Time to Go

by Time to Go (retail) (epub)

  ‘Makes two of us, but don’t think for a second that means we’re friends.’ He tried to wrench his hand away, and she allowed him to. He scrambled to his feet, dressing gown flapping, breathing hard. He pointed at her.

  ‘Get your boss on the phone. I want him here.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because I’ve changed my mind. I’m not working with you bastards for another minute. And I want to make an official complaint about you.’

  Caelan feigned boredom. ‘Really.’

  Ewan came into the room with three mugs in his hands. Mulligan watched him through narrowed eyes.

  ‘I don’t want any fucking tea.’

  ‘It’s coffee,’ Ewan told him. Mulligan’s face reddened further.

  ‘You think you’re so clever, the pair of you. I want to speak to your boss, now.’

  Caelan leant against the wall, held out her phone. ‘It’s ringing.’

  Mulligan snatched it, held it to his ear. ‘This is James Mulligan. Who am I speaking to?’ He listened, face thunderous. ‘Yes, she’s here… Because I told her to ring you. I’m sick of being told what to do, like a fucking schoolkid. And I want to make a complaint about this crazy bitch. She’s tried to break my fingers and shatter my kneecap already. You may as well let the real criminals at me.’

  Ewan shot Caelan a glance, his eyebrows raised. She lifted her shoulders.

  ‘I want to know where my sister is, to see with my own eyes that she’s safe. I don’t believe a word you fuckers say any more.’ A pause as he listened. ‘Fine. I’ll be ready.’ He thrust the phone towards Caelan. ‘He wants to talk to you.’

  She braced herself. ‘Hello?’

  ‘Been having fun?’ Surprisingly, Penrith’s tone was mild.

  ‘Something like that.’

  ‘Why are you doing what Mulligan tells you to?’ Penrith cleared his throat. ‘Though I’m sure you have your reasons.’

  Caelan kept her eyes on Mulligan. ‘There was an incident this evening.’

  His voice sharpened. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘You might want to send someone over to Lucy’s house.’

  ‘Why? You think there’s an immediate threat?’

  ‘Possibly.’ Quickly she told him about the brick, the photograph.

  She heard him muttering, issuing instructions. ‘Right. Get Mulligan in the car, bring him back to Enfield. You can give me all the details when you get here.’ He blew his nose, loudly and at length. ‘This isn’t what we expected, especially on the first night.’

  ‘Join the club,’ Caelan said.

  When he didn’t speak, she waited, expecting an explosion of fury. She heard him sniffing. ‘See you soon,’ was all he said.

  Caelan moved the phone away from her ear, glanced at the screen. Penrith had gone. She looked at Mulligan, who was waiting, hands clenched into fists at his sides.

  ‘We’ve got an appointment,’ she said. ‘You’d better get dressed.’

  10

  Police stations at night always took Caelan back to her days in uniform. The still, gloomy corridors, the noise and bustle of the custody suite. The bellowing, the threats.

  The misery.

  The drive from Greenford had taken about an hour, Mulligan swearing and muttering in the back seat, Ewan sitting beside him, watching his histrionics like an anxious, exhausted parent.

  Caelan swung into the car park, spotting Penrith’s car immediately, Achebe’s too. She reversed into a space, turned off the engine, called Penrith.

  ‘We’re here,’ she told him. ‘How do you want to do this?’

  He didn’t hesitate. ‘Stay where you are. We’ll come to you.’

  Leaning back, she closed her eyes. She’d been ready for bed, but it didn’t look as though they were going to be able to rest any time soon.

  Mulligan bounced in his seat. ‘What are we waiting for?’

  ‘An escort,’ Caelan told him.

  ‘What?’ He turned his head, watching as Penrith and Achebe appeared and walked towards them. ‘Why?’

  ‘Because no one trusts you. Haven’t you figured that out yet?’ Caelan took off her seat belt and opened her window. Penrith stood back, hands in pockets, while Achebe leant in.

  ‘Evening, all.’ He held out a pair of handcuffs. ‘Going to have to ask you to slip into something more uncomfortable, James.’

  Mulligan glowered at him. ‘You’re not serious?’

  Achebe straightened. ‘I’ve now been at work for almost eighteen hours. Do I look like a man who’s in the mood for having a laugh?’

  Penrith gestured towards the building. ‘Shall we?’ he said.

