by Harry Nankin
“I am therefore Inspector asking for your opinion, as the officer in immediate charge of the case that is, upon my suggestion regarding Richards".
Pearson realised if he wished to stay on the case it was a fait accompli, she had decided. Her actions now were simply decoration and a means of getting him on board without rocking the boat.
“I think Ma`am that is a very good suggestion” said Pearson, ever diplomatic. “I have made as thorough an investigation as possible, covering all avenues, seeing all witnesses and others but I confess to date I have found no leads that indicate a motive nor whom the offender might be”.
“So you would look forward to having Mr Richards working with you as I have described. You will cooperate and work as a team, no ill feeling and such nonsense”, she said
“I will certainly do all I can Ma`am to bring these murders to a successful detection and conviction” he replied.
“That is settled then. I will contact Mister Richards and if it is alright with you Superintendent France, I will take Inspector Pearson with me, if and when I see Mister Richards”.
The conversation came to an abrupt end when Miss Watkiss having said her party piece and obtained the reply she hoped to get, arose and the two others followed suit and they all left.
On leaving the dining room, one of the waitresses reputed to be pugnacious at the best of times, nudged Pearson and said, “In the big time now are we?”
The woman was unfortunate for the Chief heard the comment, stopped turned and said.
“Mavis your overall is filthy, please go and change it immediately, I don’t want an outbreak of E. coli here”. Mavis stopped said nothing but all faces were upon her when Joanne Watkiss added, “by the way, please refrain from being so mordacious”.
When Miss Watkiss had gone Mavis realised she had blotted her copy book and simply stood in amazement.
The catering manager hearing the verbal transactions came over and said “Mavis, Mordacious, it means sarcastic, biting, caustic in style and tone, that is you Mavis, you have been told by me”.
She continued this was her opportunity to get one in at Mavis for spreading gossip she had been having it off with one of the married dog handlers. He had since been posted back on the beat, no reason given.
“The Chief was giving you a dressing down”. said Rachel, the canteen manager. “Please go and change your overall coat adding, E.coli is Escherichia Coli, Germs, Mavis, diarrhoea. We wouldn’t want that now would we? In future keep to your duties”.
Mavis trudged off, no one spoke but there were sniggers, the war of the civvies.
In Tarporley Anne and Jack Richards had been out walking, the holiday in Daram an eternity away.
As they strolled around the village they recalled their arrival some months before. They were all what Jack referred to as Yuppies”, in reality they were middle aged people who had made it in business. The wives believing they were the cat’s whiskers to quote a phrase. They and their” hubbies either went yachting or played golf or both. In the winter it was bridge no such common game as whist.
Once it was known Jack had been a policeman and his wife Anne, simply, his wife Anne. The couple had been looked down on. When they arrived not having read their deeds properly when a small glass house was bought and erected there followed a firestorm. A petition raised the county planning officer living locally had despatched two enforces to ensure this glass house was removed from the landscape, well the back garden of the Richards couple to be more precise.
Jack and Anne had lived quietly ever since not exactly sent to Coventry to quote a phrase shunned to quote an American analogy but they had not been part of the “jet set”.
The centre of activity during the day was the local coffee, tea shop was signed as Delwright’s Pantry. A place of tea, coffee, cakes with cream and scones, at the appropriate time of day of course.
Since the glass house affair and later, Jack initially being turned down for membership of the local golf and country club he had held a grudge, a quiet grudge but nevertheless a grudge.
Jack had the saying “all comes to he who waits or revenge is best served cold.”
The Pantry, always busy was the centre of daily life and the place to visit.
Nothing in common with the police headquarters canteen or dinning room and good old Mavis sulking from the strip torn off her pride by the Chief.
Or so Mrs Delwright and the clients at the pantry would have thought.
Such then was the delight upon Jacks face, though suffering from extreme thirst after their walk.
When, arriving at Delwright’s Pantry the ladies were all filing out in a rush. Mrs Delwright rushing to and fro, mobile phone in hand.
As Jack and Anne arrived, a man in a suit was pinning a notice upon the door, he was clearly accompanied by others within the premises but wearing white overalls and protective gloves.
In view of her previous attitude to the Richards couple, she made a serious error of judgement. She spoke so that Jack could hear what she was saying.
“Hello I want my solicitor, no not his secretary, him, I pay him good money”.
There was silence as Jack read the notice displayed by the man.
“These premises have been inspected and are closed by Court Order pending investigation into allegations of public health concerns.”
Jack smiled as he saw all the ladies scurrying homewards unable to get there fast enough to spread the word.
Mrs Delwright blasting her solicitor of the disgrace of it all, demanding he take action and apply for many thousands of pounds compensation from the Council”.
Jack and Anne walked on after a few yards they burst into laughter.
Anne, seeing the look on Jack’s face recognised that look and said.
“Jack to quote you now my lad cough it, what is it?”
As they walked on Jack still smiling said.
