Resentments and Revenge Page 16

  “She’d seriously upset someone, by the sounds of it.”

  “There was more.” He looked across at me. “There were cuts to the arms, abdomen and chest that were inflicted after death. Extensive bruising to her hands and wrists showed she tried to defend herself. It was interesting there was no sign of a struggle on the path side of the wall. That infers that she crossed over into the wooded area with someone she knew.”

  “Yeah, I’ve spoken to a few people on the force. They told me the killer would have had to have local knowledge of the area.”

  “That’s true. It would be unlikely for a complete stranger to know about that pathway. Obviously, extensive door-to-door enquiries were carried out. Neither the murder weapon nor her phone has been found yet.”

  “So, what’s the evidence against Billy?” He looked at me with a serious expression.

  “He was known to carry a knife for his own protection. He even kept one under his pillow. We’ve got witness statements of guys in the pub who heard him bragging about how he knew how to slit someone’s throat.”

  “Nice.”

  “Billy wasn’t sober when we picked him up which didn’t help matters. We had to leave him for several hours in a police cell before we could interview him. He admitted to calling for Carmen at 5 p.m. on the day of the murder. She didn’t go to the pub at lunchtime like she usually did because she had an errand to run. So, Billy was drinking on his own all afternoon.”

  “That was normal for Billy, I hear?”

  “Yes, and witnesses confirmed that Carmen went out somewhere as she was seen at the bus stop close to her home at about 1 p.m. that day. When the police checked his phone, she had ignored Billy’s messages asking where she was. He told us he didn’t know where she’d been all afternoon. They were both seen in the pub later at about 5.30 which corroborated Billy’s story. Billy said he left the pub alone later that night. He wasn’t sure what time, because of the amount of alcohol he had drunk, but witnesses confirmed he left about 8.15. When asked why he went and what he did afterwards, he said he went home to feed his dog as he had been drinking all day.”

  “So, he’s not admitted to anything?”

  “No, he said after feeding Putin, his pit bull terrier, he crashed out and woke up at five in the morning. He said he fell asleep on the sofa and Putin nuzzled his neck wanting a walk, so he took him out early. In his police interview, he admitted to being fed up with Carmen mucking him about.

  “Billy’s phone showed that he had not tried to contact Carmen after leaving the pub, even though they had words. She had not been in touch with him either. He stated that when he took Putin out first thing in the morning, the weather was misty and damp, with fine rain. He said they walked down by the wall, his usual route. Then the dog stopped and wouldn’t come away from the wall. He was sniffing around. Billy said he got annoyed with Putin because he wouldn’t move. He said he wondered if he had found a dead animal or something. He said it only took him a few more minutes to make the gruesome discovery. Because he didn’t have his phone on him, he had to rush home to phone the police. Then he waited outside, so he could show them where the body was.”

  “So, you believe Billy did it?” I said.

  “What did it for Billy was him lighting a fire in his back garden the morning of the discovery of the body. When questioned about it, he said it was something he often did but none of his neighbours have corroborated that. Also, a parka coat he always wore is missing. He can’t explain where it is. He said he might have left it in the pub.”

  “There’s a lot of people lighting fires just lately,” I murmured under my breath.

  “Sorry, what did you say, Jack?”

  “Oh, nothing. Are there any forensics back yet?”

  “No remnants of his jacket were found in the back garden. His DNA was on the body, but it would be, given his involvement with Carmen. No DNA off anyone unknown to Carmen was found at the scene or on her person. So again, this points to someone she knew. Also, the couple were known to fight from time to time.”

  “It still seems to be circumstantial.” I looked at Mike, the corners of my mouth turned downwards. He shrugged his shoulders.

  “The CPS seemed satisfied.” I raised my eyebrows. There must be some wallies worked in the Crown Prosecutor’s office then. I kept my thoughts to myself, but I didn’t agree with their findings. There seemed to me to be a lot of unanswered questions.

