‘Did you drive there?’
‘No, I caught the bus.’
‘Really?’ said Dylan.
‘I’ve been done once by your lot for drinking and driving. I don’t risk it now.’
‘So, tell me about the condom... You told us quite emphatically that you didn’t use them in the last interview.’
‘I don’t usually. I do sometimes, on occasions... I got it at the pub.’
‘And?’ said Dylan. ‘We seem to be going around the houses don’t we? Let’s cut to the quick, did you have sex with someone or did you masturbate into the condom?’
Roger Briggs blushed profusely. ‘I do not masturbate into condoms. I had sex with someone.’
‘Someone you know? A stranger?’
‘No, not a stranger, what kind of person do you think I am? I rang a friend and I met them outside the pub.’
‘And you had sex with this, friend?’
‘You must have anticipated having sex with your friend, otherwise why would you buy the condoms?’
‘I hoped we’d… yes ... we usually do when we ... but we don’t often. They were working, which is why I didn’t know...’
‘We are investigating a murder. All we are doing is trying to ascertain the truth of what took place. So if there is someone out there who can confirm what you are saying and therefore a reason for your DNA being close to the body of a murdered person, would you please tell us who it is and we can stop wasting valuable time and move on?’
‘We didn’t have sex on the cycle path. We had sex in a car so I don’t understand how the condom could have possibly got onto the cycle path?’
Vicky broke her silence. ‘You’re the type of person who at his own admission assaults his wife. You’ve threatened your wife in our presence and lied to us constantly since your arrest. So tell me why should we believe you now? Did you kill Davina Walsh and is this just another lie?’
‘No, no, I swear on my children’s lives. I did not murder the woman. That’s the honest truth.’
‘Well, if you give us your friend’s name, we will speak to them and confirm what you are telling us is the truth.’
‘That might be difficult.’
‘So is a murder investigation Mr Briggs. At this moment you are not helping yourself, or anyone else.’
‘Can I speak to my solicitor again, in private please?’
The interview was terminated.
***
Lunchtime was looming and Lin Perfect made a comment that her client had not had breakfast. Dylan knew the next interview would be deemed oppressive and could result in it being thrown out of court at a future trial if they continued without allowing Briggs to have some sort of nourishment.
Vicky and Dylan sat with sandwiches from the vending machine in the room that used to be the station canteen. Times were changing in many aspects of the police force and many of them not for the good.
‘This will be office space before long,’ said Dylan as he looked about him at the demolition work that had already cleared the police station’s bar area. ‘No more quick drinks together for the team, in the privacy of the station, after dealing with the aftermath of an incident or a post-mortem,’ said Dylan.
‘They’ll be expecting us to not only eat on the hoof but do our paperwork in cafés before long,’ said Vicky.
‘So you’ve heard?’
‘Heard what?’
‘The powers that be are expecting officers to do their paperwork, albeit now on computers but in cafés, on their patch, where they can be seen and approached by the public at any given time during their shift.’
‘You’re joking?’ Vicky said. The detective sergeant shook her head. ‘Jeez,’ she said.
‘I kid you not.’
Vicky took a bit of a soggy roast beef salad sandwich. A small tomato popped in her mouth and its juice ran down her chin. It was Dylan’s turn to shake his head.
‘Just think Briggs is probably tucking into fish and chips, with salt and vinegar and tomato sauce that some police officer has gone out and got for him, whilst we’re eating a wretched sandwich from a bloody machine,’ she said wistfully as she pulled a flaccid piece of lettuce from in-between two slices of bread. ‘He wouldn’t get bread and water if it was up to me never mind a warm meal.’
Dylan smiled, ‘You’d also have him dangling from the gallows.’
‘Probably,’ she said.
‘Do you know one of the most obvious questions that isn’t asked in an interview is, ‘did you do it?’’ he said.
‘I know, that’s why I asked him,’ she said smugly, ‘it doesn’t mean that the prisoner will answer the question honestly though does it? Do you think he did it boss?’
