The Autumn Tree (DI Bliss Book 8)

by Tony J. Forder

  Bliss waved a hand. ‘It doesn’t matter. I don’t need to know your name, nor where you live. Neither do I need to know if you have kids you love to bits. You don’t know who I am, and that’s fine, too. All I need is for you to listen to me. Can you do that?’

  The woman inhaled quickly and sat back, uncertain and fearful. Her eyes were fixed on his, and Bliss knew he had her full attention.

  ‘I have no idea how well you know the man you’re here with this evening, but my guess is that this is your first date. Believe me when I say it also has to be the last. In fact, cut it short right now. Leave with me if you like – or before me, if you prefer. But whatever you do, walk away and never so much as speak with this man again. I know you must be scared, wondering what on earth is going on. But you do not want this man in your life. Not now. Not ever. Because the man you’re sitting at this table with is pure evil.’

  While he’d been talking, the woman’s breathing had become increasingly laboured. She was having trouble gathering herself, coping with the intrusion. As she was bringing herself back down from her near panic attack, Bliss became aware that a figure had appeared by his side. He looked up to see the staff member who had initially attempted to seat him.

  ‘Is there something wrong here?’ the man asked, switching his focus between the woman and her companion. ‘Something we can help you with?’

  For the first time, Bliss faced the occupant of the other chair. ‘Tell him, Neil. Answer the man. Is there something wrong? Am I causing you problems?’

  Having already set aside his cutlery, the man whose meal Bliss had interrupted sat back in his chair and folded his massive arms. Despite the seasonal chill, he wore a polo neck T-shirt, with a perfect snug fit to show off those powerful-looking biceps. Anger creased his acne-flared face, but he remained silent. He glared at Bliss, not taking his eyes off him. Bliss smiled, looked up at the member of staff, winked. ‘We’re okay here, pal. This nice lady will want her coat, though.’

  ‘Neil?’ the woman said, her darting eyes suddenly more fearful. ‘You told me your name was Robert. What the bloody hell is going on here?’

  Bliss shook his head. ‘He didn’t even tell you his real name? I’m so sorry. I realise you must be terribly disappointed. It’s not your fault, though. Whatever else happens, don’t blame yourself; you did nothing wrong. But pond life like Neil here can’t help themselves. He gave you a false name – you have to wonder what else he lied about. Worse still, why did he lie at all? Think about that and be grateful you found out early on. When you get home, if you do have kids, give them a kiss and a warm cuddle and take comfort from knowing you’ve all had a lucky escape.’

  The woman did not need any further persuasion. She stood, threw a withering look at her date, and marched towards the door. Bliss kept his eyes on her as she pulled on her coat and hurried out of the restaurant. She risked one backward glance before taking off along the pavement.

  Bliss picked up the woman’s glass of wine and took a sip. Nodded and smacked his lips. ‘Not bad,’ he said, ‘for what I’m guessing is the house plonk. I doubt you splurged on anything more expensive than that. I make no apologies for ruining your evening, Neil. I thought that pleasant redhead would be better off knowing you’re a wrong ’un before she discovered for herself how wrong you can be.’

  Neil Watson was only of average height, but he was squat and muscular. He worked as a physical trainer, and had clearly developed his body to the point where his physique alone might easily intimidate others. His reaction to the intrusion puzzled Bliss, though. It wasn’t anything like he had expected. Watson was known to have a temper and not slow in finding it, but he appeared to be taking this in his stride.

  Bliss decided to probe a little deeper. ‘What’s the matter, Neil? You not up for a barney tonight?’

  ‘I’m working out the precise wording of the complaint I’m going to make against you,’ Watson said. It was the first time he’d spoken since Bliss had interrupted, and he was more composed than he had been during their previous meetings.

  ‘You off your ’roids, Neil? You got a piss test coming up? Is that why you’re so placid tonight?’

  ‘Like I said, I’m too busy thinking about how I’m going to fuck you over in other ways.’

  ‘I’m impressed. All that thinking must have worn you out. And by the way, what complaint? When the staff intervened you said nothing, and clearly your date for the night won’t be saying anything, either. All I did was join you at a restaurant table. Hardly crime of the century, is it?’

