BLOOD MONEY a gripping crime thriller full of twists

by Charlie Gallagher

  ‘I know what I’m doing,’ Lizzy managed finally. ‘She’s got places she can go, people who care about her, she really can disappear. I got none of that.’

  ‘So what, you threw her to the wolves? Is that it? Fuck, Lizzy, where is she now?’

  ‘She’s safe, I swear. But what about me? I got no one.’

  Emily waited for the sobs to stop. ‘You’ve got me, Lizzy. I’m here, aren’t I? But you need to help me sort this out.’

  Lizzy was already shaking her head, ‘I ain’t grassing, you get nothing out of me. You always said you never needed no statement from me, you said I didn’t have to put my name to any information. I know people still got raided ’cause of what I told you, they still got nicked, still got banged up. What do you need me for this time?’

  ‘This is totally different, Lizzy. This is murder, and you’re at risk because of what you know, more at risk than you’ve ever been. There’s all sorts of legislation round intelligence like this. I can protect you.’

  ‘Fuck if I ain’t heard that before. I got to go, Emily, I got to be somewhere. Listen, you know what’s happened and you know where to find the man what did it, so do what you need to do. That’s how you keep me safe.’ Lizzy got up to leave.

  Emily stood up too and blocked Lizzy’s exit. ‘You’re just going to go back to him, aren’t you? Back to his flat where he’s cleaning up the blood of the man he murdered. How long do you think you can survive in that environment? How long before he’s cleaning your blood off his hands?’

  ‘Find a way of getting him nicked that don’t involve me. Then he can’t touch me, Emily. Now you got to get out of my way or you won’t be seeing me again.’

  Emily stepped aside. Lizzy walked away. ‘You know where I am if you need me, Lizzy. Day or night.’

  Lizzy pushed the door open and didn’t look back.

  CHAPTER 24

  John Stone, the chief constable of Lennokshire Police, was enjoying the sun on his face. Although initially he had been furious that Helen Webb had slipped off home, claiming to be ill, he was now happy that at least he didn’t have to concern himself with her issues. It was bad enough being here at all. Helen had stood down most of his protection team after she had reassessed the risk level. Again, he had been upset that she had done so without consulting him but he now stood in the sun, just happy that the occasion might not be the claustrophobic experience that often comes with a public appearance of the chief of police. He didn’t need any reminder that he wasn’t popular in this town, but with the September sun warming his face and the view from the top of the Leas down to the calm blue of the English Channel, he felt almost relaxed.

  John Stone did his best to project a warm smile as a woman holding the hand of a squirming toddler approached him. They both looked very unsure of themselves. The chief was accompanied by Elena Maxton. She was the first female sergeant he’d been able to find to replace Helen. This was for the “woman’s touch,” as he’d described it.

  ‘Sir, this is Amanda Cutter, Ian Cutter’s wife,’ Elena explained. ‘And their granddaughter, Ellie-May.’

  The chief put his arms out to Amanda but abandoned the embrace halfway, opting for a limp handshake.

  ‘Of course. We met briefly at Sergeant Cutter’s funeral.’ He ignored the child.

  ‘He was just Ian to us,’ Amanda said curtly, her face reddening a little.

  ‘To me too,’ the chief replied, maintaining his smile as best he could. ‘How are you? I can only imagine how hard it has been.’

  ‘Yes, you can. That’s all any of you can do. All the people that persuaded him to return, that wouldn’t let him walk away from the job, all you can do now is imagine how difficult it is for his widow, for his family and the grandchildren that he leaves behind.’

  ‘He was one of the good ones, a very talented man, and you’re right, we don’t let them go easily. I’m so sorry, Mrs Cutter, for what happened and how it happened.’

  Amanda let out a sigh. ‘I always said the job would kill him. I thought it would be the stress. I mean he was too old to be front line and he knew it, he knew to let the younger ones go out and do the rough stuff.’ Her eyes were puffy. ‘He made it, though. The tough old bugger got right to the end of his career. We’d been making retirement plans for years. I teased Ian before he went to work that last time that this was the reason he’d gone back, so he could put off having to travelling round Europe in a campervan. He will never have to do that trip now.’

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ the chief said.

