by Harry Nankin
The operation over, the officer was given the task of washing up the pathologist’s tools.
As a reward the officer was given five shillings or twenty five pence as tip.
He whispered to Pearson, the only time he had known such a gratuity was permitted by the police.
Having been so explicitly informed Pearson stood by, would he stand the smell or sight of such an ordeal, time would tell.
About to commence Professor Hallam said.”Inspector, I have called you here today to tell I believe that this death was not in fact suicide”.
Pearson looked with mouth a gape.
She continued, “Here, see the ankle, there is a large bruise now showing. This is a clear indication that this man, when upon the chair, someone kicked but missed the chair and struck the ankle.
“The second point, come over and see?”
Pearson walked over and she picked up the piece of rope.
“Look at the knot. When found the knot was at the rear of the neck but it had not slipped down tight.”
“I am of the opinion that the deceased was smothered in his sleep, tests will confirm this or not”.
“The indications are that having been smothered in his sleep, someone then put the rope around his neck then put the rope over the beam and lifted and pulled the deceased a fair way resting on the chair. Then, simply kicked away the chair, rather missing the chair striking the ankle with the same conclusion. There is no evidence the neck was broken.”
“Death would have occurred from strangulation if he had hanged himself. There are no signs of facial distortion thus I am convinced the deceased was already dead.”
She then carried out the full post-mortem, Pearson managed to stand it without passing out or vomiting.
He was shown by the professor no sign of neck fracture. No sign of an enlarged tongue.
She certified the death as
1a suffocation
1b cerebral damage through lack of oxygen.
Adding a rider.
“This death was not natural in cause”.
Having done this she said, “I will inform the Coroner myself officer, you may inform your senior officers that they have another murder on their hands, that of Charles Crampton”.
Pearson left and headed to the Police Headquarters. On route he could only mumble “what the hell do I do now?”
When he arrived back he updated Chief Super Jinton who immediately telephoned Chief Constable Watkiss.
Still in the dining room having consumed the scones, cream and jam she and the Commissioner were about to leave when her phone rang.
“Yes, Mr Jinton, “What did you say?”
“Another murder Chief, Charles Crampton was found hanged in his bedroom earlier today. It appeared to be a straight forward suicide, especially after his attempt in the cells. I have just been called by Jock Peters the Coroners Officer that Professor Hallam was not happy. She called Pearson to the scene.”
The now shattered Chief Constable said, “Heavens forbid what the hell is going on?, I will be back soon, I have the Commissioner with me, and I will update him. By the way refer any press calls directly to me, is that understood?”
“Yes Chief”
She came back, “Get onto Pearson find out how things stand, and in addition ascertain if he is still liasing with Jack Richards it all seems too quiet for me?”
Jinton had no need to get onto Pearson for he was already on his way by car to Tarporley.
It was nearly five o’clock. Jack at a loose end had been mowing the lawns, that bloody idiot from Garden Rescue had taken holidays right now at the height of the grass growing season.
Removing his boots, washing his hands and flopping down in his desk chair, he looked at the pile of files sat upon his desk.
He had spent many hours perusing the contents then making notes, but having heard nothing from Pearson and reading the papers all seemed to have been dealt with.
He thought as he nodded off that all he had read didn’t actually bear any resemblance to his theories and hypothesis.
It was only an instant to him, twenty minutes in real time when he was awoken by Anne shaking him.”Jack, Jack wake up that young detective is here. I don’t recall his name.
“Oh I see” he said arousing himself back into the real world.
The door bell rang followed by a knock. Clearly the caller was in some rush and showing signs of impatience.
Anne opened the door, he could hear her saying, “please do come through young man, he is in here”.
Jack looked up making all efforts to give the impression he was fully alert and simply waiting for Pearson to call, a lie of course.
“Good day to you Inspector,” said Jack.
“Hello Mr Richards, sorry I haven’t been in touch, pressure of work you see”
“Yes, I have been reading and following your exploits, I am surprised you have called, come to collect the files have you?”
“Well, no, in fact the whole thing as gone belly up” replied Pearson.
“I see” replied Jack, making all efforts not to displaying anything other than a straight face and certainly no sign of a smile or an expression of I thought so.
“Please do take a seat Inspector then when you feel up to it you may update me with a narrative of events”.
Pearson was young but this old Tec as young detectives were called when he, Pearson was just a school boy, couldn’t fool him.
”Well Mr Richards, if you have read all my papers including the last regarding the old staff you will have seen all the enquiries I made”
“I have indeed and very through they were too” replied Jack.
“No doubt Jack having read the newspapers you will have seen the near riot at Crampton over the planning applications made or at least contemplated by Mr Charles Crampton”
“Yes I was surprised to hear that I had thought the estate was very wealthy and the last thing Charles Crampton would want is itinerants and windmills all over the place. I think there is some desperation behind this Inspector.”
“You do Mr Richards?”
