by Liz Mistry
‘La la la X-mas trees, X-mas gifts, da da da, X-mas snow, X-mas bells, X-Men! La la la, da da da, dum, dum, dum… Christmas.’
Pulling the bag past my money and tins and stuff, I open it, just a little at first. I press my nose to the opening. Bliss! Fabric conditioner! Poofy, but who the fuck cares? I’ll get changed and then I’ll have a sandwich. Don’t really need the freezer box. At least it’ll stop mice from eating my supplies.
Aw no… not again.
‘Stop it, Simon. Focus on something else… not the rats. The clothes. Put your joggers on, they’ll be comfy. And your big sweatshirt. The brown one.’
I bundle my dirty clothes together and drop them on top of the clothes I’d worn at the party. Won’t be needing them again. Got plenty money to buy more, anyway. Stupid cow never noticed odd bits of jewellery going missing. If they notice now, they’ll put it down to the party. Pure fucking genius!
Brilliant – socks. Thick ones. Aw, nice. Soft and clean… fucking crotch is itchy though. Fleas? Nah, sweat. I dip my hand down, scratch and sniff. Fucking cheesy or what? Joggers on, sweatshirt on. Tuna sandwich, here I come!
50
14:05 The Fort
‘Gus, you’ve got a visitor.’ Hardeep had somehow managed to get the code for the incident room and stood in the entrance, his fingers gripping the door, only the upper half of his body visible.
About to put his coat on and leave for City Academy, Gus groaned and stopped, one hand in the jacket. ‘Hmm, who?’
‘Tommy Ache.’
Compo popped his head up from behind his barricade of PCs holding a half-eaten Branston Pickle and cheddar roll in his hands. ‘I’ve got some antacid, Gus.’
Gus blinked, what the hell was Compo on about now? ‘Yeah, you’ll probably need it, the amount of Branston you’ve got on that sandwich.’
Compo looked at his roll, took another bite and shook his head. His voice was muffled when he spoke. ‘For you, not for me.’
‘Eh? I haven’t got a sore stomach, Comps.’
Hardeep, the duty officer, cast his eyes upwards and sighed. ‘Bloody hell, if we’re relying on you lot to solve serious crime, we’re up to our ears in dog poo and not a pooper- scooper in sight.’ He looked at Compo. ‘I said Tommy Ache not tummy ache. He’s a friend of Gus.’ Then he looked at Gus who, with a pencil stick through his dreads, looked particularly gormless. ‘He thought I said tummy ache so he offered you antacid tablets. I’ve explained it to him, so are we all clear on this?’ He eyeballed the pair of them, as if daring them to question his assertion.
‘Now, do you want Tommy Ache or not?’
Gus shuddered and threw the folder he was looking at back on his desk. ‘No, I don’t want Tommy Ache. Can you pass him on to… someone else… anyone else?’
Hardeep smirked. ‘If you’re sure… You don’t mind him going over your head to his best mate, the boss?’
Compo grimaced. ‘Oh, he’s a friend of DCI Chalmers too, is he?’
Hardeep laughed, his large belly wobbling in the process. ‘Good God, no, I were talking about Gus’ mum. Tommy and her get on like a house on fire, don’t they, Gus.’
It was hard to believe that Hardeep could find any more smirk, but he managed it somehow.
Gus rolled his chair away from his desk and over to the coffee machine. ‘Yes, “house on fire” is a good way of describing their friendship. Tommy Ache’s his nickname – from his time at her Majesty’s Pleasure. My mum’s got him embroiled in her latest artistic hobby.’ Shuddering at the memory of his mum’s life drawing of Tommy Ache that had been re-located from its original position at the top of the stairs to the dining room, Gus sighed. The last thing he needed was to spend time right now with Tommy Ache. Unfortunately, he knew it would all pass much less painfully if he just bit the bullet and got it over with.
Hardeep winked at Compo, who was now licking Branston from his fingertips.
‘Bloody life drawing, Comps. Can you believe it?’
‘You mean in the scuddy, like?’
Gus slurped his coffee, agitation sending his hair bouncing erratically over his head. ‘Exactly.’
Compo looked puzzled. ‘What’s that got to do with Tommy Ache, though?’
