Out of the Ashes

by Vicky Newham

  ‘State of that place. It’s a bloody disgrace,’ Dougie snarled. ‘If they got their finger out and finished the development of those blocks, those kids wouldn’t be in this situation.’

  ‘When officers searched the address,’ continued the reporter, ‘they found a handgun and a stash of ammunition, and large quantities of Class A drugs.’

  ‘I agree about the estate,’ I replied to Dougie, ‘but those kids are obviously homeless. I dread to think what might have happened to them if they hadn’t been able to squat there.’ I bundled the blanket into a ball. ‘Makes my blood boil. How can so many youngsters be fending for themselves like this? Dealing drugs in exchange for a floor to doss down on?’ I lobbed the blanket on the sofa. ‘Where the hell is Ali?’

  Dougie shook his head. ‘A piece of good news though – we’ve got a lead. It’s what I came to tell you. The tech guys have downloaded the comms data on the burner. There’s an SMS from an unregistered mobile. Here.’ He reached into his pocket and gave me the print-out.

  the shop on right wiv a star above a blue front door

  A star? I couldn’t help thinking of the Star of David that Rosa had found outside the newsagent’s . . . and a terrible realisation hit me. ‘Hold on.’ I swiped my mobile into life and googled the Brick Lane Soup Company. Clicked on images and . . . ‘Look.’ I showed him the photograph. Simas and Indra stood together, beaming with pride in front of a blue door. Above the frame, carved by a mason into a block of stone, the way I’d seen on numerous Jewish buildings, was a Star of David. ‘I know Rosa’s door is blue too because she told me yesterday that it was one of the last things that Józef did before he died.’

  ‘I doubt we’ll get any viable prints off her brickwork, but whoever did it may have touched the wood frames. It hasn’t rained. And there may be some transfer materials.’

  ‘I really hope so. Because this could mean that Rosa’s newsagent’s isn’t next to be torched.’ I looked at Dougie to see if his deduction was the same as mine. ‘It could mean that it was the intended target last Friday, and somehow the arsonist made a mistake.’ I jumped to my feet. ‘If that’s the case—’ I let out a scream of frustration ‘—we’ve spent two days investigating a crime that was never meant to happen.’

  9 a.m.

  This time, the girl was awake when they came. She heard the floorboards creak on the other side of the door, the key in the lock, the whispered voices. Saw the slice of light as the door opened.

  The footsteps came to a sudden halt beside the bed.

  She wanted to turn away and curl into a ball, to bury her face in the pillow. But she was scared to move. She lay still, eyes closed.

  And the shadow fell.

  Maya, 9.30 a.m.

  ‘Just the person I was looking for.’ Jackie nabbed me as I was heading into the locker room, towel in one hand, shower gel in the other. ‘Luckily, though, we’ve had some news this morning which has tempered my mood.’

  ‘I know, I know. Reckless. Dangerous. Against procedures.’

  ‘Those are some of the things I—’

  ‘Could we get the briefing over and then you can bollock me?’ I elbowed the door open, curious as to whether Jackie was going to follow me in. I knew I was being cheeky. ‘If I don’t get in the shower pretty soon, I’m going to stink the office out.’

  The door closed behind me and there was no sign of Jackie.

  After a two-minute shower, I was back in the MIT office. The atmosphere was heavy in the briefing room. We all stared at the familiar images on the investigation boards. Layers of facts and details had been added over the last two days to build up a picture of our investigation, like paint on a canvas.

  On the new board, Dan had pinned images of the soup shop and the newsagent. Both buildings had blue doors, and both had a Star of David above their entrance. Next to them, I pinned the print-out Dougie had given me of the SMS from the burner.

  ‘OK, everyone,’ I said. ‘We’ve had some critical developments overnight and we’ve got a long day ahead.’

  ‘If the arsonists did get the wrong shop, are we back at square one?’ Shen’s question probably summed up what the whole team were thinking.

  Everyone looked at me for confirmation.

