by Michael Wood
‘Sian, I believe Keith is innocent. I don’t believe more people will die. Someone killed the Mercers for a reason.’
‘But we don’t know what that reason is.’
‘Then we need to find out.’
‘How? We’ve interviewed friends, family, neighbours, colleagues. Apart from digging up abuse from Clive and Oliver hiding his sexuality, there’s nothing in their pasts that would lead to them being murdered,’ Sian said.
‘There has to be.’
‘We can keep going over the interviews and statements time and time again, but the solution is not there. I’m sorry, Matilda, but Keith Lumb should be arrested on suspicion of murder and held while we formally interview him. If he’s innocent, he’ll have an alibi.’
‘Yes,’ Christian said. ‘Did he tell you what his alibi was for Sunday night?’
Matilda looked down as her desk.
‘He doesn’t have one, does he?’
‘No,’ she replied quietly.
‘I don’t believe this,’ Sian said. ‘In past cases we’ve waited for forensic evidence to come through. Once we’ve got a result, we use it to find the killer, arrest him, and that’s it, case over. Why is this case so different?’
‘Because Keith Lumb is not a killer,’ Matilda replied with defiance.
‘Despite the evidence saying otherwise?’
‘Yes.’
Sian and Christian exchanged glances but neither of them said anything. Sian turned and left the room.
‘Shit. I need Sian on my side.’
‘Sian’s an evidence woman. She always has been. If the evidence tells her to go one way, she will.’
‘What about you?’
‘I’m anybody’s for a cup of tea and a bag of chips,’ he said with a smile. ‘Personally, I think the killer is someone close to the Mercer family. It’s someone who had a grievance against them. It’s probably someone we’ve already interviewed. To have killed them in such a violent way, the killer had to have known them to feel such hatred to inflict such overkill.’
‘And who would fit into that category?’
‘Somebody close to the family.’
‘That only leaves Leah and Rachel.’
‘And we know Leah was in France.’
‘Maybe she knows more than she’s letting on, though.’
‘Why wouldn’t she tell us who’s destroyed her family?’
Christian thought for a while. He scratched the back of his head. ‘I can think of two reasons.’
‘Are you going to share them with me?’
‘She’s scared,’ he began, counting his theories off on his fingers. ‘Or she’s protecting the killer because she has strong feelings for him.’
‘Oliver Ridgeway? I doubt she has strong feelings for him now. Besides, he was in France with her.’
‘Maybe she hired someone.’
‘Then why leave Rachel alive?’
‘Only she can answer that question.’
‘Hang on a minute,’ Matilda interrupted. ‘Are we really suggesting Leah hired a killer? This is Sheffield for crying out loud, not 1930s Chicago.’
‘You said you wanted to go through everyone.’
Matilda slumped on her desk, her head in her hands. ‘I’m getting a headache.’
‘So am I. I’m also fancying a bag of chips.’
Matilda smirked. ‘Christian, I’m really struggling here. I honestly have no idea which way to turn.’
‘Do you want to know what I think?’
‘Go on.’
‘I think you’re screwed.’
Matilda rolled her eyes. She couldn’t disagree with him. As he left the office, she leaned forward and placed her head on her desk with a bang and closed her eyes.
I am screwed.
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Aaron received a call from the front desk telling him Leah Mercer was here to see him. He bounded down the stairs like a five-year-old on Christmas morning. When he went into reception, he saw a different woman waiting to see him. Leah was all smiles. She was dressed smartly; her hair was neatly styled, and she was wearing make-up. She looked a decade younger than when he last saw her.
‘A bit of an improvement, don’t you think?’ she asked when she noticed Aaron staring at her.
‘You look a million times better.’
‘Thank you.’ She grabbed Aaron’s arm and led him over to the seating area, away from the prying eyes and ears of the desk sergeant. ‘I have a favour to ask you. I know it’s a cheek after what you’ve done for me, but I was wondering if you’d come with me to see Rachel and Pongo?’
