Deadly Encounter

by M A Comley

  Jack took a swig of his drink then tilted his head. “Is that right? Well, that seems a tad suspicious.”

  “Exactly what I was thinking. I want to do an in-depth check into his past when we get back. Maybe Hammond can tell us if there are any incidences along those lines noted down on his work record. Did Hammond have anything to say about Steve Endecott?”

  “Apparently, he’s on medication for being bipolar. He’s allowed to work here under the strict understanding that he doesn’t use any of the machinery unsupervised.”

  “Interesting. I’d really like to leave him until last, but I fear his break will be over soon.”

  Just then a stocky, well-built, balding man approached the table. “Hello, I’m told you want a word with me. I’m Colin, Colin Slater.”

  “Ah, yes.” Sally extended her hand and gestured for him to take a seat. “I’m DI Sally Parker, and this is my partner, DS Jack Blackman. We’ll try not to take up too much of your time. We’re making enquiries about Anne Gillan’s death. You gave a statement when she originally went missing, and we’d just like to go over that statement and see if there is anything else you’d like to add to it.”

  “Ah yes, I saw you at the funeral yesterday. I was so upset—still am. Anne was one of my best friends.” His eyes brimmed with tears.

  “I’m sorry for your loss. How close were you?”

  He smiled. “We weren’t having an affair, if that’s what you’re getting at. Most people can’t comprehend males having females as best friends unless they are sleeping with them. I loved Anne as if she were my sister. I’ve missed her dearly since the day she went missing. We had no idea that she’d been murdered until last week, really. The investigating officer on the case was a bloody dipshit. How he managed to secure a sentence against Craig is totally beyond me. They loved and cared for each other deeply—any bloody idiot could see that.”

  “Who would you have put in the frame for Anne’s murder?”

  “I haven’t got a clue. Why are you questioning her co-workers again? Do you think it was one of us?”

  “Not necessarily. Anne was walking home from work the night she went missing. We’re hoping to perhaps jog someone’s memory. Maybe someone saw her being followed that night, for instance.”

  “You’re asking a lot for people to remember that far back, Inspector. I know folks will do their hardest to try and help. Everyone and their dog loved Anne.”

  “Did you have a special bond with her?”

  “Yes, no one on this earth could wish for a truer friend than her. Since she went missing, there has been a gaping wound in my heart. She was the only one here who knew…” His head dipped.

  Sally eyed Jack with wide eyes. She reached across the table and placed her hand over Colin’s. “Knew what, Colin? You can tell us.”

  He swallowed hard and wiped tears from his cheeks. “That I’m gay.”

  Sally smiled. So that’s what was behind all the secretive conversations in the hallway. “So, she was your confidante as you were coming out, is that it?”

  “Yes, of course. Everyone knows I’m gay now. Back then, they just assumed we were having an affair. We laughed about the gossip. Even played up to it at times, just to wind folks up. Honestly, I will never have another friend as dear or as close as Anne.”

  “I’m glad she was there for you. Maybe she confided in you in return?”

  “Yes, all the time.”

  “Did she mention if anyone was making a nuisance of themselves perhaps?”

  His head came up, and his gaze drifted over to Steve Endecott. “Apart from that nutter over there, you mean?”

  “He bothered Anne? Can you tell me in what way?”

  “He used to ring her at home all the time. Kind of latched on to her. She showed him a morsel of kindness, and he pounced on it, expected far more than what she was willing to give him.” His eyes narrowed in anger.

  “And Craig was aware of this?”

  “Only at the end. Anne said he overheard a phone call she had with Steve and put two and two together and came up with five. The following day, I was there when she tore Steve off a strip for causing her grief at home. She warned him to leave her alone, not to ring her anymore after work, that kind of thing.”

  “How did he take that?”

  “He sulked for days. Avoided the canteen every time she was on duty. Anne was riddled with bloody guilt then. She wasn’t the type to be mean to people. I tried to reassure her that she hadn’t been mean to him. If Steve calling her at home was stirring up trouble between her and Craig, then she did the right thing by trying to put an end to it.”

