‘I’ll speak to you tomorrow, then. Take care.’
She watched him as he reversed his car to turn it, then drove off. She took Phil back to the police station, Greg to his hotel, then went back to her flat, where she stripped, bagged up all her clothes and had a long hot shower. After that, she phoned round the others in the team to tell them what had happened. Then, back to Greg’s hotel for dinner.
*
A taxi brought Brigg to her flat at eleven the next morning.
He listened carefully while she went over everything again, then said,
‘But you don’t buy the suicide?’
She said, ‘I can believe they might have changed their minds – especially after the government announcement, but I simply don’t believe they’d kill themselves. I mean – why?’ She went on, ‘And anyway – I know I’m not exactly the maternal kind, but I can’t see any mother leaving her baby like that.’
‘Would he have died if you hadn’t gone in when you did?’
She shook her head. ‘Apparently, one of the women from the shop went up every day to see them, so he’d have been found. Even so, he was a very unhappy baby when we found him.’
‘So who killed them, and how?’
‘I don’t know how exactly… We’re as sure as we can be that there was cyanide in the champagne… maybe the PMs’ll tell us something.’
‘When are they due?’
She looked at her watch. ‘They’re happening now; we should have some preliminary results this afternoon.’
His eyes not leaving her face, ‘Do you think all four of them were part of the original plot – John Amend-all?’
She slowly nodded. ‘Yes – although I was very surprised in one case…’ She told him frankly about her relationship with Craig and how she’d more or less decided that he wasn’t involved. ‘But I do now – think he was part of the original plot, I mean. What I find very difficult to believe is that he’d kill himself like that. He was so full of life, especially that last evening…’ She swallowed and looked away.
He said gently, ‘Perhaps you didn’t know him as well as you thought.’
She cleared her throat. ‘That’s possible of course, but I still don’t believe he’d kill himself.’
‘But if you’re right, it means there’s still somebody out there with the virus. The question is –’
Her phone rang. It was Tim, to tell her that the PCR test on the virus they’d found in the lab was positive. She asked about the cultures and he told her a few more days. She thanked him and rang off.
‘Confirmation that the virus in the flat was smallpox,’ she told Brigg.
‘But we as good as knew that anyway, didn’t we? What were the cultures you were talking about?’
A check that the virus hadn’t escaped from the lab into the flat, she explained.
‘OK. So let’s get back to your supposition – you still think there’s a risk of the virus being released?’
‘Well, we can’t assume there isn’t,’ she said.
‘No, we can’t,’ he agreed, ‘so –’
Her phone went again, this time it was Herry.
‘I’ve been into the hospital to look at the baby,’ he said. ‘There’s a mark on its thigh that looks like a vaccination scar.’
‘But I thought you said they couldn’t do that – vaccinate a baby.’
‘Normally you wouldn’t, because of the risk of infection with Vaccinia. But you can in an emergency – if you give the baby passive immunity at the same time.’
‘I’m sorry, what does that mean?’
‘Serum containing antibody against Vaccinia.’
‘Wouldn’t they cancel each other out?’
‘You’d think so, but they don’t.’
‘Can you check, confirm that that’s what it is?’
‘I’ve had a blood sample taken and we’ll test it this afternoon.’ After a slight pause, he continued, ‘Any more news from your end?’
She told him how they were awaiting the PM results, then rang off and repeated what he’d said to Brigg.
He thought for a moment… ‘But I seem to remember him saying that vaccine was very difficult for an outsider to get hold of, and that they’d be more likely to use cowpox.’
‘Yes, so do I…’
She phoned him back.
‘You’re right,’ he agreed, ‘I did say that. Of course, this scar may be cowpox.’
She went on, ‘What I’m getting at is that use of bona fide vaccine would suggest some kind of inside involvement, wouldn’t it? How many people have access to it?’
‘The actual vaccine, not very many,’ he said. ‘But some medical schools and universities still have Vaccinia virus for experimental and demonstration purposes.’
