“How long ago?” Evans asked.
“About ten minutes,” the neighbour said. “He was leaving when I entered the building. Seemed like he was in an odd mood?”
“An odd mood?”
“Yeah. Paul’s usually okay but I said ‘hello’ and he just blanked me and stormed out. He had a fierce expression on his face like something had made him mad.”
“Did you see which way he went?”
“He ran to his car and I went inside. I didn’t see him drive off.”
“We must find Tom before Paul does anything stupid,” Evans said to Marsh as they rushed to the car.
Chapter 38
“This is nice,” Turnbull said as she drove up the drive. “Not the sort of place you’d expect to find members of a family who’ve fallen on hard times.”
“This must be their equivalent of poverty,” Curtis replied.
“What d’you reckon, two million?”
Curtis took out his phone and after frantic finger work announced, “Two point seven to be precise. There’s a ‘for sale’ sign near the gates.” He showed Turnbull the phone displaying the estate agent’s picture of the house. The image on the website was identical to the scene in front of them as they neared the end of the drive.
It was a classical Georgian style house. The manicured lawn to the side was surrounded by mature trees beyond which the DCs could glimpse the outdoor swimming pool.
Turnbull parked in front of the house and Charlotte’s mother let them in and led them across the hall to a sitting room about twice the size of the CID office. Light streamed through the large windows illuminating the marble fireplace, the hand made furniture and the solid oak flooring.
The mother of the Thorbury children looked younger than either of the DCs had expected. Her offer of tea was politely declined. Turnbull privately deemed her to be ‘well turned out’. Had she been a friend, the young officer would have said she liked her hair although the short blonde bob styling did suggest a forlorn desire to recover lost youth.
“Why are you so interested in Eddie?” Mrs Thorbury asked.
“It’s like I explained on the phone, we believe he knew at least one of the victims in the case we’re investigating and he may be able to help us,” Turnbull replied.
“Eddie isn’t very good at keeping in touch. As far as I know, he’s still in Belgium.”
“Do you have an address or phone number?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“Who does he work for?”
“He didn’t say.”
“He never gave you contact details or told you anything about his job?” Curtis asked, unable to hide his scepticism.
“Eddie has always been quite remote.”
“We understand Eddie was expelled from college. Charlotte said she didn’t know why. Do you?”
“Is this relevant to your enquiry?”
“I think we need to know,” Curtis said.
“Very well. Eddie doesn’t have a job in Belgium. He’s a patient at a private clinic in Brussels.”
“What sort of clinic?” Turnbull asked.
“He’s receiving treatment for drug addiction. That was why he had to leave the academy.”
“They expelled him because he was using drugs?”
“Yes. He left just after Easter as I recall.”
“Was there any more to it than drug use?”
“That’s all they told me. I wanted to keep it as quiet as I could so I contacted Mila Mertens who was the children’s nanny years ago and asked if she could arrange help for him in Belgium. She got him into the clinic. No one else knows about this.”
“What’s the name of the clinic?”
“Mila has the details. I didn’t need to know. She keeps me up to date on Eddie’s progress.”
“When did you last hear from her?”
“A few weeks ago. Eddie’s treatment is going well.”
“Could you give us contact details for Mila? It seems she’s the only one who can put us in touch with Eddie,” Curtis asked. He was aware that Mila was equally important to the investigation but their knowledge of her recent presence in Thorbury was not to be revealed.
“I’ll get them for you,” Mrs Thorbury said. She left the room but returned quickly and handed Curtis a note with Mila Mertens’ address and landline number.
“Do you have Mila’s mobile number?” Curtis asked.
“I’m afraid not.”
“How long is it since Eddie lived here?”
“He hasn’t lived here permanently since he started at the academy. He came back occasionally during his time there.”
“Did you ever meet any of his friends?”
“Not since he left school.”
“So you didn’t know either of the Gilbert brothers?”
“No. They’re the murder victims aren’t they? One of them was at university with Charlotte. Did you say Eddie knew one of them?”
“Yes. He may have met them both,” Curtis replied.
“And you think Eddie can assist your enquiries?”
“We have to cover every possibility. Anyone who knew the victims may be able to help us,” Turnbull explained, deliberately downplaying Eddie’s potential importance to the investigation. “Our enquiries won’t disrupt his treatment,” she added.
“I hope that’s true. Eddie has been foolish but he’ll be fine when he’s back on track.”
“Was Mila closer to Eddie than either Charlotte or Tom?” Turnbull asked.
“I wasn’t aware that Mila had a favourite. Why do you ask?”
“She helped him long after her duties as a nanny had ended.”
“She’s become a friend of the family after years of service. Her willingness to help was no surprise.”
“I noticed the ‘for sale’ sign outside,” Curtis said.
“I’m downsizing. This is the house my father-in-law bought when the family left Thorbury Hall. It came to my husband when his father passed away shortly after I married into the family.”
“But you own it now?” Curtis asked.
“I assume you’re asking out of interest. It can’t be relevant to your enquiry.”
“I guess I was being nosy. I beg your pardon.”
