Reprobates

by Bridgestock, RC

  ‘I asked you is there anything else?’ Dylan said. He swallowed hard.

  ‘Nothing. Now go. Leave me alone.’

  Dylan flicked through more images. ‘I’ve seen enough. Get uniform here to transport him to the station, Vicky. I don’t want him in my car. Derek Harper, you are under arrest for possession, publishing and distributing obscene images. You haven’t just taken pictures of dead people. You have arranged them in poses of a sexual nature. Some of these are of young children. Get hold of the paedophile and high tech crime unit, Vicky. Some of these images I’d say are level five.’

  ‘I think I might need a solicitor,’ he said.

  Dylan gaze was fixed. ‘You will need a solicitor.’

  ‘Can I get dressed?’

  ‘No. I don’t think the custody sergeant is going to mind,’ said Vicky.

  Dylan steered him to the doorway. ‘The uniform car won’t be long. I don’t know about you, Vicky but I could do with some air.’

  ‘Get hold of Sergeant Clegg. We need Operational Support and some detectives over here. I want this place taking apart. I want the obscene publications unit and our computer geeks here, too.’

  ‘I wonder if we’ll find images of Kirsty Gallagher?’ Vicky asked.

  ‘No doubt. We also need to find out who his friends are...’

  Chapter Eighteen

  Derek Harper was marshalled into the car. Vicky eyed the uniform officers putting a hand over his head as he stepped into the vehicle so he didn’t hurt himself. ‘A bump on his head might do him a bit of good,’ she said to Dylan,

  ‘Who’s the CSI supervision today? Give them a shout. We need Crime Scene Investigators here to photograph this set up.’

  Vicky spoke Dylan’s instruction over the radio. Walking to the far side of the back yard Dylan kicked about in the overgrowth. ‘Looking for anything particular?’ she said. ‘You’re likely to get something horrible on the end of your shoe doing that.’

  ‘This outhouse.’

  ‘Don’t go there. That smell is vile,’ she said wrinkling her nose. ‘Look here though, a new padlock. Have you got something in the car we can force it with?’

  ‘A jemmy?’ he asked.

  ‘That’ll do.’

  Dylan handed her his keys. Vicky turned on her heels and was back directly, jemmy in hand. Seconds later Dylan was forcing the clasp but the door had seen better days and the screws sprung before the clasp on the padlock broke. ‘Stand back,’ he said as he grabbed the door with both hands and pulled it off its hinges.

  The smell rushed at them with a physical force and they stepped back. ‘What the fuck? It’s like rotting cabbage.’ Vicky gasped. Dylan stepped further back into her path. Her foot slipped on the slimy flagstones and Dylan reached out to catch her from falling.

  ‘Careful,’ he said.

  He turned his attention back to the building. The smell had taken his breath away. Taking his handkerchief out of his pocket and putting it over his nose and mouth he went back to the doorway to peer inside. Stepping forwards into the dark abyss he could see a pile of flattened, dry boxes. They weren’t damp or rusty as the rest of the contents appeared to be. He picked one up carefully by the corner and underneath he saw the dirty, greasy foot of a human corpse and just above the ankle he could see a butterfly tattoo. ‘He’s got some fucking talking to do,’ he said. The head when uncovered was a grinning mass of teeth, nasal bones and skull with shreds of flesh where tongue and pharynx had been and as Vicky looked on a solitary ant crawled out of the yawning mouth.

  ‘Is it Kirsty Gallagher do you think, boss?’

  ‘I don’t know...’ he said, coughing as though he would be sick. ‘But we need to get booted and suited before we touch anything else.’ Dylan used his radio to speak to HQ Control. ‘We have discovered a rotting body at Number 5, Hawthorne Terrace. I’m treating it as a murder scene and I require uniform presence as soon as possible to keep the scene sterile and to cordon off the area to stop prying eyes. ’

  Dylan was aware of a sense of horror. All his being seemed to stiffen with a new determination. ‘What have we stumbled on?’

  ‘Fuck knows. Let’s move down the path a bit away from this stench. Harper’s no previous. I ran him through the computer after his comments about Kirsty Gallagher at the mortuary.’

  ‘More to the point, his computers will hopefully tell us more.’

