“We got back to Hampstead sometime in the early afternoon. We split up just outside the tube station to go home. I had to get a bus but she was going to walk. I suppose it must have been about 2 o’clock.”
“Any you never heard from her again?”
“No. On the Monday morning at school I heard she was missing. I didn’t think too much of it to be honest. I thought maybe she’d gone off with some man and she’d be back in a few days with some cock and bull story for her parents. But after it got to a week or two I began to realise that something was wrong. I suppose from then on I always thought that she’d turn up dead one day.”
“One last question, Jill. If Sue was telling the truth about those men, and John had found out what she was up to, what do you think his reaction might have been?”
“He’d have killed them. Like I say, he was completely out of control by then. He’d have just started hitting them like he hit that boy, with that same look on his face, only he wouldn’t have stopped. He’d have just carried on until they were dead.”
“Then suppose he wouldn’t have known who they were, or wouldn’t have been able to find them?”
Jill Donald glanced from Willis to Desai, and then back to Willis again.
“Then he’d have killed her,” she said very deliberately.
“Are you sure about that? It’s a very serious thing to say.”
“I’m quite sure. Like I said, he was completely out of control by then. We all used to say at school that it was only a matter of time before he killed someone. Well, maybe it was Sue.”
CHAPTER 29
“Superintendent Collison? Please hold for the ACC.”
“Simon? How are you getting on with this Downshire Hill business?”
“We’re making progress, sir. We’ve tracked down Susan Barnard’s best friend from school and had her in for interview. She confirmed what we already suspected: John Schneider has a history of violence, anger management issues, and aggressive sexuality towards women. Dr Collins thinks his behaviour could be consistent with some sort of psychopathic condition.”
“But you’ve nothing actually to link him to either murder, have you? No real evidence I mean?”
“No, we haven’t. To tell the truth, I’m getting very frustrated with this case. I have this constant feeling that there is something we don’t know, or maybe just something we’re overlooking, that could unlock the door.”
“Perhaps what you’re overlooking is that you already have an obvious suspect in custody, for the second murder at least. I’ve had the preliminary report back from the CPS – I’ll forward it to you by the way – and they think there’s enough evidence against this Raj character to get a conviction.”
“I’d be interested to read that, sir. Have they considered the point that some of the trial may have to be conducted in camera?”
“Yes, they have. They’re not happy of course. They burble on about public policy and so forth, but at the end of the day they don’t think it would be a problem.”
“If I was counsel for the defence I think I’d give them a pretty good argument on that, sir. Wouldn’t we have to show that there was a risk to national security? And how would we do that? I mean, there’s no evidence that any terrorists have actually taken advantage of these false passports, is there? And how could we be sure that the people on the jury wouldn’t blab about it anyway?”
“I think counsel for the defence would be squared in advance, Simon. Probably the Home Office would try to make sure that the defence brief would be up for silk shortly, and would want to show that they could be responsible and take a view in the national interest. As for the jury, they’d have to be security vetted. Anyway, if there was a leak to the press we could serve a gagging order to stop them publishing anything.”
“Yes, I see.”
“But fortunately, Simon, counsel for the defence is not your job. You’re the SIO and according to the Crown Prosecution Service you have a prima facie case, as you lawyers call it, against the prime suspect. So why not just call it a day and let the CPS do their job?”
“The problem with the idea that Raj murdered Taylor is that it assumes there is no connection between the two killings.”
“Why should there be? They were 20 years apart for God’s sake.”
“Yet they happened within a few yards of each other, assuming that the girl was killed at the house. That’s a pretty large coincidence, sir, you must admit.”
“Coincidences happen, Simon. Get used to it. Anyway, don’t we have clear evidence, albeit hearsay, that Taylor himself murdered the girl?”
“We have evidence that he buried her certainly. But that’s not quite the same thing as evidence that he killed her.”
“Are you suggesting that she died by accident?”
“I’ve considered that possibility, yes. Whatever the motive for that killing it’s difficult not to conclude that it must have had some sexual aspect. We have one unconfirmed report that the victim used to hang around the neighbourhood propositioning older men. We’re working on getting corroboration for that. If we can corroborate it then it might be reasonable to assume that Taylor took Sue Barnard up on her offer, but that something went wrong. Either she died accidentally – though it’s difficult to imagine how that might happen – or one of them panicked and Taylor ended up killing her.”
“Well there you are then. Unless Taylor bashed his own head in, the murders were in fact committed by different people.”
“I didn’t say they had to be committed by the same person, sir, just that I thought they were likely to be connected in some way.”
“Now you’re splitting hairs, Simon. Look, I’ll tell you what. I’ll give you a few more days to see if you can work out one of these theories of yours – actually get some evidence to support it, I mean – but if not then I think we’ll have to formally charge Raj with Taylor’s murder, and issue a statement saying we believe it’s likely that Taylor murdered Susan Barnard.”
“What about the special branch investigation into Sophie Ho, sir? I was hoping to hear from Commander Newby.”
