by M A Comley
“Well, this is where it gets interesting. While he was serving his sentence, his wife, Gillian, was killed in an accident.”
Frowning, Hero asked, “What kind of accident?”
“A road traffic accident.” Pitt chewed his lip then added, “She was killed after a pursuit patrol car smashed into the side of her vehicle as it sped through a red light. The copper involved came away with a few scratches.”
“Ouch! Well, there’s no need to look any further for a motive—that’s it right there. When was this?”
“In 2014, so a few years ago. What we don’t know is why he left it a couple of years before he sought retribution.”
“You think that’s what this is about? It doesn’t explain the post office side of things and why he just didn’t rob the postmasters and mistresses of the money and leave. Why torture and kill them? What possible logic is there behind doing that?”
Pitt shrugged. “I guess we’ll know more once we’ve found out about his stay in prison, who his cell mate was, et cetera.”
“Was the wife killed in the impact, or did she die later in hospital? Not that it makes any difference.”
“She died at the scene. Maybe he’s feeling some kind of remorse for not being at her side during her passing. I’m probably clutching at straws there.”
Hero thought over that suggestion a moment. “You might be right. I must reiterate that it doesn’t justify his need to murder innocent people involved with the post office.”
“We’ve done well so far. Give my guys the time to do the digging, and we’ll go from there.”
Hero shook Pitt’s hand. “You and your team have been a great help.”
“Hey, it’s too early for congratulations. Let’s leave that until we nail the bastard and slam the cell door on him.”
Hero couldn’t have agreed more. He prayed that day would come sooner rather than later. “Before we get on, did you have a chance to pop over and see Mr. Walker?”
“Sorry, I should have told you about that. Yes, he was beside himself. Broke down in tears, fearing what we’re going to throw at the lad once the investigation is finished.”
“I hope you assured him that Dale would be exonerated of all crimes that he’s committed under duress.”
“I did. He was still beside himself. He also stated that he wanted to lay his wife to rest but couldn’t find it in him to deal with the funeral arrangements without Dale being around.”
Hero nodded. “That’s sad. Let’s hope he doesn’t end up burying his son along with his wife.”
“Crap, don’t say that.”
“Sir, something has just come to my attention,” DS Torrance from the Liverpool team stated.
Hero dismissed his team and walked over to Torrance with DI Pitt. “What’s that, Sergeant?”
“Apparently, one of the shops in the precinct was held up this morning.”
Pitt and Hero glanced at each other with raised eyebrows.
“Don’t tell me…there was no CCTV footage available,” Pitt said.
“Actually, there was, sir. The shop was held up by a young girl brandishing a firearm.”
“I think we should get over there ASAP.” Hero glanced down at his dress uniform and tutted. “Damn, why didn’t I bring a change of clothes?”
“You look fine. Yep, I think it would be best if we go and check it out for ourselves.”
Chapter 18
The shop had closed its doors to customers, but the manageress opened the door and welcomed Hero and Pitt with a weary smile.
“Can you run through what exactly happened with us, Miss Calderwood?” Hero asked the petite redhead, whose face lacked any colour.
“This young girl walked into the shop. She looked shifty as soon as she walked in, so I kept an eye on her. Thought she was going to do a spot of shoplifting—wrong deduction on my part. Anyway, she waited until the customer I was serving had left the shop and then approached the counter. I smiled at her and asked if I could help her with anything. She stuck her hand in the carrier bag and pulled out a bloody gun.”
“That must have been terrifying for you and your staff. Did she say anything?”
“It was. I had a security guard on duty at the door, but I told him to stay back. I couldn’t have lived with myself if he’d been shot.”
“Indeed. What did the girl demand?”
“She told me to hand over the takings out of the till and promised that she didn’t want to harm anyone. Her hand was shaking so much when it was pointed at me that I thought she was going to end up pulling the trigger by mistake.”
“So, she only got away with the money from the till. Is that correct?” DI Pitt enquired.