  ‘Yes and no. There has been a crime at the soup shop. Thank goodness we’ve found out that it might not have been what was intended, as it obviously changes things, but we didn’t miss any clues. We followed the ones we had. Without the petrol can and the burner, we couldn’t have known the arsonists might have got the wrong premises. We will have to continue to investigate the arson at the soup shop and pursue this new lead.’ I parsed the cascade of faces in front of me. Disillusionment was evident on each of them, and it was my job to galvanise us all. ‘On the plus side, we can use a lot of what we’ve learnt about Brick Lane, the forum, the flash mob and soup shop crime to help us to identify who might want to target Rosa’s shop. If my theory is correct, this will be the person responsible for the soup shop arson.’ I made my tone upbeat. ‘Moving on, we have some tentative leads already. The mobile which sent the SMS is unregistered, but the technicians can still access the cell site data.’ I waited to deliver the news. ‘At the moment, it’s switched off. They may have ditched it, but as soon as it’s turned on the technicians will get a notification.’

  Weak cheers ricocheted around the room and the atmosphere lifted a notch.

  The team had accepted the positives and that we all had to focus on those. ‘I suggest we decide which of our persons of interest on the soup shop arson might also have a motive for torching Rosa Feldman’s newsagent’s. It’s going to be a bit unusual because Rosa’s place hasn’t been set on fire, but we need to investigate almost as if it had. Establishing motives for torching the soup shop won’t help us if it wasn’t the real target.’

  ‘It’s a stupidly easy mistake to make,’ Dan said. ‘Depending on which way you approach the two shops, they’re technically both on the right-hand side of the street, and the person who sent that SMS can’t have checked whether there was another shop with a Star of David over the door. A bit careless in an area that was predominantly Jewish for fifty years. And they aren’t very helpful instructions, are they? They’re different blues but how many shops have blue doors? What a dork.’

  ‘That’s useful information in itself. If this is organised crime, it’s not very professional. It’s a costly mistake to burn down the wrong premises, and they’ll know that. It tells me that someone in this chain is an amateur or isn’t thinking clearly.’ I gathered my thoughts. ‘Two further things. The English in the SMS is typical text-speak but my hunch is that the sender isn’t the same person as whoever writes about gentrification on LfA.’

  Heads were nodding in agreement.

  ‘Also, I hope I’m wrong, but I suspect someone is going to pay for this mistake, so we need to bear that in mind too. Plus, of course, we still have a dead woman who we haven’t identified, and still don’t know if she has anyone at home who might be relying on her. Sophie Williams’ mother has turned up, so it’s not her.’

  Dan peered at the image of Rosa’s shop. ‘Speaking of risks, what’s the likelihood of the arsonists torching Rosa’s place now?’

  ‘I’ve been thinking about this. It’s hard to gauge. I’ve compiled a list of reasons why Rosa’s shop may still be in danger, and reasons why the arsonists may have abandoned the idea. I’d value your input and Jackie and I will make a decision.’ I took the cap off a board marker. ‘Why might they may skip the newsagent’s now?’

  ‘If it was a contract job, they may have to pay for a second hit, and may not want to or have the money,’ Dan said.

  ‘Yup.’ I wrote it on the board.

  ‘And returning to the scene of the crime will increase their risk of getting caught.’

  ‘Thanks, Alexej. Any more?’

  The room was quiet.

  ‘Reasons why they may still target Rosa’s newsagent’s?’

  ‘Whatever the motive was,
it still exists.’ Shen spoke with conviction. ‘Going back to what Dan said, whoever wanted it done may be putting the arsonists under pressure. Plus, whoever torched the soup shop may not have been paid and may need to hit the right target to get their cash.’

  ‘Yes. This is my fear. Whoever issued the instructions is likely to be furious, and may use the mistake as a reason to get out of coughing up. It’s what makes me suspect that whoever made the cock-up is going to pay. Quite possibly with their life.’

  ‘I’d echo that,’ Jackie chipped in from the back of the room. ‘I’ve seen this happen many times. These people are ruthless, even towards their own. They have no loyalties. You screw up, you’re dead. It’s as simple as that.’

  ‘It also means that Rosa’s place could still be at risk.’ I surveyed the room. ‘We don’t have the resources to put an officer outside her place twenty-four-seven, but we have a duty of care towards her. There’s no way we’ll persuade her to shift, so I’ll take her through the warning procedures.’

