‘Have you got a key for Tracey’s property, Mr Champion?’ asked Simms, the female officer.
‘No. Tracey asked me for the spare key a while ago and never gave it back. She preferred me to pick the little ’un up away from the house. She’s all about appearances, is Tracey. I never matched up to the Brad Pitt criteria she saw herself with. I bumped into one of Tracey’s neighbours recently and the woman had no idea I was Toby’s father. Tracey had told the woman his father was a gangster serving a long sentence for smuggling diamonds. This is what I mean when I say fantasist. I would never have her down as a murderer though. What am I meant to tell our son? Will she get bail?’
‘I think that’s highly unlikely, considering the circumstances, Mr Champion,’ Dennings said. ‘We will need to take a statement from you. Seeing as you own the property Jason was found in, and also the property where the evidence was found. You’ll need to confirm your whereabouts on Wednesday as well – not that you’re a suspect or anything.’
‘I was at Colchester Zoo most of the day with Toby, a pal of mine and his son, Peter. We stopped at a restaurant for something to eat on the way home, then I drove straight to Mel’s. She’d left messages on my phone earlier in the day saying she was trying to get hold of Jase, but I’d purposely left my phone in the car. A couple of my clients had been driving me mad the past few days and I needed a break. I returned Melissa’s calls while I was in the restaurant and could tell she and Shay were worried. That’s why I drove straight there. Tracey had not long left, by all accounts, had been drunk and acting weird, Shay told me.’
‘And you and Shay drove straight to the property in Upshire, did you?’ Dennings asked.
‘Yes, that’s right. Jason can be a bit of a fly-by-night, so I wasn’t unduly worried. I only started to panic when I realized the front door had been left open. All the lights were off and it was getting dark by then. I urged Shay to wait in the car, but she’s headstrong, like Jason. She ran upstairs and found Jase laying there, the poor bastard.’
‘Have you a spare key for the Upshire property?’ enquired the female officer.
‘Yes. It’s in the safe at my office. I keep all my sets of spare keys there.’
‘Is there any way Tracey could have got her hands on that key?’
‘Well, yes, I suppose so. I gave her the code after Toby was born. She took money out a few times while I was away on business. But she would always ask me first. As far as I’m aware, she has never been to my office without my knowledge.’
The two officers glanced at each other. The key that had been found among other evidence was the key to the property in Upshire.
Tracey Thompson stared at the evidence that was lying on the table in front of her very eyes. It was a gun, very similar to the one she’d found in Greg’s sports bag. Not that she’d know one gun from another, but it was the same size. ‘And?’ Tracey said nonchalantly.
Noakes pushed the sealed see-through bag towards her. ‘For the benefit of the tape, I am showing Miss Thompson exhibit A, the gun that was found under her floorboards inside her walk-in wardrobe.’
‘No way!’ Tracey spat. ‘That isn’t mine. I’ve never seen it before.’ She was angry now, wanted to get out of this dump so she could visit Melissa. Jason wasn’t dead. He couldn’t be and only Mel would tell her the truth. Assuming she knew it, of course.
‘We believe this gun is the weapon that was used to kill Jason Rampling. It was found in your house, Miss Thompson, and has your fingerprints all over it. How do you explain that, if you’ve never seen it before?’ Noakes probed.
Tracey smashed her fists against the table. This was beyond a joke now, was becoming scarier by the second. ‘You’re lying! You never found that in my house, neither is Jason dead. Prove to me he’s dead. Go on, prove it.’
Fenton grinned. He had hated Tracey Thompson on sight and didn’t believe in the dumb blonde act she was putting on. She actually reminded him of his ex-fiancée, Laura. She’d been a lying bitch too. ‘For the benefit of the tape and Miss Thompson’s lack of belief in what the police force tell her, she is being shown a photo of the deceased, Jason Rampling.’
Tracey flinched as her eyes focused on the photo in front of her. A man who looked very much like Jason was lying on the ground, his eyes closed and a gaping hole in his head. ‘Oh my God! That isn’t him, is it? Please tell me it isn’t Jason. It can’t be him,’ she screamed.
