by Franklin, JJ
‘What was in that padded envelope? It was such a funny shape, I tried poking it but thought it might burst.’
Matt moved lazily from the table to collect the pile of post that he had left on the little table beside his chair. Selecting the only padded envelope, he slit it open to let the contents fall onto the table just as Eppie was about to place the bubbling apple crumble in the middle.
He stood looking down at the little soldier in complete horror. The wonderful sense of home and comfort was shattered. The evil he was fighting had reached into the very centre of his life. It was here in the midst of his home beside his wife. She wasn’t safe here. A thousand questions began firing off in his head.
Eppie gasped at his reaction and almost dropped the crumble but managed to recover and moved forward again.
‘Don’t touch it’, Matt commanded.
Shocked, Eppie took the crumble back into the kitchen and, still wearing the oven gloves, returned to stare from Matt to the little soldier.
‘Is it dangerous?’ she ventured.
For a moment, Matt was inactive, then he took an evidence bag from his pocket and, hooking the end of his pen through the arm of the model, lifted it carefully into the bag before doing the same for the envelope and placing it into a separate bag. Returning to his training and taking the required action had cleared his mind, and he knew what he had to do. He looked up at Eppie.
‘Very dangerous. It means that the vile bastard who killed those girls knows where I live. Probably also that I am married. That puts you in danger. If he is set on getting at me, he’ll use any means he can. He wouldn’t think twice about harming you, and I want you out of here, now. Go pack a bag.’
For a second, Matt thought she was going to argue as she waved her still gloved hand towards the kitchen and the remains of the meal, but then, after looking up at his grave face, she gave in and, leaving the oven gloves on her chair, she moved towards the bedroom.
Matt already had the phone in his hand, but he pulled her to him as she went past. They clung to each other, and before the phone was answered, Matt managed to whisper, ‘Sorry,’ and plant a kiss on her forehead.
Eppie left him as he began giving orders. She was used to travelling light, and it took her only a couple of minutes to pack enough for a few days and to pick up her book before returning to the living room.
Matt was still on the phone, so she left her bag in the hallway and went into the kitchen to put away the rest of the beef and wash the meat pan. The crumble was too hot to go into the fridge, so she placed it in the oven instead. She had no idea when they would be able to return, and somehow she wondered if it would ever feel the same. Eppie had read about how people who had been burgled had found it difficult to go back into their own homes. This must be similar or even worse, for the person who had sent the soldier had murdered Sandi and that other poor girl.
She found herself looking out of the little kitchen window at the cars parked in the road. Was the murderer out there watching? Had he followed her or Matt home? He could be any one of those seemingly normal people she and Sandi had spoken to, tried to help, or joked with. It didn’t seem possible that someone who could commit such awful crimes would be able to conceal it so well. She would have thought such depraved wickedness would at least show in the eyes. For the first time, Eppie felt a shudder of fear run through her.
Matt was dealing with this on a twenty-four-hour basis, trying to catch the murderer before he could kill again. The second murder would have already given him a sense of failure, and now he would be worried about her. She was just wondering where they would go, or if she would have to stay somewhere on her own when Matt called.
‘Eppie, any chance of staying with Amy or Mo? Failing that it might mean a hotel room with a police guard,’ Matt gestured helplessly at the choice.
‘I’ll ring them,’ she replied, moving to get her mobile from a pocket of the packed bag.
Matt nodded and continued his calls, pausing only to open the door to a uniformed officer to whom he handed the two evidence bags.
Eppie could get no answer from Amy, either on her landline or mobile, and vaguely remembered her mentioning something about a holiday to America. Mo answered the phone just as Eppie was thinking of hanging up. She sounded harassed and breathless. In the background, Eppie could hear little Liam crying fretfully.
Mo apologised and explained that Liam had chicken pox and was irritated by it, so she was spending all day and most of the night, putting lotion on the pustules. Wishing Liam a speedy recovery, Eppie hung up after promising to call back for a chat in a few days.
Moving across to Matt, who was still on the phone, she put both arms around him as he opened his free arm to hug her. This was maybe the last time they would be this close until the murderer was caught, and Eppie wanted to imprint the smell and feel of him deep into her memory.
As he finished the call, he put the phone down and held her tight before drawing back to look at her, as if he too wanted to remember every detail of her. A knock on the door broke the spell, but before moving to answer, Matt bent to kiss Eppie, who returned his passion so that only a second knock broke them apart. With a last look into his face, she let Matt answer the door.
This time it was Sam, and Matt led him into the room. ‘Sam is going to take you to the station. It will be easier to take you from there to where you will be safe.’
‘In case anyone is following,’ she surmised.
‘Yes.’
He hadn’t elaborated, and Eppie guessed he didn’t want to spell out the dangers ahead.
‘Any luck with Amy or Mo?’ he said in a lighter tone.
Eppie shook her head, knowing that this left no option but a cold hotel room with a series of unknown police officers to babysit her. As she picked up her bag, she comforted herself that it wouldn’t be for long and that she could make friends with some of Matt’s colleagues and maybe even finish her book.
