Crying Shame (Justice Again Book 5)

by M A Comley

  The question clearly shocked Wes. He flopped back in his chair and continuously shook his head.

  “There’s no point in lying, not when Gillian has made a full statement telling us you were all involved in violating her and her baby.”

  “I never touched the baby. I swear I didn’t. My hands were tied, they forced me to rape her. I’ve never done that to a woman before. I’ve regretted it every day since. I hate myself for being put in that position in the first place. I should never have reached out to Joe. I wish to God I hadn’t.”

  “If you work with us, we can see if the Crown Prosecution Service will offer you some kind of deal.”

  “I’ll tell you what you need to know, but I don’t want a deal, I was in this up to my neck and deserve the punishment coming my way.”

  “I appreciate that, but you told me you were coerced, or ‘forced’ were your exact words, into carrying out the crimes. It would be foolish of you to accept punishment for something that was out of your control, do you understand what I’m saying?”

  “I understand.” He turned to look at the solicitor.

  Mr Lord raised an eyebrow at him. “My advice would be for you to take the deal if there were extenuating circumstances to consider.”

  Wes nodded and glanced down at his hands again. “I did my best to help you capture our gang.”

  Katy frowned and inclined her head. “Care to tell us how that came about?”

  “You tracked us down using the vehicles, am I right?”

  “We did, although they were still registered to the previous owners.”

  “It was my job to cover the plates when we abducted the postman outside his work. I told them I had done it, but during the hassle of getting him in the vehicle, I removed the plastic covering the plates. Joe wasn’t happy when he found out they were missing. I told him they must have blown off during our escape. We were going faster than we should have been. He gave me a good hiding but accepted my excuse. I noticed the CCTV cameras so knew you’d pick up on the plates.”

  “Thank you for putting yourself in danger trying to help us out. Can you tell us how the victims were chosen?”

  He sighed and then circled his head, his neck cracking a few times during the rotation. “It was about an article that journalist wrote.”

  “Who? Koffi Bamba?”

  “That’s right. Good job you caught us when you did. Joe had something particularly nasty in store for him up his sleeve.”

  “I’m relieved it never went that far.”

  “Me, too. The other murders were bad enough, but they would have been regarded as child’s play if Joe had succeeded with what he had planned for the guy.”

  “You’re telling me the victims were all mentioned in an article and that’s why they were chosen?”

  “That’s right. Joe couldn’t stand the thought of those men doing well in their careers. That’s what the article was about, immigrants coming over here and being successful.”

  “Successful? Just because they had good jobs, it doesn’t mean to say they were rolling in it. We’ve had the misfortune of visiting each of the victims’ homes, and I can assure you, they were nothing special. Most of them were small terraced houses that were probably rented.”

  He shrugged. “It stuck in Joe’s throat, then there was the other thing to consider.”

  “What other thing?” Katy probed.

  “Each of them had kids.”

  “What?” Katy was dumbfounded by that notion. “Are you telling me he objected to them having children? Why?”

  He glanced up and looked her in the eye. “Adding to the population.”

  “Goodness me!” Katy shook her head in utter disbelief. “What a warped individual he is, and you and the other guys went along with his distorted views.”

  “Initially I did, until we killed the first bloke. I changed my mind rapidly after that.”

  “And that’s when he turned on you, threatened your family?”

  “Yes. I regret my actions, but there was no way back. If I’d had the money to take off, I would have done anything to protect my own family. Unless you’ve ever been put in that position, no one can say what they would or wouldn’t do for the best.”

  “I completely understand. Is there anything else you want to add?”

  “Nope, I’ve covered everything now.”

  Katy drew the interview to a close and asked the constable in the room to escort Wes back to his cell. Outside, she paced the hallway, waiting for Graham and Stephen to join her and Charlie. They did, a few minutes later. “How did you get on?”

  Graham shook his head, and his mouth turned down at the sides. “Nothing at all. No matter what angle we came at it from.”

