by M A Comley
Sally threw Jack a warning glance and nudged his leg under the table to keep calm. “It’s a simple question. I’m just trying to get a feel for your company and the service you provided back then.”
“My clientele were those in need who had been refused a loan from the bank.”
“That was very charitable of you. Did you have many clients? Or would you call them ‘customers’?”
“I used to call them something else entirely, but that name is not for ladies’ ears.” He laughed again.
The more he laughed, the more Sally detested the man and what he stood for. He’d probably spent half his adult life laughing at other people’s unfortunate circumstances. People like him deserved to be dropped on a desert island somewhere and left for the wildlife to feed off their bones. “So you helped the needy and the vulnerable. Is that correct?”
“Yeah, if you like. We’ve already established that. So what? Why are you here, badgering me like this?”
“Badgering you? I’d hardly class a few questions as badgering you. Okay, here’s where this is leading. You issued these loans with high interest rates. Is that right?”
“Yes, why shouldn’t I? I was willing to fork out the money when the crappy banks turned their backs on these people.”
“Bear with me—and what would happen if people didn’t repay the loans?”
“I never had anyone who didn’t repay what was due.”
Sally raised her eyebrow at him. “Seriously? No one ever backed out of their agreement with you? I find that hard to believe. Or are you telling me that the loan came with an ultimatum attached?”
He shrugged. “It might have done.”
“Would you mind telling me how that ultimatum was worded? Just for our records.”
“What’s the point? I ain’t in the trade now. Why the bloody hell are you bothered about what went on ten years ago anyway?”
“I’ll get to that in a moment. I need to find out how your business worked first. Say I took out a loan and couldn’t meet the payments, what would happen to me?”
“I’d send a couple of my boys around to issue a friendly reminder that the payment was due.”
“And supposing I’d had a run of bad luck and simply didn’t have a couple of pounds to go towards the loan repayment, what would your boys do then?”
“Take a few of your possessions. You would be able to buy the possessions back at a later date.”
“On top of the missed loan repayment not instead of it, right?”
He tapped his nose and winked at her. “You’ve got the drift. Clever, ain’t ya?”
“I try my best. So, that’s one scenario covered. What would your boys do in the event that the person didn’t have any possessions to barter with?”
Spike’s eyes narrowed. “Is this some kind of trick question?”
“No, I’m genuinely interested. I’ll tell you why in a second.”
“My boys would rough the person up a little.”
“Now we’re getting somewhere. And in the likelihood that person would fail to meet a payment the second time, how would they be treated then?”
“You’re taking the piss now, love. I don’t have to answer that.”
Sally glanced at Jack, who had looked up from his notebook and was giving Spike the evil eye.
“Answer the Inspector’s question or we’ll haul your arse down the station, got that, buddy?”
Spike bristled under Jack’s glare, intimidated by his tone and his threat. “My boys have been known to go a bit too far on occasion.”
“Are we talking about putting punters in hospital, or worse than that?”
Spike’s gaze surveyed his surroundings, and a large sigh escaped his lips. “I don’t believe you haven’t looked back on your records about this.”
“The case we’re working on hasn’t allowed me to do that as yet. Why don’t you save me the time and tell me what route that kind of negligence might take?”
“Two of my men got a little carried away and ended up killing a punter. That’s why I was put in the nick.”
“For manslaughter or murder?”
“Neither. My brief got me off on a lesser charge. Those guys went against my wishes and paid the price.”
“They went to prison on a murder charge then, yes?”
“Yeah, they deserved that.”
“Who was the unfortunate punter who lost his life?”
He shrugged. “I can’t remember the name. Some waster who enjoyed the poker tables too much. His stakes got too high, and his gambling debts got out of control—twenty grand, on top of what he owed me. He had no intention of repaying my dosh, so the boys went over there to teach him a lesson. They got carried away, had no idea this guy had a weak heart, and he ended up having a heart attack. They barely touched him.”
“That’s very unfortunate. Is there ever a time when you refuse to give people a loan?”
Spike thought over her question for a second or two then replied, “No, because everyone signs the agreement to pay back that loan, even if it takes years.”
“Which is why you charge the extortionate interest rates?”
“I have to make money somehow. Will you get to the point of this visit? All these facts could have been found online. Ever heard of Google?”
Sally wanted to swipe the smug grin off his face. “Do the names Wilson and Jenkinson ring a bell?”
He ran a hand through his thinning spiky hair. “Should they?”
“Think back to around ten years ago, maybe a little before that, possibly eleven. They both came to you for a loan.”
“And what about them? Nothing is registering with me so far. Why should I remember their names in particular?”
“Because they both went missing around the time they owed you money. We’ve been told by their respective partners that you went after them to recover your debt.”
“Jesus, I’m with you now. They were two scallies who my guys found out were burgling the community—is that the ones?”
“Yes, so you just gave up on the men and turned your attention to their womenfolk instead?”
