by M A Comley
The two detectives ducked back under the tape and set off for the corner of the adjoining road. Hero looked up again. “Check the light here, too, Julie. We need to know how this person attacked the victim. Whether the area was lit or not.”
“Sir? Surely if the area wasn’t lit properly, the girls wouldn’t work here, would they?”
“That’s what we have to find out. Something we’ll be asking the girls when we come back tonight.”
“Yes, sir.”
Hero studied the area. He hid behind the wall and viewed the spot where the prostitute had been killed. It turned out to be an excellent viewing position. Still, Hero being Hero, he and Shaw walked the length of the road to check the visibility from there, also. When they reached the end of the road, they looked back and saw nothing. Hero concluded that the first location was probably where the attacker had watched the prostitute before attacking her.
Hero turned to Julie. “What do you think?”
“About the location, sir?”
Hero nodded.
Julie scanned the buildings in front of and behind them. “I agree, sir. That corner looks the most likely.”
“Right, there are some shops around the corner. We’ll go and ask if anybody saw anything out of the ordinary. We’ll also see if they can tell us when the girls come on duty, so to speak.”
Hero marched to the other end of the road, lost in thought. Julie set off in a trot after him and struggled to keep up. When they reached the shops, Hero sent his partner to check out the shops on the opposite side of the road while he dipped into the shops on his side to question the staff.
He showed his warrant card to the first shopkeeper, an old Chinese man who had an incredible smile that appeared to have been stitched on his face.
“Can you tell me what time you’re open till?”
“We shut at eight every night, ’cept Saturday. We close at ten then.”
“Around the back there, do you know what time the girls start work?”
The man’s smile weakened at the mention of the girls. “Are you talking about the prostitutes?”
“Yes. Do you get much trouble from them?”
“Sometimes, from them, and sometimes, from the men who visit them.” His arm swept around his shop. “We sell all sorts, as you can see. Sometimes, the girls come in here to buy food, and the men mostly come in to buy cans of beer. I don’t like it, but trade is very bad these days. I cannot stop them coming in here. If I did that, I’d have to shut down my shop for good. Most of the time, they behave themselves. On the odd occasion, I catch one or two of them stealing. When I ring the police, they do nothing to help me. The last few times, I haven’t bothered ringing. What’s the point?”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I’ll make a note at the station to try and get more officers to patrol the area. I can’t promise anything, but I’ll do my best. Can you tell me what time the girls usually start work?”
“Around seven, I suppose. I’ve never really thought about it. I go through my shelves to see what I need from the cash and carry the next day around that time every evening. That’s when the girls start coming in here.”
“Last question. You’re probably aware that something happened here last night. Did you see or hear anything out of the ordinary? Any strangers hanging around? I know that probably seems like a dumb question, but if you can think of anything that might help the investigation, it would help?” Hero asked hopefully.
“No, mister. We get strangers around here all the time. I feel sorry for the girl who lost her life, but they know the risks when they get involved in that type of work though, don’t they?”
“They do indeed. Thanks for your help anyway. If you think of anything or hear something that you think might help, will you contact me?” Hero handed the man a business card.
The man took the card and placed it in his till. “I will. Sorry I wasn’t much use.”
“No problem.” Hero left the shop and called across the road to Julie. “Anything?”
“Nope.”
“Okay, we’ll leave it there for now and come back later.”
Julie joined him, and they made their way to the car and drove back to the station in silence.
Hero hadn’t been back at his desk long when the ringing telephone interrupted him. “DI Nelson. How can I help?”
“Inspector, it’s Dave Wheeler.”
Hero was shocked to hear from the journalist so soon after tearing him off a strip. “Wheeler, what can I do for you?”
“I wanted to ring up and apologise for running the story and putting you under unnecessary stress the other day.”
“It goes with the job. I appreciate your apology. I sense there’s something else on your mind.”
“You’re right. I called ’round to see how Rupert was getting on, and he’s not good. Are you keeping him up to date with how the investigation is going?”
“I’m sorry to hear that. However, these things take time. You of all people should be aware of that,” Hero replied stiffly.
“I did tell him that. He’s in a bad way, and I just wondered if you wouldn’t mind dropping around to see him or ringing him. It’ll help him cope with his family’s loss a little better. In my experience, when a tragedy like this happens, I know that with some of the victims’ families, the only thing on their mind is revenge. I’m not saying for an instant that is the case with Rupert, I think it’s something we should be wary of, that’s all. I get the impression he hasn’t slept for days—or eaten, for that matter. Going without sleep and food has a habit of messing with people’s minds.”
“Well thank you, doctor,” Hero replied, his sarcasm evident in his tone before he reprimanded himself. The guy was only looking out for a friend, after all. “I understand where you’re coming from, but there is a limit to what we can do to move the case forward, Wheeler.”
“I appreciate that, Inspector, which is the second reason behind my call. As you know, all investigative journalists have contacts—informants, if you like. I put the word around, and a few of my informants saw my article in the paper the other day. Well, one of them contacted me early this morning.”
“Go on. I’m listening.”