“Dead-end, I’m afraid. She simply denies any knowledge of anything. Newby’s not happy of course, but then the security boys never are. They’re generally happy to proceed on the basis of a reasonable belief, but Newby’s a copper and he understands that we can’t take this forward without any evidence. And we have nothing to place her at the scene. In fact, the only evidence we have at all – and it’s completely circumstantial – is that if she was concerned in Taylor’s murder then it does seem mighty convenient that she should suddenly commence a relationship with one of the investigating officers, particularly as the boys in Singapore haven’t been able to unearth any evidence of her being interested in other women before.”
“Perhaps that’s not entirely surprising, sir. Singapore is a very straitlaced society. If she was gay then she would probably have gone to great lengths to conceal the fact.”
“Well, be that as it may, she’s out of the picture. If the passport people did send someone to the UK to bump off Raj then maybe they’re still out there, or maybe it was Sophie Ho and she’s just too smart for us. I guess we’ll never know.”
“Well, as you say, at least that’s one hypothesis we can cross off our list. Actually, I hesitate to mention this, but there is another possibility that’s being peddled by one of the officers here at the station. Apparently the Taylor murder may fit a pattern of other killings, all involving older men who had visited the Heath in search of gay sex.”
“Are you suggesting that we may have a serial killer on our hands – one that is otherwise unconnected with this investigation?”
“Well, if he killed Taylor then he would be, wouldn’t he? But I take your meaning.”
There was a silence at the other end of the line.
“I’m sure I don’t have to give you a lecture on overstrained police resources, Simon. Let this officer, or anyone else for that matter, bring us clear evidenc
e of the activities of a serial killer and of course we’ll investigate it. But let’s just stay focused on this enquiry, shall we? Now, do you think – realistically speaking – you may be able to bring this investigation to a close within the next few days with a clear case against someone other than Raj?”
“To be perfectly honest, sir, I just don’t know. But I’d like those few days grace to try.”
“Very well, Simon. You’re the SIO and I back your judgement. By the way, I wonder if you’ve thought any more about that job with the Branch? Not only would it be a good career move for you but I think it could be a great opportunity to bump you up to Chief Super on time served …”
•
“So the ACC’s putting us under pressure is he?” Metcalfe asked moodily. “Well, I suppose if you look at it from his point of view it’s difficult to blame him. We do have an obvious suspect already banged up, after all.”
“For the second murder yes, but not the first,” Collison pointed out.
“But we know Taylor committed that one, don’t we, guv? At the very least we have evidence that he disposed of the body.”
“Yes, I know. The ACC wants us to issue a statement saying we believe Taylor killed Barnard. Again, it’s easy to appreciate his point of view. That way we resolve two separate murder enquiries nice and tidily.”
Collison crossed to his favourite thinking spot by the window and gazed up Rosslyn Hill.
“Well, whether we like it or not, Bob, we have to bring things to a conclusion. I hate to admit it, but unless we can prove some connection between Schneider and one or both of these murders then we’re going to have to do as the ACC says.”
“So we’re going to concentrate on Schneider, are we?”
“Well, who else is there, apart from Raj?”
“There’s that Sophie Ho woman. What’s happening about that?”
“Oh, that’s a non-starter I’m afraid. Special Branch haven’t been able to get anything out of her at all.”
“But just because they haven’t been able to place her at the scene, that doesn’t mean she wasn’t there.”
“No, of course it doesn’t, Bob. But unless we can come up with something ourselves then we have to forget about it, and it’s difficult to see how we might succeed where the Branch have failed.”
Metcalfe considered this.
“We could always involve Priya …”
“Not without breaching security we couldn’t. I think we’ve already asked her as much as we can.”
“OK then, so what’s the plan?”
“We have to find a way of breaking John Schneider. Unless we can get some sort of confession from him I don’t see any way forward. I think now we should openly involve Peter Collins; we don’t have anything to lose. If Schneider gets upset and refuses to talk to us any more then we’re no worse off than we are at the moment.”
“He’s already given a pretty full statement, remember.”
“Yes, and we know he’s lied about at least one thing. He says he told Rowbotham that he was Taylor’s son. So I think what we need to do is to get formal confirmation of that from Rowbotham, and then use it to hammer away at Schneider. I still think it’s a very telling contradiction, by the way. Why should he lie about it? For precisely the same reason that he didn’t say it in the first place. Someone who was considering killing the man next door would hardly take the trouble to identify himself to a potential witness. So by saying that he did, he’s trying to convince us of his own innocence.”
“And we know from the sister that he was intending to confront his father.”
“Yes, and we know from the former Jill East that he was violent, capable of bursts of sudden anger, and – in her own words – out of control. You know, it’s all very well for the DPP to say that we have a reasonable case against Raj, but the way I see it it’s mostly circumstantial and you could make an equally strong argument against Schneider.”
“The difference I suppose is that we know Raj was living at the house where the murder took place, and that indeed he was the only other person living there. He also admitted to seeing Taylor dead but failing to report it. And don’t forget he had a motive.”