“Yeah, that’s the way it works. In my book, the whole family is responsible for that debt. Can you imagine how many fuckers take the money and run? Dozens! The agreement they sign states that the debt belongs to the household and isn’t just a personal debt to the one taking out the loan.”
“Really? And the punters are aware of that clause when they sign the contract, or is it buried deep in the small print?”
“It’s up to them to read the small print before adding their moniker to the paperwork.”
“That’s appalling and surely wouldn’t stand up in a court of law.”
“A lot you know then, because it was my bloody solicitor who drew up the agreement, and he’s as straight as they come.”
I doubt that, buster, but I’ll be sure to check into that. “When Wilson and Jenkinson absconded, did you try and find them?”
“I did. My guys searched for the little shits for weeks when their wives said they’d done a bunk.”
“Here’s my dilemma. How do I know that you didn’t put the frighteners on them before they were reported missing?”
“What the fuck are you saying?”
“New evidence has been uncovered this week... when I say ‘uncovered’, what I’m really saying is that we discovered the bodies of Wilson and Jenkinson buried in a shallow grave on the edge of Thetford Forest.”
Spike pushed back his chair and paced the patio before he pointed a wagging finger at Sally. “No frigging way are you pinning that shit on me. I ain’t going down for another couple of murders. No way!”
“Calm down, Mr. Barker. Take a seat.” His genuine reaction told Sally that he probably hadn’t directly had anything to do with the burglars’ deaths, but that didn’t mean his boys hadn’t. “What about your boys? Could they have carried out the deed and not told you?”
“No way. My boys are loyal. They would’ve told me.�
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“Okay, that aside, I have another line of questions to ask you regarding an incident that occurred around that time.”
“What is this? You’ve uncovered a few murders, and you thought you’d try to pin them all on me just because I’ve got a record?”
“No, it’s not that at all. Hear me out first. Do you recall authorising a loan to an Aisha Thomas?”
He clawed at his temple as if the inside of his head itched. “I can’t remember, and that’s the truth.”
“Maybe her husband’s name will help you remember? Patrick Thomas.”
“Vaguely. Why?”
“You must have read about the case or heard her name mentioned on the news at the time.”
“Who has time to watch the news? I know I didn’t in those days.”
“She was found murdered in her home, not long after she returned from her job as a music teacher at Highfield School. Ringing any bells now?”
“Nope, still nothing concrete.”
“She was married to a police officer. How about that?”
“Now I’ve got you.”
“Her death was never solved, so we’re working on the cold case at present.”
“And? What’s this got to do with you coming here today?” His brow furrowed, and his lip curled up at one side as he glared at her.
“During our investigation, we found a tenuous link between Aisha Thomas, Wilson and Jenkinson—all three murder victims whom we’ve spent the last fifteen minutes discussing.”
“Get on with it, Inspector. You’re talking in bloody riddles.”
“That link, Mr. Barker, leads back to you and your business. Now do you see where this line of questioning is going?”
“No way! You can’t pin anything on me, lady. No frigging way! The bitch wanted the money to make a sprog with her old man through IVF. I lent her the money so her dream could come true. No way did I go round there and frigging kill her after I’d given her the dosh, if that’s what you’re implying.”
“Ah, so you do remember the woman in question, after all?”
“Yeah, it suddenly came to me. I’ll tell you this, though. When the hubby came to pay off the debt, I was surprised he’d taken up with that bird so soon after his beloved wife had departed.”
Sally shot Jack a puzzled look then turned back to Barker. “He turned up to see you with a lady friend?”
“Hey, she looked more than just a friend to me, lady, if you get my drift.”
“Can you describe this woman?”
“It’s been ten years, for fuck’s sake.”
“Please try. It could be the break we’re looking for.” Sally offered him a strained smile.
“Don’t quote me on this, but she was about his height. Either brown or red hair—can’t really remember, but it definitely wasn’t blonde.” He faced his wife and pecked her on the cheek. “I’m partial to blondes, so I would have definitely remembered that.”
“Brilliant. I don’t suppose you heard him use her name?”
“Nah, that’s as good as the memory gets, sorry.”
“That’ll do for now then, unless you would consider working with a police sketch artist to help us ascertain her identity.”
“Nah, it wouldn’t work. I couldn’t give the artist any more than I’ve given you already.”
“That is a shame.”
“So, does this mean that I’m off the hook now? Are you going to start pointing the finger in the husband’s direction?”
“It means we have another line of enquiry open to us. If we arrest someone, would you be willing to come in for a line-up?”
“Me on the other side of a line-up—that’s bloody comical, that is! Yeah, if that’s what it will take to keep you lot off my back, then count me in.”
Sally slid one of her cards across the table. “See, that was pretty harmless, wasn’t it? If you think of anything else after we leave, please get in touch straight away, day or night.”
“Yep, will do.”
Mrs. Barker was the first to stand, followed by Sally and Jack. “I’ll show you out.”
“We really appreciate your time and help, thanks,” Sally said as she passed Barker, who was about to light up the largest Cuban cigar she’d ever seen.
