The Reluctant Villain

by James Williams

  “Has Lee found another college to teach in?”

  She nodded and was about to expand her silent comment but glanced ahead and muttered a curse under her breath. She switched on her siren and accelerated. Gerry was flung back in his seat at this sudden change in motion and he glanced ahead to view the reason. Smoke was pouring out of a building they were approaching.

  The WPC put in a call for assistance and was told fire appliances were already on their way. Telling Gerry to stay where he was she jumped out of the car. However, he was already half out of the vehicle because he recognised the building that was now ablaze. It was his ex-employer’s shop!

  She called to him while running to the side street next to the shop,

  “Stay there Gerry. I’m going to see if I can get in through the back entrance”

  Reluctantly he obeyed her instruction but felt helpless. A sudden thought struck him, hoping this wasn’t any of Ernie’s or Mark’s doing. He could hear the approach of at least two emergency vehicles speeding towards the scene. Within seconds a fire appliance and ambulance arrived from one direction while a turntable ladder arrived from another.

  Gerry ran to the first appliance to tell a fireman that Karen had gone to check if she could get in through the back entrance. The officer instructed two of his colleagues to go and find her. More emergency vehicles were arriving and soon, the crowd that had gathered, including Gerry were moved further away from the proximity of the blaze.

  Two ambulance personnel were sent around the back of the building which now had flames coming out of the upper storey. A sick feeling in the pit of his stomach started to engulf Gerry, hoping Karen was still safe.

  A few minutes later the ambulance crew came back into view carrying, with the aid of two firemen a stretcher between them with a large body, covered by a blanket. From where he stood it was impossible for Gerry to distinguish who it might be. This was placed in the rear of the ambulance which sped away, sirens blaring into the night sky.

  His gaze returned to the blazing building. Only a few months ago it had been a happy workplace with a friendly environment, for him but those feelings had evaporated to nothing. And now had it also claimed the life of someone who had shown him sympathy and should have moved to another area to start a fresh life? He felt his eyes moisten. Wiping his face, he tried to convince himself the smoke from the fire was the cause.

  He let out a huge sigh of relief when he saw Karen being helped to walk to another ambulance and placed in the rear of the vehicle which pulled away at a more sedate pace.

  The firemen now seemed to have the blaze under control so he decided it was time to go home. He had only walked about a dozen paces when he heard a call from behind.

  “That’s one of the two I mentioned. Arrest him!”

  There was no mistaking the strident tones of Percival Matthews and he turned to look in the direction the voice had come from. Seconds later two strong hands had grasped his arms and pushed him against a nearby police car. He tried to struggle but his assailant was far stronger and bigger.

  “Hold still son, I want to ask you a few questions”

  Gerry was slowly allowed to turn around to face the policeman who had apprehended him. Percy Matthews strode forward and tried to grab hold of Gerry but was prevented from doing so by the officer.

  “Stand back Mr Matthews, I will deal with this if you don’t mind. Now, what’s your name son?”

  Once again Matthews wanted to have the first word,

  “It’s Gerry Reynolds, I dismissed him a few weeks ago, he and that fat slob Harry, were responsible for this fire!”

  Holding Gerry by one arm the officer turned to Matthews.

  “Mr Matthews! If you don’t stop interfering I might have to arrest you as well. Now stand back and don’t say another word”

  Gerry spoke for the first time.

  “Yes, my name is Gerry Reynolds but you said something about me being arrested, what have I done wrong?”

  “I’m not arresting you just yet, I want to know the reason for you being here”

  Gerry explained the reason for his presence and how he got there. The officer looked a little suspiciously at him.

  “You say a police officer stopped to give you a lift and you just happened to come this way? We don’t normally run a taxi service, so what’s the name of this officer”

  Sensing the officer was not convinced by his story Gerry sighed and gave him all the details, at the same time hoping he wasn’t going to get Karen in trouble.

  The officer looked carefully at Gerry then took a firmer grip of his arm.

  “I don’t know of a WPC called Karen Bradley. I’m inclined to think she hadn’t given you a lift but that you were arrested for some other offence. So, for the moment, I’m going to handcuff you and put you in my car while I make enquiries with other officers in the area”

  Gerry protested and tried to struggle but he was no match for the officer.

  “I’m telling the truth! She tried to get into the building but was led into an ambulance by Para medics about ten minutes later and she must be at the hospital by now. That’s the truth, honest!”

  “Then you’ve got nothing to worry about have you. So, stop struggling and get in the car or I’ll bring other charges!”

  Realising his resistance could get him in further trouble, he allowed himself to be handcuffed and bundled into the back of the patrol car. Matthews had come closer and said something to the officer who indicated to a point on the other side of the road. The shop owner moved sullenly away.

  It was a further fifteen minutes before he returned to his car and after getting into the driver’s seat he turned to Gerry,

  “Nobody from my station has heard of this Karen Bradley and there are no reports of a police woman being taken away in an ambulance so I’m taking you back to the station”

  Gerry lost his temper and shouted an obscenity before yelling.

  “Then those people you talked to must be blind, or more likely, you believe that bastard Matthews!”