  ‘With some luck we will get a lead that is only possible by the explosion of the social networking sites that people like him subscribe to, via the history on his computer he probably thinks he’s deleted.’

  ‘It’s going to be an interesting interview that’s for sure but before that we need to see exactly what we have and secure evidence. At least then we may have a clue as to what we are dealing with.’

  ***

  Back-up came round the side of the house in the form of uniform and specialised units. Each, with their own focus to move the investigation forwards with the experience they had in their own field. The area was sealed. PS Clegg had two teams searching to move things along quickly and as one searched the house the other commenced on the outhouse.

  ‘I don’t care if you have to pull up all the floorboards, whatever it takes to get me a result,’ Dylan said to him. ‘Take the bloody lot apart if you have to.’

  Crimes Scene Investigation Supervisor, Karen Ebdon was at the scene along with Stuart Viney and Louisa Edwards. Suited and booted they were busy taking the necessary photographs. The cardboard was being bagged up for later examination. The Custody staff at Harrowfield Police Station were informed what was happening. Derek Harper would be arrested on suspicion of murder as soon as Dylan and Vicky returned.

  ‘I want him under constant observation,’ Dylan instructed.

  ***

  The smell in the yard was growing ever more overpowering. Dylan saw experienced officers stand back and take a minute to get their breath. Now they had sight of the full decomposing body which was mostly wrapped in polythene sheeting.

  ‘What do you want to do, boss?’ asked Simon Clegg pointing to the corpse.‘I think the body would be better being removed in that state to secure evidence, don’t you? It can be unwrapped at the mortuary.’

  ‘Have you done taking the necessary photographs, Karen?’ She nodded. ‘I agree Simon, arrange for the body to be taken to the mortuary as it is,’ Dylan said.

  ‘It’s Kirsty, isn’t it boss?’ asked Vicky.

  ‘Time will tell but yeah, it’s looking that way. He’s at the mortuary when she goes missing and we find the body of a female in his outhouse.’

  ‘He’s a dirty, evil, bastard.’

  ‘Don’t mince your words will you? Although, I have to say you’re probably right on this occasion. Believe me I’ve seen worse and the offenders have laughed in my face in interview. Don’t let your feelings get in the way or colour your judgement. He’s just a misunderstood individual that needs our help, some would say.’

  ‘Yeah right, we’ll help him alright to get him locked away forever.’

  ‘Stay focussed on securing the necessary evidence. It’s the key to everything and as much as we can do for the deceased right now. Talking of which we need to find the key to the outhouse to show he was in control of it.’

  ‘He’s still a fucking twat,’ she said pulling off her protective suit that was no longer required.

  Karen overheard her rant and pulling off her face mask Dylan could see her smiling. A light relief perhaps from what she had been photographing. Dylan de-suited. All his garments were bagged and tagged along with Vicky’s as an exhibit.

  Afterwards he spoke with the search team leader whose team was busily searching the house ‘They’ve discovered a mass of sex toys and lubricants. Not a total surprise,’ he said to Vicky as they walked back down the path towards his car. ‘Everyday tools of a sex offender.’

  ***

  The roads were busy. Dylan and Vicky sat in the traffic.

  ‘So acting Detective Sergeant Harda
cre what crime do you think Derek Harper has committed?’ Dylan said.

  ‘Well if it is the body of Kirsty Gallagher, then at the very least he’s stolen a body?’

  ‘Can you steal a body?’

  ‘Well somebody did.’

  ‘But under the Theft Act is a human body classed as property?’

  He threw her a glance and she shrugged her shoulders. ‘Ask me one on sport?’

  ‘You need to know these things, Vicky. It doesn’t fit the criteria of property under the theft act therefore the offence of theft fails. So it will be obstructing the Coroner and theft of maybe the shroud or sheet it was wrapped in.’

  ‘I think maybe I need a refresher course to brush up on the finer detail of the law.’

  ‘That’s not a bad thing especially as, as a supervisor, the troops will expect you to know.’

  ‘I could always tell them to ask you?’ she said, a little smile appearing on her face.

  ‘But what else has he been up to do you think? And if it is confirmed to be Kirsty Gallagher’s body do you think he may have had something to do with her death too?’

