by Harry Nankin
“The station detective inspector was impressed when the fellow’s involvement in the murder was revealed and so made me a CID aid for six months. Again, I had luck. I arrested several youngsters who eventually admitted a host of petty offences but they all counted so the station crime detection figures looked very impressive, it was a good example of all is not what it appears. I was made up to substantive DC and remained in CID for the rest of my time.”
“I have had the luck to investigate most types of crimes and deal with the worst and best in society; the worst always seemed to be doing better that the best. My guiding rules throughout has been to be an honest copper having attention to detail, one has to have attention to detail especially when dealing with criminals.”
“No criminal visits and leaves the scene of any crime without leaving some clue, the task of the good detective is to recognise and retrieve that clue.”
“There is another and just as important rule, you will slide a lot farther on bull shit than you will on gravel”.
My guiding rule is that I am employed to detect crime. No matter what bullshit it takes to butter up suspects as long as they admit the offence that is what matters.”
“I have no sessions of curtains closed or pulled down all up front but soft soap them, even better, make them feel sorry for you, again as long as they cough the jobs, the end justifies the means.”
“Some cops have a problem with this, roughing up suspects and often said to me”.
“How can you be so friendly with the bastards?”
“I often recall the words of a solicitor who when I asked him how he could defend such people said to me “In life you don’t have to like people to take money off them”.
“That is true and I have always recalled his words.”
“Well now it is my turn,” said Doris.
“I was born to a Chinese Dad and a White Mum, in fact she is Welsh.”
“My father is a very successful businessman; my mother was a medical doctor that it is how they met.”
“I have a brother he also took a different path he decided on a life away from the hustle and bustle, he is a Shaolin Priest”.
“I get a lot of stick about being mixed race or half cast as they refer to it here. My parents anticipated I would, so I was educated privately here and in China.”
“I worked hard and received good grades in my exams and eventually went to University in Manchester. I have no idea why but I studied law, I received an honours degree. I still for the life of me don’t recall why but I have the inclination to join the police, possibly to fight against racism”.
“On leaving Manchester University I went to the police college at Bramshill and as my parents were now living near Chester I applied for a post here as an Inspector.”
“My dad bought me a small house in Tarporley, as it is near to Chester and other cities such as Manchester, for shopping and the like”.
“I hear you live in the village Mr Richards, sorry about the petition and sorry I confess I signed it so did the HMI I saw his name on the list, I didn’t know you then, sorry.”
That is my story, here I am and you are lumbered with me.”
“So you have no practical police experience?” He asked
“Just making tea and odd jobs, they never let me do anything”.
Jack sat back in his chair, put his fingers to his mouth and thought for some time then said
“Well I can’t tell you much about traffic law but regarding criminal law I know a little, as you are working with me I will lead you along and pass onto you that which was told to me and what knowledge I have gained from trial and error.”
“Mr Richards what do you make of this case, this business of a whodunit thing?” She asked
“What do I think about it?” he replied.
“I think five policemen have been found dead and one cop with years of experience would like it looked into and asked me and now you to do it.”
“I think I will do just that, look into the cases and see what falls out of the bottom when I give it a shake after we complete our enquiries, other than that I think nothing”.
She made no reply but gave a nod.
He then said, “Now from this moment the paramount things of importance are these.”
“Keep an open mind, read, observe, listen and learn, we shall keep our eyes and ears open and our mouths shut.”
“Nothing but nothing goes from us to anyone and I mean anyone is that clear?”
“Yes but what do I say if asked”
“It seems to me they think you are a dummy, in that case play them at their own game just let them think what they want to think, you are a dummy and don’t know a thing.”
“It may well be there is nothing in the cases if so we will both be dummies and nothing is lost.”
“Now Inspector time for work, I could with a drink”.
Before he could speak to say he would make it there was a rattling of a bucket and a voice then it all arrived, in the guise of May Day, she was crying.
“Whatever is the matter May?” asked Doris.
“The Chief Super has made me redundant; he is getting contract cleaners in.”
“That damn man, I need the money being a widow.”
“Well never mind come with me May, I was just going to make us a brew", and she put her arm around the distraught cleaner and left.
They were leaving when Jack called “Inspector just a moment?”
“Yes Mr Richards”.
“I just thought to say, nothing special when making the brew just as it comes from the tap”.
“She smiled and said, “Why of course you haven’t qualified for my specials as yet”.
“I hope I never do” he replied smiling.
The phone rang, “who the hell is that?”
“No-one knows I am here?”
“Hello, Jack Richards speaking, now can I help?”
“Hello Jack, Woodcock here just thought I would give you a call to make sure all is well”.
“Yes all is well and, oh don’t worry, I am here I didn’t change my mind. You won’t get egg on your face”
“Did you get the office and the experienced officer they promised?”