  ‘You know what you’re doing,’ Watson said. ‘And you have no right. I don’t want you here. I didn’t ask you to come. This is harassment.’

  Bliss feigned surprise. ‘It is? Well, you’re entitled to your opinion. Of course, I’ll have a completely different story to tell. And I don’t see your date backing up your version, do you… Robert, was it?’

  Watson said nothing for a few seconds, but something seemed to click. ‘How the hell did you know we were here? Are you following me? If you’re following me I’ll bloody well have you for that as well, Bliss. You see if I don’t.’

  Bliss spread his hands and grinned. ‘Hey, when you sat down at this table I was back home contemplating a nice hot dinner myself. What’s more, I have two witnesses to the precise time I left.’

  ‘So you have someone doing your dirty business for you? Another piece of filth like you, no doubt. You can’t get away with this, Bliss. Harassing an innocent man is wrong. It’s illegal. And sometime soon I’m going to make you pay for it.’

  Bliss leaned forward, aware that their discussion was drawing unwanted attention from other diners. ‘Was that a threat I heard, Neil? Sounded like one to me – or close enough, at least. I don’t think you ought to be doing that, old son.’

  ‘I wasn’t making a threat. I was saying you can’t treat me this way without there being consequences.’

  ‘Consequences?’ Bliss felt the flesh on his face pull taut against the bone. He dropped his voice. ‘You don’t know the meaning of the word. It sounds abhorrent coming out of your gob. If there was such a thing in life as consequences, Neil, you’d be banged up with all the other child killers.’

  For the first time, Watson stirred. He sneered at Bliss, his nose and mouth twisting in fury. ‘You can accuse me all you like, but that don’t make it true. Julie told you lot what happened to Harry. She told the court what happened to Harry. That’s why she’s inside and I’m out here.’

  For a moment, Bliss was almost persuaded that the man believed it himself. But he remembered the crime scene photographs, the video footage of the interviews; both had featured in a TV documentary. He shook his head. ‘You and I both know that’s not how it went down, Neil. Just like you know I’m never going to let it go. You are the kind of man who beats and eventually murders his stepson. I am the kind of man who puts scum like you in prison. You think you got away with murder because your other half covered for you. I’m here to tell you that ain’t happening. I’ll get the truth out of you, Neil. One way or another.’

  ‘You might want to think twice about pushing me, Bliss. If you think I’m capable of doing that to a kid, imagine what I’d be willing to do to you.’

  Bliss figured the redhead would be well clear of the area. He got to his feet and stood looking down at Watson for a few moments. ‘I understand what you mean, Neil, but there’s one thing you should bear in mind.’

  ‘Yeah? What’s that?’

  ‘I’m not a seven-year-old child. I can fight back. And that makes all the difference in the world to a coward like you.’

  He replayed the entire conversation over and over again in his head as he drove home. He knew he was finally getting to Watson, even though the man had so far resisted reacting. The muscle-bound thug was coming to the boil nicely, though. Bliss felt sure it wouldn’t take much more to have him bubbling over the edge.

  The first thing he did when he got indoors was to apologise to Emily for leaving
her in an uncomfortable situation. ‘I don’t know where my head was. Leaving the two of you together like that must have been awkward for both of you.’

  ‘It was certainly unexpected,’ Emily said. ‘I think she drank up so quickly the mocha scalded her mouth.’

  ‘I’ll talk to her about it tomorrow. She came over to do me a favour, and that’s how I repaid her. And I’m sorry if you felt uncomfortable. I had only a narrow window to do what I needed to do, and as usual I wasn’t thinking clearly.’

  ‘I don’t suppose you’re going to tell me why you dashed out of here – even though you do owe me an explanation in addition to the apology.’

  Bliss hung his head a little. ‘We agreed not to discuss it any more.’

  Emily’s eyes grew concerned. ‘So it was him again – Watson? Not work?’

  ‘Still work in my book,’ he said. ‘Just a different approach.’

  ‘But not sanctioned work, Jimmy. Not an actual case.’

  ‘Not yet. But like I said… we agreed not to talk about it again.’

