This had the desired effect, and in five minutes Armstrong knew exactly what he needed to. He took a range of print outs, and told Hamilton to stand ready to give a formal statement. He complained, and Henry told him to shut up. Then he ran back to the family suite, where he found that Pepper was still there. He sensed that they’d just been talking about him, but didn’t comment. He didn’t give a shit about that now. He showed them both the printout, talking fast, and took both women through the time-line.
‘So what you’re saying,’ said Pepper, when he’d finished, ‘is that someone else triggered the lights in the corridor and the CCTV room, even though we know for certain that Josie was still looking for the DVD at the time?’
‘Yes, exactly. Because we can see that they both went off again when this other person left, and then came back on when Josie walked back out into the corridor, and then back to the CCTV room. And we know it was her who triggered them then, because the lights in the room she’d left stayed on for 90 seconds after the ones in the corridor came on for the second time, and that’s exactly what they should have done. There’s no doubt, Pepper, there was someone else there. There’s no other explanation.’
‘Great job, Henry. Nice one. So do we know who else was in the station at that time?’
‘I don’t. I thought we’d leave that to the dynamic duo from Professional Standards to find out.’
‘Sod them’, said Pepper, and picked up the phone on the coffee table. She spoke to Hamilton, who told her that what she was asking for was more than his job was worth. But five minutes later they were all looking at the list of who’d been in the building at 9.18pm.
‘Fifteen sworn officers, from the Super down,’ said Pepper, ‘plus seven full-time civilians and three contractors. They’ll be cleaners I expect. Those are the bloody suspects, Henry, right there. And don’t you worry any more, Josie love, because you’re in the clear.’
Henry got up, and Josie did too. She hugged him, and after a moment he hugged her back.
‘So what now, Pepper?’ he asked.
‘You two should probably get a room.’ She laughed. ‘Seriously, this is what happens next. Henry, you write this up, and email it all to that prat Jarvis. Then you phone Josie’s solicitor and give him a head-up, but don’t pass on the documentation. Just explain what we know, OK?’
‘Will do. Don’t worry, Josie, we’ll have you out of here in an hour or so, and then everything will go back to normal.’
Josie started crying again, but stopped after a few seconds. ‘Not for me, it won’t. This has been the worst day of my life, by a bloody mile. I’ll never forget it. And listen, thanks to both of you. I can’t thank you enough, honestly. But I can’t help thinking, what would have happened if I hadn’t had you two in my corner? Those bastards wanted me charged, not because I did it, but because I was there. That’s all there was to it. They don’t give a shit about the truth, or justice, do they? All they care about is getting a bloody result.’
DC Rex Copeland waited until Pepper had finished her second coffee of the day before he knocked on her office door. It was usually the safest plan.
‘You know the expression, don’t shoot the messenger?’ he said, when he’d sat down.
‘Aye, I do.’ She laughed. ‘What is it now, Rex? Don’t tell me you’re the bloody mole. I don’t think I could take it.’
‘No, not that. And anyway, Henry would never speak to me again if I’d tried to frame his bird.’
‘His bird?’
‘Well, she is now, isn’t she? Henry would look good on a white horse, I’ve always said so. But it’s these I wanted to show you, Pepper. And like I say, just don’t shoot the messenger, OK?’
Copeland opened the file he was carrying, and put four glossy prints down on the table, face up. Then he sat back a little and waited.
Pepper looked at them for a moment. Her expression didn’t change. ‘When were these taken?’
‘Yesterday morning.’
‘And by you, I take it?’
‘Yeah.’
‘And what does the log say you were doing, when you took these?’
‘Out on enquiries. The Pendergast fraud.’
‘And were you?’
‘I was on my way to interview a wit at the time.’
‘And you just happened to see Young talking to Davey Hood? Don’t bullshit me, Rex.’
‘I followed him. Hood I mean.’
‘Because?’
‘Because he’s at it, Pepper. You’re always saying that Dai Young is out to get you, well maybe this is how. Have you thought about that possibility?’
