by Ken Bruen
They paused.
‘Be careful out there.’
More polite laughter. Ol’ Tommy, he was a big kidder.
Then he got on the phone. His solicitor, chosen well.
‘Harry … it’s Tommy Logan.’
‘Tommy how are you?’
‘I’ve a wee bit o’ bother.’
‘Oh dear, maybe we can help.’
Harry was a Mason, knew where help was located.
‘There’s two policemen, a DI Roberts and his sergeant, a guy named Brant. They’ve begun to harass me, upset the missus, that sort of thing.’
‘We can’t have that.’
‘I knew you’d understand.’
‘Leave it to me Tommy, it’s already being processed.’
‘Thanks Harry.’
‘We must have that game of golf soon.’
‘Of course … ta-ra then.’
‘Bye.’
Unless Tommy took his hurley to the links, there was as much chance of nine holes as Brant being promoted.
The South London Press had a photo of Falls on the front page and the headline:
‘Shy Heroine Stops Clapham Rapist’
Shy because she refused an interview.
McDonald got a brief line as her partner. He wasn’t complaining. Brant’s version of the event had been accepted and if he got a little glory, all the better.
Rosie’s death had prevented a deeper investigation. It was known that a keg of scandal could be opened, so the authorities let it be.
Falls tried to talk to Roberts, cornered him in the canteen. He said, ‘I’m sorry about Rosie, I liked her a lot.’
‘Thanks, guv.’
She indicated his cup, offered, ‘More tea?’
‘No, I’m about finished.’ Which, roughly translated meant, ‘Spit it out.’
She tried. ‘It’s about the rapist, sir…
‘Oh yeah. Congratulations, you did well … bloody well.’
‘Sir, it’s about his death.’
‘Good riddance I say.’
‘Sir, on moral grounds…
He put up his hand, ‘Whoa, we’re coppers-morality has no place in it.’
‘But, sir-’
He quoted, ‘If a mere code of ethics could keep it legal, there’d be no need of us. I don’t give advice but lemme say this … Leave it alone.’
‘I don’t know if I can, sir.’
He stood up, said, ‘You’ve no choice. If there’s anything to be resolved here, it’s why you don’t appreciate the sergeant who saved your life.’
Walked away.
‘So he knows … God, why am I surprised?’
Roberts got the call to the Super’s office. No invitation to sit down, right to it.
‘You’re to lay off Tommy Logan.’
‘What?’
‘There’s a highly sensitive investigation underway. You’d only jeopardise months of work.’
‘Are you aware that he killed my brother?’
‘Are you aware I’m your superior officer and to be addressed as ‘sir’?’
Roberts felt reckless, dangerously so, said, ‘I don’t get it, Logan’s not a Mason.’
The Super was up, spitting, ‘I don’t think I like your inference, you’d be wise to proceed with great care.’
Roberts didn’t even hear him, was trying to put it together, then, ‘Wait a mo! It’s his bloody solicitor, that scumbag Harry Something. Christ yeah, he’s definitely in the lodge.’
‘That will be all Chief Inspector. I’m going to overlook your outburst, put it down to your grief. You can go.’
Roberts pulled himself together, prepared to leave. The Super added, ‘It would be a conflict of interest to have you on a family case.’
‘With all due respect, that’s bollocks … sir.’
Moving on
Sarah Cohen was Rosie’s replacement. On her arrival at the station, the desk sergeant said, ‘Cohen? A bloody Yid.’ She now knew what to expect. With curly brown hair, brown eyes and a snub nose, she was half-ways pretty. Like any new person, the voice in her head roared:
Run
Get
The
Fuck
Out
Now
Before…
Burning with zeal, she had done a year of Social Science. That burnt out. On a whim, she’d applied to the police. Here she was, scared witless. The desk sergeant asked, ‘What would you like to do today?’
She’d been about to respond, ‘A little light traffic to start and home early.’
The desk sergeant was grinning, said, ‘How does the North Peckham Estate sound?’
Sounded awful is what. Before she made a total fool of herself, a voice said, ‘Lay off her, Dennis.’
