tried to act like he wasn’t uncomfortable.

  ‘I was going to give you a ring later,’ he said. ‘Bring you up to date with the investigation.’

  ‘This will save you the price of a phone call then,’ Danny said. ‘And anyway you know I don’t like to conduct any business over the blower unless I really have to.’

  Bishop moved across the room and stood behind Danny with his back against the wall. An image of the bastard smacking Beth flashed unbidden into his mind and sent a chill through his body. No way was he going to raise it as an issue now. He’d just tell Beth that he had.

  ‘It’s not just the investigation I want to talk to you about, Ethan,’ Danny said. ‘It’s that fucking ex-missus of yours. She needs to be reined in. And I want you to sort it. I know you’re still in touch with her because of the kid.’

  Cain forced a grin. ‘But we hardly ever talk, and besides there’s not much I can do about her. She’s been giving us some grief too. But as a reporter it’s her jo
b to make a nuisance of herself.’

  ‘This time it’s different. She’s making me nervous.’

  ‘Well, you needn’t be. As far as I know she doesn’t have anything on you or the firm.’

  ‘Yeah, well that doesn’t mean she won’t turn something up if she keeps on digging. And that’s what she appears to be doing. She’s like a dog with a bone. Are you aware that the bitch has been to see Tamara Roth this evening to ask her about my alibi? How the fuck did she even know about her?’

  ‘I didn’t tell her if that’s what you think.’

  ‘I’m not saying you did, mate. I don’t think you’re that fucking stupid. But someone on your team must have.’

  ‘I can’t imagine who.’

  ‘I spoke to her on the phone while she was there,’ Danny said. ‘She got lippy with me, for fuck’s sake. And get this. She’s threatening to stir up shit on my dad.’

  Cain felt his stomach twist and drop. He didn’t dare let on that he already knew about that.

  ‘She reckons that Callum had her stepfather shot,’ Danny said. ‘Christ only knows who’s told her that, but I know for a fact that it’s not true. Tony Hunter was a thorn in my old man’s side for a while back then but the guy was taken out by the Russians.’

  ‘I wouldn’t know about that, Danny. But I don’t see how it will give you a problem.’

  ‘Well, I don’t want the bitch sniffing around and drawing attention to me and the firm.’

  ‘And you expect me to put the frighteners on her? Is that it?’

  Danny nodded. ‘Exactly. Do it in an official capacity if you think that’s the best way. Warn her she’ll be done for harassment or something. Just get her off my back.’

  ‘I’m not sure I can …’

  Danny’s expression darkened, and his voice suddenly became harsh and unpleasant.

  ‘You’ll do as you’re fucking told, Ethan. It’s time you earned your keep. For too long you’ve been getting more out of this arrangement than you’ve been putting in. You’ve fucked your way through most of our girls and given us shit-all in return. So now I expect you to sort Chambers out because if you don’t then we will.’

  ‘Come off it, Danny. There’s no need for that.’

  Danny shook his head and his voice rose to an acute pitch.

  ‘You don’t seem to get it, mate. The bitch is out to cause trouble and from what I’m led to believe she’s bloody good at it. Ain’t that why they call her The Ferret? Because she doesn’t stop digging until she finds what’s she’s looking for. And it’s not as if she works in isolation. She has a frigging media conglomerate backing her up.’

  Cain felt his throat catch and a wave of impotent rage swept through him. Danny had never spoken to him like this before and he was shocked. He was also terrified at the prospect of trying to persuade Beth to back away from the story. She wasn’t stupid. She’d know or suspect that someone was pulling his strings.

  ‘Just do it, Ethan,’ Danny said. ‘If she tells you to fuck off then so be it. But at least you will have proved to me that you’re still on board with the firm.’

  Bishop spoke up for the first time, his tone mocking. ‘We’ll make a point of showing our gratitude, old mate. I’ll set up a threesome with Ania and Chloe and throw in a bucketful of coke.’

  Cain felt totally humiliated, and wondered how the hell it had come to this. He was a detective inspector in the Met, for pity’s sake, and yet he was letting some deranged thug treat him like a mug.

  ‘I’ll see what I can do,’ he said. ‘But I can’t promise she’ll even listen to anything I have to say.’

  ‘Just try,’ Danny said. ‘Make it clear to her that she’s playing a dangerous game. And you can also tell her that I don’t like being threatened.’

  Cain twisted his lower jaw and gave a slow nod.

  ‘So that’s settled then,’ Danny said. ‘Now tell me about the investigation.’

  Cain wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and felt a weary resignation. As he spoke he tried not to think about Redwood and the rest of the team and how he was being disloyal to them.

  ‘There’s not much to tell,’ he said. ‘There’s no useful forensic evidence from Megan’s house and we haven’t been able to identify anyone from the CCTV footage because it was dark and raining. The only possible suspect was wearing a hoody. We’re still talking to Megan’s friends and contacts and we’re hoping to persuade her father to front a press conference and make an appeal.’

  ‘What about that prick of a boyfriend? Didn’t you pull him in today?’

  ‘We did, but his alibi checks out. He was in a pub with friends when Megan was murdered. The landlord confirmed it for us this afternoon.’

