FORGOTTEN VICTIM an absolutely gripping crime mystery with a massive twist (Detective Rachel King Thrillers Book 4)

by HELEN H. DURRANT

“In that case, we’ll try to wrap this up quickly. Tell us about Billy Sherwin,” she said.

  “Or perhaps you know him better as Beef.” Jonny, too, was smiling. “I can see why you’d be scared of him, a man that size.”

  This made Healey defensive. “I hardly know the bloke. See him about sometimes. I think he’s going out with some bird who lives in a flat near me.”

  “I think you know very well who Sherwin is, and how he makes his money. He’s the supplier, the main man selling drugs from the mill. Does he supply you, Dylan?”

  Healey stared at Rachel. “No. What makes you think Sherwin’s got owt to do with drugs anyway?”

  “I’ve had a tip-off,” she said, which wasn’t a lie. Still, Healey didn’t have to know it was Jonny who’d told her. “What’s the set-up? Billy Sherwin sources the drugs that get handed out to the lads who distribute for him — including you, I imagine. He must be raking in a fortune.”

  That made him agitated. “You can’t go spreading that around, I won’t make it to the end of the day. Who told you anyway? You can’t go saying it was me. Word gets around and I’ll end up with a bullet in my head.”

  “Nasty,” Rachel said. “You should choose your friends with more care.”

  “I don’t know anything, copper. Can’t help you.”

  He definitely looked frightened. Billy Sherwin’s name certainly carried some clout. “If you speak to us, Dylan, we can help you. We’ll find you a safe place to stay until this is all over. We’ll protect you.”

  Healey went silent. Was he considering the offer?

  “You live alone, you don’t have a family to support. The CPS would look at the current charge of assault more favourably if we told them you were helping us.”

  His head shot up. “You mean I wouldn’t go to prison?”

  “I can’t promise, you understand, but it can only help your case.”

  Healey looked at his brief. “What d’you think?”

  Until this moment, the solicitor had said nothing, simply sat and taken notes. Now he whispered into Healey’s ear.

  “He says I should take up the offer. But I’m not sure. You don’t know these people like I do.”

  The solicitor shook his head.

  “It’s alright for you lot, but my life’s round here. What am I supposed to do when you move me?” Healey asked.

  “It doesn’t have to be for good, just until we’ve arrested and charged Sherwin. No one will find you. Tell us what we need to know, and we’ll do the rest,” Rachel said.

  “You’re sure? Billy Sherwin won’t find out?”

  “Not unless you tell him,” Jonny said.

  “Can I think about it? Dobbing someone in is a big deal for me. Sherwin’s clever and he’s tough. He has people everywhere. Cross him and you’re dead.”

  “Has that ever happened before?” Rachel asked. “Has anyone ever been brave enough to take him on?”

  “Some men did a while ago. Didn’t get them anywhere though. Beef hurt one of ’em real bad. I haven’t seen any of them since.”

  “Who were these men?”

  “Don’t know their names, just some blokes who tried to stop him.”

  Rachel looked at Jonny. This could be the answer. Some of the men working in the units had got in the way of Sherwin’s business and Wellburn had paid the price.

  “Tell me about his girlfriend,” Rachel said.

  “What girlfriend?”

  “Jaz, that girl from the pub. She helps him,” Jonny said.

  “She’s not his girlfriend. Beef goes about with some posh bird.”

  “And Jasmine?” Rachel asked.

  “I’ve no idea. Perhaps Beef has a hold over her, perhaps she’s a junkie. There are others who I don’t know. He’s one clever operator, is Sherwin. He runs a chain of people, but no one ’cept him knows who they all are.”

  “A few names, and dates. That’s all we’re asking for, Dylan. No one will know we got them from you,” Rachel said.

  “Give us some paper and a pen.”

  Jonny passed them over and Healey began to write.

  He sat back. “That’s all you’re getting. Can I go now?”

  Chapter Twenty

  Back in the incident room, Rachel gathered the team together. “The man we want is one Billy Sherwin, nickname, Beef. Find him and bring him in.”

