Beautiful Death

by Fiona McIntosh

  ‘What do you want, Mr Hawksworth?’

  Jack decided not to correct him. The man looked startled and ready to shut the door. ‘Mr Goldman, it’s about Yuri.’

  ‘Yuri?’ he repeated. ‘My Yuri?’

  ‘Yes, sir, your son.’

  ‘He’s a good boy.’

  ‘I know that, Mr Goldman. He hasn’t done anything wrong, but I have reason to believe that he may be able to help the police with our enquiries.’

  ‘Into what?’ Mr Goldman demanded, clearly unhappy.

  ‘Are you aware that two bodies were found by the river?’

  ‘I had heard, yes, but my family does not know anything about this. I cannot understand how you think Yuri might —’

  ‘Please, Mr Goldman, may I come in? It might be easier for us to have this conversation privately.’

  Goldman opened the door. ‘Miriam!’ he called as Jack entered.

  A woman came out of a back room, wiping her hands on an apron.

  ‘Rubin?’ she asked, her glance flitting between her husband and Jack, who smiled reassuringly.

  ‘Get Yuri down here,’ her husband snapped. ‘Mr Hawksworth, follow me.’

  Jack gave a smile of thanks to the wife and followed Mr Goldman.

  ‘Can we get you something, Mr Hawksworth?’ Goldman asked.

  ‘No, thank you,’ he said, feeling utterly awkward, wondering if this was a good idea as several pairs of eyes began to materialise and regard him from the doorway.

  Yuri pushed sullenly through the huddle and was followed by his anxious mother.

  ‘Sit!’ his father ordered the boy. ‘Miriam, please get the children away.’

  ‘Er, you have a large family, Mr Goldman,’ Jack said, trying hard for an ice-breaker and to ignore the enormous, incongruous chandelier that hung above him in this front sitting room.

  ‘Four sons and two daughters. Yuri is the second eldest.’

  Jack nodded politely. ‘Hello again, Yuri,’ he said softly, giving the boy an encouraging smile. Yuri looked terrified.

  ‘You know my son?’ Rubin Goldman said, his expression filled with frantic query.

  ‘Perhaps I should explain,’ Jack began, but was interrupted by Mrs Goldman bustling back in with plastic beakers of what seemed to be a bright cordial. She smiled earnestly, and set a drink down beside Jack. A plateful of food that had miraculously been assembled in the blink of an eye was placed nearby. ‘Some chocolate strudel,’ she explained. ‘Yuri, it’s not for you. I don’t want you to spoil your dinner.’ She threw a maternal glare of warning her son’s way.

  Jack wanted none of this but politely sipped on his intensely sweet fruit-cup. ‘Thank you, Mrs Goldman,’ he said, struggling to swallow. She nodded, and left the men to their business.

  ‘Mr Hawksworth, please continue,’ Goldman said politely.

  Jack straightened, and thankfully put his plastic beaker down. ‘Four people are dead,’ he began, ‘and police have every reason to believe that they were killed by the same person.’ He looked around the room. ‘I assume you’ve seen reports on the news …’ his voice trailed off as he couldn’t spot a television. ‘Or in the newspaper?’

  ‘I have read and seen details,’ Goldman answered. ‘It is our cousins in the Hasidic community who shun the media.’ Taking in Jack’s surprised expression, he added, ‘Our television is upstairs.’

  ‘I see,’ Jack said, clearing his throat, still wondering how best to proceed. ‘We believe that three of the victims were illegal immigrants, but the fourth was a British citizen of a good family who — we suspect — simply happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.’

  Goldman seemed unfazed. ‘Mr Hawksworth, what does any of this have to do with my family, or more to the point, my son?’

  Jack hid his irritation that Lily’s death was suddenly rendered so trivial. He wanted to catch this killer on behalf of all the faceless victims, but he couldn’t help that Lily’s murder was his priority. ‘Mr Goldman, I have reason to believe that Yuri might have seen some people connected with this crime.’

  The elder Goldman swung around. ‘Yuri, is this true?’

  ‘I don’t know, Father. DCI Hawksworth seems to think so.’

  Goldman looked back to Jack. ‘This is very serious.’ ‘Yes it is.’

  ‘Are we obliged to be involved?’