Shay opened the door to Simon, her eyes red and puffy. ‘Mel’s in the kitchen. What you brought him round here for? That’s her son. The slut who murdered my dad,’ Shay hissed. She was so angry, hated the world right now and everybody in it.
‘What matter, Shay?’ Toby asked, perplexed by the unusual greeting. Shay normally gave him kisses and cuddles.
‘Go see your wonderful Auntie Mel. She’s in the kitchen,’ Shay barked, without even looking at the child.
When his son scuttled off, Simon turned to Shay with hurt in his eyes. ‘Tobes is an innocent child, Shay. I know you’re upset, and you’ve every right to be. But it isn’t Toby’s fault what happened, or mine, or Mel’s. None of us could have foreseen this coming.’ Melissa had told him on the phone earlier that Shay was blaming her.
‘I don’t want to look at her kid, OK? I’m going to my room,’ Shay growled, stomping up the stairs like a naughty schoolchild.
Melissa rolled her eyes as Simon entered the kitchen. ‘Leave her be. She’s in shock; bless her, like we all are.’ Mel picked Toby up and smothered him in kisses. She would always be there for her favourite little boy, no matter what.
‘Swimming pool,’ Toby grinned, pointing towards the garden. The rain they’d had the past couple of days had stopped now. It was bright and sunny again.
‘Go put your trunks on first then. You know where they are,’ Melissa said, lowering the child to the ground and playfully tapping him on the bottom.
‘You heard from Donte yet?’ Simon asked.
‘No. He has broken my heart, Simon. He hates me.’
‘No, he doesn’t. He’ll come round.’
‘Do you fancy a coffee?’
‘It’s too hot for coffee. I’d love a beer though, if you’ve got one.’
Melissa opened the fridge and handed Simon a cold can of Foster’s. ‘I still can’t believe Jase is dead, can you? I didn’t sleep at all last night. I miss him so much; keep expecting him to walk through the door. I can’t believe the police have charged Tracey. What could possess her to want to kill Jason? It doesn’t make any sense, does it?’
Simon cracked open the can. ‘The woman is obviously a fucking psychopath, she must be. I can’t get me head round what’s happened either. It’s madness, just doesn’t seem real. Shall we sit in the garden and talk? We can watch Toby play. It’s sweltering in here.’
Melissa smiled. ‘OK.’
Simon winked. ‘After you.’
Tracey Thompson was no longer brazen. She was scared witless, the reality of the situation she’d gotten herself into having now hit home with one almighty bump. The duty solicitor was useless, had advised her to not comment on the accusations, but Tracey was determined to prove her innocence. ‘I swear on my son’s life, I am telling the truth. Ask Melissa, if you don’t believe me. I told her all about finding Greg’s sports bag with the gun inside. That’s how my fingerprints must’ve got on it. Mel knew I touched the gun, I told her that too. Ask her, go on, ring her up or something.’
Noakes looked at Fenton and raised his eyebrows. Tracey was certainly a fantasist. She acted as though she truly believed in what she was saying. ‘For the benefit of the tape, I am now showing Miss Thompson exhibit B, a bloodstained pink Dolce and Gabbana T-shirt. Does this Dolce and Gabbana T-shirt belong to you, Miss Thompson?’
Tracey was open-mouthed. ‘No. Well, yes. But I only bought it a couple of weeks ago. I’ve only worn it once. That’s not my blood on it, or Jason’s. It can’t be,’ she shrieked.
‘We’ll see about that when the forensics results are i
n. This really isn’t looking favourable for you, Tracey,’ Fenton said. ‘Why don’t you just admit the truth and tell us why you killed Jason? Were you having an affair with him? Was that the reason? Only, your friend Melissa is in bits, deserves to know the truth, don’t you think?’