  The officer turned in his seat and said angrily,

  “That’s enough from you my lad! Any more comments like that and you’ll really be in hot water. Now shut it!”

  Slumping into his seat as the car drove away Gerry glanced out of the window on his right and caught a glimpse of a van with the emblem Acme Security on the side. He could see Ernie and Mark in deep conversation, then they were out of view.

  Ernie said with a nod in the direction of the building that had been badly damaged in the fire,

  “So, this is what all the excitement is about, that’s Gerry’s old workplace. I hope he had nothing to do with it” and Mark laughed,

  “Doubt it. I tried to show him how to go about it but he made a right mess of things. When I get the chance, I’ll teach him how to do a proper job”

  As they moved slowly along the crowded street Ernie spotted Matthews waving his arms about and having an animated discussion with a police Inspector who was trying to calm the shop owner down.

  “Gerry should be back at the flat by now so I’ll drop you off nearby and you can give him the good news. I will come back here and try and find out some more details”

  On his arrival at the police station Gerry was taken into an interview room, still handcuffed and left with another officer while the one who had arrested him went to check on some details he required.

  More than half an hour later He returned and signalled for his colleague to leave the room. Standing in front of Gerry he said,

  “If you promise to stay calm I’ll take the handcuffs off and we can have a civilised chat. Any nonsense and I’ll put them back on. Ok?”

  Gerry merely nodded but said nothing.

  “Right I’m Constable Dave Sims and I want an off the record chat before taking your statement. I’ve made some enquiries and a WPC from another station was taken away in an ambulance as you said, she is being checked over but won’t be available to speak until at least the morning
. In the meantime, I want you to tell me all about your movements from early this afternoon”

  “I’ve been at work since midday at the Leisure Centre until I closed up at ten o’clock. I was walking home when WPC Bradley stopped her car and offered me a lift because she wanted to talk to me about something personal.”

  “Like what?” was all the PC would say. Gerry was now becoming increasingly resentful at the man’s attitude

  “All I’m saying on that matter is, I lost a friend a couple of weeks ago and Karen wanted to talk with me about it. What’s that got to do with the fire tonight, several people can vouch for me up until about 9.45pm and that shop was well ablaze by ten thirty so I wouldn’t have had time to get there and start the fire”

  “Mr Matthews thinks you started the fire, why would he say that?”

  “So that’s what this is all about! When I worked for him, he was always trying to blame me for anything that went wrong until he finally sacked me. He even accused me of being involved in a break-in at the shop and it was WPC Bradley’s colleague who got him to admit he was lying.

  “What about Harry, he didn’t like Matthews because he had some kind of hold on him. Then there was Abigail…”

  A sharp knock on the door was followed by a second PC stepping into the room,

  “Sorry to disturb you Dave but there’s an important message for you at the front desk”

  Dave left the room while the other constable stayed with Gerry. Time seemed to drag for him and thoughts raced through his head. What if Karen was not in a fit state to give him an alibi. How could he get a message to Ernie, he would know what to do in these circumstances?

  The door suddenly opened and the PC returned, but this time he had another officer of higher rank with him. Gerry had a nasty feeling the situation was suddenly taking on a greater emphasis. He was not wrong.

  “This is Inspector Gates and he is taking charge of this case”

  The two constables left the room and the Inspector sat down behind the table and faced Gerry. He placed a tape recorder on the desk and spoke briefly into the microphone,

  “Inspector Gates at Coventry Road Police station at 12.55am with the suspect, Mr Gerald Reynolds”

  Gerry looked at him and blurted out,

  “Suspect? I’ve done nothing!”

  “Mr Reynolds, I want you to tell me all about your movements since 9 o’clock this evening. The names of any person who can confirm your whereabouts until you were arrested”

  Gerry protested,

  “But I’ve already told the constable everything. I’m tired and haven’t eaten anything since midday yesterday!”

  Inspector Gates looked back at him with total lack of sympathy.

  “The sooner you give me the details, the sooner we will be finished. So, tell me everything” and to emphasise the point he tapped the recorder.

  Gerry stared back at him, his hatred for those in authority was increasing by the second, however he knew he had no choice but to repeat his story.

  So, he went into the smallest of detail of who could verify his movements and times he remembered. He repeated the encounter with Karen Bradley and how they arrived after the fire had been started. Suddenly he remembered something and asked a question,

  “As well as WPC Bradley being led away to an ambulance, someone was carried out on a stretcher, who was that?”

  Gates looked back at Gerry, this was the time to play his trump card, or so he thought,

  “Finally remembered your accomplice have you? That was Harry Brown on the stretcher. I was informed shortly before I came in here that he didn’t recover and was dead on arrival at hospital”

  He watched Gerry for any reaction and was not disappointed.

  “My accomplice? Are you kidding me? I never trusted that fat slob any more than I did Matthews, my ex-boss. Harry physically threw me out of the shop on Matthews’ orders when he fired me. He also threatened me with a good kicking if I went near there ever again!”

  Can anyone confirm what you just said?”

