King sat down and listened to this admission and thought he had finally got to the truth. He rather crudely summed up.
“So, you were shagging the boss’s wife?”
“That’s your way of putting it, but I’d prefer to call it an assignation. I don’t want her brought into this, for her sake and mine.”
“Spare me any lurid details, but what exactly were you up to? We’ll need to speak with her to corroborate your story. Of course, she may choose to deny that you ever met.”
Lacey could understand that her denial was a real possibility, as she had so much to lose if their tryst became public knowledge, or at the very least, if her husband found out.
“Okay. We bathed together in a roll top bath, as the owners had left the immersion switched on, and then we made love on a rug in front of the gas fire in the living room. If she denies we had sex, I can prove that I’ve seen her naked. Just above the nipple on her right breast, she has a tattoo of an open-winged butterfly about the size of a fifty pence piece. It’s coloured black with sort of orange stripes. It has shading to make it look like a three dimensional image, as if it’s just landed on her areola. She told me she had it done when she was studying entomology at Bristol University back in the nineties.”
King thought he must now be telling the truth as his description was plausible; nevertheless, he was still cautious.
“Let me have your mobile please, Mr Lacey. I intend to hold you until I’ve checked out your story.”
“Please explain to her why I had to tell you what we were doing.”
“My sergeant will contact her and I’m sure she’ll be discreet.”
He then said to no one in particular that the interview was terminated at 12.43 and switched off the recording. Harris took Lacey out of the room and instructed a uniformed officer to place him in another interview room and offer him a hot drink. She then went back and King spoke as she returned.
“No need to do anything with his mobile, I just didn’t want him contacting Mrs Burton. Have a face-to-face with her as soon as possible, wherever is convenient, and check out his story. If she’s in denial, just mention the Red Admiral!”
*
As Sergeant Harris went to make contact with a, no doubt, sheepish Mrs Burton, Mark Preston had arrived early at the police station for his interview at one o’clock that Tuesday afternoon. This would be conducted by King with Dyson sitting in and taking notes: DC Hammond sat in as an observer. Depending on what Preston had to say would determine if the interview would be suspended and reconvened later, the next time with him under caution.
Right on time, at one o’clock, the detectives joined Preston in the interview room and the uniformed officer, who had been keeping him company, left. King adopted a rather irritated stance as he began: “So, the position as we see it, Mr Preston, is that we are dealing with two vehicles that were stolen from farms, and both of them were sold by your company. Replacement keys were ordered for both by your firm, as confirmed by the manufacturer, and yet you have no records of these keys being ordered: we’d like you to explain how that could happen?”
“I can offer no explanation as to why our records don’t show the keys having been ordered or received. All I can think of it’s an administrative error.”
“Tell us again, who would take delivery of the replacement keys?”
“Motor parts go straight to the workshop and all other mail would be delivered to our reception. Anyone can pick up parcels and letters from there, or Stella will deliver them.”
“How easy is it for someone to order a replacement key without it being logged?”
“I’ve never really considered that, but if someone wanted an extra key for one of our sale cars, it would be quite straightforward. When it came in, the package would be passed to the person who ordered it.”
More questions followed about the sales people and procedures. Eventually, the inspector wasn’t sure how much more help Preston could be, so he terminated the interview, giving him some advice.
“This is an ongoing investigation, Mr Preston. In the meantime, I think you would be well advised to strengthen your security procedures, when it comes to replacement keys. I will probably need to interview you again at some point. In the meantime, I don’t want you talking to anyone about this matter, particularly Stella Bovis: is that clear?” Preston nodded to confirm his understanding.
*
Stella Bovis had also arrived early for her appointment and the detectives could have seen her then, but King decided to let her wait: he had an inkling that she hadn’t told them all she knew and delay would only increase the pressure on the hapless receptionist. While they waited, DC Hammond hesitated as he wanted to make a suggestion, but wasn’t sure how his request would be received.
Undaunted, he asked the inspector if he could make a proposal: King nodded.
“From what I gather, sir, Miss Bovis is a rather nervous individual. So, instead of asking her politely about the replacement keys, why don’t you accuse her of ordering them, suggesting we have proof that she is involved. She can easily plead ignorance about the keys, but it’s a lot harder to deny an accusation.”
“That’s a very underhand approach, detective,” Hammond braced himself for his inspector’s admonishment, “but I like your idea. Let’s give it a try.” Finally, Dyson showed Bovis into the interview room, where King was impatiently waiting with a grave expression.
“Come in Miss Bovis and sit down.”
It was very evident that the interviewee was more than a little uneasy. The inspector outlined the reason for the interview and stepped through the procedure for ordering replacement keys, as he had done with Mr Preston. She confirmed that, as receptionist, she would receive any packages that didn’t go directly to the workshop.
“The Land Rover manufacturer confirmed that two sets of replacement keys had been sent to your company last month using a Jiffy bag as packaging. So, why did you order keys and not record the orders, Miss Bovis?”