Gus sighed and laid a hand over his eyes. ‘Oh Compo, if you only knew.’
‘Well go on then lad, tell us,’ urged Hardeep from the door.
Gus scowled at him as Compo clicked his fingers.
Then in a lightbulb moment, Compo grinned. ‘Oh yeah. I were there the day she showed us that painting. Right good Yorkshire puds your mum makes, Gus.’ Compo’s eyes glazed over and Gus shook his head. How anyone could rate his mum’s cooking was beyond him, but her Yorkshire puddings? Seriously? And how could Compo remember more about those Yorkshire puds than the damn monstrosity he had to look at every time they sat down to eat? Mind-blowing, truly mind-blowing.
Alice joined him by the coffee machine, giggling. ‘So why’s it still bothering you so much? I thought you and your dad convinced her to put it at the top of the stairs?’
Gus jumped to his feet, his eyes wide open and his hands gesticulating widely. ‘Why is it bothering me? I’ll bloody tell you. She’s gone and moved the bloody thing and mounted it in the bloody dining room, in pride of place right above the fireplace. Right opposite where I sit for Sunday dinner.’
Gus turned to Compo. ‘So, now, not only do I have to contend with my mother’s god-awful cooking, I also have to chomp my way through her meat and two veg whilst trying to avoid seeing Tommy Ache’s meat and two veg. Could bloody Sunday lunch at home get any worse?’
Catching Hardeep’s eye, Gus groaned. ‘Okay, okay. Send him up, then, might as well get it over with.’
Tommy strode over, stretched up and embraced Gus in a hug with a two-cheeked kiss.’ ‘Gus, my lad, look at you. You get more handsome every day. Just like your mother.’
Gus cringed, but managed to smile and offered him a coffee. Tommy undid his jacket and carefully hung it across the back of the chair before sitting down on the chair and tugging it till it was as far under the desk as it would go. Gus, feeling Tommy’s knees brush his, pushed his chair slightly away. ‘Right then, Tommy, what can I do for you?’
Tommy raised a hand that was missing the top half of his three fingers and used what was left of his index finger to tap the side of his nose. ‘It’s more what I can do for you. I’ve already given my statement, but I didn’t like the look of that constable. Too bloody uninterested for my peace of mind. Knowles was his name. Anyway, I couldn’t settle, feeling sure he was going to fuck up any investigation, so here I am.’
Gus hearing the name Knowles could sympathise with Tommy’s misgivings; however, that wasn’t enough for him to take on someone else’s investigation, even if he had the time, which he did not. On the other hand, Tommy was insistent and if he didn’t do something, he’d appear every five minutes, thus taking up even more time. Resigned to the lesser of two evils, Gus sat back and switched on his recorder. ‘Okay, Tommy, tell me what you witnessed.’
Tommy sat up straight and leaned in slightly to the microphone and began. ‘Well, it was about 6.25 am when I left The Turf. I’d had a wee bit too much last night and Jeffy gave me a blanket and let me sleep in the snug. Anyway, I proceeded down Emm Lane and then turned into Wilmer Road where at just before 6:30am, I saw it.’
‘Saw what, Tommy?’
‘Well, that’s just it. I saw nothing, ’cause it wasn’t there yet.’
Gus opened his mouth to speak, reconsidered and closed it again, as Tommy continued. ‘As I opened my front door it was precisely 6:30 because my clock boinged once. It does that you know, one boing for the quarter hour and the full amount on the hour.’ He waited for Gus to nod before continuing.
‘Well, I was desperate for a wee you know, so I nipped to the kitchen, popped the kettle on, then had a wee, then I went to the living room to open the curtains. That’s when I saw it.’
‘Saw what exactly, Tommy?’
>
‘Right where I put the bins. It was right there, like a tangle of summat. So I got me specs out and that’s when I saw it was a girl. I ran out the door, grabbing my coat, and down the steps to the kerb. She was naked. Covered in bruises and unconscious. I could feel a pulse so I covered her with my coat. Didn’t want the neighbours next door ogling her. Then I phoned the police.’
‘Right, so you already told all this to the other officer?’
‘Yeah, well, all except this next bit, ’cause I forgot in all the excitement, when I got to the kerb I looked along the street both ways and there at the Emm Lane junction was a van-type thing, light coloured, with its indicator on to turn right, only it didn’t, it turned left.’
