Watson put his cup down and leaned forwards in his chair. ‘Of course it is,’ he said earnestly. ‘It’s just that Anthony knew, didn’t he?’
‘Yes,’ Emma whispered.
‘The main thing is that Anthony’s name is in the clear. I wondered if Ronnie ever talked about things…’
‘What things?’
‘Oh, about what he did as well as running a club? You presumably knew that Anthony and I were heading a drugs investigation involving him way back when we worked for the Met?’
‘Yes, but what…’
‘Then he was suspected of being behind a murder in Reading two years later. Anthony and I were on that case as well after we’d transferred to Thames Valley CID.’
‘He was cleared on both counts though, wasn’t he?’
‘Yes, he was. Insufficient evidence. Did he ever talk about it?’
‘No, not really.’
‘He never spoke to you about me and Anthony being involved in the investigations?’
‘Oh, goodness, no he didn’t. He never mentioned you or Anthony. Why would he?’
Watson relaxed and smiled. ‘No reason at all, Emma. Curious, that’s all. Listen, I don’t want to take up any more of your time. Just wanted to make sure you were okay.’
Emma showed Watson out. The storm had passed over and the sun was shining. A rainbow shone in the watery light over Blenheim Palace.
After Watson had gone, Emma felt a twinge of alarm. She thought she had managed to convince Watson that Nielson had never spoken to her about him or Anthony, but she knew all about their little secret.
68
The Trout Inn at Wolvercote was becoming a regular place for out-of-office meetings. Fleming had received a call from Logan to ask if he could meet Fleming there. He’d said he had some news and that Fleming wouldn’t believe his ears. It was hot stuff, but Logan had explained he couldn’t talk over the phone.
The previous day’s storm had passed and now the sun shone in a clear blue sky as the two men sat by a table on the pub terrace with their pints of beer. Fleming raised his glass in the air. ‘Cheers, Harry. So what’s this news?’
Logan smiled. ‘Nice day, nice pint, and even better news. You won’t believe this, boss.’
‘Try me,’ Fleming said, laughing at Logan’s enthusiasm.
Logan put his pint down after taking a long swig. ‘DS Crowe arrested McBain and Eckhard yesterday. I was with him when he interviewed McBain.’
‘And?’
‘At first, McBain denied he had anything to do with the assault on Calder, but when Crowe told him he might be facing a murder wrap and that his two mates had squealed, McBain decided to talk. He wanted to do a deal in return for information.’
Fleming’s heart skipped a beat. ‘He told you who put him up to it?’
Logan leaned forwards in his chair and glanced furtively from side to side to make sure no one was within earshot. ‘More than that. It’s a bombshell, boss.’
‘How much longer are you going to keep me in suspense, Harry? Spit it out.’
Logan wiped some froth from his mouth with the back of a hand. ‘He said it was Watson who put them up to the assault on Calder.’
‘I knew it!’ Fleming exclaimed, slapping his hand on the table. ‘Did he say why?’
Logan shook his head. ‘Didn’t have a clue. They just did as they were told.’
Fleming frowned. ‘Why did you think I wouldn’t believe my ears, Harry? It confirms what I suspected. And how come Watson knew McBain and company?’
‘That’s the bombshell.’ Logan grinned. ‘McBain accused Watson of being in Nielson’s pocket. McBain said that Watson, Hayden and Jardine were on the take.’
Fleming whistled. ‘So Potts wasn’t bullshitting after all about police corruption.’
‘No, and McBain said that Watson wanted to carry on the arrangement with him after Nielson was murdered. He told McBain he still had friends in the Met and that he could look after him in return for a few favours and backhanders.’
‘Well, well. That really is hot news. Does Liz Temple know about this?’
‘Yes. DS Crowe rang her and went to see her yesterday afternoon.’
‘Have Watson and Jardine been pulled in for questioning?’
‘Jardine has. He’s been suspended. Watson was due in the office but Jardine told the super that he wouldn’t be in until Monday.’
‘Didn’t she send someone to bring him in straight away?’