  “What about his girlfriend, Jasmine Pearce?” Elwyn asked.

  Jonny piped up. “It’s a weird one, that. I wonder how much her mother knows.”

  Just then, Amy interrupted them. “Ma’am, Dr Fox has been on. He’s found something interesting at the mill.”

  “Jonny, get an address for Sherwin and organise bringing him in. Amy, get some background on him. We’ve looked at his bank records and found nothing. Get a warrant and we’ll take a look at what Jasmine Pearce has stashed away.”

  Rachel turned to Elwyn, who was already logging out of his computer. “You and me will go and see what Jason’s found. With luck, it’ll be something useful.”

  Kenton called to her from the doorway. “Rachel, a word.”

  What now? They were going as fast as they could. “We’re about to leave — important find down at the mill,” she said.

  “Still chasing shadows, I see. Isn’t it about time you handed the lot over to the cold case team?”

  “No, because the murder relates to a current case, one of drug dealing. We think the victim fell foul of the main man and was killed.”

  “You mean this dealing has been going on for the last three years?” he asked.

  “Possibly. He’s hardly going to tell us.”

  “And this station knew nothing about it, even though it’s on your patch?”

  “The man running things is clever and vicious. No one will speak out against him. However, we’ve arrested someone who is prepared to give us the whole story — names, suppliers, everything. As part of this investigation, we will find out what happened to our victim, Gavin Wellburn.”

  Kenton mulled this over. “Forensics costs are through the roof,” he said finally. “You’ve currently got Dr Fox working full time for this department.”

  “I’m sorry, Mark, but we’re gathering evidence. What Jason is doing will prove vital in getting the case past the CPS.”

  “This time next week and no later. Got that?”

  Without replying, Rachel stalked off down the corridor.

  In the car park, Rachel climbed in beside Elwyn and slammed the car door. Her face was red, her hands shaking. “Kenton’s at it again, going on about the budget. Wants this one wrapping up quick, forensics costs are killing him. How are we supposed to do the damn job?”

  “You need to calm down, for starters. Ignore the man. He’ll see sense when we get results. He’s new on the job. No doubt he’s got to impress those higher up the ladder.”

  “Well he doesn’t impress me, that’s for sure.”

  * * *

  Because of what had happened the previous night, there was an increased police presence at the mill. There’d be no more dealing here for the foreseeable. Jason Fox greeted her at the entrance, coughing and dusting down his blue forensics suit.

  “God, it’s foul down there, and the air is still dusty,” Jason said.

  “I’m not surprised, given the length of time the body was lying there,” Elwyn said.

  “Which bit are you working on?” Rachel asked.

  “The tunnel, and it’s interesting. At first, we thought it was built as an overflow for the canal or part of the sewage system for the mill, but we were wrong, it’s neither,” Jason said.

  Rachel couldn’t think of anything else it could be. “You’re sure? You’ve checked the old maps?”

  “Of course, but they weren’t much help, to be honest. Then I got hold of an even older map from the local history section at the library. That’s when I spotted it. Come inside and I’ll show you.”

  Pinned to the wall of the huge weaving shed was a copy of an old map, on which Jason
had highlighted a route out of the mill and into the streets of Ancoats.

  “This is the space where Wellburn was found, and here’s the tunnel entrance,” Jason said. “The tunnel has been in existence since the mill was built. It’s narrow but tall enough to walk down — just. That’s what made me think that it wasn’t a Victorian sewer.”

  “So, what is it?” asked Elwyn.

  “A shortcut.” Smiling, Jason pointed to a spot on the map. “Jeffries Brickyard was over there, way back in the early eighteen hundreds — they made all the bricks that built the mill. It took a hell of a lot, you just need to look at the place to see that. The mill is here.” He jabbed a finger at the map. “Without the tunnel, the bricks would have had to be carted by road all the way round. Use the tunnel and the journey was much shorter and more direct.”

  That made sense. “Who would know it was here?” Rachel asked.

  “Without doing the research, very few people. Perhaps the Shawcross family, given that it’s their mill, but possibly not even them.”

