A Cold Grave: A DCI Danny Flint Book

by Negus, Trevor

  ‘This might be your lucky day, then. As it happens, we haven’t got that much on. A surveillance job might be just what the team needs to keep their skills up.’

  ‘Can you get over to Mansfield in the next hour with a surveillance team?’

  ‘Blimey! You weren’t kidding when you said it’s urgent. Yeah, I reckon I can do that. How many targets?’

  ‘Two, but they’re a couple.’

  ‘Okay. How long have we got before we need to drop on them?’

  ‘They’re both still in custody at Mansfield nick, being interviewed. I can probably delay their release for a couple of hours, but realistically, no longer than that.’

  ‘Okay. I’ll put a team together and be at Mansfield within the hour. Are you okay to pay the overtime bill on this job?’

  ‘Overtime isn’t a problem. I’ll tell you why when you get here for a briefing.’

  ‘Now I’m well and truly intrigued. See you soon.’

  Having only heard half of the telephone conversation, Rob stared at Danny in expectation. Danny smiled. ‘Regional Crime Squad can put a surveillance team on them when they’re released. That’s what I meant by using the situation to our advantage. Hopefully, we can give the pair of them just enough rope to hang themselves.’

  ‘There’s one other thing you need to know, boss. Caroline’s been informed by her solicitor that the Local Authority have suspended them both. They’re not going to be allowed back at Tall Trees until after the drugs investigation has taken its course. Grenville Slater has been arguing with Bethany Jones at the Social Services. Bethany hasn’t budged, though, so Caroline and Bill aren’t going back to Tall Trees when they’re released.’

  ‘Where are they going to go, then?’

  ‘Slater’s somehow used his connections and arranged for them to have a council flat on the Oak Tree Lane Estate in Mansfield as temporary accommodation.’

  ‘That’s brilliant. Seriously, it couldn’t have worked out better for us. Make sure we know the exact details of this address as soon as possible. We can then get the Regional Crime Squad surveillance team plotted up on it. Try to delay the last interviews with them both for as long as you can.’

  ‘Will do.’

  As Rob left the office to get things organised, Danny sat back in his chair, clasped his hands behind his head, smiled, and said aloud, ‘I think we’re finally getting somewhere.’

  47

  26 June 1986

  South Lodge, Retford

  Wade crept into the stone outbuilding that had become a makeshift dungeon for the two abducted male nurses.

  His captives were asleep.

  Both men were naked, starving hungry and dehydrated.

  Since their abduction, Wade had only allowed them one drink of water. He didn’t plan on allowing them any more. He needed the men to be weak and passive.

  Having silently entered the building, he allowed his eyes time to get accustomed to the gloomy half-light before looking closely at his prisoners.

  Fred Barnes was lying propped against the stone wall. His arms were twisted at a grotesque angle, attached to the manacles. Wade wondered how he could sleep like that. The man was close to exhaustion, that much was obvious.

  Wade smiled and turned to look down at Jack Williams. The younger, fitter man should have been faring better, but the savage beating he’d taken at the hands and feet of Wade had obviously taken its toll.

  The areas around both sides of Williams’s head were caked in dried blood.

  The open wounds caused when Wade had bitten off both his ears in a fit of rage were now crusty and pus-filled. Both of the jagged wounds were already badly infected. Both eyes were black and swollen. His mouth and lips were strangely distorted and pushed out of shape.

  Looking closer, Wade realised that the younger man’s jaw was in fact broken and displaced.

  The stench coming off the two men was horrendous. They both had dried faeces caked to their legs and backs. The smell of sweat and urine was strong.

  He’d seen enough. It was time to wake them up.

  Wade did this by aiming two brutal kicks into their ribcages; Barnes first, and then Williams.

  Both men were instantly wide awake and shouted in pain.

  Wade laughed and said, ‘Come on, gents, it’s the middle of the day. Why are you sleeping?’

  Barnes just groaned, but Williams said defiantly, ‘Fuck off, Wade!’

  His defiance was instantly rewarded with another heavy kick. This time the heavy boot landed in the small of his back. The force of the blow caused him to yelp in pain, and he began to dry retch.

