by Liz Mistry
As the doctors and nurses drew back from the bed, Nikki moved close, held her mother’s hand and watched her die.
Chapter 80
Brushing aside all attempts by her colleagues to offer condolences, Nikki focused on the two investigations. This was the only thing that could keep her sane during this time. Springer had insisted she take a leave of absence, that she wasn’t fit to be at work, but Archie had overruled her. Anika still blamed Nikki for what had happened to their mother and Nikki had agreed to let Marcus liaise with her aunts and uncles. Her mum had wanted a traditional Hindu cremation and, although not religious herself, Nikki had spent a tense few hours arguing against Anika’s desire to have a non-religious funeral. Naturally this had widened the already massive chasm between the sisters, which had prompted Nikki to bow out from the rest of the arrangements. Sometimes she wondered if it was cowardice that prompted her decision to back off, but deep down she knew that her conscience was clear – it was her need to limit the damaged relationship between her and Anika that had prompted her decision.
She’d spoken to her kids too and although overcome with grief, they’d all three of them been adamant that Nikki should – in Sunni’s words, ‘Find the bastard that did this to Ajima.’
Neither Nikki nor Marcus had had the desire to admonish him for his language and, as always, in his way, Sunni had brought their little unit closer. Nikki had kissed them and left with strict instructions that if they needed her, she was on the end of the phone and would come to them no matter what.
Isaac was a different matter. It was hard for him not to take the blame for Lally Mum’s death. In his mind, Lally Mum had been punished because he’d broken his pinkie promise. He was inconsolable and the only one who could distract him was Sunni – so yet another binge fest of Dr Who was the remedy.
Instead of making funeral arrangements, Nikki was working. Blotting out the memory of her mum reduced to a bundle of bruised skin and bones, treated by dedicated nurses intent on keeping alive a woman who had sacrificed everything for her children … The fact that it had been to no avail was something Nikki would never let lie. She would hunt down Freddie Downey no matter where in the world he was, and early indications pointed to him having flown to Amsterdam under an assumed name and no doubt onwards from Schiphol to one of the many destinations available from there – and he would pay.
Sajid kept a watchful eye on her, but never intruded. He too knew Nikki well enough to realise that this was her coping strategy. ‘Daniel Lammie’s here, Nik. You ready?’
Nikki glanced round. If Springer knew she was talking to Lammie, there would be trouble, but Saj had agreed to lead their chat and get it on tape that Lammie insisted on Nikki’s presence. Lammie was happy to do this, so it was all systems go. Having decided to give Johnny Flynn a little more time to dwell on his presence in the cells, Nikki had taken the opportunity to get the officers to offer him a change of clothes. The previous night she’d been niggled by the blood on his T-shirt and now she wanted to double-check that it was Johnny’s own blood. They were awaiting the results, but the more she thought about it, the more she was convinced that the blood would match with Mr Moretti’s.
Saj had shown Daniel into one of the more comfortable interview rooms. Instead of a bare table with handcuff hooks and hard chairs, this room was reserved for children and victims and was decked out like a living room. Daniel perched on the edge of the sofa, a folder on the coffee table in front of him. When the officers entered, he jumped to his feet, nervous energy making his actions stilted and overeffusive. ‘You’ve got to look at this. I don’t know what it all means but it must be something important. Why else would Liam hide it?’
Nikki gestured for him to sit down, and she and Saj sat opposite. Saj began to question Daniel about how he’d come to find the folder, whilst Nikki put on gloves before opening it and sifting through.
The first document was a copy of a death certificate for a William Flynn dated October 1992. It looked authentic enough, and Nikki was puzzled. Why would Liam have a death certificate in his father’s name? There must be umpteen William Flynns who died over the years. Nikki looked at it more closely. The date of birth was January 1976. So this William Flynn would have been almost 16 when he died.
