Dead Embers

by Matt Brolly

  Lambert was struggling to come to terms with what Caroline had told him. ‘Could you wake her again?

  ‘No,’ said Morgan, with an authority she hadn’t displayed previously.

  Could Barnes really be the one they were looking for? His concern and passion to find Caroline had been convincing, but it seemed his motives for finding her were different to Lambert’s. ‘Could I ask you to both remain here for a couple of minutes?’ he said, to the three medical professionals.

  Dr Morgan looked extremely put out by the request. ‘Two minutes,’ she said, her glare suggesting this was final.

  Lambert left the room and dismissed the officer standing guard.

  ‘What is it?’ said Tillman, once the officer had departed.

  ‘She gave me one name. DCI Barnes,’ said Lambert, with a whisper.

  Tillman knew better than to repeat the name. ‘Is she still awake?’ he asked, seemingly processing this development.

  ‘No, but I’m convinced she meant it. How well do you know him?’

  Tillman sounded as if he was still struggling to come to terms with what he’d been told. ‘Never encountered him before this. We should check on his relationship with Sinnott and Weaver. If what Caroline is saying is true then they must have been working together. Fuck, I wonder what he’d have done if you’d let him in the room. Shall I call him and tell him to get back?’

  ‘I’d be surprised if we see him again,’ said Lambert. ‘Unless…’

  ‘Unless?’

  Lambert had been formulating a plan ever since Caroline had shared the information with him. ‘I think we need to pretend Caroline is dead.’

  Tillman paused. Lambert waited for a chance to explain but Tillman didn’t question the decision. ‘What about the medical team?’

  ‘I’ll explain the situation. We’ll have to get Barnes here as soon as possible, and you’ll have to sound plausible.’

  ‘Plausible is my middle name, Lambert.’

  Lambert returned to Caroline’s room and explained the plan to Doctor Morgan. ‘We’ll need to move her to another room, and she’ll have to be covered with a sheet as if she’s deceased.’

  ‘You’re serious, aren’t you?’ said Dr Morgan.

  ‘It’s the only way I can draw the man responsible back to the hospital. If he thinks she is alive he’ll abscond.’

  Morgan held his gaze, letting out a deep breath. ‘There’s another room on floor three available. We can move her there. The less people we have to pass the better.’

  ‘Thank you. Could you give me five minutes and I’ll dismiss my officers.’

  Lambert left the room again and nodded to Tillman. He summoned over one of the uniformed officers and told him that Caroline Jardine had died. ‘I want you to reposition those on duty outside the main building downstairs and monitor everyone who enters and leaves. Leave two on duty. One on either side of this corridor,’ he said.

  Once the hallway was clear, Tillman called Barnes. ‘Answerphone,’ he mouthed.

  ‘Leave a message.’

  Tillman sounded convincing as he told Barnes Caroline had died. He didn’t summon the officer to the hospital, which would have sounded too obvious, but protocol would suggest he should return.

  ‘We need to move her,’ said Lambert. He’d left the two officers on duty in case Barnes tried to get confirmation.

  He called Croft before moving back into Caroline’s room. ‘We’re ready to go.’

  Dr Morgan repositioned the bags feeding into the prone officer. ‘We’ll need to be quick,’ she said, placing a sheet over Caroline’s body.

  ‘You two stay here,’ he said to the nurses, wanting to limit the chances of someone giving the game away.

  Tillman stood as they left the room, Dr Morgan wheeling Caroline along. They made their way down the corridor, past one of the uniformed officers, Lambert hoping Caroline would remain asleep.

  Lambert accompanied Morgan and Jardine in the lift to the third floor, trying to shake the notion that Caroline was actually dead beneath the white cover. Croft was waiting and led them to Caroline’s new room. There was no viewing window and a sense of relief swept through Lambert as they entered the room and Croft removed the sheet.

  ‘She’s alive?’ said Croft.

  Lambert explained what had happened. ‘I need you to stay with Caroline. Explain the situation to her if she wakes, and try to get more information from her if possible. Ideally, I would like this door left locked. Could we do this?’ he said, turning his attention to Morgan.

  ‘I’ll see what I can do. I still need Mrs Jardine to be monitored.’