  ‘The woman at Alchemia, Monika Waglowa, has asked her husband to send their front CCTV over. Hopefully, that’ll show who scored the Star of David outside Rosa’s shop.’ Dan was studying the image of the soup shop in all its glory on opening day. Blue tape to match the door. Cake. A huddle of friends and family, all laughing and smiling. Indra and Simas were shaking a bottle of fizz, faces glowing with pride. ‘Are we to take it that Simas and Indra are Jewish?’

  ‘I’ve wondered that,’ I said. ‘A quick call to Indra will confirm one way or the other. I’d assumed they were Catholic. Most of the Jewish communities which survived the Holocaust suffered dreadfully under Soviet atheist policy. But Indra and Simas are from Vilnius, and there’s been a re-birth of Judaism there.’

  ‘And the Star of David above their shop?’

  ‘It’s a confident statement, isn’t it? It was previously a Jewish shop, so they may have left it in place. If they put it up, my guess is they’re Jewish and proud of it.’ I was adding to my list of tasks as we spoke. ‘OK. Going back to the fire on the soup shop, might any of our suspects have a motive for torching Rosa’s newsagent’s?’ I pointed to the board we’d used so extensively the last few days.

  ‘I can only think of motives, Boss, not people,’ Shen piped up. ‘Maybe someone wants to get their hands on the shop lease for development. Didn’t Rosa say her freeholders were pressurising her to sell to them?’

  ‘Yes, she did.’ I wrote Solomon Stein’s name on the board.

  ‘Racism?’ Alexej took the board marker from my hand and created a second list for motives. ‘Anti-Semitism?’

  ‘Definitely possible – although that could apply equally to the soup shop.’

  ‘It’s hard to see how Rosa’s shop competes with anyone’s business. Her turnover must be very low.’ Shen had grabbed hold of the new focus and I appreciated her positivity.

  ‘I don’t think competition is likely either,’ said Dan. ‘But she must be struggling to cover her bills, let’s face it. What if she wanted the shop damaged so she can claim on her insurance?’

  I looked at the images of Rosa’s newsagent’s. Sifted through what I knew and remembered about her: determined not to give the shop up; adamant she wouldn’t go and stay with Agnieszka or Tomasz; feeling safest at the shop. ‘Personally, I can’t see that but I’m happy to ask her about it when I go round there. I don’t think she cares about the business much any more, but I do think she cares about the building. It’s where all her memories are, and they’re all she’s got. At the moment, she hasn’t forged a link with her future. She’s a bright lady. She’ll know that getting someone to start a fire in her shop could go badly wrong.’

  ‘Assuming the flash mob was still a distraction, we know that Kenny Hayes’ prints were on the speakers. We need to keep him in our sights. Otherwise, what about people who would benefit financially from getting their hands on the shop, or Rosa’s savings and any insurances she may have?’ He faced us. ‘Agnieszka and her family live in a pretty small house. What about her or Olaf?’

  ‘I know we decided it was unlikely that Olaf is still involved with LfA,’ said Dan. ‘But he does seem like a man under pressure.’

  ‘And then there’s Tomasz,’ Alexej said. ‘He’s clearly a shrewd businessman.’

  ‘He’s also loaded so what would he gain?’ The images of Indra and Simas reminded me of Artem’s comments. ‘We also need to consider Artem. He thinks that shops like Rosa’s have become redundant. In fact, he even named her business and the Walkers’ off-licence.’ His comments had sent shivers down my spine. ‘He could have a number of motives.’ I added his name to the board. ‘What else do we know that might help us?’

  Alexej’s head shot up from his monitor. ‘An update has just been added from last night. An eyewitness saw our appeal and called in.’ He was reading off HOLMES. ‘Chap works nights and uses the alley as a short-cut. Says he’s seen a man hanging about at the rear of Rosa Feldman’s newsagent’s several times in the last fortnight.’

  ‘Can we get a description from him?’

  ‘I’m on it. His phone’s switched off. He’s probably asleep.’ He checked the clock. ‘I’ve already begun calling in the CCTV that covers the alley behind Rosa’s shop. It’s mainly all private but people are on edge after the fire and will want to help, I’m sure.’

  I was taking stock. ‘Well done, everyone. I’m fully confident that we can find out who meant to target the newsagent’s but hit the soup shop instead.’ I paused. ‘Right. Our priorities are still to identify our UnSub; to investigate the people we’ve identified as having a potential motive; to follow up those with information; and to find Ali.’