Tracey felt sick to the stomach as Greg’s handsome face flashed through her mind. He’d set her up, he must have done. But why? No wonder he’d had his phone cut off, the evil conniving bastard. ‘I swear to almighty God that I am innocent. You have to believe me,’ Tracey wept. If circumstances had been different, she would’ve been inclined to blurt out the truth. That she’d always secretly been in love with Jason, Toby was his son, and she’d have run off with him tomorrow, given half a chance, but she couldn’t say that now. The police would see that as an incentive for murder, would think she was some bunny-boiler who’d flipped, and nothing could be further from the truth. ‘Speak to Melissa, please,’ she begged. ‘I swear she will tell you all about Greg and the gun. There was paperwork too, a plan of a building and a balaclava. I thought he was an armed robber. Mel’s met him. We were out together at the Prince Regent the night I first set eyes on him. He looked like Brad Pitt. Ask her. She’ll back up my story, I promise you she will,’ Tracey sobbed.
Realizing Tracey was in no fit state to continue the interview, her solicitor asked to take a break.
Noakes said he was stopping the tape, sealed it in a bag, then asked Tracey and her solicitor to sign for it.
Overcome by the enormity of Jason’s death, the accusation aimed at her and Greg’s ultimate betrayal, Tracey fell in a heap at Noakes’s feet and clung to his ankles. She looked up at him, sobbing. ‘Please go and see Mel. I beg you.’
Noakes gestured for Fenton to follow him. ‘Don’t worry, we’ll check out your story. I hope for your sake you’re telling the truth, love. Because if your mate tells us any different, chances are, you’re doomed.’
Toby Champion stared forlornly at his toy truck as Shay stepped over it completely ignoring him again. As far as he knew, he hadn’t done anything wrong.
Melissa was fuming, had had enough of Shay’s childish behaviour. She stomped into the kitchen after her step-daughter and slammed the door. ‘I thought better of you, d’ya know that. I was proud of you yesterday when you told me you’d visited Babs and Jason’s brothers to tell them the news in person, and your father would’ve been proud of you too. But this, today, is playground behaviour. That poor little sod asked me earlier if he’d been naughty. He hasn’t a clue what is going on. You’re not the only one who is hurting, Shay. I’ve lost my son and husband in the space of two days. And my best friend, so to speak. How the fuck do you think I am feeling?’
Shay’s eyes welled up as the truth hit home. ‘I’m sorry. I know it’s not your fault, or Si’s, or Toby’s. It’s that nutty slag’s fault, nobody else’s.’
Melissa walked over to Shay and enveloped her in her arms. ‘Let all them tears out, sweetheart. Don’t bottle ’em up. I’ll always be here for you, ya know. You’re the daughter I never had.’
‘And you’re the mum I never had,’ Shay replied sincerely.
‘Go and give Toby a cuddle, eh? None of us have eaten all day. Shall we order a takeaway in a bit?’
‘Mel, the police are back again,’ Simon shouted out. He opened the front door and invited Noakes and Fenton inside.
‘Sorry to bother you again, Melissa,’ Noakes apologized. ‘But I have some more questions regarding Tracey. She was insistent I visited you.’
Melissa sat on the arm of the sofa. ‘Would you take Toby upstairs and bath him, Simon?’ she asked. ‘The little ’un is staying here tonight. Simon hasn’t told him anything yet,’ Mel explained to the officers.
Noakes sat on the armchair and took out a notebook. ‘Tracey informs us she’s recently been dating a man named Greg Richardson whom she met on a night out with you. Can you verify that for us?’
‘Erm, I wouldn’t exactly call it dating. She met a guy called Greg when we last went up the Prince Regent, but as far as I know, he took her out a couple of times, then she never heard from him again.’
‘Tracey also informed us that Greg left a sports bag at her house that had a gun inside. She proclaims she handled the gun and told you all about her find.’
‘No,’ Melissa lied. ‘First I’ve heard about a gun or sports bag. I don’t think Greg ever stepped foot inside her house. She would’ve told me had things gone that far. She really did like him though, kept on droning on about him all the time. She’s like that with every man she meets, mind. Becomes obsessed very quickly and I think that’s what drives them away.’
Noakes glanced at Fenton. Both were thinking the same thing. A positive DNA result was all they needed now and they could celebrate.
‘I’m going with Simon to pick up the takeaway, Shay. It’s so stuffy in here, I need some fresh air. Do you want anything else brought back?’ Melissa asked.