“Doris Scott-Ling, you know the Inspector I work with in Police Community Affairs, she was telling me not more than an hour ago whilst you were getting a morning paper. Some relation visiting from China had been into the pantry a day or so ago and had a meal. The lady later suffering with diarrhoea and so had made an official complaint”
“What is so funny about that?” asked Anne.“Come on Jack spill the beans”.
“Well” said he, “after the lady had made the complaint and was flying home her son admitted he had put some laxative chocolate into her chocolate drink and this had been the cause of the loose bowels”.“The lady nearly in China had telephoned Doris’s mother who this morning had forgotten to tell the Council to cancel the enquiry. Doris in fact was going to do it, this afternoon”.
“How awful Jack is that?” said Anne.
“How bloody awful indeed?” said he now splitting his sides with laughter.
The hilarity of the situation was short in duration for his mobile phone commenced to ring and vibrate in his pocket.
He answered in the same old style.”Jack Richards speaking, how can I help today?”
“Hello Chief Constable Watkiss, yes indeed you called just as we were leaving for holiday” he said.
“Yes Jack” she asked “would it be possible to confer with you sooner than later?”
“Would it be the cases of the Crampton murders?”
“It would. How are you aware?”
“I do read Chief”
“Oh Jack I am sorry, I didn’t mean to appear condescending".
She was in dread he may refuse to assist, after all she had now burned her boats with the Home Office, the Commissioner and now the junior officers.
“Ah” exclaimed Jack. “I read it in the newspapers of course but whilst in Daram visiting my son Craig a teacher employed by the Sultan. I heard of the call made by His Highness to Downing Street.”
“Oh I see, yes I had forgotten Craig”
“Well Chief, Craig has been the tutor of the young Crampton boy. Afflicted and in a wheel chair, the Colonel had sent him to Daram fo
r a private education. The Sultan and the colonel have been life long friends, It does I believe go right back to the colonel’s army days.”
“It seems on hearing of the latest murder probably from the Butler, the Sultan flipped and put pressure on Downing Street to get the cases solved before young Crampton arrives back. He is you see the last of the dynasty”.
“I see Jack; the question is will you assist?".
“I have no idea what I can do, but Craig has made it known the Sultan has requested my services. To keep it in the family so to speak, shall I say I will at least have a look at it”
“Thank you Jack there is a very good officer currently on the case totally unlike the Noyes fellow”.
!A completely different kettle of fish”.
“This Officer, Detective Inspector Pearson assures me he would gladly appreciate your help”.
“Well in that case I will say yes”.
“Thank you Jack” she replied and added. “I suggest you act as a consultant, and reviewer”.
”Yes that would be fine. If I could have sight of all the case papers and speak with Pearson. I am sure we can work together and go from there,” he answered
“Right Jack can I tell Pearson to see you at home say, tomorrow morning ten o’clock.
“Yes that would be fine, oh chief”.
“Yes Jack,”
“If you might just clear it with Inspector Doris Scott-Ling, I wouldn’t like her to feel she had been overlooked.”
The chief laughed., “There will be no need Jack, Inspector Scott-Ling commenced a senior command course today at the Police College she is away for three months.
“Until tomorrow then” he said, “I bid you good day”.
Finishing the call she turned to Pearson and said. “Well Inspector that is one load off my mind Richards will assist you. I might just give you a word or two of advice”.
“Please do” replied Pearson.
“Well Jack Richards has a fine record; I will update you later.
“He is a quiet, reserved man has the gift of silence, not much sense of humour. He has very great analytical skills he never cracks a joke”.
“He never acts fortuitously, no nothing by chance always fully reasoned”.
“He is in fact a perfect reasoning machine and observing machine”.
“Neither does he act with precipitance, never any haste, always reasoned and calculated.”
“He rarely if ever gives any information away, keeps things tight to his chest”.
“I can assure you his credentials at New Scotland Yard and the Home Office are such that you can speak freely as before me”.
“I look forward to meeting and working with him”.
“Please use the opportunity Inspector, to look, listen, observe and emulate what one might say is likely to be, if past experience repeats it self, the touch of the masters hand.”
“Tomorrow then at his home at Tarporley, I will supply you with the details, if today you will prepare yourself and have all the papers and documents to hand. I await an early and satisfactory conclusion to these murders”.
They parted in the foyer of the Police Headquarters.
He, Pearson, went on his way feeling that he was about to travel into the unknown.
PART THREE
THE YOUNG AND THE OLD
Anne Richards was busy hanging out the washing; Jack somewhat bored was reading the latest copy of the quarterly issue of the police pensioner’s magazine.
It contained mainly deaths of his colleagues which didn’t enthral him much other than to remind him time was passing and it would not be too long before his name was on the obituary list. The readers then glancing down and ignoring the bad news, just has he had done, glancing at the new honours list.
It was with some relief the door bell rang or rather chimed with this new fancy device Anne had paid a fortune to have installed.
Answering the door he was confronted by a man aged late twenties to early thirties.
