Hush Hush

by Mel Sherratt

  ‘Yes,’ Nick said. ‘But according to his wife, he hasn’t been for a while. We’ll obviously need to check that out, and see if he has a locker.’

  A murmur went up around the room and Nick held up a hand for silence. ‘The clear pattern is all our victims are male and all have been stabbed, so we need to figure out who the next target might be, see if we can forewarn people to be on their guard. We can cover some of this in the press conference this morning. I’m sure there will be lots of questions brought up after we go live with this.’ He closed his notebook. ‘Let’s get some answers by the end of the day. Grace, a quick word?’

  Grace waited with Nick until the room was empty again. ‘Lorna Davenport left hospital last night and went to Jade Steele’s home. Apparently they are good friends.’

  Grace sighed. ‘What are the odds?’

  ‘Their daughters are best friends, and they know each other well.’

  ‘All the same though – wouldn’t you go to a family member before a friend?’

  ‘We would – but who knows? She’s staying there until her home has been cleared for forensics. I’ve spoken to Jenny about you staying on the case. I had to persuade her, but you’re good to go at the moment.’

  Grace nodded, trying not to show her relief too much. ‘Thank you, sir.’

  ‘There’s a family liaison officer assigned, but I’d like you to visit Mrs Davenport after you’ve been to Staffs College. There’s a Matthew Rushton who wants to speak to us first, and then you can go on your own to Jade’s house.’

  ‘Matthew Rushton?’ Grace tried not to twitch at the sound of his first name. Matt had never liked being called by his full name. He’d always been known by his shortened version.

  ‘He works there, student welfare,’ Nick replied. ‘See what you can find out.’

  Grace nodded, her curiosity already piqued.

  Grace left Nick recording the press conference with the DCI. She’d caught a glimpse of Simon as she’d passed the press room. He’d given her a discreet acknowledgement and she’d nodded back. No doubt his job was getting busier by the minute too. She mentally crossed her fingers that someone might phone in with some crucial information while she was out that morning.

  Over recent years, Staffordshire College had been given a facelift and acquired new buildings. The surrounding streets were always busy during term times. Residents nearby often complained about the students, especially each autumn when the new term started and the quiet of the summer was gone again for another year. A few of them made far too much of a nuisance of themselves. But as well as some unruly behaviour, they brought a lot of business to the area, and a sense of excitement and growth.

  Grace checked in at the main desk and, after a couple of minutes, spotted a man approaching her. He appeared to be in his late thirties, with brown jeans and a checked jacket and pale lemon shirt, open at the neck. His hair was longish but tidy, his fringe swept away.

  ‘Matthew Rushton, Head of Student Welfare.’ He held out his hand as she stepped forward.

  ‘Staffordshire Police.’

  Grace followed Matthew along a corridor and into a small office. The walls held numerous certificates and a trophy for a basketball match in 2010 was resting precariously on a pile of folders. A photo of him with a woman, two children and a dog was visible on his desk, the angle showing more than she guessed he could see.

  He sat down. ‘Such dreadful news about Tom.’ He shook his head in disbelief. ‘Lorna rang me earlier. I can’t believe she remembered to call us under the circumstances. But I’m afraid I wasn’t quite truthful with her because of it.’

  ‘I don’t follow, Mr Rushton.’ Grace settled into her seat, crossing one leg over the other.

  ‘Tom has – had worked at the college for nearly five years. He was a brilliant lecturer, but I had to suspend him yesterday.’

  ‘Oh?’ Grace’s chin went up.

  Matthew coloured immediately. ‘I thought he was a genuine all-round good guy, but there were complaints, rumours going round that he got more than friendly with some of the students last year.’

  ‘Male or female?’

  ‘Female. Apparently he’s said to resemble an actor from Emmerdale.’

  Grace nodded. Jeff Hordley. So that was who was niggling at her brain. In this job, she saw so many faces that she often wondered if she had met them or seen them on TV or in a film.

  ‘Do you have names for me?’ she asked, thinking of the greetings card.

  ‘I was given two. Lucy and Stacey – I don’t have surnames. I was about to look into it.’