“Yes. Luckily, I always empty it regularly. So there really wasn’t that much in there, to be honest with you. She seemed pleased with her haul, though.”
“Then what? She just left? Didn’t even ask if there was any money elsewhere on the premises?” Hero asked.
“No, that’s what I couldn’t understand. She seemed to be in a desperate hurry to get out of here. The security guard stepped forward to try and block her escape, but she pointed the gun at his head and warned him not to try and stop her. And then she was gone.”
“Am I right in thinking that you have CCTV footage of the incident?”
The woman nodded. “Yes, do you want to come through and see it in my office?”
“Thanks, that would help. Could we trouble you for a copy of the disc?”
“Sure, I can sort that out for you.”
The three of them walked through a stock-filled corridor that could have been classed as a fire hazard and into an equally cluttered office. She didn’t apologise for the state the room was in, just set up the footage right away. “That’s her.”
Hero leaned into the monitor and nodded. “Yep, as I suspected. It’s Vicki Baldwin.”
Pitt shook his head. “What the hell is this guy playing at? And how the dickens is he getting these kids to carry out these crimes for him?”
“We’ll thrash that out back at the station,” Hero replied.
The manageress’s head swivelled from Hero to Pitt. “If you know this girl, I’m taking it that you’ve arrested her.”
Hero smiled at her. “No, not yet. But we’re getting close. If you can give us a copy, we’ll be on our way.”
“That just seems incredible. You know who she is, and yet she’s still out there walking the streets, a danger to society? Is this drug related? Does she rob hard-working people like me so that she can fund her disgusting habit?”
“I don’t think that’s the case at all.” Hero sighed. “This girl was abducted at the start of the week. We believe her abductor is forcing her to commit these crimes.”
She frowned. “Why? Why is he doing it, and why doesn’t she escape when she has the chance to?”
“Both very good questions we have yet to find the answers to. He’s a dangerous man. That’s all we really know about him at this stage.” It wasn’t, but it was all he was willing to share with a member of the public.
“What a dreadful situation. He’s a coward in my eyes.”
“I think, in a roundabout way, your assumption might be spot on, Miss Calderwood.”
The manageress handed them a copy of the footage, and they left the shop.
“I’ve got an urge to trawl the streets,” Hero stated.
“It’s a pretty big area to cover, Nelson. He’s committing crimes all over the city. If we had a specific area that we should be monitoring, I’d agree with you. I think we’ll be better off at the station right now. Besides…”
Hero looked over the roof of the car at Pitt before he got in. “Besides what?”
“I thought you were desperate to get out of that suit. You really think it’ll be wise sitting in the car for hours on end, feeling as stiff as a board?”
Hero chuckled. “Okay, you’ve persuaded me it’s a bad idea. Maybe my partner and I will do it tomorrow instead.”
“I’m
not saying I would object to getting out there with you, just not today. I don’t see any point. They’ve committed their crime for the day. Looking back over the past crimes he and his little gang have tackled so far, they tend to commit the crime then dive for cover. We’ve just got to find out where that bloody cover is.”
Myers decided to take the girl back to the same house where he was keeping the young lad. He tied her close to the boy on the bed and opened the carrier bag she had brought back from the shop.
“What the fuck? I thought it was a bit light.” He leaned in close to the girl’s face and shouted, “Are you fucking having a laugh, girl? Where’s the rest of it?”
The girl cowered and turned her head away from him. “It was all they had in the till,” she whispered.
“Jesus, and I thought you’re supposed to be intelligent. Didn’t Mummy and Daddy send you to the school of common sense?”
“I was scared. You didn’t tell me to hang around and ask for the rest of the money. You told me to get in and out as quick as possible.”
He stood upright and paced the floor in front of the two terrified kids. “I’ve asked you to do one thing—one damn thing—and you’ve screwed it up. You’re going to suffer now, mark my words.”