  ‘There’s no need. He was to blame. The silly old fool should have walked away, but he couldn’t. It was inevitable, really. He was only ever going to come out of there in a box.’

  Silence. The chief shifted his feet and Elena intervened. ‘Well, sir, we should get round the rest of the people, and I’m sure Mrs Cutter would like some time on her own.’

  The two women shared a curt nod. Elena and the chief walked away.

  ‘She’s a bitter old fossil,’ the chief hissed. ‘No one forced that man to come back to us, did they?’

  ‘Well, to be fair, sir, she did say that. She’s just angry. You work all your life to enjoy your retirement and then it gets snatched away, just like that.’

  ‘I suppose so. See? That’s why you’re here!’ The chief grinned, already on his way towards the next group. ‘Come on, Elena, get me round the rest of these people.’

  CHAPTER 25

  ‘That’s Lizzy MacDonald.’ PC Cavan Kendall punctured the silence in the Ford response car. He sat in the passenger seat with a Costa Coffee cup between his thighs.

  ‘So it is. She looks in a hurry,’ Constable Steve Goddes replied. He was in the driving seat.

  ‘She’s probably wanted. Usually is.’

  ‘Fuck’s sake, Cavan. I just got this coffee, can we not just sit still for five minutes?’

  ‘You love working with me, Goddes, you know you do! You stay there and do some radio checks. I’ll go speak to her.’

  Cavan stepped out of the car and fixed his hat in place. Lizzy was walking towards him, her head bent.

  ‘Hey, Lizzy! Long time, no see,’ Cavan called out.

  Lizzy lifted her head and walked towards him. ‘I been keeping me head down, ain’t I? Not been giving you any cause to stop me.’ Lizzy was sweating, her voice was a little shaky, and her eyes darted about.

  Cavan took a small step backwards. ‘So what you up to?’

  Lizzy looked blank. Cavan had a strong Irish accent and he was aware that he sometimes spoke too fast for his English listeners. He repeated the question more slowly. ‘It’s the accent, right? I speak too fast. I’m sorry.’

  ‘My aunt was Irish. Limerick.’

  Cavan beamed. ‘Best part. I’ve still got family there.’

  ‘I remember. We’ve had this conversation before.’

  ‘I remember too, I didn’t think you would though! You’d had a few then, girl.’

  Lizzy shrugged. ‘So am I in trouble or something?’

  ‘I don’t only speak to people when they’re in trouble, you know.’

  ‘Nah, sometimes you stop people and just hope they’re in trouble. Your mate over there, he’s not checking me on your radio then, no?’

  ‘Old habits.’ Cavan smiled. He had piercing blue eyes beneath a crop of dark hair and a neatly trimmed beard.

  ‘You’re one of the decent ones,’ Lizzy allowed. ‘Nick me in a heartbeat, but you always let me have a fag before getting in the car. For a copper, that’s about as decent as you lot get.’

  ‘How’s your fellow?’

  ‘My fellow?’

  Cavan gestured at the entrance to Peto Court, less than ten metres from where they stood.

  ‘You still with the fellow from in there, right? The guy who’d slapped you around the last time we met. I talked to you about getting safe and you told me you would. I guess you didn’t make it yet.’

  ‘I never said I needed to be safe.’

  ‘You didn�
�t have to. You had bruising on your arms, red marks round your neck and I’m naturally suspicious.’

  Lizzy shrugged. ‘We all have our own lives.’

  Cavan suddenly turned his attention to a voice that erupted through the earpiece he wore that connected to his police radio. He pressed a button clipped onto his stab vest and said, ‘Go ahead, mate.’ He looked at Lizzy, and said, ‘Excuse me a minute, Lizzy.’

  ‘Mate, still doing checks over here but it looks like she’s wanted on a warrant. Failing to appear over in Canterbury after a shoplifting offence. There’s some confusion ’cause she’s been nicked since the warrant was issued but it doesn’t look like that was dealt with, for whatever reason. I’m just getting it clarified but don’t let her go.’

  ‘Okay, mate, no worries.’ Cavan turned back to Lizzy. ‘My mate’s telling me there’s some issue with the computers up there so it’s taking a while, and he’s reminding me that my coffee’s getting cold.’ He smiled again.

  ‘I’m not stopping you drinking it.’

