by M A Comley
“Okay, suits me. How’s Mark coping with his injuries? It was a lovely service, by the way. Your face was a picture.”
Kayli laughed. “The whole service was done and dusted before I could take a bloody breath. I was blown away. He’s fine—getting there, anyway. Still having issues with the nightmares, though.”
“Maybe he needs to have some form of counselling.”
Kayli nodded. She’d thought about that suggestion herself over the past week. “Maybe you’re right. He’s in a buoyant mood at the moment. I’d hate to mess that up by suggesting he sees a shrink.”
“I hear you. Getting back to work will be the making of him. I guarantee it.”
“I do believe you’re right, which is why he’s visiting my dad today.”
“Cool. Fingers crossed for him.”
“Thanks. I think this is the house here.” Kayli parked the car outside a three-storey Victorian detached house that seemed in reasonably good repair compared to its neighbours.
“Jesus, nice neighbourhood.” Dave glanced up at the house then at the other houses surrounding them. “I bet we come back to your tyres being slashed.”
Kayli punched his good leg. “Hey, don’t say that. Maybe we should have called for backup. Think I’ll ring Donna, tell her that if she doesn’t hear from us within the next hour, to get uniform over here.”
“I’d say half an hour if I were you. I bet the tenants aren’t going to be the type to want a bloody conversation with us once they find out we’re police.”
Kayli placed the call. “Donna, it’s me. Look, it’s a pretty rough area. Just to be on the safe side, if you don’t hear from us by ten thirty, I want you to get uniform over here.”
“Got that. Leave it with me, ma’am. Be careful.”
“We will. Dave can always protect us with his crutches.” Kayli ended the call and smiled at her partner. “Right?”
“Not if I want to stay upright,” he grumbled.
“Maybe I forgot about that part.” Kayli laughed as they both got out of the car. She waited on the pavement and watched him struggle to his feet, knowing that if she attempted to help him, he would probably snap her head off.
Dave slammed the door shut behind him, and Kayli pressed the key fob to lock the doors then pressed it a second time to make sure. “Let’s do this. Are you going to manage the steps up okay?”
“Yep, after you.”
Kayli reached the top of the uneven steps and rang the first bell with the name of Hawkins on the intercom system.
“Yeah, what do you want?”
“Mr. Hawkins, I’m DI Kayli Bright. I’d like a word with you if I may?”
The intercom clicked, then there was silence.
“Guess he didn’t want a word with you,” Dave pointed out unnecessarily.
Kayli hit the same button on the intercom.
“Yeah, what do you want?”
“If you don’t open the door, Mr. Hawkins, we’ll break it down and haul you down the station to answer our questions. Am I making myself clear?”
The buzzer sounded. “Push the damn door.”
Kayli pounced on the door before he changed his mind and locked it again. “At last. I get the impression he’s not going to be happy to see us. I’ll do the talking. You watch out and try to anticipate his actions.”
“He wouldn’t have the guts to hurt a police officer, surely.”
They walked through the grubby hallway to the door at the end alongside the stairs. “Who knows? We’re coming here blind, remember? No idea who these tenants are or what kind of record they’ve got.”
“You’re right. We should have brought backup with us.”
“Too late now. We’ll be fine. Just act tough.” Kayli giggled.
Once Dave was settled into a comfortable position, leaning against the wall for added support in case he had to use his crutches to defend them, Kayli knocked on the door to the flat. Within seconds, a man in his early forties opened the door and glared at them. A large scar ran down the length of his right cheek.
“What’s this about?”
Kayli flashed her warrant card in his face. “All right if we come in, Mr. Hawkins?”
“The place is a mess. Say what you’ve got to say here.”
Kayli raised an eyebrow. “If you insist. When was the last time you saw your landlord, Paul Potts?”
He scratched the stubble on his chin. “I think it was Saturday. Why? Has he made some kind of complaint about me for my rent being late?”
“No. Can you tell me where you saw him?”
“What is this? Here, of course. I don’t go out much.”
