Saffina Desforges' ROSE RED Crime Thriller Boxed Set

by Saffina Desforges

  “From what I saw you were too busy contaminating the crime scene to find anything.” Red sipped on her coffee, trying not to show her annoyance. Maybe Taylor was still traumatised from seeing the body. “SOCO didn’t mention any major breakthroughs.” She opted for sarcasm. Vent her anger while staying calm. “What did you do, pick it up a vital clue and take it home with you?”

  Taylor said nothing.

  Red slowly put her coffee down as realization dawned. “You didn’t…”

  Chapter 124.

  Barry Taylor slid an evidence bag across the table. Red stared at it without touching it, trying to read through the plastic. She strained her eyes against the reflected glare from the overhead lamp.

  “You removed this from the crime scene? What the hell were you thinking of?”

  “I wasn’t sure we wanted SOCO to find it first, Guv,” Taylor said. He produced a pair of tweezers from his pocket, holding them out to Red. “And don’t worry, my hands haven’t touched the card. That was what the dropped handkerchief was all about.”

  Red stared at the evidence bag, not touching it. She turned her head to get a better angle against the lamp’s glare. “Zachary Phillips Agency,” she read out loud. Her eyes returned to meet Taylor’s. “You’re not making any sense, Barry. Why did you take the card in the first place?”

  “I recognized the name.”

  Red looked bewildered, She let Taylor continue, hoping something might emerge to justify her being dragged out of bed.

  “It was underneath the dresser in the hotel room,” Taylor said. “I bent down to take a closer look, then saw the name. Picked it up. Then I didn’t know what to do, Guv. My head was spinning. Still is. Then when Pete and Lee updated me about the CCTV images…”

  “Barry, if there was promotion available for making no sense whatsoever you’d be a Chief Super by now. Who the bloody hell is Zachary Philips? And what has the woman on the CCTV got to do with it?”

  “I don’t know who Zachary Phillips is, Guv. It was the other name I recognized.”

  Red studied the card through the plastic. “Other name?”

  Taylor took the card from the evidence bag using the tweezers. Flipped it over so Red could read the reverse side. Neat handwriting in blue gel pen.

  2Kays.

  Naughty Knickers.

  Friday. Midnight thirty.

  Chapter 125.

  Superintendent Blake looked twice at Red. “Cassandra, you look like you haven’t slept a wink.”

  Red forced a smile. “I haven’t.”

  “The Huntsman?”

  “I wish. It’s the murders, Sir. We’ve got a new lead.”

  Blake’s eyes lit up. “Excellent! Best news I’ve had all week.”

  Red buried her head in her hands. “You won’t think that for long, Sir.”

  Chapter 126.

  “How was the Super?” Terri asked.

  “It’s a long story.” Red slumped into a chair in front of the white wall.

  “I thought he’d have been pleased. We’ve finally got a lead.”

  Red took a deep breath. “There’s more to it, Terri. Much more to it. Something came up last night.”

  “Guv?”

  “You know I trust you, Terri, but I’m under strict orders. I can’t say anything more right now. I’m just hoping Pete and Lee come back with a name. And that’s it’s not a name we know.”

  Chapter 127.

  “You two fallen out?” Metcalf looked from Harris to Taylor. They were sat as far apart as they could be within the confines of the briefing room.

  “He’s in a strop over something,” Harris grinned. “What happened, Bazza? You look like you’ve just lost the winning lottery ticket.”

  “Leave him be,” Red said. “Migraine, Barry?”

  Taylor rubbed his forehead theatrically. “Stonker, Guv.”

  “Hangover, more-like,” Harris persisted. “Lee said you was out for a drink last night.”

  Red walked casually around the room. “Barry, I suggest you pop along to my office, pull the blinds and give it thirty minutes solitude and darkness. Jim can report for you.”

  Taylor nodded appreciatively. “Thanks, Guv.”

  Terri and Anna exchanged glances. Something was going on.

  “Pete, I gather the agencies couldn’t put a name to the mystery woman,” Red said. “Can you elaborate for us?”