  ‘He doesn’t look like the man in the picture that we recovered from her car,’ she said thoughtfully.

  ‘And who’s to say that’s the murderer?’ Dylan said as they pulled into the police station car park. ‘I need to call Jen, it’s not going to be an early finish like I’d hoped.’

  ‘Just had a thought,’ said Vicky.

  ‘Now, don’t go straining yourself.’

  ‘Very funny. No canteen but the chippy is open across the road. Fancy fish and chips for tea?’

  He handed her a ten pound note.

  ‘Vicky?’ He shouted as she walked away.

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘Don’t forget lashings of salt and vinegar – and bits,’ he said

  He took the opportunity alone to ring Jen, who at that moment in time was staring down the barrel of a gun.

  Chapter Nineteen

  ‘Is that your phone ringing or mine?’ asked Rita, as she tied the exhibit label to the firearm with a piece of string.

  ‘Mine.’ Jen put her hand into her pocket but by the time she had got it out the caller had rung off. ‘It’s Dylan,’ she said looking at the image on the screen. ‘I should be home by now.’

  ‘Should you go?’

  ‘No, I know Maisy is fine at the childminder’s. Chantall will have given her her tea by now. I’ll help you get this lot booked in first.’

  ‘You’re a star,’ Rita said smiling at her friend. ‘It’s good to have you back. I can’t ever imagine Donna getting her hands dirty like this, can you? I won’t be a minute. This last load should empty the temporary store. You okay in here while I go get it?’

  ***

  Dylan walked into the station just as Rita was heading back out to the permanent store in the yard, with the property.

  ‘Jen’s inside,’ she said, nodding her head in the direction of the store in the yard. He followed.

  The cache of firearms inside was huge. ‘Where did all these come from?’ asked Dylan as he squeezed Jen around her waist. ‘Hello you,’ he said.

  ‘The amnesty. We’ve had three hundred and seventy three guns and seven thousand rounds of ammunition handed in so far across the area, including a rocket launcher, a gun fashioned from a walking stick and a home-made cannon,’ said Rita.

  ‘Unbelievable. But just one of these weapons off the streets,’ he said picking up a .357 Magnum revolver and propelling it in his hand, ‘is bound to save a life.’

  ‘Oh, that one’s not from the amnesty it’s from another job.’

  Rita picked up the form on which the items were listed. ‘A Mr James. Didn’t have a current gun licence it appears. But he’s dead anyway now.’

  ‘How come?’

  ‘Suicide. The jumper from the other night. Turns out he’s was bit of a perv too by all accounts.’

  ‘Yep! We won’t be worrying too much about him then will we?’

  ‘Where did you learn that trick?’ asked Jen who stood opened mouthed facing Dylan.

  Dylan spun the revolver around in his hand again with ease. ‘Ah,’ he said tapping his nose with his finger. ‘I can still surprise you, that’s good.’ Dylan grinned ‘You not clocked off yet, missus?’ he asked, putting the gun down and pulling her towards him.

  ‘No, but I won’t be long now. You look tired,’ she said reaching up to touch his face. ‘That belonged to the guy you went out to try and negotiate with the other night?’

  ‘Yes. Hey, have those been checked?’ asked Dylan, reaching out quickly towards Rita who had her hand on a trigger of a semi-automatic pistol pointed in their direction. It was his turn to look concerned. He took the gun off her with the confidence of someone trained in the act.

  ‘I guessed so. They were tagged in the temporary store,’ Rita said looking a little taken aback.

  ‘I know I go on about never assuming but the exception to that rule is always assume a gun is loaded,’ he said, with a furrowed brow.

  ‘How would I check?’ asked Rita. ‘Go on, give us a quick lesson.’

  Dylan obliged by picking up the gun nearest to him. ‘Point it in a safe direction. Since the slide lock is closed you’d check that a round isn’t still in the chamber. On this particular one by pulling the slide back and raising the slide lock.’ He laid the gun down with the muzzle facing in a safe direction even though it was empty.

  ‘And if it was loaded? What would I do then?’

  ‘If there are rounds of ammo in the magazine, press down slightly on the top Round and with your thumb, slide the Round out. You’d have to keep doing that until they’d all been removed. Now, ladies, store them all somewhere safely.’