‘No, I don’t. You know what we’re forgetting?’
Vicky looked puzzled.
‘The teeth extraction. There is nothing in his background that we know of that suggests he has the know-how to remove teeth with the expertise he’d require to be the murderer.’
‘Ah but who knows what other secrets he has if he’s capable of having a secret relationship with another woman behind his wife’s back?’ she said with a twinkle in her eye.
There was a message left for Dylan in the incident room to contact the local radio station, no doubt what they wanted was an update. It was right for them to keep asking to try and keep the public up-to-date as to what was happening on their turf and also from the detective inspector’s point of view the frequent broadcasts kept the murders at the forefront of everyone’s mind. They would have to wait.
***
The next interview with their prisoner took place as scheduled. Ms Perfect, Roger Briggs’s solicitor spoke first.
‘After discussions with my client he has agreed to co-operate fully. When you have heard what he has to say. I think you will understand his earlier reluctance in offering the explanation until he feels he has had no alternative Inspector.’
Briggs spoke hesitantly. ‘I admit I did meet someone and have sex with them the night before the lady was murdered. I have known this person for a long time but we do not see each other often. Now I see that I have no option but to tell you who it is.’ He took a deep breath, looked at his solicitor who nodded once at her client. ‘This is very awkward because it’s a police officer,’ he said.
Dylan felt Vicky flinch.
‘We will need you to name her,’ said Vicky.
‘Him,’ he said. ‘It’s him...’
Dylan could see Vicky out of the corner of his eye. She hadn’t let her face change or her body language show that Roger Briggs’s revelation had surprised her. He was pleased with how she had handled the disclosure by the prisoner, as he knew only too well that it had come as much of a shock to her as it had to him.
‘His name is Geoffrey... Wiley. He was the one who arrested me when I got stopped for the drink driving offence. He’s going to be in serious trouble isn’t he and it’s the last thing I wanted...’
‘Why should he be in any trouble?’ said Dylan.
‘Like I said, he was on duty. He came to help me. I was in a mess...’
Dylan looked intently at Briggs but remained silent.
‘Honestly, I didn’t know when I called him he was working... I told him I hated myself for what I had done to my wife and I... threatened to kill myself. He talked to me. He came straight away.’
‘Okay, so back to the used condom?’ Dylan said.
‘I must have thrown it out of the car.’
‘His car?’ said Vicky.
Briggs shook his head. ‘You’re going to find out anyway. The police car.’
‘You do understand that we will need to check what you have told us,’ Dylan said.
‘Yes.’
‘Will you now be releasing my client and “refusing charge” Inspector?’ said his solicitor.
‘Not so fast, we still need to verify what we have been told, until then Mr Briggs remains in custody.’
The interview was terminated.
Dylan
and Vicky walked back to the incident room.
‘I didn’t see that coming,’ said Vicky. Her eyes were wide.
‘And he now appears genuine. We need to speak to PC Wiley as soon as possible. Bloody fool. This isn’t something that can be swept under the carpet. This will ultimately be disclosed to any future defence team and therefore on the court file... Find out who his inspector is will you. I need to speak to him as a matter of urgency.’
Vicky sat at her desk. Dylan’s hand rested on the back of her chair. The computer system was being slow. ‘As luck would have it, according to the box Wiley should be on duty,’ she said.
‘Good. Professional standards will be involved. His behaviour whilst on duty is for somebody else to investigate. All we’re interested in is that PC Wiley can corroborate what Briggs is saying, so we can eliminate him from the enquiry and move on. We will need a written statement from him.’
Lisa handed Dylan a piece of paper which he read.
‘Forensic confirming that the condom is similar to the type sold in the Anchor Inn,’ he said to Vicky. ‘Thanks for that Lisa. That ties in nicely.’
***
The conversation with PC Wiley’s Inspector regarding the enquiry, just over an hour later, was not a pleasant one.