  Given where Wellburn’s body had been found, the killer must have known it was there too. But how?

  “The tunnel was bricked up relatively recently, perhaps after Wellburn was killed. It wasn’t a good job, either, the cement was mixed wrong, which is why those two kids were able to break through it.”

  “Do you think the killer used that tunnel for some other reason, and decided it was the perfect place to hide a body?”

  “I don’t know, but we need to search the whole thing.”

  “Okay, but I’ve already got Kenton on my back about expenses.”

  “I do have some good news.” Jason smiled. “I’ve found the missing tooth.”

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Back at the station, Rachel searched the system for Billy Sherwin and found all she needed to know. He had a record going back years, but not a single conviction. Puzzling, considering the man was extremely violent and had no regard for the law. Reading between the lines of the various reports, Rachel realised that he was still free because he employed excellent lawyers, and because he ran his gang with an iron fist. He was never short of gang members who could be persuaded to admit guilt and so allow Sherwin to walk free. Each time he’d been arrested, and evidence produced, a hapless gang member had come forward and put their hand up. Some had got long sentences. Rachel had to presume that was preferable to crossing a vengeful Sherwin.

  “Billy Sherwin has been operating around Shawcross Mill for a while. The tenants of those units must have known about the dealing. I suspect Sherwin will have given them a hard time. Some will have bought from him, perhaps owed him money.” Rachel looked at Amy. “Organise uniform to have a word with as many of them as you can find — and get statements.”

  Amy nodded. “I’ll start with Siddall.”

  “Speak to him, by all means, but don’t forget the others. Elwyn, get uniform round to Billy Sherwin’s place and bring him in. Make sure there’s plenty of back-up. Once he’s been processed, you and me will interview him.”

  Rachel’s mobile rang. She glanced at the screen and her stomach flipped — it was Jed. She’d have to take this in her office.

  * * *

  “You’ve gone quiet again, not a word since Spain,” Jed began. “You know that worries me, given the job you do.”

  His deep voice sent a shiver of pleasure down her spine, as it always had, but she’d been dreading his call. What to tell him? Not the truth about the baby — she wasn’t ready for that yet. She had no alternative but to trot out the usual excuse.

  “Work is heavy at the moment — you know how it is. We’re in the middle of a complex case and working long hours.”

  “I thought we’d reached a new understanding after Malaga. I thought we’d talk more, share stuff.”

  Malaga, and the time they’d spent together, something else that gave her the shivers. It had been an idyllic few days and she’d loved being with him. “And we will. Everything’s fine, Jed, don’t stress.”

  “Are the girls okay?”

  “Yes, they’re both fine — driving me crazy as usual.” She was still clutching the reports on Sherwin. She needed to read through them thoroughly before the interview. “Look, Jed, it’s good to hear from you, but I can’t talk right now. We’ve got a suspect coming in for interview and I’ve got to prepare.”

  “Have dinner with me later. As you know, there is something we should discuss.”

  Rachel felt her pulse race. What did he mean by as you know? What had he found out? Surely not about the baby? “Tonight? I . . . I’m not sure. I’ve not told the girls or made any arrangements with Alan.”

  “What we have to discuss is important to us both. The girls are old enough to fend for themselves. I’ll take you to that place you like on Deansgate, the one with the Art Deco interior.”

  “Expensive, and unwarranted. I’m perfectly happy with a sandwich across the road.”

  “Well, I’m not. I’ll pick you up outside the station at seven, and no excuses. We need to have a serious talk about the future. I’m not stupid, Rachel, I’ve known you too long to be fobbed off with tales of how much work you’ve got to do.”

  “Ok, see you later.” Rachel heaved a long sigh. He must know. Everything he said pointed that way. But that was a ridiculous idea. How could he know? Her pregnancy was a secret. Nonetheless, there was something on his mind that concerned them both, he’d said. And that scared her. What if he asked outright? There was no way she could lie to Jed. He’d dig and dig until he got to the truth anyway. This wasn’t how she wanted it to be.

  Rachel returned to the main office looking for Elwyn. She needed a sounding board, someone to give her advice. “Fancy a coffee?” she asked him.