Brant. He nodded at Dennis, said, ‘He likes to fuck with new people. I need a WPC … let’s go.’ And he was already moving.
The desk sergeant offered, ‘Outta the frying pan…
Sarah had hoped for a nice cup of tea to begin. She was up all night pressing her uniform. Brant was climbing into a battered Volvo, asked, ‘Wanna drive?’
‘Ahm, no thank you.’
A huge smile and he said, ‘I love fuckin’ manners.’
Falls was getting obsessed with Brant and didn’t try to fight that. It stopped her thinking of Rosie which she couldn’t get a handle on.
In the pub one time, they’d all been celebrating. A little tipsy, she asked him, ‘How come you’ve never come on to me?’
‘What?’
He was mid-Cornish pasty and stared.
‘You’ve never hit on me. All the times we’ve been thrown together. Am I not yer type?’
He looked at the pie, said, ‘Ever notice with these things, you start off cold. Lulls you into a false sense of security and then the middle is burning, leaps to the roof of yer mouth and clings?’
She laughed, asked, ‘Is that a metaphor?’
He dumped the remains on the floor, said, ‘Naw, it’s just a pasty. But naw, yer not my type.’
More bothered than she would have anticipated, she got silly, said, ‘Is it a black thing?’
‘I like black fine as long as they’re bimbos.’
‘Oh come on sarge, I don’t buy that.’
He grabbed a pint, drank half, belched, said ‘I have no problem with women talking. Hell, it punctuates the time. What I hate is women thinking they’ve something to say.’
She was horrified, let it show, then, ‘That’s the most chauvinistic thing I’ve ever heard.’
He drained the glass, said, ‘I’ve got a question…
‘Go ahead.’
‘When this shindig’s over, will you let me jump you?’
She physically drew back. ‘How dare you!’
‘See … you’re a good cop, Falls, and not bad looking. But yer not a babe. You’d want to talk after we’d done it. Me, I want me kip, so I’m off, grab a bimbo, whisper sweet shite, then wham, bam, and lock the door on yer way out.’
Then he was gone. For the first time in her life she lamented not being a babe.
Sarah Cohen and Brant pulled to a stop outside McDonald’s on the Walworth Road. The radio was squawking gibberish. Brant seemed to comprehend it, said, ‘We’re on it.’
Turned to Sarah, said, ‘It’s a couple of drunks, my only suggestion is, don’t get too close.’
Sarah didn’t answer. She intended getting a hands-on approach from day one-being a real police person.
To the left, as you enter McDonald’s, there’s a children’s area. With toadstools for seats and other such furnishings to put the children at ease. On the wall is a portrait of Ronald McDonald, the spit of John Gacy. Not so much a haven for little people as a creation by little-minded people. A man and a woman were holed up there, shouting obscenities and hurling burgers at the staff.
Brant said, ‘Pissed as parrots.’
Sarah asked, ‘What’s the strategy, sir?’
‘I’m gonna get some doughnuts, want one?’ And he head
ed for the counter.
Sarah felt this was her window, began to approach the couple, said, ‘I say.’
Thought, Oh God, I sound like a school girl. Get some street in there.
The woman had been nodding, almost out of it, then her head snapped up, spotted Sarah, called, ‘C’mere love.’
Sarah did. The woman struggled to her feet and threw up over Sarah.
Brant came with coffee and doughnuts, asked, ‘Jelly or sugared?’
Took a look at her, said, ‘Now, that’s sick.’
Peered closer, added, ‘I spot pepperoni, it’s a bastard to keep down, here hold these.’
Then he walked to the side, pulled the fire extinguisher from its bracket, strolled back, muttering, ‘Point the noozle where?’ Opened it up, shouting, ‘Go on, get outta it.’ Drenching the couple and literally spraying them to the street. A round of applause from the staff. He nodded to Sarah, said, ‘That’s about it I’d say.’ And walked out.
Sarah followed, trying to unsuccessfully clean the uniform with wafer thin napkins. She looked at the soaked couple, asked Brant, ‘Aren’t we taking them in?’
