The Voyeur
Page 26
DI Masters rose from her chair. “The sooner you all shut up, the sooner I can buy you all a drink for a job well done.” The chatter died down, and Masters sat back down. “Okay, DS Fawn, the floors all yours.”
“Shouldn’t we wait for DS Edwards?”
Tanya threw her voice as best she could from the back of the room. Nick Lansbury’s fingers had damaged her throat. She could talk, but sounded like a cross between Barry White and a toad.
“DS Edwards sends his apologies.” She locked stares with Fawn and pasted the best false smile on her face she could manage. “Another checkup at the hospital. He’ll probably give Frank’s parents a hand. He’s allowed home today.”
A cheer and clapping broke out in the crowd. Tanya’s mouth broke into a genuine smile. She wobbled on her foot and leant back into the wall. Tanya kept her eye on DS Fawn’s poker face and caught a glimpse of anger in her eyes. Albie knew she’d want him at the meeting so he could watch her receive all the credit for solving the case. He didn’t have another appointment. Tanya knew but would back him all the way. The only reason she was there was so someone could call ‘bullshit’ if Fawn attempted to bad mouth Albie.
“Right, let’s make a start. So I’m going to take each individual perpetrator at a time. If you have any questions, you may ask after each case or at the end.”
“I think they’ve got the idea, DS Fawn. Move on.” DI Masters glanced at her watch and then at the restless faces in the room.
DI Masters turned, then pointed to the clock on the wall. “You’ve ten minutes and no longer, DS Fawn.”
Fawn turned her back to the clock, “Terry Young aka Rattler. He’s been remanded in custody for the attacks on Frank and Layla Reynolds plus a charge for possession. We’re still gathering evidence and hope to have more charges to throw at him soon. “
Lifting the pointer to Nick and Reggie Lansbury, she lowered her head and read from a piece of paper in her hand.
“Reggie has been charged with the attack on Nick. We are also investigating his involvement with the death of his wife Lana Ann Dyer in 1975. Nick Lansbury has been charged with the attacks on Josie Jeffries, Olivia Devine, Reggie Lansbury, and DS Albie Edwards. He is also in the process of being charged with the murder of Emily Dyer, Tyler Duke, and Irene Jeffries. As well as the assault on Mitchell Dyer.”
“Thank you, Fawn.” DI Masters gestured for her colleague to take a step back. “I’ll continue from here.” She tapped her watch. “Time’s running away with us. All you really need to be aware of is that weapons from each attack have been traced back to the boiler room, where both suspects can also be placed. Tests also link Emily to the flat where Layla Reynolds was assaulted.”
DS Fawn stepped forward to take over, but DI Masters held up a hand and shook her head. “Tyler Dyer. Weapons used to attack him were found in a search around the area of the attack, but finger prints from the blade are a match with Nick Lansbury.”
She moved forward and, as a show of compassion, she lowered her head. For a moment Tanya thought she was going to ask them all to pray, and a tension hung over the room until she lifted her head and smiled.
“We’re so privileged to have such professional team members here who are willing to do their job to the end, no matter the consequences. It’s time to think about young PC Frank Gibbs, DS Albie Edwards, and PC Watts.” She held her hand out towards me and everyone looked my way before the clapping started again.
“Thank you, DS Fawn. Right I’ll see you all in the pub. The first drinks on me. You deserve it, every single one of you.”
Soft light glowed inside the curtained cubicle. Albie winced as he altered his position on the cushioned chair next to the bed. He knew painkillers would kick in soon and the discomfort would ease. He leant forward, smoothed the dark wave of hair back from Olivia’s face and entwined her fingers in his. Emotion whirled inside him. He’d been in a state of shock which soon evolved into guilt as his wounds had begun to mend. She, however, remained in a state of unconsciousness, reliant on machines to keep her alive.
The nurses had been supportive, even allowed him access to her at night once they realised he wasn’t welcome when family and friends visited. Delilah was on the war path and blamed him, quite rightly, for the attack.
“You might as well have put Liv in here yourself. You selfish bastard,” she’d screamed at their last meeting in the corridor outside the nurse’s station. The nurses took pity on him. After all, he’d been attacked and stabbed in the line of duty. One of England’s finest, put in a wheelchair. But he knew better. Delilah had seen through him years ago. The callous ambitious thug, relentless and self-absorbed.
He squeezed Olivia’s hand tighter and rested his forehead on her pale translucent skin. The swelling had all but disappeared from her face; however, it now resembled a grotesque palette of dismal colours.
Albie bent his head towards her ear. “Josie left hospital today. She’s taken Josh to live with her dad. She’ll be fine. They’ll have an opportunity to rebuild their lives.”
He listened to the machine pumping, watched her eyes, waited for a flicker of understanding. Nothing.
“Nick Lansbury will pay for the pain and heartache he’s caused. I promise.” The tears that had settled in the corners of his eyes escaped. He choked on his words. “Wake up, Liv. There’s so many people who need you. Wake up.” He rested his other hand on their entwined hands and counted the beats of the pump until his own heart found the rhythm.
Albie walked towards his car where Tanya waited.