“I take it he was chasing your back rent. Is that right?”
“Yeah. I told him I didn’t have the money.”
Kayli inclined her head. “Why don’t you tell me how the conversation went?”
“What? You want it word for word? I’ve been asleep since then.”
Kayli smiled tightly. “Do your best.”
He tutted and leaned against the doorframe. “He wanted the rent, and I told him the Social were dragging their feet paying me. He told me he was giving me until the end of the week to find the money.”
“Sounds reasonable enough to me.”
“Maybe to you. Not to me, though. I can’t come up with seven hundred quid at the drop of a hat.”
“Ever thought of getting a job like normal folks?” She wouldn’t normally be so judgemental, especially after her husband’s own predicament, but the man’s attitude was pissing her off.
He stood upright and pointed a finger. “Get off my case, lady. Any idea how hard it is for an ex-criminal to find a job around here?”
“I should imagine about as difficult as for anyone else. You said you don’t go out much. Sorry, but a job isn’t likely to come to your door, is it?”
“What gives you the right to come here and look down your nose at me like that?”
Kayli shook her head. “I wasn’t aware that I was. I’m simply pointing out that there are dozens of jobs out there for those willing to get off their arses and find them, especially with bills to pay, such as rent.”
“You have a smart mouth, bitch.”
Dave shuffled forward slightly. “You might want to tone down your language, mate.”
Hawkins looked Dave up and down and laughed. “Yeah, is that right. And who is going to make me?”
Kayli raised a hand between the two men. “This isn’t getting us anywhere. What time did you see Mr. Potts on Saturday?”
“No idea. I didn’t bother noting the time on my watch.”
“How long was he here?”
“Long enough for me to tell him to come back at the end of the week and for him to warn me that if the rent wasn’t forthcoming, he was going to kick me out.”
“And what was your reaction to that?”
“I was livid. How would you react?”
Kayli shrugged. “Actually, I think it would spur me into action, and I’d be out there all hours, searching for a job instead of waiting for the Social to bail me out.”
Hawkins’s eyes narrowed. “As I’ve said already, how many employers do you know who are willing to take on an ex-con? It’s hard, lady, damn hard.”
“Do you have a probation officer?”
“Yeah, what of it?”
“That’s part of their job, isn’t it? To ensure you find a suitable job once you’re out of prison.”
“Maybe it used to be like that years ago, not nowadays.”
“Too many ex-cons looking for too few jobs,” Dave piped up.
“Ain’t that the truth, man,” Hawkins agreed. “Now, if you don’t mind, my bacon buttie is getting cold.”
“One last question before you get back to your breakfast. Do you know if Mr. Potts left after seeing you on Saturday?”
“Not sure. I heard raised voices upstairs a few minutes after he left my door. Might have been him. Don’t quote me on that, though.”
“Thanks, we’
ll look into that. Here’s my card. If you think of anything else or if you hear something you think we might be interested in, will you ring me?”
“I might do.” He slammed the door shut in their faces.
“Charming character,” Kayli said as they moved away from Hawkins’s door and started the climb up the stairs. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Unfriendly bastard, wasn’t he?”
“Just a tad. To be expected, I suppose.” Kayli shuddered. “He gave me the creeps. Glad I brought you with me and not Donna.”
“I got the impression he didn’t like women much, as well. Bloody lazy bastard. There are dozens of jobs out there if these people took the time to look properly. Trouble is a lot of them don’t like to get their hands dirty, so picking up litter or working on the bins is beneath most of them.”
“That’s so true. For the likes of him, anyway. Not sure it’s the case for everyone on the dole though, mate. People with valued skills, for instance.”
“Whatever. If you want things enough in this life, you’ll get off your backside and get them.”
“Okay, now you’ve put the world to rights, let’s see what the rest of the tenants have to say.” Kayli knocked on the next door they came to.
A young woman opened the door. She was holding a baby dressed in blue with jam around its face.