‘Do you want to put them in the car?’
She got in beside Brant and he said, ‘Open the window love, vomit will linger.’ And he put the car in gear.
Back at the station, she rushed to the bathroom, was attempting to clean up when Falls walked in. She’d heard about the black WPC, said, ‘I’m new.’
‘Oh really?’
She looked in the mirror, wanted to bawl. Falls looked at the soiled tunic said, ‘You’ve already met DS Brant.’
Sarah smiled, felt it was an overture, went for it. ‘I’m sorry about your friend.’
‘Why … did you know her?’
‘No … but …
‘Then ration your grief, you’ll be getting plenty.’
Sarah couldn’t help it, babbled on: ‘I mean, I know I can never replace her and…
Falls cut it short, said, ‘You got that right.’
And left her.
When she emerged from the bathroom, Brant was waiting. Sarah felt she already hated him. ‘There you are love, c’mon I’ll get a tea.’ And she warmed to him again.
In the canteen, he said, ‘Get us a tea, two sugars, I’ll grab a table.’
Sarah looked round, every table was vacant. She got the teas and the canteen lady said, ‘You’re the new girl?’
Oh, Jesus.
‘Never you mind, pet, the teas are on me.’
Not a grand gesture, just a moment of kindness and Sarah wanted to hug her. The woman nodded at Brant, said, ‘Watch that ’un, he’s an animal.’
Brought the teas over and Brant asked, ‘No biccies?’
‘Oh.’
‘Never mind but you’ll know next time. I’m partial to the club milks.’
She said, ‘Could I ask you something?’
‘As long as it’s not for cash, if s a bit early.’
‘Oh Good Lord no. It’s about my predecessor.’
‘Rosie?’
‘Yes. I know I’ve no right but … what was she like?’
‘A loser.’
She was shocked and maybe a tad relieved. Brant finished his tea, said, ‘Yeah, she got to pull the ultimate sulk you know-na-na-na-na-na-you can’t catch me, like never. Everybody gets to feel guilty and she’s outta here.’
Sarah thought a defence of some calibre should be shown, said, ‘But if her state of mind was disturbed?’
He stood up, his closing words, ‘She was a cop, yer mind is always disturbed, otherwise we’d be social workers.’
The Super’s wife was a dowager. Leastways, she looked like one. She was never young but, when she got seriously aged, she’d be Barbara Cartland, or Windsor, or both.
Her home was in Streatham Vale but she was a Belgravia wannabe and managed to mention said place in every conversation. Her car broke down near the Oval and she had to abandon it. Walking down towards the cricket ground, she was in fear of her life. Her husband did bring his work home.
She saw a black cab. Oh merciful God! A man stepped up beside her and grabbed her arm, pinned it under his and neatly removed her Cartier watch, shoved her back, said, ‘You can ’av this piece o’ shit,’ and slung a Lorus at her.
Brant, on being told by Roberts, said, ‘I love it.’
‘The Super’s on some warpath.’
‘Even better, I know how to solve it.’
‘You’re kidding, unless…
‘What?’
‘You mugged her!’
‘Close, but no. So, who do we want to do well?’
‘Let’s give it to the new kid, see how she cooks.’
‘The Yid it is.’
Brant caught up with Sarah later in the day. He said, ‘Apprehend me.’
‘What?’ She hoped it wasn’t sexual.
‘During your training, didn’t they show you how to arrest someone?’
‘Yes.’
‘OK, then. Picture this. I’m a suspect standing at … let’s say, the Oval station … OK?’
‘OK.’
‘So arrest me.’
‘What have you done? Oh, I’m sorry, what have you allegedly done.’
‘For Christ’s sake, what does it matter?’
‘I want to be prepared.’
‘Oh, I get it, you’re a method police person.’
She nearly laughed but stuck to her guns … ‘Sarge, it’s the degree of force. I don’t want to club you to the ground if it’s only a parking ticket.’
Brant smiled. ‘Good point, though personally I prefer the clubbing method regardless. Let’s say I’m a mugger.’