He was carrying a briefcase. His mode of dress was of some student on a poll or similar.
He had a roll top pullover, red in colour with several moth holes visible. His jeans were obviously used for some type of do it yourself work or similar for they sported splashes of paint and heaven knows what else and ripped knees.
Jack about to say, “No thank you we never buy from door to door sellers but was thwarted from the pleasure of his jibe when the caller announced.
“Mr Jack Richards?”.
”That is I” he answered.
“I believe you are expecting me?”
“Really young man?” said Jack looking the visitor up and down. Jack was certain at any moment the caller would add.
“I have a special offer in guttering, I can reduce your telephone bill or similar”.
Jack for once was wrong; his intuition was failing him for the visitor said.
“I am Detective Inspector Dick Pearson, Chester CID”.
Jack’s mouth opened and his chin fell. Had he been wearing dentures they would surely have dropped onto the floor.
“Really,” replied Jack, adding. “You had better come in young man, or the neighbours will be talking seeing you standing there”.
Jack was referring to his mode of dress but opted not to say what he was thinking.
Pearson just smiled but thought “the bloody old crouch” as he put his first foot through the door.
They walked into and through the hall and onward to his study, now come office.
Pearson was directed to a seat in front of Jacks desk and with a finger pointed at him and then downwards, Dick took the hint and sat.
He placed the briefcase upon his knee and waited whilst Jack walked around the table and was seated himself.
There was a swish as the door opened forcing the draught curtain to brush backwards, it was Anne.
“I see you have a visitor?” she said.
“Yes” said he. “It is Detective Inspector Pearson from Chester, come to see me.”
Continuing he added “I believe at least. It is at the behest of his Chief-Constable, Miss Joanne Watkiss, is that an accurate statement young man?”
“It is Sir” replied Pearson as he looked and smiled at Anne.
“I will make a drink” said she.
Jack about to say no need for that, he won’t be staying long. The old detective was once again thwarted and so sat down.
“You have been investigating these Crampton Murders?”
“I have indeed” replied Pearson.
“Done many murder enquiries?” asked Jack.
“Only two" replied Pearson "they were domestic cases solved themselves really". These are different”.
Jack looked, his finger now pointed and pressing the side of his mouth, his head leaning forward, his facial expression, a frown.
“How much service do you have?” asked Jack.
“Ten years” replied the visitor, adding, “five years on the beat in Chester city.”
“I was then promoted to Sergeant. Serving three years on traffic as a patrol sergeant.”
“I was then promoted Inspector; I did a year on that as a patrol Inspector, again in Chester”.
“I recall you Mister Richards, I saw you about when you investigated the dead cops cases. I would have liked to have been on those cases, interesting, yes very interesting”.
He concluded his narrative by saying. “Finally about a year ago I was moved to CID as a DI, that is the story of my police career” he said and stopped.
“I see” replied Richards, “not much criminal investigation experience, have you, what other types of crimes have you dealt with?” asked Jack.
Anne arrived with the tea and biscuits, which were taken and commenced to be consumed. She turned and left. After all these years she knew the drill, say hello, be pleasant, make the tea then get lost whilst the confidential police stuff was discussed.
It has been the same as long as she could recall, today was just the
same. Having left the room she decided she would make a cake, fruit cake. The old devil enjoyed a fruit cake and it keeps for weeks, if left to mature, that is”. She thought, not really believing that would happen.
When she had gone Pearson continued.
“I have dealt with various burglaries, some woundings, oh, and a baby snatch. The murders, which were really solved at the time of the crime, the villains were opposing gang members who did the deed and hung around. They were almost proud of what they had done. There was a ream of evidence against them. They pleaded and got life but as you know they will be out in three to five”.
“Yes indeed” replied Jack “five is about the average these days”.
“Well now” he added. “Let us turn to the issue in hand, do you have the papers?"
“I do indeed” replied Pearson.
He opened his brief case and produced a fairly extensive bundle of documents wrapped inside several blue folders.
He stood and handed them to Jack who leaned back whilst the files were placed upon his desk.
“Thank you officer” said Jack. “I think that will do for now I suspect you have pressing matters”.
Pearson now looked on in amazement clearly he was no longer required. His hope of a long discussion on all he had done on the cases was not to be.
Jack looked up realised the apprehension of the young detective and so to let him down quietly so to speak he said.
“Thank you Inspector, for your narrative of your police antecedents and of course for bringing over these matters".
“I will now spend some time perusing them and once I have done this I will be in touch again as and when, so to speak”.
“Thank you sir” replied Pearson not knowing what else to say.
“Once I have read all the matters I will be in touch with you again and we can then discuss it all further”. Repeated Jack.
“I see” replied Pearson realising his time was up, so to speak.
“One thing?” said Jack”
“Yes” replied Pearson, now standing.
“If there is anything new or you make further enquiries or receive anything further than what is contained within these files be certain to update me immediately. Otherwise I may miss a vital point or go off in the wrong direction and we wouldn’t want that now would we?”
