Close to Home (A DI Mitchell Yorkshire Crime Thriller Book 4)

by Oliver Davies

  Alec glanced down at the photograph of Maddie, and I saw his lips twitch before he looked back up, glaring at me.

  “No comment,” he growled.

  “Mr Banks,” I said as I pressed my lips together. “Refusing to answer our questions isn’t helping you. We’ve got enough evidence pointing to you that you keeping mute isn’t going to save you from anything. Your best bet is to cooperate.”

  He curled his mouth in silent derision and pointedly turned away from me. I was fast getting the idea that Alec had set his mind on being difficult and that we weren’t going to get much of anything out of him.

  Still, I gave it another go. “Did she make you angry, Alec?”

  He twitched, but his gaze was glued to the table, on top of which his cuffed hands were clenched into tight balls.

  I leaned forwards slightly. “You’ve got quite a record, mate. It won’t look good in court. What happened? What did she do to wind you up?”

  “Shut up,” Alec hissed.

  Stephen and I shared a glance. “Did she break all those plates?” Stephen pressed. “Or was that you? What were you arguing about?”

  Alec clenched his teeth, keeping silent though the fraught tension in him was obvious.

  “Did she know about your record?” I asked next. “Would she have stayed with you if she did, do you think?”

  “Do you know where she is now?” Stephen continued when Alec didn’t respond. “Do you know what you did to her?”

  Alec slammed his fists down on the table with a thud and a rattle of metal. Stephen and I pulled backwards, before we all went still. I knew that an officer would be watching on the camera in case Stephen and I needed a hand, but Alec didn’t make an attempt to harm us.

  “Do you love her, Alec?” I asked quietly.

  Alec’s head snapped up, and he glowered at me. An involuntary shiver went down my spine at the look. He opened his mouth, and I tensed, hoping that he was finally going to break his silence, but all he growled out was, “No comment.”

  I exhaled a heavy sigh and sat back in my chair, sliding Maddie’s picture back into the folder. I looked over at Stephen to see if he wanted to try again, but he shook his head.

  I ended the interview and shut down the recorder. Alec, slumped in his chair with his chin tucked down sulkily, looked quietly smug at what he probably perceived as a win against us. I hesitated, thinking of saying something more to him to try to get through to him, before I shook my head and left the room. That man was determined to frustrate us, and I didn’t think talking to him anymore would be anything other than a waste of our time.

  We let the officer on duty know that we completed the interview with Alec before we headed back upstairs.

  “He didn’t even deny it,” Stephen said.

  “I know,” I said darkly. “He’s either smart, knowing how it all looks, or he’s guilty.”

  “Or both,” Stephen said, and I acknowledged that with a nod.

  The rest of the day passed uneventfully as Stephen and I caught up on our paperwork, and I did some further research, hoping to dig up something useful, but I didn’t find out anything we didn’t already know.

  I made my way home in the dull dusk, the grey rain and thick clouds making it feel far later than it actually was. Running felt like a relief after the day’s lack of progress. At least with running, I knew that every step I took, the effort I put into each stride, brought me closer to my goal. None of my energy was wasted, unlike in police work, where taking a wrong turn in the investigation could lead to hours or days of wasted time, effort, and resources. Still, both aspects of my life held one thing in common; the emotional reward of success when that distant goal was finally reached, and it was that kick I always strived for.

  I arrived back at the block of flats panting hard, having pushed myself into a hard sprint at the end. Hands on my knees, I caught my breath, wincing slightly at the ache in my shins. I’d never before suffered from shin splints, and it was bad luck to get it now. It was the hard surfaces of city running, compared to the softer paths of the hill running I’d always done in the past, plus the higher amount of running I’d been doing recently as I worked towards being ready for the Yorkshire Marathon.

  I stretched out my sore legs before letting myself into the building, walking slowly up the stairs as my shins sparked with pain. My mind was on how I could ice the injury once I got back to my flat when I saw the small glimmer on the stairs, almost entirely hidden in the corner. I hesitated, tilting my head as I looked down at it. I thought it was probably nothing more interesting than a piece of plastic or shiny foil, but it didn’t look quite right, and my curiosity made me crouch down.