  “Problem?”

  “Sort of.” They went downstairs to the canteen. “Jed wants to take me out this evening, he wants to talk. God knows how, but I think he knows about the baby. But I’ve not seen him since Spain, Elwyn, so what’s happened?”

  “Kenton, that’s what. You said yourself that they’d seen each other recently.”

  “Kenton doesn’t know either. I’ve said nothing about the baby to anyone other than you and Jude.”

  “It’s not that, then. He must want to see you about something else.”

  “There is nothing else.”

  “Tonight, you say. Shame, you’ll miss my housewarming.”

  Rachel felt awful, she’d completely forgotten about it. “Sorry Elwyn, baby brain,” she apologised.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Amy wasn’t happy at being given another behind-the-scenes task while Jonny was out there at the sharp end of this case. He was working hard, chasing promotion, which wasn’t a bad idea, but if there was promotion going, then she fancied it for herself.

  She studied the list of ten tenants. They were all still in the area. It meant tramping around to each one, hoping to catch them in. Amy decided to pass the task to uniform. They were welcome to it. Siddall, on the other hand, was a sure bet. He didn’t work and there was every chance he’d be at home. Amy decided to speak to him first and then Rita Pearce. Sherwin was bound to have drunk in the Spinners Arms — after all, Healey did — and the two knew each other.

  Amy took a uniformed constable with her, a fresh-faced young man called Jordan Hamilton, who she knew fancied her. It’d be a little light entertainment for the ride round.

  “Our Sergeant Pryce is having a housewarming party tonight. Coming?” she asked him.

  “Dunno. He issued a blanket invite in the incident room, but I don’t know anyone. I’ve only been in the job two minutes.”

  Amy laughed. “You should come. I wouldn’t worry about not knowing folk, we’re a friendly lot. All except stuck-up DCI King, that is. She’s particular who she takes under her wing. Currently it’s Jonny Farrell who’s her favourite.”

  Hands on the steering wheel, Jordan flushed. Amy realised he didn’t know how to reply. Probably afraid to say anything against King. She lau
ghed and punched his arm. “Don’t take any notice, I’m only winding you up. King’s okay in small doses.”

  “I’m hoping to make CID myself one day,” he said. “I don’t want to stand on too many toes. Perhaps I should go tonight, get to know everyone.”

  “Come along with me, if you want. We can meet up somewhere first and go in together. Give them all something to gossip about.”

  He glanced at her and flushed again. “You really wouldn’t mind? Turning up with me?”

  “No, Jordan. Like I said, it’ll get the tongues wagging.”

  “I only live down the road from the station. I could pick you up if you like,” he said.

  But Amy didn’t want that. Better to meet him on neutral ground. “I’ll meet you at the pub on the corner of Elwyn’s road. Be there at eight,” she said firmly.

  The crescent where Siddall lived was quiet, with no one about, not even a twitching curtain. When they parked outside, Amy looked at Jordan and shook her head. “Something’s not right, can’t you feel it? This place is giving me the creeps. I know it doesn’t look like anything’s going on, but it still feels as if there’s eyes watching us from everywhere.”

  The door to Siddall’s place was ajar. Jordan gave it a gentle push and called out, “Mr Siddall? Are you in?” There was no reply.

  “Look.” Amy pointed to the hall carpet. It was stained with blood. “I don’t like this.” She tiptoed through the sitting room, taking care to avoid the blood, and into the kitchen. Pans and broken crockery lay strewn all over the place.

  “What d’you reckon happened?” Jordan asked.

  “I’d say a fight,” Amy said. “And someone’s been badly injured if the amount of blood is anything to go by.”

  “What do we do?” Jordan asked.

  “I’ll have a look round, see if I can find Siddall. Stay here and don’t let anyone else enter. Call it in to the incident room.”

  Amy had a good look in every room but there was no sign of Andy Siddall. While Jordan was busy phoning the station, she went to see the neighbours and ask if they’d heard anything.

  Amy knocked on the house next door. No answer. It was the same all along the row. No one wanted to know, no one wanted to get involved.