A Grave Death (Crane and Anderson crime thrillers Book 4)

by Wendy Cartmell

  ‘I suppose.’

  ‘But killing Jill for her money would have been a way of putting all that right, wouldn’t it? Getting what you should have been entitled to. Did you kill Jill, Mr Bottomley?’

  ‘What? No? No, of course I didn’t.’

  ‘Why should we believe you?’ Charles swept his arm across the court. ‘How can you prove it?’

  And so, Bottomley finally broke and shouted out, ‘Because she died before I could kill her! There! I’ve said it! I wanted to kill her, but someone else did it before I could!’

  Paul wanted to rise from his seat and clap and cheer Charles Walker’s performance. What a wonderful piece of theatre! But he remembered James’ words just in time and settled for smoothing down his tie, adjusting his cufflinks and smiling inside.

  46

  Brian

  The envelope shook in his hands. It had been in a box of papers he’d found while he was cleaning out his dead mother’s house and so he’d brought it home to go through it. Ensconced in his upstairs home-office, with the door shut, he’d set about finding his fate. What he was really looking for was house deeds, a will, life insurance certificate, anything really that would give him an inheritance. His mum always said they’d rented the house they’d lived in for years, but who knew if that was the truth? Until the information was in black and white, in his hands, he would stay positive. The envelope he was holding was A4 sized, a brown one, so it stood to reason it would contain legal stuff. His name was written on it, so it must have been left for him to find. Could this be the day all his dreams came true?

  He badly needed some cash and he hoped she had some in the bank. His latest business venture, a recruitment agency, had just collapsed. How was he to know that the job market was in for a nose-dive? It had all sounded so simple at the beginning. It only cost a few thousand pounds to buy the franchise. But the monthly running costs were what had killed him. Rent of the offices, payments to the franchise company, employee wages, publicity, telephone and computers… the list seemed endless. In the end only he had been left, trying to shore up the business all on his own, without any success. He was going to have to tell his wife Judith, that he’d fucked up. Again.

  But now, if he was to inherit something of value, well he’d be able to launch his new product to the market in the UK. He could sell over the internet the amazing tv antenna that could show all those premium channels you had to pay through the nose for. Yes, he could feel it in his water. This was going to be his big break. So what if it was a bit dodgy in terms of how it connected to the tv channels? It used radio frequency or some such. He didn’t really understand it. He just knew that there was a 100% profit for every unit he sold. Those were the kind of returns he liked. And what’s more he could run the business from his home office and store the units and the packing boxes in the garage.

  So, what he really needed, was for dear old mum to come through. With fingers that shook, despite trying to stop them, he slit open the envelope, removed a bunch of papers and started to read the top one.

  47

  The Trial

  ‘Jesus, Tommy, that was a bloody roller coaster ride!’ Paul Dean fairly skipped out of court after having been let out of his glass box.

  Tommy grinned. ‘Wasn’t it just, ha ha!’

  Paul felt like he had when they were young lads who had just re-enacted a mock battle, that he and Derek Anderson had won. But pausing, he looked at Tommy Walker more closely and caught a gleam in his eye. A gleam that seemed to say, ‘I did it! I won!’

  ‘Wait a minute. Did you know about it, Tommy?’

  ‘Of course.’ Nothing could wipe that victorious grin off Tommy’s face.

  ‘But you didn’t tell me!’

  ‘No, Paul I didn’t. We needed to keep our cards close to our chest on this one, otherwise someone in the family might have got wind of it.’

  ‘But why couldn’t you have trusted me? I wouldn’t have told anyone!’

  ‘No, I know, but we couldn’t trust other people. People who eavesdrop and read post or emails that they shouldn’t. We felt it best not to say anything to anyone.’

  ‘So you and Charles cooked this up together?’

  ‘Yes, we did.’

  ‘Well it worked.’

  ‘Didn’t it just.’