  Inside, the place was quiet. When they reached the custody suite, even the cells were silent. Achebe inclined his head.

  ‘No guests tonight? Everyone around here behaving themselves, for a change?’

  The custody sergeant looked up from his desk. ‘Seems they are. Give it an hour. It won’t last.’

  ‘Never does.’ Achebe kept walking. ‘We’ll be in Interview Four.’

  The sergeant waved a hand. ‘Enjoy.’

  * * *

  The room was bleak and cold. Mulligan sat at the table, Penrith opposite him, while Caelan, Ewan and Achebe remained standing. Mulligan cast his eyes around the room.

  ‘This is cosy, isn’t it?’ He looked up at the video camera mounted high in the corner. ‘Is that recording?’

  No one replied. Mulligan was putting on a convincing show of nonchalance, but Caelan could see he was rattled. Being in the police station again, the slamming doors, the handcuffs, was getting to him. He licked his lips, his right leg jiggling under the table.

  Penrith leant back in his chair, rubbing his eyes. ‘Mr Mulligan, I’m afraid we have bad news.’

  Mulligan stared at him. ‘What do you mean?’

  Caelan wanted to ask the same question, but she kept quiet.

  ‘We sent officers to your sister Lucy’s home in Camden. They arrived forty minutes ago, but I’m afraid she wasn’t there.’ Penrith looked at the ceiling, clearly feeling uncomfortable, or pretending to. Mulligan shot Caelan a glare before focusing again on Penrith. She tried to catch Achebe’s eye, but he was staring resolutely at the far wall. She frowned. Was Penrith winding Mulligan up? She hoped so, because if not and Lucy really had vanished, they were all in the shit, Lucy most of all.

  ‘Well, she’s a student,’ Mulligan said. ‘She’s probably out getting pissed or shagging in a single bed somewhere.’

  ‘Let’s hope so.’ Penrith didn’t sound convinced.

  ‘What are you talking about?’ Mulligan demanded. ‘Where is she?’

  Holding up a hand, Penrith looked sorrowful. ‘We did offer Miss Mulligan more… secure accommodation, but she declined, against our advice.’

  Caelan expected Mulligan to start ranting, but instead he watched Penrith through half-closed eyes, his voice soft, dangerous. ‘I’ll ask you again. Where is she?’

  Ignoring the question, Penrith pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his face. ‘When we spoke to her housemates, they told us Lucy had met a new boyfriend and hadn’t been spending much time at home. We found her handbag, Oyster card and phone on her desk.’

  Mulligan swallowed. ‘Meaning?’

  ‘Meaning,’ Penrith said, ‘wherever she is, she didn’t take several items most people these days wouldn’t ever consider leaving behind.’

  Caelan couldn’t read him, had no way of knowing whether he was being truthful or not. It was easy to underestimate Penrith, with his biscuit crumbs and his badly fitting clothes. How much of it was a front and how much was genuine, Caelan had never been able to say for certain, but she did know that he would never have had a sniff at his current rank if he hadn’t been able to outwit chancers like Mulligan without even trying.

  Mulligan tipped his head to the side, imitated Penrith’s voice. ‘Indicating, without evidence to the contrary, that it’s safe to assume she didn’t leave the premises of her own free will?’ Hi
s own accent resurfaced. ‘That this prick in fact wheedled his way into her life so he could grab her once her guard was down?’

  Penrith nodded. ‘I think we have to consider the possibility.’

  Mulligan was halfway across the table, his cuffed hands reaching for Penrith’s throat, before Achebe reached him, grabbing his shoulders and hauling him back into his chair.

  ‘Behave yourself, or you’ll stay in the cells until you can,’ Achebe told him. Mulligan sat back, panting, his face red. Penrith hadn’t moved, watching Mulligan with disdain.

  ‘Start talking,’ he ordered. His voice and manner had transformed. Gone was the genial, slightly bumbling middle-aged police officer; in his place sat the Commander Ian Penrith Caelan knew and grudgingly respected.

  Mulligan was sullen. ‘Not happening.’

  ‘Not even to save your sister?’ Penrith folded his arms. ‘We’ve no idea where to start looking for her. London’s a big place, James.’

  ‘How do I know she’s actually missing?’ Mulligan set his cuffed hands on the table. ‘How do I know you’re telling me the truth?’

  Penrith sighed. ‘Tim?’

