by Tara Lyons
She hesitated, sitting up in her chair and resting her elbows on the grey table. ‘I don’t know … just wanted to see a familiar face, I guess.’
‘Does Warren know you’re here? Because you haven’t wanted to see this face for a long time. Nor has he. I’ve made my peace with it. Shit happens in all friendships.’
Felicity’s head dipped to the side as she looked into Holly’s sad eyes. A jolt of guilt stabbed her in the chest, and she reached across to hold her friend’s hand.
‘Warren proposed at the weekend, Hols. I’m so excited, but I just couldn’t shout about it to the world until I’d told you first. I’m not even sure why, but …’
Holly snatched her hand away, causing spits of hot coffee to splatter onto Felicity’s skin. She reached for a napkin to wipe herself, but when she looked back at Holly, the sadness in her friend’s eyes had disappeared. They’d become darker and smaller, and an evil snarl tugged at her lips.
‘What is it?’ Felicity asked. ‘I thought you’d be pleased for us both. We all decided we needed to move on, and that’s exactly what the two of us are doing.’
The frown lines deepened in Holly’s brow, and she sat forward. Inches from Felicity’s face, she spoke under her breath, ‘Of course you two are pleasing yourselves, that’s all you’ve ever done.’ Spittle flew from her mouth. ‘It suited you both to have Donna out of the way, and the two of you made the decision for all of us.’
‘No, you’re wrong. Donna meant so much to me.’
‘You’re lying. You just wanted to be with Warren, and with her gone, who would get in your way? Do you know I’ve never stopped looking for her? I’m always checking Facebook and –’
‘Me too, Hols!’ Felicity shrieked. ‘Whenever possible, I use new contacts to see if they can help me find her, but I’ve never had any luck. I love Warren, but I never wanted anything bad to happen to Donna. She was my friend. Our friend.’
The creases on Holly’s forehead relaxed, but Felicity knew the anger remained beneath the quietness of her friend. She was right, the decision to stop talking to their university friends had been Warren’s, but Felicity understood why it needed to happen. Shackling Donna to the old boat house at Lake Windermere, and then leaving her alone, was unforgivable. The fact that none of them had seen her since was life-changing. Warren never forgave himself, and it was too painful to see everyone else.
‘Listen, Hols, I deserve to be happy. We all made a decision that night –’
‘Hey, I thought it was you,’ a timid voice from above interrupted.
Felicity looked up to find a man with greasy, dark hair and blemished skin hovering over them. She was briefly drawn to the small, white scarred tissue of his cheeks and tried to place his face. His blue eyes were friendly and smiling, but the longer she took to recognise him, the more his shoulders slumped.
‘I’m so-sorry, I sh-shouldn’t have disturbed you,’ he stuttered.
Felicity’s mobile vibrated on the table, and she looked down to read a message from Warren, demanding to know why she wasn’t home yet and who she was with.
‘Jason!’ she exclaimed as she stood, slipping her phone into her pocket and grabbing her coat.
His beamed. ‘Yes. Yes, you remember. I just finished work. It’s only down the road, you might know it, The Skin Clinic? It’s quite a well-known company. Anyway, I like to pop in here and have a warm cuppa, let the hustle and bustle on the trains die down, before I make my way home. What are you doing here?’
Felicity peered down at Holly, who glared back, her top teeth clamped down on her lower lip. It was all she needed to see to realise it had been a mistake thinking she could share her good news with an old friend.
‘I have to go, Holly, I really hope we can catch up again soon.’ As Jason shuffled backwards out of her way, Felicity paused. ‘I’m sorry I can’t stick around, but please, take my seat. I’m sure my friend could do with better company than I’ve been this evening.’
Felicity ran from the warmth of the café and back outside into the icy elements without another thought for the two people she’d just introduced.
27
Hamilton abandoned the interview, leaving Dixon and the uniformed officer to finish the interview with Claire Newcomb. He raced into the incident room and demanded one of his team find Holly Walker’s address and work details immediately. He then turned to Fraser, beads of sweat beginning to drip from his forehead.