  She nodded and went into the kitchen. He followed her and fetched himself a beer from the fridge while she put the oven on to heat up his dinner. Without asking, he topped up her wine glass that was sitting on the side.

  ‘Do you have questions about Angie?’ he asked, popping the cap off his bottle and taking a long hit. ‘Because whatever she and I once had, it was fleeting and it’s long over. I like her as a person and a colleague, but that’s all she is to me these days. And the feeling is mutual.’

  Emily took a sip from her glass, one elbow resting on the other hand that she had draped across her stomach as if protecting it from something. ‘I’m not that insecure, Jimmy. But yes, I could tell there had been something between you, and I wondered if you would own up to it.’

  Bliss raised a weak smile. ‘My relationship with Angie is one thing you don’t have to worry about, Em. And all the other shit will work itself out.’

  ‘And what if it doesn’t?’

  ‘It will.’

  ‘So you say. Is it okay if I worry about you in the meantime?’

  He nodded. ‘But there’s no need. I’m going to take care of it.’

  After taking another sip of her wine, Emily leaned back against the counter. ‘One of these days, Jimmy, you’re going to realise how little comfort those words offer.’

  Nine

  Bliss rose early the following morning. After he’d showered and dressed, he texted Chandler asking her to pick him up as he wasn’t feeling at his best. He explained that he wanted to take a look at the crime scene in daylight and was ready to leave. She arrived twenty minutes later, and seemed pleased to see the flask he carried out to the car.

  ‘You know what pisses me off?’ he said as he slid in beside her.

  ‘Literally everything?’

  ‘Besides that.’

  ‘Besides literally everything?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘That doesn’t leave a lot of scope. But please enlighten me. This ought to be good.’

  ‘I caught five minutes of a documentary last night, about Shoreditch and the changes there over the past couple of decades. Back in the day – my day, to be more precise – that area was full of faces. Mean, ugly, shovel-faced bastards who’d choke a kitten with one hand to prove they weren’t gay. These days it’s full of hipsters. Weedy nerds with their Guy Fawkes beards and heavy-rimmed glasses they don’t even need. Surviving on muesli, tofu and mung beans. What the fuck happened while I wasn’t looking?’

  ‘It’s called progress, Jimmy.’

  ‘It’s called the end of days. Where was all that gentrification when I was a kid? Oh, no, our kind were supposed to be happy with our outdoor khazis, coal fires, cold baths, and the rats having a knees-up in the basement. Get a few warehouses and office blocks redeveloped and suddenly everybody wants to tart the place up.’

  ‘You’re only jealous.’

  ‘Bloody right I am. When I think of the squalor we lived in and what passes for poverty these days… ah, forget it. I woke up in a shitty mood.’

  ‘I take it all is not well chez Bliss?’ Chandler said.

  He grunted. ‘I don’t want to talk about it. You keep your attention on the road.’

  Bliss waited until they’d passed the Norman’s Cross intersection before telling Chandler what was on his mind.

  ‘Our victim was moonlighting. That definitely put her in a dangerous position. Angie confirmed our suspicions last night. She also suggested we consider using Glen Ashton to pave the way if we go after Drake or his organisation – have him and ERSOU operate as some kind of buffer. What do you think?’

  Chandler gave him a knowing look. ‘I gather you’d like us to be on the same page when we get back to HQ?’

  ‘Ideally. The idea has merit. It would be better if any further sniffing around came from somewhere other than us. Plus, if ERSOU are involved, not even the defence can claim harassment. The CPS will have kittens as per, but they have to know we can’t stand aside if this young woman’s death is even remotely connected to Drake and our case against him.’

  ‘Even if she did work for his organisation, you’ll have a hard job making anything stick when it comes to him personally.’

  ‘I know that, Pen. Impossible, probably. But the more ammunition I get, the more likely we are to keep hold of the case. If all roads eventually lead to Drake, great. If not, we still get to solve it.’

  ‘It could work out quite well, having Ashton and ERSOU do the spade work. If it goes nowhere, we’ve lost nothing. If Drake is responsible, we swoop in and take it out of Ashton’s hands. I like it. That Angie is a shrewd one. When did you speak to her?’

