The Maggie Bainbridge Box Set

by Rob Wyllie

  Frank motioned to his two colleagues. 'Right boys, come with me. And bring that great bloody thing with you.'

  'Careful Frank,' Jimmy shouted after him. Because if even the maid was armed with a rapid-fire automatic, there was every chance that her boss might be too. His brother gave a dismissive wave as he disappeared up the stairwell.

  The reinforced panic room door, strong as it was, proved no match for two burly police officers equipped with a fifty-kilogram battering ram. It took just three blows to burst the lock and they were in. Melody Montague, dressed only in a skimpy black negligee, stood motionless in the centre of the tiny room, a cigarette dangling between her fingers. She was not alone. Her companion, stark naked, cowered in a corner, his hands covering his crotch.

  'Well well, caught a bit short sir?' Frank smirked. 'Very embarrassing.' He recognised the man from a photograph in the Fox murder file. One of the scriptwriters on Bow Road, interviewed and eliminated in the early stages of the investigation. He nodded in the direction of the door. 'Go and find yourself a towel for god's sake.'

  Now he turned his attention to Melody Montague. If she knew what was coming next, it was evident from her expression that she intended to face it with defiance. At these moments he liked to get straight down to it, without messing about with any small-talk. It was a lengthy and complex charge sheet, so he had taken the trouble to put together a written copy in advance, because you didn't want any smart-arsed lawyer trying afterwards to get them off on a technicality. He took the piece of paper from his pocket, unfolded it and began to read aloud.

  'Roxy Kemp, I'm arresting you for conspiracy to murder Allegra Ross, conspiracy to murder Benjamin Fox, conspiracy to murder Olivia Jane Walton, conspiracy to murder Josh Walton, three counts of child abduction and illegal imprisonment with regard to Oliver Jonathan Brooks, Jamie...'

  She sneered at him. 'Spare me all that legal shit, will you? You know you can't prove any of this and if you think you can find a jury who will convict me...'

  Frank gave a derisive snort. 'Aye, right darling. You build some weird prison in your basement and we find three wee kids locked in their bedrooms, and you say we can't prove any of it? You really think so? If you do, you're living on a different planet. And let me tell you something else. You way over-estimate your popularity. A second-rater like you? Lover-boy over there is already writing you out of the series. Believe me, you're history.' He gestured impatiently to one of the armed officers. 'Slap these cuffs on and make sure they're on tight. Now hold her there whilst I finish.' He glanced down at his script before continuing.

  'The abduction and illegal imprisonment of Jamie Grant and the abduction and illegal imprisonment of Kitty Lawrence. You do not have to say anything...'

  When he was finished, he gave a dismissive wave and Montague was led away, her face still a mask of defiance. And at the bottom of the stairs, Maggie was waiting for her. Ever since she had uncovered the terrible truth about her client, she had rehearsed over and over again what she would say to her at this moment of confrontation. But now that the moment had arrived, she could not conjure any words that came even close to expressing the anger and loathing she felt towards her. Which is why, taking the arresting officer completely by surprise, she took a step forward, steeled herself for a second then without a word of warning, smashed her fist into the actress's smirking face.

  ◆◆◆

  They had found Charles Grant at the elegant Chelsea home of his agent Edwina Fox. He had been holed up there for nearly two weeks, ever since Sharon Trent's devastating stroke. Just moments earlier, the actress had made her feelings towards him clear. Friends, that's what she had said, and they would never be anything more as far as she was concerned. And then he told her what he had done for her. Murdered for her. Hadn't it proved his love for her, more than any words could say? Was it any wonder that he was now going mad, after all he had been through? But now this pretty soft-spoken policewoman seemed to be telling him Jamie had been found, alive and well, and she was there to take him to his son.

  They sped through the deserted city streets, WPC Green switching on the flashing blue lights and giving an occasional burst of the siren to warn any dallying vehicles of their approach. The children had been gathered in the kitchen, wrapped in blankets and sitting around the big table sipping creamy hot chocolate prepared by one of Frank's team. The paramedics had arrived together with a consultant paediatrician who had been working the nightshift at the Royal Free and had insisted on accompanying them. Still Jamie Grant and Kitty Lawrence had not uttered a single word, sitting motionless and staring at the floor. As the doctor checked their vital signs with her stethoscope, she looked at Jimmy, the sadness in her eyes confirming what they both knew. There was no physical damage, thank god, but the emotional scars would be with them for a very long time.