  There was no food left in his stomach to vomit.

  In a menacing growl, Wade said, ‘I’ve been wondering what to do with you two. Well, you’ll both be pleased to know that I’ve finally come to a decision. I’m going to allow one of you bastards to survive. Sadly, this does mean that one of you will have to die.’

  Both men sat in wretched silence as Wade spelled out their fate to them.

  ‘Gentlemen, this is what’s going to happen. At some point over the next couple of days, I’m going to unlock your manacles. Then I’ll leave the decision as to who survives and who dies completely down to you. It will be a straight fight. I’ll be observing through the small window above you. I’m intrigued to know which one of you needs to survive the most. I’ll leave you alone to think about it, and I’ll see you in a couple of days.’

  Barnes said, ‘If you want to see us fight, we’re going to need food and water.’

  Wade scoffed, ‘Oh, I don’t know about that. I think there’s still plenty of fat on you, Fred. I reckon you’ve still got a bit of fight in you without me wasting any more food and water on you. What about you, Jack? Do you want any food and water?’

  ‘I’m alright. I don’t want anything from you.’

  ‘That’s settled, then. I’ll see you soon. I can’t wait to find out who wants to survive the most.’

  Wade left the outbuilding and replaced the padlock on the door.

  He stamped away from the door, then tiptoed silently back and put his ear to the wooden door.

  He could hear the two men talking. They were discussing their options. Surprisingly, Williams was mentally much stronger than the old soldier, Barnes.

  With defiance and anger in his voice, the younger man said, ‘This is our chance, Fred. When he unlocks our manacles, we’ve got to be ready to fight for our lives. If the two of us work together, we’ll have a real chance to overpower him.’

  Barnes said, in a pathetic whine, ‘I don’t know, Jack. We’re both very weak. You’re badly injured already, and I’m knackered. I’ve got no energy. Why didn’t you back me up for some water?’

  ‘Fuck the food and water! I’m telling you, this will probably be our only chance; we’ve got to try. Do you really think he’s going to let either of us live? Of course he isn’t. If we don’t fight, we’re both dead men. Are you at least going to try?’

  ‘Yes, Jack, I’ll try. As soon as he releases us from these fucking manacles, we’ll both go for him.’

  ‘Good man. We can do this, Fred. Trust me.’

  Outside the door, Jimmy Wade had heard everything. He smiled and crept quietly away.

  48

  26 June 1986

  Mansfield Police Station, Nottinghamshire

  Danny Flint sat in his office with Detective Chief Inspector Mattie Carlisle, Rob Buxton and Brian Hopkirk.

  Rob said, ‘They’ll both be leaving the cell block in ten minutes. Bail’s been arranged for them to return to the police station in three weeks’ time.’

  Danny turned to Mattie Carlisle and said, ‘Are your team in place?’

  ‘They’re in place, ready to pick them up when they leave. Rob’s given me the details of the solicitor’s motor they’ll both be leaving in. I’ve also got the observation point set up on their temporary address, at 4 Edale Close, Oak Tree Lane Estate. We’ve been dead lucky there. Edale Close is a cul-de-sac, and there’s a
communal entrance to the block of flats they’re in. Number four is one of the two top-floor flats. That means it will be easy for us to clock them in and out. I’ve set up the observation point in a nursing home that overlooks both the end of the cul-de-sac and the entrance into the block of flats. It really couldn’t be better for us.’

  ‘Were there any problems getting into the nursing home?’

  ‘None at all.’

  ‘Great stuff.’

  ‘How often will your team check in with us?’

  ‘Unless there’s something drastic happening, like another abduction or something of that nature, they won’t. They’ll maintain an evidential log of the targets’ movements and will give that to you on the day they’re due to answer bail. If anything significant happens, such as a meeting with someone or a visit to a suspicious or relevant address, the team will inform me so I can then pass it on to you. Every member of my team is in possession of a radio that links into your control room, in case of an emergency.’

  ‘That all sounds great, but I’d like us to talk every day, please. I need to know Caroline and Bill Short’s movements. I might think something’s significant that your team, with all due respect, don’t.’

