DI Giles BoxSet

by Anna-Marie Morgan

  “I had to take him when I did, ma'am. He had the gun in his hands.”

  “I know, and I accept that. I just didn't expect him to have the gun so early in the evening. He changed the pattern. Did you get a statement from Michael Williams?”?

  “Not yet, ma'am.”

  “I'll speak to him after this interview. We need to know that circumstances under which the gun was handed over.”?

  “Ma'am.”

  When the interview resumed, Darryl Williams was only able to tell them that he was at home on those dates. That he was probably working or watching telly.

  Callum, after several nights of obs on the man, thought this might very well be true.

  “Mr Williams, do you have clients who are making heavy losses on the financial markets?”

  “I have one client who has been incurring heavy losses.”

  “I put it to you that there are three of your clients making heavy losses, and one of them is Michael Williams.”?

  “Michael Williams? What? Incurring losses? No way...”

  “I put it to you that you orchestrated those losses.”

  “He's not in losing money.”

  “You orchestrated them with a view to taking advantage of his vulnerability.”

  “He's not incurring losses. Ask him.”

  Yvonne named the other two families on Paul Baker's list. “What about those men? They losing money too?”?

  “No.” Darryl banged his hand on the table.

  “Have you led them all into losing money.”

  “No.”

  “I object to you badgering my client.” The solicitor stood up.

  Yvonne held her hand up. “Okay. Okay. I'll make a phone call to Michael Williams. Find out if what you say is true. Interview suspended nine-fifteen pm.”?

  “I'm not losing money. My finances are in excellent shape. In fact, I've made a lot of money on the very deals Darryl recommended to me.”? Michael Williams was adamant.

  Yvonne's face paled. “Oh my God.” She left the phone dangling, and ran up to the obs room.

  “Dewi, take two uniform officers and get over to Paul Baker's house. Ask Llewellyn for ARV back-up, they should be on standby. Bring him in.”?

  “Will do, ma'am.”

  “Dewi, surprise will be critical. Don't give him time to arm himself.”

  “Got you, ma'am.”

  Tasha took hold of Yvonne's arm. “Are you okay? Things are moving at lightning speed. What's happening?”

  “Tasha, we've had the wrong man under surveillance. The killer has been under our radar.”

  “Paul Baker?”

  “Yes. Has to be. He gave me a list of clients who were losing money, and one of them was Michael Williams. According to Michael Williams, he's fine. Not lost a penny. In fact he's making.”?

  “You were sold a dud.”

  “Yes. And there can be only one reason for that.”

  It was nearly forty minutes later that Dewi called in. “He's not here, ma'am.”

  “Where is he?”

  “We've asked a couple of neighbours, one of them told us they talked to him, as he was leaving the house. He stated he had a late-night meeting.”?

  “Oh no. Come on,” Yvonne called to Tasha. “I've got one more question to ask Darryl Williams.”?

  They ran back to the interview room, where Darryl was still seated, looking bemused.

  “Mr Williams, which one of your clients is losing money and where does he live?”

  “What?”

  “Please, I'm sorry, there's no time to waste.”

  “Er...the only client of ours currently losing out financially is Thomas Childs.”

  “Thomas Childs. Where does he live?”

  “He lives near the coastal path in Aberystwyth.” He gave them the full address.

  Tasha and Yvonne exchanged glances.

  Yvonne checked the list of clients for Williams and West, given to her by Baker. “Childs isn't there,”? she said to Tasha. “He just isn't there.”

  “It's got to be Paul Baker.”

  “Let's hope, if he's visiting the Childs family, that we're in time.”

  “It's ten-twenty pm.”

  “Let's go.”

  25

  Paul Baker accepted the glass of single malt and relaxed back, on the corner-suite. This had to be one of the biggest study-come-play areas he'd seen. He was relishing being in it, rather than outside in the drizzle, looking in. He stretched his legs out in front of him, circling his feet.