  “Don’t beat yourself up, Wesley Sanders sang like an X-Factor finalist. We’ve got enough to bang them up for years. You two get back upstairs, file your reports. Charlie and I will tackle the leader, see what bullshit he’s prepared to fling at us, just for the hell of it.”

  Graham grinned. “Wipe the floor with him, boss. Show him who he’s dealing with.”

  Katy laughed and watched Graham and Stephen walk back up the narrow corridor. Once they disappeared out of sight, she spotted Joseph Rice coming their way, escorted by two well-built coppers to foil any thoughts he had of escaping.

  “Let’s get this over with,” Katy mumbled and entered the room with Charlie.

  Joseph kicked the chair rather than sit down. One of the officers righted it for him and placed a hand on his shoulder and forced him to sit.

  “Get your hands off me. You’re a witness,” he said to the solicitor. “Tell them to treat me with respect.”

  Mr Lord continued to look at the notes he was making. “Just do as you’re told, Mr Rice, and the interview will be over before you know it.”

  “Screw you. The lot of you. I’m going down the ‘no comment’ route. I know my fucking rights. So screw the frigging lot of you.”

  Charlie began the recording, and Katy asked the same questions she’d asked the two previous suspects. Rice stuck to his word and continuously repeated the two frustrating words no copper enjoyed hearing. “It doesn’t really matter what you say, Mr Rice, we’ve got a ton of evidence against you and the gang you recently formed. Let’s just say your associates have made our lives very easy indeed.”

  “Fuck off, you lying bitch. They wouldn’t dare grass me up.”

  Katy smiled and shrugged. “Ah, but they have. You clearly don’t know the men as well as you thought you did. Take him back to his cell.”

  Rice stood and kicked out at the table and the chair before he was marched out of the room.

  “Vile individual,” Katy muttered.

  The solicitor stood, tucked his legal notepad into his worn brown briefcase and said, “You took the words out of my mouth. I hope he gets banged up for life.”

  “Thank you. We’re going to do our best to throw everything we have at him.”

  Katy and Charlie escorted the solicitor up the corridor.

  “No doubt our paths will cross again soon, Inspector.”

  “I’m sure you’re right, Mr Lord. Take care.”

  After he’d left, Katy leant against the wall to catch her breath for a moment or two. “It’s been a long week. I feel like I’ve lived through a dozen tornados in the last five or six days.”

  Charlie smiled. “Slight exaggeration, but I get your drift. On with the paperwork, I suppose. Will the suspects be transferred to the remand centre today?”

  “I’ll make sure they are. The sooner they get used to prison life and what it entails, the better for me.”

  Epilogue

  After another exceptionally long day, Katy was in need of a quick drink. Charlie must have read her mind because seconds later she suggested the team were all eager to celebrate the arrests and solving the case.

  “Would it be inappropriate if I invited Mum along?”

  Katy nodded. “Go for it. Why don’t you ask Carol to join us as well?”
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  “Are you sure?” Charlie frowned.

  “I wouldn’t have suggested it if I wasn’t. The more the merrier. I’ll give Patti a ring, too, see if she can spare half an hour. I’m sure she’ll do all she can to join us if she knows Lorne will be there.”

  “Good idea. Okay, I’ll make the calls.”

  “I’ll be back out in a while.” Katy walked into her office, snagging a coffee on the way, and rang Patti. After filling her in on what they’d been up to since early that morning, she announced, “We’re having a swift one to celebrate, you’re welcome to join us. Before you turn down the offer there will be an old friend joining us, who I’m sure will be keen to see you.”

  “No… really? Are you talking about Lorne?”

  “That’s right. Come on, it’ll be great to have the old gang back together for a celebratory drink. We owe it to the victims.”

  “You don’t have to try to convince me further. Count me in. Tell me where and when and I’ll be there.”

  The afternoon sped by at warp speed, and before long the team were heading out of the door and ready to descend upon the White Lion across the road from the station. The second she walked into the crowded public lounge, Katy put fifty pounds behind the bar.