  Ollie had not left his mother's side for a second, not that Maggie would have permitted it, but he appeared to be in good spirits as he shared some of his terrible jokes with his adopted uncle. At least the boy had only been in captivity for three days and he'd soon get over it. Jimmy placed her hand on her shoulder, causing her to look up and smile. As their eyes met he said simply, 'I think he'll be fine Maggie.' In what way he was qualified to make the statement, he could not say. He just knew it to be true, just as he knew that in one way or another, he would be bound to this little family for the rest of his life. At the other end of the table, Frank took a calming swig from his hip-flask and wished for the same thing.

  ◆◆◆

  'Mr Grant's here sir. I've left him in the car for the moment. Not sure how you wanted to play this.'

  'And what about the wife?' Frank asked the young WPC. 'Has she turned up yet?'

  'Up north with her family. She won't be here for a few hours.'

  'All right. I hope you locked the bloody car by the way. Not that he's likely to leg it again, I don't suppose.'

  She nodded. 'Yes, I did lock it but no, I don't think that's likely sir. Shall I bring him in?'

  'Aye, and no cuffs,' Frank said. 'I think we can risk it, don't you?'

  As he was led into the kitchen, Grant saw the child. And for a heart-breaking moment he found himself unable to recognise his son. It had been two years since he last saw him and then he was just a toddler, not long out of nappies, and now he was a proper little boy, chubby-cheeked and with a mop of auburn hair.

  'Jamie?' He spoke so quietly that he was barely audible, but it was enough to make the boy look up, uncomprehending. It was clear he had no idea who this man was as he ran over to Maggie and thrust his little hand in hers.

  'I'm your daddy Jamie. Your daddy.' Grant's eyes were pleading as the tears began to well up. 'Your daddy.'

  'Take as much time as you need sir,' Frank said in a kindly voice. 'Why don't you take Jamie through to the sitting room so you can have some private time with him. Here, I'll take you through. There's no rush.'

  It was half an hour before Frank returned to the room, this time accompanied by Jimmy and Maggie, who was still holding Ollie tightly by the hand.

  'Jamie, I need to talk to your daddy for a wee while now. Will you go with this nice lady please? There's more hot chocolate in the kitchen and I think we've got some sweets too. Go on, there's a good lad.' The boy looked at his father, who gave a single nod of assent.

  'Before he goes, I'd like to say something.' Grant looked at Frank enquiringly. 'If that's ok.'

  'Go ahead.'

  'I can never thank all of you enough,' Grant said. 'For all you've done. I never thought I would see this moment. I had given up hope, you see. Quite driven to despair. My life... it was as if I wasn't in it, but watching from outside, like a play. I know it doesn't excuse what I've done, but... well, maybe it explains it.'

  Maggie smiled. 'I can't begin to imagine what it must have been like for you over the last two years. But here we are, with a happy ending.' More or less.

  She looked at Frank as if to say, do you really need to do this? But she was
a lawyer still, and she knew he must. The law was the law and it was for the courts to weigh up mitigating circumstances, such as they were, not the police.

  Frank said nothing, but she had come to know him over the last year, and so she knew that what he had to do next would be done with a heavy heart.

  'Jamie, come with me and Ollie please,' she said in a soft voice. 'We’ve got some sweets and more hot chocolate.' Reluctantly, the boy got up, not taking his eyes of his father for a second.

  'Go on son,' Grant said quietly, 'I'll be through in a minute.'

  He waited until they had left then stood up and said quietly, 'I'm ready.'

  Frank gave a brief nod then began to speak. And this time he didn't need the help of a script.

  'Charles Grant, I am arresting you for the murder of Daniel Black. 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. '

  'I won't say anything, if you don't mind,' Grant said, immediately contradicting himself. 'There is nothing I can say really. I did it you see, I did it, although I knew I shouldn't. It was just a moment of madness, that's all.'