  “So, what's with all the secrecy?” Thomas Childs sat opposite, sipping his whisky as though either savouring it or making it last.

  “Only a select club know about this deal.”

  “Is the information good?”

  “Very.”

  “Source?”

  “London. Inside.” Baker leaned in towards Childs, maintaining eye contact throughout.

  “How come they didn't contact me direct?”

  “They asked me to broker it. Muddies the trail to them, if people start asking questions.”

  Thomas Childs sat back. Something about Baker's eyes made him uneasy. He'd seen that look before, in West Africa, in a man wild with fever.

  “Want another whisky?” Baker eyed the bottle before looking back at Childs.

  “Think that'll make it easier to persuade me?” Childs frowned.

  “I'm here to help you.” Baker lightened his tone. “What have you got to lose? What have you got left to lose.”

  “That's below the belt.”

  “Look, I'm guessing it's your house next, right?”

  Childs didn't respond.

  “Bank looking to repossess this gorgeous place.” Baker leaned back, each arm spread outwards, along the top of the corner suite.

  “They'll have it over my dead body.”

  “Exactly.”

  “What?”

  “I mean exactly, that you wouldn't want them to have it. You've worked hard for it. Why give it to them now?”?

  “I took your advice before and look what that got me.”

  “What, you mean the oil deal? Look, one deal gone bad doesn't make me a bad adviser. Look at all the times you benefited.”?

  “Boxhall is a big company.”

  “Of course they are, and it's why you should go for this deal.”

  “Is this a wild goose chase?” DCI Llewellyn stared at his DI, hands on hips. “I only just sent out the ARV and dogs to Machynlleth.”?

  “I know, sir. Please, can both those teams head up to Aber?”

  The DCI sighed. “Where, exactly, am I supposed to be sending them?”

  “I've got the GPS coordinates for you.” Yvonne handed him the printed map. “There's more...”?

  “Go on.”

  “I may need a full siege team. Depending on what we find when we get there, we'll need them to hand.”?

  “I thought you said you had to go?”

  “I do. I'm gone.”

  “Keep me up to date. I'll coordinate with the Aber teams from here. I'll come up if I think it necessary. We may need a hostage negotiator.”?

  “You want to be the negotiator?” Yvonne raised both eyebrows.

  “Don't be silly.” Llewellyn grimaced. “I meant to coordinate in person. So let me know immediately what the situation is when you get there.”

  “I almost forgot, we'll need a warrant for eavesdropping on the house. We'll go straight in if we need to, but our case will be stronger with evidence from his own mouth.”?

  “I'll get a warrant. Keep me informed of every development.”

  “I will.”

  “Let's go.” The DI tapped Tasha on the shoulder and nodded to Dewi. “Program the sat nav, here's the postcode.”? She handed him her notepad. “There's no time to waste. If he's there, he'll be in full flow. We have to get there in time.”

  “What if he's not there?” Dewi threw over his shoulder, as they got into their unmarked car.

  “I can breathe a sigh of relief,
and we begin surveillance with immediate effect.”

  “Can't we just pick him up?”

  “No evidence, Dewi. We have to catch him in the act.”?

  “Of killing?”

  “Of asking for the gun, at least.”

  “That's risky.” Tasha spoke from the back seat, as the engine purred into life.

  “I know.” The DI's expression was grave as she turned to face Tasha. “He'll have on him the props he uses to wipe the scene and to leave trace evidence. If he's asked for the gun, and he's got the props in a bag, we should have enough to convict.”?

  “We'll probably get other circumstantial evidence, too.” Dewi put his foot down. “Like lack of alibi; setting up deals for the dead families; and he may be picked out of a lineup by the rape victims.”

  “Right, and he may have sandalwood soap in his closet.”

  “We're going to be relying on your advice if it turns into a siege, Tasha.” Yvonne's tone was earnest.

  “I'm up for that,” Tasha said, her voice firm and even.

