by Jack Steele
‘I will find that out today.’ Jasper assured me, ‘what I do know is that a young man was deliberately run over by him. He has a fearsome temper by all accounts. He had a string of girlfriends and was married once. I am following up a lead that will get us an interview with her.’ Jasper looked triumphant and re-iterated that his intelligence was solid.
I congratulated him on his preliminary work and at least we had something to go on. However there was a distinct lack of professionalism regarding his paperwork. There were spelling mistakes and grammatical errors so I made a point of calling Sheila in to take stock of what we had so far and make it more presentable, especially if we were to liaise with the various crime departments sharing this important information. I also asked her to attend future briefings not only to take notes but also to provide us with relevant media in the future.
Jasper drummed his fingers loudly on the table during my instructions to Sheila. It irritated me to hear his impatience being beaten out like a bad rhythm on some bongos. I wanted to give him a lecture on his absenteeism but the voice of reason in my head ensured I played it cool and instead offered him the chance to continue. He seemed to be enjoying his new found powers of control.
‘Graham I need you to provide us with a CCTV feed for where Jez Cross lives in Camden as I’ve got it on good authority that he will more than likely return there.’
Graham wrote down on his sheet of paper a few notes then added an interesting point of his own.
‘One person we should have represented here is the only one of Miranda’s team remaining who can inform us of the forensics side of our investigation.’
It was a good suggestion and one which I felt had escaped me. That is why we work better when a team is fully engaged and not in-fighting. Jasper was nodding in agreement as Graham continued with his recommendation.
‘I was passed a message by Caroline who as you know is part of the team alongside Andy and Miranda. She has confirmed that prints found on Miranda’s handbag the night she disappeared is from Geb Blood.’
‘Thanks Graham, I will take on board your point about representation from forensics. Now we need to concentrate on locating Jez Cross.’
I wasn’t sure why Jasper would spend time on locating that fugitive when the main danger to the SIU was clearly Geb Blood. Carl shot me a puzzled look which prompted a response from me.
‘Jasper, what’s so important about this guy when it’s clearly Blood who must have Stella and Miranda?’
Jasper’s reply surprised both of us and if his intelligence was reliable it would be a significant game changer in our hunt for Blood.
Chapter 34
‘I was in his local pub last night meeting with one of my contacts and he reckons that earlier Cross was on the rampage. Apparently he was asking around for certain information but when he was confronted by a drunk who said the wrong thing he suddenly exploded and all hell broke loose.’
Jasper went on to say that this poor wretched individual ended up in intensive care with his left ear torn away.
‘Jez Cross literally chewed off this man’s ear! He is a complete maniac.’
I thought about the scenario and wondered why he would react in such a way. Surely he would prefer to keep a low profile as a fugitive on the run. What on earth could have got him so mad? It was then that Jasper delivered the punchline.
‘He was asking around for someone which proves he is helping Blood. They escaped together and now they are working together.’
He really was milking the attention for all it was worth but when he told us who was at the centre of his attention it made us all sit up.
‘He was after the woman found in the back of Geb Blood’s van a few years ago in our very first investigation!’
Chapter 35
Jasper had certainly got our minds racing. We quickly knuckled down firing questions for Sheila to note down.
Anything and everything pertaining to Jez Cross was listed. Carl and I would visit where he lived, his old haunts. Jasper would try to find out more about his past life, his old friends and enemies.
We would also visit the clinical nurse manager’s family to inform them of the situation. At this stage it was unclear whether he assisted in their escape or if he was taken forcefully. The visit to Broadmoor later that day would hopefully clear up any of those questions.
Jasper had finished his presentation and I thanked him for his extremely supportive efforts in obtaining this vital information. I could alert the gathering media outside to issue warnings to the general public. It was vital to report any sightings of the three men.
‘How did the two of them pair up in Broadmoor?’ Carl was thinking out loud.
‘That was the question going around and around in my head. We need to drive over there later today and put that to the clinical director.’
We put together a plan of action. The fact that the computers were down and the authorities were handling an ever increasing riot at Broadmoor was making this a difficult case to solve right from the outset. Whoever had masterminded this breakout was one clever individual.
Graham had nothing to add only that the surveillance was ongoing and his department were working around the clock to locate Stella and Miranda as quickly as possible.
I asked Jasper if he had anything to add before we called the meeting to a close. He suggested that he would tap a few more contacts for information as to the fugitive’s whereabouts and we should all remain in contact throughout today. Considering he was the most unreliable of colleagues to locate that really was his most hypocritical sentence yet.
As we all filed out of the briefing room I could see the mass of reporters with their cameras and notebooks through the glass entrance doors. My stomach began to churn right on cue and all the motivational advice of turning anxiety and nerves into a good thing went out of the window. I hate standing in front of an audience giving speeches or presentations especially when the world’s media is hanging on your every word. What if I lost my voice or had a coughing fit? The seeds of self-doubt began to sow in my head. No matter how I tried to ignore it the nausea was beginning to build.