  ‘Can you get me a list together of all the students with those names, please? Current and past five years? Is that doable quickly?’

  ‘Yes, certainly.’ Matthew checked his watch. ‘Would you like to talk to one of his groups while I see to it? Tom’s lecture would have been covered by a stand-in anyway, but it’s due to start in a few minutes. I expect the news is going around the students as we speak. I’m not going to mention that he’d been suspended, though. Or should I?’

  ‘Difficult to call.’ Grace stood up. ‘Unless you have proof?’

  ‘No, but you know how it works.’ He shook his head. ‘Any suspicions need to be looked into, hence the suspension.’

  In the corridor outside, there were numerous young men and women walking around, a few mature students too. They passed through the crowds, down a flight of stairs and into a lecture room.

  Twenty minutes later, Grace left the classroom. The students had been spoken to and given details of where to contact the police if they had any information. She had been pleased that, as they were leaving, Matthew had said there would be counselling for anyone who needed it. It was good to hear that the students’ welfare was important.

  Once on her own again, she was approached by a young woman, thick black hair flowing behind her. She looked seventeen at a push, but could probably pass for older thanks to heavy make-up. Deep foundation, black eyeliner and eyebrows and layers of mascara. Grace worried about today’s teenagers growing up too quickly, but equally realised that she had been the same at that age.

  ‘Do you know when the funeral is going to be?’ the young woman asked.

  Grace shook her head. ‘I’m afraid it won’t be for a while yet. We need to finish our enquiries before we can release the body back to the family.’

  At the word ‘body’, the girl retched. She covered her mouth with her hand, the other resting on the wall as she tried not to throw up. Grace grabbed for a nearby chair and the girl sat down in it quickly.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ she asked gently.

  ‘I … I …’

  ‘What’s your name?’

  ‘Charlotte Maidley.’

  Charlotte looked up at Grace, make-up streaked in black lines down her cheeks.

  ‘Is there something you want to tell me?’

  The young woman burst into tears. ‘He was a kind and gentle man.’

  Grace waited for a few seconds, but she still wouldn’t meet her eye. ‘Is there someone you can talk to?’ she tried.

  Charlotte shook her head.

  ‘What about the counsellor?’

  ‘No!’ Charlotte ran down the corridor away from her.

  ‘I’d like to help,’ Grace cried, but the girl had gone.

  She searched out Matthew Rushton and told him about Charlotte. She also gave him her contact card in case anyone wanted to speak to her.

  Once back in her car, she rang Nick to update him too. Then she sent a quick email to Sam, asking her to look into the list of names she was sending over from the college. They needed to cross-reference their intel for all three victims again.

  She started the car but didn’t move off straight away. Truth be told, she wasn’t looking forward to her next visit, and now she had to be the bearer of more bad news. As well as her uncertainty as to how Jade Steele would react after their last meeting, she was reluctant to be the one to break Lorna Davenport’s heart by telling her of her mur
dered husband’s suspension.

  FORTY

  As she sped along the Potteries Way towards the address Nick had given her earlier, Grace tried to put herself into the shoes of the woman whose husband had been murdered. She could imagine how Lorna Davenport must have felt when she’d cradled her husband in her arms, knowing that he couldn’t be saved, because she had done the same with Matt. Held him as he had taken his last breath. It was a heartbreaking moment – one you don’t want to end even though there is nothing further to be done.

  It seemed so cruel that Lorna would now have to learn of her husband’s suspension. It was going to be hard to bring her up to speed with developments she might not be able to handle.

  Jade Steele’s house was in the middle of a large social housing estate off Scotia Road, Burslem. It was halfway down a narrow road, cars parked either side, making it difficult to get through. It seemed a very different set-up from that of her brothers and Grace immediately wondered why. She had no doubt that curtains would be twitching as soon as she parked up outside.

  The front door was opened by PC Angela Stephens, the family liaison officer who had been allocated. Jade was standing behind her.

  ‘Lorna’s taking a shower,’ Angela told her. ‘It’s the first thing she wanted to do. She shouldn’t be long.’