  “Did things settle down for Anne at home with Craig? Or was there a permanent wedge driven between them?”

  “No, they were very much in love. Anne dealt with the situation swiftly. Craig was happy about that. They went on with their lives after that, until… she went missing.”

  “How soon after the incident was that?”

  He shook his head. “A week, maybe two.” He gasped and whispered, “My God, you don’t think it was him, do you?”

  Sally withdrew her hand from his. “There’s no point jumping the gun here. We’ll have a chat with him and see what conclusions we come to. Are you aware of his illness?”

  “Yes, everyone is. Phew, you just think he’s mixed up and confused then?”

  “Maybe. It might be why Anne felt sorry for him. Maybe she tried to help where she felt others had failed him, like the doctors, perhaps.”

  “I don’t know about that. All I know is that I always try and keep my distance from the guy. It’s the way he looks at you sometimes, as if he doesn’t trust you. I have no idea why. I’ve not intentionally done anything bad to him over the years.”

  “Maybe he objected to your close relationship with Anne. Have you thought about that?”

  He ran a hand over his clean-shaven chin. “Wow, you’re right. I never even considered that.”

  “I don’t recall seeing him at the funeral yesterday, or did I miss him?”

  “No. He didn’t go. Quite right too, if you ask me. Only her close friends went. It was heart-breaking for me to say goodbye. I’m glad that Anne was finally laid to rest after all these years of not knowing what had happened to her.”

  “Did Anne ever acquire interest from anyone else, shall we say?”

  He looked over his shoulder and leaned in again. “Between you and me, I always thought that Phil liked her more than he was willing to let on. Let’s just say, if she’d given him the green light, there would have been no stopping him.”

  “Interesting. And yet he was friends with Anne and her husband?”

  He shrugged. “I doubt Craig’s feelings would have got a look in, if you ask me.”

  “But nothing happened between them in the end?”

  “No. Anne would have told me. We had no secrets.”

  “Thanks very much, Colin…” Sally broke off speaking because she felt Jack’s knee pressing against hers, and she glanced his way. He was looking behind her and motioned with his head. She swivelled in her seat to see Steve Endecott, his head down, rushing out of the canteen. “Hmm… he knows we want to speak to him. Wonder where he’s off to in a hurry. Let’s get after him, Jack.” She patted Colin on the hand and smiled. “Thanks again.”

  “Hey, no worries. I hope you find who is bloody responsible. They need stringing up for what they did to both Anne and Craig,” Colin called out as she and Jack chased after Steve.

  “Which way did he go?” Sally asked, craning her neck in every direction in the hallway with many doors.

  Jack’s arms flew out to the side. “I haven’t got a bloody clue. Where do we start looking?”

  “I don’t know, but hanging around here discussing it isn’t going to help us find him. He works on the factory floor, right?”

  “I think so, although not with the heavy machinery.”

  Another worker left the canteen and squeezed past Sally. She grabbed his arm. “Hi, we’
re looking for Steve Endecott. Can you tell us what section he works in please?”

  “That nutter! He works in packing. Couldn’t be trusted to work anywhere else in the building, although he has in the past.”

  “And where is that?”

  The man pointed at the door at the end of the hall. “Through there.”

  “Thanks for your help.” Sally and Jack raced towards the door, but halfway there, Jack stopped outside a door that was ajar. He placed a finger to his lips and eased the door open to find a stairwell.

  “My guess is he’s gone this way. Maybe he was trying to put us off his scent. Knew we would go to his workstation if he disappeared.”

  Sally nodded. “You could be right. Maybe we should split up?”

  “I think that would be a mistake. Just trust me on this one, boss.” Jack tilted his head, listening for the slightest noise coming from the stairwell. “I think I can hear footsteps, but I could be wrong.”

  “Go on, we’ll chance it. After you. Quietly, though, okay?”

