by Harry Nankin
“I see this then is where the first tragedy occurred”.
“Yes” she replied, “it all started here”.
He looked at her, and then smiled and said, “I wouldn’t go that far. We have no evidence it all started here. As yet the tragedy here may well be only one possible ending in a train of events, time will tell, that’s it for now on our way Inspector”.
They were soon mobile again, no words passed between them though she did realise her error, she had fallen foul of his dictum, attention to detail.
She had assumed as the first deaths were discovered in that very spot it was the beginning; she could now see he was quite right. There may well be antecedents to the incidents, on the other hand of course if there was nothing more to the matters than natural causes, it was the start and finish of the incident but to assume that at this initial stage may well have been an assumption too far.
A road sign announcing, Welcome to Wales indicated they had arrived within the Welsh county.
Arriving at Wrexham police station, it was nothing like their office in Chester; it was a high modern multi storey building
She parked up and they walked inside the building. There was a man on the front counter he was sporting a name badge Llewelyn Jones counter clerk.
“Good morning”, she announced “I am Inpsector Scott-Ling this is my associate Mr Jack Richards”
She produced her warrant card of identification just to add to her uniform in case here in Wales they may have thought she was in fancy dress or in masquerade. Llewelyn looked at it, then wrote down the details on the visitors log.
“How can I be of help?”
“We have come to see the Chief-Constable, Mr Winston Myers”.
“Do you have an apppointment?”
“Regretfully not”, replied Jack “but if you would be gracious enough to say that it is Mr Jack Richards, here on behalf of Mr Christian Woodcock, Her Majesty`s Inspector of Constabulary, he will know the nature of our business.”
The man hesitated, then went into the office and spoke in welsh
A lady appeared looked, but said nothing just returned inside. It was only a moment or so when a Chief Superintendent arrived, his name badge indicated it was Morris Jones.
“Ah yes the Chief will see you, would you please follow me”.
They did so and arrived in a lift and eventually arrived at floor ten. The lift stopped and Jones alighted the two visitors followed closely eventually arriving at the door marked Chief Constable, Winston Myers, QPM.
A knock brought a reply “Please come in.”
Once inside they saw a lady in her mid forties wearing the name badge Bronwen Watson, Secretary, Chief Constable.
She smiled and pleasantly said, “Good day to you”
“Ah Bronwen, the Chief is expecting these two visitors” said Jones, “I will leave them with you, I need to bring something which I am pretty sure will be required”.
“Thank you Morris, please if you would both be seated I will go and tell the Chief, he is just momentarily engaged on a call to the Welsh Office”.
After a moment or so her telephone buzzed she answered and replied, “Yes sir”.
Looking up she turned to the visitors and announced, “The Chief will see you now”.
She went to the door, opened it and permitted them to walk past her as she held the door open allowing them to enter, though she herself did not do so, but closed the door.
Arriving inside the room it was large with a panoramic view of the town but beyond, the wonderous scenery of the hills of North Wales.
The room contained various pictures including those of Her Majesty the Queen, one in full ceremonial dress including crown, there were others of a visit she had made to the Police Headquarters for Jack clearly recalled the scenes around the building from when he had arrived.
“I am pleased to meet you Mr Richards and Inspector Scott-Ling though the circumstances are at least very unusual. How can the North Wales Police assist you then”?
Jack Richards spoke, “I assume you are aware as to the nature of our enquiry in this sad affair”?
“Yes indeed I am, how very sad it was and such a shock for poor Ceinwen and of course all of us.”
“That was something” thought Jack “at least he knows the name of the widow”.
“What can we do then Jack?, you don`t mind if I call you Jack, being an ex copper”.
Jack laughed and replied, “By all means Chief, Jackson is the name my mother lumbered me with, I prefer Jack”.
“I would if possible,” continued Richards, “ like to examine the deceased officer`s personnnel file and then speak with the widow”.
“Ah yes, I have actually just spoken with the Welsh Office and they in turn spoke with the Home Secretary. I am pleased to say authority has in fact been granted for you to have a copy of the file, you appreciate, although I know you are fully aware of this, but I have to say, you will be aware the contents will be for your eyes only”.
“Yes indeed sir”, said Richards “but you will realise that eventually my findings if any, which may include some of the contents of the file will have to be related to the office of Her Majesty`s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and to the Home Office, it will be for them to decide what if any information can be released and to whom”.
“Yes of course the system wouldn`t work without, ah just a moment I think I can hear Morris Jones coming”.
There was a knock on the door to which the Chief called, “Come on in Morris did you get the file?”
“I did sir,” he replied and produced the brown folder handing it to Jack”.
“Is there any possibility I might loan an office for a few minutes to peruse the contents”.
“Why certainly” replied the Chief Super.
“May I thank you so very much for your cooperation Mr Myers, by the way you don`t sound Welsh”.