  Jack took a breath to cover his surprise and to take a second to consider his answer; one that he hoped would persuade this reluctant patriarch to co-operate with the police. ‘Mr Goldman, this person has killed four people already. There’s nothing to suggest that he — or she — will stop. All the victims have been discovered in and around the Whitechapel/Spring Hill area. You have a large family to protect and I imagine you would want a brutal killer removed from your neighbourhood before they have the chance to kill again.’

  ‘But why should I be worried for my family, Mr Hawksworth?’ Goldman shot back, his expression one of bafflement.

  ‘Until the killer is caught, everyone is at some risk,’ Jack replied. ‘Yuri can help us eliminate that risk for you, your family, for all your friends and neighbours. Mr Goldman, before we proceed, I must tell you that in approaching you I am breaching protocol to some extent, but I have taken this step because I respect your privacy, and most importantly because I don’t want Yuri dragged into something that might upset him and his family.’

  Goldman looked even more puzzled.

  Jack continued. ‘You see, Mr Goldman, the correct procedure would require me to report to Scotland Yard that your son may possess information pertaining to a police investigation. I would then need to arrange the appointment of a Family Liaison Officer conversant with Jewish custom. That officer would be sent to your house to escort Yuri to the local police station. He would then conduct a formal interview with Yuri. Everything Yuri said would be recorded and filmed and would be used as evidence, should it be required, in court.’

  Goldman looked stunned, precisely as Jack had hoped. Before the man could formulate a response, Jack pressed on.

  ‘I’m hoping to spare your family any such intrusion, Mr Goldman. I simply want to find out everything I can about what Yuri saw that day. It might significantly contribute to solving this case — and more importantly, it could save lives.’

  ‘And if we co-operate now, we won’t have that liaison person coming into the house and taking Yuri away?’

  ‘I’ll do my utmost to prevent that happening, but I can’t guarantee it, Mr Goldman. I’m sensitive to your situation, and want to avoid involving Yuri any further than necessary. I met your son a little earlier today when I was talking with the coach and members of Yuri’s kayak squad. Yuri happened to mention seeing something that may well have a connection with the case, and rather than questioning him at the clubhouse, I felt it was in your family’s interest to take this approach. I appreciate you seeing me, and you can guide the questions.’

  Jack knew Goldman was scrutinising him, and that this man was no pushover.

  ‘Are you interviewing any of the other boys in this manner?’

  ‘We may have to,’ Jack answered honestly, ‘but not at this stage.’

  ‘Just Yuri, why?’

  And this was it. Jack saw the fear flash in the boy’s eyes before he cast them down; he felt an obligation to protect Yuri from his father’s wrath, if he could.

  ‘It turns out that Yuri didn’t know that a practice had been cancelled, Mr Goldman. He waited for the crew but none of the other club members arrived that evening and after giving it long enough in case the coach did come along, Yuri headed home, but not before witnessing some activity around the narrowboats near the clubhouse.’

  The father switched his interest to his son. ‘Was that the other night when you walked home alone early?’

  Yuri nodded.

  ‘I gather he didn’t want to worry you, Mr Goldman.’

  Goldman didn’t look at Jack. ‘My son can answer for himself, Mr Hawksworth,’ he said, staring at the
boy. ‘Why did you lie?’

  ‘I didn’t, Father. Like DCI Hawksworth said, I didn’t know training had been cancelled. I waited a while because I wasn’t sure what to do. You weren’t due to pick me up for at least another hour and a half so I walked home.’

  ‘You know how we feel about you doing that alone, Yuri.’

  ‘Yes, Father, but I’ll be sixteen next birthday and you’re always telling me to act like a man. I knew you wouldn’t want me to hang around the clubhouse alone.’ Yuri flicked a glance at Jack, who said nothing, but felt a wave of sympathy for the boy. They were both being economical with the truth, and although Yuri wouldn’t come out of this conversation unscathed, Jack felt they’d minimised the damage.

  His father finally nodded. ‘You did well, Yuri. Now explain why the police think what you saw is important, but especially how it’s relevant to us.’

  ‘I saw one of our men from Shul, the one —’

  ‘What?’ Goldman burst out, his tone horrified. ‘You’re incriminating one of our community?’