‘A what?’
‘Christ, a bloody… And next thing he knew he was flat on his face, his hands held behind him.
She said, ‘See, I distracted you.’
‘I’m impressed … where’d you learn that.’
‘Girls’ boarding school.’
‘My favourite. You can let me up now, I think you’ve got the hang of it.’
Brant was impressed. The girl had some moves and would be worth cultivating. She and Brant drove to the Oval the next day. Parked opposite the entrance, she asked, ‘Why are we here?’
‘You’ll see.’
After an hour, the man appeared, took up his habitual position. Brant said, ‘See ’im?’
‘Yes.’
‘Go get him.’
‘Arrest him?’
‘As if you meant it.’
Brant watched her go. The kid was a definite comer and not bad looking. Nice legs. He saw her approach the man, then bingo, she had his arm behind his back, marched him to the car. Brant got the door open and pulled him in the back, said to Sarah, ‘You drive.’ The man was protesting … ‘I didn’t do nuffink … hey … wait a mo’ … I know you!’
Brant grabbed the man’s testicles, squeezed, said, ‘Repeat please: I never saw you before.’
He repeated.
When they got to the station, Brant said to Sarah, ‘When you’re bookin’ him, check his arms.’
‘For tracks?’
‘Not exactly.’
Coup
Sarah was the heroine of the hour. To such an unprecedented extent that the Super emerged from his office and addressed those gathered.
‘Today we have reason to be proud. A rookie applied the tried and tested methods of policing and got a result.’
He flourished the Cartier in all its gleaming glory, continued, ‘If this is an indication of the standard of new blood entering the service, then I say the Met has very little reason for concern for the future.’
Cheers, congratulations, and camaraderie filled the station. Quite overcome, Sarah retreated to the ladies. Falls already there, said, ‘You’ve arrived in style.’
‘Beginner’s luck.’
‘Or the hand of Brant, perhaps.’
Sarah was tempted to ask, ‘Touch of the sour grapes?’
Falls looked directly at Sarah, said, ‘Is he f
ucking you?’
‘My God, of course not.’
‘Yeah, he’s doing it to you one way or another, he puts it to everyone.’
Now Sarah went for it, ‘Don’t worry, no one’s moving in on your manor.’
Falls laughed, ‘Well, you’ve got spunk, I’ll give you that.’
Sarah eased up, said, ‘Maybe we can have a drink sometime.’
‘I doubt that.’
And was gone.
Brant and Roberts were in the pub. Drinking vodka because it doesn’t smell of desperation, leastways, not for a while. Roberts said, ‘I’ve been warned off.’
‘I know.’
‘What?’
‘I told you, I’ve got it taped.’
‘Was it the Masons?’
‘Yup.’
‘Fuckers.’
‘What now, guv?’
‘I dunno.’
‘But you’re not like … giving up?’
For an answer, Roberts just looked at him and Brant said, ‘Good, I’d hate to chase him on me lonesome.’
Roberts laughed. Of such moments are the best friendships sealed. They ordered some more vodka and Roberts said, ‘Shouldn’t we eat something?’
‘I suppose.’
‘Want something?’
‘Naw.’
‘Me neither.’
Let the silence build a while and allow the booze to do its number. Then Brant said, ‘The woman’s the key.’
‘His missus?’
‘Yeah, get ’im through her.’
Roberts was uneasy, said, ‘I kinda like her. I wouldn’t want her to get hurt.’
‘There’s always fall-out, guv.’
Roberts chewed on that. Then, in an exact imitation of Brant, said, ‘You’re right, fuck her.’
Despite the best efforts of the vodka, they didn’t get any further along. Then, as is the wont of alcohol, it flipped sides and Roberts thought about Smokie, thought, At least Brant won’t have heard of them either.
Aloud, he said, ‘Don’t suppose you’ve heard of Smokie?’
‘The group?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Sure, “Living Next Door To Alice”.’
‘You know that, too?’
Brant looked almost happy. ‘They were like a cross between the Small Faces and The Hollies. Their lead singer got killed a time back, I was sorry.’