‘Right, Tommy, well, I’ll certainly put in a follow-on call to the officer and see what’s come of the investigation.’
Tommy clapped his hands like an over-excited performing seal. ‘Yes, you do that, son.’ He scratched his pate. ‘You know, son, I’ve seen that van before, just can’t think where.’
‘Well, let us know if you remember.’ Gus edged Tommy towards the door as he spoke.
‘Well, I’ll see you on Sunday, anyway, Gus. Might have remembered by then.’
Gus frowned ‘Sunday, you mean–’
‘Yes, Sunday lunch. Your mum’s invited me.’ Tommy, oblivious of Compo’s sudden need to stuff his fingers in his mouth, waved ta-ta with his deformed hand and left, just as Sampson came in.
‘Sampson, just the man. Need you to find out a bit more about a mugging/dumping which that pillock Knowles dealt with this morning. Tommy’s got his knickers in a twist about it and I’ll never hear the end of it if I don’t cast a glance over it to make sure Knowles is doing his job. Follow up on it, see what you can find out and report back to me.’
Seeing Sampson’s scowl, Gus patted him on the back. ‘I know we’re up to our ears. It shouldn’t take too long. Just get on with it. You’ll be done by the time I’m back from City Academy.’
‘Say hi to Ms Copley,’ said Compo. Gus, eyes narrowed, glanced at the lad, but Compo was busy with his PC. Need to stop being so damn paranoid!
51
15:45 City Academy
It had been a major operation to get through the security at the front gate of the school, past the receptionist and into the ultra-modern office in which he now sat. Gus was relieved he’d had an excuse to leave Alice behind. No way did he want her knowing glances plaguing him for the drive through town; and he certainly didn’t want her smart-ass comments.
This was the first time he’d had to consult with Patti on the job since she’d allowed him to interview two of her students whose father had been brutally murdered earlier in the year. The thought of seeing her always tied his stomach in knots, however, this was a little different. Instead of anticipation, his palms sweated with an emotion he could only describe as dread. This was new territory for them to traverse in their fledgling relationship and, after Gabriella’s eventual hatred of his job, he was reluctant to expose Patti to it quite so soon. Not that Patti was anything like his ex-wife. On the contrary, Patti was strong, independent and above all, seemed to understand Gus’ sense of duty. After all, she shared a similar work ethic in her own job.
Bright, clean and very organised though the office was, Gus had an overwhelming nostalgia for the head teacher’s office in his old high school, Belle Vue Boys. True, there had been a faint smell of cigs in the air and a decidedly strong smell of ammonia as you passed the boys’ toilets en route for the office, still, it had character. Well-worn chairs with springs that pinged unexpectedly, bruising your bum, stood facing the enormous desk. From behind a scattering of stationery, papers and books, Mrs Matthews used to peer over her glasses at you. Unless you were there to be punished, she always seemed to have the time to listen to you.
Ah, how times had changed. Now, sitting outside Patti’s office, with a smartly coiffed woman in a navy business suit clacking away on her PC opposite him, it was like waiting to discuss a large unauthorised overdraft with his bank manager. A discreet buzz warned him he was about to be allowed into the inner sanctum of Patti’s office. The secretary grinned and motioned for him to go in. What the hell is she grinning like that for? Gus shrugged. He was probably imagining things. Alice had wound him up so much he’d become paranoid.
The door closed behind him and Gus found himself facing a grinning Patti. Heat washed across his face and he grinned back, all of his carefully rehearsed words fleeing his mind.
She gestured for him to take one of the soft chairs next to a coffee table. ‘This is awkward, isn’t it?’ She laughed, warm and low. ‘Seems your work and mine are inextricably linked once more. I presume this is about the murders and Simon?’
‘Yes, I’m afraid so.’ Stretching out his legs, Gus took a moment to look at Patti. Sometimes he still had to pinch himself. How he’d ever worked up the courage to ask her out was beyond him. According to her, she’d all but forced the words from him, however he chose to remember it differently. Truth was, he knew he was punching well above his weight. Tall, intelligent and drop-dead gorgeous, Patti was also down to earth and undemanding. Like him, she was of dual heritage with a deep tawny skin tone and green eyes. Today, her hair was in neat tight corn rows and she wore a knee-length skirt with a simple blouse. The matching jacket hung on a coat stand near the door with a heavier jacket to the side. Underneath were a pair of wellies and an umbrella. He grinned. Looks like Alice was right about Patti and puddles.