Putting this document to the back of the pile, she studied the next one with rather more surprise. This was a copy of a birth certificate for William Downey dated November 1976 and parents registered as Frederick Downey and Margaret Dyson. This was Dexy – Peggy’s son’s, and her half-brother’s birth certificate, but why did Liam Flynn have a copy of it? Spine tingling, Nikki swept on to the next document: a birth certificate for Candice Downey dated January 1978 and with the same parents registered. She barely remembered Candice – a skinny girl who never had time for her and Anika – she seemed sad most of the time and then one day, according to Nikki’s mum, Candice and Dexy were gone.
This put an entirely new perspective on things. No longer was the link between Peggy Dyson’s death and Liam Flynn’s so tenuous. Liam Flynn had been researching Peggy and possibly Freddie for whatever reason. Moving Candice’s birth certificate to the back, Nikki saw a typed letter.
Hi Dannie,
If you find this, then it probably means I’m dead. Nobody seems too keen on me raking all this up – but hell – I can’t just sit on it. Ever wondered why Josie has a heart condition, like my parents? Or why Tommy’s like he is? Well, now I know and it’s all going to come out. You’ve gotta make sure it does, right?
First up – watch out for Johnny. He’s really mad with me. Spitting mad. Threatened to kill me – threatened to make me pay – but I can’t keep a lid on this. It all needs to come out. Everything needs to come out about my parents’ past – about Johnny’s dad – about my mum and dad. I’m still putting this file together, Dannie, but I know you’ll do what’s right. I know you will. I love you so much.
Love Liam xxx
Wordlessly, Nikki handed it to Saj, giving him a chance to rifle through the documents before saying, ‘Can we ask you to stay here for a little bit longer, Daniel?’
Chapter 81
‘Boss, we’ve got a report in about a man booking a taxi from just down the road from Flower Hill – that’s the retirement complex where Mr Moretti resides. Says he heard about the attack on the news last night and says he picked up a weird, sweaty dude around the time he heard the sirens heading to Flower Hill – around ten-ish.’
Although Anwar’s words had been directed at Nikki, Springer stepped in. ‘Thanks, Anwar. You and I will go and interview this taxi driver. Did he come in?’
Nikki was pleased that Springer was elsewhere, because she intended to go over the other woman’s head, straight to Archie. She didn’t want Springer anywhere near this interview, yet she was also aware that she couldn’t be the one to speak with Johnny Flynn. Sajid and Archie would make a good team.
Looking into the interview room at Flynn from the observation room, Nikki noticed how nervous he was. Perhaps the repercussions from his actions had finally dawned on him. Three, possibly four, murders were enough to keep him inside for a large part of his life. It was only natural he was worried. Even wearing a mismatched blend of ill-fitting clothes, Johnny looked very different from the truculent lad they’d interviewed in Manchester. The frown, which she’d assumed was a permanent fixture on the lad’s face, was gone. He looked to have lost weight although it was only a few days since they’d last seen him.
Archie had settled into the chair opposite, his weight, although reduced over the past few months, was still enough to elicit an ominous creak. For this interview they’d decided to go in hard, so Johnny Flynn was in Room 2. The worst of all the rooms because it stank, was cold even in summer and was small and therefore claustrophobic. Saj settled in next to Archie, the two so dissimilar as to be almost amusing. Nikki knew from experience that any amusement at the disparity in weight and dress sense, would vanish when the duo got to work. Saj dropped the folder of documents cop
ied from Liam Flynn’s original onto the table and followed that up by slapping the palm of his hand on top of it. The sudden noise made Flynn jump.
Flynn looked at the folder, then raised his eyes first to Archie and then to Saj. ‘Where’s Nikita? I need to talk to her.’
Archie, settling into role, responded by shaking his head and exhaling woefully. ‘That’s DS Parekh to you and och no, laddie, that’s no how it’s going to go.’
Saj stepped in, pressed play on the recorder and formalised the interview by reading Johnny Flynn his rights and introducing those present. ‘Want a lawyer, Mr Flynn?’
Johnny frowned and shook his head, ‘Why would I need a lawyer? I’m here voluntarily to tell my aunt something she should know. I know who killed Liam and I think I know why.’