  They rushed up the stairs, their backs against the wall. As they reached the door to each level Sally dipped her head out to survey the area. Nothing. After the fourth flight of stairs, Jack placed his finger to his lips again and pointed up above. “I can hear distant footsteps, as if someone is pacing near the top.”

  Sally strained her ear to hear. The unmistakable noise of a door opening was followed by an alarm going off. “Crap! Go, Jack! Let’s get up there quick.” Fearing the urgency of what lay ahead of them, she chose to forge ahead with her partner rather than calling for backup. They could revisit their choices once they knew exactly what Steve was planning, although she had a rough idea what the young man had in mind.

  The climb up the stairs grew more exhausting with every step. Jack was a long way ahead of her only because of the heels Sally was wearing. Panting, she was relieved when she reached the final step. The door to the outside was open, and she could hear Jack talking to someone on the roof.

  “Shit! Just what we frigging need.” Sally fished her phone out of her pocket and called the station. Breathlessly, she relayed what was going on to Joanna, shouting above the din. “Ring the appropriate services. I’m going to try and talk him out of it, Joanna, but he’s on medication. I have no idea how stable he is. Just call for help.” She ended the call, inhaled and exhaled a few large breaths, and went through the door with the alarm still ringing in her ears.

  What she found struck fear into her heart and posed yet more questions about Steve Endecott. He was standing on the edge of the building, looking as though he would jump if either she or Jack got any closer to him. Sally had never found herself in such a situation before. “Jack, come back. Don’t get close to him,” she demanded in a hushed voice, not wishing to distract Steve.

  She swallowed the bile that had seeped into her throat, waited for Jack to join her, then placed a hand across his torso. “Leave this to me. I’ve rung the station. Joanna has put everything into action. All I have to do now is try and keep him talking until help arrives.”

  “Good luck with that. One word out of place, boss, and I think he’ll jump,” Jack replied, his mouth twisting with apprehension.

  Sally tentatively walked a few paces then stopped. “Hi, Steve. Do you mind if we have a chat?”

  The slightly built, short man began placing one foot in front of the other until he was teetering on the edge then retreated again. He remained silent.

  Sally tried to communicate with him again, but the confounded noise of the alarm still going off hindered her attempt. She thought she heard sirens in the distance as well. I wish they would shut that damn thing off. She turned and mouthed to Jack, “Get them to cut the alarm.”

  Jack shook his head. “Sorry, boss, I ain’t moving from here.”

  Sally rolled her eyes then returned her attention to Steve. “Please, Steve, come with me. All we want to do is have a chat with you.”

  Again, her plea was met with silence.

  “Steve, whatever has driven you to this can be overcome. Nothing is worth this. Please, listen to me. All we want to do is have a chat. You’re not in any trouble. I promise you.”

  His head slowly twisted her way. He looked at her through narrowed eyes, a look of pure hatred resonating in their depths. He opened his mouth to speak but failed to form any words.

  “Steve, you can talk to me. I mean you no harm. Let’s discuss things properly, away from the edge. What do you say?”

  In slow motion, his head turned away and down. Sally took a few steps nearer. She felt a waft of breeze on her arm as Jack attempted to grab her. She looked over her shoulder and smiled, letting him know that she knew what she was doing and to trust her. Her voice softened. “Steve, why won’t you talk to me? Did you do something to Anne?”

  Silence, except for the alarm constantly bombarding her ears.

  “Steve. Speak to me, tell me what you did to Anne.”

  “Nothing,” he finally replied. “I loved her. Cared for her.”

  “Then that’s a good thing. Come away from the edge, and we’ll discuss what’s going on, get you the help you need to get through this.”

  “I wanted to be there for her. I had a right to be there. I loved her.”

  A lump formed in Sally’s throat. “At the funeral, you mean?”

  “Yes, they said I wouldn’t be welcome. All I am guilty of is loving her.”

  “That’s a shame. I’m sure that must have been hard for you to take. Maybe we could go to her grave together and pay our respects. How about that?”