‘Of course,’ he answered quickly.
She visibly relaxed. ‘Thank you. I’ve been on to social services and they’ve contacted the family Rachel’s staying with, temporarily, and they’re expecting me. I have a plan.’ She smiled. ‘Jeremy and Rachel’s house in Liverpool is standing empty. I’m going to move there while my parents’ house is cleaned and sorted, then, if Rachel wants to, we’ll move here permanently. If she’d rather stay in Liverpool, then I’ll sell up here.’
‘Wow.’ Aaron was taken aback by the sudden transformation. ‘What about Oliver?’
‘What about him?’
‘He’s still your husband.’
‘Not for much longer. I’ve been to see a solicitor. I think I may be able to have the marriage annulled.’
‘You don’t want to try and make it work?’
‘What’s the point? He doesn’t love me. He doesn’t even love women. I certainly won’t be sad to close the door on that particular chapter. I never liked his parents, anyway. No,’ she said, pushing her hair back, ‘I’ve made up my mind. What’s happened has been a tragedy for all of us, but it’s also been a wake-up call. Life is incredibly fragile. From now on, it’s going to be me and Rachel. We’re going to have fun, live our lives and try to put the past firmly in its place. We’ll survive, just the two of us.’ She smiled.
‘I’m really pleased for you,’ he said. He took her hands in both of his and held them tight.
The visit to see Rachel and Pongo was fraught with emotion. Rachel cried the second the door was opened and Leah entered. They hugged for an age and Rachel only let go when Pongo started barking. While they chatted in the living room with the social worker, Aaron went into the kitchen with the emergency foster parents. An hour later, Leah was ready to leave. Back in the car, she took a deep breath and wiped her eyes.
‘Are you all right?’ Aaron asked.
‘I am. I really am.’ She smiled. ‘Rachel said she wants to go back home to Liverpool. I said I’d go across this evening, sort the place out, come back for her tomorrow morning and take her home. Social services seem to be happy about that. They’re putting me in touch with the people in Liverpool in case we need any help.’
‘A new chapter.’
‘Absolutely. Aaron, I want to thank you.’
‘What for?’
‘For what you said at my parents’ house yesterday. You were incredibly sweet. I think I would have gone back to the hotel and drowned myself in the bath if you hadn’t made me see what was left. I can’t thank you enough.’
She leaned forward in her seat and kissed Aaron on the cheek. Her turned to face her. She kissed him on the mouth and he reciprocated. It wasn’t a long kiss, but it was full of passion and excitement.
From his inside pocket, he pulled out his card. ‘If you need anything at all, call me. My mobile’s on there.’
She smiled. ‘Maybe you could visit us in Liverpool from time to time.’
‘Maybe.’
Chapter Sixty
Matilda decided to go home. It would be the first time in as long as she could remember when she would have an early finish. She hoped that if she took a step back from the case, even for a couple of hours, it may give her a fresh perspective. Fingers firmly crossed. As she was leaving, she stuffed the GMC files in her bag and went for a quick word with the ACC before going out of the station via the back way to the car
park.
Fortunately for Matilda, it was Adele’s afternoon off. They arranged to meet in the centre of Sheffield and went for a late lunch in the Blue Moon Café next to the cathedral. Matilda ordered a strong black coffee and a piece of homity pie. She had tried to make it herself for her and Adele once, but it never came out the way it did here. She sat in the corner and looked at the four clocks on the wall, all giving the same time. Beneath them were cities from around the world – Bradford, Doncaster, Sheffield and Rotherham. They always made her smile. The atmosphere in the café was relaxed as usual and she found her headache easing slightly.
Adele started talking about work, about the Mercer case, and if there were any leads. Matilda had escaped the office to get away from the Mercers. She was beginning to wish she’d never heard of them. She gave monosyllabic replies to Adele’s questions and eventually had to be honest with her best friend.
‘Look, can we change the subject?’
‘OK,’ Adele conceded defeat. ‘So,’ she began, ‘I hear Scott’s gay.’