Although the interview had barely begun, Stella Bovis was becoming more and more agitated with a red blush appearing on her neck, which was beginning to spread to her face. Increasingly, King thought she had something to hide and decided to apply pressure to this over-anxious individual.
“Miss Bovis, let me make one thing perfectly clear: we are dealing with the theft of two expensive motor cars. These thefts are clearly linked to Cameron and Wise and we have evidence to suggest you are involved with them as an accessory.”
“How was I supposed to know that the keys for the Range Rover and Land Rover weren’t genuine? I’m just used as a posting and delivery point.”
“Who said anything about the make of the vehicles? I just said expensive cars.”
Stella Bovis broke down in tears: the detectives were unmoved and silently waited for her to compose herself. The silence demanded a response. King had said what he wanted to say, and by not speaking it added to the pressure that Bovis was already acutely feeling. Eventually, she responded in staccato fashion, her reply punctuated by sobs.
“I did receive the packages you referred to from Land Rover and passed them to the person who had ordered them; I don’t want to get him into any trouble.”
“At the moment, you are the one in trouble, Miss Bovis. I suggest you tell us who you passed the packages to.”
She hesitated, but knew procrastination was futile. She looked straight at King.
“It was George Kemp.” The detectives looked on this visibly distressed individual, but King was impassive.
“Stella Bovis, I am arresting you in connection with the theft of two motor vehicles. You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.”
Bovis again broke down and sobbed into her handkerchief.
“I
did it for George, because I love him and wanted to help him. I didn’t know that it would lead to this.”
Dyson left the room and quickly returned with a uniformed woman officer who escorted Bovis to another room. During the short time they were alone, King commended Hammond on his suggestion, which had worked perfectly. However, he rather tarnished the plaudit by saying it had probably saved them half an hour, hinting they would have got the confession at some point.
*
George Kemp arrived ten minutes later and was escorted to the interview room by DC Dyson, where King was sat on one side of a table and Hammond observing from the back of the room. Kemp was invited to take the seat on the other side as Dyson sat alongside her boss. The inspector began the interview by pressing the start button on the recording machine with a beep signalling its readiness. The inspector said the date, time and the names of the four people who were present.
“Mr Kemp, this interview is being conducted under caution, as you are suspected of committing an offence. There are two unrelated things we need to discuss with you. The first concerns the theft of two vehicles from local farms, which were sold by your firm and replacement keys had been ordered for both vehicles.
“We have been informed that you ordered and received the replacement keys, and we believe they were later used in the theft of the vehicles, either by you or a third party.”
King didn’t need to ask Kemp to respond.
“The silly bitch! The only way you could have found out about the replacement keys was if Stella told you.” This was a statement not a question. The inspector metaphorically went for his jugular.
“I take that as an admission that you ordered the replacement keys, intending them to be used for criminal purposes. What I need to know now, Mr Kemp, is whether or not you stole the vehicles or passed the keys to other criminals?”
“Okay, I admit I got Stella to order the keys and asked her not to record that they’d been ordered. Look, I’ve got big gambling debts and I desperately needed the money. So, I sold each replacement key for a thousand quid. That’s all I’m prepared to admit, and I have no intention of telling you who I sold the keys to, as it’s more than my life’s worth, so do your worst. Let’s get this over with.”
“And what was Stella Bovis’s role in this deception and theft?”
“She didn’t know I was going to sell the keys; she just helped with the ordering and passed them to me when they were delivered. She wasn’t aware of what I was going to do with them.”
King duly formally arrested him and then gave him some advice that was not entirely altruistic as it would benefit both of them.
“You really should think again, Mr Kemp, about divulging who you sold the keys to, as no court will look kindly on you withholding such important information. Pleading guilty to being an accessory to the thefts and informing the judge who you sold the keys to, could just keep you out of jail.”
“You can threaten me all you want inspector, but I am not telling you who I sold the keys to.” He was so emphatic, King moved on to the second issue, but not before a parting shot on the car thefts.
“I will be informing Mr Preston that you and Bovis have both been arrested, which will explain why you haven’t returned to work. It will be up to him what action he takes over your employment.
“Leaving that crime to one side for the moment, the other thing I need to discuss with you is your whereabouts on the Wednesday afternoon of Mary Cranson’s disappearance. You told us that you stopped at The Old Inn in Widecombe. We have checked with the pub and they can remember you calling there that afternoon. Apparently, you met someone and received a package.”
“Okay, I went to collect what was owed to me when I sold the replacement keys. I did get a promise of two grand for the keys, but I got a monkey up front for each, and the balance after the cars had been stolen. I told you already, I am not going to divulge who that person is.”
“You would still have had time to abduct Mary Cranson.”
“Now, hang on a minute. You’re not pinning her vanishing act on me. I wouldn’t have had time to go to Haytor as I stayed and had another drink. Your ‘informants’ at the pub would no doubt confirm that.”