‘Yes, but he’s not answering his phone and he’s not at home. No one knows where he is.’
Fleming frowned. ‘You know what he’s doing, don’t you?’
‘What?’
‘He’s disappeared to give himself time to think. He’ll be working out a story on where he’s been over the weekend and how to answer McBain’s allegations. He’ll probably claim that McBain is lying. Watson will laugh it off and ask what evidence there is. Probably come up with some story about McBain having it in for him ever since the drugs enquiry involving Nielson’s club.’
‘But I know that Watson knew about Calder, don’t I? And so does the super. He took a call from Police Scotland about him. He can’t deny that, can he?’
‘Perhaps not. But knowing about him doesn’t prove he was responsible for the assault. And there would need to be more than McBain’s word over a corruption charge.’
‘Does this get you off the hook though? Do you think the super will lift your suspension?’
Fleming shrugged. ‘I’m not sure. It certainly muddies the water over the Calder business, but there’s still the question of Charles Trenchard’s complaint. I haven’t received written confirmation of the misconduct proceedings yet, so who knows?’
‘But the super will have to suspend Watson as well as Jardine, pending a full enquiry. She needs someone to head the Nielson murder enquiry so she’s got to reinstate you.’
Fleming was about to speak when his mobile rang and vibrated urgently on the table. He picked it up and tapped on the green phone icon. ‘Hello? DCI Fleming.’
There was a long pause.
‘Hello?’ Fleming repeated.
This time, the caller spoke hesitantly. ‘Oh, hello. This is Emma Hayden. I wonder if I might come and see you. Something’s happened and I’m scared…’
Fleming’s eyes narrowed. ‘Sure. Listen, if it’s urgent you can see me now if you want. I’m at The Trout Inn at Wolvercote with DS Logan.’
‘Oh, right. I’m actually in Oxford so I could be there in half an hour or so… if that’s okay?’
‘Sure. See you shortly.’ Fleming cut the call.
Logan looked inquiringly at him. ‘Trouble?’
Fleming looked thoughtful. ‘Emma Hayden. Wants to come and see me. She says she’s scared…’
69
Forty minutes later, Emma Hayden appeared. She spotted Fleming and Logan on the terrace and tottered over to join them in her red high-heel shoes. She wore a matching red dress and carried a red handbag over her shoulder. The only thing that wasn’t red was the thin black leather belt she wore round her waist.
Fleming stood as she approached. ‘Hello, Mrs Hayden. What can I get you to drink?’
‘That’s very kind of you. A large white wine please.’
‘I’ll get that,’ Logan offered, ‘if you have things to talk about.’
Emma sat. She looked uncomfortable. ‘I believe you’ve been suspended, and Bill Watson has taken over the investigation into Ronnie’s… Mr Nielson’s murder.’
Fleming nodded. ‘That’s right. What can I do for you?’
‘It was Bill who told me. He came to see me yesterday. He said you’d been suspended because you arranged for someone to be assaulted…’
‘That’s not true. I was suspended because I’d been accused of it, but I now have evidence to prove someone else was behind it.’
‘He also said you’d been accused of police harassment.’
‘That is true. But it wasn’t harassment. I simply ques
tioned someone that the powers that be didn’t want to be questioned. Bit political, I’m afraid. But that’s not why you wanted to see me is it, Mrs Hayden?’
Emma smiled weakly. ‘No… of course not.’
‘You said you were scared. What’s scared you?’
‘Bill… he…’
‘Go on.’
‘I don’t quite know where to start, but he seemed strange. Worried maybe. I got the impression he was fishing for information about Ronnie and me.’
‘What did he say?’
‘He mentioned the drugs investigation he and Anthony worked on when they were working for the Met, and the Reading murder investigation they both worked on two years later.’
Logan returned with Emma’s drink. She smiled and thanked him. She took a large sip before speaking again. ‘He asked me about my affair with Ronnie and whether Ronnie ever talked about the investigations Bill and Anthony were involved in. Bill seemed anxious to find out if Ronnie ever mentioned them at all.’