  Achebe nodded, left the room. Caelan didn’t move, though she wanted to follow Achebe and demand to know what was going on.

  No one spoke, Mulligan seething on his side of the table, Penrith happy to sit and fiddle with his phone for a while.

  Achebe returned after a few minutes, a clear evidence bag in his hand. He held it up so they could all see what was inside. A wooden photograph frame, the picture inside obscured by a web of broken glass. Caelan exchanged a glance with Ewan. Broken glass was becoming something of a theme tonight.

  ‘Let me see that,’ Mulligan said. Achebe moved closer, held it out to him. Mulligan peered at the frame, and his shoulders slumped.

  ‘Is it—’ Caelan started to ask him.

  ‘Of course it is,’ Mulligan snapped. Penrith turned in his chair, blinking up at Caelan.

  ‘This is the original of the image that was posted through James’s door tonight,’ she said. ‘Didn’t you say someone had thrown a brick through Lucy’s window too?’

  Penrith nodded. ‘Luckily she was in a lecture at the time.’

  Mulligan sat up straight, eyes wide. ‘What the fuck?’

  ‘When did it happen?’ Caelan asked.

  ‘Last week,’ said Penrith.

  ‘Then they’ve known for a while where she lives, have probably been watching to work out when the room would be empty.’ Caelan was guessing, but she was following Penrith’s lead.

  ‘Why would they give a shit?’ said Mulligan.

  ‘Because they wanted to warn you, not hurt her. Not yet.’ Caelan took a few steps so she stood near Penrith, but slightly behind him, meaning Mulligan had to keep moving his head to focus on whoever was speaking. ‘You obviously didn’t listen.’

  ‘How could I?’ Mulligan tried to run a hand through his hair but was restricted by the handcuffs. ‘I didn’t know about it. She didn’t tell me.’

  ‘You’ve been dealing with some nasty people, James. It can’t be a huge surprise if some of them want you to keep your mouth closed now that we’ve caught you and they’re still out there enjoying their freedom.’ Penrith gave him a smile that was anything but friendly.

  ‘You don’t know who I’ve been dealing with,’ Mulligan told him.

  ‘But we’re hearing a few names.’ Caelan folded her arms. ‘Stefan Harris, Reuben Nash, his brother Nathan?’ She waited a beat. ‘Jolene Townsend?’

  As she’d expected, Mulligan bridled, trying to point a finger at her. ‘She’s nothing to do with this.’

  She smiled at him. ‘But the others are?’

  He ignored her.

  ‘You arranged the murder of Jackson Hobbs, one of the city’s most established drug dealers,’ Caelan went on. ‘Surely you expected repercussions?’

  ‘I wasn’t involved in Hobbs’s death. No one can say otherwise.’ Mulligan sat back, cuffed hands in his lap.

  ‘Ryan Glennister could,’ said Caelan.

  ‘Ryan? You reckon?’ Mulligan chuckled. ‘You’d have to find him first. And then get him to remember what day it is.’

  Penrith turned back to Mulligan. ‘As I said, your sister wasn’t in her room when our officers arrived tonight. The door was locked, but we managed to get inside.’ He held out his phone, and Mulligan peered at the screen. ‘As you can see, the place was a mess. No one in the house heard anything, but there was clearly a struggle.’

  Mulligan’s mouth twisted. ‘Aye, Lucy would have fought,’ he said. ‘She never was one for being pushed around.’

  ‘Tell me who you were working with. If you want us to find your sister, you need to help us,’ Penrith told him.

  ‘What about Stefan Harris?’ Caelan said. Penrith glanced at her, as though irritated she had spoken again. Mulligan shook his head.

  ‘I owe Harris money, but he wouldn’t take it out on Lucy. He’d get his men to give me a battering, no more.’ He jabbed a thumb in Caelan’s direction, looking at Penrith. ‘Hasn’t told you she’s promised to pay him the fifteen grand he’s owed yet either, has she?’

  Penrith didn’t blink. ‘Is it relevant to your sister’s disappearance?’

  ‘Don’t know, do we?’

  ‘Then it doesn’t matter.’

  Mulligan’s knee was still bouncing. ‘Will do when Harris comes looking for it.’

  ‘I’m sure we’ll cope,’ Penrith said. He drummed his fingers on the table. ‘If you owe Stefan Harris money, you must have bought something from him.’