  26

  That's the end of the bottle.” Thomas Childs stood up, his body stiff. His eyes moved to the door and he held his arm out towards it.

  Baker frowned “I...”

  There was a light tapping on the study door. When it opened, Thomas's wife stood in the doorway, a bath robe over her flimsy nightwear. Baker swallowed hard.

  “Sorry to disturb you,” she said, blushing, “I just thought I'd let you know I'm off to bed.”?

  Baker's insides churned with thoughts of what he couldn't have.

  “I'll be up soon, Marion.” Childs gave his wife a warm smile, walking over to rub her on the arm. “?Are Christian and Margot asleep?”

  “They are. They were asleep before I'd finished the first bedtime story.” She smiled, sleepily.

  “See you shortly.” He placed a light kiss on her forehead.

  Baker's insides were as clenched as his fists.

  Childs walked back into the middle of the room. “Where were we?”

  “I was about to offer you some of this...”

  “Ah, Laphroaig.” Childs appeared doubtful.

  “Come on, one glass?”

  “What the heck, go for it.”

  Armed officers, in full protective gear, alighted from their van, and parked near Baker's Lexus. A stationary vehicle check confirmed it as his.

  “He's here. It's his car.” Callum shouted down the phone to his DI.

  “Here's there. Bloody hell, he's there,” she cried out loud to Tasha and Dewi. “We've got to save that family!”?

  “The ARV is on site, still waiting for the dog team.” Callum had calmed a little.

  It was drizzling again, rendering visibility poor and slowing their journey down perceptibly. Dewi estimated they had a further twenty minutes until they would be at the house. The DI could feel her hands shaking.

  “Has anyone got eyes-on, Callum?” Yvonne tried to keep the panic out of her voice, but there was still a detectable tremor to it.

  “Not yet, ma'am. The blinds are drawn in only one of the downstairs windows, though.”

  “I'll bet that's where Baker is. Put your ear to the window.”

  Callum grunted. “I think you mean get the listening equipment out, ma'am?”

  “Whatever it takes, Callum. See if you can hear what they're talking about.”

  “Do we have a warrant?”

  “Yes.” Yvonne was hoping the DCI had gotten one by now.

  “I'll grab ops as soon as they arrive,” Callum agreed. “In the meantime, I'll see what I can do myself.”?

  Callum slipped a couple of times on the rain-greased surface, as he found his way around the outside of the large property. He felt a couple of windows, but everything was securely locked. He ducked underneath the windows through which the light poured, listening outside each one. The double-glazing prevented enough noise leakage.

  “I can't hear anything, ma'am. Not a thing.”

  “Can you see anything?”

  “Not right now, no.” In the distance, Callum could hear more vehicles arriving. He hoped the DI was one of them and ops another, since he felt pretty useless as the listening device.

  He saw torches, and turned his attention back to the house, hoping that Baker and Thomas Childs would not be alerted by them.

  “We're on site, Callum. Sit tight. We'll be with you shortly.” The DI looked down at her shoes, beyond caring if they would be adequate for the conditions.

  Callum only just heard her, his volume was turned so low. He backed away from the property, about to go further down the lane to find her. Childs and Baker had exited the study and were walking through the open-plan kitchen-diner. Callum dropped to the floor, but they didn't look out. He crept towards the window again, trying to ascertain where the men were headed. He couldn't see, from where he was.

  “They're on the move through the house, ma'am,” he called to Yvonne.

  “Both of them?”

  “Yes.”

  “Can you stay eyes-on?”

  “Wait. Wait one...Oh my god, they've got a shotgun.”

  “Who's holding it?”

  “Childs. Looks like he's carrying it back through to the room with the closed blinds.”

  Yvonne turned to the ARV and ops team-leaders. “We've got to go in now. They've got the gun.”