“I am not Welsh, I am a Geordie. I applied for this job and the police committee at that time stated they wanted a Chief who was Welsh speaking, I assured them if they would offer me the post I would learn Welsh and so I did. I can speak the lingo the same as the rest but these buggers won`t accept me as anything else but that “ Bloody Englishman coming yer, isnt that a fact Jones?”
“Well sir, I wouldn`t say that”.
“You wouldn’t but I would. T-
-hanks Mr Richards, need any more help in the future, either contact Jones here or myself, I hope you find nothing and don’t think I am being bitchy”.
“I won’t sir and thank you once again; I will more than likely be in touch.”
They left the office and arrived in a room in the ground floor marked interview room.
The final words of the Chief Super were also helpful, “I will put the sign on the door saying do not disturb and I will get Idris the local beat officer to inform Ceinwen you will be visiting. Idris will take you up there, when you are ready”.
“Thank you Chief Superintendent” said Jack and they were alone.
He opened the file and she sat beside him as he turned the pages, on reaching the end he turned to the start reading aloud this time, Ifor Evans, previous occupation building worker, he joined the police three years ago in the month of January. I see three years ago that is interesting, the number of days sick was nil. His conduct was good; he married two years ago there no children.
He closed the file; “some interesting points nothing startling but a start”.
He gave the file to Doris, she put it in her brief case, and they left the office she realised now what the phrase a bag carrier meant. On arrival downstairs, they were met by a uniformed constable who immediately introduced himself as Idris Roberts.
“If you are ready like, I will take you up to see Ceinwen. She has settled a bit now mind”
“Thank you officer” replied Doris and once outside the three climbed into Doris’s car and were off as Idris sitting in the rear seat poked his arm between the heads of the two investigators giving directi
ons left and right not mentioning the Welsh street names assuming they would not understand.
They arrived at the house; it was a typical police house, Jack thought, a square building, square windows, no character, a typical house from the same plan they used in police forces years ago.
Knocking on the door Ceinwen answered, they could hear a shuffling inside and a door bang.
The lady who answered the door appeared to be in her late thirties with blonde hair but from a bottle, she was wearing make up which was smudged on the lips.
“Mornin” was her first word, typical slang thought Jack, mornin not good morning.
She then said “you the investigators into Ifor’s death, bloody strange affair?”
“Yes Mrs Evans”, replied Doris, “I am Inspector Doris Scott-Ling of the Cheshire Police and this is Mr Jack Richards. We are tasked with just looking into the death of Ifor for there were several others similar, nothing for you to worry about”.
“Suspect murder do you?” “Well they said it was natural causes see, I doubted it but what can you do bugger all?”
Jack smiled at the word natrul not natural another Welsh slang word, much to be expected here in North Wales.
“Come in will you?” Asked Ceinwen “the bloody neighbours will be gabbing enough as it is seeing another copper and a man wearing a hat like the old detectives did, always around these parts they were in the old days”
They stepped inside but Doris turned and said, “Thank you Constable Roberts we can manage now, you have been very helpful”.
“I will continue patrol then if I am not wanted like”.
“Thank you once again officer,” said Jack.
Once inside the house he looked around it was typical working class, side board, three piece suite, gas fire, it was basic but clean”.
“Sit down” she said and so they sat on the settee.
“Is there anything you can tell us about Ifor which might not be in his police personal file?” Was Jack’s initial question.
“Like what?” she asked
“Anything unusual, did he say anything to you to indicate that he may have been involved in any crime where someone would wish to take revenge on him. If he had been involved with or in contact with anything or anyone were toxic items may have been involved for instance, say at work?”
“Not a bloody thing butt”, she replied.
“To tell you the truth I didn’t know all that much about him. We hadn’t known each other very long”.
“We met at the end of a Wrexham football match, I was clouted by some Cardiff supporters and he came and arrested the bastard that hit me and after that we got together and bobs is your uncle so to speak”.
“I see” replied Jack, “so as far as you were concerned, during your brief relationship, Ifor was a beat bobby going to work every day on mundane duties, nothing happened of any suspicious nature until his untimely death when he was found sitting in the church”
“That’s it Butt you have it, oh there was a kafuffle over him dying there look you. He sat on a pew at the back it had just been varnished the day before and they were worried as the new lady vicar was coming he may have damaged the finish. Bloody loonies. I haven’t been back there since the funeral”.
“What of the house, is it a police house?” Asked Doris
“Oh hi, but the cops say as there is no recruiting they don’t need the house so they have let me stay. It has been rent free but now I am having to pay but it’s not too bad I do have Ifor’s pension and the housing benefit see, I am thinking of getting a bloody job so I should be Ok”.
“Well thank you” said Doris
They arose from their seats and Jack shook her hand, and said, “I am sorry for your loss, if you recall anything please let me know, here is my card”.
“Thank you” she replied
“Oh” he said, “Is the photograph here that of Ifor?”
He looks rather older than I would have thought”.
Jack had seen Ifor’s photo in his personal file and knew it was not the same man.