“I have nothing to hide,” Louise Thorbury stated. “The house was jointly owned after the divorce but I continued to live here with Charlotte and Eddie. Tom went to live with his father in Thorbury. When Arthur died, I was surprised to find that he’d left his share to me. It’s a lovely house but it’s much too big for me now. Eddie’s unlikely to return to the fold and Charlotte needs her own place. If I can find a buyer for close to the asking price, I’ll be able to help them both and find a more suitable house for myself. It will be the last of the Thorbury money.”
“Will Tom get anything?” Curtis asked, continuing to pry.
“Tom’s doing well enough without any help from me. I hear even less from Tom than I do from Eddie.”
“Well thanks for your time Mrs Thorbury. We may need to contact you again as the investigation develops,” Curtis said.
Louise Thorbury showed the DCs out. They were walking back to the car when a silver Mercedes C Class coupé flew up the drive and screeched to a halt in front of them, scattering gravel in all directions.
“I think it’s Charlotte,” Turnbull said.
The door of the Mercedes opened and Charlotte Thorbury emerged in time to intercept the two officers.
“You again,” Charlotte said to the DCs. “To what do we own this pleasure?”
“Your mother has been assisting us Charlotte,” Turnbull replied.
“What did she tell you?” Charlotte demanded.
“We can’t say. You’ll have to ask your mother,” Turnbull advised as Charlotte scowled at her. “Nice car. Insurance business doing well?”
“At least I’ve got a proper job,” Charlotte snapped.
“In a call centre?” Turnbull responded.
“It’s a foot in the door, copper. And the
car’s nothing special. Some people have family money and class. Shame you don’t.”
Turnbull began to walk towards Charlotte Thorbury but Curtis pulled her back. “Come on Tessa, let’s go,” he said. “We don’t have time for any nonsense.”
Chapter 39
The Inspector’s call to Tom Thorbury’s mobile had gone straight to voicemail. Sandra Peach answered his call to the office. “Tom’s with a client in Redville,” she told Evans. “He didn’t take the car. It’s thirty minutes on the train and their office is next to the station. He’ll be back later this afternoon.”
“Would he have switched off his phone?” Evans asked.
“He doesn’t keep it on in meetings. The client always gets his undivided attention.”
“When do you expect him back?”
“I couldn’t say exactly. He’s got another meeting here at four o’clock. If he remembers, he’ll turn his phone back on when he’s finished at Redville. You could keep trying or leave a message.”
“Has anyone else called to speak to Tom this afternoon?” Evans asked.
“Yes. The last call was from Paul Cahill at the university.”
“How long ago?”
“I’m not sure. Less than an hour.”
“Did you tell him Tom was at Redville?”
“Yes.”
“And did you tell him Tom would be back on the train before four o’clock?”
“Yes. He said he needed to see Tom urgently.”
Evans ended the call. “Tom’s likely to be on his way back from Redville on the train and Paul knows it,” he told Marsh. “You used to live out that way. When’s the next train due at Thorbury Central?”
“Three thirty. They’re every half an hour unless they’ve changed the timetable recently.” The clock on the dashboard told Marsh it was almost three fifteen.
*
Paul was already on the platform waiting for the train when the unmarked police car changed direction and accelerated towards the station. He was at the far end behind the advertising display which hid him from the CCTV camera on the footbridge. Tom Thorbury was likely to be on the next train to arrive at platform three.
Paul didn’t have a plan. He was trusting to fate, hoping everything would fall into place. Justice demanded that it should, that there would be a chance to deliver the payback Thorbury deserved. He thought he was untouchable, thought he could continue the family tradition unhindered by the common herd. At least for the few moments it would take, Tom Thorbury would know he was wrong.
*
Ten minutes later, Marsh found a space in the station car park. The train from Redville was due in just over five minutes.
“Which platform is it?” Evans asked as they rushed from the car.
“As far as I can remember, it’s either two or three. We’ll need to head for the bridge and down the first flight of steps. Follow me.”
Marsh was soon ahead of Evans who, despite his more athletic shape, was unable to keep up with the younger man. Marsh dodged the crowds as he ran through the station concourse and up the steps to the bridge which spanned the platforms. Evans reached the top of the steps in time to see him dart down to platforms two and three.
At the bottom of the steps, Marsh checked the arrivals sign before scanning the platform which was crowded as the train from Redville approached platform three. There was no sign of Paul Cahill but it was impossible to be sure he wasn’t amongst the crowd.
“Is that the Redville train?” Evans asked as he joined Marsh on the platform.
“Yes,” Marsh confirmed.
“If Tom has a meeting at the office at four o’clock he’d have to be on this train to avoid being late and I reckon he’s keen on punctuality. I tried his mobile again when I was on the bridge but it must still be off.”
“I can’t see Paul. But the platform is heaving,” Marsh said. The four carriage train was approaching just ahead of an express which he could see in the distance heading for platform two.
“You look out for Paul,” Evans said, “I’ll watch for Tom coming off the Redville train. We’ll get him off the platform straight away.”