“Hi, sorry to trouble you. I’m DI Kayli Bright, and this is my partner, DS Dave Chaplin. Do you have a moment to chat?”
“About what? I’m busy tidying up after this little one.”
“Sorry, we won’t keep you long. I didn’t catch your name.”
“It’s Colleen Porter. How can I help?”
“Maybe you can tell us when you last saw your landlord, Paul Potts?” Kayli asked with a glimmer of a smile.
“Not for a few weeks. Why?”
“We understand he was here on Saturday, chasing some of the tenants for rent that was due. You didn’t happen to see him then?”
“No. Sorry. Is he in some kind of trouble?”
“Not that we know of. Did you hear any disturbance on Saturday evening?”
She frowned as she thought. “I really can’t think of anything. Hey, but that doesn’t mean a thing. I’m so preoccupied with this one most of the time, I don’t have a clue what’s going on around me.”
“Not to worry. Thank you for your help. Oh wait, have you ever heard any of the other tenants having a go at Paul Potts or speaking badly about him perhaps?”
Colleen laughed. “You’re kidding, right? Someone is always slagging him off about one thing or another around here.”
“Do you live alone, Colleen?”
“Yes. Well, apart from this tyke, that is.” She bounced the baby on her hip and smiled lovingly at him. The baby chortled and rubbed his jammy face against his mother’s. “Damn, if you’ll excuse me. I need to get this stuff off me before it goes hard.”
“Thanks for your help. Can I leave a card? Ring me if you hear anything out of the ordinary regarding the other tenants.”
“Not sure what that is supposed to mean, but yes, okay, I’ll do that. Goodbye.”
She closed the door, and Kayli and Dave shuffled along the landing to the next door.
Dave tapped on it with his crutch, but the door remained unanswered. “Bloody miracle. One of them is out there working for a change.”
Kayli sniggered. “You’re a harsh man, Dave Chaplin. Let’s try the next one.”
They moved a few feet, and Dave again knocked on the lower part of the grubby white door with the end of his crutch.
“Yeah, who is it?”
“Hi, I’m DI Bright. Can you open the door please?”
The door opened quickly to reveal a man with messy ginger hair. He had an e-cigarette hanging from his mouth. Kayli took his age to be around the mid-thirties mark. “Police? What can I do for you?”
“Sorry, I didn’t catch your name, sir.”
“Stuart Rawlinson.”
“Hello there, Mr. Rawlinson. Can you tell us the last time you saw your landlord, Paul Potts?”
“Yep, on Saturday. He came looking for the rent. He was out of luck.”
“Oh, why was that?”
“Because I didn’t have it.”
“And what was the outcome of that conversation, Mr. Rawlinson?”
“He told me to get it to him by the end of the week, or he’d kick me out.”
“I should imagine a statement like that would make you angry, right?”
He hitched up his left shoulder. “I didn’t think anything of it, to tell you the truth. Like the saying goes, you can’t get blood out of a stone.”
“Was this a regular occurrence, then?”
“Now and again, I’m a little tight on funds. Usually, he doesn’t mind it. Maybe something else was pissing him off. He didn’t seem his usual chatty self anyway.”
“I see. Did you see him leave on Saturday?”
“Nope, can’t say I did.”
“Did you hear any raised voices, perhaps?”
He shook his head. “Nope, sorry. Anything else I can do for you nice people?”
“Nothing for now. Here’s my card. If anything should come to mind, don’t hesitate to ring me, day or night.”
“Cheers. I’ll do that. What’s this all about anyway?”
“We’re just trying to track Mr. Potts down. That’s all.”
His eyes widened, his interest sparked. “As in he’s gone missing?”
“At the moment, yes. Let me know if you hear anything you think we should know about.”
“I will. I take it this means he won’t be back to collect the rent this week, then?”
“I’m sure he’ll turn up soon enough, wanting his money, no doubt.” Kayli smiled at the man as he shut the door. She turned to see Dave shaking his head. “What?”
“Are you telling me you didn’t smell it?”
