‘In’t olden days,’ Vicky said, teasingly. ‘On Ilkley Moor b’aht ’at,’ she sang raucously.
Dylan ignored her. ‘You’ve all seen a puppet show. Punch is the protagonist isn’t he, along with his wife Judy, a policeman, a dog, a crocodile and now I think about it possibly several other characters. But the phrase I just used means that it wouldn’t be much of a show without the main character. Right, lesson over, let’s get on,’ he said, rubbing his hands together.
‘So who’s Punch and Judy in this scenario?’ said Vicky, looking slightly bemused.
‘Perfect and Best.’
‘Ah,’ she nodded. ‘Okay.’
‘Now, back to the job in hand, Longbottom is being interviewed for attempted rape on sixteen year old Sharon Manning yesterday. PS Hornby and PC Brook are dealing and are likely to charge him later today. Mrs Merryfield, Ryan Merryfield’s mother says he will be in this afternoon. Are you and Ned able to pick that one up for us, Andy?’
They both nodded in the affirmative. ‘Late afternoon?’ said Ned.
‘Overtime?’ said Dylan cocking his head to one side.
‘Couple of hours tops,’ said Ned. ‘Honest.’
‘That’s fine, but I do need to speak to you before you go. Ryan must not be told his mum rang in. I gave my word.’
‘Vicky, you and me will speak to Longbottom together once we know what’s what from uniform.’
‘Sure,’ she said, jumping down from the filing cabinet where she had been perched.
‘I’m available boss, once I have shifted some outstanding paperwork,’ said John.
‘Actually John, I’d like you to look into the discovery of a couple of skulls for me if you will. I’ll give you all the info I have on that after this meeting.’
John raised his eyebrows and nodded.
‘Okay, Andy, Ned, Vicky what’s the consensus of opinion now on Norris Regan then?’
Ned was first to respond. ‘He’s undeniably one of the strangest people I’ve ever come across. He makes out he’s this weak and feeble little old lady... er, I mean man, I mean lady, but as we know he’s devious.’
‘I agree with Ned, boss. We may have discovered some strange fetishes of his, but he didn’t seem overly concerned about us being all over his house, so I don’t think he’s hiding anything, not there anyway. I do think he thought that after his disclosure about wearing the women’s clothes and the leg irons we’d move on though – and of course we didn’t, I think that took him by surprise.’
‘He was far too comfortable with talking about his perversions with us. It as though he was getting off on it.’
Dylan looked in Andy’s direction.
‘I didn’t speak to him much boss, but the collection of photographs on the bedroom wall and his preferred reading material are definitely different to anything else I’ve ever seen.’
‘A man wearing women’s clothes and leg irons?’ asked John.
‘Oh, yes! Tell you later big boy,’ Vicky said suggestively, stroking his thigh.
John shook his head.
‘You’re a mad mare,’ said Ned.
‘Jealousy will get you nowhere son,’ she said.
‘The bicycle bell on the bed head, now that’s of interest to me obviously. What’s that about, do you think?’ Dylan said, while John continued to look puzzled and amused.
‘Totally off the fucking wall, just like him. I think you need to speak to him yourself to see what a weird bastard he really is boss,’ said Vicky.
‘Vicky you’re doing some local background on him, yeah? And we’ve seized some belongings we’re checking out, right?’
Vicky nodded.
‘And there was no objection?’
‘Nope, none at all,’ said Andy.
‘In that case, we have a busy day ahead of us, so let’s get on with it. John, my office now,’ he said, standing.
‘You felt sorry for Norris yesterday didn’t you Vicky?’ Ned called across the room as everyone started to disperse.
‘Are you fucking mad, knob head?’ she said with a scowl. ‘Everyone knows the way to a man’s heart is to keep his stomach full and his balls empty. Regan is strange like you, he gets neither. Back at you weirdo,’ she said.
‘And on that note,’ Dylan shouted. ‘Vicky, let’s get on. Ned, stop winding her up, will you?’
‘Well he chuffin’ asked for it,’ Vicky said out of the corner of her mouth. ‘It’s obvious you’re well looked after, boss,’ she said winking at Dylan as she passed. Andy held the door open for her. Dylan laughed at John and shook his head. DI Shaun Turner looked on from the corner of the room.