  It was an earring, a small, silver thing with a strange shape to it, missing its clasp. I pinched it between my fingers and straightened up again with a wince as I considered it. It looked vaguely art deco, with ridges etched into the flat silver surface, which was mostly round, though the edges were irregular and oddly sharp. It most likely belonged to someone who lived in the apartment, and it looked nice enough that they might be missing it, too. I resolved to ask around as I started back up the stairs before a different idea occurred to me, and I frowned.

  The earring could belong to Maddie, I thought. It might’ve fallen from her ear when she fell down the stairs. I closed my hand around the stud, keeping it safe as I made my way up to flat. Tomorrow, I’d go to the hospital and, if it was Maddie’s, return it to her.

  Seven

  Driving to work the next morning felt like admitting defeat, but I told myself that it was more about visiting Maddie in the hospital than my aching shins. I’d iced them thoroughly the night before, but I still winced as I got out of my car in the hospital car park and made my way over to the front desk.

  Visiting hours weren’t quite open yet, and I had to wait ten minutes or so before I was let in. I took advantage of the delay to visit the shop, buying a card and a small teddy bear. I wrote the card, signing it as being from all of us at Hewford station, and by then the staff allowed me to head up to her room.

  I’d looked around the waiting room while I was writing the card, but I’d not seen Maddie’s parents or younger sister, somewhat to my disappointment, though it wasn’t a big surprise. It was a weekday and no doubt Maddie’s parents couldn’t get the time off to stay by her bedside. They’d visit after the workday ended.

  Still, I’d been hoping that they’d be there so I could ask them whether the earring I’d found belonged to Maddie. Since I was already here, I went into her room, setting the card and teddy bear on the side, where there was a growing collection of gifts and a fresh bunch of flowers. Now that Maddie’s identity was known, no doubt her parents had let her extended family and friends know, and I smiled slightly, glad that Maddie had people who cared for her.

  Turning to look at Maddie’s pale face made my smile fade away. Her loved ones would be the ones to suffer if Maddie never woke up, or if she never recovered fully from her fall. Taking the earring out of my pocket, where I’d stowed it in an old matchbox, I wondered about just leaving it on the side. But while I was standing there, I noticed that Maddie’s ears didn’t look to be pierced at all. Taking a step closer confirmed my thoughts, and I raised my eyebrows, tucking the earring away again with a mental shrug.

  It must belong to someone in the apartment, then.

  Regardless, I was glad to have visited. It reminded me of what pain had been caused, and how crucial it was that we discovered the truth and the guilty punished for what they’d done.

  My thoughts moved back to Alec and his stubborn, angry silence in the station, my face darkening in a frown tight enough to give me the beginnings of a headache by the time I’d walked back out of the hospital and into my car. The traffic had worsened in the time I’d spent with Maddie, and it made me late for work, leaving me tapping my fingers impatiently on the steering wheel.

  “Not like you to be late,” Stephen said as soon as I turned up.

  I shot him a quelling
look. “Christ, let me a cuppa before you start, will you?”

  “Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed,” Stephen said as I was walking away towards the break room.

  I rolled my eyes and focused on the task of making an appropriately lethal cup of coffee, with enough caffeine to send an elephant bouncing off the walls. Stephen didn’t ask again why I’d been late, but I could feel his curiosity in his silence, and I eventually sighed.

  “I went to visit Maddie Packham,” I said, before explaining how I’d found the unusual earring on the stairs and assumed it belonged to her.

  “Did you bump into her family?” Stephen asked.

  I shook my head. “They’d left a bunch of gifts behind, though, and done Maddie’s hair all nicely.”

  “How was she?” Stephen pulled a sympathetic expression.

  “She looked the same to me, but what do I know?” I shrugged helplessly. “The longer she goes without waking up, though...” I trailed off.

  “Yeah,” Stephen nodded. “Though, it’s only been, what, four days now? She’s got some time yet. She’s healing from a lot.”

  “Aye, you’re right,” I agreed.