  ‘Could you do that for us? I’m sure it won’t be for too long.’

  Morgan sighed. ‘I’ll have to sign myself out but I can do that, I suppose.’ She returned five minutes later with a key.

  ‘I’ll leave you to it. Do not let anyone other than myself or Tillman into this room,’ he said to Croft.

  Lambert made his way back to the other floor. He couldn’t believe Barnes had made such a fool of them. The revelation made him reassess everything from beginning to end. He had to concede Barnes was one hell of an actor. The thought made him shudder as he contemplated what Barnes and Sinnott had accomplished over the years. Instinctively, his hand reached for his gun. He stopped and used the breathing exercises he’d taught himself for his sleep issues. Now was not a time for emotion. That could come later. He had to stay focused. Whatever happened now, he couldn’t let Barnes get away.

  ‘He’s coming in,’ said Tillman, who was waiting outside the first floor lift entrance. ‘I have a team waiting in the car park in case he doesn’t like what we have to say to him. If he is involved in this then I don’t think it’s worth any preamble.’

  ‘Meaning?’

  ‘Meaning as soon as we have him in our sight we pounce.’

  Lambert would have liked to have told Barnes that Caroline was alive, to gauge his reaction, but Tillman was right. If Barnes was part of this, then he was potentially capable of anything. ‘OK. Let’s wait until he’s up close.’

  Lambert dismissed some of the uniformed officers as they waited for Barnes to arrive. With Caroline supposedly dead, there was no real need for such a police presence and he didn’t want to give a reason for Barnes to retreat.

  Lambert paced the corridor as they waited, his mind drifting to Caroline Jardine. A fluke had led him to her whereabouts. If he hadn’t remembered Gladys Hodge’s words about the darkness then chances were they would have never found her. She would have rotted away in the cave, and Teresa would have become an orphan. Once again, he tried to control his mounting rage, deciding Barnes would pay one way or the other for what he’d done.

  ‘He’s arrived,’ said Tillman. ‘The fucker’s parked by the exit and is walking across the car park. My team have eyes on him.’

  It was far from a sign of guilt, but Barnes would have been able to park much closer if he’d so chosen. Tillman had told Barnes to meet them on floor two, where Caroline had initially been positioned. Although two uniformed officers were still posted either side of the corridor, neither knew Barnes was under suspicion.

  ‘He’s not taking the lift, he’s heading for the stairs,’ said Tillman.

  ‘Sir, why don’t you monitor that area? I’ll wait for him here. As soon as he approaches you follow him in,’ said Lambert.

  ‘Yes, sir,’ said Tillman, lacing each word with exaggerated sarcasm before jogging along the corridor.

  Lambert tried to relax as he waited for Barnes. He pretended to read from his mobile phone. He didn’t glance up as he heard the door at the end of the corridor open.

  ‘Lambert,’ said Barnes, his voice echoing in the empty corridor.

  Lambert kept his eyes on his phone a few heartbeats longer before glancing up. Barnes was only a few metres inside the corridor. He stood stock still, his feet planted in a wide stance. Lambert lifted his hand, tried his best to paint a distressed look on his face. As Barnes hadn’t moved, Lambert pushed
himself up from his seat and made his way towards him. He kept his pace slow, pretending to be unconcerned by Barnes’ appearance. He noticed Barnes twitch, guilt written all over. He was in flight mode and this put Lambert on edge. He twisted his torso, feeling the weight of his gun in his inside jacket.

  ‘That’s far enough,’ said Barnes.

  Lambert kept walking. ‘What’s that?’ he said, as lightly as possible. He wanted to be nearer, wanted to provoke an admission of guilt.

  In one deft move, Barnes produced a gun from inside his jacket. ‘I said that’s enough,’ he said, pointing the gun at Lambert’s chest.

  Lambert took a couple more steps forward before standing still. He had no idea what had tipped off Barnes. ‘What the hell are you doing?’ said Lambert, pleading ignorance.

  ‘I’m not an idiot. She’s not dead, is she?’

  ‘Caroline? I’m afraid she is. What the hell are you doing with that gun, Barnes. Has it been issued to you?’

  ‘As a matter of fact it has, but that won’t stop me using it. I want out of here, Lambert, and you’re going to help me.’