  ‘What do people do this for?’ Rita said, picking up a sawn-off shotgun.

  ‘A modified shotgun is more manoeuvrable and a lot lighter than a full size shotgun, see,’ he said handing the gun to Jen, who recoiled from handling the monstrous looking weapon.

  Dylan laughed. ‘However, remember decreasing the length of the gun will reduce its accuracy and increase the recoil. If the person holding the gun has a hand on top of the barrel...’ Dylan indicated this by placing his left hand facing downwards on the shortened barrel, ‘they are aware of the recoil, and they would do this to stop it firing upwards.’

  Jen screwed up her eyes. ‘I can’t believe you hadn’t told me... Where on earth did you learn that?’ she asked.

  ‘I told you, I’m trained,’ he said as he turned on his heels. ‘Bye love,’ he said blowing her a kiss. ‘It’s looking like a late one so don’t wait up,’ he called over his shoulder. The property door slammed shut behind him.

  ***

  The guns were safely locked in the secure cabinet. Jen looked down at her dirty hands. ‘What’s up Jen?’ Rita asked as she followed Jen out of the store and locked the door behind them.

  ‘I don’t know... Sometimes I just get a glimpse of another side of Jack Dylan and realise how little I know about him.’

  ‘I guess we never know everything about someone, no matter how close we are.’

  ‘I know but you’d think... Oh, don’t mind me I’m just being silly.’

  ***

  Dylan was in the custody suite ensuring that Derek Harper had himself a solicitor and was updating the staff on duty. Now they had found a body at Mr Harper’s address he was going nowhere. ‘CID will be down to arrest him with murder any time now,’ he said.

  ‘You may be right there, sir, but he might be going somewhere rather sooner than you thought. We’ve an ambulance en route.’

  ‘Bloody hell,’ Dylan said. ‘Not that old nugget?’

  The Custody Officer nodded his head. ‘I don’t think for a minute... but better to be safe than sorry. His solicitor has asked for a call back once we know what’s happening with him.’

  ‘Who’s he got, Perfect and Best by any chance?’

  ‘No, it’s David Scacchetti from over Leeds way. Don’t know him.
’

  Dylan raised his eyebrows. ‘Me neither. Let me know when you know what’s happening too will you?’

  ***

  Acting Detective Sergeant Vicky Hardacre looked downhearted when she heard the news.

  ‘Look on the positive. It gives us a bit of time whilst his custody clock is stopped,’ he said. ‘Everything happens for a reason. He won’t gain anything.’

  ‘You think it’s Kirsty, boss?’ asked Paul.

  ‘I think so, yes. The post-mortem is set for half seven tomorrow morning. We’ll get the samples checked as soon as possible. The body is in a pretty decomposed state.’

  ‘Is he the killer do you think or just a weirdo?’

  ‘Likely to be the latter, but who knows? We have to keep an open mind and let the facts speak for themselves.’

  ‘I’d planned to see the guy in the photo tomorrow morning. I’ve been given his duties so I thought I’d drop on him unannounced. See what reaction I get.’

  ‘Good.’

  ‘I’ve got some good news for you from the Forensic lab,’ he said.

  ‘You have? What’s that?’ Dylan’s eyes widened.

  ‘Early indications confirm two different hair samples have been found in the mask Billy Simpson was wearing, and from the house-to-house enquiries it would appear our Jane had a regular male visitor who drove a transit van.’

  ‘When was it last seen?’

  ‘Don’t know any more at the moment.’

  Dylan’s phone rang. ‘That sounds interesting, Paul,’ he said as he picked it up.

  ***

  It was dark outside. Dylan stood at the window. The car park was all but bare, apart from a couple of uniform marked cars. Most of his team were out on enquiries, in the unmarked police vehicles. The search team at Derek Harper’s house had finished for the night but he was told they would resume at first light. The technical team had Harper’s computers and were about to start to examine the information thereon. Already they knew there was a vast amount of images of a sexual nature stored on various files and each file would be subject to scrutiny.

  Harper lived alone so it was likely only he had access to the computer, therefore Dylan hoped he wouldn’t have gone to elaborate lengths to conceal things. He reminded uniform of the need for security to be retained overnight at the scene.