  “Not much to add, Guv. Unless forensics can enhance the images then we’ve got all we can get. All the agencies have a ton of brunettes on their roll. If she’s brunette. Can’t even be sure about that with those blasted sodium street lights.”

  “It’s s start,” Mackenzie said. “Five foot ten, dark hair, probably brunette. Likes ankle length dresses, dark colours.”

  “Maybe five nine,” Terri suggested. “There must have been an inch on her heels.”

  “Good point, Terri.” Red casually manoeuvred herself behind Harris.

  “And her pocketbook was pretty distinctive, too,” Terri added.

  Harris sat forward. “Her what? She wasn’t carrying a book.”

  Terri grimaced. “Handbag, sorry. I don’t know why you Brits can’t call things by their proper names.”

  “Us?” Harris adopted an offended expression. “It’s you Yanks that can’t name things proper.”

  “Hold still, Jez. Some fluff on your collar.” Red brushed Harris’s shoulder with her hand. To Terri, “Distinctive in what way? I thought it looked pretty bland.”

  “Exactly,” Terri said. “It was average. Two different dresses. Rather nice dresses. Same bag. Shoulder strap. Double clasp closing. So I’m guessing plain black. That would work with pretty much any outfit. But… I thought she would have had a pocketbook, sorry, a handbag to match her outfit each time. I mean, escorts are paid to look good, not just average.”

  “Interesting, Terri.” Red made her way back to the front of the room. “Jez? Anna? Anything from the Walker lot?”

  “They weren’t very forthcoming, Guv,” Anna said. “He’s dead. They don’t want to discuss his past misdemeanours. Just confirmed what we already knew. They didn’t think he had any contact with any ex-cons, but that’s not to say he didn’t.”

  “They’re wrong, Anna. He did,” Mackenzie said. “Barry and I had a very, very interesting chat with High Street.”

  Red perked up. “Do I detect good news imminent, Jim?”

  “Not sure if its good or not, Guv. High Street and Green go back a long way, so needless to say High Street was keen to help. He’d been sent to a different nick from Green, of course,but they kept in contact. Ex-cons network.”

  “Where would we be without it?”

  Mackenzie smiled. “Green, High Street and Walker met up frequently to talk about old times. Seems Walker and Green had been close in Coldingley. Green had taken the young Stuart Walker under his wing. High Street suspected Walker was, in his own words, bent as a nine bob note, but Walker kept his sexual inclinations quiet from Green. Green was devastated when Walker was killed.”

  Red considered the information. “Okay. But we know for sure David Carter was clean. I’ve double checked everything. He hadn’t even got a parking ticket to his name, let alone spent time in HMP Coldingley.”

  “Ah, but he had,” Mackenzie said, unable to hide the triumphant tone in his voice. “Karl Green was a complete illiterate when I arrested him. Couldn’t even write his name. He came out with a GCSE in English. Only a D, but it was a pass. Evening classes. Civilian teachers going in once a week. The English teacher that year was one David Carter.”

  Chapter 128.

  “Good work, both of you,” Blake said. “But especially you, Barry.”

  “Thank you, Sir.” For Taylor the high praise direct from the Super was tempered by the reason for it.

  “You were absolutely right to keep that card to yourself,” Blake continued. “Not that I’m condoning tampering with any crime scene. But if this does lead where it seems to be going, then we need to keep as m
uch control over it as possible.”

  “But we’ll have to bring her in, Sir,” Red said. “Surely.”

  “Of course. I’m not advocating a cover up. Just that we need to handle this very, very carefully. For Harris’s sake, quite apart from the reputation of the Met.”

  “Sir.”

  “Now, I’ve made some discreet enquiries of my own, and apparently this Nikki Marshall is a blonde, is that right?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “And the suspect on the CCTV footage is dark-haired? Probably brunette?”

  “That’s one thing in her favour, Sir, but it’s easy enough to dye one’s hair for a night. Forensics did detect traces of chemicals used in hair dye on all three victims. Sorry. I’m as desperate as anyone for this not to be Nikki Marshall, but it’s not looking good.”