The silence in the room lasted for long seconds. Nikki, watching, frowned. This was a turn-up for the books. They’d expected to have to push the lad, but here he was willing to share information. Saj recovered first. ‘The first thing we need to know is, why is Mr Gianno Moretti’s blood all over your T-shirt?’
Flynn had frowned when Saj began to speak, clearly expecting a difficult question, but by the time Saj had finished, he splayed his hands, smiling. ‘That’s what I’m trying to tell you. I was following him. I knew it was him. Knew he was up to no good, and when he stabbed that old bloke, I knew for sure. I frightened him and he ran off, but I tried to help the old guy and phoned 999. That’s why I’ve got blood on me. It went right through my hoodie.’
Saj and Archie exchanged glances. This was not what any of them had expected. They’d expected Flynn to confess to killing his brother and the others, not to point a finger at someone else.
Doing exactly what Nikki would have done under the circumstances, Saj leaned back and spoke in a friendly tone. ‘Do you think you could clarify, Mr Flynn? Who attacked Mr Moretti?’
‘William Flynn, although his real name is …’
But Nikki had burst through the door. Everything made sense to her, why Johnny called her auntie, Liam’s letter to Daniel, the birth certificates, everything. ‘… Dexy Downey, my half-brother and your dad.’
Saj and Archie, stared at her and at another time, Nikki would have laughed out loud at their stunned expressions. Coming to his senses, Saj said, ‘Interview suspended at 11:05,’ and clicked the tape off just before Flynn continued and everything was now off the record … They’d have to sort that all out later. Johnny shook his head. ‘No, you got that wrong. William Flynn’s not my dad. Not sure if that’s a blessing or a curse – nowt to choose between the pair of them I reckon.’
Nikki hadn’t expected that. She was sure she had it all worked out. ‘The pair of them? Who is your dad, Johnny?’
With a rueful shrug, Johnny exhaled. ‘Gerry Hudson is. Bastard raped my mum. That’s why William hates me. Glad he’s dead – Gerry that is. I’m just the poor relative in that household. No, William is Liam, Josie, Maria and Tommy’s dad though.’
All three officers took a moment to let this information sink in. Then Nikki, sure she’d worked it out this time, but wanting to be sure, moved closer. ‘Why did he do it, Johnny? Why now?’
‘Liam did some DNA tests without us knowing – some study he was doing, He figured it all out – said that because William was doing Candice – his sister – that’s why Josie and Tommy were like they were. He said he’d spoken to Peggy Dyson and Hudson and was going to go to the police. William flipped …’
‘And William? He’s really Dexy Downey, isn’t he? DD in the diary extracts.’
With a sniff, Johnny nodded. Having the confirmation at last made Nikki’s heart hammer in her chest. It was so hard to equate this hardened killer with the young lad who’d helped his sister escape the foul paedophiles.
‘And your mum?’
Johnny shrugged. ‘What could she do? He controlled her – always has – nothing she could do.’
‘Where is he, Johnny?’ Archie stood up, ready to leave. ‘We need to catch him before it’s too late.’
And Johnny told them.
Chapter 82
Jumping to action, the team organised surveillance of the Vespa hotel and Nikki, agitation making her antsy, wanted them to drive straight over there and tarp the bastard, but Archie and Saj’s common sense had prevailed. Instead, they’d spoken to the manager and learned that Graham Crabtree, AKA Dexy Downey/William Flynn was currently sleeping off what, according to the night manager who’d witnessed him staggering in around half one in the morning, would be a massive hangover. Eager to avoid too much scrutiny on their rent rooms for an hour policy, the manager had already sent their CCTV recordings over and both Saj and Nikki confirmed that the man now sleeping it off in room 325 was indeed Dexy Downey. The phrase “like father like son” kept echoing round Nikki’s head and she couldn’t shake it. Dexy shared Downey’s genes – but so did she. Her previous conversation with Saj hadn’t fully put the worry of nature versus nurture to bed for Nikki. Especially when she’d had twelve years of nurture at the hands of her genetic maker. The odds were stacked against her, no matter what Saj or Marcus said.
