Between Two Thieves

by Solomon Carter

  They were almost back to the office when Eva’s phone started to buzz again. She slid the phone from her pocket and handed it to Dan without checking the screen. If Lauren was calling he would have to put her off. At least she wouldn’t have to do it. But it wasn’t Lauren calling.

  “Eva?”

  “No, Mark. It’s Dan. Eva’s driving. What’s the matter?”

  “We went home just like you said. Then Joanne decided to go back down to the marine centre beach, just to see what was happening. But when she got down to the seafront she saw a commotion a bit further on.”

  “A commotion?” said Dan. Eva looked across at him.

  “Yes. Joanne said there was a group of people standing around on the beach. She said she thought she heard a scream. She went to see what was happening—”

  “Cut to the chase, Mark” said Dan. “What’s going on down there?”

  Eva looked at him from the driver’s side.

  “They found another body.”

  Dan’s brow dipped low over his eyes. He shook his head and met Eva’s eyes.

  “Where?”

  “The beach, not far from the jet ski shop and the Chinese restaurant. Do you know it? Joanne’s there now.”

  “Why didn’t Joanne call this in?”

  “She wanted to tell me first, now she’s people-watching – just like you asked us to do before.”

  “That girl just can’t help herself, can she?” said Dan. “Okay. We’ll head over now.”

  Dan cut the call and put the phone on the dash. He looked at Eva. “You hear all that?”

  “Another body?” said Eva.

  Dan nodded.

  “Oh no,” she said. “Where?”

  “Down on the seafront near the jet ski shop. We’ll need to get there before the police close off the area.”

  Eva grimaced. Her headache was coming back, biting through the relief given by the painkillers. Instead of heading for the office, she ran a red light and took a sharp left turn down Lifstan Way. The road ahead was clear. She hit the accelerator and had the speedometer hitting forty in the space of a few seconds. Somewhere on the air they heard sirens. Hogarth was chasing the same case as they were, and the body count was rising. It seemed they were in a race on all fronts. For all kinds of reasons, money the least of them, it mattered that they won. By the time they passed the side of Southchurch Park, with the estuary in sight, Eva’s Alfa was nudging fifty in a thirty zone. She hit the brakes hard before she took the left to join the seafront traffic. As yet there were no flashing blue lights in sight. Eva drove fast and pushed up close behind the camper van ahead of them. She willed it to move faster. It didn’t. A few minutes later, she pulled up on yellow lines outside the Golden Dragon and the jet ski shop. They opened the doors and jumped out of the car, Eva ignoring the oncoming traffic which swerved to avoid her car door. She found a gap in the traffic and broke across the street. Dan slammed his door and ran after her. They saw a fuss of stressed grim-faced people standing by the sea wall, and a glimpse of others standing in clutches on the beach side. Eva eavesdropped on them as she ran past and stepped through the gap in the sea wall.

  “Terrible, it really is...”

  “...must be that poor missing man from the newspaper...”

  Eva’s heart thudded hard in her chest. She tried running on the sand, kicking up a mess as she struggled towards the middle of the beach, losing her breath as she went. She slowed and snatched in deep breaths as she reached them. A group of people stood around a half-hidden heap lying splayed across the sand, close to the black line of seaweed and detritus from the water. Joanne turned, her face appearing from the crowd on the sand.

  “Is it him?” said Eva. “Is it him?” But she didn’t wait for an answer. Still gasping for breath Eva moved past the edge of the pack until she had a clear view. There was an old man kneeling beside the sand-covered body. He looked up at Eva as she leaned in from the crowd. His spectacles glinted in the morning sun.

  “Are you a doctor?” said the man.

  Eva shook her head and looked down at the body. Dan appeared at Eva’s side.

  “I don’t think a doctor can help this one anymore,” said Dan. The large body lay face up to the world, his big arms splayed left and right, the face bloated and grey and pitted from contact with the sea. Thankfully, the sand had crusted over him to hide most of the gore. But it couldn’t hide the awful pallor of his skin, nor the evidence left on his limbs. A shredded, knotted rope had been tied around both ankles and rope dangled from his left wrist, while the right wrist was free. Eva looked closely and saw some grazing type damage to the bare wrist, as if a rope had been there too. The long blue sand-crusted rope stretched away like a tail reaching for the water and mud.