“Assuming that he’s lying and he didn’t have Taylor’s authority to take that money out of the bank account.”
“Assuming that, yes.”
Now it was Collison’s turn to pause and think.
“You know, since we have him in custody anyway, why don’t you and I re-interview him and ask him all about this passport stuff? If he realises that we know stuff about him he thought was secret there’s always the chance he might crack, or at least let something slip.”
“Sure, again I don’t see that we have anything to lose. It’ll have to be just you and me though, guv.”
“Of course. We’re the only ones on the right side of the Chinese wall.”
A tap on the door heralded the arrival of Priya Desai, looking troubled.
“Yes, Priya, what is it?” Collison asked.
She looked briefly from one to the other, but without making eye contact.
“The thing is, guv, I think there’s something I should tell you. About Sophie Ho.”
CHAPTER 30
“I think you’d better sit down, Priya,” Collison said. “Now, tell us whatever it is you think we should know.”
She perched nervously on the edge of a chair. In marked contrast to her usual self-confident air, she seemed edgy and nervous.
“I don’t know how much you know about me and Sophie, guv. I mean … well, I suppose what I mean is I don’t know how much you need to know.”
“I certainly don’t want to pry into your personal life, Priya. Why don’t you just tell me anything you think may be relevant to the enquiry?”
“OK, well I just had Sophie on the phone to me, just now. She’s really upset. It seems she’s been interrogated by Special Branch. Did you know about this?”
“Yes I did, I’m afraid. But I can’t tell you why, nor can I really explain any of the background. I’m sorry, but I’m under restraint as they say in the security services. Bob and I have been made subject to the Official Secrets Act.”
“Oh, I see.”
She clasped her hands together and darted a quick glance around the room.
“Or rather, I don’t see,” she went on. “But if you can’t tell me then that’s that.”
“What is it you want to tell me, Priya?” Collison asked her gently. “I promise that Bob and I will treat it in the strictest confidence in so far as we are able to.”
“Well, she says Special Branch have been asking her about the case; our case, that is, the Downshire Hill enquiry. She seems really confused because the first she heard of it was when she came here to the nick to meet me.”
“So she says,” Metcalfe interjected.
Collison shot him a quick glance and subtly but firmly shook his head.
“Go on, Priya,” he said.
“They’ve been asking her if she’s ever been to the house, almost as if they’re treating her as a suspect. But she isn’t, is she? That would be ridiculous. She doesn’t have any connection with Conrad Taylor.”
Collison thought deeply for a moment.
“I can’t comment on the last bit, but I can confirm that she has been treated as a suspect. We weren’t allowed to investigate her ourselves because there were security aspects which only Bob and I were allowed to know about. But if it makes you feel any better, my current understanding from the Branch is that we are no longer to treat her as a suspect. Certainly we are no longer pursuing that possible angle.”
“Oh, that’s a relief. But then, I wonder…”
“You wonder what, Priya? What was it you wanted to tell us about?”
“Well, I remember you asking me if Sophie had tried to get any information out of me about the investigation, and I said no. It’s just that the last few times I’ve seen her, or we’ve spoken on the phone, she has actually asked about the case, even though
I told her not to. We had a bit of a row about it actually. She said she was just trying to take an interest in my job.”
“She really should know better, shouldn’t she? After all she was with the police in Singapore for some time.”
“Yes, but she’s not a copper, not like us. She was just a translator. A sort of adviser really, I suppose, maybe a bit like Dr Collins.”
“Dr Collins may not be a police officer,” Collison said quickly before Metcalfe could intervene, “but he certainly understands the need for confidentiality. He’s a professional, and I would expect the same from Sophie Ho. What sort of things has she been asking about, by the way?”
“Oh, it’s just general stuff. Whether we are going to charge Raj, that sort of thing.”
“Is she interested specifically in Raj?” Collison asked carefully.
“Is that important, guv?”
“It might be, yes.”
“Well then I suppose yes, she is. And I got to wondering
…”
“Wondering about what exactly?”
“It’s just that I know that Raj’s background is in Singapore. That’s where Sophie is from, as you know. So I just got to wondering whether there might be some connection between them. Maybe they knew each other out there or something. Oh, I’m probably just being stupid but I can’t get the idea out of my head. I can’t even sleep properly for worrying about it.”
“You’re not being stupid at all, Priya,” Collison replied with a smile. “On the contrary, you’re just proving what a very fine police officer you are. You’ve made a connection which neither Bob nor I can comment upon, and to be honest we don’t really know whether you’re right or not. But we share the same sort of concern.”
Desai gazed at him intently and gnawed at her lip. She seemed close to tears.
“It’s just …”
“It’s just that you’re wondering whether she really wanted to see you for yourself or just to pump you for information about the investigation,” Collison prompted her softly.
“Yes, exactly that. How did you know?”
“I’d have to be pretty insensitive not to know.”
The House on Downshire Hill Page 20