Greco peered over his shoulder. “From the south. It could be our lorry. See if they can match the GPS location to a camera in the area. We need to know if whoever she rang is in a Greysons’ lorry.”
Speedy was on the phone again. “They’ve seen it, sir. It’s one of Greysons. There are two people in the cab and they are heading north. They have been traced back to Cannock services, where the call was made. We’re getting the CCTV from there too.”
“In the meantime, don’t lose them.”
Greco wanted to know just who Ava had rung. He called out to Speedy, “The owner of that phone. It’s urgent.”
Speedy spent the next few minutes on his phone and computer. “The mobile belongs to a Vasili Pakulski,” he told Greco. “We have nothing on him.”
“Contact Greysons. Find out if he is an employee there.”
If there was a consignment of drugs on board, that could be what Ava was after. Hence the call.
“He’s new, sir.” Speedy relayed the information as he heard it. “The man has been on a run to Warsaw with a George Potts. It’s Pakulski’s first trip. Ava Whitton hired him just this week.”
“Where does he live?”
“They are checking,” Speedy replied. “Ah, Crompton Street, Gorton.”
“One of Barton’s?”
Speedy nodded. “I’m afraid so, sir.”
“Get round there,” Greco told Speedy. “Find out about the man. It is probable that Barton has something on him. Get one of his family to talk to you.”
“The lorry, sir!” Joel called. “It’s pulled off the motorway. It’s heading off in the wrong direction. I thought it was going back to base on the Quays. The way it’s going will take it into deepest Cheshire.”
Greco studied the map and pointed. “Ava Whitton is in that lorry. Look at where they are headed — the site of that pop festival last summer.”
* * *
“Can I use your phone?” Ava asked Vasili. “It’s possible that the police are monitoring my calls.”
He handed it to her without demur. “Where are we?”
“This is where Barton killed my brother, Tomasz. Fitting, don’t you think, that Barton should get his here?”
Vasili said nothing. His time with Potts had been bad enough, but this could be worse. He didn’t know what Ava had in mind, but he could not sit by and watch her kill Barton in cold blood. The only positive thing was that at least he could communicate with her.
She put the mobile on loudspeaker, nodded at Vasili and tapped in Barton’s number.
“Don’t speak — listen.” Her voice was firm, authoritative. “Your consignment is in my care. If you want it back, you must do as I say.”
Several seconds of silence followed. Barton would not be expecting this, Vasili knew. He would be livid at being tricked this way.
Then Barton spoke. “You will follow the plan as arranged, Ava. I have warned you once. Deviate and I will kill you.”
“No. The rules are out the window, Barton. I dictate what happens now. You will follow my instructions to the letter. Keep your phone line free. I will call again.”
Ava took her rucksack from the floor of the cab. “Thank you, Vasili. You have been a great help to me.” She rummaged in the bag and held out a bundle of notes to him. “There is at least ten thousand there. Take it.”
They had parked up in a pull-in beside the field. “Just down that path is the main road. A few metres on, there is a village with a bus stop. You can get into Manchester from there. Go. Don’t look back, and do not tell anyone what went on today.”
Vasili was both surprised and relieved. He could hardly believe that he would be allowed to simply walk away. “Will you be alright? What will you do?”
“Never mind about me. I will be fine. Go, Vasili. Take your family and find somewhere else to live. Do it quickly. Get as far away from Barton’s influence as you can. But one more favour.” She gave him a rare smile. “Leave me your phone.”
Vasili nodded, gathered up his things, and stuffed the money in his bag. He got out of the cab and made for the path.
* * *
Ava watched him go. Once he was out of sight, it was time for phase two.
Ava had written the number on the inside of her arm. She had kept it safe for months. The last thing she’d done before leaving her house was to copy it down. Worried that she might become parted from her belongings, Ava had decided that her own skin was the safest place.
She pressed the keys on Vasili’s mobile slowly. This was it. There was no going back. Once she spoke to the man who would answer, she had sealed her fate.
“DI Grant Chambers, please.” These few words, spoken in a faltering voice, would change her life forever.
Chapter 32
“My father is working,” Zosia Pakulski told Speedy.
“Do you know when he will be back?”
The young girl shook her head.
“Can I come in? Perhaps speak to your mother?” Speedy asked.
“My mother does not speak much English. And I already told you, my father isn’t here. Do you want to speak to Elena? She is my older sister.”
Speedy had been kept standing on the front doorstep. It was a miserable part of town, rundown, and even more dismal in the rain. There were slates missing off the roof and the window frames badly needing replacing. The house must be damp and cold. Speedy could not understand how Barton got away with it. He had to have someone on the local council in his pocket — that was how.
The girl who came out looked like her sister, only older and taller.
“You are the police?” Elena said.
Speedy smiled. “Yes. I wanted a word with your father.”
“Zosia already told you, he isn’t here. Can I help?”
“He changed his job recently. Went to work for Greysons. Do you have any idea why?”
The girl gave Speedy an odd look. “You are really police? This is not some trick to make us slip up?”
“No, I’m definitely police.” He handed her his warrant card. “We are investigating three murders as well as drug trafficking,” he told the girl.