Pausing only to give a brief final hug to Matt, she followed Sam down the back stairs to where an unmarked police car with a plain-clothed driver was waiting.
CHAPTER 40
Clive lay beside Ben, trying to find the right words to tell him about his wonderful secret. Then the phone rang. Ben shifted his sleepy head and gave a little moan of annoyance, reaching out his arm to keep Clive beside him. Clive heard the answer phone kick in and was content to leave it.
However, it had spoiled his peace. Clive received few calls, so the likelihood was that it would be Margaret. What if Mother was returning early? It would be just like her to ruin everything. This would be a ploy for her and Margaret to get a look at his supposed bride.
He had no intention of introducing Ben to the family or of enduring their endless reproaches. Not that he could ever tell them the full extent of their friendship. This love was his alone.
Ben sighed and sat up.
‘You’d better get that. You know you want to.’
He was right. Clive needed to know if Mother and Margaret were on their way.
‘Sorry. Mother might be ill or something.’ He slipped on his dressing gown and went downstairs.
It was as he thought. Mother was feeling tired after being out so late last night, and Margaret was returning her home. He cursed them both and returned upstairs to alert Ben.
He was already out of bed and Clive stood in the doorway for a moment looking at him as he reached for his clothes.
‘Momma is on her way. Right?’
Clive nodded as he moved across to him, needing to hold him one more time. Their kiss reawakened the desire in both of them, but it was Ben who pulled away first.
‘Look, I’m out of here. Too soon to be playing happy families. OK?’
‘Yes, of course.’
‘We’ll do this again soon. I promise.’
‘And I’ll see you at work.’
‘Sure.’
Clive had to be content with that and, within five minutes, Ben was gone, leaving him with fifteen minu
tes to have a shower and tidy up. By the time Mother arrived, he was sitting in the living room calmly doing the crossword.
As they came in, he could see Mother’s sharp little eyes move around the room, seeking any evidence of his guest. Margaret even grinned at him as if there was some conspiracy between them.
‘Sorry. I did my best, but you know what she is like.’
‘I understand. Thanks.’
‘I was a little worried about her pain tablets too. We turned her bag out and couldn’t find them.’
He knew exactly where the tablets were, having removed them from her bag himself at dinner last night. It had only taken a moment to roll them under the radiator next to their table. He had insisted they sit there out of consideration for Mother who, he explained, felt the cold.
After making an extensive pretend search, Clive came up with the suggestion that maybe she lost them while they were at the spa last night. Mother thought it unlikely, but he insisted on ringing in case they had been handed in.
For this sort of occasion, his persona of a caring son really paid off, and his worried and concerned approach instituted a search on the site by several staff, one of whom soon discovered the little bottle just where he had placed it. Clive gallantly insisted on driving out there to collect it.
He needed to time his visit to coincide with the arrival for work of the one he had chosen. She was to be the centrepiece of his next communication, and he needed to know what car she drove and from which direction she came.
After Margaret left, he forced himself to listen to Mother twitter on about Emily’s latest achievements, none of which interested him in the slightest. It felt as if Mother, here in his house, where Ben had been just an hour before, defiled the memory. He found he couldn’t bear to be there with her, so after fixing her a light tea, he headed out for the spa, going by way of the DI’s flat.
The small block of flats seemed to be on fire as the windows caught the rays of the late afternoon sun. He drove slowly, glancing at what he guessed would be DI Turrell’s windows. There was no sign of life but then the little soldier must have started his rout by now. His only disappointment was not being there when the DI opened his gift. Clive tried to imagine the shock on his face while consoling himself that it was nothing compared to his plans for Tuesday. He had never believed in not hitting a man when he was down; instead, he found it the best time—when you have the advantage.
Mika was her name, and he guessed she would have some Oriental blood that should make her easy to spot. Clive had chosen her from the rota when he had booked the masseuse for Mother. She was new and therefore wouldn’t know him at all. Plus, she worked from six to nine p.m., Friday until Tuesday, which was perfect for his purpose.
As he waited in the guest’s car park, he went through his plans again. Clive’s main worry was that public outcry would cause the health spa to be closed. That granite like superintendent was already calling for such action. After Clive’s next endeavour, he would probably have his way.
He thought with a shock that he would have to find a new field of operation and ran over the possibilities. Warwick University was his favourite. There would be ample raw material there, and he began to be quite excited at the opportunities and had to pull himself back to concentrate on the immediate plan.
Precisely at five-forty-five, a black and white Mini drove through the car park and made its way to the staff parking lot beyond. It was darker there and he had already checked out that the CCTV cameras didn’t extend to the area.
Clive waited thirty seconds before he got out of his car to follow her into the club. No one else had arrived, so this had to be her. She was small and slim, carrying herself with an easy grace. He made sure he was right behind her and heard the receptionist greet her by name.
He could feel his body tensing, as if preparing for war, excited and scared all at the same time. He wanted to do it now, tonight. His fingers craved to go around a warm neck, to squeeze and squeeze harder until the eyes glazed over and the body fell limply into his arms to become the basic material for his work. Forcing himself to concentrate, he managed to hold down his mounting excitement. He couldn’t afford to make the slightest mistake but had to hold himself in check until Tuesday. Then he would be making national headlines again, maybe even international.