  ‘I particularly liked the bit where…’

  But Tommy was interrupted as Douglas Bottomley was escorted from the building by uniformed police officers. Bottomley looked for all the world a broken man, shuffling between the two minders as though he had shackles on his feet. Bottomley looked directly at Paul as he passed by, and he was stunned by the force of the man’s venom. Was that really how people saw him? Someone who was a ‘have’ rather than a ‘have not’? Paul had worked hard for everything he had. Why couldn’t people see that? If Paul didn’t run Dean Engineering at a profit, then hundreds of people would lose their jobs, he and many others would lose their homes and he’d be responsible for ruining a company that had taken years and years to build. That’s the sort of pressure Paul was under, but people didn’t see that. They only saw the outward signs of all the hard work that went on behind the scenes. They thought he and his family had it easy. When, actually, they were a bit like ducks. Sailing serenely on the top of the water, but with a lot of effort being expended underneath in the water that no one could see.

  ‘What will happen to Bottomley now?’ Paul wanted to know.

  ‘I expect he’ll be investigated and if the police can build a case against him, charged with conspiracy to murder. But what it has done for us is allowed us to be able to say that it wasn’t you, Paul. Charles has just shown that someone else could have killed Kevin and Jill. There is no proof he tried, of course, but that’s the whole point. There’s no proof you did either. It put that seed of doubt very firmly in the jurors’ brains. Or at least we hope it has. We won’t know for sure until the end of the trial, of course. When they bring in their verdict.’

  The thought of that made Paul sway on his feet. It was unimaginable that he’d be found guilty. Wasn’t it?

  48

  ‘Thanks for meeting me, Derek.’ Tommy Walker raised his pint. ‘Cheers.’

  ‘Cheers,’ Anderson responded. He took a long drink and placing his beer glass back onto the table said, ‘So what’s up?’

  ‘Look, I know we shouldn’t be doing this, I know you were the SIO on the case, but I also know that Paul is your friend and I think Paul needs one of those right now.’

  ‘Why, what on earth’s the matter?’ Derek began to feel a worm of unease in the pit of his stomach. ‘I thought the trial was going well, at least for you, not so much for me.’ Derek tried for a chuckle, but didn’t quite make it. He got the sense this wasn’t a time for levity.

  ‘It is, and it isn’t. Charles is doing a good job, but at the end of the day we can’t prove that Paul didn’t kill Kevin and Jill. He has no alibi, he can’t prove he was elsewhere.’

  ‘But that’s the same for the prosecution. They, or rather we, can’t really prove that he did either.’

  ‘That’s correct. It all depends who the jury believe. The prosecution or the defence.’

  ‘Which is true in all trials, surely?’

  ‘Indeed it is. But this trial is built on circumspection on both sides, so it’s more important than usual that they believe Paul. And at the moment I’m not sure that they do.’

  ‘Really?’

  Derek didn’t like the way this conversation was going, and his worm of unease was growing into an eel. ‘Have you told Paul?’

  ‘Not yet, no.’

  ‘I can understand that, but surely when you put him on the stand that will do the trick?’

  ‘That’s my problem. I’m not so sure it will. In fact, I’m not sure about putting him on the stand at all.’

  ‘Why ever not?’

  James had gone to take a drink but put his glass back down. He leaned forward over the table between them. ‘I’m afraid he’ll come across a
s too much of a smooth operator, a successful businessman. To the jury he’s not like them. He comes from a different way of life. He’s privileged. I’m not sure they’ll connect with him.’

  ‘But he didn’t kill them,’ spluttered Anderson. ‘You can’t seriously think he did?’

  ‘Of course not. His innocence is not the issue here. It’s making the jury believe in his innocence, that’s the problem. And I’m afraid that putting this suave, sophisticated man on the stand could just do more harm than good.’

  ‘Christ. Is there anything I can do? Anything legal that is.’ Derek had once again tried for levity, but it didn’t work. Charles was still looking worried.

  ‘Look, I know this flies in the face of your job, your orders, working on a case that is in the middle of a trial. Case closed and all that. But do you think you could investigate further?’

  ‘What?’ Derek sat back in his chair, stunned.

  ‘Look, let’s face it, I’m sure you want to ensure that justice is done. Real justice. Find the truth.’

  ‘Of course, that’s the essence of my job as a police officer.’