“Don’t make a habit of turning up at my door, Inspector. I’ve gone straight now.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t have set up another loan business in your wife’s name, since that’s what led us to your door in the first place.” Sally winked and walked back into the lounge.
Marissa slammed the front door behind them, almost catching Jack on the backside. “Bloody cheek. Are you sure we can’t pin something on the bastard, just to teach them both another lesson?”
Sally laughed. “Let’s get back to the station.”
Once they’d returned, Sally brought the team together to share the news they had gathered.
“Whoa, boss, are you saying this means that Patrick Thomas is our main suspect now?” Joanna asked, flabbergasted.
“It’s going to be hard to discount him. Let’s keep digging for now. We’ve still got two suspects that we haven’t spoken to as yet.”
“Are we going to question the husband again?” Jack asked.
“I need more facts first, not forgetting we have this other woman that we should start looking into. Didn’t Patrick say that he hadn’t been with anyone since his wife’s death, Jack?”
“That’s right. His partner said he was an only child, maybe he’s got a sister that she didn’t know about? On the other hand, I suppose it could have been Caroline he was talking about. Maybe he showed up there with his partner while they were on duty one day.”
“Let’s look into his family members, perhaps he didn’t have a sister but a cousin he was close to. Anything else show up while we were out?” The team responded with a mixture of shrugs and the shaking of heads. “That’s not good. I really don’t want us to pin all our hopes on one person only to find that person innocent, like the original investigation.”
Sally walked into her office and rang Simon. “Hi, it’s me again.”
“Hello, Me Again. You just caught me having a coffee and catching up on some paperwork before my next PM. How’s it going?”
“The case? It isn’t, not really. I’ve got a list of suspects, so I suppose we’re one up on the original team, but nothing that would hold up in court. We’ve got a suspect on the run, plus one who is presently out of the country. Once we question them, we should be a step nearer to cracking the case. Our hands are tied now, though, and it’s just so frustrating. We did learn that the husband had a girlfriend, according to the loan shark we questioned earlier today, but he could have made a mistake. We’re checking to see if Patrick has any female relatives around his age. According to his partner she thought he was an only child, or we’re thinking he might have shown up there with his partner, perhaps after their shift had ended one day.”
“Very interesting. Can you trust what this loan shark says?”
“It’s a case of having to at this point, but yes, we’re being cautious. That’s why I have refrained from calling him in for another interview.”
“I see. Maybe we should see if the bite mark on Aisha’s arm matches the husband.”
“Hmm... perhaps we should leave that for now. Let’s see what the search for relatives comes up with first, and then I can come back to that. Any news at your end, regarding any links to other murders found in the area at the time?”
“No, nothing. I heard about half an hour ago, sorry.”
“Never mind. It was worth a shot. I think I’m going to call it a day soon. Can’t wait to see you on Sunday. Don’t go bringing any fancy bottles of wine with you. Remember my folks are simple people.”
“Thanks for the warning. Maybe it is a little early to bring out the champagne, especially as you haven’t given me your answer yet.”
Sally groaned. “Please don’t keep heaping the pressure on me. I’m still mulling things over, but I
promise to give you an answer soon. Let’s see how you get on with my parents first.”
“Is that what this boils down to? Whether or not I get on with your parents?”
“No, I didn’t necessarily mean it like that. I wish you’d stop twisting my words. I’m going to hang up before one of us says the wrong thing.”
“Coward!”
“Yep, I’ll give you a ring tomorrow evening to firm up plans for Sunday.”
“Sounds wonderful. Talk then.”
Sally ended the call with a smile on her face and her heart thumping against her ribs. Hearing his voice had set her up to deal with the paperwork littering her desk. A few hours later, she rejoined her team. “Okay, guys, let’s call it a week and start afresh on Monday morning bright and early.”
The team agreed, and they left the station within minutes of each other. Jack held the passenger door to his car open for Sally; she’d forgotten he was giving her a lift home.
“Do you have anything special planned this weekend?” she asked as he pulled out of the car park and into the sluggish traffic.
“No, nothing really. I was hoping to either put my feet up or get some fishing in. What about you?”
“It’s the dreaded boyfriend-meets-the-parents lunch looming on Sunday. I’m a little apprehensive about that.”
“You’ll be fine. I’ve met both respective parties, and what’s not to love? Is this to do with Simon’s suggestion regarding you moving in with him?”
“Yes and no. I’m still not a hundred percent sold on the idea. Maybe I’m just petrified of things going wrong between us like it did with Darryl.”
“I think you’re being daft. If we all went through life with those kinds of thoughts, no one would ever walk down the aisle or move in with someone else again after experiencing a failed relationship.”
“I know. It’s easier said than done. Seriously, in my heart, I know Simon is the polar opposite to Darryl, but my head is the one issuing the stark warning.”
“It’s a tough call. Not one to be taken lightly, I guess.” They arrived at Sally’s house. “Looks like your dad got your tyres fixed.”
“Thank goodness! I’m lost without a car. Thanks for the lift. Want to come in for a quick cuppa?”