He stormed out of the room and sat at the kitchen table. His head in his hands, he tried to come up with another plan. He grinned broadly and snapped his fingers when the brilliant idea struck him. Leaving his chair, and with his mobile in his hand, he strode back into the living room. “What’s your parents’ number?”
Both his captives looked at each other before Vicki replied, “I can’t honestly remember. I just hit number one on my phone and get connected right away.”
He shook his head at the laziness of today’s youth. “And where’s your mobile?”
“Back in Mum’s car. I didn’t have it when you kidnapped me.”
He spun around and kicked out at the leg of the coffee table. His mind churned as he tried to figure out what to do next. Facing the terrified teenagers again, he demanded, “Where does your dad work? The name of his business? I’ll call him there.”
“He works in the oil business. Not sure I can think of the name of the company who employ him, though. I’m too scared to think.”
He stormed across the room and stopped in front of her, intimidating the girl with a hard stare. “You better think quickly. Let’s put it this way: if you don’t come up with the answer soon, you’ll outlive your usefulness. Comprende?”
“Yes, wait. Umm…it might be Complex Oil or something like that.”
“Where are they based?”
“The head office is in the Middle East, but Dad has another office here in Manchester, in the city centre near the station. Sorry, I really don’t know what the address is.”
He threw his hands in the air. “Don’t know or don’t care? Just as long as Daddy keeps bringing home the money, that’s all you’re concerned about, right?”
Tears sprang to her eyes. “No. It’s not like that at all.”
“Save it! Like I give a damn.” He strode into the hallway, called directory enquiries to obtain the information, then rang the number. “Put me through to Mr. Baldwin.”
“I’m afraid he’s in a very important meeting right now and can’t be disturbed,” the man’s officious secretary informed him abruptly.
“Oh, is that right? Give him this message: either he comes to the phone now, or I’ll send his daughter to him piece by piece every day over the next week. Got that?”
“Yes, I’m sorry. Please don’t hurt her. I’m going to see him now. I’ll make sure he takes your call.”
“Stop prattling, woman, and get on with it!”
The phone clattered on the desk, and he heard the woman’s footsteps walk across the floor in an echoing room. Her footsteps on her return journey had turned into an excitable trot. Breathlessly, she said, “I’m putting you through now.”
“Good.” He waited for the man to speak before he said anything else.
“Hello, this is John Baldwin.”
“You’ll be glad you took this call, Baldwin. It’s obvious who I am. I need five million pounds in cash. Either you get that money to me within forty-eight hours, or you can say farewell to your daughter.”
“How do I know you have Vicki? You could be any Tom, Dick, or Harry ringing up after I put out that reward on the TV.”
“What? Are you saying you don’t trust me?”
“No, sorry, I didn’t mean to cause any offence. I gave my reason for asking the question.”
“So, we seem to be at a bit of an impasse in that case, Mr. Baldwin. How do you suggest we move on from here? Do you want me to start sending your daughter back to you via the post? Because I will.”
“No. Please, I just want to hear her voice. Proof of life is all I’m asking for.”
Myers exhaled a large breath, ensuring the man was aware how annoyed he was then he walked back into the living room and placed the phone in front of the girl. “Daddy wants to speak to you. Watch what you tell him, all right?”
Her head bobbed up and down. “Daddy, it’s me. Help me. Do as he says, please.”
Myers snatched the phone away from the tearful teenager before she had the chance to say anything else. “There, you got what you wanted. Now, are you going to reciprocate?”
“Yes, of course. We want our daughter back, unharmed. However, I can’t raise the funds in that time.”
“That’s not what I want to hear, Baldwin. If you value her life, you’ll do everything you can to ensure the cash is ready for me within the time frame. If not, then you know what’s going to happen.”
“No, wait. I will get the money. Please, you don’t have to make such threats. I’ll have a word with my bosses, see if they can lend me the money.”
“I don’t give a flying fuck how you get the money—just get it. Oh, and one last thing—if you go to the police about this, I will kill her. Got that?”