‘So you could make a vaccine from that?’
He said, ‘I think so, I’ll have to check. Meanwhile, I’ll find out exactly what antibodies the baby does have.’ He went on, ‘We ought to have blood samples from the bodies to test as well.’
‘Can that be done?’
‘Oh, easily. But you’d have to be the one to arrange it with the mortuary or Forensic Lab.’
‘I’ll do it now.’
She told Brigg what he’d said, then phoned the Forensic Lab. They said they’d arrange it with the mortuary.
As soon as she’d put the phone down, it rang yet again; this time it was Greg, to tell her that Mike, Dan and Josh had arrived at the hotel.
There wasn’t much more they could do until they had the PM results, so they decided to join the others at the hotel to bring them up to date over lunch.
*
The preliminary PM results came in at just after 3.00.
All four had died from cyanide poisoning. Potassium cyanide was found in the dregs from all four glasses and the champagne bottle. Each glass had the fingerprints of at least one of the four victims. Craig’s fingerprints were on the bottle and the glasses, apparently from where he’d filled them.
There was no sign of violence on any of the bodies, and so far, no evidence from the flat to suggest anyone else had been involved. Emma’s and Will’s fingerprints were on the computer.
All four victims had what appeared to be recent smallpox vaccinations on their arms. Blood had been taken and would be tested for antibodies as soon as possible.
After they’d all digested the news, Brigg turned to Rebecca.
‘Still think it was murder?’
‘More than ever. There was no reason for them to kill themselves – they could have simply destroyed the virus, dismantled the lab and got on with their lives.’
Greg said, ‘But how would this murderer of yours do it? Wouldn’t the others smell the cyanide in the champers?’
‘I’m not sure they would, not enough to prevent them taking a swallow... I’ll check.’
‘But what’s the motive, why kill them?’
‘Maybe they had decided they couldn’t go through with it, and one or more others disagreed…’
‘The bottom line,’ Brigg came in, ‘is that it’s not over. So, what are we going to do about it?
Chapter 24
Hannah, Marc, Sophie, Alan and Ron were arrested that afternoon under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and taken to Exeter Police Station
Hannah had seemed ready to fight, but Marc calmed her down, and then asked about their son. Social Services would be taking care of him, he was told. For how long? They didn’t know.
They decided to interview Hannah first. She was brought to the small, windowless room, which had a tape machine on the table, but not much else. Brigg asked her to sit down. She refused and demanded a lawyer. He explained that under the Act, they were not obliged to provide one.
‘I don’t believe you,’ she said.
‘I have a copy of the Act here, if you would like to read it.’ He held it out to her. ‘I’ve marked the relevant passages.’
She snatched it from him, sat down and began reading.
After a few minutes, Bri
gg said, ‘I believe you’ve had ample time now, Ms Bell. We’d like to ask you –’
‘You can ask, but I don’t have to answer.’
‘Then perhaps you’ll listen.’
For a moment, Rebecca thought she was going to clap her hands over her ears and start singing La La La, but she didn’t. She sat staring down at her hands on her lap. Brigg spoke quietly.
‘Yesterday, in the flat above your charity shop in Decker Street, we found the bodies of Craig Holland, Malcolm North, Will Cummins and Emma Read.’
Her head snapped up and she said again, ‘I don’t believe you,’ but with perhaps less conviction.
‘They’d been poisoned with cyanide, apparently by their own hands, although we have our doubts about that. We also found a makeshift laboratory hidden between the walls of the bathroom and the bedroom. Inside, in a small freezer, were live cultures of an exceptionally dangerous virus.’
‘What virus?’
‘That, I’m not at liberty to say. What I can tell you is that three weeks ago, the government received a threat to infect the public with this virus unless they doubled the aid budget to Africa. What I need you to tell me Ms Bell, is who else is involved?’