Kayli’s brow furrowed. “Oh, the e-cigarette, you mean. Yep, wasn’t keen on that smell at all.”
“Except the smell wasn’t coming from his fag. I smelt cannabis coming from inside the flat.”
Kayli stared at the man’s door. “You’re kidding. Gosh, I’ve only had the misfortune to smell the stuff a few times. Still have problems detecting what drugs they are. I hope you don’t recognise the smell from personal experience.”
Dave puffed out his cheeks. “I refuse to answer that in case I incriminate myself.”
Kayli’s mouth gaped open for a moment before she said, “Bloody hell, when you think you know someone well, and they drop a bombshell on you like that.”
Dave walked towards the next flight of stairs and mumbled. “It was in my youth. Get over it, boss.”
She followed him slowly up the stairs. “You know what? I’ve never ever been tempted to do any kind of drugs. I’m shocked you went down that route, Dave. Does Suranne know?”
“No, and I’d really like to keep it that way if it’s all the same to you.”
“My lips are sealed. I’m shocked by your admission, though, I have to tell you.”
“No shit, Sherlock,” Dave replied, laughing.
They reached the third-floor landing, where there were two doors to choose from.
“This one looks as good a place as any to start.” She knocked on the door.
It was a little while before it was answered by a very thin man who probably looked older than he actually was.
She held up her ID for him to check and introduced herself and Dave. “You are?”
“Michael Beech. What do you want? I haven’t done anything against the law as far as I know.”
“That’s good to hear. We’re making general enquiries at this point.”
“Regarding what?” He fiddled with his spectacles, which had slipped on his nose.
“Can you tell me when you last saw your landlord, Mr. Potts?”
“A good few weeks ago. On rent day, I suppose it was. Why?”
“We’ve heard from some other te
nants that he was at the property a few days ago, on Saturday. Are you telling me that you didn’t see him then?”
He shook his head. “No, definitely not. Has something happened to him?”
“What makes you say that?”
“Well, not wishing to cast aspersions, but I heard raised voices here on Saturday evening.” He looked over her shoulder at the door behind them.
“Out here?”
“Yep. I couldn’t tell you if it was Paul shouting or Bob, to be honest.”
“That’s interesting. Thank you. I don’t suppose you happened to hear what was being said?”
“No. I only heard the raised voices. You need to have a word with Bob about that.”
“Thanks. Look, here’s my card. Ring me if you hear anything that doesn’t sit well with you.”
“I don’t understand. So are you saying that something has happened to Paul?”
“I’m not saying anything of the sort. Just ring me if you hear anything. Thanks very much.”
“You’re welcome. I think.” He stepped back into his flat and closed the door.
“Okay, this is the last flat.” Kayli walked the few steps to the next door, which was in need of a coat of fresh paint. She knocked, loosening some of the flaking paint, and wiped her hand down her trousers. “The place has become grubbier the higher we climb.”
“I guess the term ‘luxury penthouse suite’ isn’t common around these parts.”
Kayli shook her head at her partner’s attempt at a joke. She raised a hand to her lips and angled her ear towards the door. She thought she heard a door being opened and traffic noise. “Did you hear that?” she mouthed.
Dave nodded and whispered, “Knock again.”
Kayli did just that, but the door remained firmly shut. “There was definitely movement inside.” Kayli struck the door with her fist and shouted, “Bob, open up. I know you’re in there. It’s the police.”
Nothing. The door remained closed.
Kayli bolted down the stairs two at a time.
“Stop! Wait for me,” Dave called out behind her.
“I can’t. He’s getting away. Stop there and call Donna. Get backup here right away.”
“Be careful. Don’t go doing anything rash.”
“I won’t. Trust me,” Kayli called, running out the front door and onto the street. She surveyed the area from the steps then descended them and ran around to the back of the house, down the side alley. Looking up, she saw an emergency escape route from the third floor, a set of metal stairs. She ran the length of the alley but found nothing. Smashing her fist against her thigh, she shouted, “Damn. He’s gone.”