  ‘Freya is with Megan in her bedroom,’ Jade told Grace. ‘They’re welcome to stay here for as long as they need. We can move in with my mum. I decided it was best to keep Megan off school today too.’ Jade wiped tears from her face. ‘Would you like a cuppa?’

  ‘Not for me, thanks. I have a few emails to catch up with.’ Angela waggled her phone around. ‘I’ll be in the living room.’

  Grace followed Jade through into the kitchen.

  ‘Do you have anyone – any suspects in mind?’ Jade asked. ‘I mean, isn’t it weird to have three murders so close together?’

  Grace shook her head, wary of what she was saying and to whom she was speaking. ‘We’re gathering forensics at the moment. It’s imperative the crime scene investigators do their job. I expect we’ll know more soon.’ She pointed to the kitchen table. ‘Mind if I ask you a few questions?’

  ‘Sure. So, tea?’

  Grace nodded and glanced around the kitchen as she waited. It was a modest house, she assumed owned by the local authority. A typical layout for a compact three-bedroomed semi. The kitchen units looked new, pale sage doors underneath cream worktops. The noticeboard beside her was covered in photos of Megan, mostly with Freya by her side. A stash of lipsticks and mascaras sat atop a pile of teenage magazines on the table, a pair of slippers left by the side of a chair. It felt homely, but again she wondered about the difference between Jade and the other members of the Steele family. She’d seen Eddie’s property on Google Street View; it was pretty much like Leon’s. A large detached home. Did Jade choose to live frugally for a reason? Or had she squandered her money?

  ‘How long have you and Lorna been friends?’ Grace asked.

  ‘We’ve known each other since we started at junior school. We were in the same classes, had Saturday jobs at British Home Stores, everything. Even Megan and Freya were born only two months apart. We were so happy they became best friends too.’

  ‘Did you know Tom from school?’

  Jade shook her head. ‘I’ve known him since we were sixteen. He was one of Leon’s friends.’

  ‘What was he like?’

  ‘I had a few dates with him first and, like you do at that age, we swapped boyfriends. I dumped my guy a few weeks after, but Lorna and Tom stayed together. He was one of life’s good guys.’ Jade moved to sit down at the kitchen table. ‘He was settled with what he had. Happy with Lorna, and Freya. He’s helped me out so much over the years too.’ Her eyes brimmed with tears. ‘I’m going to really miss him.’

  ‘And you have no idea who would want to harm him?’

  She shook her head. ‘But I’ll look after Lorna.’

  ‘It’s good that she has you. You seem really close.’

  ‘We are. Of course we don’t see eye to eye on every occasion, but she’s always been very supportive to me.’

  ‘Do you think they were having any problems as a couple?’

  Jade smiled as she wiped at her eyes. ‘No, they were so comfortable around each other. I suppose that’s because they’ve been together so long.’

  ‘Lorna never told you about any arguments?’

  ‘Of course she did.’ Jade took a sip from her tea. ‘Tom wasn’t a bad husband but he was quite controlling. He didn’t hit her,’ she hastened to add, ‘nor force her to do anything she didn’t want to do. All her needs were catered for, they lived a good life. So, yes, she’d sit right there where you are now and have a moan about him. But it was just that, letting off steam to someone. They loved each other. I wish I had a marriage like that.’

  Grace smiled, thinking of Matt. She had been the envy of some of the officers she’d worked with. Matt had been understanding for the most part about her job and he helped out when she was at work – which was what she expected, but equally was refreshing when she talked to other colleagues who had partners who complained all the time.

  ‘And how are you doing?’ she asked Jade, wanting to change the subject quickly.

  ‘Me? Oh, I’m fine, thanks. Morning sickness is a bitch, you know, but I’ll cope.’

  Grace gnawed at her bottom lip. She wanted to ask if Jade was going to keep the baby, surprised to find it still mattered to her if she didn’t. But it wasn’t any of her business.

  ‘Look, I’m sorry about the other day,’ Jade said, a look of embarrassment clear. ‘It was silly, I know now. I messed up, but I wondered … could we try again sometime?’