“I understand. No police. They are aware she has been kidnapped so they’re bound to keep us up to date with the case now and then, but I swear I won’t tell them about our arrangement.”
“Make sure you don’t. I’m pretty handy with the knife. My father used to take me hunting as a kid. I’ve skinned dozens of rabbits and other vermin, if you get my drift.”
“I do. Please, don’t hurt Vicki. She’s all we’ve got. She means the world—”
Tired of the man’s pleading voice, Myers disconnected the call. “Looks like Daddy has a lot of work ahead of him. If he underestimates me, he’ll be sorry, and so will you.”
“If he says he’ll get you the money, he will,” Vicki replied, her voice shaking.
Myers laughed. “He better. Or your days on this earth are numbered, girlie.”
Chapter 19
“I’m going out to see the Baldwins. They should hear about their daughter’s involvement in the hold-up before the media get wind of it. Do you want to come with me, Pitt?”
“Why not?”
They left the station in Hero’s car and drove through the mid-afternoon traffic out to the Baldwins’ Chorlton home. Hero was relieved to see Mr. Baldwin’s car sitting alongside his wife’s in the driveway. He hadn’t relished the thought of broaching the subject about the hold-up with just the wife being present.
Hero and Pitt nervously brushed themselves down on the doorstep as they waited for the door to open.
Mr. Baldwin looked shocked to see them. “Have you found her?”
Hero smiled and shook his head. “No. Do you mind if we come in? We do have some information that we’re keen to share with you. This is a colleague of mine who has been drafted in to help with the case, DI Pitt from the Liverpool force.”
Baldwin nodded and turned his back on them. With his shoulders slumped, he walked through the hallway and into the lounge, where a sorrowful-looking Mrs. Baldwin was sitting in a leather armchair. It was obvious by the redness around her eyes that she’d been crying.
>
“Hello, Mrs. Baldwin. We’ve dropped by to give you an update on your daughter’s case. I take it the kidnapper hasn’t been in touch with either of you?”
Mrs. Baldwin, twisting a handkerchief in her lap, glanced up at her husband.
He stared straight at Hero and shook his head. “No. We’ve been anxiously waiting to hear an update from you.”
“It’s not good news, I’m afraid.”
The parents gasped.
“Sorry…let me rephrase that. A call came in to us this morning regarding a hold-up in one of the shops in the Swinton precinct.”
Mr. Baldwin’s brow furrowed. “I’m not following you, Inspector.”
Hero fidgeted, fearing what the couple’s reaction was going to be to the news. “When we arrived at the scene, the shopkeeper was still very traumatised by the event. She showed us the CCTV footage of the offender. Sorry to have to tell you this, but it was Vicki.”
“What? Are you out of your mind? My daughter would never, ever do such a deplorable thing—not of her own free will,” Mr. Baldwin insisted. He paced the floor in front of the marble fireplace, avoiding eye contact with anyone else in the room.
Mrs. Baldwin, on the other hand, sobbed and buried her head in her hands. Hero thought it strange that it was Pitt who crossed the floor to comfort her, not her husband.
“Can I get you a glass of water?” Pitt asked the woman.
She blew her nose on her hanky. “No. I’m fine. Thank you.”
Pitt returned to Hero’s side. Her husband continued to pace instead of bombarding them with questions as any other parent in his situation might, which raised Hero’s suspicions.
“We believe your daughter probably carried out the crime under duress. Does she have any firearm training?”
Mr. Baldwin stopped mid-stride. He turned to face Hero and looked him directly in the eye for the first time in five minutes. “No. What are you asking that for?”
“Because your daughter held up the shop, brandishing a gun.”
Mrs. Baldwin sobbed again and whispered something under her breath Hero didn’t quite catch. Mr. Baldwin swiftly moved towards her and knelt in front of her. He gathered her in his arms, whispered something in his wife’s ear, then released her. Mrs. Baldwin dabbed at her eyes and nodded at her husband but said nothing.