  In the corner, Lorne had drawn a few tables together, enough room for everyone on the team, plus the two surprise visitors.

  Carol was the first to arrive. She hugged Lorne so tightly, anyone would have thought it had been decades since she’d last laid eyes on her dear friend, rather than a couple of years. Katy left them to catch up on things, sipped at her drink and listened to the team going over the investigation. “Hey, guys, enough shop talk for tonight, that’s an order.”

  Just then, who should walk in but Patti. She and Lorne took one look at each other and raced into each other’s arms. Once they’d parted, Patti punched Lorne in the arm.

  Lorne yelped and shouted, “What the heck was that for?”

  “For not staying in touch despite the promise you made me.”

  Lorne winced. “Sorry, things have been a bit hectic up in Norfolk, what with doing the place up and dealing with the stray dogs in the area.”

  They linked arms and took a seat at the table. Katy got up to fetch Patti a drink. “I’ll have an OJ, I still have a couple of PMs to perform this evening. I can only stay twenty minutes.”

  “I’ll get it in. Lorne, do you want another?”

  “No, thanks. Hurry back, I have to tell you something before the alcohol starts to addle my brain.”

  Katy rushed up to the bar, eager to learn what Lorne had to tell them. She returned with Patti’s drink and placed it on the table in front of the pathologist who was too deep in conversation with Lorne to notice. “Sorry to interrupt, but this was supposed to be a quick one for me. I need to get home to AJ and Georgie as I’ve barely seen them all week.”

  Lorne smiled. “In other words, get on with it, eh?”

  Katy cringed. “Yes.”

  Lorne took a swig from her glass and surveyed the group of people around her. Her gaze came to a stop on Charlie. She reached for her daughter’s hand and said, “I’m debating whether to come out of retirement or not. What do you think?”

  Katy groaned inwardly. She gauged Charlie’s reaction to the news. Her partner’s mouth dropped open, and she stared at her mother.

  “Charlie, don’t look like that, say something,” Lorne pleaded.

  Charlie recovered and shook her head. “What is wrong with you, Mother? You have everything you ever wanted up there, in Norfolk. Why would you want to come back here and join the Met again?”

  Lorne wagged her finger. “You’re presuming I want to come back to London. You’re wrong. I’m thinking of joining up with Sally, my friend running the Cold Case team in Norfolk.”

  “Wow! You go girl!” Patti shouted and raised her glass.

  “I see a bright future ahead of you, Lorne Warner,” Carol chipped in. “I knew you wouldn’t stay retired for long.”

  Lorne’s cheeks flushed. “You know me too well. Katy? What do you think?”

  Katy smiled and shrugged. “I think you’re an idiot, but then, what’s that old saying? Ah, yes, you can never keep a good woman down.” She raised her glass and chinked it against the others. “To Lorne, back on the force, again!”

  Charlie sat there, staring at her mother, too stunned to say a word either way.

  THE END

  Thank you for reading the latest instalment in the Justice Again series, there will be another adventure in this series in 2022. In the meantime, why not try another of my series while you wait?

  The first book in the DI Sam Cobbs detective series which is set in the beautiful Lake District is now available for pre-order, pick up your copy of To Die For here.

  Maybe you’d also like to try one of my edge-of-your-seat thriller series. Grab the first book in the bestselling Justice here, CRUEL JUSTICE

  Or the first book in the spin-off Justice Again series, Gone in Seconds.

  Perhaps you’d prefer to try one of my other police procedural series, the DI Kayli Bright series here, The Missing Children.

  Or maybe you’d enjoy the DI Sally Parker series set in Norfolk, UK. WRONG PLACE.

  Also, why not try my super successful, police procedural series set in Hereford. Find the first book in the DI Sara Ramsey series here. No Right To Kill.

  The first book in the gritty HERO series can be found here. TORN APART

  Or why not try my first psychological thriller here. I Know The Truth

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