In Archie’s indomitable way, he’d side-lined Springer, making decisions that he would have left to Nikki had she been in charge. Springer’s face was a perpetual crimson as decision after decision was taken out of her hands, until finally, she just sank to a chair behind a computer and did as Archie had told her to do – scrutinise the CCTV for sightings of Dexy Downey around Flower Hill, her anger clear in every click of her mouse.
‘Right, we need to get all our proverbials in a line. Make this airtight before we grab him. We’ve got time – he’s under surveillance and I’ve doubled up the numbers. No way can he go anywhere without us knowing. We’ll get him. But let’s get tying up some of those loose ends, so we can trip him up during interview.’ He looked at Sajid. ‘Get this Sarah/Candice woman over here pronto. Enlist the Manchester coppers to get her using the blues and twos. I want her side of the story, not just Johnny’s.’ He stroked his stubble. ‘Oh and while I’m at it, Parekh, you can watch Saj interviewing the woman, but by heck if you storm the room like you did earlier, I’ll have you banged up for weeks.’
Despite realising it was an empty threat, Archie’s expression brooked no argument and Nikki was sensible enough to realise that this was her last chance, and that Archie was giving her a huge concession even allowing her to observe.
Still, all she wanted to do was get on with it and arrest Dexy. Instead, she decided to head back home to cuddle her kids, breathe in some of Marcus’s strength. She’d be back in time for the interview with Candice/Sarah and if anything kicked off, Saj would contact her.
Chapter 83
If anything, Sarah Flynn looked skinnier and more bedraggled than she had on the day Sajid had found her and William hiding upstairs. Her hair was greasy and for the life of her, Nikki couldn’t recognise her as the sullen girl from her childhood – her half-sister. It was all surreal and Nikki was glad she’d taken the time to recoup with her family. The respite had given her the chance to recharge her batteries, although lack of sleep still fuzzed the edges of her brain, making her sluggish. Swallowing a couple of caffeine tablets with a bottle of water, she focused.
Saj walked in all smiles and gentleness. He would work his Saj magic, Nikki was sure. They’d decided to stick to only one interviewer so as not to rattle the already fragile woman any more than was necessary, which left Archie in the observation suite with Nikki and Springer. Nikki found his presence oddly reassuring. Gruff though Archie was, his heart was in the right place.
After the requisite introductions and formalities, Saj began. ‘First, I want to stress that at this point you are in no trouble whatsoever. If you feel at any point that you are incriminating yourself, you can ask for a lawyer – indeed, you can ask for one at any time. Is that clear?’
Sobbing, Sarah nodded and, as Saj fumbled in his pocket before producing one of his posh hankies, Nikki smiled. Predictable, but ef
fective.
‘We have a witness who says that your real name is Candice Downey and that you only took up the name Sarah Flynn after escaping from your abusive father’s clutches with your brother Dexy, William Flynn. Is that right?’
‘Yes.’ Her voice was low, but she looked straight at Saj. ‘Yes, that’s right. I was pregnant with Johnny and Dexy took me away from all of that.’
‘Can I ask who Johnny’s father is?’
Sarah’s head came up, eyes flashing. ‘It was that bastard Hudson what made me pregnant. My mum was off her face most of the time and so she didn’t stop that bastard Downey from sending me over to Hudson. I were only a kid.’
Nikki’s heart contracted. She and Anika would have faced the same fate if her mum hadn’t managed to find the courage to dob Downey in and escape.
Saj pushed a CCTV image from the Vespa hotel across the table. ‘Do you recognise this man?’
They’d already had confirmation from Johnny that this was William Flynn, but another independent corroboration would help in court.
‘Yes, that’s William – Dexy – whatever you want to call him. He pissed off after Liam’s funeral. Haven’t seen him since.’
Saj took out another piece of paper and placed it on the table between them. ‘You recognise this?’
With shaking fingers, Sarah lifted it, almost reverently. She took her time, reading it, savouring it, then, ‘Yes, it’s from my diary from before we escaped. I kept one for years but Downey found them and confiscated them – punishing me for saying I didn’t want to go near Hudson anymore.’
‘So, to the best of your knowledge, Freddie Downey had your childhood diaries.’