  Even though she was curious to get to know more about Jade, Grace didn’t want to promise anything she couldn’t commit to.

  ‘Maybe, when I’m less busy,’ she said.

  Jade smiled. ‘Great! I’ll try not to make a tit of myself this time.’

  Grace finished her drink and waited for Lorna to come downstairs. It had been okay seeing Jade again, talking to her in a civilised manner. She was glad she’d apologised for the meeting, and maybe it had been with all good intentions, if a little thoughtless. Grace would see how she felt when Jade next got in touch. Hopefully this case would be solved by then.

  When Lorna came downstairs, Grace let her settle in the living room before going in to speak to her. She found her sitting on the settee, her foot bandaged and resting on a stool, but thankfully not broken. Her left eye was swollen and bruised, which indicated that their suspect might have thrown a punch with their right hand.

  Grace took a few notes as they went through what had happened. It was heartbreaking to hear Lorna stop to cry every minute or so, but it was vital they did this as soon as possible. Lorna cried even more when Grace told her that Tom had been suspended and why.

  ‘I can’t take this in. He never told me last night!’ She sat upright in a panic. ‘This is all lies! Scandalous. Do they have any proof?’

  ‘I’m afraid you’ll need to take that up with the college, Mrs Davenport. I’m just trying to get a picture of Tom’s last movements.’

  ‘I want to be alone,’ Lorna said. ‘How long will it be, before we can go back to our home?’

  ‘I’ll let you know,’ Grace said. ‘I’m sorry, but we have to gather as much evidence as we can.’

  ‘I’m not sure I even want to go back there really.’ Lorna shuddered, her eyes brimming with tears again.

  Grace blew out a breath as she left the room when they were finished. What a thing to have to go through. What was left of that poor family would be broken by the revelations.

  FORTY-ONE

  When Grace got back to the station, Sam beckoned her across before she made her way to her desk.

  ‘We have camera footage of someone hanging around outside Tom Davenport’s home after his murder,’ Sam told her.

  ‘Is it anyone we know?’ Grace held her breath in ant
icipation.

  ‘It sure is.’ She pointed to the computer screen. ‘This is Kyle Fisher. He’s hidden behind fencing on the walkway opposite the Davenports’ home; there for near on thirty minutes. I’m not sure if he is a watcher or if he is our man.’

  ‘I’ve seen him before, at Steele’s Gym.’ Grace spoke with an excited tone. ‘He was in the boxing ring.’

  ‘Yes, he’s one of our known troublemakers.’

  ‘Good work, Sam,’ Grace acknowledged. ‘Let’s bring him in.’

  Kathleen had been busy stocktaking in Posh Gloss. As usual, if it had been left to Jade, nothing would have been ordered in. She wasn’t sure she was ever going to get her daughter interested in the business. Jade would always cry off, not turn in, make a mess of something purposely. She had no go in her.

  At least she had a valid excuse that morning. Kathleen had just finished a call with her and Jade had told her that the man killed last night had been Tom Davenport, and that she wouldn’t be coming in.

  To her right, Clara was painting a woman’s nails. They were in the middle of a gossip fest about the recent murders.

  ‘I can’t believe the police haven’t caught anyone yet,’ Clara said, her head bent over as she brushed the varnish over the woman’s nails. ‘It smacks of incompetence, doesn’t it, Maureen?’

  ‘I was telling my Gordon exactly that last night.’ Maureen nodded knowingly. ‘It could be any one of us next if they don’t catch him soon. It’s not safe to go out at night!’

  ‘I wonder who this one is?’ Clara stopped for a moment before reaching for Maureen’s other hand. ‘Surely three men murdered in such a short space of time must have some similarities?’

  ‘He’s from Endon, it said on the radio.’

  Kathleen didn’t let on that she knew who they were talking about. She was just about to join in with the conversation when she heard raised voices. The noise sounded like it was coming from Eddie’s office. Quickly, she walked towards it to see what was going on.

  She was about to go in, but stopped when Eddie began to speak.

  ‘This is the third person who can be linked to you. Do you have any idea who’s behind this?’