  “We can’t go pulling the girlfriend of a serving officer based on what we have so far. Has anyone spoken to this Phillips character?”

  “Pete Metcalf and Lee Roberts visited all the agencies, including Zachary Phillips. He wasn’t there in person, but the secretary viewed the CCTV. She knows all the girls. She said the same as all the others. It’s just not clear enough. Pete brought back one of their business cards. Identical to the one Barry found. Minus the personal notes from Nikki, of course.”

  “And Phillips himself?”

  “He was in New York at a catwalk show on the night of the third murder. It’s all over his Facebook page. Ironically Facebook helps build the case against Nikki. It’s like a public diary. Her FB pages for the three dates all say she was having a quite night in.”

  “But it’s all circumstantial,” Blake said quietly. “Jez Harris would never forgive you if we brought Marshall in for questioning and it turned out to be nothing.”

  “We’ll know for sure in twenty-four hours, Sir.”

  Blake and Taylor turned as one and stared at Red.

  “Forensics have a number of hairs found at the crime scenes. All DNA tested. All came back blank. Given Nikki Marshall has no past record that doesn’t help her cause one way or the other. If we had her DNA on file we could either implicate or eliminate her.”

  “Good point. But we can’t ask her for a sample without alerting her. At best she could destroy valuable evidence. And if we’re wrong, it’s as good as an accusation.”

  “Ways and mean, Sir.” Red held up a single long blonde hair between her thumb and forefinger. “I accidentally retrieved this from Jez’s collar just a few minutes ago. It can only be Nikki Marshall’s. I’m taking it to forensics personally, just to be sure it gets there.”

  A smile spread slowly across Blake’s face. “William Andrews would have been proud of you, Cass.”

  “Sir, I’ll need a phone call from the Chief Super to get this prioritised, if you could arrange that with him. This time tomorrow we’ll know one way or another. Let’s pray we’re wrong.”

  Chapter 129.

  Jez Harris stared, open-mouthed, as the Chief Super outlined the evidence against Nikki Marshall. Twice Harris swayed on his seat such that Red had to reach out and steady him. She let a hand rest on Harris’s arm. A show of solidarity as Edwards droned on.

  “I’m sorry, Harris,” the Chief Super concluded. “Truly I am.” He gestured to the array of evidence laid out on the desk for Harris’s benefit. “But the DNA is conclusive.”

  Harris nodded his understanding, unable to articulate a single word.

  “Don’t blame yourself, Jeremy,” Blake said. “You weren’t to know.”

  “Jez. Come back to my office. You can wait in there while I tell the others.” Red looked up at the Chief Super. “Today, Sir?”

  Chief Superintendent Cedric Edwards nodded gravely. “Today.”

  Chapter 130.

  Taylor stood at the window, unable to face the team as Red outlined the meeting with the Chief Superintendent. The stunned silence was deafening.

  “Where’s Jez now.” Tears flowed down Anna’s cheeks.

  “I’m here.”

  All heads turned to the doorway. Harris leaned against the jamb, eyes red, hands by his side.

  Anna was first up. A big hug. Quiet words exchanged.

  Metcalf and Mackenzie were right behind her. Hands shaken. Private sentiments expressed.

  Roberts followed suit. As each finished they stepped aside.

  Red found herself alone in the room with Taylor and Harris. Taylor hesitated by the window.

  “Jez, when you’re ready, I’ll be in my office.” She joined the others in the corridor.

  They all watched from a discreet distance as Harris and Taylor met midway. Stopped a half metre apart. Neither man able to bring himself to speak first.

  Finally Harris said. “You did the right thing.”

  They embraced like long lost brothers.

  Red pulled the door closed.

  Chapter 131.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Fine,” Harris lied.

  “You and Barry okay?”

  “Yeah.” More convincing.

  “We have to bring Nikki in, Jez. Today.”

  “I know.”

  “I feel I should offer that to Barry. He’s the one that nailed the evidence.”

  “Guv, I’d like to do it.”