  ‘That’s very true. I’ll contact you at six o’clock each evening to discuss the day’s events.’

  ‘That’s perfect. Thanks for that.’

  Mattie grinned slyly. ‘I’ve told my team that Caroline and Bill Short are both extremely surveillance-conscious. From what you’ve told me, I don’t think they are, but it helps to keep the team on their toes. After your briefing to them about the job, they’re all totally switched on anyway. They want to nail the evil bastards.’

  ‘Well, let’s hope they do something while they’re under surveillance that gives us the opportunity to do just that.’

  ‘I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you tomorrow at six as planned. Good night, gents.’

  ‘Good night, Mattie, and thanks again.’

  As soon as the crime squad man had left the office, Danny turned to Rob and said, ‘I take it nothing was said in the final interview?’

  ‘Nothing. Caroline continued her mantra of “no comment”, and Bill said nothing at all.’

  ‘Did Grenville Slater say anything to you?’

  ‘Only that he thought the arrests were a scandal. He said that following the couple’s release, without charge in three weeks’ time, he would be making an official complaint to the chief constable.’

  Danny grimaced. ‘Did he now? Well, we all wish him good luck with that, the snide bastard. Did you manage to find out whom he spoke to when he arranged the temporary council flat for the Shorts?’

  ‘It was a one-way phone conversation I was listening to, so it was tricky. All I can say for sure is that he called Mansfield District Council and asked to be put through to the Housing Department. I heard him say the name “Lenny” a couple of times. I’ve done some checking, and there’s only two men named Lenny or Leonard at the council. One’s a bloke called Lenny Briers, who’s a licensing enforcement officer. The other’s Councillor Leonard Mellor, who works in the Housing Department. I’m not pretending to be a genius here, Danny, but my guess is that the councillor’s the only one with enough clout to arrange temporary accommodation in council properties.’

  ‘Good work, Rob. Let’s do a few discreet enquiries into Councillor Leonard Mellor, with the emphasis on discreet.’

  ‘Discretion’s my middle name, boss.’

  Danny then turned to Brian. ‘I want you to firm up on what we’ve got from the searches, notably the van. Get your team back down to Tall Trees, and reinterview all the staff. I want to know exactly who has access to the van and who drives it. I want to know when it was last used, where it went, etc. I also want you to chase up Scenes of Crime and the Forensic Science Service so we can get a definitive word on the soil sample match and the tyre tread impressions. Chase them about the soil samples from the wellington boots we’ve recovered, as well. Lastly, get the results of the forensic analysis on the grip bag and the shoebox whenever you can. To be honest, I really don’t want to know the results of the examination on those items until the day before the Shorts are due to answer their bail. I don’t want to give Grenville Slater any reason why we should arrange for his client and her husband to answer their bail early.’

  Brian nodded. ‘If you don’t mind, sir, I’ll pass on the address book enquiry to Andy Wills. I’m going to be busy organising the enquiries you’ve just outlined.’

  ‘That’s a good idea; spread the load. Tell Andy I want that address book cracked. Tell him the same as I told you: Get him to arrange for a British Telecom engineer to work on it with him.’

  ‘Will do.’

  ‘Is there anything I’ve missed?’

  Both inspectors shook their heads.

  ‘Okay. Go and brief your teams as to what’s required tomorrow, then get off home. I want everyone back here tomorrow at six thirty for morning briefing.’

  49

  26 June 1986

  4 Edale Close, Oak Tree Lane Estate, Mansfield

  Caroline Short leaned through the open driver’s door window, into the black BMW 3 Series saloon, and pecked Grenville Slater on the cheek. ‘Thanks for everything today, Grenville. You’ve been amazing.’

  ‘We’ve got to help each other, Caroline. Just remember what I told you. Keep your heads down and do nothing. The police are on a massive fishing expedition; they’ve got nothing. At the end of all this, I’ll sue the arse off them for wrongful arrest, defamation of character, the works. With a bit of luck, you’ll get a massive payout, and you won’t have to bother about working for a while.’