Fleming looked at Emma. ‘And did he?’
Emma took another large sip of wine. There was fear in her eyes. ‘I don’t know what to do,’ she suddenly sobbed. She took a handkerchief out of her pocket and dabbed at her eyes.
‘Take your time,’ Fleming said gently.
‘Oh, God, this is awful!’
‘What is it, Mrs Hayden?’ Fleming pressed.
‘Ronnie… he told me one night when he was a bit drunk that he had some police in his pocket… corrupt detectives.’
‘Go on,’ Fleming prompted.
‘It was Bill Watson, Anthony, and Frank Jardine,’ Emma blurted. ‘He said he would blow the whistle on them if they couldn’t keep the Met off his back. I’m so frightened. If… if Bill knew what I know, he’d… oh, I don’t know! What should I do?’
‘What did you say to DCI Watson when he asked whether Ronnie ever talked about him?’
‘I told him that Ronnie never mentioned him at all.’
‘Have you any reason to think he didn’t believe you?’
‘I suppose not.’
‘All right, Mrs Hayden. Don’t do anything for now. We will need a statement from you though, I’m afraid. DS Logan can come and see you at home later, if that’s okay?’
Emma nodded. ‘Yes, that’s fine.’
‘Is there anyone you can go and visit for a few days? Someone DCI Watson doesn’t know about?’ Fleming asked.
‘I have a friend in London. I could go and visit her, I suppose.’ Emma dabbed at her eyes again. ‘Do you think I could be in danger?’
‘I’m sure not, Mrs Hayden. Just a precaution, and you’ll be less worried. Let me have your contact details and I’ll be in touch.’
Emma finished her wine, stood and made to leave. ‘Things will be all right, won’t they?’
‘Yes, of course. You’ve no need to worry,’ Fleming assured her.
After Emma had gone, Fleming looked at Logan. ‘That’s two independent allegations that Watson, Jardine and Hayden were bent.’
Logan nodded. ‘Seems like Bill Watson and Frank Jardine have a lot of explaining to do.’
70
Bill Watson sat behind a small desk facing Matthew Upson and Liz Temple. A portable tape machine was running.
Upson spoke first. ‘For the purposes of the tape, DCI Watson has not been arrested but is being interviewed under caution.’ He looked at Watson. ‘You understand that as you are not under arrest you are free to leave at any time.’
‘I know that. Let’s get on with it.’
‘Serious allegations of misconduct have been made against you that will be subject to a full investigation. Criminal proceedings could follow. Do you understand?’
Watson unbuttoned his jacket and ran a finger under his shirt collar to pull it away from his neck. ‘Yes, sir, but this is ridiculous. Allegations can be made mischievously by anyone. There’s no proof to substantiate them.’
Upson ignored the protest. ‘Liz?’
Temple opened a file on the table in front of her. ‘Two allegations have been made against you. Firstly, Scottie McBain and two other men have been charged with an assault on Jimmy Calder. I have a written statement from McBain, claiming you asked him to find Calder for you and then carry out the assault on him. He says you told him to tell Calder that Fleming had sent them. Do you deny that?’
‘Of course I do! How can you possibly take his word for it without any proof?’
‘Did you know Calder had a heart attack after the assault? He’s in intensive care. He could die.’ Temple gazed steadily at Watson.
Watson sat impassively. He shook his head. ‘I didn’t, but why would I? His welfare is of no concern to me. I don’t know the man.’
‘His welfare will be of concern to you if McBain’s claim is proven,’ Temple said.
‘It won’t be. The man’s a liar.’
Temple flicked through the file in front of her until she found what she wanted. ‘A check of McBain’s telephone records shows an incoming call from a public payphone in Witney soon after you left the office.’
‘So?’
‘Did you make that call?’
‘No.’
‘And then a check of your home phone records shows you made a call to Nielson’s club a week later…’ Temple continued.
‘That would probably be to do with the Nielson murder enquiry,’ Watson said glibly.
‘But you weren’t on the Nielson case then.’