  Lambert kept calm. It was not the first time he’d had a gun pointed at him and he doubted it would be the last. ‘What the hell is going on, Barnes? Why are you pointing that gun at me?’ He’d raised his voice for two reasons. First, he wanted to sound incredulous and cause doubt in Barnes mind. He’d succeeded in this, as Barnes’ forehead creased in confusion. Second, he wanted to signal Tillman.

  His boss didn’t let him down. He barged through the swing doors on cue, charging like the bull he was at Barnes.

  Barnes was slow to respond to the noise. He turned his head, feet still planted, and tried to adjust his position as he saw Tillman’s body charging him down. He went to turn the gun on Tillman but Lambert was mirroring Tillman’s movements. He was on Barnes in seconds. He pulled at Barnes’ wrist, whilst inflicting a series of blows to the man’s groin and kidneys with his knee.

  Barnes somehow managed to keep his grip on his gun as Tillman joined in the attack. Lambert kept the pressure on Barnes’ wrist as the officer faded onto the ground. He felt the man’s grip weaken, only to hear the sound of a single bullet leave the gun a second later.

  Lambert didn’t hesitate as the shot rang out in the hallway. He continued placing pressure on Barnes’ wrist and eventually the gun slipped from his grasp. Lambert took the opportunity to cuff Barnes’ hands behind his back before pushing him to the ground.

  Tillman glanced up at him, a pained look on his face. ‘You OK?’ he asked.

  Lambert checked himself for injuries, for a delayed reaction to a gunshot, but knew he hadn’t been hit. ‘Fine, you?’

  Tillman got to his feet as Lambert turned Barnes over. Barnes screeched in pain as Lambert dumped him on his back, his hands twisted behind him. Lambert ignored the cries and checked him over before noticing a bullet hole in the corridor wall.

  ‘I guess we should read him his rights,’ said Tillman, as the uniformed officers rushed the scene from either side of the corridor.

  ‘Easy there,’ said Lambert to the confused officers. He pointed to the gun which lay abandoned on the floor of the ward. ‘Let’s cordon this area off. I want SOCOs here to process that gun. Chief Superintendent Tillman and I will be taking Mr Barnes here into custody.’ He emphasised the “Mr” with a sneer as he hauled Barnes to his feet, enjoying the cries of pain as he did so.

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  The following day, Lambert was back at the hospital. After showing his ID to the two armed officers positioned outside her room, he was pleased to see Caroline Jardine sitting up in bed. The transformation was remarkable. The colour had returned to her face and she already looked close to full recovery.

  Sinnott and Barnes were both in custody under Tillman’s supervision and Lambert would interrogate both men later – after he heard Caroline’s version of events.

  ‘I guess I have some talking to do,’ said Caroline.

  ‘I guess so,’ said Lambert, taking a seat next to her bed. ‘Let’s start with your investigation into Waverley Manor.’

  Caroline confirmed what Colville had told him. She’d continued investigating the Manor covertly ever since Alistair Newlyn’s so-called suicide. She hadn’t been aware that Colville had remained in the force, joining Anti-Corruption, which was a testament to the department’s effectiveness.

  ‘And where did your investigations lead you?’

  ‘Nowhere to begin with. I knew there was a conspiracy within the force so I had to be careful who I spoke to and who I trusted, which was basically no one. I had my theories. I was continually researching the cases involving the Manor. It was becoming increasingly dangerous to access the files and every time I managed to get a glimpse, more and more parts of the files were blanked out.’

  Caroline’s experience mirrored Lambert’s own. He suspected the corruption went beyond Barnes and Sinnott and doubted the full extent of the organisation would ever be revealed.

  ‘What else?’ said Lambert. The conversation was being taped and he didn’t want to lead Caroline in any way. She would have to supply the names, the links to the Manor organisation.

  ‘I’d long believed the Manor was more than a place. It was either a code name, or some form of group. I kept reaching a dead end, then I came across the case DI Greene was working on. She’d found a body at Waverley Manor and I noticed the case had been pulled. I considered contacting her but I wasn’t sure if she was involved. I decided to make my own reccy of the place. I went to the area in the daytime. I hiked most of the way in instead of driving in case the place was being monitored. I was glad I did because that’s when I saw him.’