Clive hoped Mika used these last two nights well, since they would be her last.
CHAPTER 41
Before Matt left the flat, he glanced around, trying to recall the comfortable, happy feeling of home he had been experiencing with Eppie just an hour earlier. They seemed to be past their argument of the other day, and he knew their marriage was right and they would make it work.
He wished he had the bastard who had spoilt it all in front of him. But whoever delivered the model soldier had far greater crimes to answer for, and it was his job to catch him. Making a vow to himself that he would do just that, he locked the door and went to his car. As he drew out of the parking lot, the patrol car across the street pulled in behind him. Matt felt this was a bit over the top but McRay had insisted.
As soon as he entered the office, he had the sense that something wasn’t right. Sam seemed to be hovering, almost waiting for Matt to step through the door.
‘Guv,’ he said hesitantly. ‘There’s someone here.’
Matt continued to stride forward with Sam walking backwards in front of him, physically trying to slow him down. When this failed, he put a hand on Matt’s arm.
‘Someone from division.’ Sam was apologetic as he nodded towards McRay’s office.
Through the frosted glass, Matt could see the back of a woman wearing a dark suit. She was standing next to McRay and another more burly figure that he guessed belonged to Professor Meredith.
‘Thanks, Sam,’ he said, moving past Sam towards the office. He had half expected this. McRay would consider him personally involved and therefore liable to compromise the investigation. Matt had hoped he would give him the benefit of the doubt but he may have received orders from above.
McRay saw him walking towards the office and opened the door to usher him inside. ‘Matt, come in. This is DI Hadden from division,’ he said indicating the woman. ‘You will realise that we have no option but to take the case away from you, given what has happened.’
Matt turned towards the woman, automatically holding out his hand. He tried to keep the shock from his face as she returned the brief handshake, giving no indication that they had ever met before.
There was little trace of the fun-loving Jenny from nine years ago. She had retained her trim figure but her face now held lines of hardness. Even now, it was difficult for a woman to make her way in the police force, and he guessed she had had to make some hard decisions along the way.
McRay continued, ‘And Professor Meredith kindly offered to come to help us shed light on what is happening. Perhaps you would all like to take a seat.’ McRay waved to the couch and chairs opposite, and Matt couldn’t help thinking of the night he had slept there. It seemed a long time ago.
With an effort, Matt brought his mind back to the present and prepared himself to listen to one of the professor’s rambling lectures. He was surprised that the professor seemed genuinely concerned for his and Eppie’s safety, pointing out the possible motives for the murderer sending one of his props to Matt’s home address.
‘This clearly shows that he sees you as his personal adversary, Inspector.’
‘Why did he send it to the inspector’s home?’ Jenny asked.
‘I would suspect that he was striking where the inspector is the most vulnerable, at his family.’
It was only a flicker of the eyes, but Matt was sure that McRay hadn’t yet fully advised Jenny of all the details, including the fact that he was married and that Eppie was at risk.
She concealed it well. ‘And where are the family now?’ was all she asked.
McRay replied. ‘We have had to compromise, given the cost of maintaining around-the-clock watch on a hotel
room and have placed Mrs. Turrell with one of our female officers. It is not the ideal solution, I agree, but the best we could do at short notice.’
Jenny nodded in agreement. ‘So this killer is a risk taker. Does he want to be caught, Professor? He leaves items with the victim, any one of which could lead us back to him, and now he chooses to add to that risk by singling out Inspector Turrell?’
‘There may be a deeply buried element of that. However, I believe he is showing us how clever he is, taunting us. He also wants us to feel his pain, so we can be aware of why he has set out on this course.’
Jenny nodded before continuing. ‘So why Inspector Turrell? Is it just because he is—was—in charge?’
Matt noted how she had corrected herself, and the truth hit home. He had held all the threads in his hands, but now he was to be left stranded and redundant. He forced himself to listen to the professor.
‘Well, I would suspect that the inspector reminds the murderer of someone in his past, someone he did not get on with or with whom he feels he has a score to settle. One thing is for certain, he is a clever, cunning individual and should not be underestimated. I would recommend the inspector should also have protection.’
Matt felt quite touched that the professor should think about his safety, even though he was sure he could handle himself against the killer and would relish the chance to come face to face with him.
‘We’ll take good care of him,’ McRay answered, as the professor stood to leave. ‘Don’t you worry.’
Jenny was still reading the case notes but looked up as the professor was about to move away. ‘Just one more question, Professor?’
He nodded.
‘Why a model soldier? He is dressing these women up to look like young girls at a party, so it hardly seems to fit, does it?’
The professor sat down opposite Jenny and leant forward. ‘Exactly. I find this most interesting. I don’t think the little fellows ever represented a form of play for him, although they probably do come from his childhood. He seems to have attached some sort of hate to them, so I would suspect they belonged to someone in authority over him, like a father or grandfather.’