  Chapter 31

  Sophie

  There would be no sightseeing on this trip to London. This was purely a duty call on my part. Steph was kept in hospital for two more days after I arrived. Although I stayed at her place, I hardly saw Tim. He spent most of his time at the hospital. They both took it badly which wasn’t surprising. They planned on having a small burial service for the baby. The hospital arranged everything. Steph asked if I wanted to see the baby. I was squeamish about that sort of thing, so I reneged. Dad wasn’t well enough to come down for the service. He was bad with his bronchitis again. So, it was just us three and two of Steph’s closest friends who attended. Tim and I both picked a poem to read out, and it was a lovely little service. We cried together, comforting each other in a circle outside the chapel.

  Steph walked around in a daze after the funeral. I couldn’t get through to her. The saddest part was walking into the nursery they set up for the baby. Tim must have spent hours decorating and painting and putting up murals. I had my own grief to deal with, but it was nothing compared to theirs. After a few days, I found it difficult to be around them. They grieved in different ways. Tim tried to be strong. He put on a brave face and talked about the future whereas Steph wasn’t coming to terms with it at all. She looked vacant most of the time. That expression — the lights are on, but no one’s home came to mind.

  I was glad to go home. The whole experience was distressing, and it left me feeling low. I suggested Steph come up and stay with us to give her a break from their usual scene. I was surprised when two weeks later, she took me up on the offer and arrived on my doorstep. She drove up, which I didn’t think was wise, given her zombie state. It was against doctor’s orders as she was on medication but there was no telling Steph once she set her mind on something.

  My flat went from me living alone to sharing a bathroom with two other adults, not good, but that was the price to pay for being accommodating. I told Steph she could stay as long as she wanted. I hadn’t given much thought to the practicalities of the living and sleeping arrangements. She’d been staying for over a week on a camp bed in the lounge with no talk of going home. I was surprised at Steph putting up with a camp bed, as she was used to the finer things in life, but this was a different Steph than I’d seen before. Her mood hadn’t improved much. I didn’t know how to approach the subject tactfully. Steph and I had the knack of rubbing each other up the wrong way and I didn’t want to fall out with her, the state her mind was right now.

  “Do you want to come to the women’s centre and help out for a day or two?” I asked her. “You could make the teas or something and I’m certain the company would do you good, rather than stay here on your own all day?”

  Steph didn’t answer. She looked over at Jack. I smiled, raising my eyebrows.

  “I think that would be a great idea, Steph. You could even come and spend a day or two with me if you felt up to it,” he said.

  “I’ll think about it.” That was as good as we were going to get. I couldn’t believe how different Steph was. Normally, she’d be swanning around my home, taking over, bossing me about, doing the housework, commenting on the mess, but her stillborn baby had affected her. Her personality changed overnight. I preferred this quieter, calmer version but I wouldn’t dare tell her that and I knew it came at a price.

  I thought I was being a martyr for putting up with Jack and Steph. I didn’t know who was worse. Jack seemed constantly down, and Steph’s moods ranged from very low to bordering on the manic. I prayed she’d go home soon. My tolerance levels took a battering. I l
ost patience myself and became snappy. I thought about taking them on a night out. So far, I’d suggested a meal, the cinema or bowling but got no takers. The way things were going, I’d be taking them mountaineering just to push them both off a cliff.

  Steph finally decided to come into work with me. We were silent in the car going in. Just before we arrived, I turned to her.

  “I’d value your opinion about Karen. I’m sure she’s got it in for me.” Steph gave me a half smile and nodded.

  By lunchtime, Steph’s personality had transformed back into the Steph I knew. I couldn’t believe the difference in her. It was like a magic force had come and put her back to her old self. Why didn’t I think of this sooner? I walked in on Steph talking to some of the clients who were offloading their issues whilst stood in the kitchen waiting for a brew. It took her out of herself, away from her own problems.