She looked back at him for a long moment, then, ‘I know nothing about it, and that is all I’m going to say until you provide me with a lawyer. Oh –’ she looked with loathing at Rebecca ‘– There is one more thing. If my friends are dead as you say, then I hold you personally responsible and will not rest until you have been exposed.’
And with that, she folded her arms and was as good as her word. After ten minutes, she was taken back to her cell.
Marc was next. He, too, asked for a solicitor, but only after he had sat down. On being told he couldn’t have one, he simply nodded as though it was nothing more than he’d expected. On being told about the bodies, he sat up and his mouth fell open –
‘You’re kidding…’
Rebecca said, ‘No, Marc – I found them myself.’
He shot her a fleeting glance – he’d avoided looking at her up till now.
‘Why should I believe you? How do I know it isn’t some sort of trick?’
Brigg said, ‘I have the post mortem reports here if you want to see them.’
‘They could be forged – all right, all right, I accept it. What do you want from me?’
Brigg told him about the hidden lab, the virus and that threat to release it. ‘What I want, Mr Bell, are the whereabouts of the virus, and who else was involved.’
‘I’ve absolutely no idea,’ Marc said, and started to get up. ‘Can I go now?’
‘Sit down or I’ll have you cuffed,’ Brigg snapped. Then, ‘Mr Bell, you don’t seem to have grasped the seriousness of this. There’s a very real risk that this virus is still out there somewhere and we’re going to do whatever it takes to find it before it can infect the public. So, for the sake of these innocent people, not to mention your wife and son, please tell me what you know.’
‘Sorry, still can’t help you.’
‘You were friendly with Craig Holland, I believe?’
Marc thought about this, then nodded. ‘Yes.’
‘Doesn’t it surprise you to learn he was involved with a terrorist plot like this?’
‘I thought you just said you weren’t convinced by his suicide.’
‘We’re not, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t involved in the first place. Emma and Will must have been, since the lab was in their home, and we’re as sure as we can be that Craig and Malcolm were as well. Would you have said Craig was the suicidal type?’
‘No…’ he hesitated, then, ‘I didn’t think so, but there is one thing I can tell you about him…’
They waited.
‘You know he worked in Africa for nearly three years?’
‘Yes,’ Rebecca said, although she hadn’t known it was that long.
‘Well, he fell in love with, and married, a woman out there. An African woman. They planned to come back here. Then, she got AIDS. I mean, she must have had it all the time, but the symptoms only showed after they got together – Ah!’ he said spitefully, looking at Rebecca, ‘That’s got you worried, hasn’t it?’
She felt her scalp prickle as the blood drained away… ‘Pretty unlikely, I’d think,’ she said, as coolly as she could, ‘given Craig’s state of rude health. Let’s stick to the subject, shall we?’ A thought occurred to her. ‘If what you say is true, why was Craig so against Open Door’s policy? Getting Africans over here for treatment, I mean.’
‘Because it wouldn’t have made any difference in her case. She did have treatment, over there, but it was too late. She died very soon after the symptoms showed. Also, because he was a humanist and knew that a great many more AIDS victims can be treated if it’s done over there.’
Brigg came in – ‘Are you suggesting that his bereavement might have made him suicidal?’
Again, Marc hesitated… ‘He never really got over it,’ he said at last. ‘It never occurred to me before, but maybe it’s possible that the combination of that and – I don’t know, remorse? – might have pushed him over the edge.’
‘What about Will and Emma, and Malcolm?’
‘I didn’t know them so well, so I can’t really answer.’
‘Where were you on the evening of Wednesday the 20th?’
He looked away as he thought about it… ‘Wednesday… I was at home.’
‘All evening?’
‘Yes.’ He nodded.
‘Can anyone vouch for that?’
‘My wife.’
‘Anyone else?’
‘Not really.’
‘Were you ever in Will and Emma’s flat?’
‘I don’t th… No, I wasn’t. The shop, yes, but not the flat.’