  With some reluctance, Bliss told his partner about the first part of the previous evening. He also mentioned Emily’s reaction to Burton’s presence. ‘Ange reckons Em came over all protective. What’s your take?’

  ‘No question in my mind. If she’s anything like me, Emily probably picked up the scent while she was still turning the key in the lock. About that, by the way – am I right to take it as a good sign?’

  Bliss tipped his hand one way and then the other. ‘Don’t read too much into it. Like I told Ange, Em having my front door key has more to do with practicality than any long-term commitment on our part.’

  Chandler slipped the car onto the A14, and Bliss poured a cup of hot filtered coffee and passed it over. He let her take a couple of sips before picking up where he’d left off. ‘It’s an arrangement that suits us both. Her having the key. It doesn’t mean anything more than that.’

  Chandler arched her eyebrows. ‘And Emily knows this, I assume?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Then there should be no problem.’

  ‘Forget about it,’ he said, dismissing the matter. ‘It’ll sort itself out one way or another. Let’s get back to our victim. I was wondering where we go next if we come up short on an ID.’

  ‘We can’t all go around hammering square pegs into round holes, Jimmy.’

  ‘I know that – give me some credit. But what do we do in those circumstances? I’m hoping lividity together with the evidence gathered at the scene will tell us if she was killed at the chalk pits or strangled elsewhere before being dumped. Hopefully it’s the latter. The more time she spent in her killer’s company, the more likely it is that we’ll pull some fibres off her clothes. I looked at her shoes and her feet, and I saw no sign of scuffing or abrasions on the heels of either, so I don’t think she was dragged anywhere. The spot where she was found is a good hundred yards away from the closest track where you could bring a vehicle. She was no heavyweight, but that’s still one hell of a carry.’

  ‘Igor could probably do it one-handed.’

  Bliss flicked a finger at her. ‘That same thought went through my head.’

  ‘Or there are two people involved.’

  ‘Another possibility, though less likely.’

  ‘But why Cambridge? Why the chalk pits? If our gir
l lived and worked in Peterborough, why not dispose of her over at Ferry Meadows, or in the river? Bretton Woods, even. Anywhere close by? Why all the way out there?’

  He nodded. It didn’t feel quite right. There was more to this murder than they were seeing. He fell into contemplative silence.

  ‘You okay, Jimmy?’ Chandler asked after a while. ‘Other than your health today, I mean.’

  ‘Yeah. Why d’you ask?’

  ‘Your lousy mood, for one thing. You also seem a bit more preoccupied than usual lately. A little bit more solemn. I thought it was probably the whole demotion thing, especially knowing how close you came to losing your job altogether. Now… I’m not so sure.’

  He shrugged. ‘Even someone as shallow as me pauses to reflect occasionally, Pen.’

  Chandler dipped her head in his direction. ‘See? That’s what I mean. Usually you’d make a joke of it and shoot something back at me. This time you took it the wrong way. Jimmy, you know you can tell me anything. Is it this misunderstanding between you and Emily?’

  Bliss shook his head.

  ‘What, then? Is it the job?’

  ‘It’s nothing in particular. I’m off my game, is all. I’ll be fine.’

  ‘If you say so. But we need you at full throttle. Our victim needs that you, not this you.’

  He almost opened up. If there was anyone he could speak to about the things that bothered him, it was Chandler. He knew he could say anything to her without it affecting how they worked together. Without judgement. And if there had only been one thing on his mind, he might have relented and told her. But there were so many concerns spiralling around inside his head, he could hardly make sense of it himself. He wouldn’t know where to start.

  His harassment of Neil Watson was something Chandler would disapprove of. She’d call him all the names under the sun, but she would also understand. As for Emily, he had no idea where to even begin. His feelings were complicated, his emotions more so. For some people they were one and the same, but not to him. He thought of feelings as being based on a more rational thought process – something for him to cling to when the world went awry. Emotions, however, were beyond his scope of genuine understanding. He was aware that he had them; he also understood that he had no control over them whatsoever. That knowledge made him feel uneasy.