  Frank gave him a look of exasperation. 'Sir, sir, I did tell you that you do not have to say anything, did I not? And then when you agreed you wouldn't say anything, you did the exact opposite. So I'm going to assume that you didn't hear me properly the first time, which means I'm going to forget what you just told me. Now I advise you to get a lawyer before you say anything else to anyone, including me. Please.'

  He took him by the arm and led him back through to the kitchen. 'Last chance sir. Just say goodbye to him, then we'll get him looked after until his mum arrives.'

  'They're wanting to take the boys into hospital, keep them under observation for a few days,' Maggie said. 'Ollie too. I can go with him of course.'

  'You'd better sneak in the back door then,' Jimmy laughed, 'or they'll cart you back off to your ward. Don't worry, I'll come with you and fight them off if they try it.'

  'Aye, and Maggie, you'd probably better get these knuckles seen to at the same time,' Frank said. 'I wish I'd been there to see it.'

  Actually he was glad he hadn't seen it. He already had about a week's worth of paperwork ahead of him and he had no desire to add to it.

  'But what if Melody complains?' Maggie asked.

  Frank smiled. 'Don't you worry about that. We warned her not to struggle when we took her down the stairs, but she didn't listen. Fell and bashed her wee nose as a result. Oh, and by the way Maggie, as a lawyer you didn't hear any of that.'

  'I'm grateful Frank, although I know I shouldn't be.'

  'Well that's all good then,' Jimmy said, stifling a yawn. 'So it's three o'clock in the morning and we've probably had enough for one day, don't you think? Time for bed.'

  No-one was going to disagree with that.

  Chapter 29

  Maggie laughed as Frank threw down the menu in disgust. 'Sixty-six quid for a bottle of wine and the cheapest main on here's nearly forty quid. And chips are extra? You did say it was you who was paying, didn't you?'

  She had gathered them once again for lunch at the Ship in Shoreditch, one of the capital's growing stock of achingly over-priced gastro-pubs. But since they were dining in way of celebration, it had seemed appropriate to push the boat out, no pun intended. Indeed, the celebratory post-investigation lunch was becoming somewhat of a tradition for the three of them, if just one previous occasion - the Alzahrani case - could be said to constitute a tradition.

  'Actually Frank, Asvina's paying,' she said. 'The case has generated so much good publicity that she's now overwhelmed by work. She's very grateful to us.'

  'She's not joining us then?' Jimmy asked, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

  'No, I think she's already buried under a mountain of new cases. But DCI Smart's going to be here. She wants a full explanation of the case from start to finish, to fill in a few gaps as she puts it.'

  Frank gave a mock grimace. 'What, you've asked my boss along? Now I'll have to be on my best behaviour.'

  'How will she be able to tell the difference?' Jimmy said, shaking his head. The single-finger gesture he got in return left him in little doubt of Frank's opinion of his little joke.

  'Boys boys,' Maggie laughed, 'come on, let's get on with ordering. I'm starving.'

  'I'm desperate for a drink,' Frank said. As far as she could tell, Frank was always desperate for a drink. A stuffy middle-aged waiter glided over to their table and began to recite from memory a long list of that day's specials, each of which everyone forgot the second they heard it. But it seemed Frank didn't need a menu.

  'Steak,' he said decisively, 'and chips. I always have steak. Medium-rare. Oh aye, and a pint of Doom Bar for starters.' The waiter made no comment as he tapped the order into his smartphone app. 'And for you madam?'

  Maggie was in a playful mood and for half a second considered it might be fun to ask him to go through the specials again. But she thought better of it, settling instead for a simple dish of chicken medallions in a lemon sauce, with vegetables of the season (nine pounds extra) and sauté potatoes (thankfully included in the price). In order to keep within a reasonable budget, and since none of them knew the least bit about wine anyway, they opted for one bottle of house red and one of house white, a choice for which the waiter struggled to conceal his disdain. She noted that Frank, the detective, had detected it.

  'Don't worry pal, we won't short-change you with the tip if that's what you're worried about. Not if you get that pint here sharpish.'