“Well, I know of at least two incidents involving the Krull Gang that have happened in the last twenty-four to forty-eight hours. I thought you should be made aware of them.”
“Any news you have involving an ongoing case will catch my attention, Mr. Wheeler. Would you like to meet up to discuss the information?”
“That won’t be necessary, Inspector. My time is very limited as it is today. So this is what I know. Yesterday, on one of the estates run by another gang, the Krull Gang turned up looking for bother. Word has it that they wanted to prove they were still the top dogs and cremated one of the other gang members on the spot.”
“I’m aware of the incident, and we’re investigating it thoroughly, as you can imagine.”
Wheeler exhaled what seemed to be a frustrated breath at his end. “Okay, how about this. I got wind of another incident that happened last night in the red-light district close to the Krull Gang’s territory.”
“That’s another incident were investigating along with the other two cases. As you can see, my team are at full stretch at the moment. So anything you can help us with will ease our burden. What have your informants told you about last night’s incident?”
“I’m sorry to hear that you’re stretched. Nevertheless, I think you should concentrate on trying to arrest this gang as soon as is humanly possible. Otherwise, I can see things escalating faster than a launching rocket. In my opinion, I think you have a tit-for-tat situation arising here. I’ve heard that the prostitute who got killed last night was one of the Krull Gang’s whores. It can’t be a coincidence that a gang member of one gang gets killed and a prostitute on the Krull Gang’s payroll gets murdered a few days later, can it?”
“Hmm…Without any kind of proof leading to that assumption, our hands are tied. Do you hav
e proof that is indeed what has happened?”
“Only reliable hearsay. This particular informant is usually shit hot with his information. All my informants know that I follow up on their info. If it proves to be wrong, they also know that I won’t be paying them in the future.”
“Fair enough. I don’t suppose your informant told you how many prostitutes the Krull Gang pimps, did he?” Hero pulled a blank sheet of paper from the pile on his desk and picked up a pen, ready to take notes.
“No, he didn’t. However, what he did say was that these girls hang out around the estate at regular intervals, four sites in all.”
“Like north, east, south, and west?” Hero drew a square on the sheet and started to fill in the names of the roads surrounding Brickfields Estate.
“Maybe, who’s to say? Look, I’m just passing on the info I’ve been given to make amends for my cock-up.”
“Thanks, I appreciate the help. Not sure what I’m going to do with the info yet, but it’s another angle we can tackle. Keep me informed?”
“Of course. If you promise to keep Rupert involved in the case. He’s lost everything. I just hope he doesn’t lose the will to live.”
Hero winced. Would Hartley really consider suicide? He answered his own question, Yes, he would. Over the years, he’d heard and seen the results of many heartbroken people who had topped themselves when loved ones had died in normal circumstances, let alone been murdered. “You have my word that I’ll drop by tomorrow. I have a pretty full day ahead of me. Thanks for calling.”
“I understand. The sooner the better, eh?”
“It will be.” Hero hung up just before Julie knocked on the door and entered the room.
“I’ve got on to the city maintenance department, sir. They’re going to check their records and get back to me with regard to the streetlights.”
“Thanks. Get me a local map of the area, will you? Wait a minute. Better still, I’ll boot up my laptop for you.”
“Sir?” She pulled the chair opposite Hero nearer to the desk, and he angled the laptop to face her.
“I’ve just had Wheeler on the phone about this prostitute that was murdered. His contacts have told him that she works for the Krull Gang. She’s part of an army of prostitutes pimped by these guys. According to Wheeler, the girls surround the estate. I started to draw a map, but can’t for the life of me remember the name of the roads around there. I thought if we did the groundwork now, when we go there this evening, we can cruise the area and have a word with the other girls.”
“Good thinking. I hate to ask, sir, but any idea how long we’re going to be tonight?”
Hero raised an eyebrow. “Got plans, have you, Sergeant?”
“Rob did mention something in passing about going out for a meal. I can ring him and postpone if you like.”
“I’m sorry, I had no idea. What about if we say we’ll call it a day around eight to eight-thirty? You can even have a lie-in tomorrow and come in at ten. How’s that?”
A slight smile tugged at his sergeant’s mouth. “That’s a deal, sir. I’ll call Rob to let him know after I’ve done this.” She turned the laptop to face him again so that he could type in his password.
“Any news on the CCTV footage from last night yet?” Hero asked after he’d tapped in his password and swivelled the computer back to her.
“I’ve got Foxy on it now. Told her to search the roads close to the scene, as there were none actually in the area in question. We’ll see what comes back in a few hours. So you want the roads around the Brickfields Estate?”
“That’s right. I’ll be with you shortly, after I’ve filled in a few of these damn forms.”
Julie hit a couple of buttons, and within minutes, she asked, “Do you want me to print this map? It’ll be easier than drawing it from scratch.”
“Makes sense to me. The computer is linked to the Wi-Fi printer. Just hit print.”
Within a few minutes, the printer churned to life and spewed out the map. Julie sat back in her chair and folded her arms as if to ask what he wanted her to do next.