  ‘Exactly, so help me. You and I know that Paul isn’t capable of killing anyone, let alone his sister and brother. We have to make other people understand that too. As I’m not sure that Paul can persuade them, I need you to.’

  ‘Me? You’re not thinking of putting me on the stand, surely? Asking me to give evidence for the defence?’ Derek was sure he looked as horrified as he felt. It was a gut reaction he was unable to control.

  ‘No, of course not. I’m asking that you continue to investigate.’

  ‘But the case is closed as far as we are concerned. Major crimes have moved on.’

  ‘I know, but… Look, you have more resources than I do. We can get a private detective to look at the case again for us, but he wouldn’t have access to records that you do. Access to resources like Holly, your computer specialist. You are legally able to question suspects. Do you see my point?’

  ‘Yes, of course I do, and I really want to help Paul, but if Grimes gets wind of this, my career would go down the toilet.’

  ‘Well, you’d better make sure he doesn’t,’ grinned Tommy. ‘Come on, Derek, what do you think? We’ve only got a couple of days. Until the end of the week at most. One last push, eh? Otherwise Paul’s life will go down the toilet.’

  Put like that Anderson was loath to refuse Tommy’s obviously heartfelt plea, but it wasn’t only Derek’s job that could be on the line. It could be the rest of the team as well and he wasn’t sure he could ask them to take that chance.

  49

  It was 8.30 am and Anderson wanted to get to court in Winchester. But he needed to talk to the team first. He had that big favour to ask. He’d bought croissants, but now thought that had been a bad idea. Too much like trying to buy them? But then it was only a packet of six from Tesco. But maybe the Costa coffee was going too far? But he knew how they all liked the real stuff. Even Holly could be bought with a nice Chai something or other. Looking around the table in his office at their inquisitive faces he decided he just needed to get on with it.

  ‘Right,’ he began. ‘I’ll be honest. I’ve a favour to ask.’

  ‘You don’t say,’ said Crane. ‘Let’s face it, you don’t make a habit of treating us so well.’

  ‘Ha, bloody, ha. What am I now, an ogre?’

  ‘Not quite, but pretty close sometimes.’

  ‘Shut up, Crane.’

  ‘Yes, boss,’ said Crane with a smile.

  ‘As I was saying.’ Derek cleared his throat. This was harder than he’d thought it would be. ‘As I was saying you know that the Dean trial is taking place in Winchester. Well, the thing is, what I mean is, I need your help.’

  ‘You do? Or Paul Dean does?’

  ‘Both, Crane.’

  Derek tried his best to ignore the huff from Crane.

  ‘Look, the case against Paul is circumspect at best, bloody thin at worst.’

  ‘And he’s losing?’

  ‘Maybe losing is too strong a word.’

  ‘But it’s possible.’

  ‘Yes. And then we’ll be left with a big miscarriage of justice, which let’s face it would be a nightmare for us. What do you think that would do to our reputation as a Major Crimes team?’

  ‘Oh, so it’s our fault? We didn’t build a good enough case at the time? You can’t put that on us, Derek. It’s not fair. We did the best job we could, it wasn’t our fault the DPP decided to prosecute, even if we thought they shouldn’t.’

  ‘I know that, Crane. So, don’t you think the case might be deserving of one last push? Just to make doubly sure?’

  Throughout this exchange Holly and Ciaran had wisely kept their mouths shut. But now Derek wanted to know their opinions.

  ‘I’ll do whatever I’m told to do,’ said Ciaran, which was a cop out and didn’t help Derek understand Ciaran’s thoughts at all.

  ‘Well, I think we should do it,’ said Holly.

  ‘You do? Are you sure?’ Crane frowned.

  ‘Yes. There’s no way I want anyone casting aspersions on my work. I’ve a reputation to defend and if it means going through a case one more time, then that’s worth it to me. I’m not doing it for Paul Dean, mind. I’m doing it for this team.’

  Derek nodded. ‘I understand, Holly. Thanks very much.’

  ‘Oh well, if Holly here says yes, then I guess I must too,’ Crane said.

  All three of them looked at Ciaran.

  ‘I told you I’ll do as I’m told.’