  'Frank Stewart, ever the diplomat,' Jimmy said after the waiter had drifted away with their order.

  'What?' Frank said, looking confused. 'I didn't upset him, did I?'

  Jimmy smiled and shook his head but said nothing. The gesture was wasted on his brother who now was solely focussed on the estimated delivery time of his pint. A minute later it arrived, ahead of schedule, on a tray shared by the two bottles of wine and delivered by a pretty waitress of altogether more cheerful disposition.

  'Everyone having wine?' she asked.

  'Is the pope a catholic?' Frank responded. The waitress smiled politely, having heard the quip a million times before.

  'Red or white sir?' Evidently you weren't given the option of tasting the cheap house plonk in advance.

  'Both please.'

  Unfazed, she poured a generous measure into both of his glasses, before filling the glasses of the others, Jimmy opting for red, Maggie for white.

  'Ah, here's Jill now,' Jimmy said, glancing across to the entrance door. Maggie shot him a suspicious look. Jill? Since when were they on first name terms? He stood up, waving to attract her attention. She smiled in acknowledgement, weaving her way through the throng of lunchtime drinkers to their table. DCI Smart had come straight from a highly-satisfactory meeting with an Assistant Commissioner, but today she was out of uniform, business-like in a dark grey pinafore dress over a crisp white blouse, which suited her pencil-thin figure.

  'Hi everyone,' she said brightly, as she took her seat. 'What have I missed?'

  'Two bottles of wine ma'am,' Frank said, deadpan.

  She laughed. 'Just two? I thought this was supposed to be a celebration.'

  'That was just for starters Jill,' Jimmy said, beaming her one of his special smiles, which Maggie did not fail to notice. 'Anyway what can I get for you? I'll nip up to the bar, it'll be quicker since Frank's already had a bust-up with our waiter.'

  'A glass of prosecco please,' she said, smiling.

  'Just a glass?'

  'For now, but ask me later, won't you?'

  'I'll make it a large one, just in case,' he said, as he disappeared off on his mission. A moment later the waiter, contrary to Jimmy's prediction, arrived at the table to take her food order. After a cursory review of the menu, she settled on the same chicken dish as Maggie, just as Jimmy returned with her drink.

  'Ri
ght then,' she said after taking a delicate sip from her glass, 'let's hear everything about it, omitting no detail. I get some of it, but there's a lot I don't.'

  'Yes, it's pretty convoluted I must admit,' Jimmy said, 'but we'll be speaking nice and slow for Frank's benefit.'

  It was Maggie mainly who had worked it all out, and so it was only natural that she should lead the explanations.

  'Well, to find the start of our story we have to go right back to the marriage of Melody to Benjamin Fox. By all accounts theirs was a whirlwind romance and in fact they married in Las Vegas - typical Melody many people might say - just six weeks after their first date. They knew each other of course from Bow Road, and I guess it developed from there.'

  Jimmy nodded. 'Husband number three, I think I'm right in saying?'

  'Yes that's right,' Maggie said, 'and I think she had invested all her hopes and dreams in the relationship. She was forty-seven when she married and the biological time-bomb was well and truly ticking. And believe me I know what that feels like. It happened to me and I was only in my mid-thirties.'

  'Tell me about it,' Jill giggled, giving Jimmy a look that Maggie noticed and didn't like.

  'So of course, they talked about children, but unknown to Melody, Benjamin Fox was sterile. That came as a massive blow to her.'

  'I can imagine,' Jill said.

  Maggie nodded. 'So, at first they tried to adopt but they were turned down everywhere they went.'

  'Aye, I can guess,' Frank said. 'Too old and too white.'

  'Probably,' Maggie agreed. 'Whatever the reason, I'm sure it was that rejection which pushed her over the edge. Because then she just lost all sense of reality.'

  'Aye,' Jimmy said, 'and that's when she starts pursuing this mental plan to assemble the perfect picture-postcard family. By any means she could.'

  'With the help of her brothers of course. Kidnapping was a new line for the Kemps, but when the Jamie Grant abduction netted a cool quarter of a million, they began to see the possibilities. A nice little earner and they get to make their mental little sister happy too.'