“I certainly do and it needs looking into”
“Well” said Pearson “I did arrest Mister Charles and seized items but now there seems little point”.
“ “Well Mr Richards I don’t know if you are aware of the latest, Mr Charles Crampton attempted suicide in police custody then today he was found hanged in his bedroom. A straight forward suicide or so it appeared“
“Straight forward?” said Jack in this case nothing seems to be straight forward.”
Well no for later in the day the Pathologist shocked everyone by reporting the death was not self inflicted, we have I regret to say another murder”.
Jack replied “I see just one Crampton left, of the direct family I mean not including the cousins or similar?”
“Yes that is correct, the only other child is Mr Wilson Crampton, resident in Daram, and I believe taking his education privately and your own son being his tutor”.
“So I hear” replied Jack, adding nothing
“The bottom line Mr Richards is I have not only no clue as to whom this murderer is nor any idea what to do now to detect these crimes”.
Jack sat back contemplating but made no reply. After some moments Pearson feeling he had to say something asked.
“Tell me Jack have you any ideas?”
Jack looked at him, then down at the files then up and again at him. He smiled and said.
“I have one”.
“What would that be sir?” asked Pearson.
Jack replied, “Money. It is always money. If it is not the direct cause money is somewhere in the scenario. It may be hidden there may be other aspects but behind it all, money”.
There was silence for several moments when the telephone in Pearson’s` pocket began to vibrate and ring some fancy tune that Jack had no idea in this world what it might be, save that he couldn’t tolerate it.
“Hello Pearson here”, He wa
ited and then said
“Yes Miss Watkiss, rather I mean madam, I am currently in conference with Jack Richards. Yes I will do so nine o’clock tomorrow morning, your office, yes, bring all the papers yes”
The call finished.
Jack looked at him smiled and said, “Sounds as if the pressure is on for you young man. It seems we had better solve these bloody murders or you will be back on point duty at Chester races or worse checking parking tickets”.
Pearson smiled but said nothing; his facial expression said it all for him.
“Now Inspector, let us get out the papers I will get my notes. Let us see what we can do between us eh?”
With that a knock on the door and a voice called “Excuse me boys; here is a drink and some brownie cakes”. She had anticipated a solemn look from Jack as she entered.
Rather as she did so he was smiling, she put down the tray and left.
The two “boys” to quote Anne began the task of their joint review.
It was seven o’clock that evening when the telephone rang, Anne answered then walked over with the telephone and said “It is the Chief Constable”.
“Hello Jack” she said “sorry to ring so late. Do you mind if I have a word, things are desperate, pressure from the Commissioner and I might say the Home Office? It seems the Sultan is putting on pressure, his ward wishes to return home to take up the estate again.”
“I suspected that. I have been there myself many times how can I help?”
“Well” she replied “I am about to take Pearson off the case, in fact hand it to an outside force to deal with, I thought, not having heard from you for a while, I would just speak before I bang down the hammer on Pearson, it will be the finish of him in CID of course.”
Jack thought and replied” Chief may I please ask you to have a little faith, just give Pearson and myself a few days, say one week. If the matter is not resolved then by all means sack us both.
“Well Jack I am really putting my own head on the line here”, she hesitated and replied.
“I will do what I can but a week and that is it”.
“Fair enough” said Jack adding” "Chief, please ensure that nothing, but nothing takes Pearson off the case. Then be certain you give instructions that whatever he asks for in the way of assistance, he gets it. Finally there may be flak from certain quarters, have faith in us, ignore the flak if it comes”.
“I will give you one week, alright Jack?”
“Yes alright Jack as the saying goes”, he retorted.
The call ended, he smiled, this would be one of his biggest tests.
PART FIVE
THE FINAL SOLUTION
Wednesday the 8th of May 2013
It was five minutes past the hour of nine o’clock on a fine bright sunny morning when Detective Inspector Pearson and Mr Jack Richards presented themselves at the enquiry office at Chester Crown Court.
“May I be of assistance to you gentleman?” Asked the man behind the armoured glass”.
Aged in his early sixties he was tall, portly with a pale drawn face which contrasted with the rest of his physique.
He stood tall and erect, clearly a military man or ex copper thought Jack.
His black uniform was immaculate, as was his white shirt and black tie. Not a sign of tea stains or anything else unseemly.
This contrasted with those uniformed police officers standing around the foyer.
Their shoes and boots had never seen polish from the day they left the factory in India. Their trousers were similarly not to the standard required in Jacks days when he had attended Crown Courts.
A clean shirt, pressed trousers with only one crease, that was straight and true, the remainder of the trousers showing neither stains nor any signs of the pressing iron leaving the mark of a shine
These officers were dressed in some new uniform and they appeared at best bedraggled at worst bloody scruffy thought Jack.
“I am detective Inspector Pearson of Chester Police Station; this is my associate Mr Jack Richards. We are investigating the recent murder at Crampton Hall.” He said to the court security officer.