  ‘Thanks, all of you. It means a lot.’ Derek found he suddenly had a lump in his throat.

  ‘So what do you want us to do?’

  ‘Do?’

  ‘Come on, Derek, what are your directions?’

  ‘Oh, right, well if you and Ciaran go through witness statements, clear up any anomalies and if you can double check any CCTV footage that would be great, and Holly can look at the family tree again.’

  ‘Again?’ Holly looked at Anderson with an expression of horror, mingled with frustration.

  ‘Sorry, but yes.’

  Now it was Holly’s turn to huff. But she nodded all the same.

  ‘Why the CCTV?’ Crane asked.

  ‘Because the one thing that’s bothered me is Jill’s car. It was found at her house, but we’ve never located the keys. Did the car stay there all that night? Did she go anywhere? Maybe she did and we’ve just missed it. She must have got to that grave somehow.’

  ‘Yes, Paul took her there, either dead or alive.’

  ‘But we can’t prove that. That’s why I want the CCTV checked again. We need to try and find either Jill’s car or Paul’s car somewhere in the local area that night.’

  ‘Jesus, Derek, this is going to cost you more than a croissant and a coffee.’

  Ignoring Crane, Derek said, ‘Thanks everyone and now I need to get to Winchester,’ and Derek stood.

  The others followed his lead but as they were walking out of the door, he called one last instruction. ‘Oh, and don’t let Grimes get wind of this!’

  50

  Brian

  Brian sank into the nearest chair. He’d been convinced the envelope had contained information about an inheritance, but it seemed it was only about the fact that his mother was adopted. Who cared? His mother clearly didn’t, as she’d never mention it whilst she’d been alive. It made no difference to him, of course, as his parents had been married before he was born and their names were on his birth certificate. So what if his mother’s birth mother had been called Anne Clements? And according to the birth certificate her father was Memphis Jackson. What sort of a name was Memphis? And anyway, who the hell cared? Not him. All he cared about was finding some money.

  He flung the papers to one side, disgusted with his mother’s lack of money and if he was honest, appalled at himself for needing cash so badly. The papers hit the side of the desk and burst from the paperclip holding them together. As newspaper cuttings fel
l around his feet, he picked some of them up, intrigued. The first one was faded and yellowed. It showed a rather stiff looking couple posing in front of a church.

  Local Factory Owner Marries His Sweetheart

  Local factory owner, Joshua Dean, marries Anne Clements. They’d first met just before the war broke out, but Anne went off to do war work for nearly 5 years and Joshua served in the Royal Engineers. But as soon as Anne returned home, Joshua got in touch and their budding romance blossomed. Mr and Mrs Dean will live in Dean Lodge, a new house Mr Dean has had built for his bride.

  As Brian flipped through the cuttings that spanned over 20 years, he read of the birth of three children and the deaths of Joshua and Anne Dean, who had both left all their money, property and the company, Dean Engineering, equally to their children.

  ‘Their children.’ That was the phrase that was pulsing in Brian’s brain like a neon light. Left equally to their children. Their children. Three of them, Paul, Kevin and Jill. When there was really four. Heather, Paul, Kevin and Jill. Heather. His mother. Brian’s hands started shaking. Did this mean what he thought it meant?

  Going to his laptop, Brian looked up Dean Engineering. In one way he was glad he had, considering the value put on the company, which ran into the millions and millions of pounds. It was one of the largest privately owned engineering companies in the United Kingdom, apparently. But on the other hand, the information he gleaned incensed him. He had been deliberately left out of the Dean family. How different his life would have been if his mother had been welcomed in.

  But they wouldn’t have welcomed her, would they? For Heather was mixed race, as was Brian himself. These pure bred white English people wouldn’t have wanted anything to do with a poor black child, born out of wedlock. He could well imagine how they would have turned their noses up, then turned their backs, at the sight of his poor mother.

  The pictures showed them all looking so smug, so happy, well fed, with no money worries whatsoever to line their pudgy faces. Ye Gods, he was just as clever and important as them! They’d been born with a silver spoon in their mouths, whereas he’d had to claw his way in life, hindered firstly by lack of money and secondly by the colour of his skin.