  Christine, Louie’s mum was in for a counselling session, so I introduced her to Steph. They hit it off immediately. Maybe it was the similarities around their losses. By the end of the day, Steph’s face beamed. As we left the office, she told me she planned to meet up with Christine for a coffee the following day. Now all I needed to do was to find a way of working the same magic on Jack.

  I drove home with Steph and we pulled up outside my flat. I put the car into neutral and yanked up the handbrake. We both stared out the window.

  “What the hell!” Steph’s head leaned forward.

  “Your car was parked here when we left, wasn’t it?”

  “Too right. Tell me Jack’s not moved it.” I frowned.

  “I can’t see him doing that.” We both jumped out of my car and ran to the empty space where Steph’s vehicle had been. With my hands on my hips, I scanned up and down the road. I even set off walking looking for the BMW. I wondered if we had it wrong. It couldn’t have disappeared. I thought I was losing my marbles, but Steph knew where she left it and our sanity wasn’t in question. Jack wasn’t home yet. I couldn’t see him taking it or moving it, but he was our only hope it hadn’t been stolen. I rang him.

  “No, I haven’t been anywhere near,” he said.

  “Wait a minute,” I said to him, “Steph’s trying to say something. What is it, Steph?”

  “I think I’ve got one of those tracking device thingies on it.”

  “Did you hear that, Jack? We might be in luck. Steph has a tracking device on her car, she thinks.”

  “Okay, I’m on my way. I’ll be there in five minutes. Hang on until I arrive.” I ended the call and turned to Steph.

  “So, how does it work, Steph?”

  “I’m not sure. I’ll phone Tim and find out.” Steph came off the phone from Tim just as Jack pulled up.

  “I have an app, apparently.”

  “Here, let me.” Jack took Steph’s phone off her and scrolled through.

  “Look, it’s picked it up. It’s not that far away.”

  “Wow, this is exciting,” I said. Jack glared at me.

  “I think I should go alone to get it. We don’t know who these morons are who have taken it.”

  “I’m coming,” Steph said. “It’s my car.”

  “And I’m coming, too,” I said. Jack shook his head. I loved it how the two of us could gang up on him.

  “Well, we must be careful.”

  “We’ll need Steph’s phone to track it, so I’ll phone the police on mine.” We climbed into Jack’s car.

  The police advised us not to get involved. They said they’d be sending someone over. I knew neither Jack nor Steph would listen to that. We followed the signal. It brought us to a small garage and car sales forecourt just off Rochdale Road. We slowed down before coming to a stop. I was restless to do something. We sat in the car across the road from the premises.

  “Can anyone see Steph’s BMW?” I asked.

  “Sshh. Let’s sit here and wait and watch for a minute,” Jack said with his eyes peeled firmly on the forecourt and garage.

  “How about if we pretend to buy? We could get a better look then.” Jack looked like he was considering my suggestion.

  “Okay, Sophie, we’ll do that. Steph and I will walk up as customers. Can you see if you can snoop around the back?” That sounded precarious.

  “What if I get caught?”

  “Look, you were the one who wanted to come,” he snapped. “You’ll have to be careful and not get caught.” My lower lip drooped, and I bowed my head.

  “Whoa, wait a minute.” Jack put his hand over my body to stop me getting out of his car. “Look what we have here.” I glanced up and saw Dom Duggan coming out of the office talking to a bald man on the forecourt. Next thing, another man came out shouting something.

  “Bingo, if it isn’t my favourite Russian with my bestie. This is getting very interesting.”

  Chapter 32

  Jack

  I had no idea how long the police would take to get there but I wasn’t happy with the girls staying around now I’d seen those two bruisers. I watched as Dom threw a cigarette butt to the floor. Vladimir chatted to the car salesman. He held a clipboard and the bald guy popped the spectacles off his forehead and flicked through sheets of paper. They both nodded. A customer arrived on the scene, a young man in his twenties who pointed to a red Audi. The bald salesman went off with him to view it.