“Ah well no, replied Ceinwen “I have another partner see, Sid from next door as was, his wife kicked him out so he has moved in yer.”
“Before you say anything I know its close to Ifor’s` death but he was also spreading it around I suspect".
“Oh he was” asked Doris, “What makes you think that?”
“Well some bloody woman came yer just before he died, knocking on the bloody door for all to see stating she had something confidential to discuss with Ifor.”
“They went outside and spoke for a while, he came back in white faced he was”.
“I bloody got onto to him but the bugger wouldn’t say a word. I wondered if she was up the stick but she never come back yer so heard nothing of it.”
“Two can play at that game so when Sid was stuck I let him move in, saves being lonely you know.”
“Oh, she went on, “please don’t tell the cops they may kick me out”.
“Is there anything else you can tell us about this woman, her name what she looked like?” asked Jack with a now interested tone.
“I don’t know her name but she looked in her mid thirties she didn’t look English but was not a black or an Indian, or a half cast you know the type. If I had, to guess she looked well sort of Mediterranean well tanned but she was a very good looking girl.
“Thank you Ceinwen” replied Jack “you have been very helpful indeed”
“Really” she replied, “I can’t see how, oh remember don’t tell the cops about Sid".
“I won’t”, he assured her and they were gone.
“Call at the Parish church I would like to see the scene, the church is yonder,” he said pointing directly in front at the tall steeple.
They arrived about five minutes later and were soon parked and inside the church.
It was typical of churches of the Church of England or here Wales the Welsh type of the same faith with a different name.
Inside there were rows of flags of every nation, the stained glass windows were of the highest quality and from within there was a fine display of which the believers and hearers or possibly both could enjoy whilst seated either waiting or during any ceremony.
“Can I help?” Came a voice
On turning it was the church clerk and arrayed in full holy orders presumably, some ceremony was imminent.
“Ah yes I am Inspector Scott-Ling and this is Mr Jack Richards, we are making a few enquiries into the death of Police Constable Ifor Evans, tragically found dead in this church”.
“Yes it was sad”. “My first day here you see”.
“The poor officer still in full uniform was seated right where you are, in the rear pew”.
“I see,” said Jack “right here. I say did you know the officer vicar?”
“I am sorry Mr Richards but I didn’t, nor his wife, though I believe they did attend this church occasionally, since Ifor’s death however Ceinwen, I believe that is her name, has not returned, some silly comment about the church decoration or something or rather a nothing”.
“Well vicar thank you very much, I may need to visit again,” replied Jack”.
“This door is open from 8am to 8pm daily. Feel free to visit any time”, she replied.
“Thank you, now we must leave” replied Jack, he thought, “She looked like a man”.
They left and were seated in the car once again faced with the joy of receiving a parking ticket.
“Well Inspector now this will be a test of international relations can you get the ticket cancelled?” he said with a smirk.
“I wouldn’t try”, she answered, “that Striker would make a meal of it and so I will pay the damn thing”.
As they drove along the street, they saw the warden who obviously recalled the car and issuing the ticket even though it had a “police on duty sticker on the windscreen”, for he saluted.
Seeing this, Doris stopped, wound down her window and said “Warden, ever do
any shopping in Chester?”
“Ah, not much Inspector” he replied.
She smiled and said, “I do and I work there every day including Saturday and I am also in charge of the parking wardens, I will hope to see you again, have a good day”.
The smile dropped from his face as she drove off”.
“She looked at Jack and said, “The bastard he must have seen the sticker “on police business”.
“Now, now Inspector that is not the attitude. Don’t lose your temper, remember don’t get nasty, get your own back.”
“If you check the ticket he has the wrong date, and part of the car number is wrong.”
“I should just give the station sergeant a ring; pass on a whisper about the stickers then the mistakes on the ticket.”
“I suspect you won’t hear anything further of it nor from Striker. The taffies won’t want the error known.”
“Well I don’t think the day was a complete waste of time,” said Doris as they drove away,
“It is never a waste of time” he replied, “Now we will get back to the office, make up the notes and see where we go next”.
“By the way the photograph of the man in the widows house, that was a nice one”, said Doris”
Jack smiled and said, “I had a feeling when we arrived she was not alone, there was a shuffling, a door banged obviously at the rear as it wasn’t our door.”
“There was a cigarette still burning in the ashtray on the chair by the fire, I looked at her fingers there were no nicotine stains”.
“She had smudged lipstick, a quick peck before the giver of the peck scrambled outside and out of sight, so I guessed there was another man in the house who didn’t wish to be seen”.
“You don’t think he knows anything,” asked Doris
“Well I will bear it in mind.”
“Now Inspector back to base please”.
+
Arriving back in the office, Jack took off his hat and away it went landing right on target, on the hat stand.
He sat down at the desk and picked up the telephone, Doris meanwhile went into the kitchen where she could hear voices. May Day had commenced her duties and had made the drinks.