‘The basement?’
‘I didn’t know there was one.’
‘How well did you know Malcolm?’
‘I told you just now, not very well.’
‘Mary Broomfield, d’you know her?’
‘No – wait… the name is familiar… no, I can’t place it.’
‘She’s a member of Open Door in Bath.’
‘Then I expect that’s why it’s familiar.’
‘Tell me about your membership of Direct Action Africa.’
*
Grunt of amusement – ‘You have been busy, haven’t you? What can I say? A youthful fling in my Uni. days. I grew out of it, the Direct Action bit, anyway. Not about my feelings over Africa.’
‘Ever been there, Africa?’
‘You obviously know I have. A year’s VSO.’
‘Is that how you met your wife?’
‘No, as I’m sure you also know. I met her in Direct Action Africa when I came back.’
‘Sophie Rene?’
‘What about her?’
‘Where did you meet her?’
‘Direct Action Africa.’
‘So you know her quite well?’
‘Not really. As I’m sure Ms Hale here told you – is that her real name, by the way? – nobody knows Sophie that well. She’s a very private lady.’
‘But like your wife, she has a propensity for violence.’
Marc laughed out loud. ‘You know as well as I do – Inspector Brigg, is it? – that neither of them are truly violent. They both tried to defend themselves when grabbed from behind by a policeman.’
He was gaining the upper hand, and to Rebecca’s relief, Brigg abruptly stopped.
‘That’ll be all for the moment Mr Bell. I’d like you to reflect on what you’ve told us. You’ll have plenty of time – we’ve been given seven days to hold you.’
For the first time, Marc looked truly angry...
‘You can’t…’
‘We can, and will, if we think it’s necessary. The Prevention of Terrorism Act is very powerful and wide-ranging.’ Brigg held Marc’s eyes. ‘And I am determined to find this virus before it can kill anyone.’ He pressed the buzzer on the table and the two policemen waiting outsi
de came in. ‘Take him back to his cell.’
Marc didn’t move, just sat staring back at Brigg…
‘Come along, sir - ‘ One of the police took his arm and he angrily shook it off –
‘All right, I’m coming.’ He got up and stalked out.
As soon as the door closed, Brigg turned to her. ‘D’you think it’s true – about Holland?’
She nodded. ‘It fits. He told me he was widowed.’
He picked up the phone and keyed in a number. Rebecca heard the click as it was answered and the scratch of a recorded message.
‘Dr Smith, it’s Commander Brigg. Could you phone me back please, as a matter of urgency? Thank you.’ He gave his number, put the phone down and turned to Rebecca.
‘I’ll get Holland’s blood tested this evening.’
‘Thank you, sir.’
He said, ‘I take it he didn’t use a condom?’
She shook her head.
‘Despite what we know about him now, would you have said he was basically … an honourable person?’
She thought for a moment… ‘Yes, I would.’
‘Then it’s unlikely he’d have had sex with you if he’d known he was HIV positive.’
‘Except… What if he’d known what I was doing?’
‘Do you think that?’
‘I’ve been going over it and… he might have.’
‘Why?’
She took her time answering... ‘When I look back, it seems to me that he was treating everything, including our relationship, as though it was all a big joke.’
After a pause, he said, ‘If he did know what you were doing, it begs the question how?’
‘I’ve no idea. I’ve been over that too, and I’m sure I didn’t give anything away.’
‘It’s something we should –’
The phone went and he snatched it up… ‘Yes, thank you for getting back to me, doctor. We have a problem…’ He quickly explained and asked if a test could be set up immediately… ‘Yes, I will be, thank you very much.’
He turned back to Rebecca. ‘He’s arranging for Tim to test Craig’s serum now, and we should have a result in two to three hours.’ He looked at his watch. ‘By ten, hopefully . He’ll phone me.’
‘Thank you,’ she said again.
‘The very least I could do. Now – first impressions on the Bells? Feel free to intuit.’
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