  We were interrupted by my desk phone ringing suddenly, and I picked it up.

  “DCI Mitchell speaking.”

  “Sir, we’ve got a woman by the name of Eloise Banks down here, wanting to speak to you.”

  I could hear the frayed edge to the receptionist’s voice and guessed that Eloise had been more than insistent in her demands to see me.

  “I’ll be right down,” I assured her.

  “Thank you, sir.”

  Stephen was looking at me curiously. “What was that about?” he asked as I was standing up, pulling my jacket on.

  “Eloise Banks is downstairs, demanding to talk to me. You coming?” I cracked a tight smile as I added, “I might need back-up.”

  “Today has been boring so far,” he said wryly. “A small fistfight would be just what we need to spice things up.”

  “Before ten o’clock in the morning?” I scoffed. “Nope. Absolutely not.”

  “What, it has to be after lunch before anyone can throw hands?” Stephen laughed. “I’ll remember to remind any perps of that if they want to take a swing at you.”

  “Gee, thanks,” I said as we climbed into the lift, giving him a light shove.

  Stephen had looked slightly surprised when I followed him over to the lift rather than taking the stairs. “You getting lazy in your old age?” was what he said as the lift descended with a jerk.

  “You’re the dinosaur ‘round here,” I huffed.

  “Avoiding the question, Mitch,” Stephen said, frowning slightly.

  The lift reaching the ground floor cut the conversation short, to my slight relief, and I strode out, heading for reception.

  Eloise wasn’t difficult to spot. She was wearing an electric blue satin blouse over a white skirt, and she spun on her impressively tall heels when Stephen and I arrived.

  “I demand to see Alec,” she snapped, glaring at both of us. I could see the familial resemblance when they were angry, both of them looked furious enough to spit, their blue eyes cold and scheming.

  “I’m afraid that’s not possible-”

  “He hasn’t done anything wrong!” she yelled.

  “Ms Banks,” I said firmly, “your brother is currently being investigated. He’ll stay here until we see whether we’ve got enough evidence to charge him, or if he’s being released. If we charge him, we’ll move him to a local prison to wait for his court date.”

  “You tricked me,” she hissed. “You didn’t tell me it was Alec you were investigating- framing for something he didn’t do! That cow, Maddie, probably fell over her own stupid feet!”

  “Ms Banks,” I snapped, losing my patience now that she was insulting Maddie. “You can see yourself out now, or we can have security escort you.”

  She pulled back, her snarling expression smoothing over. The hate in her gaze, however, didn’t lessen one bit and the hairs at the back of my neck prickled as she stared silently at me.

  “My brother did not hurt that woman,” she said, crisp as broken ice. “He didn’t touch her, do you hear me?”

  I hesitated, wondering whether it would be best to escort Eloise out before she lost control of her anger again, or whether she might actually have some useful information for us. I glanced over at Stephen, but he only raised his eyebrows, deferring to me.

  “If you want to talk about this further,” I said after a moment, “and you’ll keep your temper, you can come through to an interview room.”

  Considering how reluctant she’d been to talk to us last time, I expected her to refuse, but after a heavy pause, she gave me a sharp nod.

  “Fine,” Eloise said, holding her handbag tightly in front of her. She still looked like she wanted to hit me over the head with it, but she seemed to have gotten control of herself otherwise.

  I gestured for her to follow me over to a free interview room and Stephen fell in behind, no doubt to keep an eye on her. Physically, she didn’t look like someone we’d struggle to best in a fight, but there was a look in the eyes of both Banks siblings that told me not to underestimate either of them.

  Inside the interview room, Eloise elegantly took a seat, crossing her legs and holding herself rigidly upright. Setting up the recording machine was the work of a few seconds, and then there was a brief, heavy silence.

  “What makes you think it couldn’t have been Alec?” I asked, deciding that a direct approach might be best this time.

  “He made a mistake,” she said tightly, her lips pressed together. “He was young and stupid, and he’s atoned for it. He wouldn’t repeat such idiocy now.”