‘Did you speak to Inspector Bennett? Get him on the phone this instance.’
‘I passed on your notes as requested, boss. I’ll call his office now,’ Fraser replied as she thumbed through the mountains of files on her desk.
‘Gov, Holly Walker works from home,’ Clarke said and ushered towards him with Rocky in tow. ‘I’ve got it here. It’s about a half hour’s drive from here. What’s going on?’
‘It won’t take that long with the blues on. Rocky, get a patrol car round there immediately and explain you’ll be following,’ Hamilton demanded. ‘If what Claire Newcomb’s just said is true, then Walker’s our killer. I want you and Rocky to follow the patrol car now and secure the house once she’s been arrested.’
The two men set off instantly, without another word of questioning. Hamilton wiped his brow as Fraser called out that she had the Cumbrian Inspector waiting on the line.
‘Bennett, excuse my directness, but this is a matter of urgency,’ he hollered after he’d snatched the receiver from Fraser’s hand. ‘Did you send officers round to that address in Keswick I gave you?’
‘Good afternoon to you too, Detective Inspector.’ The man’s thick accent droned in Hamilton’s ear, each passing second felt like a gruelling minute. ‘I thought it an unusual request, but my superior cleared it without a second’s thought. You really must have friends in high places, Hamilton. Do you usually only have to snap your fingers and –’
‘Bennett!’
‘Yes, yes, good God, man, calm down. I have two of my best PCSOs at the address now.’
Hamilton spent a few minutes updating Bennett about the progress they’d made on the Warren Speed case. He also explained, as Holly Walker’s adoptive mother resided in the Lake District, they could find a clue there regarding Donna Moran’s disappearance. He demanded a full search of Monica Summers’ property. Bennett had the good sense to listen without interrupting Hamilton, and when he replied, there appeared to be no sarcasm in the man’s tone any longer.
‘Right, well, that does alter things. I’ll call my officers and ensure they do not leave the house. Then, I’ll head over there myself and oversee everything.’
‘Exactly what I was hoping you’d say, Inspector. Monica Summers explained to my mother she receives regular letters from one of her adopted daughters, asking if the old woman still lives at that address. Her continued interest in confirming that fact bugs me. There must be something of importance to her in that house.’
‘We’ll conduct a thorough search of the house, Hamilton, rest assured.’
‘Keep me updated on my mobile if anything appears out of place. Please.’
Hamilton added the final word as a courtesy before ending the call. Although he knew he shouldn’t feel like he was asking for a favour, it became difficult to dismiss that feeling. However, Bennett would want a conviction, as much as he needed a solution to these intertwined cases, and therefore had to be confident he’d receive their utmost cooperation. However, the huge distance between police forces frustrated him, and the fact he couldn’t oversee every aspect of the case caused his temper to rear its ugly head. He kicked out at a near-by rubbish bin just as Dixon entered the office.
‘Newcomb give you any more information?’ he asked.
‘Oh yeah, she’s singing like a bloody canary now. Amazing the power an interview room can hold over some people.’
Hamilton called Fraser to join them and bring herself up to speed with recent developments, so as not to continually repeat himself. He then gestured with his hand for Dixon to res
ume.
‘It would appear Warren Speed was a naughty boy, playing away from home with his personal assistant, Claire. She said Holly had snapped some incriminating pictures of the two of them together and has been blackmailing her ever since. Not wanting it to leak to the press, Felicity, or her own boyfriend, Claire organised the trip to Ambleside and orchestrated for Warren to meet Holly at the old boat house after closing time. She stayed away until instructed to return the next morning, but swears blind she no idea the meet-up would lead to murder.’
‘Where does the brother, Jason, fit into all of this?’ Fraser asked.
Dixon perched on a desk. ‘Holly had been dating him for the past six months. He was older than her, by about ten years, and Claire explained he’d never had a steady girlfriend, barely went out on dates, for that matter. Although she could see Holly was using her brother, she didn’t know to what extent until very recently.’
‘So, Holly manipulated the man in order to get him to steal the vials of botulinum toxin from his place of work. She needed the bigger doses of poison to overpower, kill, and torture Warren Speed and Felicity Ireland,’ Hamilton surmised.