  “Arrest Nikki?”

  Harris nodded. “Can I?”

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Jez.”

  “Barry said it would help bring closure if I did it. Not the interviews and all that stuff. Just the actual arrest. Please, Guv?”

  “You and Barry?”

  “Barry said it should be me and Anna. He said there should be a woman there, for Nikki’s sake.”

  “You do appreciate what Barry’s doing, Jez? Giving up the biggest arrest of his career?”

  “He’s the best friend a guy could want, Guv.”

  Chapter 132.

  Nikki opened the door. The smile evaporating as she took in Jez Harris and DS Anna Hargreaves, ID in hand. A look of resignation spread across Nikki’s face.

  “So you got there in the end.”

  Jez Harris hung his head, speaking to the floor. “I thought it best that I came, Nikki. Someone you know. It might make it easier for you.”

  Nikki glanced up and down the corridor. “Just the two of you? No SWAT team?”

  “I’m glad you find it amusing, Miss Marshall.” Anna peered around the door. “Anyone else here?”

  “Just Kevin.”

  “The dork,” Harris said quietly to Anna. He looked at Nikki, then back to his colleague. In a low voice, eyes glistening, “Anna, do you think… Just a few minutes alone? I won’t get another chance. Ever.”

  “What about the brother?”

  “He’s harmless. A fruitcake, but harmless. Five minutes? We’re on the fourth floor. It’s not like Nikki can go anywhere.”

  Anna studied the corridor. A dead end ahead. One small window. The door they had just come through behind, leading to the stairs and lift. Four floors.

  “Five minutes. I’ll be right here at the top of the stairs.”

  Nikki mouthed a silent Thank you to Anna. She grabbed Harris by the arm, pulling him through. Anna waited by the door a moment, then walked slowly back to her appointed position. Five minutes.

  Chapter 133.

  Red stared longingly at her mobile. It lay silent and dark on the table between them.

  “Cass, it’s turned off and it’s staying off. They can do without you for one night,” Pippa said for the umpteenth time.

  Red held up her hand. “I know. But why did it have to be tonight?”

  “Don’t even go there,” Pippa said. “We booked this table weeks ago.”

  “I should have brought her in myself earlier.”

  “You did the right thing, Cass.” Pippa slipped the cutlery from the napkin and examined it in minute detail. “Letting Jeremy conduct the arrest will be cathartic for him, as well as making clear to everyone else that he had no prior suspicions.”

 
“But what’s Blake going to say?”

  “He will congratulate you on your teamwork, of course. When is the last time Colin ever arrested anybody?”

  Red shrugged. “Not in living memory. He just sits back and takes the credit.”

  Pippa laid the cutlery down and took up her wine glass. “Exactly, Cassandra. He delegates the donkey work to the minions. It’s called leadership. You should try it some time. Now I want your opinion on something.”

  Red pulled her gaze away from the switched off phone. “The Michael Hazell case?”

  “Keep up, Cass. We wrapped that up two days ago. Did I not tell you? Unanimous not guilty.”

  “But you said you were sure he did it.”

  “Of course he did it. He told me himself. But I convinced the jury otherwise. One cannot go letting mere evidence get in the way of a defence. Which is why there’s rumour of partnership.”

  Red stopped in mid-sip. “Seriously?”

  “Well, unofficially. Reginald Curtis took me to one side today and offered me the use of his second home in Tuscany. He described it as a converted barn, but it’s obviously quite luxurious. Being offered a break at any of the partners’ residences is considered the first step towards inclusion. I know we’ve already got Richard’s various abodes to choose from, but Tuscany…”

  Red nodded absently, the sound of sirens in the distance, drawing closer. She raised her hand to pause Pippa and turned to the window. Pippa’s face darkened, but she held her tongue. The sirens would anyway drown out any attempt at conversation.

  Pippa watched Red watch the windows. A smile on Red’s lips as the sirens drew nearer and the blue lights began to bounce through the window into the restaurant. Pippa fumed as the smile faded when an ambulance and a fire engine raced past.