Pepper laughed at that. ‘You don’t know Dai, love. There’s no way on earth that he’d come up with something like that. He’s got all the subtlety of a red hot poker up the arse. And a bloke like Davey acting out a role? Some kind of Mata Hari in overalls? Come on, mate, act your age. He’s about as likely to do that as he is to take up ballet. There’s no bloody chance.’
‘So how do you explain these photos?’
‘So they talked. So what? It’s in the street, and it’s in broad daylight. And I’m assuming that it was Young who rocked up, and then approached Hood?’
‘Yeah, that’s right.’
‘Probably something and nothing, then.’
‘Come on, Pepper. That Hood bloke could be a bloody mass-murderer and you’d still be in his corner. Just admit it; he’s a con, just like the rest of them.’
‘He’s not, Rex. Just take my word for it, OK? And get back to your work, would you? Your proper work. You know, the stuff with a crime number, a victim, and all that unimportant sort of shit.’
‘All right, but you’re wrong, Pepper.’
He got up and turned to leave, but she called him back.
‘Sit. All right, I’ll tell you. Only me and Henry know this, so keep it to yourself. It’s Davey Hood who’s been donating that diesel to the foodbank and those other places. And guess who he’s been nicking it from?’
‘Dai Young?’
‘As good as, aye. So you see there’s no way that him and Dai Young are best mates, or anything like that. I’m absolutely certain of it, Rex.’
Copeland thought for a moment, then nodded reluctant acceptance. ‘All right, boss. If you say so.’
‘I do. But it’s good of you to keep an eye out for me, love. I appreciate that, I really do.’
‘Yeah, well. I’d better be getting back to my work, hadn’t I? I just wanted you to know what I’d seen, that’s all.’
‘Well you have, Rex. Now, was that all?’
‘Yeah. I’ll leave it with you then. But it’s not like you to see the best in people, I will say that.’
‘That’s because most people are selfish bastards, present company excepted. And I’ll talk to Davey Hood about all this. Don’t you worry about that, love.’
Pepper didn’t stray from her desk for the next two hours, and by the time she actually got up to go to the loo she was bursting. She’d barely sat back down again, having communicated her current hot beverage preference to Henry as she passed his desk by simply placing one forefinger against the other to make the shape of a capital ’T’, when her phone rang. She swore, and picked it up.
The civilians on reception were utterly crap at filtering calls, so it would probably be someone trying to sell the force something or other. The last one like that she’d taken was a bloke trying to sell security systems. She’d asked if he was taking the piss, but apparently other forces were using them on buildings that they were leaving unmanned. But this one wasn’t from a salesman, because Linda Taylor had used the false name that they’d agreed on.
‘All right, love? You’re on a pay as you go, I hope?’
‘Aye, I am.’
‘Good. Give me the number, and I’ll call you right back. This had better be important, love, because you’ve already broken rule one, like.’
Pepper called back, and Linda started talking. ‘I’m sorry, love. I know I’m not sup
posed to have contact with anyone from home, in case Tommy finds out. But I thought you were different, what with you being a cop, like.’
‘That’s all right, love, but don’t say any more than you have to. Like I explained, you’ve made a difficult decision, but now you need to see it through, OK?’
‘Aye, I know. I wonder how Tommy’s taking it, though.’
‘Do you really need to ask? He’s lost his cash machine, his personal cook and his walking bloody punch-bag. So he’ll be taking it badly. We’ve not nicked him for fighting yet, but give him time.’
‘He’ll be missing the kids, though. I know he will.’
‘That’s tough, love. He was shit to you, and he was no better to them. Trust me, I know the effect that dads like him have on their kids. You’re better off out of it, honestly.’
‘Aye, Pepper, I know. And I’d hate my kids to feel about their old fella the way that you do about yours.’
There was a silence. And when Linda spoke again Pepper could hear her trying to force a smile into her voice.