  I looked at her flatly, unimpressed. “So your proof of his innocence is just your opinion, your view of his character? That doesn’t stand up too much, Ms Banks, considering you’re his sister.”

  She visibly stiffened. “He liked that girl,” she snapped. “Why would he push her? It’s ridiculous. This is nothing more lazy police work, detective-”

  I put a hand, and when that didn’t stop her, I spoke over her, “If you’ve got nothing to offer us,” I said firmly, “other than opinions and insults, we’ll end this here. We’ve got better things to be doing.”

  Eloise gripped the edge of the table, her fingers white under the force of her anger.

  “Look,” she snapped, leaning forwards, “I didn’t think much of the cow. She’s ignorant and irritating, but Alec liked her, do you hear me? Maddie was always perfectly happy when we all met for dinner, which we did often. That girl wasn’t abused, are we clear?”

  “We’re not saying she necessarily was abused,” I said, keeping my voice even, “but Alec has a history of explosive violence-”

  “How do you know she didn’t simply trip, hm?” Eloise demanded. “It’s no wonder Alec didn’t want to linger when you’re so keen to pin this on him.”

  “We have enough evidence to suggest that it wasn’t an accident.”

  Eloise narrowed her eyes at me, before she abruptly sat back, looking tired and frustrated. “If someone pushed Maddie, it wasn’t Alec.”

  “Who would it be, then?” I asked, humouring her.

  Eloise frowned and for the first time since she’d arrived, seemed to be avoiding my gaze. “That’s what you’re paid to discover, isn’t it?” she said coldly.

  I was silent for a long moment, getting the feeling that she knew more than she was saying, but Eloise didn’t fill the quiet.

  “Did Maddie know about Alec’s history?” I asked.

  “We’re done here.” Eloise rolled her eyes, and her chair scraped noisily against the floor as she got to her feet. “I’ve had quite enough of you slandering my brother. I’ll be accessing legal counsel, detective. I have no intention of letting you drag my brother down over this without a fight.”

  She tugged the stiff door open and strode out, her heels clicking against the floor as she stormed away.r />
  I sighed, shutting off the recorder. “Well,” I laced my hands together, “that wasn’t particularly helpful.”

  Stephen gave a small chuckle. “Not particularly,” he agreed, “but she did seem especially determined to defend him.”

  I hummed. “Either it’s sibling loyalty, or she knows something she’s not sharing.”

  Stephen looked at me, surprised. “You think she was hiding something?”

  “It’s possible,” I said with a shrug.

  Stephen and I continued to toss ideas back and forth as we left the room and headed back upstairs.

  “Banks will need to be charged with something soon,” Stephen pointed out, sighing as he sat back down in his desk chair. The chairs in the interview room were hard and apparently designed to make the interviewer as uncomfortable as the interviewee.

  “Aye, he will. I’d say we’re looking fairly good on that front,” I said, rubbing my hand over my jaw. “The CCTV alone of Alec making a run for it is a decent indicator of guilt.”

  “Yeah.” Stephen nodded. “We’ll need a good write-up for Gaskell to sign off.”

  “It’d help if we could confirm the stain in his kitchen as Maddie’s,” I said. “That would prove that she was hurt in his flat.”

  “We’ll just have to hope that his sister doesn’t kick up a fuss.”

  “Aye.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Though if our evidence is solid enough, we’ll be fine. Good policing can stand up to scrutiny.”

  “Obviously.” Stephen rolled his eyes at me. “But you know how legal can wrap things into knots and make the whole godforsaken process take a year when it could’ve been wrapped up in a week.”

  I waved a hand at him. “Alright, alright, point made. I’ll see if the lab has anything for us yet, okay? Concrete evidence like that would make it indisputable.”

  “That’s the only reason you want to hit up the lab?” Stephen gave me a crooked smile. “Nothing to do with a tall blonde?”

  “Oh hell, shut up, will you?” I muttered, walking away before he could rib me further. I heard his pleased chuckle even as I made my way over to the lab, my shins aching. I paused outside the door of the lab to brace my hand against the door frame and rub at my leg, grimacing at the pain.