‘I’ve had a very tearful officer in my office who has confirmed to me the relationship between himself and Roger Briggs,’ he said. ‘He also can corroborate their meeting on the night in question at the Anchor Inn car park. He has reluctantly also confirmed the use of the police vehicle. A written statement will follow for your records marked “strictly confidential” for your personal attention Dylan. I am waiting on the officer’s federation representative to be present due to the fact it is a disciplinary matter.’
Dylan thanked his opposite number for the promptness of his response.
‘The team have finished at the Briggs’s home address. Louisa Briggs is staying at her mother’s address with the children and the domestic violence issue is now in the hands of officers at the Safeguarding Unit,’ said Vicky.
‘She’s asked for help?’ said Dylan.
‘She has,’ said Vicky
‘Good. One good thing that has come out of this sorry mess is that she and the children are now on our radar. I’ll telephone Perfect & Best to save them a trip back to the station and Briggs can be released from custody. Give me a minute and I’ll come with you to see him.’
***
Roger Briggs stood in the foyer talking to a plain clothed police officer when the detective arrived. The officer nodded at Dylan and Vicky and walked away.
‘All the relevant details of the assault on your wife will be passed on to the Safeguarding Unit where they deal with the domestic violence issues, for follow-up enquiries,’ said Vicky.
Roger Briggs nodded but without speaking turned to leave the custody suite. He stopped and turned at the door. ‘You wouldn’t do me a favour and speak to Geoff Wiley for me would you, let him know I had no choice but to tell you about me and him?’
‘Your relationship with Geoff Wiley is for you to deal with. I don’t have time to pass on personal messages. It may have slipped your mind Mr Briggs but we are investigating a murder and time wasters saving their own skins are very unhelpful,’ said Dylan.
Appearing disgruntled rather than ashamed Roger Briggs left the building.
There were a few raised eyebrows. Dylan knew the information about the officer, like most things in a police station, wouldn’t remain confidential for long. The news would spread like a bush fire and the Chinese whispers would enhance it beyond recognition Dylan was in no doubt. But like anything else, for PC Wiley it would soon become yesterday’s news.
A further note to ring Maggie Currie from Vectis Radio was waved in front of Dylan as he approached his office. He picked up the telephone.
‘Maggie, Jack Dylan, sorry for the delay, how can I help?’ he said.
‘Can I come see you? I’ve had an anonymous call that’s freaked me out a bit. The caller asked the receptionist if he could speak to me. When she put him through all he said was that I had to ask the murder cops about teeth? I don’t know if this means anything to you but I thought I’d better ring you.’
‘I think I need to see you urgently,’ said Dylan.
‘I’m on my way,’ said Maggie.
Chapter Seven
Maggie caused a few heads to turn as she breezed through the incident room behind a uniformed civilian officer. Radio presenter Ms Currie was in her mid-twenties, tall with long blonde hair. She wore black leather biker trousers, a white t-shirt and black biker boots. Her jacket was thrown casually over her shoulder.
‘Stop drooling saddo. She’s young enough to be your daughter,’ said Vicky in a flat quiet tone of voice.
‘Nothing wrong with a sugar daddy is there?’ said Ned with an over exaggerated wink at Dylan’s visitor from where he languished in his chair.
‘Bless him... Don’t worry he’s harmless,’ said Vicky extending her hand out to Maggie. ‘Nice to see you,’ she said.
Dylan heard the exchange and saw the radio presenter walking towards his office. He stood and walked to greet her at the door.
‘Sorry about the natives, they don’t get out as often as they should,’ he said, his mouth turned up at one corner.
DC Granger nearly fell off his chair laughing. Vicky turned and stuck one finger up at him. ‘Swivel,’ she said sitting heavily back down in her seat.
Lisa appeared with two drinks on a tray and a plate of biscuits. She walked up the aisle between the desks. Ned reached over and took a biscuit from the plate, Vicky took another. Lisa scowled at them over her shoulder. Ned blew her a kiss. Vicky raised an eyebrow. Lisa knocked at Dylan’s door.
‘Come in,’ he called.