  I heard a muttered grumble but couldn’t place whose it was.

  ‘Alexej, can you chase Alchemia for their CCTV and continue calling in footage from the alley? And interview Solomon Stein about Rosa Feldman’s lease.’ I felt my shoulders relax, knowing we’d made a start. ‘And keep chasing the lab for DNA results on the woman. If they can’t narrow results to an individual, family details are better than the nothing we’ve had for the last three days.’

  He gave a thumbs-up.

  ‘Shen, can you check with Indra about their religion, please, and whether they put the Star of David up outside their shop? And chase the analysts on the MisPer register and Simas’ mistress in Essex with a kid. Without any other leads, she has to be our prime UnSub candidate.’

  ‘Sure thing, Boss.’

  ‘Dan, can you interview Agnieszka and Olaf, and Tomasz?’ I felt uneasy at the prospect of Rosa’s children wanting to take advantage of her, but Olaf wasn’t a blood relation. ‘I’ll pay Artem another visit, then brief Rosa on safety.’ I recalled how frail she’d looked when she left hospital; how we’d nearly lost her after the arson; how crushed she seemed without Józef. There were various strands to the conversation I needed to have with her, and I wasn’t looking forward to bringing her more bad news.

  However, there was a more immediate matter. What was I going to tell the press about the new development?

  And before that, I had to front up to Jackie.

  Maya, 11 a.m.

  ‘Let’s start with reckless, dangerous and against procedures, shall we?’

  I looked up from my keyboard. Jackie was standing by my desk wearing her no-nonsense face. I wasn’t going to get away with fobbing her off again. ‘Sorry, Jackie. I didn’t mean to be rude earlier. I was—’

  She fixed her steely gaze on mine. ‘What the hell were you and Dan doing, entering the squat without adequate protection?’ Her voice was getting louder. ‘You know the correct procedure is to wait for back-up and wear a stab vest. You also know that preservation of life is paramount, and you have a duty not to put yourself in danger. Don’t you?’

  She was right. ‘I’m not going to argue with you.’

  ‘Are you sure about that?’

  ‘With hindsight, we shouldn’t have gone in. It’s my fault. I let impatience get the better of
me.’ I cursed my stupidity. ‘Ali had given us a false address first time around, and from the outside of the block, when we arrived, we thought he might be dossing there. He was – but we only realised it was a junkie squat once we were inside.’ This was what had happened, but I wondered what Dan had told her.

  I could see Jackie was thinking.

  ‘In addition to the danger aspects,’ she continued, ‘the outcome is that we have now lost a significant witness.’

  ‘I’ll find Ali.’

  ‘That is not the point, Maya, and you know it.’

  ‘No, but it’ll get our witness back and make sure he’s safe, won’t it?’

  ‘Listen to me, Maya. You’re a first-rate detective. What makes you different is that you really care. We all have the utmost respect for you. But you are not to put yourself, or any of your officers, in danger for a personal crusade. Do I make myself clear?’

  I nodded. Resigned.

  ‘Follow procedures in future, and that means waiting for back-up and wearing protective clothing.’

  ‘OK. Sorry.’

  ‘You don’t need to apologise. I’m sure you thought you were doing the right thing. But your judgement slipped, and it could’ve ended badly.’

  *

  Jackie’s words echoed in my ears as I made my way towards Stepney Green to see Rosa at the shop in Brick Lane. For once, the traffic was light, and I was half-way up Bromley Street when an urgent call-out came over the in-car radio.

  ‘Control to DI Rahman. Immediate attendance required in Stepney. Over.’

  I stifled a curse. ‘Go ahead, Control. What’ve we got?’

  ‘A suspicious death. Male body found at the Manor House development. First responders say it’s linked to the fire in Brick Lane. DCI McLean wants you to attend, Ma’am. Immediate attendance, over.’

  ‘Can you get hold of DS Maguire, please, and tell him to meet me there? I’m on my way. Over.’ My thoughts rushed to whoever had torched the wrong shop. Was this going to be their body? I checked the SatNav. A red light was flashing to show a traffic incident on Commercial Road. I flicked on the blue lights, checked my mirrors and stuck my foot on the accelerator.