  ‘Who?’ said Lambert.

  ‘DCI Barnes.’

  Both of them fell silent as Lambert let the news settle. ‘Was he alone?’

  ‘No. I believe the man he was with was the Minister for Policing, John Weaver. It was then that I was foolish.’

  ‘How so?’

  ‘I began to rush. I retreated from the site sure that Barnes was involved. At the office, I ran a search on Barnes’ connection to the Manor. I used a proxy to sign in but I don’t think I hid my tracks well enough.’

  Lambert had conducted a similar search himself. Barnes’ name appeared more than once in cases related to the Manor. ‘When was this?’

  ‘About three days before the fire at my house.’

  ‘Were you ready to go public on your findings?’

  ‘Not quite. I was trying to find someone in Anti-Corruption I could trust.’

  ‘Did you come up with any names?’

  ‘No.’

  Lambert paused, again considered the involvement of the AC officer, DS Duggan. ‘Tell me about the fire.’

  ‘I’m afraid I don’t remember the fire.’ Caroline rubbed the back of her head. ‘He must have struck me and I think he drugged me somehow. Next thing I know I’m in that fucking hole.’

  Lambert noticed the slight tremble in the woman’s hand as she spoke. ‘I’m sorry to ask you…’

  ‘My husband? He was already gone by the time I came round. At least I think he was. I called out to him, tried to reach him but the chains held me back. I screamed myself hoarse. I tried everything to get him to answer me but he just wouldn’t move.’ She spoke as if she had to defend herself, her eyes watering.

  The autopsy report stated Marcus Jardine died from a blow to the back of his head, similar to the impact Caroline had received, rather than from slipping as Trevor Hodge had claimed during his phone call. Lambert suspected the Fireman had given more force to Mr Jardine due to his bulk. ‘Did he speak to you, Hodge?’

  Caroline visibly shivered and Lambert couldn’t help but be impressed with her defiance. ‘On a couple of occasions. That snivelling bastard apologised, can you believe that? He fucking apologised for killing Marcus. What sort of psycho is he?’

  Lambert explained that Hodge had died in an explosion of his own making.

  ‘Why didn’
t he just kill us, let us die in the fire?’

  ‘That’s what we need to determine,’ said Lambert, thinking he already knew the answer.

  * * *

  Matilda and Tillman joined Lambert in the interrogation room at the heart of the NCA’s building. Barnes had been placed in a jumpsuit, his wrists and ankles cuffed. He’d been under armed guard, and placed on suicide watch ever since his arrest.

  The disruption hadn’t seemed to outwardly affect him. He gave each of the officers opposite him a glassy stare, his mouth fixed in a permanent smirk as if he was the interviewing officer and not the detainee.

  ‘I’ve just interviewed Caroline Jardine,’ said Lambert.

  Barnes’ smirk grew and for a second Lambert wondered if the man had lost his mind. The gun attack was enough to put Barnes behind bars but Lambert needed more answers. He tried to hide his desperation as he continued to speak. ‘What can you tell us about Waverley Manor?’ he asked.

  Barnes’ smirk continued to grow. Lambert understood the provocation and regretted it was having the desired effect. They’d given him some time alone to reflect on his situation and at this point Barnes would have considered every angle.

  Barnes continued staring as if they were circus exhibits. ‘You don’t understand anything,’ he said, after a long pause.

  It was a familiar refrain Lambert had heard from psychopaths all his life. ‘Explain it to us, then, Barnes,’ he said.

  Barnes’ tongue protruded from his mouth half an inch as he nodded at Lambert’s demand. ‘I want to make a deal,’ he said.

  Lambert sensed Tillman physically tense next to him as if he was ready to strike. ‘What do you have to offer and what do you want?’ said Lambert.

  ‘I can give you everything. Everyone.’

  ‘And.’

  ‘Freedom.’

  Lambert smiled. ‘We both know that’s not going to happen.’

  Barnes leant towards them, his face now contorted into a sneer. The transformation was incredible. Lambert was facing a completely different man. ‘Not literal freedom, you fucking cretin,’ said Barnes.