  ‘White,’ Mulligan said. Penrith nodded.

  ‘And what did you sell him?’

  ‘Nothing.’ Mulligan didn’t flinch, kept his eyes on Penrith’s face.

  Penrith inclined his head. ‘You didn’t? Not even a few people?’

  ‘Not even once.’ Mulligan’s cockiness was back, and Caelan wondered why. They knew Mulligan had trafficked people – the two men who had worked for him had said so – but perhaps he was telling the truth about his dealings with Harris. When she remembered all the crimes they believed him guilty of, she asked herself again why she had agreed to work so closely beside him. He represented everything she despised.

  ‘You’re supposed to be helping us find out who’s trafficking people into the area.’ She wanted to grab him by the throat and squeeze. ‘Not being much help so far, are you?’

  ‘Come on, James, we know what you were selling. People who believed they were coming here to start a new life. Didn’t quite work out like that, did it?’ Penrith said.

  ‘Again, I know what you’ve heard. But those two fuckers who worked for me, they were the ones who found the girls and did the talking. They told them what an amazing life they were coming to. I don’t…’ Mulligan gulped. ‘You think I enjoyed it? I’m not a monster. I saw it as giving them an opportunity.’

  Caelan couldn’t help it. ‘An opportunity? A fucking opportunity? Are you kidding me?’

  Mulligan held up his cuffed hands. ‘All right, bad choice of words. It’s a terrible business, I know.’

  ‘Business?’ Caelan couldn’t look at him.

  ‘You want me to tell you the truth?’ Mulligan swallowed again. ‘I’m fucking haunted by it. There were only a couple of shipments…’ Again he raised his hands. ‘Sorry. But that’s what they called them. I played the big man, aye, of course I did. Didn’t want to lose face, but once I was involved, I realised I hated it. There was one girl, they brought her over to my house.’ He nodded at Caelan. ‘The one we’re staying in.’

  ‘I’ll sleep better now, thank you.’ She felt ill.

  ‘Hear me out. She was young, terrified, but already used to having sex with whoever she was ordered to. She went upstairs, undressed. Got into my bed, lay there waiting for me, passive as you like.’ He chewed on his bottom lip. ‘She looked… I didn’t… I couldn’t. She lives in Glasgow now. I found her a job with one of my cousins – my real cousins. She’s tra
ining to be a chef.’ He didn’t look at them, his face crimson.

  ‘Who brought her?’ Penrith asked.

  Mulligan’s head snapped up. ‘What?’

  ‘You said “they” brought her to your house. Who did?’

  ‘Fuck’s sake. Does it matter?’

  ‘It does, because this is why we’re here. I’m sorry if we haven’t been clear. You’re giving us cooperation and information in exchange for a lighter prison sentence. We’ve established that, haven’t we?’ Penrith sniffed.

  ‘I don’t know who brought her, all right? The doorbell rang, and there she was. Mine for the night, because I’d done whoever owned her a favour.’

  ‘What favour?’ Penrith wanted to know.

  ‘We’d agreed a deal. I was going to be one of their suppliers, give them a discount. They needed a fair bit of gear to keep the women sweet.’ Mulligan looked at Caelan to see if she was going to react. He was disappointed.

  ‘Then you know who it was,’ was all she said. He made a noise of impatience.

  ‘No, I don’t. No names, no strings. I was given an address, some empty house. A squat. I knocked on the front door, and a hand reached out, gave me a packet of cash. Took the gear, and I was away home. We didn’t say a word to each other. Next thing I know, I get a text telling me there’s a present on the way. Mine to do what I wanted with, then sell on. Bit of a bonus from her owner, I suppose.’

  ‘Her owner?’ It was the first time Tim Achebe had spoken since he’d come back into the room, and his disgust was clear.

  Mulligan turned to look at him. ‘That’s what I said.’

  ‘Wasn’t this “owner” a little pissed off when she disappeared off to an actual new life in Glasgow?’ Achebe folded his arms.

  Mulligan shook his head. ‘Not when I paid the going rate. I replied to the text saying I’d had such a good time, I wanted to keep her. I was given a price, took the cash to the same squat.’

  ‘How much?’

  Mulligan glanced at Achebe as he asked the question. ‘Twenty grand.’

  ‘The price of a life. Fuck.’ Achebe turned away, and Mulligan stared at the floor. Caelan wondered if his shame was real. She doubted it.