The Redville train stopped. The doors slid open as the express sped towards the opposite platform. Evans and Marsh hurried in the direction of the stationary train as the crowd on the platform moved forward, merging with the disembarking throng.
“There’s Tom,” Evans said. “Do you see Paul?”
“Yes, there!”
Paul was pushing through the crowd. His intention to confront Tom Thorbury was clear but would an intelligent man, in full view of witnesses and CCTV do something which could lead to his incarceration? Forcing Tom Thorbury into the path of the express would have been difficult but not impossible for anyone with sufficient determination.
The oncoming train was seconds away. Marsh rushed towards Paul who was almost within touching distance of Tom Thorbury. A group of exiting passengers blocked Paul’s route, unwittingly protecting his target. Thwarted by the crowd, Paul began to manhandle the people obstructing him. Marsh was able to restrain him before the disruption could escalate. Some of the crowd appeared alarmed but continued on their way.
“You need to come with us Paul,” Evans said as he reached the scene while Tom Thorbury, oblivious to the drama, began to climb the stairs.
Chapter 40
Fuller and Garton had finished their lunch by the time Evans and Marsh arrived at the Anchor with Paul. After the incident at the station, Evans had decided he needed a drink and Marsh had been happy to agree that a quiet corner of the pub was the best location for an informal discussion with Paul.
Evans returned from the bar with an orange juice for Paul and a coke for Marsh. For himself, the strongest bitter was the preferred option. They all sat silently at the table as Evans half emptied his glass.
“You’re lucky no one realised what was happening,” Evans said to Paul. “If we’d arrived any later, I might be charging you with murder.”
“I wasn’t really sure what I was going to do,” Paul said. “I saw the train approaching the opposite platform but even if I’d planned to push him under it, I don’t think it would have been possible. I wasn’t thinking clearly. Like you say, it’s a good job you were there.”
“Why are you so convinced that Tom Thorbury has murdered Carol?” Marsh asked.
“He called me at home this afternoon. He virtually admitted it. He thinks he can do what he likes.”
“That’s what a lunatic might think,” Evans said. “But Tom doesn’t fit the profile. You didn’t see him at the house last night. Someone may have claimed to be Tom but you were drugged and you couldn’t be sure it was his voice. How many times had you spoken to him before?”
“Only once on the phone and once in person.”
“But you could still recognise his voice under the influence of a hypnotic drug?”
Paul was silent, unable to justify his belief in Tom Thorbury’s guilt.
“You’re still suffering from the effects of whatever they put in your drink,” Evans continued.
“The voice in the room mentioned Tom Thorbury but other than that, I don’t know why I was so sure it was him. I may have thought last night was linked to the drugs business after what you told me about Michael Gilbert and his brother.”
“But how does that connect to Tom Thorbury?”
Paul shrugged. “Perhaps his family’s historical link to the opium trade had been playing on my mind. That’s all I can think of.”
“He can’t be held responsible for that,” Evans pointed out. “We know the subway was being used to make illegal drugs but we believe it was Tom’s brother Eddie who rented unit twelve. He’s been identified by the landlord from a photograph. Everything we know about Tom and Eddie makes it highly unlikely they’d be involved together in any enterprise. But I don’t believe what happened last night is anything to do with the drug trade. The subway had been discovered. What could anyone gain from kidnapping and killing one of the
people inadvertently responsible for the discovery?”
“I’ve no idea,” Paul admitted.
“I’m sure last night was Eddie’s work,” Evans continued. “But I believe he wants you to think it was Tom who kidnapped Carol and after your failed attack, it seems obvious why.”
“Does it?”
“Yes. He had what seems like a neat idea but only because it almost worked. Crazy ideas often do.”
“What idea?”
“To use you as an unwitting hit man. Wind you up and point you in the right direction.”
“It certainly is a crazy idea. Why would Tom’s brother want him dead?”
“He’s alleged to hate Tom because of his contempt for the title and if Tom dies before he has an heir, Eddie would be next in line. There’s no financial gain but the title alone would be invaluable to someone who craved the status that went with it.”
“So it was Eddie who called me?”
Before Evans could answer Paul’s question, his mobile rang. He took it out and checked the display. “I think it’s Tessa,” he said to Marsh. “You take it.” He passed the phone to the Sergeant who headed for the entrance as he took the call.
“Yes, I think it was Eddie,” Evans told Paul. “His mother thinks he’s in Belgium but we believe he may be living somewhere in the Thorbury area.”
“And you think Carol is still alive?”
“Yes. Eddie may be keeping her alive until he hears about the death of Tom Thorbury.”
“You mean if I’d killed Tom, Eddie would have killed Carol?”
“Possibly. He wouldn’t need her any more and he couldn’t risk letting her go.”
“But why would he need her alive until Tom had been killed?”
“He’d need a plan B in case the first one failed.”
“And what would that be?”
“An unusual ransom demand perhaps. You kill Tom in exchange for Carol.”
Paul looked at Evans. “If you’re right, he really is crazy. Is he a suspect for the three murders?”
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