‘Oh. Yes he is. How did you find out?’
‘Rory told me.’
Matilda smiled. ‘I’ve never known such a big a gossip as Rory.’
‘Do you think Scott and my Chris are a couple?’ Adele asked, playing with her leftover food with her fork.
Matilda looked up from her pie. She hoped her face wasn’t giving her away. She was sure she could feel her face blush. ‘What? No. Of course not. What makes you say that?’
‘Because Chris is gay.’ She shrugged.
‘Is he?’
‘He hasn’t told me, but a mother knows. I like Scott. I think they’d make a great couple.’
‘Scott does have feelings for Chris. I think they may be reciprocated,’ Matilda said gently.
Adele smiled. ‘I hope they’re happy.’ She looked off into the distance.
‘Are you all right with it?’ Matilda leaned forward and placed her hand over Adele’s.
‘Of course I am. All I want is for Chris to be happy. I don’t care if it’s with another man or a woman.’
‘But wouldn’t you have liked grandchildren?’
‘Can you honestly see me as a grandmother? Besides, it’s 2018, two men can have children these days. Now, do you think you could move your hand from mine? We’re getting funny looks from the old couple at the next table.’
Matilda looked across to see an elderly man and woman watching them out of the corner of their eyes. She couldn’t hear their lowered conversation but the tuts were loud enough.
Matilda was driving along Ringinglow Road. As she turned onto the dirt track and the car disappeared under the cover of trees, a figure jumped out up ahead. She slammed on the brakes. When she opened her eyes she saw Keith Lumb looking straight at her.
‘What the bloody hell are you doing here?’ she asked as she opened the window.
‘I can’t stay at Elizabeth’s any longer. She’s doing my head in.’
‘How do you know where I lived?’
‘Elizabeth said you’d told her you live close by, that you’d bought a rundown farmhouse. This is the only one I know. I took a shot.’
‘I told you to stay at your sister’s.’
‘There’s police camped outside her house. She was getting nervous. She thinks she’ll be arrested as aiding and abetting a fugitive. She’s not as strong as she likes to make out.’
‘You can’t stay with me.’
‘Where am I supposed to go?’
‘I should take you to the station …’
‘No fucking way,’ he said, backing up. ‘You even think about it and I’ll run. I mean it. Once you get me into a cell, that’s it, you’ll lock the door and I won’t be coming out again.’
‘Shit,’ Matilda said under her breath. ‘OK, you can stay, but only for one night.’
I’m so going to get fired for this.
‘Why do you have so many books?’ Keith asked. He stood in the doorway to her library while she set about making him a drink and a snack.
‘I enjoy reading,’ she said without looking up.
‘But they’re all crime. Don’t you get enough of that at work?’
‘What do you like to do in your spare time?’ She avoided answering the question.
‘My whole life is my spare time.’
‘You don’t have a job?’
‘Bits of cash-in-hand stuff.’
‘You should get yourself a legitimate job.’
‘Maybe I should join the police.’
Matilda laughed. ‘You’d hate it. Here, I’ve made you a sandwich. Look, I could lose my job over having you here. I should take you into custody, for your own protection at least.’
‘My protection?’ he said with a mouthful of cheese and pickle.
‘I don’t believe you killed the Mercer family, but the killer has chosen you for a reason. If he thinks you’re going to get away with it, you could be a target. He could come looking for you.’
‘And you don’t want my blood all over your shiny new kitchen?’
‘I don’t want your blood anywhere. I’d also like to keep my job.’
She pulled out a chair opposite him and sat down, taking the file of GMC cases out of her bag.
‘Do you live here on your own?’ he asked once he’d finished his sandwich and was washing it down with a mug of tea.
Matilda looked up from the files. ‘Yes.’
‘It’s a bit big, isn’t it?’
‘I like my space.’
‘How many bedrooms has it got?’
‘Why?’
‘Just curious.’
Matilda ignored him and went back to reading.