  ‘I don’t mind, Lizzy, it’s always a pleasure to speak to you.’

  ‘I can’t go, then?’

  ‘I’m sure you don’t mind standing with me for a minute, do you? Have you got somewhere to be?’

  ‘No.’ Lizzy shrugged again. She folded her arms across her chest and her gaze drifted towards Peto Court, just behind her. She started, and her eyes widened. Quickly she turned them back to Cavan.

  ‘You okay, Lizzy?’

  She gave him a little nod.

  * * *

  ‘Fuck!’ Lee Chivers’ voice echoed round the concrete stairwell. He’d stepped back from the window, but Lizzy might have seen him. The stupid fucking whore was probably spilling her guts to that pig out there, and now he would have all sorts of problems. Even if she wasn’t, the fact that a copper had stopped her by Peto Court was bad news, especially given what he had in mind for her. Lee shook his head and gritted his teeth. Fuck it. It wouldn’t matter, they knew she lived here anyway. It would always be the first place they’d come to look for her. He just needed to be sure they didn’t come looking for as long as possible. And that when they did she was well hidden, or what was left of her. Lee startled to bristle with excitement. He’d prepped the flat, planned where he’d be standing when she entered, played it out in his mind, and now he was looking forward to his moment.

  * * *

  Lizzy’s attention was suddenly elsewhere. There was no further talk of Limerick and how he’d allowed her to smoke a fag. Now she was agitated, fidgety, and scared. At first Cavan thought that maybe she had worked out that she’d missed a court date, and knew there would be a warrant out for her. But then he’d nicked her a couple of times in the past, and that hadn’t scared her.

  But now she was definitely afraid. Very afraid. Cavan shot a glance back towards the marked Ford, and his mate.

  ‘Let me just check if he’s done, Lizzy. He seems to be taking his time back there.’

  Lizzy nodded absently, her attention on the block of flats.

  * * *

  Lee was still there, standing bent forwards facing the painted stone wall, one hand upon it, holding his weight, while the other held his phone to his ear. It connected to Niall Webster, once a talented self-employed brickie who had all but lost the battle with his alcohol addiction and now passed a squalid existence in the corner bedsit on the bottom floor of the building.

  ‘Yeah.’ Niall’s voice was deep and rough, as though he’d just been woken up.

  ‘Webby, it’s Gee.’

  ‘What you need?’

  ‘You in your flat?’

  ‘Yeah, ’course.’

  ‘Lizzy’s outside with the filth. When they fuck off, I need to make sure she don’t do the same. I need to talk to her, see.’

  ‘I get you. But fucking hell, Gee, it kills me getting in and out that fucking window.’

  ‘I need this, Webby.’

  ‘I’m on it man, fuck’s sake, I’m on it.’

  Lee cut the call.

  * * *

  PC Steve Goddes finally got out of the car and Lizzy turned to stare at him.

  ‘Hey, Lizzy, you okay?’ Steve asked. She didn’t reply. He looked beyond her and frowned at Cavan, who shrugged. Like Cavan, Steve had met Lizzy before and neither of them had seen her react like this.

  ‘What’s the craic then, mate? Anything outstanding for Lizzy here?’ Cavan already knew the answer.

  ‘The W needs sorting,’ Steve replied. “W.” was police-speak for warrant. It was pretty obvious, but it served to give officers a few seconds to get the cuffs on before the subject worked it out.

  Cavan kept his cuffs in his pocket for now, but he stepped a little closer to Lizzy and she returned her gaze to him.

  ‘Lizzy, mate, we’ve done all the radio checks, and it seems there’s a warrant been issued for you. It’s for failing to appear at court, I think, but we can get that clarified back at the nick. You’re going to have to come with us for now, though.’

  Lizzy burst into tears. The tension drained from her face and she slumped forward, her head and arms seeming to hang from her shoulders. The two officers again exchanged glances.

  ‘You okay, Lizzy?’ Cavan asked. ‘You know how this goes, worst-case scenario, you get to stay in overnight and you’re in court first thing in the morning. It’s no big deal.’

  Lizzy didn’t reply. Her body was convulsed with huge sobs.

  Steve moved in behind her and took hold of her arm. As he heard the cuff ratchet shut, Cavan was sure he saw a smile on her face.