‘Find me some evidence you lot, assumptions are just that. I want something to support them,’ Dylan shouted after them.
Chapter 23
Dylan’s day was moving at a pace. He left the office to get some water and walked directly into Shaun Turner.
‘Now then, what’s new with you?’ he said as they stood together at the water fountain. Dylan held a plastic cup under the water spout.
‘Almost finished our enquiries, so hopefully we’ll all be gone from under your feet by tomorrow.’ DI Turner stood with his hands in his pockets. Dylan looked up at him as his cup overflowed.
‘Bet you’ll be glad to see us go?’ he said, offering a napkin.
‘So soon?’ Dylan said dismissing the offer. He searched for his handkerchief in his trouser pocket and dried his hands. ‘How rude of me, we haven’t even managed a pint.’
‘Don’t suppose you and your good lady are free tonight?’ Shaun said.
‘I would say yes, but I don’t know what Jen has planned.’
‘No worries, it was just a thought. The others are off back home today, that’s all, and I’ve got one or two loose ends to tie up so I’m not planning on leaving until tomorrow morning.’
Dylan knew what it was like to work away from home.
‘Tell you what. Look, why not come round to ours tonight? I’ll pick fish and chips up on my way home, it’d be good to have a natter. There’s not much time here – as you can see, we’re up to our necks in it. I’ll meet you here later, yeah?’
‘Sounds good to me,’ Turner nodded and a smile spread across his face which made him look younger.
‘Ah, I’d better warn you now though our little Maisy’s teething,’ Dylan said apologetically.
DI Turner laughed softly. ‘Don’t worry, I love children.’
‘Any of your own?’
‘No, sadly not... Can’t...’ he said. Dylan thought he caught a glimpse of pain in his eyes.
‘I’m sorry,’ said Dylan.
‘That’s life, I guess,’ he said with a sigh. ‘Funny how things pan out, isn’t it?’
Dylan was distracted by the sound of his name being called from the other side of the office. ‘PS Hornby on the phone for you, boss.’
‘Half seven okay with you?’ he said hurriedly.
‘Yeah, I’ll be waiting,’ said Turner.
Dylan walked over to Lisa, Shaun saw him wink and grab the telephone from her.
‘Hornby!’
‘Looks like a night in the traps did Longbottom good boss, either that or Lin Perfect had a word in his lughole. He’s now admitting lying to us. He says he was frightened. He’s admitted seeing Sharon in People’s Park and talking to her, and he’s not denying that he fancied his chances either.’
‘But he didn’t bother asking her if she fancied him too, I guess?’ said Dylan.
‘No, exactly. He denies grabbing her by the hair and admits he might have ‘accidentally’ touched her breast when he tried to put his arm around her, but nothing else. We told him that she was heard screaming at him and so we asked him, since he was a complete stranger to her, what made him think that she liked him? He says she isn’t a stranger and that he knows her. He knew she worked at the Piece Hall and he said she’d spoken to him often. According to her, her friendliness towards him was all in his head. He’d spoken to her alright and basically she’d
ignored him or told him to fuck off because she thought he was a bit strange. He may have been admiring her from afar before this incident, but this time it looks like he took it a step further. We’ve taken his clothes of course and nail scrapings since it’s alleged he pulled some of her hair out.’
‘Good work,’ Dylan said. ‘What did you put to him?’
‘That he’d been watching her before attacking her this morning, taking her by the hair and dragging her into the nearby bushes against her will, hoping to have sex with her. He says that wasn’t true. He says she’d been up for it until somebody come along, which is when he says she screamed. We pushed him, but he wasn’t for admitting anything. To be fair to his solicitor, Lin Perfect let us get into his ribs, but when we started to go over his story again she reminded us we had already asked him the questions once and wasn’t happy for us to repeat them, which is fair enough. In the end she asked for a break. If you agree we’ll give him another very short interview and the opportunity to admit the offences put to him, then charge him with the attempted rape and do a remand file for Court tomorrow.’
‘Yes, Court’ll be over for today,’ he said looking at his watch.