  Gerry hesitated before he answered,

  “Matthews will probably confirm he fired me, but there was only Harry and me outside afterwards”

  Gates couldn’t hide the sarcasm in his voice.

  “So, it’s your word against Mr Matthews, a respected businessman in this town”

  “Not many of his former staff would agree with you on that score” Gerry retorted.

  Gates changed the subject,

  “You seem to be on rather friendly terms with this WPC Bradley, how long have you known her?”

  “I have only met her a couple of times, the first was when she and a colleague came to investigate a break-in at Matthews’ shop. He lied about my tutor being off work, but Lee, the tutor, is married to WPC Bradley and she denied her husband was not in work so Matthews had to admit he was lying.

  “The second time we met was at the Leisure Centre which she attends and she helped me rescue someone who had got into difficulties in the swimming pool”

  “She is currently in hospital being checked over after inhaling smoke at the fire. I can’t get your story about how you met until she is fit to talk. In the meantime, I will have to decide whether I can release you on police bail or detain you until we interview the WPC”

  “You’re not going to keep me here overnight are you? I’ve done nothing wrong! I had to pass the shop where I used to work, it’s on my direct route home. A colleague of yours can prove I wasn’t responsible for the fire but you won’t take my word for that, instead you listen to a devious sod like Matthews!”

  Inspector Gates glared back at Gerry,

  “Mr Matthews is a well-respected person in the business community and is a member of..”

  Another knock on the door interrupted him, he gave permission to enter and the constable came in,

  “Sorry to bother you Inspector but someone at the front desk is demanding to see you on some urgent matter”

  The two officers exchanged places and Gerry lent forward and propped his head on his forearms as he rested on the table. He was tired and hungry, just wanting this farce to end.

  When Gates returned it was obvious he had not received welcome news and curtly told Gerry to follow him. Getting slowly to his feet Gerry wondered what was going to happen next. He heaved a sigh of relief when he spotted Ernie waiting to greet him.

  “You can leave now Mr Reynolds, but I may need to speak to you once I have interviewed WPC Bradley” and he turned on his heels and left the two men together without saying another word.

  Ernie indicated to Gerry to remain silent as they left the police station. They got into the van and Ernie started laughing. Gerry looked bemused,

  “What’s the bloody joke Ernie? I’ve been accused of starting a fire at my old workplace, stuck in that police station for about three hours, and all because Matthews spotted me walking home”

  Ernie became serious and asked,

  “What were you doing there in the first place, I thought you took a longer route home in order not to pass the shop”

  Gerry explained how the police woman had given him a lift and what happened when they arrived at the scene of the fire and Ernie gave another short laugh and then apologised.

  “Sorry Gerry, I’ll tell you what’s so funny later. Anyway, after dropping Mark off at the flat, I stumbled on the fire and stopped to find out what happened. I spoke to the landlord of the pub across the road from the fire and he told me he saw you being bundled into a different police car to the one you arrived in.

  “I wondered what the hell was going on so I asked a few of the locals who were hanging around. They told me Harry had been drinking heavily all evening and cursing Matthews for sacking him and how he was going to get his own back. He was causing so much bother in the pub the landlord slung him out and he disappeared for a while. Next thing, the fire started in the shop and someone said they saw a police woman being led away by a paramedic after another person had been earlier carried
away on a stretcher, who I presume was Harry”

  Gerry interrupted him,

  “The police woman was Karen Bradley who gave me a lift but I didn’t know it was Harry on the stretcher. The Inspector told me he has died from a heart attack I think”

  Ernie was silent for a while and then said thoughtfully,

  “I’ve been wondering since I heard the news what reason Matthews had for sacking Harry. He knew a lot of dirt about his boss and could have dropped Matthews in the brown stuff if push came to shove”

  It was Gerry’s turn to let out a small laugh which earned a quizzical look from Ernie. Gerry told him about the time he and Harry found Abigail and Matthews in the shop office and this was the explanation for his mirth.

  Ernie let out a yell of triumph,

  “Aha, YES! Earlier in the day, Harry had stormed into the pub and sat staring out of the window and when Abigail came out of the shop he shouted, ‘Serves you right you bitch’ which caused some merriment at the bar.

  “Mrs Matthews went to the shop to confront her husband after looking at the video I sent her and Matthews must have blamed Harry and fired him. So, the next step will be to send a message to Abigail that her secret about the drugs she pushed will be on the streets unless she moves a long way away and keeps her mouth shut.

  Don’t worry about that Inspector calling you back in, I told him there were several witnesses who would testify that you arrived in the police car sometime after the fire started. Gates is a mate of Matthews but he’s no fool, he will leave you alone regarding this matter. But if the opportunity arises he will try and pin something on you, so we will have to be very careful”

  By now, Gerry was struggling to stay awake and he was losing interest in the conversation, he just wanted to go home to get some sleep and put this episode behind him.

  21

  Ernie decided to check on Councillor Barnes and Andrew Phillips to see if either had been approached by Abigail to establish any connection with the video sent to Mrs Matthews. It was fortunate that he had followed up his hunch, he was told Councillor Barnes was away on council business, so it only left one possibility.