  ‘Hear him out, Mr Goldman, please. This is why I thought it important to bring this directly to you.’

  Goldman’s lips thinned as he nodded unhappily. ‘Go on.’

  ‘He’s the ginger-haired man who helped with the Purim float. He assembled the sound system that Mr Gluck donated.’

  ‘And what did you see? Tell the truth now.’

  Yuri nodded. ‘I saw him arrive with a woman, not one of our people, and help her onto one of the narrowboats along from the clubhouse but on the other side of the river. Once she was aboard — you know, inside — he came out and spoke to a man who I suppose owned the boat. He didn’t stay long but I thought it was odd that he was there in the first place and with those people.’

  Goldman considered this. ‘And you’re absolutely sure it was him?’

  ‘Yes, I am, Father. There’s no mistaking him. He has a scary face and he never says much to us kids. He frightens us with those scary eyebrows of his.’

  Goldman patted his son’s hand and Jack felt a surge of relief. ‘Mr Goldman?’ Jack prodded gently.

  ‘The man Yuri refers to is Schlimey Katz. He lives on Oldhill Street and he does a lot of work for Mr Moshe Gluck, an upstanding member of our Jewish community.’

  ‘I’m sure he is, sir, and I’m not here to tarnish anyone’s reputation. Mr Katz is who I need to speak with now.’

  ‘Will you require anything more of us?’ ‘Not at this point, and hopefully not at all. We may need Yuri to identify Mr Katz, but that can be done with minimum disruption to your family.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Goldman stood.

  Jack followed suit as clearly the meeting was being brought to a close by his host. ‘Is there anything you can tell me about Schlimey Katz, Mr Goldman?’

  ‘Yuri, go find your mother now and tell her our guest is leaving.’

  ‘Goodbye, DCI Hawksworth,’ Yuri said obediently, holding out a hand.

  Jack shook it. ‘Thanks, Yuri, you’ve been great. Good luck with the kayaking.’

  The boy left the room and Jack returned his attention to the father.

  ‘Let me show you out,’ Goldman said. As he held the sitting room door open for Jack, he reluctantly said more. ‘Schlimey Katz is not a man I admire. As you have probably gathered, my family are orthodox Jews but not Hasidic.’

  ‘Yet you can live among them?’

  ‘Of course. Their beliefs require them to follow a much stricter, more insular code of conduct. No Hasidim would be allowed to join in with other schoolboys at the rowing club, for instance. I am happy for my family to integrate a little more deeply into British society, but it does not make the Hasidim difficult to live amongst — we love living here.’ Jack nodded. ‘They are all very good people,’ Goldman continued. ‘Schlimey Katz is a devoted attendee at our synagogue, and as I told you he works now and then for a man I like and admire.’ Jack waited for the inevitable ‘but’ that was coming. ‘But Yuri is right in his summary. Katz is not an endearing individual. He is big, brash and has questionable habits. As much as I loathe discussing another in this way, I do wish to help the police and if Yuri says he saw Katz, then he did. I think it’s right you talk to him and hopefully this will be cleared up as some misunderstanding.’

  ‘You sound confident, Mr Goldman.’

  ‘Schlimey Katz may scare my children and the women may not like him terribly much, Mr Hawksworth — even I may not admire his habits — but I refuse to believe he’s a killer. Yes, I am confident Schlimey will have a valid reason for being where he was on the evening Yuri saw him.’

  Jack held out his hand. ‘Well, thank you for your help, Mr Goldman. I’m sorry to have interrupted your family’s evening and I hope Yuri’s honesty will not earn him any trouble.’

  Goldman did not take Jack’s hand. ‘Why do you think I would punish my son for honesty?’ he frowned.

  ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that,’ Jack explained. ‘But I could tell that you were not happy about him seeing what he had and speaking with the police.’

  ‘You have me wrong. My son could not help what he saw and he did absolutely the right thing in talking with you about it. My gripe with my son, Mr Hawksworth, is dishonesty. I think we can both guess that he knew training was cancelled and that he chose to go down to the riverbank alone. That is defiance as well as dishonesty.’

  ‘I don’t believe he did anything wrong, Mr Goldman,’ Jack said before he could censor himself.

  ‘I know you don’t,’ Goldman said, opening the front door for Jack to step outside. ‘But although we do not adhere to strict Hasidic customs, I demand that my son not be overly tempted by his peers into straying too far.’