He turned his attention back to Patti. ‘Additional information has come our way, and although I’m not at liberty to divulge much, I hope you can help. It will certainly push the investigation forward.’
‘Well, I’ll see what I can do, of course. We’re all in absolute shock about the whole thing. What is it you need?’
‘Well, what I need is a list of any girls in Year Ten whose first name begins with an A.’
Patti raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow. ‘Surely you don’t suspect one of our Year Ten girls?’
‘No, no, of course not. We just think this particular girl will be able to give us some crucial information.’
Without another word, she walked over to her computer and typed. Within a few minutes she had a list of all the girls in Year Ten and with a further few deft strokes of her keyboard, she had ordered the list alphabetically by first name. She turned the screen so Gus could share the view.
‘As you can see, we don’t have any Year Ten girls whose first name begins with A. Are you sure it was Year Ten?’
‘Well, that’s what I’m told.’
‘Hmm.’ She looked at the computer screen with a frown and then wiggled her mouse, pressed a button and the list re-configured before Gus’ eyes.
‘Aha, That’s better. I’ve ordered it alphabetically by middle name and we’ve got three now. Sidrah Ali Mukhtar, Jane Alicia Bright and Claire Ann Brown.’
‘Great.’ Gus was impressed. ‘Fancy taking over my job?’
Patti laughed. ‘Not a cat in hell’s chance of that, Gus. I think we can discount Sidrah Ali Mukhtar. She’s always known as Sidrah – Not many Muslim girls would use the name Ali as a nickname.’
‘Can you tell me anything about the other two girls including what sort of clubs they’re in?’
Mrs Copley tapped her fingers on the table, then leaned over and lifted her phone. ‘Can you get Haleema to come here ASAP, please?’ She turned back to Gus, ‘This is a big school and much as I’d love to know all the pupils individually, I have to admit that I don’t. I’ve called for the Year Ten head, Haleema Arshad – she’ll be able to give you more information.’
As she finished speaking, there was a knock at the door and a tall woman with straight black hair tied back in a ponytail entered. ‘You wanted to see me, Ms Copley?’
The head teacher shook her head and waved her hand towards Gus who’d stood up and now offered his hand to the woman. ‘This is DI McGuire, he’d like to ask you a few questions about two of your girls
in relation to the unfortunate events at the weekend.’
Haleema Arshad’s smile faded, as she shook his hand before sitting down next to him. ‘So sad. Those poor parents. Sue was a lovely girl. Never in trouble. One of our best students. Such a loss. And as for the Proctors, they must be devastated. I pray Simon is found safe and well.’
Gus smiled and gestured for Haleema to sit down opposite him on one of the comfy chairs.
Patti strode round from her desk and slid onto a third seat. ‘You don’t mind if I stay, do you? It’s incumbent on me to be here, when it concerns our students.’ She tilted her head at Gus, her eyebrows raised as if asking a question.
A slight smile played at the corner of Gus’ mouth. He was quite sure that short of grappling her to the floor and man-handling her out of the room, Patti would be a difficult subject to oust. As the thought crossed his mind, Gus was aware of a slow blush warming his cheeks. What the hell was he thinking? Damn, he should have left this for Alice to deal with.
Gus shook his head, ‘No problem at all.’ He turned to Haleema. ‘Can you tell me a bit about Jane Bright and Claire Brown?’
She frowned, ‘Jane Bright? Oh, you mean, Ali Button?’
Gus glanced at Patti. ‘Do I?’
‘Well you might. Ali or Alicia is legally still called Jane Alicia Bright, however, because she’s in the final stages of being adopted by her foster parents, we agreed, when she started here, to use their surname on the class register.’ She turned to Patti who was nodding. ‘You remember, don’t you?’
‘Of course, I just forgot it was that name. On the central files she’s listed as Jane Bright, although on the class registers she’s called Alicia Button. The adoption will be finalised before Christmas. I had a letter about it the other day.’