‘I just wanted to say thanks again. You know, for the money. It’s been a life-saver.’
‘Like I said, don’t mention it. I honestly can’t think of a better use for it, love.’
‘Well, I mean it. And I’ve got something for you. A gift, like, to say thanks again.’
‘What? There was no need to do that, love.’
‘I don’t mean a present, I mean information.’
‘Oh, aye? One for the road, like, is it?’
‘Something like that, aye. It came to me, just today. I know where Dai Young is putting up the lads who do his drug runs. You know, on the fishing boats.’
‘Really?’
‘Aye. It was something Tommy said, when these two lads came round to ours a couple of weeks back. Scottish they were. He made some joke about sailors, and one of them mentioned where he was staying. Just round the corner from us, like. They seemed like working lads, not yobs, like. And you did say that you thought Young was probably bringing his gear in on boats.’
‘Aye, but that doesn’t mean anything. Even if they were at it they wouldn’t still be around here. They’d be gone, long since. Out on the rolling waves, like.’
‘No, they won’t. That’s the thing, see. One of them said that there was a problem with the engine, and that they’d be staying for a week or two while it was fixed. The parts had to come from Sweden, or somewhere.’
‘All right, love, thanks, but I doubt there’s much we could do, even if we raided this boat. They won’t have the gear with them, will they?’
‘No, they won’t. But Tommy was giving them something to take, for the return journey, like.’
‘What?’
‘Don’t know, but it’s sure to be bent, like. It was a box, the size of small suitcase, something like that. Heavy too, I think.’
Pepper thought for a moment. If it was anyone else but Linda she’d just finish the call and forget about it. But Linda’s tips were always right. Not always detailed, but there was never any embellishment, any bullshit.
‘Where’s the boat, love? Did they say?’
‘Maryport. Aye, I’m sure of it. But I don’t know the name.’
‘And it’s been laid up for a few days?’
‘Aye. Engine trouble, like I say.’
‘Just two in the crew?’
‘No, three. The skipper was staying out west. The two who were in Carlisle were younger lads.’
‘And you didn’t get any names?’
‘One was called George, I do remember that.’
‘All right, love, thanks. I’ll check it out.’
Even before she rang off Pepper knew what she’d do next. A lad who’d joined the job at the same time as her, and had quit after turning out to one too many messy RTAs, was a Coastguard now, based at Maryport. She phoned, and he answered the phone. She asked if there was a fishing boat laid up in the harbour? He said that they did have one in, from the west coast of Scotland and with a crew of three, but that the repair was almost completed.
‘I had a pint with one of the engineers last night, as it happens. They’re testing it today, so I expect they’ll be off tomorrow.’
‘Regular visitors, are they, these lads?’
‘Two or three times a season, aye. They use up part of their quota, I expect. It’s not unusual. Is there anything I should know about this one, Pepper?’
‘No, nothing, don’t worry. And keep it to yourself that I called, eh, Pete?’
‘Will do. You planning to pay them a visit?’
‘Aye. Misuse of Drugs Act, I think. Will this boat be hard to board?’
‘No, they’re in the harbour, so you just climb down a ladder. And just shout if you need anything from me, or the lads. I can certainly keep an eye out when you rock up, and see if they chuck anything overboard. But you’ll be coming mob-handed, I expect. The drugs boys, the dogs, all that?’
‘No, it’s just a tip. But from a reliable snout, like. So it’ll just be me and a couple of DCs. It’d be good to have you around though, Pete. Is it all right if I phone you to confirm when I know we’re on, like?’
‘Aye, I’ll be here when you need me, on duty or off. Just let me know.’
Out of habit Pepper opened the intelligence report form for narcotics on her computer as soon as she’d rung off, but closed it again almost immediately. She got up, walked to her door, and called out to Rex and Henry, who came straight over to her office, Henry holding the door for Rex, just as he always did.
‘What’s happening with Josie?’ asked Pepper, because she knew that she should. ‘She’s gone home, I take it?’