‘It’s how the story seems to be unfolding,’ Dixon continued. ‘Except Claire found it strange from the get-go because, from discussions with Warren, she assumed Holly was gay. I would venture a bet that due to Jason’s lack of confidence, Holly’s attention towards him and even just the promise of sex, may have been all she needed to force this man to bend to her will.’
Fraser clicked her fingers. ‘Perhaps Holly was in a secret relationship with Donna Moran and blamed the other two for her disappearance, so decided to get revenge.’
Hamilton thought of the remaining friends. ‘You could be on to something there. And if that is the case, Holly Walker might just blame all her friends. Fraser, organise a couple of patrol cars to go out to Todd and Calvin. They could be her next victims.’
Within the next half an hour, Hamilton had received two critical phone calls. Inspector Bennett’s grave voice informed him the remains of a young woman had been uncovered in Monica Summers’ attic. The team struggled to open the hatch door in the ceiling, but the stench indicated all was not right in the house.
‘Do you think Summers had something to do with it?’ Hamilton questioned.
‘God, no, the old woman’s oblivious. The ground floor is neat and tidy and smells of flowers,’ Bennett explained. ‘If you didn’t climb the stairs to the top floor, no one would be any the wiser that the smell of death lingered upstairs.’
‘Well, I’d question her anyway. Apart from Jason’s assistance, we’re assuming Holly Walker worked alone, but who knows how many people she’s been manipulating. Let’s not take anything for granted.’
‘The woman can’t lift a foot up the stairs, Hamilton, I saw that with my own two eyes. Anyway, the attic is completely empty, except for the skeleton in the pink dress, of course.’
His Cumbria counterpart continued to assure him a thorough investigation of the house was currently underway. Amy Sullivan, the pathologist Hamilton had spoken to last week, was already combing through the crime scene, and Bennett promised his top priority was to identify the victim. Hamilton’s stomach churned, knowing a formal identification was unnecessary at this point. Donna Moran had been found. His thoughts sped to the young girl’s mother. While the forthcoming news would be heart wrenching, he took comfort in the fact his team could finally offer the woman some kind of peace of mind. At least now, a mother could say goodbye to her daughter, and lay her body to rest.
Clarke, on the other hand, informed him they’d lost their person of interest. The sirens alerted Holly Walker to their advance, and she’d run from her home. Last seen near Fulham Broadway, in a crowd of home fans in town for the evening’s Chelsea match.
‘Advise the uniformed officers in the area about our runner,’ Hamilton demanded. ‘I appreciate the vicinity will be swamped right now, but I want extra surveillance at all the nearest train stations, in case she tries to slip away. Myself and Dixon will make our way over to you.’
‘That’s not all, gov,’ Clarke added. ‘We found Todd Bell gagged and bound to a wooden table in a large shed at the bottom of Walker’s very overgrown garden.’
‘I bloody knew it. She’s on some kind of vendetta. Is he alive?’
‘Barely. He’s been drugged, but the ambulance is already on the way to the hospital with him.’
Hamilton frowned. ‘We haven’t heard back from the patrol car we sent out to Calvin Robinson, so scratch what I said before. He lives and works near the station. I’m going to try and hunt him down.’
‘There’s no way Walker could have got to him in the time she left her house,’ Clarke said. ‘Unless she already had him tied up somewhere else.’
‘It’s possible,’ he hesitated. ‘But perhaps the reason we can’t find him is because he’s been in on this with Walker the entire time.’
With clear plans, Hamilton ended the call and instructed Fraser to contact ANPR, anxious Holly could have somehow double backed on his team and collected her car.
‘Also, see if you can do anything with local CCTV in the area,’ he suggested. ‘I know, I know, there’s a bloody Chelsea match preparing to kick off, and the roads are manic. But we have to try everything we can.’
Fraser’s fingers danced along her keyboard, and she called a near-by sergeant for extra help. ‘Leave it with me, boss. You’ll be the first to hear if I find anything.’