“I see well how can the Crown Court be of assistance? You haven’t brought the murderer in with you unannounced have you?” said the man flippantly, rubbing his badge which announced he was George the senior security officer.
“Nothing like that” replied Pearson; “we need to make a very urgent application before Lord Justice Stevens”.
“Well” said George, “this is very unusual, I will speak with the Clerk of the Peace, I doubt you can be fitted in and certainly not without consent and representation from the Crown Prosecution Service”.
Jack shaking his head said, “George, please, just speak with the Clerk and ask him to pass on the request to Judge Stevens, telling him who is seeking a hearing in chambers, let him decide.”
George turned, disgruntled but thought he had better let the Clerk decide in case the shit hit the fan so to speak.
He was gone about fifteen minutes and on his return he smiled and said “the Judge will see you gentlemen, please follow me”.
They walked along two corridors arriving at a door marked "Judge Stevens”
They went inside; his clerk was seated but didn’t speak.
“Yes gentlemen” said the Judge now all geared up with robes and wig.
“We are here my lord to seek a warrant,” said Pearson.
“I see and Mr Jack Richards is your associate, I take it”
“Yes” replied Pearson.
“In that case”, replied the Judge, then he looked at his clerk who handed Pearson a copy of the New Testament.
Taking hold of it, he knew all too well what to say.
“I Richard Pearson a Detective Inspector of the Chester police do hereby swear that the evidence which I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”.
The clerk took the testament and sat down.
Pearson and Richards remaining standing, the Judge said,
“Officer, are you requesting an arrest warrant or a search warrant?”
Pearson standing to attention looked at Jack then towards the judge who had a twinkle in his eyes. He could tell Pearson was windy and seeking support from Jack the Hat, a long time known witness to Lord Justice Stevens.
“I request a search warrant, and I would add your Lordship, I make this application in chambers, on the grounds that the cases involved are of several murders.”
“It is vital to keep the application confidential and more so that very urgent action needs to be taken by the police in the interest of justice”, said Pearson, now more confident.
“I see yes indeed,” said Stevens, “I presume these are the recent murders involving Colonel Crampton and his family?”
The Judge hesitated momentarily and then continued.
“Please officer, relate to the court the evidence you have upon which you are basing your application for a search warrant”.
This was Pearson’s moment; he had never done such a duty before, looking at Jack all calm, he had obviously done it countless times and apparently before the same judge.
Pearson took a breath and holding his notes commenced to make his application.
Meanwhile Joanne Watkiss was dreading yet another meeting with the Commissioner. Seated with Chief Superintendent Tabo Jinton a tray of tea on the table, one cup still turned upside down on its saucer.
A knock on the door and the sound of the voice of Mildred, her secretary was about to announce the arrival of Sir Claude Pendergast, the newly elected Police Commissioner. He had always used every opportunity, being a dedicated male chauvinist, to criticise the first lady Chief-Constable.
“Welcome Sir” she said as he walked in and sat down without invitation, after all, he is The Commissioner, was his attitude.
“The dreadful murder and the lack of progress by this force Chief Constable. It is very worrying; we will be a laughing stock”. Shaking his head as he spoke.
She was about to reply but hesitated as he, Sir Claude, leaned over the table turned over the spare cup. Seeing something which was objectionable to him, he violently shook the cup downwards, and then inserted a finger wiping out same, then wiping whatever he had removed onto the front of his shirt. It had been a very small fly, which was now flattened and spread across the front of his shirt.
Watkiss and Jinton looked at each with a smile for he had not actually taken the cup provided but another of hers and which she had forgotten to remove.
They said nothing but smiled at each other discreetly, of course.
Claude then poured out his tea and added milk and unbelievably four teaspoons of sugar.
His antics so far were only surpassed when having picked up the cup he took a long, very long slurp, followed by an equally long, ah.
“Well Sir,” she commenced but was cut off in mid flow by Pendergast
“Let me just sum up the position Chief-Constable, now correct me if I am wrong”
“We have one of the leading families in the county living nearby and one by one on your own admission they have been murdered”.
“There was only one member left here, young Mr Charles. The only action the police appear to have done is arrest him”.
“Once arrested a man of previous good character in a state of mourning, is permitted to attempt to take his own life”.
“To add insult to injury he is released without charge. The force is now set to be sued for false arrest. Now Chief Constable what if anything did I say that was wrong and I might finally add, what have you done that is right”.
His oration ended and so she spoke.
“Sir Claude”, said she, “we, the police have interviewed all the staff and made local enquiries but I accept that to date from my briefings we neither have any suspect nor any motive for these crimes”
“Exactly” said Pendergast then he stopped, “You say you have no suspect, what of Charles, please do not say his arrest and this suicide business was all for nothing?”
“Well” said she, “We have some circumstantial evidence I am told and we were waiting for results from the Forensic Laboratory”