  27

  Baker was congratulating himself on turning the situation around. He'd almost lost this one, just like he'd lost the first time he tried it with Ben Davies. Ben's wife had persuaded Ben to go to bed with her. Baker had been afraid tonight was going to go the same way.

  He had his hand in Thomas Child's back, guiding him back to the study. Keeping his cool and keeping the banter light. Back in the study, he took the gun from Childs, placing it in his mouth, to the same shocked reaction he'd seen before.

  “It's okay,” he reassured Childs. “The point is not to pull the trigger, but to feel the gun in your mouth. Feel the fear. Face the menace.”? His heart-rate had slowed right down. He was ready. “Here.” He handed the gun back to Childs. “Your turn.”

  “I can't.” Childs took the gun and made as if to return it back to the gun cupboard.

  Baker grabbed his arm. “If you can do this, you can take any risk necessary to get your wealth back.”? The words were uttered with a calmness aimed at reassuring the man. He was nearly there. “Do it.”

  Childs turned the gun towards himself and opened his mouth, slowly raising his arms.

  Officers hammered the front door with a battering ram. Childs dropped the gun. The colour drained from Baker's face.

  “Put the gun away,” he hissed at Childs.

  “What the hell?” Childs had stepped away from the gun, and was making for the hallway, towards the noise.

  “I said put the bloody gun aw-”

  Baker was face-to-face with a heavily-armoured police officer, whose gun was aimed directly at him. The colour drained from his face. He raised his hands in surrender and was cuffed from behind.

  He was hauled away, just as he heard Marion Childs run to her husband, asking if he was okay. Fear had made her eyes even larger. He turned his head to stop himself from staring.

  Tasha placed a hand on Yvonne's shoulder. This was a big deal. They had Baker for the family murders. Thomas Childs' testimony, and the stuff they'd found in Baker's bag, would ensure he went away for a considerable time.

  They still had to secure enough evidence to convict him for the rapes. The witnesses were brought in one-by-one: Tina Pugh, Sarah Evans and Angela Barnes. They made little conversation with the officers escorting them. The DI acknowledged the women and then returned her eyes to the window. The men walked in. Baker was number three.

  The victims knew not to shout out, but Yvonne detected at least two muffled gasps. He hadn't even spoken . She realised at this point that she'd been holding her breath, and she let it out through tight lips. They had him. Not that she'd doubted for one moment. One of the
PCs who'd searched him had commented on the sandalwood cologne.

  Yvonne thought of her father. She felt as though he'd helped her in this case, even if only through his memory. Helped her save the Childs family and maybe other families whose lives would have been destroyed in the future. Perhaps they would find out why this man did what he did. The psychologists would visit him and decide if he was mad or bad. He'd be imprisoned accordingly. The DI was glad she wouldn't be his probation officer.

  28

  When are you due back in London?” Yvonne asked the question, but kept her eyes on the road ahead.

  “Last week.” Tasha sighed.

  “Last week? Really?”

  “There's a case waiting for me with the Met, and Kelly is more than a little upset at my still being here.”?

  “Oh.” The DI shook her head. “I'm sorry. You should have said. If I'd known, I would never have asked if you wanted to come and meet my sister and her family.”?

  “Hey, I'm my own person, Yvonne. I decide when I go back. I work freelance, remember? The Met can ask, doesn't mean they'll get.”?

  “Yes, but what about Kelly?”

  “I know, I do feel guilty about that. But I have Skyped or phoned her most nights, and its only going to be a couple more days now and I'll be home.”?

  Yvonne took her eyes off the road to turn and smile at her friend. “Thanks. It means a lot.”

  “Besides,” Tasha added, “I want to see if they're all as nuts as you.”

  “You're famous,” her sister said, as she hugged her hard.

  “I am?”

  “You are. You're all over the six o'clock news.”

  “What are they saying?”

  “That you caught a serial killer, and not for the first time.”

  “She's a superhero.” Tasha walked over to Kim, and Yvonne introduced everyone.