“Ideal,” he replied, “The office, well what shall I say, it takes me back many years, it is an old CID office still fitted out with all the old furniture.”
“I must say Christian it is just what I needed to take me back to the good old days. Certainly puts me in the right frame of mind”.
“I must ask you Jack; does it have a hat stand?”
“It does boss and like the politicians I can announce today I rung the bell, the hat landed onto the stand the very first time I arrived”.
“What about your help, did Denton-Smyth come up with an ideal officer?”
“He certainly did, I owe him a vote of thanks, he allocated me a very highly qualified lady officer she has even got an honours degree in law”
“She hasn’t any experience with this particular type of investigation but I have”
“She the makings of a bloody good detective”.
“Well Jack as you are all set up I will leave you to it”
“Ah, just a couple of things, better not say anything to Denton-Smyth, leave it to me.”
“I have told him and I will tell the others the same, I will update them all they need to know.”
I wouldn’t like to spoil your little party at the end”, said Jack, adding “especially if as very likely I suspect it will get nowhere and you will have to fall back on the additional drinking time”
“Mums the word Jack so in view of this even I won’t come back pestering you again but you know, I am here if you need official backing or have any problems”.
“Thank you Christian, there is one thing”.
“There is a cleaner, she works a few hours but has been made redundant by the force.”
“It seems they are having contract cleaners. Would our budget stretch as far as
offering her a few hours to clean and help around here?”
“If not and you have no objection I will pay her myself, I did think of asking her to do a few hours for us, seems in Tarporley everyone has a cleaner”.
“I see no problem with that, stick her on the pay roll as an assistant rather than a cleaner, that’s it Jack I am off, bye”, he was gone.
Jack made no mention of the petition against his glass house but was surprised to hear his old friend Woodcock had also signed, just goes to show.”
He thought of a story
“At the time of the Falklands war when British Sovereign territory was invaded, the Americans announced they would remain even handed.”
“An American TV newsreader at the end of the bulletin announcing this when he closed his papers looked into the camera and said.
“Who is the closest friend of America, stood by us when all others criticise us, who always sends their young men to support ours in times of need and despair, not the Argentineans, but the British.”
“Perhaps eventually the British people will have cause to reflect when their time of need came, who amongst their friends was only even handed”.
Maybe he thought one day Woodcock might have cause to reflect.
Doris and May arrived back, drinks in hand, he leaned over took his drink and said.
“I am sorry May you lost your post next door, if you fancy it, the Inspector and I could use a little help around here, a bit of cleaning, answering the phone to take messages, making sure no tourists snoop around thinking we are part of the museum and of course keeping the pot on”.
“That would be wonderful”. She said
“Right well I am going for a look around the rest of this building. May you take your instructions from Inspector Scott-Ling, she will I am sure update you on the rules and do`s and don’ts of this little world inside here”.
He stood replaced his cup and saucer and left the room.
Arriving down stairs it was busy, tourists and school children visiting the old cells and the dummies dressed up as Victorian prisoners.
Some were boisterous and on passing the birching room and stool, he looked stopped and thought, a session in here would give you miscreants a taste of old justice when the rule spare the rod and spoil the child was in operation.
He was joined by Doris who informed him they had a woman prisoner next door at the police station and she was required there to search the lady and sit in on the interview.
“Ok”, he said, “I will spend the day just contemplating how to tackle these cases, I will give you a call as and when things will kick off”.
As he toured around, he met Sergeant Reg Large. He was on this occasion, dressed in an old type uniform and armed with a Sergeants walking stick.
Such a stick had not seen by Jack since he had attended the Grand National at Aintree years ago when all the Scouser sergeants carried them on the course.
More as a traditional dress than for practical use, the days of the Sergeant tapping his stick on the pavement edge to signal constables he was about had long gone, even before his time.
“Hello again Mr Richards. Just having a look around are you?”
“Ah, yes, it is very interesting; the children seem to enjoy it in particular putting on the old helmets and tunics.”
“Yes,” replied Large “Very good police public relations, this museum is”.
“Yes indeed” replied Jack, then added, “Since the cops on outside patrol don’t seem to stop and speak with the public these days I would agree it is a good police public relations exercise”.
Large hesitated, realising what Jack had said was the truth but a little taken back by its saying.
Large hesitated and said “Oh I am interested in this enquiry in to these deaths, some think it is a waste of time and money, a senior officer’s bloody fad for a good night out. Still money is money better to get paid for that than having to do real police work”.
Jack smiled and replied, “Well I must get on", he turned and walked away then after a few steps he stopped, looked back and said.
“Oh, by the way, I am not getting paid I am just looking into the case for old times sake. You know what they say, once a copper always a copper”.