I remembered the charity match I took part in when working for C.I.D. It was almost time for kick off and I suddenly felt queasy. Trying to tell myself not to be stupid as it was only a charity football match with hardly any spectators I still had to hang back in the toilets and take deep breaths before retching. There was no escape as the team would be waiting for me so I had to go out there with all the scenarios of letting the side down as I stepped onto the pitch. Then when the whistle blew it seemed to lift that unsettling feeling and I went on to score a couple of goals.
I kept thinking of that analogy to ease my current predicament when to my surprise the Police Commissioner emerged from Sheila’s office.
‘Joe Stone.’ He offered out his hand and we greeted each other with a firm handshake. He was slightly smaller than me at five foot ten inches, with blue eyes and brown hair ‘I’ve been looking through Sheila’s speech and it is a knockout.’
I looked at Sheila and she was blushing. I believe that she was rather taken with the Commissioner. Carl went to his desk while we went back inside Sheila’s office.
‘Yes we don’t know what we would do without her.’ I replied as she busied herself with making a coffee for him. Stern never would dream of using the vending machine like us mere mortals. It was the fancy china cups for him and our distinguished guests.
‘How are you doing Commissioner?’
‘Call me George.’ He insisted.
I still wasn’t too sure about being on first name terms with him and it reminded of me when the Prime Minister once asked me to call her Emily which was most surreal. ‘So what is the latest? I noticed you were all having a morning briefing when I arrived.’
I thought about Jasper’s Intel and wondered whether it would be prudent to verify his source before alerting the agencies but with such a short window of opportunity I had to believe it was cre
dible.
‘We are still working to locate the three we definitely know who are missing from Broadmoor and we do now have their names.’
‘That’s great!’ he replied enthusiastically while taking the coffee cup from Sheila. ‘So what are their names?’
I laboured the point that the Intel was fresh and unsubstantiated but at least it was something to go on. Then I revealed the names to him. He looked sad when I mentioned the manager.
‘You must accompany me to Broadmoor after the briefing because a few of the nursing staff have been extricated from the rioting.’
He took a pen to the paper and added the names Geb Blood, Jez Cross and Nigel Stamford to his sheet of paper.
‘I was wondering if you would like me to address the media. Just say if you would prefer to give the presentation.’
I felt an instant weight lift off my shoulders and held out my hand to thank him. He shook it vigorously saying it was the least he could do.
Sheila got to work on the speech corrections while we sat down to get to know each other better. He began by praising my boss, Commander Stern for forming the Strategic Intelligence Unit and making it what it is today.
‘Everyone in the Met thought it was going to be another case of here today and gone tomorrow but the results soon quietened those dissenting voices. He assured me that the team he had formed would achieve great things and so far he wasn’t wrong.’
He took a sip of his coffee and complimented Sheila who was busy correcting Jaspers attempt at a report.
‘It’s my pleasure.’ She looked up and replied, while teasing some of her long grey hair behind her ears.
‘I remember when I first met you Joe. It was in the cocktail bar on the 48th floor of the Pan Peninsular development near South Quay.’
‘You have a good memory.’
‘Stern also gave you the keys to his Penthouse for the foreseeable future.’
A picture of the Mafia families came into my mind signifying they owned a piece of me which I wasn’t going to allow. I caught the commissioner looking at me as I had temporarily zoned out at the thought of their link with the Penthouse. I had to bluff my way out of this ignoring my concern.
‘It was a sincerely generous gesture which did help sway my mind in joining the SIU.’
‘I bet it did. What an offer!’
‘I absolutely agree with you! That offer of staying in some place I could only dream of was like a no brainer. It had been a difficult time for me back then with my girlfriend’s disappearance. I did rattle a few cages in my desperate search for her whereabouts. So it was a chance to take stock and keep working while I carried on my search for the truth of her abduction.’
He noticed on the filing cabinet a photo of Stern alongside his faithful dog.
‘It was such a shock about the attack on his life. A sad business about his pet and also his chauffeur, but at least both he and his wife are recovering.’
I thought now was the best time to bring him up to speed with my visit last night, even though I knew Sheila could hear me and would possibly become upset at the news.
‘He knows everything about his wife, chauffeur and dog.’ Sheila glanced at me but then quickly lowered her sight to the computer. ‘He intends to drop by later today.’
The commissioner looked surprised.
‘Is that wise? It seems a little too early for a return especially when he died twice on the operating table. He always was a tough bugger, strong-willed and determined though.’
Sheila eventually produced three copies of the speech and we each held one. Jasper’s writing was transformed and it looked quite a significant document. It listed all the salient points that the commissioner would announce to the hungry media who were set up and waiting outside. I noticed through her window that even the outside broadcasting units were parked up with their satellite dishes on top of the large containers. The television cameras were there ready to send a live feed direct to the screens of every household across the world.