‘I’ve spoke to the Custody Sergeant and he’s okay with it and Lin Perfect is anticipating that course of action.’
‘Well let’s not disappoint her; I’d like to see the summary, just to make sure it’s strong enough. I don’t want CPS watering the charge down, like I said. It’s a good lock up, well done. By the way, who is the custody sergeant again?’
‘Thumper,’ Hornby said. ‘I mean Sergeant Maude, boss. We won’t have any trouble from him, I’ve updated him and he’s sound.’
‘Tell him to liaise with me later and let me know when Longbottom’s charged.’
‘Will do boss.’
Andy and Ned pulled up outside 5, Wainhouse Road, parked the car on the gable end and walked around on the cobbled road to the front entrance of the end terraced house. Andy stood on the doorstep and rang the bell. Ned tried to peer through the bow window that looked directly onto the street. He pulled a face and shook his head.
‘Nets are too thick, can’t see a thing,’ he whispered.
The pair waited patiently but there was no answer. Without a word to each other, just a nod and a meeting of eyes, Andy stepped off the doorstep and together they walked to the back of the house. At the gate of the small, square back yard, Ned stopped and turned. ‘See that?’ he said, his hand still on the latch.
‘What? The Fire Station?’ Andy asked.
‘No, Wainhouse tower; I once did a project on that landmark at school. The whole class climbed the 369 steps to the observatory at the top just to be told that it was a myth that you could see Blackpool Tower from it. Evil, our teachers were.’
‘I can tell school days weren’t among your happiest, were they Ned?’ Andy laughed. ‘Don’t forget it wasn’t Mrs Merryfield who told us about her son being on Manchester Road that night,’ he whispered as he knocked once again on a door that belonged to the grim looking house. They could hear music this time and a washing machine that sounded as if it was on a spin cycle.
‘Hello! Hello! Is there anyone in?’ shouted Ned through the letter box. A tall, middle aged, handsome woman came directly to the door and immediately played her role well.
‘Mrs Merryfield?’
‘DC Andy Wormald and DC Duncan Granger,’ Andy said, showing her his warrant card.
‘You’d better come in,’ she said loudly. She half lifted her head, giving them permission to enter. Ned flashed his warrant card for her to see as he passed by. ‘He’s only sixteen. Does that mean I have to be present?’ she whispered.
‘Yes, that would help,’ Andy said to her as they walked through the kitchen diner and out through the passage at the bottom of the stairs towards the front door. There was a closed door to the left and Mrs Merryfield opened it for them to enter. Ryan lay playing a computer game on the TV, the console gripped tightly in his hands. His eyes didn’t leave the TV screen.
‘Turn that off please. We have guests Ryan,’ Mary Merryfield said, brushing his feet off the sofa. The two men sat. ‘These are police officers from CID.’
The lounge had flock wallpaper and a tired-looking brown patterned carpet. The settee was reminiscent of a bygone age and was made of durable fabric. The fireplace surround was solid coloured red brick and housed a living flame fire.
Ryan Merryfield obediently stopped what he was doing and shuffled to the edge of his seat. He looked at the officers anxiously.
‘Can you confirm to me that you are Ryan Merryfield?’
Ryan nodded. ‘And your date of birth is?’
The young lad mumbled his answer and his mother agreed with a nod of her head.
‘Where were you on the 7th January, Ryan?’ said Andy.
Ryan looked puzzled.
‘The night of the heavy snowfall?’ said Ned.
Ryan shrugged his shoulders.
‘Well, let’s try and jog your memory shall we? You might have seen something about a girl going missing on the news,’ Ned said.
‘White Wednesday, they’re calling it?’ said Andy.
Ryan shook his head.
Mrs Merryfield flinched. She hesitated and looked puzzled. ‘You do know about it. I showed you the article in the newspaper myself, and you watched the news with me, so why are you lying to the officers?’
‘I’ll ask you again Ryan. Do remember a girl going missing?’ said Ned.
‘Suppose,’ he said, fiddling with the console now loosely held in one hand.
‘Who were you out with on that night Ryan?’
‘I wasn’t.’