  I checked my watch. Ten minutes we’d been there watching and waiting. I took out my binoculars for a closer look. One of the mechanics walked out onto the forecourt. He smoothed back his thinning hair and licked his cracked lips. Rubbing his hands together, he walked up to Vladimir. They meandered through the lot. I turned my attention to the customer and baldie. The younger man peered through car windows as he searched around for a vehicle.

  There was a silver-grey Mercedes that I wouldn’t have minded having a look at myself, but it was neither appropriate nor in my price range. What I wouldn’t give to sit behind the wheel and take control of such a beauty. I would sneer as I drove past my critics with that German engineering to support me. I sighed.

  “I will take a walk to get a closer look,” I said as Sophie grabbed hold of my arm.

  “Give it five more minutes to see if the police arrive or the tracking company.” She was right of course but I was getting agitated. I fiddled about, changing channels on the car radio. Frowning, I realised the noise wasn’t music but the approaching sirens of a police vehicle.

  Three police cars came screeching down the hill. Our knights in shiny white vehicles had arrived. Another car approached. It looked like the tracker company. I would enjoy watching this. The police team didn’t mess about. Within minutes, three men were in handcuffs being led towards the police van. Two other men were brought out of the garage. They two were handcuffed. The young customer bid a hasty retreat.

  This looked more serious than just winding the clock back on a couple of vehicles. I wondered how many of the cars on the forecourt were kosher and how many were stolen. I got out to have a word with one of the police officers. They’d uncovered four other cars in the back being stripped down alongside Steph’s vehicle.

  Some days I got out of bed and everything went wrong. When that happened, I constantly dodged the curve balls. Days like today were just the opposite. Once one thing goes right, then it’s like karma is on my side. My phone rang. It was Barry.

  “Okay, mate. What can I do for you?”

  “I think it’s more what I can do for you, Jack.”

  “You’ve got my full attention.”

  “Good, well, by a stroke of luck I happened to overhear a chance meeting between your Russian guy and a certain prominent Russian businessman in the area.”

  “Give me a clue.”

  “Have you heard of Nikolai Moschovis?”

  “I’ve heard the name. Doesn’t he own Bury football club or something?

  “Yeah, he’s part of a conglomerate that owns the club, yes.”

  “What about him?”

  “He’s invited Vladimir and Dom to be his guests at this Sa
turday’s game. Bit of a coincidence, don’t you think?”

  “Interesting, yeah, but I’m not sure they’ll be able to make it.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Nothing, thanks for that, mate.”

  Even though I was currently seeing Dom being led away by the police, I didn’t think they could keep him detained long. I felt sure he’d be at the match. Watching Bury versus Carlisle wasn’t my idea of a fun afternoon. If it had been Manchester United at Old Trafford that would have been a different matter. This was work, though. I was happy to go along to the division two game to find out what these guys were up to. I phoned Mike to see if he fancied joining me.

  “Why not, I’m sure it’ll be riveting. If we can’t catch any criminals, at least we’ll be entertained.”

  “Careful now Mike. I wouldn’t go as far as saying Bury playing football will be entertaining.” He laughed, and we arranged to meet up that weekend. Being in the police he could automatically get in the executive suite just by showing his police pass. There were still one or two perks with the job.

  Mike phoned me the next day to tell me Dom had been released on bail. He had more escape routes than Houdini. That meant Saturday’s match was still on. I didn’t know if we’d find out anything useful, but it was worth a try.

  Mike and I turned up at Gigg Lane on Saturday. We decided to split up when we arrived at the executive suite. If we were going to do some digging, we’d have more joy separately. The first person I saw when we walked into the lounge was Dom. He spotted me when I went to the bar to order a drink.

  “Alright, Dom. Fancy seeing you here. I thought you were banged up.” I smiled at him as he stood with his party at the side of the bar. He scowled. The motley crew he was with stared at me. “You’ve come up in the world, haven’t you, being entertained by Russian dignitaries?” He frowned.