  ‘You’re sure it’s genuine?’

  ‘Seems to be. We’re going to trawl through the pub’s CCTV footage just to be sure.’

  ‘And that’s all you’ve got?’

  ‘Well, the only other thing is something the boyfriend told us. He said that Megan was trying to blackmail at least one other person as well as you.’

  ‘Did he say who it was?’

  ‘She didn’t tell him. That’s the problem. Have you got any ideas?’

  Danny shook his head. ‘I haven’t a clue. Could be anyone.’

  Cain’s phone rang then, making him jump. He was going to leave it, but Danny said, ‘You should take it. I assume you’re still on duty.’

  Cain took it from his inside pocket, saw Beth’s name on the screen.

  ‘It’s Bethany,’ he said, and felt a sudden rush of heat to his head.

  Danny leaned forward. ‘Then see what the fuck she’s got to say.’

  Cain pressed the accept call icon. ‘Hi, Beth. What’s up?’

  As he listened to what she had to say he could feel his own body temperature rocketing.

  ‘Text me the name and address,’ he said. ‘We’ll check it out.’

  And then: ‘That was a stupid thing to do, Beth. What the hell were you thinking?’

  He told her to leave it with him and to go home.

  ‘Don’t speak to anyone about this,’ he said. ‘And that includes the paper. Right? Good. I’ll call you tomorrow.’

  Cain severed the connection and looked at Danny. ‘You’ve got a problem. And it’s a big one.’

  A deep furrow entrenched itself in Danny’s brow. ‘What kind of problem?’

  Cain took a breath before responding.

  ‘Bethany Chambers has just found out that you’ve been lying, Danny. You weren’t with Tamara Roth when Megan was killed, and Beth says she can prove it.’

  27

  Danny Shapiro

  An expression of alarm passed over Danny’s face. He took a shivering breath and exhaled before responding to what Cain had told him.

  ‘Don’t keep me in frigging suspense. What did she say?’

  Cain’s face was grave and Danny felt a sick feeling wash through him.

  ‘She reckons Tamara was with a client all Friday evening and not with you,’ Cain said. ‘The client’s name is Peter Kline. He’s single and lives alone in Maida Vale. Beth’s just been to see him and he told her that Tamara was at his house from nine until after midnight.’

  ‘I don’t get it,’ Danny said. ‘Why would he confide in a reporter?’

  ‘Beth didn’t tell him she was a reporter. She posed as a police officer, a detective. So he opened up to her.’

  ‘And she went to this bloke’s house after leaving Tamara’s? Is that what she said?’

  Cain nodded. ‘But Tamara didn’t tell her about him. Beth spotted a calendar on the kitchen wall while she was there. Last Friday had an appointment against it – Peter Kline, with his address and phone number. Beth took a picture of it while Tamara was on the phone to you. She then checked it out.’

  Danny felt something cold move over his skin. He remembered what Tamara had said about seeing a new client in Maida Vale. He even recalled how she had gestured towards the calendar when she’d said it.

&nb
sp; Shit.

  ‘But how she found out isn’t the point, Danny,’ Cain said. ‘The point is you lied about it.’

  Bishop stepped forward and lowered himself into the second armchair.

  ‘Does this mean you did kill Megan, boss?’ he said.

  Danny shot him a sharp look. ‘I told you I didn’t kill her and I meant it. So get that into your thick fucking skull.’

  ‘Then you need to explain yourself, Danny,’ Cain said. ‘If you really didn’t do it then why fabricate an alibi?’

  Danny got up and started pacing the floor, his mind in overdrive. The air was suddenly heavy around him. Claustrophobic. He could feel the weight of it, warm against his face.

  The other two stayed silent, waiting for him to speak. Waiting for him to explain himself.

  What a right bloody mess!

  His mind suddenly conjured up an image of Bethany Chambers. Then saliva pooled in his mouth as he thought about what he would like to do to the interfering bitch.

  ‘You need to be honest with us, boss,’ Bishop said. ‘Otherwise we can’t help.’

  Danny stopped pacing and looked from Bishop to Cain. He nodded. Mustered a weak smile. Then he flopped back down in the armchair and said, ‘I went to the house on Friday night just before ten to see Megan. We argued over what she was threatening to do to me. But I didn’t touch her. When I left there she was alive. That’s the God’s honest truth.’

  Danny paused, cast his eyes towards the ceiling. His breath hissed fast and shallow through his nostrils.

  ‘I heard what had happened to Megan when I woke up yesterday morning,’ he said. ‘I knew that I’d be in the frame and that if I didn’t have a plausible alibi I’d be collared for it. So I went to Tamara and got her to say that I was at her place.’

  He lowered his eyes, stared at Cain, who was watching him open-mouthed.

  ‘I had to do it, Ethan. I couldn’t bank on your lot finding the real killer. And it would have been fine if not for Chambers.’

  Danny blew out a lungful of air. Having come clean he now had to turn his thoughts to what to do next.

  Bishop was one step ahead of him.

  ‘We can sort this, boss,’ he said. ‘We just have to make sure that this bloke Kline doesn’t tell anyone else. Without him Chambers doesn’t have a story and the filth can’t prove you weren’t with Tamara.’