‘You’re not married then?’ he asked.
‘I’m a widow.’
‘Oh. Sorry,’ he said without emotion. ‘No kids?’
‘No.’
‘Why not?
‘Why all the questions?’
‘Just being friendly,’ he said with a smile.
‘I’d rather you didn’t. Look, why don’t you go and have a shower or something?’
‘I had one the other day.’
Matilda rolled her eyes and went back to reading the files. She read through the first two cases in which Clive Mercer had had to justify his actions. When she came to the final case, she sat up.
‘What’s wrong?’ Keith asked.
‘Nothing,’ she said with a heavy frown. She rummaged in her back pocket for her mobile and dialled. ‘Scott, it’s me. On one of the white boards, there are three names. Can you read them out to me, please?’
‘Yes. Hang on,’ he said with his mouth full. ‘Margo Sanders, Martin Walken and Milly Johnston. Who are they?’
‘They’re the people who died in surgery, and why Clive Mercer was referred to the GMC. How is Milly Johnston spelled?’
He spelled it for her.
‘Oh my God,’ she said.
‘What?’
‘I’ll ring you back.’ She hung up before he could say anything else.
‘What is it?’ Keith asked.
‘Does the name Ross Jonson mean anything to you?’
He thought for a while. ‘He’s a DS in Barnsley, isn’t he?’
‘Yes. Do you know him?’
‘Not really. Why?’
‘Let me think for a moment,’ she said, raising a hand to silence him. She picked up her phone, opened the Google app and typed in the name ‘Ross Jonson’. Then pressed on the news heading and there it was. She fell onto the sofa and scanned the story.
How could I have been so blind?
‘I don’t believe this. I’ve known exactly who the killer is from day one. In fact, if we’d been doing our jobs properly in the first place, these murders could have been prevented.’
Chapter Sixty-One
Scott was staring at the white board. There was something in Matilda’s voice that didn’t sound right. Yes, she was stressed, but there was a hint of anger, nerves, fear that belied her confidence. It was connect
ed with the GMC files. Why had she asked how to spell Milly? Surely there was only one way to spell it.
‘Sian,’ Scott called out, looking over the top of his computer. ‘Could you email me across those GMC reports?’
‘Sure. Why?’
‘I just want to check something.’
‘OK.’ She hammered on her keyboard. ‘Done.’
‘Cheers. Do you fancy a coffee?’
‘I’d love one.’ She smiled and visibly relaxed in her seat.
Scott went over to the drinks station and began making them both a drink. Most of the detectives in HMET were out so the office was relatively quiet.
‘Scott, is everything all right?’ Sian asked.
‘Fine.’
‘Nobody’s had a go at you, or made any snide comments about … you know?’
‘Being gay?’
‘Well, yes.’
‘No. Everyone’s acting like it’s no big deal. I suppose it isn’t, really, but I’d built it up in my head as being this life-changing thing. It shouldn’t be, should it? As long as I can do my job, then who I sleep with is my business.’
‘Exactly. So,’ she said the word ‘so’ as if it had about a dozen o’s in it. ‘Are you seeing anyone at the moment?’ Her question was innocent, but she was eager for the gossip.
Scott felt himself redden slightly. He stirred the coffees and handed her a mug. ‘It’s early days.’
‘Anyone I know?’ She grinned.
‘Like I said, it’s early days,’ he said as he sat at his desk. He could feel Sian’s eyes burning into him. He looked up and saw her smiling. ‘What?’
‘Nothing. You look different.’
‘Do I?’
‘Yes. You look … I don’t know … happy.’
‘Really?’ He thought for a moment. ‘I feel happy.’
Scott took a sip of his coffee and opened the email Sian had sent him. He wanted to read the Milly Johnston file first, as that was the one Matilda seemed most interested in. His eyes widened. He looked to the white board then back to the computer.
‘Who wrote those names on the board?’
‘I did,’ Sian answered. ‘Why?’
‘You didn’t copy them from these files, did you?’