Mrs Merryfield looked at him sharply. ‘Yes you were Ryan, I heard you talking to someone on the phone about it,’ she said.
Ned and Andy looked at Ryan with questioning eyes.
‘Donny, Donny Longbottom,’ he said reluctantly.
‘Longbottom?’ said Andy.
‘Yes, Donny Longbottom,’ said Ryan in a quiet voice, staring down at the carpet. He shut his eyes and ran his fingers through his hair.
‘You know Donny Longbottom?’ said Andy.
Ryan looked sideways at his mother, then furtively at the detectives.
‘Look, you’re not in trouble, we just want to know if you know him,’ Andy said.
‘I sometimes hang out with him. Mum thinks he’s a bad influence, though.’
‘I can’t tell you how many times I’ve told him I don’t want him seeing that lad,’ Mary said, staring at her son.
‘Would you say he was a mate of yours then?’ asked Ned.
‘Guess so. He can be a bit strange but he’s a laugh too,’ he sniggered.
‘So, it’d be fair to say that you knock about with him then?’ asked Andy.
‘Yeah, sometimes.’
‘What do you mean by the word strange?’ said Ned.
Ryan screwed up his face. ‘He’s obsessed, with girls you know ...’ he stopped and looked at his mum.
‘Carry on Ryan, I’m sure you can’t shock your mum. She’s probably heard it all before,’ Ned said. He could see Mary Merryfield twisting the wedding ring around on her finger.
‘He thinks every girl he sees fancies him. He follows them about, looking through windows and stuff. He’s a bit of a perv – but I wouldn’t tell him that, he’s a lot bigger than me.’
‘You might not be surprised then to know that he’s recently been locked up for attacking a young girl and we’ll be speaking to him about the girl that went missing on the night we are asking you about.’
Ryan sat up straight. ‘No?’ he said his eyes wide and disbelieving.
‘What did I tell you?’ Mary Merryfield gasped, her hooded eyes moved right and up to the ceiling.
‘Were you out on Manchester Road with Longbottom on White Wednesday, Ryan?’ said Ned.
‘You came home wet through that night, didn’t you? Remember, I asked you what you had been doing?’
Ryan l
ooked into his mother’s face but said nothing.
‘I said, you’ll get bloody pneumonia if you didn’t start wearing a decent coat instead of that damn denim jacket, remember?’ said Mrs Merryfield, before her son had chance to deny it.
‘Is that right Ryan?’ said Ned.
‘Yes,’ he said softly.
‘Were you drinking? Did you at any point bang on a car on the Manchester Road that night while in drink?’ said Andy.
Ryan sat perfectly still and made no reply.
‘Well, did you?’ said Ned.
‘I’m too young to drink,’ he said sheepishly.
‘Ryan you’re not in trouble for drinking, we’re more interested in the young girl that went missing that night and we need all the help we can get to find her. We need you to be truthful with us, so we don’t have to waste any more of our time coming back to see you again,’ said Andy.
Ryan looked down.
‘And you don’t need to protect Longbottom either, or worry about reprisals because he’s locked up, and will be for some time. Come on tell us what happened that night. Where did you meet Longbottom?’ said Andy.
‘If you know anything Ryan, tell them,’ said Mrs Merryfield sternly.
‘Okay!’ he turned, snapping at her. ‘I was with him. We were walking home from Harrowfield. We’d been building a snowman in his garden before going into town to get his medication. I was freezing.’
‘Well, whose fault was that?’ said Mrs Merryfield. Ned gave her a withering look.
‘Go on,’ said Andy.
‘He gave me a swig out of his bottle of whisky, said it would keep me warm. He told me he’d got it from Akram’s Off Licence on the precinct. He said that it were easy to nick it because it was Mr Akram’s daughter that was serving on and he reckoned she fancied him,’ he said, rolling his eyes.
‘Then what?’ said Andy.
‘We stood chatting in a shop doorway and he was going on about what he’d like to do to Akram’s daughter. Then he suggested we go on up the main road home as somebody said there’d been a crash, it was blocked, or sommat. It was snowing like hell and I just wanted to go home because I knew I’d get into bother with her,’ he said, looking in his mother’s direction. ‘I knew she’d go mad.’
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