  “They tied him up,” said Eva. “They tied him up and threw him out to sea... He was a good man.” A good man, and yet his life was cheap.

  Eva dropped to her knees and her eyes followed the trailing blue rope. Near the water she noticed the end of the rope had been knotted into two empty loops, side by side. Dan saw it too. “Looks like the body had been weighted down. But whatever they used didn’t work for long enough. Just a few more weeks and all there would have been was bones in the mud.”

  Eva nodded, but she was only half listening because she had noticed something else. Details. The head had been injured and bruised. Bludgeoned, no doubt, much like Norman Peters. Now Eva’s eyes trailed across an unnatural pit in the big man’s stomach, a wound like a crevasse encrusted in thick sand. “Dan,” she said in a whisper. “His stomach...”

  “The blood on the sand...” muttered Dan.

  “It belonged to Carl Renton,” said Eva. A gathering had formed behind them. By the sea wall, Eva’s eyes caught sight of the small, nattily dressed blonde heading their way. Joanne had seen her as well and moved close behind Eva.

  “Just a heads-up. Alice Perry from The Record has arrived. She’s on her way over.”

  “Ugh. I’d rather not deal with her. Come on. We’ve seen what we needed to see. Poor Carl Renton isn’t missing anymore.”

  “So we’re back looking for Clancy’s treasures,” said Dan.

  “And the killer, Dan, and the killer. From what we know about him, Carl Renton only ever tried to do good. He didn’t deserve this. We’re going to get the evidence to put the killer behind bars. One way or another, someone’s got to pay.”.

  Alice Perry eyed Eva with a sharp bright smile as she passed them by, her blonde hair blowing in the breeze. There was a glint in her eye, of victory and menace. Even after everything she’d done, everything they had on her, Perry seemed to have no fear and no shame.

  “Are you two leaving so soon? And there I was hoping for a quote. This is going to be quite the front page. Missing Hero Murdered in Uber Drug Crisis.”

  “I’ve got a quote for you, Alice,” said Dan. “I’ve even got an exclusive photograph of your kitchen to go with it.”

  “Maybe you and I can talk about that another time, eh?” said Perry, shooting a different kind of look at Dan.

  “You knew this was going to happen!” said Eva, calling out. “That’s why you ran the Missing Person article so soon. How did you know?”

  Alice Perry stopped, looked back, and grinned at Eva.

  “Now you just sound jealous,” said Perry. She kept her voice even and walked a way back towards them. She stopped a safe distance from Eva’s fiery eyes.

  “How did you know this was going to happen?” said Eva.

  “Because I’m good at my job. Because I have a nose for these things. Carl Renton had been playing with fire for a long time, Eva,” said the girl, being overly familiar. “He was going to end up as a news story sooner or later.”

  Eva’s eyes narrowed. “How did you know?”

  “I had a contact at the rehab. But I have contacts everywhere. My contact called me and told me Mr Renton didn’t come back, told me they were in a panic, told me what he thought had happened.” Perry smiled again and shrugged.
“It made sense to me, so I contacted his church, they confirmed he hadn’t showed up, and I ran with it. I’m so glad I did. This story could run for weeks, and I was in at the start.”

  Eva thought about the people they’d met at the rehab. Of them all, she could only imagine the thin, small eyed scoundrel as a man who might definitely seek to profit from another man’s death. “You know, Alice, you are one cold little—”

  “Hold that thought, Miss Roberts. Surely you of all people know that a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.” Perry added the briefest wink as insult to injury. “And I see that Dan’s still keeping hold of his little private souvenir snap of our time together. Have you ever stopped to wonder why?”

  “You’re the worst, Alice.”

  “Now, now. All that hate’s not good for you, Miss Roberts. I hear it’s very ageing. Now remember, if you’d like to provide a quote about Mr Renton, you know where to find me.”