Watson shrugged. ‘Not officially, no.’
‘So why did you call McBain?’
‘I don’t like telling tales, but I didn’t think Fleming was making fast enough progress on the Nielson case. I heard that Damien Potts had done a runner. I was sure he was a key suspect and I thought I’d check whether DCI Fleming had made enquiries with Nielson’s club.’
‘You did know that Calder might have been in Reading though, didn’t you? You told DCI Fleming. Why?’
Watson held up his hands in mock surrender. ‘That I am guilty of, I admit. I knew he was looking for the man.’
‘Fleming claims that you knew three men assaulted Calder…’
‘Does he? I can’t recall saying anything to him about that. He’s trying to drop me in it. He resents the fact I was put in charge of the Nielson murder investigation.’ Watson glanced from Temple to Upson and back. ‘This is ridiculous. This whole thing is getting out of hand. All you have is the word of a criminal and a discredited detective. There’s no hard evidence that I was instrumental in the attack on Calder. The fact you haven’t arrested me proves my point.’
‘Yes, I do appreciate that you have agreed to be questioned voluntarily. I’m just trying to establish the facts,’ Temple explained.
Watson sat back in his chair. He was thinking fast. McBain hadn’t stayed quiet about the Calder business. He thought he’d dealt with Temple’s questions on that well enough though. They couldn’t prove a thing. Any evidence they had was purely circumstantial. But Temple had said there were two allegations. He dreaded what was coming next.
Temple cleared her throat. ‘I said there were two allegations against you. The second is far more serious…’
Watson looked straight ahead with unseeing eyes.
‘Mr McBain has also made a statement to the effect that you were one of three corrupt detectives on the force.’
‘Christ! You’re not seriously going to believe that, are you?’
‘DCI Hayden was the second and DI Jardine the third,’ Temple continued.
Watson shook his head. ‘No way! This is rubbish. I can’t believe you’re buying that crap!’
‘He claims it started when all three of you worked for the Met.’
‘Bollocks!’
Temple carried on. ‘You were a DI at the time. You were in charge of a drugs investigation involving Nielson’s club but you filed a report saying there was insufficient evidence to bring charges.’
‘You’ve got that right for once. There wasn’t. How does that prove I
was on the take?’
Temple smiled. ‘It doesn’t. I’m just stating facts. Two years later you were the senior investigating officer in a murder case which Nielson was suspected of being behind. You dropped the case against him when Damien Potts confessed to the killing. He claimed it was self-defence and was convicted for manslaughter. No charges were brought against Nielson.’
‘Right again. There was no evidence to prove Nielson put him up to it.’ Watson glanced at Upson. ‘I don’t know where Superintendent Temple is going with this. She’s making ridiculous assumptions based on two cases in which there was no evidence against Nielson… and the word of bloody Scottie McBain.’
‘I was merely observing that it’s a bit of a coincidence that you brought no charges against the same man Scottie McBain claims you were taking bribes from.’
Watson shook his head again and muttered, ‘Unbelievable!’
‘We also have the question of police corruption raised by a reporter at the behest of Damien Potts, who is now dead.’
‘Don’t tell me you’re going to try to pin that on me as well!’ Watson laughed.
Temple ignored the outburst. ‘And we have a statement from Emma Hayden who claims Ronnie Nielson told her that you, DI Jardine and her late husband were in his pocket.’
Watson gasped. ‘I don’t believe you’re taking this seriously. If you’re so sure of your facts, why don’t you arrest me?’
Temple changed tack. ‘Mrs Hayden also claims that Nielson told her he would blow the whistle on you if you couldn’t keep the Met off his back and he went down for something.’
‘This is pure fantasy! Don’t think I don’t know where you’re going with this. You’re going to say I had a motive to have Nielson killed simply because of an alleged threat he was going to blow the whistle on me for something I’m not guilty of. Ridiculous!’
Temple stayed calm. ‘Would you care to tell us where you were on the night Ronnie Nielson was killed?’
The Fifth Suspect Page 25