King then played on the fear factor: “So, you are not prepared to tell us the name of the only person who can corroborate your story?”
“I’m not going to tell you despite that threat, as I know you haven’t got any evidence linking me to her disappearance: I’m telling you, I had nothing to do with it.”
King confiscated his mobile phone, but later examination did not reveal his accomplice. The interview ended and Dyson took statements from both Kemp and Bovis, before releasing them on police bail. Harris contacted Mr Preston of Cameron & Wise and informed him of the arrests.
*
While King and Harris began again to concentrate on the missing woman case, DC Hammond was working closely with DC Dyson on the barn fire and farm thefts. The seconded detective was rapidly finding his feet in his new environment, but was very mindful not to usurp Dyson’s role. She had given him all the information about the barn fire and vehicle thefts. The diligent detective had read all the reports and interview transcripts, quickly forming his opinion about the fire, which he thought was too remote to be anything other than arson. The question for him was simple: if this wasn’t a random act of arson, who had a grudge against the Suttons and why? As to the thefts from farms, he thought that the thieves must be based in, or close to, Dartmoor National Park and maybe, just maybe, the farming community could have an inkling as to the identity of the perpetrators. He dismissed travelling around Dartmoor to speak with every farmer as too time-consuming with little guarantee of success. The bright detective then hatched his plan: where does the farming community regularly meet he asked himself? Of course, the livestock market in Exeter.
He wondered if they had flyers printed and attended the market with Dyson, perhaps accompanied by two uniformed constables, they could move among the farmers, handing out the warning notices not only to alert them to the ongoing thefts, but also to seek any snippet of information that might lead to the identity of the thieves. If nothing else it would be good public relations to show that the police had not abandoned them. He shared his thoughts with Dyson and she thought this new angle was worth trying. Together they drafted the handout before seeking the approval of their inspector.
FARM THEFTS
Lock it or lose it. The police continue to investigate the thefts from farms in and around Dartmoor. If you have any information or have recently noticed anything suspicious, please ring 101. Calls will be treated in strict confidence.
REMEMBER, NEXT TIME IT COULD BE YOU!
Thank you
(Devon and Cornwall Police)
*
Later that afternoon, King and Harris were having a well-earned coffee break. Harris had spoken with Mrs Burton, who was rather embarrassed, but confirmed Lacey’s story. Fortunately, Harris reported to her inspector that she hadn’t needed to mention her butterfly collection! King’s response was to give his sergeant a boyish smirk. Jack Lacey was released, with his mobile and iPad, together with a lecture about wasting police time.
The detectives were joined by Dyson and Hammond and the inspector took the opportunity to offer a compliment for the Kemp/Bovis success. “Well done, Sam – a good piece of detective work. Of course, it looks like we’ve accounted for only two of the thefts, as I don’t think Kemp was involved in the rest: the search goes on for the other thieves.”
“Thank you, sir, we’re still on the case. We’ve had a development on the Cranson disappearance and we’d also like to suggest some action we propose on the farm thefts.
“First, the new information is in response to the notices we put up at Haytor. We’ve had two people independently come forward, stating that around 3.30 last Wedne
sday, they had passed the car park and noticed two vehicles in it. One of them was a small yellow car, and the other was a blue van with ladders on the roof. One of the callers said they remember seeing the letters C and P on the side of the van. Another witness said he thought he had seen three people stood by the vehicles, but couldn’t be sure: possibly a man and two women. From the interview transcripts it would appear Mr Betteridge of Clear Panes was in the vicinity. I read the sergeant’s notes and he made no mention that he was actually in the car park near Haytor.”
“Thanks, Sam. Please ask the uniformed boys to bring in Betteridge for questioning. We’ll see what he’s got to say for himself this time.”
Secondly, Dyson asked Alex Hammond to outline the market/flyer plan, as it was his idea, which ended with him passing the draft to King and Harris. They waited patiently, and with some trepidation, for the response from their boss.
“I think it’s worth a try – go for it.”
*
Bovey Tracey Rugby Club on Tuesday evening had a far more sombre atmosphere than a week ago. Training had been cancelled, but some of the people who had been in attendance the week before, wanted to return a week later as a mark of respect for Mary; they still did not know what had happened to her. Tom Bowers and Alice Cranson were very subdued all evening, and she made frequent visits to the toilet, without using the facilities. Harry Sutton went around putting a consoling arm around shoulders. Also in attendance were Paul and Rachel Betteridge, Brian Cantwell, Josh Ingram and Sonia Hill. Dylan Pearce was there too, despite not being in the club on the training night the previous week. Notable absentees were Dick Sutton, George Kemp and Stella Bovis, the latter two for reasons that would soon become apparent.
They were all aware of the continuing police interviews as some had openly acknowledged the visit they had had from King and Harris. The usual bonhomie had given way to suspicious glances: nothing was said, but a “Was it you?” question hung in the air. Mary had become ‘the elephant in the room.’
Missing on Dartmoor Page 13