“So, how’s your wounds now? Healing I hope.” Tanya said as she walked to meet him. “You missed a great meeting this afternoon, you know. DS Fawn was on game, but Masters took over. She sung your praises.”
“Did they ever find out why Andy Reynolds withdrew his statement? It’s been bugging me, although I could have a good guess.”
“Harry Garrett said when he was interviewed, Reynolds confessed to having an affair with Lana Lansbury. Reggie suspected Lana of playing away and threatened to tell his wife. Guilt and shame were reasons for pulling his statement. Mary had terminal cancer. He didn’t want her to find out. He’s going to be a witness for us now. Chloe is as well. She was with Charlie in the boiler room and saw Nick remove Mitchell’s tongue. Now how about we go and celebrate a job well done?”
Albie smiled. He hated small talk and he knew where this was leading. “So that’s why you’re here?”
“I don’t know what you mean. I thought you might want to chat. Perhaps even ask how I am. It’s been a while, you know.”
Albie shook his head, and his smile faded. “Thanks, Tanya. I’m not going to the pub. Nice try, but why don’t you just go back and say I’ve had a relapse or something.”
“I will not. Tell them yourself. Anyway, I’m not taking you to the pub. I’m dropping you home.”
“You’re not driving. Not with that leg.”
“Okay, you can drive me home then, not that I think you’ve been given license to drive yet either.”
They sat in compatible silence listening to Bon Jovi’s chilled album.
“We go via your house on the way home, don’t we?” Tanya raised her voice over the music, and Albie frowned.
“Why?”
“It’s just. Well I wanted to borrow some films. You’re always bragging about your collection. Go on, I’ll only take a couple. Time drags on sick leave.”
“Enjoy it while you can. I hear your Sergeant is an old slave driver.”
He pulled his BMW outside his house. It wasn’t often he was so fortunate. Normally he had to walk about half a mile from the nearest parking space to home. He climbed from the car and walked up the path. Tanya struggled behind but was glad because it was easier to hide her smile. He put the key in the door and switched the light on in the hall. The afternoon sun was low in the sky and moving further away by the day. He opened the living room door as Tanya shut the front door and jumped before the scream.
“Surpri
se!”
“Mum, what’s all this?” Albie hugged his mother and the others who ran towards him laughing.
“I contacted Tanya, asked her whether she thought this would be a good idea. Whether you need cheering up? After all you’ve…Well, no need to say any more. So I just asked your favourite people for a celebration.”
Eva shoved a glass in Tanya and Albie’s hands. “To Albie Edwards and Tanya Watts, who keep our streets safe. Albie, you’re loved.”
“Sorry about that, Sarge. But you know how persuasive Marianne can be when she wants her own way.”
Albie faced her knocked glasses and smiled. “No need to apologise, Tanya. I was expecting someone else to be here.”
“Who?”
“No worries, I’ve just texted him. He’s on his way. I told Leo you won the bet and he can’t wait to buy you dinner.”
“No you haven’t.”
Albie smiled, nodded and slipped a cigarette in his mouth.
“What are you doing?” Tanya asked as she watched him light up.
“Well, Watts. It’s time to have my celebratory smoke. You know it was a compromise I made with myself when I gave up.”
“But that’s just silly. You’re just giving yourself an excuse to smoke. Surely you can celebrate in another way?”
Albie grinned. “Now what was I saying about Nico?”
Tanya shook her head and held her hands to her reddening cheeks.
“Oh, yes. I told him you put together the initials of Josie Jeffries and Lana Lansbury. 4 J + L on two different bodies. That’s what spurred him on to murder. He was protecting the two women he cared about in his life. A mother who couldn’t protect herself from his father’s obsession and in Josie a woman bullied by those closest to her, who were supposed to give her love and support.”
The doorbell rang.
“That’ll be Leo.” Albie strolled towards the door and watched Tanya stride to the far end of the room and crouch on the floor on the pretence of playing with his godchildren. In truth, she knew there was nowhere to hide from Leo Nico.
Acknowledgments
I want to thank the wonderful people who have provided invaluable input and kept me sane through this process. To my husband and my children, Dan, Lee, Samantha, Ben, Steven and Luke who have listened to me ramble on incoherently as I tried to think through story ideas.
Beth and Tom, thanks for asking the awkward questions. Chris (aka Mum) thank you for feedback. Yvonne, your encouragement and friendship in everything ‘new author’ has helped keep my eyes on the finish line. Thank you to both my editor, Josiah, you are a saint and to my daughter, Samantha, who proofread the final draft.
Finally, I would like to thank you, the reader, for taking time out of your day to read ‘The Voyeur’.
Please consider leaving a review at the online store where you purchased this book and/or telling a friend about the story.
You can find the link here: Amazon Kindle
About the Author
Kimberley Shead is an emerging author of crime fiction. She lives in London with her husband, Roy, two of her children, and Rex, the family’s German Shepherd.
Kimberley loves to write as near to the sea as possible. She is inspired by music and part of her writing process involves building playlists to evoke the emotions of the characters in her books.
For more information please check out:
www.kimberleyshead.com
Also by Kimberley Shead
DS Albie Edwards Series
Buried Memories
The Voyeur