‘A bottle of Coke. I’m not even hungry, but I know I should try and eat something.’
‘Yes, you must. We’ll start planning your dad’s funeral tomorrow, give him the send-off he deserves. Have a think about what music you want played. I won’t be long. Keep your eyes peeled in case Toby wakes up, won’t you?’
Melissa followed Simon outside and got in the passenger seat of his Range Rover. ‘You OK?’ she enquired.
Simon put his forefinger to his lips and drove towards a spot he knew was secluded. You could never be too careful. He very much doubted the police were treating himself or Melissa as suspects, but he’d learned from an early age, it was better to be safe than sorry.
Peggy Rampling marched into Dagenham police station with Irish Ted by her side. There was a queue of people waiting and none of them looked English. ‘I need to go before you lot,’ Peggy said in a very slow manner, hoping they would understand her. ‘My problem is very important,’ she added pointing at herself.
‘So is mine,’ said a Muslim-looking chap with a cockney accent.
‘Your grandson been fucking murdered by his wife an’ all then, has he?’ Peggy hollered.
‘Keep your voice down, pet. You don’t want to get arrested yourself,’ Irish Ted warned.
‘Why don’t you sod off down the Paddy club with all your Paddy mates. You’re a bastard hindrance, not a help.’ Peggy’s heart was literally broken, but she was determined not to let her emotions get the better of her. It was too much of a coincidence that Jason had been murdered right after receiving a huge windfall and Peggy wanted to make sure a certain woman got her just desserts. Only after that would she grieve, in private. Her Jason had always been there for her, God rest his kind soul, and Peggy was determined to be there for him. It was the least she could do. She had known from the start that marriage would end badly, but never in her wildest dreams had she envisaged this.
As somebody walked out the reception area, much to the displeasure of the others waiting, Peggy barged in there.
‘Were you next in the queue?’ the duty sergeant asked.
‘That doesn’t matter.’ Peggy banged her fists on the counter. ‘I want to report a serious crime. My grandson’s wife had him murdered.’
Simon reached his destination, leapt out the motor and opened the passenger door.
Melissa fell into Simon’s arms. ‘Did you get the money?’ she whispered. She had given Simon the key to Jason’s safety-deposit box.
‘I sure did,’ he grinned. ‘The world’s our oyster now, babe. Well, it will be once the trial is over.’
‘I wouldn’t be so sure about that. Jason’s nan knows about the painting.’
‘Shit! He never told me he’d told her.’
‘Nor me. She turned up at mine today, all but accusing me of murdering him. She said she was going to the police.’
Simon rolled his eyes and stared into Melissa’s. ‘Try not to worry. She’s known to the police for shoplifting and no one on earth would suspect us as long as we stick to our story and plan. Did you
get rid of the contract for the house?’
‘Yes. I burned it.’
‘Good girl.’
‘Do you honestly think we’ve got away with it?’
‘Without a doubt. More chance of hell freezing over than Tracey getting off.’
‘I did feel sorry for Shay though, finding Jason like that.’
‘Unavoidable, unfortunately. She was adamant on accompanying me to the house. Would’ve looked fishy had we stopped her.’
‘I know.’
Simon moved a lock of Melissa’s hair away from her face. ‘Any regrets re Jason or Tracey?’
Melissa looked into the kind eyes of her husband’s best friend. ‘None whatsoever. What goes around comes around.’
Squeezing Melissa’s buttocks against his rock-hard penis, Simon smiled. ‘That’s my girl. I love you.’
Melissa felt a wave of happiness wash over her. All she had ever wanted in life was a man she could trust, who loved her unconditionally and who wanted the same things as she did. It was just a damn shame she’d had to go to such lengths to achieve it.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
2009 – Eight Months Later
Melissa Rampling clambered inside the black taxi, put her seatbelt on and closed her eyes. She was dreading today even more than she’d dreaded Jason’s funeral and giving evidence, couldn’t wait for it to be over with.
‘Why didn’t Simon travel with us?’ Shay enquired. She had no idea her step-mum and Simon were deeply in love.
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