  “Yes. Right at the bottom of the trash,” said Eva.

  Alice Perry arched an eyebrow, turned on her heels and walked away.

  Dan appeared at Eva’s side. To Eva’s mind he looked a little defensive.,

  “I told you,” said Eva, “that photograph would only keep her in check for so long. She doesn’t care anymore. Which means she’s dangerous again.”

  “She’s not dangerous. She’s got nothing on us,” said Dan.

  Eva looked back towards the road. There, stepping over the sea wall, was the lanky figure of Clive Grace, accompanied by the stockier Tommy Pink. Pink clambered over the wall after him. Both men advanced past Eva, oblivious to her watching them. They walked purposefully across the sand. When they got nearer, they held back, and stood side by side muttering to one another. Grace nodded. Pink muttered behind a hand raised in front of his mouth. Eva turned, tempted to confront the men with what she suspected, even though it wasn’t wise to do so. As she set off towards them, Dan read her mind and tried to call her back, but Eva kept walking. But before Eva got there, somebody else beat her to it. A small silver-haired woman wearing an expensive purple jacket stormed up to Tommy Pink and Clive Grace. The woman looked upset. She trembled as she stared at them.

  “You know what happened, don’t you?!” she said.

  “What? What are you talking about?” said Pink, looking around. Clive Grace took a step back, moving out of the old woman’s line of fire.

  “Dear God, I know you do. I was there at the marine centre on the day Carl disappeared. I saw you with him, having some kind of argument with him. I saw it. So don’t you dare deny it!”

  “Now now, lady,” said Pink. “You’re just confused. I don’t know anyone called Carl”

  “Yes, you do. That is Carl Renton, lying down there on the sand, killed only because he wanted to help people.” The woman sobbed. “I knew Carl very, very well. He was a good man. He was trying to stop the drugs killing the young people. I saw you arguing with him last Thursday – I saw it!”

  “You’re mistaken – now why don’t you go and shout at somebody else?”

  Eva saw Alice Perry was watching too.

  The old woman shook her head in disgust and stormed off. The wail of police sirens which had been growing louder for minutes fell abruptly silent as the police cars finally arrived on the road behind them. Eva’s mouth dropped open as she considered what she’d heard. Tommy Pink had been spotted rowing with Carl Renton on the very day he disappeared. Why would a market trader be standing on the beach by the marine centre? At that moment, the old woman who had confronted Tommy Pink passed by Eva’s shoulder.

  “Excuse me,” said Eva. The woman didn’t seem to hear her, so she called again. The woman heard her this time and stopped. She gave a thin smile, but Eva saw there were tears in her eyes.

  “Sorry to bother you, madam. My name is Eva Roberts. I’m a private investigator.”

  The woman blinked at Eva, her teary eyes widened. “I see...”

  Eva nodded. “I heard what you said to that man just now. The one you saw arguing with Carl Renton. Do you mind if I ask you about that?”

  The woman shook her head. “I don’t mind at all. I want everybody to know. I was in the same Christians Against Crime prayer group as Carl. Carl was the one who started it, actually. We used to meet and pray together about the issues in the town. Carl was a real strong man of the faith. What happened to him is terrible, it really is...”

  “Yes, it is,” said Eva. “So, Carl used to come down here to pray against the drugs coming into the town? Is that right?”

  The woman sniffed and nodded. “I’m sorry. This is a terrible shock.”

  “Of course it is,” said Eva.

  “Carl liked to play detective. He said he thought the drug gangs were bringing stuff in on the seafront, and he suggested the places our group might go and pray against it. He suggested the Marine Activity Centre because of the jetty. We did go there as a group once or twice but Carl always wanted action as well as prayer. He said he’d been there at night and seen something. Well, you can see how old I am. Most of us are in our sixties and more. We weren’t really interested in late night vigils and hunting for villains in the cold. We said we would continue to pray, but Carl wanted to stop what was happening. He said it was up to people like us to act. But poor Carl, it looks like he’s paid the ultimate price. It’s a word people should never use lightly, but it really feels like he’s been martyred for the cause... and that awful man over there knows something about it, I’m sure!”