‘Right, Dixon, you’re with me. As uniform have had no luck at his home address, let’s see if we can hunt down the elusive Calvin Robinson at work.’
She followed him through the incident room, easily keeping up with his long strides. ‘Doesn’t he work near the station?’
‘Yes, and he gave us the slip last time. We’ll take the car, but be prepared to chase after this one.’
Dixon overtook him and pushed the door wide open. ‘I’m always prepared, boss.’
As Hamilton parked the car outside the coffee shop, Dixon tugged on his arm, stopping him from getting out of the car.
‘Look, there’s our guy leaving,’ she said and pointed to the young man who’d just pulled his signature cap further down his head.
Hamilton glanced at Dixon. ‘Thinking what I’m thinking?’
‘Let’s abandon the car here and see where he’s off to in such a hurry.’
He clicked his tongue in approval and exited the car. Dixon grabbed her mobile from her pocket and kept her head down most of the way. She discreetly looked up to dodge oncoming tourists and commuters, before returning her attention to her hand. Hamilton liked her style, she looked like every other pedestrian engrossed in their phone. He stayed a few yards behind her, concerned that if Calvin looked back and caught sight of him, they’d be caught. He was surprised when, just seven minutes later, Calvin descended the steps towards Embankment station. Dixon fell back in line with Hamilton.
‘Shit, boss, we’re going to lose him if he goes in there.’
‘Hang back for a minute and don’t take your eyes off him. He might not actually be going inside the station.’
‘What makes you think that?’
‘The district line runs through this station, and can be picked up from Parsons Green in Fulham.’
‘Looks like she did give our boys the slip earlier than Clarke thought,’ Dixon said and slightly nodded at the entrance as Holly Walker exited.
‘Stay this side. I’m going to try and get behind them,’ Hamilton said, before slinking off through the crowd.
Yards away from the couple, Hamilton froze when he noticed the glistening object peeking from the sleeve of Holly’s jacket. His mind raced, contemplating how he could get the civilians away in the safest manner. But, as Holly’s eyes locked with his, he knew it was too late. He jumped forward, knocking innocent members of the public back and hopefully away from the murdering maniac.
‘Police! Drop your weapon,’ he yelled.
In one
swift motion, Holly kicked Calvin behind the knee, causing him to drop to the ground. She lowered the knife into her hand and tugged it against the man’s throat, warning everyone to stay away. Screams echoed through the street and the ticket hall of the station. People pushed and struggled against each other to move further away.
In his peripheral vision, Hamilton spied Dixon taking a step back and joining the crowd. Camouflaged by those surrounding her, she discreetly made a phone call, and he knew his team were being notified. He only wondered would the back-up make it in time before another person’s life was robbed.
28
I catch him out of the corner of my eye; he must think I’m stupid. That fucking copper gets everywhere. Calvin could have been my ticket out of here; he has friends aboard. The mere mention of being in a spot of bother, we’d have been on a plane out of here. Men are easy to manipulate. But sadly, my hand’s been forced, and Calvin will have to help me another way.
With the knife held firmly against his neck, a trickle of blood falls down his skin, and Calvin begs and pleads with me. He’s confused, as always. Never was the brightest spark out of all us, forever trying to please everyone, wanting to be accepted by everyone. He was the only one who helped me look for Donna the year after she disappeared. It would have been his saving grace.
‘Holly, what the fuck are you doing?’ he shouts, but it sounds like a baby whining.
‘Shut it, Cal. I don’t want to have to hurt you, but I will.’ I say it through gritted teeth, hoping the copper doesn’t hear me. ‘Don’t fight against me and you won’t get hurt. Just follow my lead, and you’ll never hear from me again.’
Lucky for him, he does as I say. The bloke, Hamilton I think his name is, tiptoes closer to us, his hands held out at his waist, and I shout for him to stand back. Another man who does as he’s told. It gives me a chance to scan the area and plan some kind of escape. That’s when I see her, the tall, tanned goddess I’d locked eyes with the last time I was at the police station. Such a shame she’s on their side. I bet she’s amazing in bed.