PART EIGHT
LOOK OUT, JACK’S ABOUT
The next day in Tarporley, Anne had just finished baking and preparing a host of cakes to take with them to her sisters for a family party in the offing, her sister Megan’s grandson was having his third birthday and as normal Anne was the mainstay to provide refreshments.
Jack meanwhile had spent the whole day contemplating in his study.
“Are you alright in here Jack?”
“I haven’t heard a murmur from you since breakfast.”
She put down a drink on the table together with a piece of carrot cake, one of his favourites. He was sitting staring through the window.
“A penny for your thoughts Jack?”
“I was just contemplating” he replied
“What is that hun?” She said
“My” he thought, “She hasn’t called me that since we were courting”.
He always thought but dared not ask if the phrase was short for honey or if she thought he was German, he certainly wouldn’t dare ask her now”.
“Give me a clue Jack what is on your mind?”
He looked then replied, “I have been thinking over the many possible issues in this case I have been lumbered with.”
“There does seem some strange elements but not a smell of a crime”
“All the medical evidence says it is a nothing, but like Woodcock I am suspicious that it all stinks but why I have not a clue. I may well have egg on my face here I fear”.
“Not egg on your face Jack not after all these years, I can’t see Woodcock setting you up or throwing the old banana skin down whilst you are carrying a tray of glasses.”
“So I thought but as you came in I digressed, can you believe this, Inspector Scott-Ling who has been allocated to assist me and lives nearby.”
“She admits she signed the petition against my glass house going up.”
“She qualified it of course by saying she signed it blind not knowing anything of who or what, but she added she saw Woodcock’s name on the sheet as having signed”.
“Really Jack that does surprise me and he never mentioned a word”
“Exactly, well neither will I, not yet anyway but it does seem like a friend in need is not a friend in deed, the bloody green house was only a small lean to on the house measuring 8 feet by four feet”.
The next day at 8. 30am there came a knock on the door, Anne answered it to find a uniformed policewoman Inspector standing there.
“Good morning, Mrs Richards.”
“Yes, Miss Scott-Ling, I take it?”
“Yes, I thought I would give Mr Richards a lift in to work, it may be difficult to park today. There are some demonstrations going on so a lot of the city is closed.”
“There will not be much parking space at the museum due to the additional parking required for police vehicles so I thought we could travel in together”
“A very good idea. Please step inside, if you wouldn’t mind waiting in Jack’s study, I will tell him you have arrived”.
They went through and once inside Doris was standing alone in the study come office. She looked around; it was a modern with a desk, chairs, some filing cupboards, a computer and printer.
There was a hat stand in the corner it appeared to be old and constructed of oak and yes it was years old, there was a variety of hats and coats hanging on it, all appeared well used nothing new and posh.
The rear wall had a large French window leading to a small patio and garden with a very bright green lawn beyond. There was a really over bearing sight of a conservatory from the house behind.
The fixture was so tall as to reach nearly to the bedroom room window of the house and it was an ugly white plastic.
Presumably built at the same
time as the house no planning permission had been required but she could clearly see why Jack had been so miffed when the campaign against his green house was launched
On the side dresser, she saw several photograph frames and on looking closer, she was taken by two in particular.
She read the items then stopped, but could not believe she was reading of the man she had met so, read them both again. They were exactly the same on the second read; she had not made a mistake.
She heard the sound of footsteps so walked away and stood by the door.
“Ah thank you for the lift Inspector, we had better get on our way, may I ask if you have a mileage allowance?”
“Why yes, Mr Richards. In fact I was told only yesterday, it seems in view of the financial cuts the allowance has been authorised by the Home Office, I am also to receive the essential user rate which will help”.
“Right, in that case its good news. I anticipate we will be doing quite a few miles but the first stop will be Wrexham nick as from what you say they will be too busy in Chester to bother with either of us”.
They were soon driving out of Tarporley, “Wrexham here we come,” she thought.
“Are you not required as they are so busy, Inspector"? He asked.
“On the contrary, when anything is happening they never want me and if it’s likely to be physical they certainly don’t want me, Striker needs bullies and the like, not weak women”.
“I can quite see that, not weak, women but rather Striker wanting bullies”, qualified Jack not wishing to say the wrong thing.
“Broxton”, she said “where the first two officers were found, in the lay-by ahead”.
“Right, a slight change. Stop in the lay-by”, he came into the conversation.
She pulled in and came to a stop, he unfastened his seat belt, looked and said
“Come on, you have started the music stopping here, let the dancing commence”.
They left the car and strode to and fro she noted, to quote a phrase of her mother, “he was all eyes”.
He took out a small digital camera and took several shots, then closely scrutinised the hedgerow and the view in all directions.