  The woman glared at Tommy Pink’s broad back.

  “You really think that man had something to do with it?”

  “Carl patrolled that beach more times than we’ll ever know. But the other morning, Thursday I think, when I saw them for the last time, I saw Carl arguing with him. I was driving along the seafront. I had my window down because of the heat, and I heard it. That man has a terrible temper, he was shouting and telling Carl where to go. That was the very last I ever saw of Carl Renton, until now.”

  Eva crumpled her chin. “Did you hear the substance of the argument?”

  “How could I? I was driving. But I knew it was heated alright. I said a little prayer in my car and drove on.”

  “I think you should speak to the police. Tell them what you saw.”

  “Yes, yes... I will. My name? Rosie Crimper. But please, before I speak to the police, I just need a little walk first – to clear my head – if you don’t mind.”

  The old woman bowed her head and started to walk away. The woman’s raw emotion had stirred the anger in Eva’s chest. She frowned and marched across the sand before she could be stopped and tapped Tommy Pink on his muscular shoulder. Clive Grace saw her first, his mean, narrow face turning quizzical as his eyes took in her anger. Pink turned around and frowned.

  “Yes?” he said.

  “You saw Carl Renton on the day he died.”

  “Did I?” said the man. Pink looked at Grace whose eyes narrowed.

  “I hear he was a popular man,” said Grace. “I bet he saw a lot of people that day.”

  “But you argued with the man. You were seen.”

  “Hey. I’m a chatterbox. I like to have a debate now and then,” said Pink, with a shrug. He folded his thick hairy arms. “I’m a market trader, see. I like to chat. Gift of the gab and all that. Sometimes I say things without thinking which cause offence. That’s probably what happened there. I don’t remember things like that. They happen all the time.”

  “You don’t remember what you argued about? Seriously?” said Eva.

  “What’s it to you, anyway?” said Pink, tilting his head at Eva. “You old bill or something?”

  “No, I’m—”

  “No? Then you’re another nosey bloody Parker like that old dear just now. People like you shouldn’t go around casting aspersions. You should mind your own bloody business before you go and offend someone.”

  Pink turned to Grace and flicked his head away from the crowd. They turned away together and walked off slowl
y, as if they didn’t intend to walk far. Eva shook her head and stalked away.

  Dan watched the whole encounter.

  “What did you say to him?” he said.

  “I wanted him to know someone was onto him,” she said, as she passed.

  “Why?”

  “Because I want them sweating,” said Eva.

  “Do you think that was wise?”

  “Times like these I don’t always feel like being wise,” said Eva. She walked on and left Dan standing on the beach as she approached the police cars parked up by the sea wall.

  “Eva!” called Dan, but she carried on walking.

  As she reached the sea wall, the newly arrived police were already dividing duties among themselves as one officer jumped over the wall heading for the crowd. Eva recognised PC Dawson among the busy pack. She knew Dawson well. He had helped them through a good few scrapes in their time. As soon as Dawson saw the serious edge in Eva’s eyes, he excused himself from the group and walked across to meet her.

  “Eva? What is it?”

  “That body over there belongs to Carl Renton, the missing drug rehab man. The one The Record have been banging on about. It looks like he was beaten around the head and there’s also a terrible gash to his stomach. That might have been the wound that killed him. The ropes around his wrists and ankles suggests he was probably weighed down and thrown into the estuary, but it looks as if the ropes didn’t hold, so he was washed ashore.”

  “Bloody hell,” said another policeman who had been listening in.

  Dawson nodded and got ready to move past Eva for the beach, but she stopped him with another word.

  “PC Dawson, do you see those two men over there?” Dawson moved to her side and she carefully pointed out the figures of Clive Grace and Tom Pink at the edge of the crowd. “Those two men are market traders. They worked with the other murder victim, Norman Peters, and they were there on the beach when we found his body.”