  ‘Don’t you think that a taste of a different life might be more helpful than tempting?’

  ‘Do I look stupid, Mr Hawksworth?’

  ‘No, sir.’

  ‘Then grant me some sensibility.’

  Despite his brusque manner, Jack liked Goldman.

  ‘It’s obvious Yuri loves his kayaking and he’s certainly popular with his peers at the club.’

  ‘I was once of the Hasidic faith, Mr Hawksworth, but for reasons I don’t intend to go into now, I have chosen to be orthodox, but not segregated. While others in our community believe I am opening my children to corruption, I personally feel Yuri will benefit from this exposure to worldliness and a wider society. But he must not abuse it — and that’s what I’m referring to when I say he has been defiant. I know what he did was probably harmless. I imagine Yuri just wanted to escape the noise of his younger siblings.’ Jack smiled sympathetically. ‘But one day soon he’ll have a family of his own to raise, and he must learn to love the sound of children — their play, their laughter and, yes, their tears and small arguments. It is all part of life. It is his life. He must accept it, embrace it and he will enjoy it.’

  Now Jack could see kindness in Goldman’s eyes. ‘I understand, Mr Goldman, and I’m very glad to have protected your privacy. Thank you for your time and for your help.’

  ‘If Schlimey Katz is involved in this terrible affair, Mr Hawksworth, you had better hurry and spare him his own community’s wrath.’

  Jack nodded. ‘I plan to talk with him as soon as possible.’

  ‘Goodbye and good luck,’ Rubin Goldman said, lifting a hand in farewell before closing the door.

  Jack smiled grimly as he turned, already reaching for his mobile. He dialled the ops room and Joan answered.

  ‘It’s me, Mother.’

  ‘This place is deserted today,’ she replied, and he could hear the smile in her voice.

  ‘That’s a positive sign. Kate back?’

  ‘No, but I hear she’s on her way in.’

  ‘Good. Is Sarah around?’

  ‘She’s the only one! I’ll put you through. I’m fielding a lot of media enquiries, Jack.’

  ‘I know. Keep them off my back. Sharpe doesn’t want any publicity right now other than the basics he’s already
released. We have nothing more to say immediately, although we may have shortly.’

  ‘Can I tell them that?’

  ‘No. Say we’re following up some useful leads.’

  He heard Joan sigh. ‘Here’s Sarah.’

  The phone was switched through. ‘Hello, sir.’

  ‘Hi. Listen — something’s broken.’

  ‘Oh, thank goodness. How can I help?’

  Jack quickly summarised what he’d discovered. ‘I need the address of a Mr Schlimey Katz.’ He spelled the name for Sarah. ‘And then tell Malik to meet me over there.’

  ‘Right. Back shortly.’

  ‘Thanks, Sarah.’ He clicked off and walked back down the street towards Stamford Park, watching Jewish life swirl about him. Many of the men were walking to synagogue and as it was almost dark mothers and children were hurrying home to begin preparations for the evening meal. Jack felt impatient, and was thinking about ringing Kate when his phone vibrated.

  ‘Sarah,’ he said, ‘tell me.’ He listened as she gave him the address. ‘Got it. Malik?’

  ‘Sarju took the call and said he’d pass the message on and ensure that Malik met you there soonest.’

  ‘Great, thanks, Sarah. Good luck tonight.’

  22.

  Malik Khan emerged from the public lavatory as Sarju closed his mobile and pushed it into his pocket. He handed the DC the phone he’d been looking after in case a call came through while the police officer was busy.

  ‘Thanks, mate.’ Malik pulled a face of relief. ‘I was busting. Any calls?’

  ‘Yes, there was a text that I have not read, of course, and a phone call from DS Jones.’

  ‘Damn! What’s happening?’

  ‘She needs you to get over to this address,’ Sarju said, taking out a pen and scribbling it on a receipt he found in his pocket. ‘Sorry it’s so tattered.’

  ‘Why am I going there?’

  ‘You’re to meet DCI Hawksworth there. It’s urgent, I’m told. He’s questioning a man called — um, hang on, I have to get this right — Schlimey Katz, yes, I think that’s it, in connection with the narrowboats.’