Elena shook her head. “My father is not mixed up in anything like that! He could not kill, and he hates drugs.”
“He may still know things that will help us. Do you know how he got the job with Greysons?”
“Our landlord, Mr Barton, was about to throw us out. We had men at the door,” she told him. “I know a young woman. She helps at the community centre. She got him the job. Papa works for Greysons, does as he’s told and we get to stay.”
“Not so simple, I’m afraid. That young woman you spoke of — is she called Dee?”
Elena nodded.
“She is one of the murder victims. So, you see, Miss Pakulski, the people your father is involved with are killers.”
Elena’s face went white. “I liked Dee. Without her we would be lost. My father would never hurt anyone. He hates violence.”
“When your father gets back, I want to speak to him.” Speedy handed her his card. “Don’t let me down. His life might depend on it.”
* * *
McCabe walked into the incident room. “What are you doing, Stephen?” he asked.
“Tracking a vehicle belonging to Greysons. I think Ava Whitton is on board, her and the latest drug shipment,” Greco replied.
“Drop it.”
Greco stared at the superintendent in astonishment. He couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. The man had to be mistaken. They couldn’t drop it, not after all the work they’d put in, not now. They were so close. But McCabe’s face was like stone. He meant it alright.
“What is this? I don’t understand, sir. We can’t just let it go. We are about to close in. The lorry is parked up. It’s a gift. We get Ava Whitton, and she will lead us to Barton.”
“You are right, Stephen, as usual. And don’t think the hard work you and your team have put in is not appreciated. But that particular collar is not for us. The dr
ug squad are taking over. They are moving into position as we speak. DI Chambers will take charge of the case from this point on. Within the last thirty minutes, Ava Whitton rang him and asked for help.”
Greco was gobsmacked. He couldn’t believe McCabe would simply roll over and allow another branch to steal their case. “The murders, sir. We need to speak to those involved in the drugs case in order to clear those up.”
“I said no!” McCabe was red in the face. “Once Chambers has spoken to Whitton, we’ll see,” he conceded. “But Chambers will be the one to determine whether she can help us or not.”
“She knows things. She can really help us.” Greco was doing his best not to lose it. Nothing like this had ever happened to him before, and he couldn’t believe it was happening now. “You said she asked for help? What sort of help?”
“She is going to give them Barton in exchange for protection, and a deal.”
Greco should have guessed. Ava Whitton was a clever woman, and would have had her exit strategy planned and ready to implement. She had offered Chambers something he could not turn down. The chance to get Alex Barton, and clear up the drug trafficking that had long been the bane of his life. “And Chambers is okay with that? The deal I mean. For all we know, the woman is a murderer!” Greco didn’t really believe that, but he had no evidence to the contrary.
“I do understand, Stephen, really, I do. You and the team have put in the slog, got so close. But it’s out of my hands. The best we can do is see what Chambers turns up, and hope he shares.”
Greco had met Chambers, and doubted he would do anything of the sort. Ava and Barton, the two people who were key to his case, were effectively lost to him.
“And if Chambers doesn’t share, sir? What do we do then?”
“We wait and see, Stephen.”
The problem was, where work was concerned, and this case in particular, Greco was not a patient man. He wanted whoever had killed Craig, Vinny and Dee caught and locked up. He looked around. Where was Grace? For the first time in weeks, he felt the need to talk to her.
* * *
Speedy was back in the incident room. “Pakulski is working for Greysons and in hock to Barton. He was about to get thrown out if he didn’t play ball,” he said.
“Doesn’t matter.” Greco’s voice was flat. He was sitting at Grace’s desk, his face despondent. “We’ve been told to drop it.”
“Why? What the hell’s going on? We can’t do that! Who wants us to drop it?”
“McCabe.”
“Has he lost his head? We’ve practically got them.”
“Watch your mouth, Sergeant,” Greco warned him. “That’s the super you’re talking about. Ava Whitton has offered the drug squad a deal. That effectively rules us out of the picture.”
“And we are just going to roll over and accept it?”
“We have no choice, Speedy. We will have to leave them to it for now.”
“Where is everyone? Do they know about this?”
Greco had been alone in the room for a while. He presumed that the others had gone for something to eat. The day was rolling on. “Joel is following up on the vehicle tracking, I think.” Greco looked at the empty desk. “Thankless task now.”
“Grace and DI Wells? What are they up to?” Speedy asked.
Greco had no idea.
Chapter 33
Leah helped Grace to a seat in the waiting area. “They know you’re here. It won’t be long,” she reassured her.
Grace was dabbing her eyes. “I knew this morning that something was wrong. Nothing concrete, just a feeling.”
“You’ve been working hard. It’ll just be stress. You need a week off, put your feet up.”
Grace gave a half-hearted smile. She knew that Leah was trying to keep her spirits up. But it wasn’t working.
“Should I ring Stephen?” Leah said.
“Don’t you dare,” Grace retorted. “His head is buried in the case. He has no time for anyone or anything else. Not even his baby.” As she said these words, Grace choked and burst into tears. She was terrified. She wanted this baby more than anything else. With or without Stephen Greco.