Dylan and Maggie were no strangers. She had volunteered with Jen to fundraise for the local children’s hospice.
‘I’m intrigued by your caller and what was actually said,’ said Dylan.
‘You can listen yourself. All our calls to the radio station are recorded as a matter of course these days.’ Maggie removed her iPad from her rucksack.
Dylan moved to sit next to her. She put the tablet on her knee and tapped in her password. ‘We get a lot of crank calls,’ she said looking at Dylan for a brief moment. ‘But there was just something about this one...’ Maggie pressed the arrow on the illuminated screen and their heads almost touched as they leant in further to listen to the gruff, slightly muffled, male voice.
‘Maggie, why don’t you ask the cops what they know about the dead people’s missing teeth?’ said the caller.
She replayed the piece over and over again at Dylan’s request.
Maggie looked puzzled. ‘I play the news every hour on my programme and I’m pretty sure I’d have picked up on that idiosyncrasy if you had given that information to the press.
Dylan was quiet and thoughtful. For a moment or two they sat in silence. Eventually Dylan sat back in his chair. ‘Look, what I’m going to share with you must remain totally confidential,’ he said.
Maggie took a gulp of her drink and a bit into a biscuit.
‘The murderer is removing teeth from his victims and that information is not in the public domain. and I purposefully have not made any mention of the murdered victims having teeth missing,’ said Dylan.
‘Shit,’ she said with a cough and a splutter.
‘You okay?’ Dylan said.
‘Fine,’ she said. ‘So...’ She took a sip of her tea. ‘So, that could actually be the voice of the murderer?’
‘Could be. It doesn’t mean it is though. It would be wrong of us to assume anything in an enquiry without having proof, but what I do know is our murderer appears to like playing tricks.’
‘What to try and throw you off the scent?’ she said.
‘Who knows? What we do know is that he removed the teeth when they are dead and he does it with a certain amount of skill.’
‘Oh, my God! Do you think it’s
a dentist? How bloody frightening...’
Dylan laughed. ‘That I can’t tell you. But now you know why I’m interested in your caller.’
‘If he calls again what do I do?’ said Maggie.
‘If he calls again, we will have our technical people on the job to trace it. Another option is we don’t wait to see if he calls again but I come on your programme and make an appeal for him to come forward.’
‘Do you want to?’
‘I think that might be a good idea. It might encourage him to ring again sooner than he anticipated and it would give us an opportunity to try and trace the call if he does. I’ll have a confidential chat with your management team so that they are aware of what’s going on and see what they say.’
‘Wow, if this results in an arrest that’d be dead cool. My boss would be well chuffed.’ Maggie’s excited face suddenly clouded over and she put her hand to her mouth. ‘OMG I’ve just remembered I’m due at the dentist next week. I think I might postpone.’
Dylan laughed, ‘I suggest you just carry on as normal.’
Maggie stood to leave.
Dylan shook her hand. ‘Thanks for bringing this to my attention and for coming in today. I’ll be in touch, and to save you from our resident vulture,’ he said nodding in Ned Granger’s direction. ‘I’ll walk you to the door.’
The incident room was filling up with people ready for the day’s debriefing.
Maggie said hello to people she knew and smiled at the ones who acknowledged her. Dylan couldn't help but note that Ms Currie had nice teeth and a lovely smile. The last thing he wanted was for her to be the focus of a killer’s attention. Was he asking her to be their bait?
***
The debrief proved to be a full and informative one, but there was nothing new that gave them any leads towards a suspect. Tomorrow Dylan would make enquiries into the possibility of tracing calls that were made to Vectis Radio station. He was still waiting for information from the national database involving crimes by offenders who were known to extract teeth from their victims and the document promised by offender profiler, Dr Francis Boscombe outlining the possible type of individual they were looking for. The intel at this time told Dylan that the killer was likely to be a middle-aged local man due to nothing more than the knowledge he had of the area and the skill he had acquired in dentistry.
Killer Smile Page 10