Hero shook his head, which had improved greatly since first thing that morning. “All right, smart arse. Mine’s a coffee with two sugars. I’ll be a little while longer with all this crap. Go and help Foxy with the CCTV. What I really want is to get some decent stills of the girls and any strangers in the area between say seven and—what time was the murder?”
“Around midnight, sir,” Julie stood up and made her way to the door.
“Between seven and midnight then. The more ammunition we take out on the street with us tonight, the better.”
Julie left the office, and he rushed through the urgent paperwork, leaving what could wait for when he had more time to deal with it.
Twenty minutes later, Hero joined the two sergeants at Foxy’s desk. “Anything?”
“Quite a lot, as it happens.” Julie handed him the still photos he’d asked for. Nearly all of them were of tarty-looking women. She pointed to one of the photos. “That’s the girl who was murdered.”
“Hmm…Well, from this picture, it looks like the streetlight was working, at least where she was standing. Does that mean someone attacked her without fear of recrimination? Not bothered if they were seen or not?”
“It certainly looks that way to me. The pathologist suggested she was killed in that spot. There were no signs of the body being moved.”
“Interesting. I told Wheeler I’d pop in and check on Hartley. I did say I’d do it tomorrow, but thinking about it further, I might as well get it out of the way today. There’s not much we can do around here, anyway—not until we’ve had a word with the girls this evening.”
“Anything in particular you’d like me to do, sir?” Julie asked as she took the photos from him.
“Why don’t you go home for a few hours? I know we agreed for you to come in later tomorrow. I just think things will need sorting here tomorrow more than this afternoon. You’re only waiting on a call from city maintenance, aren’t you?”
“That’s right.”
“Well, anyone can deal with that. Go home and come back at three, how’s that?”
Julie nodded and retrieved her handbag from beside her desk. “I’m not going to argue with that, sir. I’ll see you later.”
Hero turned back to Foxy. “Have all the CCTV tapes been examined now?”
“Yes, sir. Is there anything else you’d like me to do?”
“Everything is still rather vague at this point, Foxy. See what else you can dig up on this Krull Gang, if you would? I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”
Hero arrived at the Hartley mansion about twenty minutes later. James opened the door and seemed surprised to see him standing on the front doorstep.
“Is Mr. Hartley expecting you, sir?”
“No. I called ’round on the off chance. Is he here?” Hero looked over the butler’s shoulder, up the empty hallway.
James pulled open the door, inviting him in. He gave Hero a brief smile. “I’ll see if Mr. Hartley will see you, sir. Would you care to wait for him in the library?”
“Thanks.”
Hero waited for at least another five minutes for the butler to return. He placed a tray with two cups and saucers and a coffee pot on the side table. “Mr. Hartley will be with you shortly, Inspector. Please help yourself to coffee.”
The butler closed the door quietly behind him, and while Hero waited for Rupert to arrive, he took the opportunity to wander along the bookshelves. Most of the leather-bound books looked as though they’d never been handled, leading Hero to think they were collector’s pieces that had never been read. He placed his hands behind his back so that he wasn’t in any way tempted to touch the spines.
He was deep in concentration when Hartley’s voice startled him. “Do you like reading, Inspector?”
Hero spun around to face him. “I’m more of a James Patterson fan.”
“Ah, I see. I like to read something new every day. It broadens one’
s knowledge. I have to admit that I haven’t read anything since…” He walked over to the chair and slumped into it.
Hero tried to keep his tone upbeat when he replied, “You do actually read all these books then? I thought they were just for show.”
Hartley opened the small drawer in the table beside him and withdrew a pair of white cotton gloves. “I wear these when I read them. You’re correct in your assumption. Most of them are extremely valuable, priceless in some cases. I find words fascinating. Where would we be without words? Either to speak or to read without them would prove to be an impossible task. People don’t realise how valuable they are.”
“I’ve never really thought about it like that. People do tend to take things for granted. I suppose I’m guilty of that.”
“This is all I have left to care for, yet I don’t seem to have the enthusiasm for a passion that once consumed most of my day. What news do you have for me, Inspector?”
Hero puffed out his cheeks and blew out a breath. “Nothing much really. These gangs are a law unto themselves. I’ve had a word with my chief to see if we can force the Crown Prosecution Service into working with us, but their hands are tied without the evidence to back up our findings.”
Hartley’s eyes narrowed before he spoke. “So you’re telling me that these gangs repeatedly get away with murder?”
As much as Hero wanted to deny it, he couldn’t. The government bringing in the ASBOs had done very little to help communities. To Hero, the only thing the disorder offences had achieved was giving the gangs another badge of glory to attain, to wear with pride, and shove up people’s noses. “I hate to admit it, but sometimes, that is the case, Mr. Hartley. Although, in your wife’s and son’s case, believe me when I say I’m doing everything in my power to ensure that doesn’t happen.”
Rupert remained quiet for a moment or two, and in that time, Hero watched the expression on his face alter many times. Everything from hurt to anger contorted his tired features before he spoke again. “Dave Wheeler ran a story the other day. Did you see it?”