‘Bailed, pending further enquiries’ said Henry. ‘That bastard Jarvis has made it pretty clear that they still reckon it’s her, despite all the evidence we’ve provided to the contrary.’
‘The CPS will never charge on the basis of what he’s got, love. Even without the lights going on and off, and all that, anyone could have used that phone. And they’ve got sod all else, I take it?’
‘Aye, absolutely nowt.’
‘There you are, then.’ Pepper thought for a minute. ‘So whoever did do it was acting spontaneously. Chancing their arm, like. Had to be.’
‘How do you work that out?’ asked Rex.
‘Because if they’d had the time they’d have framed her properly, wouldn’t they? You know, plant five hundred quid in her bag, or at her house. Something convincing, anyway. Enough to really muddy the waters.’
‘Well there’s nothing, thank Christ’, said Henry, ‘because she’s done nowt. I just wish I could bloody prove it, that’s all.’
‘Maybe we can’, said Pepper. ‘Or at least, maybe we can go a long way towards proving it, anyway.’
‘You mean you think you know who took her phone?’
‘No, not that. But what if we give her some intel, the real thing, and keep it from everyone else on that list? And then, if we found that the information had leaked, we’d know that she’s dirty. But if it doesn’t, and we all know that it won’t, then we can be pretty certain that she’s totally clean.’
Copeland shook his head. ‘Not really, Pepper. She might just be too smart for that.’
‘No’, Pepper laughed, ‘if she was that bloody clever she’d never have taken a fancy to Henry here, would she? And remember, our offender took a big risk last time, right? That lass could easily have caught whoever it was using her phone. So it stands to reason that they’d do it again, if they had more intel, like. And I’m not talking about court-of-law proof here, I’m talking about us knowing.’
‘Well, I already do know’, said Henry firmly, ‘but I’m up for it. What’s all this about then, Pepper?’
She told them, and then sat back, having already guessed their likely reactions. And she was almost right, because DC Copeland was sceptical, as he always was with tip-offs, and that was just as she expected. But, to her surprise, Henry didn’t seem anything like as enthusiastic as she’d
hoped.
‘It’s all a bit vague, isn’t it? We don’t really know what that boat is carrying, do we?’
‘No, Henry, we don’t. But I’ve learned that with Linda it’s best not to push too hard. Sometimes she keeps a bit back, maybe to protect herself, and occasionally she invents a bit when it comes to where the intel comes from. But let’s face it, they all do that, don’t they? The good ones, I mean. And, like I say, she’s never been wrong before. One other thing too, while I think of it. She didn’t have to say owt to me, did she? Why would she say anything now, unless it was solid? She literally never had to speak to me again, did she?’
‘That’s a fair point, now you come to mention it’, said Rex. ‘So why did she give you anything? I thought she’d left that shit-bird husband, and was off to Tahiti or somewhere.’
‘Tamworth, more likely’, said Pepper. ‘And she reckoned that she owed me a favour, I expect. For helping her get away from here. But like I say, I didn’t ask her for anything.’
‘OK, let’s try it’, said Henry. ‘And we tell no-one, expect Josie, about this. Is that right?’
‘Aye, that’s it. There are only three of them on the boat, including the skipper, and we’ve checked, the two lads crewing are really fishermen. They’ve got no records for violence. My guess is that they’ve got no bloody idea at all who they’re in bed with. They’ll be no trouble at all, I’ll bet you.’
‘Now where have we heard that before?’ said Rex, smiling. ‘They’ll probably turn out to be bloody Scottish ninjas, and strangle us with their bagpipes, or some shit like that.’
‘I really do need to send you on that diversity course, Rex.’
‘No, boss. I get a pass on that one, remember.’ He pointed at his face, and they all laughed.
‘Just because you’re black doesn’t mean you can’t be prejudiced.’
‘Apparently not. And now you come to mention it, I’m not sure that I like anyone all that much. So what does that make me, would you say?’
The Blue Notes Page 13