  ‘That would suit me, Grenville. You’re a star.’

  ‘Trust me, the pleasure will be all mine. I’ve never liked that jumped-up, cocky bastard Flint. Don’t forget, I’ll pick Bill up at ten o’clock tomorrow morning to drive over to Tall Trees. We’ll pick up enough of your personal belongings to last for the three weeks you’re going to be stuck here.’

  ‘Thanks again.’

  Caroline stepped back from the car. She stood next to her husband and watched as the solicitor drove away. She held the keys to the flat in her left hand. She tossed the keys in the air, caught them and said, ‘Come on. Let’s check out our little palace.’

  Bill nodded, and they both walked into the block of flats. Both were totally unaware they had just become the subject of the first entry on the regional crime squad observation log.

  The two-bedroomed flat was fully furnished but basic. The food cupboards and the fridge were empty, but there were plenty of pots, pans, plates and cutlery. There was also a kettle, a toaster and a microwave in the kitchen. In the bedrooms, the bedding on the two beds smelled fresh, but needed airing. The whole place felt a little damp. Caroline switched on the heating, which was serviced by a communal boiler. Very quickly, the radiators became red hot, and the flat began to warm through.

  In the lounge was a brown leather three-piece suite that had seen better days. There was also a coffee table and a small colour television in the far corner. There were no pictures on the walls. No personal touches at all.

  It was basic.

  They both sat down on the leather sofa, and Caroline said, through gritted teeth, ‘The lousy rotten bastards.’

  ‘You alright, sweetheart?’

  ‘No, I’m bloody not! I’m seething. I can’t believe they’ve gone after us for drugs. Somebody’s grassed us up.’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘You idiot! Who do you think? It can only be that arsehole Billy Monk. Nobody else knew about any drugs.’

  Bill nodded. ‘You’re right, as usual.’

  Caroline continued angrily, ‘I hope you washed that fucking minibus out properly.’

  ‘Of course I have. I disinfected the back with bleach, like you said.’

  ‘We can’t afford for the cops to find anything.’

  ‘They won’t, and even if they did, we can say it’s a minibus
that’s used by the home to take the kids out. We can always say he’d been taken out in it on a few trips.’

  ‘You’re right, Bill, we could say that. But it would be so much better if they don’t find anything, and we don’t have to say a thing.’

  ‘Are you sure you got all the drugs out of the house, sweetheart?’

  ‘I got rid of them that first night. After the two policewomen came to tell us that they’d found the kid. I took all the drugs and buried them near the gateposts. They won’t find them right out there, and even if they do, they can’t be connected back to us.’

  ‘So we’re sorted, then. Grenville’s right. They can’t touch us.’

  ‘I’m still worried about the cottage.’

  ‘I’ve cleaned the cottage. They don’t know about it anyway. Nobody does.’

  Caroline was thoughtful; then she said, ‘Bill, I need you to go back out there and clean everywhere again.’

  ‘I’ve already done it. I’ve burnt the mattress and cleaned the room, like you told me.’

  ‘I want the whole cottage cleaned, not just that room.’

  ‘How am I supposed to get out there to do that?’

  ‘I’ll phone Lenny; he can take you. He’s the only one who’s got a spare key for the padlock, anyway.’

  ‘I’ve got no stuff to clean with.’

  ‘Fucking well buy some tomorrow! Stop bloody arguing with me! This is important, Bill. Unless you want to go back inside?’

  ‘Alright, alright, there’s no need to shout. I’ll get the stuff tomorrow morning when I get some food in. I’ll go to the shops before Grenville comes to take me to Tall Trees.’

  ‘You see, that wasn’t hard to work out, was it? It fucking exhausts me at times, having to think for both of us. For fuck’s sake, Bill, get a grip.’

  ‘When are you going to call Lenny?’

  ‘I’ll call him tomorrow while you’re out with Grenville picking up our stuff. I’ll arrange for Lenny to pick you up in a couple of days’ time, when things have settled down a little. I’ll arrange for him to pick you up after seven o’clock at night. If you go over in the evening, there’s less chance of anyone seeing you at the cottage.’