A large intake of breath from the commissioner signified that the time had arrived to meet the media. The clock on the office wall revealed it was almost 9 o’clock.
The commissioner would have to tread a careful line to ensure the public would be vigilant but not panicked by what he had to say.
‘Thank you Sheila.’ He passed his cup to her and then got to his feet. ‘Excuse me Joe; we must talk some more en route to Broadmoor.’
We shook hands and then walked outside to an expectant crowd of reporters.
Chapter 36
The cold weather was something that the reporters had got used to. They would stand around for ages checking that their equipment worked and a signal was being relayed to the studio. At least today it wasn’t raining but instead they were bathed in sunshine.
As we stepped outside there was a buzz of anticipation followed by a multitude of bright flashing lights. The clattering of shutters and the sound of reporters winding down their introductions heralded the start of the briefing.
The commissioner stepped up to the lectern and took a sip of water from the glass placed on it alongside some cough sweets and a pencil. He cleared his throat and then he began.
‘Good Morning. I am Police Commissioner George Drake. I would like to say a big thank you to this organisation behind me for preventing a major disaster a few days ago. The Strategic Investigation Unit is facing big challenges every day and coming through with flying colours.
I have now asked them to assist in another operation of the utmost importance and already I can assure everyone concerned that swift progress is being made.’
I was impressed with his introduction. There was not a hint of nerves and he delivered each sentence in a measured and informative way. He went on to announce the names of the three escapees from Broadmoor, followed by the standard warning to the public not to approach them but to call the SIU, Met or Crimestoppers anonymously.
George Drake delivered his prepared statement to the media without even glancing at the paper once. I wondered if I could ever be as professional as the Police Commissioner or our Commander Stern at delivering such a measured presentation.
My memory, if I am being totally honest, is not as reliable as it used to be when remembering pages from a detailed report. I tended to concentrate more on bullet points these days rather than chapter and verse. That’s why I admired that skill in my peers and politicians.
Eventually the commissioner ended his statement and offered the opportunity for questions to which the press reacted with fervour. He had ensured that contained within the statement were elements that had something ostensibly newsworthy.
Shell Baker, the BBC reporter, was the first to shout out the question that all of London was asking.
‘How dangerous to the public are the fugitives commissioner?’
The flashing lights of the cameras lit up the front of the building as he nodded in recognition the seriousness of the question.
‘I would advise once again that if either Geb Blood or Jez Cross is spotted then members of the public report their findings immediately to the police on 999. Under no circumstances are they to approach these men who are extremely dangerous.’
She then asked another question which he chose to ignore instead he pointed to another reporter. It was Sue Harrison who had a Sky News microphone in her hand.
‘Can you confirm the rumour that Broadmoor, Rampton and Ashworth’s computer network has been hacked?’
The commissioner sighed which was picked up by the microphones and he took a few seconds to gather his thoughts. I wondered how she had come by that news and decided to meet up with her to discuss this. The question was loaded with accountability to which he wasn’t prepared to comment any further.
‘I cannot answer that question at the mo...’
He was interrupted by another question by the Sky reporter.
‘Should the Broadmoor head of security or the directors of the hospital face criminal negligence?’
He hadn’t verified that the rumour was true so the following question was given equally short shrift. He did offer something to the media.
‘What I can assure the public is that not only are we pushing the boundaries but also moving heaven and hell to find these fugitives.’
It was clear that he didn’t want attention drawn towards the SIU by announcing Miranda and Stella’s capture. It was a definite skill to be able to deflect questions in a way that managed the press who were hungry for knowledge. Most of the questions were answered with the line ‘I cannot divulge that information due to this being an ongoing investigation.’ However, what he did say, which I thought was a clever tactic to keep the media onside, was to promise further information at the next briefing.
The media’s questions were relentless.
‘When will the National Tactical Response Group restore control of Broadmoor? How safe are Ashworth and Rampton psychiatric hospitals following this breakout? Who is to blame? How did they escape?’
That last question got me thinking whether they escaped on foot or were they met outside and transported to their hideout. If that was the case then we should be looking for more than three people.
Chapter 37
The press statement was over and we returned to the warmth of the briefing room which had been set out with some refreshments. Juices, tea and coffee were on offer along with a selection of cakes and biscuits.
‘Help yourselves everyone,’ Sheila announced, ‘whatever is left will go to the reporters waiting outside.’ It was another public relations exercise which our commander had initiated when he started the SIU.
I complimented the commissioner on his presentation and delivery and asked him whether I could receive training to be able to do likewise. He promised he would ensure that I would be kept in the loop pending any fast track training.
Eventually we shook hands and I escorted him to the back door and his waiting chauffeur driven Jaguar.