  “I went already. I sat with her all last night. Felt close to her for the first time in years. Why? Why did she have to leave me? Deny contact with me when I needed her most? Why? I loved her. I’ve never loved anyone like Anne before, or since.”

  “I’m sorry about that, Steve. Did Anne know how you felt about her?”

  He turned to face her slightly and nodded. “Yes, she was aware. Why did he do that to her?”

  “Who?”

  “Craig. He could never love her the way I loved her. She had never felt true love, not with him. He was only interested in her body. I wanted to delve deep into her mind. Was desperate to know her inner thoughts and desires. I would have done anything to be given the chance to love her properly, instead of from a distance.”

  “That’s a shame, Steve. Come with me, tell me how you would have treated Anne if she had consented to be with you.”

  He turned away again and Sally took another few steps towards him. She was only six feet from him, aware that she should be much closer if she was going to save him. She softened her voice further. “Talk to me, Steve.”

  “I’m finished. Done with talking. Explaining my inner thoughts to incompetent psychiatrists who just can’t comprehend what is going on in my head.”

  “I promise to find you someone willing to listen to you, Steve. Please give me the chance to do that.”

  “I’m done. Done with everything. I thought last week was bad, when I heard on the news that they had discovered Anne’s bones… but not being allowed to show up to pay my respects at her funeral was the last straw. I have nothing. Where I once clung to the hope that she may return to me, now I have nothing. My whole life is a waste. Why should I go on pretending that I am appreciated by these people?”

  “These people? Do you mean here at the factory?”

  He nodded. “They constantly ridicule me behind my back. They think I don’t hear their sniggers when they pass me in the hall or stare at me in the canteen, but I do. How heartless can some people be? I’ve never hurt anyone in my life before. I choose not to mix with them; why does that make me strange? I prefer my own company. No, that’s wrong. I preferred Anne’s company, but she was stolen from me. Now all I want is to be with her. Do you think she’ll be waiting for me?”

  “I’m sure Anne wouldn’t want you to do anything silly, Steve. Please, step away from the edge and talk to me properly. I’m willing to listen, to make su
re you get the help you need to go on in this life.”

  “I’m done. Finished. My life ended the day Anne’s bones were found. How could anyone destroy such beauty? She was beautiful inside and out. My one regret is that she turned her back on me and never explained why. I didn’t deserve to be treated that way. However, I forgave her years ago. I know who was behind her hateful words on the phone that night. It was him.”

  “Who? Craig? Her husband?”

  “Yes, he was riddled with jealousy. Insecurity was evident in his eyes every time we met. He knew that I could take her away from him at a moment’s notice, had I really wanted to. I just needed her to love me as much as I loved her.”

  “And did she?”

  He shook his head. “No. Too many outside influences. We needed to spend time together for her to appreciate what I could do for her. I would have worshipped her had she let me. Do you think she’ll let me now?”

  Sally stepped forward, to within three feet of him. She could see over the edge of the building. Below, a mass of people stared up at them, shielding their eyes from the blazing sun. The sirens had faded a few minutes ago. She counted two fire engines and an ambulance near the entrance. Several firemen were securing the area, forming a barrier with their bodies and outstretched arms. “Steve. This isn’t what Anne would have wanted. She’s still around us now, watching over you. She would be devastated if you ended your life in the hope that you would be reunited in the afterlife. There’s a natural progression in this world. Who knows where the body ends up if that path is interfered with? Does any of us truly know what happens to a soul when it is torn from our body too soon? Our path is set in stone. It’s not your time to go yet, Steve. Please, please reconsider your actions.” Sally tested her reach to see if she could grab him. He was three inches out of her grasp.

  “Why should I? No one wants me? I’d be better off dead. I know Anne will be waiting for me. Nothing you can say can alter what I think. Nothing.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so negative. But if you believe in God, do you really think He will be happy that you’ve ended your life? Tampered with the plans He had in place for you?”