“How about your mother, then?” Leah persisted. “You might need somebody close after you’ve had the scan.”
Grace looked at her. “My mum will be picking Holly up from school soon. No, I’ll wait and see what’s what first.”
A nurse called her name. “Ms Harper? Come with me. We’re ready for your scan now.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” Leah offered. “If it’s bad news, you’ll be all on your own in there.”
It was kind of her to offer, but Grace and her DI were not particularly close. She shook her head. “I’ll be fine,” she said without conviction. “But you can wait for me.”
Leah nodded.
The nurse helped Grace onto the bed. “What makes you think there is something wrong?” she asked. “You only had your three-month scan earlier in the week. All was well then.”
“A feeling,” Grace replied. “I woke up this morning and knew it was gone.” Her voice was flat. She had rarely felt this sad.
“Gone? Have you been bleeding?”
“No.”
The nurse gave her a reassuring smile. “Then the chances are it’s just a bout of nerves or something. It says in your notes that you had a tummy upset a couple of days ago.”
Grace felt the cold gel on her belly. She turned her head to look at the screen. A few seconds later, the shape of the baby could clearly be seen. For a moment or two, she felt a sweet surge of relief. But the nurse was troubled.
She was pressing the probe on her belly harder, moving right and left. After a few minutes, she gave up. “I’m very sorry, Grace. I’m afraid I can’t find a heartbeat,” she said at last.
* * *
Leah left the hospital but decided not to return to the station just yet. It would mean answering Greco’s questions about where she’d been. She didn’t feel up to it. Leah had never been pregnant. She didn’t even know if she wanted kids or not. But losing one, like Grace had, must be an awful experience.
The hospital was keeping Grace in for the time being. Leah had rung Emily Harper and told her. She’d also told her that Greco had no idea what had happened, and for the time being, Grace wanted to keep it that way. Emily Harper had broken down in tears. Leah left Grace in that little room on her own, knowing that at this point her colleague was beyond tears. It was a bad day all round. Time to do something positive, make some headway.
Leah drove to Shona Neville’s house. Although it was a school day, the girl was in.
Shona opened the door a crack. “My mum is at work. Don’t know if I should let you in. I’m on my own.” She had a smirk on her young face. “I’m not up to answering any of your stupid questions. Still feel a bit woozy.”
“I am surprised. It’s been a day or two, Shona. I thought you’d be well over it by now. How about your friend, Hazel? How is she doing?”
“Why not go and ask her? She didn’t take as much of the stuff as me. She’s gone back to school.” She laughed. “Her mother’s not a soft touch like mine.”
“Have you thought any more about the lad who gave you the drugs?”
“Yeah, and it’s still a blur. I’ve already told you, I don’t know who he is, or where he’s from.”
Leah could tell she was lying. It showed in the nervous folding and refolding of her arms, and the fact that she couldn’t look Leah in the eye.
Leah smiled. “You see, I find it all rather odd. This lad who approached you, he hasn’t bothered anyone else. No one else has overdosed. And there aren’t any new dealers or drugs being offered out there either.”
She stood on the doorstep confronting Shona Neville, who stared up at the sky.
“So? That’s not my fault. He must be taking time off. Perhaps he’s gone selling somewhere else.”
“Come on, Shona. Who was he? Give me a name. This isn’t funny. You are holding up an investigati
on. People have died.”
Leah saw another teenager walking up the path. It was Shona’s friend, Hazel. Shona came out onto the step. “What’s she doing here?” the girl shouted.
“The drugs — again!” Shona said scornfully. “I’m sick of it. All this fuss over a bit of gear.”
“I’ve already told you,” Leah insisted. “People are dead because of that ‘bit of gear,’ as you call it.”
Hazel threw her school bag onto the step. “My mum is driving me mad about it too. She’s given me a right ear bashing. I’ll be lucky to get out again any time soon.”
“It’ll pass,” Shona told her.
“No, it won’t pass, Shona!” Leah retorted. There was now real anger in her voice. “You are sitting on information that might help us solve three murders!”
“No we’re not.”
“For God’s sake, tell her,” Hazel said at last.
Shona pushed her friend. “We can’t tell! And you know why.”
“Look, if you two are being threatened, I can help.” Leah assured them both.
“It’s not that,” Hazel replied.
“It’s my granddad,” Shona told a surprised Leah. “We found the drugs in his house. Well hidden, the packets were. A whole shedload of the stuff, all wrapped in plastic. We only tried a bit. We didn’t know what to do with it, or how to take it.”
“Where does he live, your granddad?” Leah asked.
“On the Lansdowne.”
“How old is he?”
“I dunno, somewhere in his seventies.”
Chapter 34
DI Grant Chambers parked his car behind the Greysons lorry and looked around. Ava Whitton was nowhere to be seen. Chambers cursed. The woman had done a runner. He should have guessed. Why hadn’t he been more positive when she’d asked about a deal?
The lorry had been left open with the keys in the ignition. On the driver’s seat was a letter address to him.
Complete Detective Stephen Greco Box Set Page 71