  Then, just like that, she switched again. ‘I can’t be nicked!’ Lizzy suddenly screeched and she pulled back as Steve Goddes took hold of her other wrist. ‘You ain’t fucking taking me nowhere!’ Steve took a firmer hold of her flailing right arm and pushed her down. She dropped to one knee, screaming out in pain.

  ‘Calm down, Lizzy, for fuck’s sake.’ Cavan put a hand on her shoulder, and she relented enough for the other cuff to be applied, but she was still vocal. She swore loudly. In any other area, every window would be twitching by now as residents looked on curiously, but here, in the streets surrounding Peto Court, no one gave a second glance.

  Lizzy was still bent forward, as Steve held the rigid black plastic that bridged the cuffs. The two officers looked down at her. She quickly calmed down.

  ‘You have no idea,’ she said. ‘Look, I’ll come in myself tomorrow morning, no problem, I swear down, I’ll come in, you don’t have to do this.’ She shook her head.

  ‘Come on, Lizzy, you know we can’t ignore this. Let’s get you to your feet.’

  Lizzy scrambled to her feet and walked towards the police car between the officers. Cavan saw her smile again. He looked beyond her, over to Peto Court where something moved at an upstairs window. A shadow? Anyway, it was nothing he could make out and he turned away.

  * * *

  Lee Chivers slapped the wall. They were taking her away! He felt as though he would combust with the frustration. He went to the top of the stairs that led down to Lizzy and the coppers and stood still, holding the door open, going through his options. He longed to sprint down the stairs, baying for a fight. He sighed. He would have to be patient. Lizzy would have to wait until tomorrow. There was plenty that needed to be done before then, anyway. He still had to clear up his earlier “work,” and he had another thieving whore to find. He would take his time when he found that one.

  Lee took a last look out of the window. He could see the coppers, both standing still with their hands to their radios. Lizzy wasn’t yet in the car. She was facing Lee again.

  She looked worried.

  * * *

  Both the men’s radios erupted at the same time. All three fell silent as the men listened. The second copper wasn’t wearing his earpiece and Lizzy could hear the hurried transmission.

  ‘Shots fired, shots fired,’ someone shouted excitedly, then there was a silence and the two officers exchanged glances. The radios
shook again. ‘The Leas, Langthorne, shots fired, we have officers down, I don’t know how many, the chief’s been hit up here, we need a medic on the hurry up.’

  Cavan’s hand went to his belt, and Steve Goddes broke into a sprint towards the patrol car.

  Cavan grabbed at Lizzy’s cuffs again. She squirmed in pain as they were hastily removed. ‘You’ll come in tomorrow, Lizzy. Go to the front counter and tell them there’s a warrant, yeah? We need to go.’

  Lizzy said nothing as the copper undid her cuffs. He had to bend to retrieve them when they fell to the ground. The patrol car revved hard behind him and Cavan ran round to the passenger side as the blue lights flickered on.

  Lizzy watched the car race off. It passed a figure standing motionless on the pavement that ran alongside the building. Even at this distance she recognised Niall Webster. He put a cigarette to his lips without taking his eyes from her, and she knew immediately why he was there. She had heard Lee give this order to Niall once before when someone had tried to leave the building. No one left until Lee Chivers said they could leave. The cops had given Lizzy a way out, she had given Lee a show so he’d think she was resisting, and it had all been for nothing. The moment she’d seen him waiting for her she knew she’d made a big mistake. Now she was going to have to go in there and face him.

  * * *

  Lee’s confused scowl was soon replaced by a broad smile. He watched Lizzy starting towards the entrance to Peto Court and ran to the door of his flat. As he pushed it open, it snagged on the large tarpaulin sheet he had laid out on the floor in readiness, and he had to push it with his shoulder. He made one last check that his tools were correctly laid out on the floor, smoothed the sheet back down, took up his position and waited.

  CHAPTER 26

  PCs Goddes and Kendall were the first to arrive at the scene. They saw people running away from the memorial arch, which was at the top of the hill where the Leas began. There was a McDonald’s on the corner on the right side. The restaurant had been busy with teenagers and families, and it was emptying fast onto the pavement where most people took a sharp left away from the Leas and back towards the town.