by Harry Nankin
All those present were attired in green overalls, gloves and facemasks.
The team excavating the grave took thirty minutes to bring the coffin of Ifor Evans to the surface.
Once removal was completed, Webster set to work his examination was even shorter when he called
“Gentlemen my examination is completed”. He left the tent armed with a sample bottle and his camera. He went to one side and dictated his findings in preparation for his report.
It was 1am when the area returned to complete silence and tranquillity once again
The next evening the team arrived in Manchester, the procedure was the same but the area was near a busy street. “Strange” thought Jack “not one of those going to and fro bothered to enquire or appeared to even notice the proceedings”.
Webster entered the tent as the coffin lid was opened revealing the last remains of Rick Masterton. Though he had been dead some weeks, decomposition was not very far advanced.
Doris looked on with eager interest as Webster cut away the shroud and closely examined the corpse from head to foot then directed the workmen to turn over the body he continued to closely scrutinise the other side and suddenly he spoke, “I have it, yes, yes”. He leaned over, took a sample and a photograph then stood.
“Thank you gentlemen, my investigation is complete. Please return the body of the deceased to its resting place”. He added, “Amen”.
On the Wednesday night, the team were set for a longer session there now being two bodies to examine here in Chester.
Jack was amazed as to the efficiency of his team of contractors.
The retrieval of the bodies for examination and after Webster had made his examinations again, seemingly finding what he was looking for on each occasion as in the previous ones he soon found what he was looking for and yet again it was the rear of the body in the area of the neck that appeared to interest the medical examiner.
It was just 5am when the examinations and clearing up was completed.
On the Thursday night, it was a terrible weather, blinding rain and high winds so the investigations were called off.
The Friday was much better weather wise though the task in hand was just as bleak and dower thought Jack. How over the years, he had always hated this aspect of his career as a detective but it had to be done.
When they arrived at the church in Shrewsbury where the remains of Gerald Cheshire were lying, they were met by the Reverend Peterson, the only clerk to have attended.
“I say you fellows who is in charge here?” He asked
“That would be me”, replied Doris, Inspector Doris Scott-Ling, Sir.”
The Reverend then said,
“I demand to see your authority for this disgusting conduct”.
Jack stepped forward and said, “Sir, we act under the authority of a warrant of the High Court of Justice, signed by his Lordship Justice Royston Stevens”
He produced the warrant and the vicar came forward and read the same.
“I demand to remain present,” said the vicar.
“You have no requirement to demand,” said Professor Webster “you are welcome to stay as an observer”.
“I must advise you that all proceedings are the subject of the official secrets acts.”
“In addition as, the results of tonight’s proceedings are under the authority of the court all results will be submitted to the authorities and therefore you must realise that you must not reveal what you see or hear to anyone without permission of the court. I now suggest Sir that you place on this protective clothing".
The vicar turned and walked away, no more was heard of him.
The examination continued no different from the rest and by 4 am, all was completed.
Jack shook hands with the professor and they parted, the last words being from Webster
“Richards, I will send you my report in a few days by courier”
“Thank you” called Jack as he entered Doris’s car and sat awaiting her arrival.
Doris meanwhile spoke with the contractors advising them to prepare their account for work done and she would collect the same. She added that payment would be made directly from London and may take some time.
The contractor smiled and replied, “Anything to do with the Government or the Council takes a long time and normally with a lot of fuss and bother”.
“Well Mr Richards” she said as they drove off, “All seems to have gone off smoothly save for the arrival of the vicar tonight, I thought he would be an even more pain than he was”.
“Yes, so did I. Still it takes all sorts to make a world and believe me in over forty years I think I have more of less met them all. A question I invariably ask people of religion, “Why is it they all want to go to heaven but none of them want to die?”
It was 8am when they arrived back home in Tarporley. It had been a strange week for Doris working at night and in such circumstances. She would be pleased to get back to normal.
As for Jack, the affair had brought back many memories. In his early police days, he often spent 18-hour sessions on duty, being called out, at all hours of the night, but he had been young then, now such hours were telling on him.
They took the weekend off arriving back in their office at 9am the following Monday morning.
Jack had been seated only moments when the telephone rang; he answered having an idea who might well be calling.
“Hello, Jack Richards”
“Ah yes thank you. I will be right over”, he concluded the call and replaced the handset and said,
“Inspector, I have to visit the police station next door to meet someone, would it be possible for you to see if we might just borrow an unmarked police car for a few days, if not hire one on expenses?”
He did not enlarge, Doris realised the secrecy when she looked up seeing “Dog Breath Jones” one of the museum officers loitering outside the door, all ears.
Arriving at the police station it was Ethel the counter clerk who said
“This man is here to see you Mr Richards”.
“Ah, thank you Ethel”.
He turned it was Professor Simon Bolister from the Forensic Science Laboratory at Gooch Street in Birmingham.
Jack went over and shook his hand then Doris arrived asking to speak with acting Inspector Striker.
“They are all out,” replied Ethel “there is a big protest on today, no one here but me”. She added.
“Any cars spare?” enquired Doris.
“You must be joking even Striker is using his own car”.
“I see,” replied Doris she looked at Richards then went inside the office to use the telephone.
Jack looked as non other than May the cleaner arrived. He had been grateful for her additional hours of cleaning at home.
“May, might I just have a quiet word”?
“Why certainly Mrs Richards” and the three of them sauntered along the corridor.
May could be heard saying, “Why of course your friend may use the toilets here, I will show you where they are, staff only you see” were the last words that Ethel could hear May speak.
An hour later Doris was driving Jack and the Professor along the road out of Chester, just in time as she saw the large crowds gathering for the demonstration, by the, “Workers Party”.
They arrived at Wrexham Church nearly an hour later.
The doors of the church were open and so Jack and Bolister went inside leaving Doris in charge of the car, she was not going to permit the fiasco of the last occasion when she received a parking ticket to occur again.
Jack and Bolister were only minutes when they arrived back, putting the brief case into the boot, Bolister was soon seated and ready for the off.
It was just before lunchtime when the hire car stopped on the high and lonely road of the Long Mynd in Church Stretton. All three now left the vehicle, causing Jack to call, “Inspector, you have set the handbrake?” I wouldn’t like our car to roll over the top”.
Realising h
e was acting like Striker, treating her with contempt he turned off the subject and said.
“Come look over here. This is what real policing is all about”.
The professor walked back and forth and took samples from here and there.
Fifteen minutes later they were on their way and at 2pm they arrived at Sefton`s Garage in Crewe, Cheshire.
A small man met them in his fifties he walked with a limp.
“Mr Sefton” asked Doris.
“Yes Inspector Ling and Mr Richards I take it”.
“Yes” replied Doris who thought she must get a bloody name change the good, bad and the ugly it seems were reluctant to use her double-barrelled name, Scott-Ling
“We have come to inspect the police car I spoke to you about” she said
“Ah, its round the back” replied Sefton, “no-one has been near it, for cops they seem bloody windy”.
Arriving at the back of the garage, they saw the police car still wrapped in its protective covering.
Sefton momentarily left then returned with a man wearing an oily overall, the two removed the covering permitting Bolister easy access inside the vehicle. He was only minutes taking samples from the interior of the vehicle and under its wheel arches.
Thanking Sefton they were gone and enroute for Manchester stopping for a late and light lunch at Northenden only a mile or so from Chorlton Lake.
They arrived at the lake at 5pm. The three arrived at the scene of the death of Rick Masterton.
They were disturbed the see the memorial that had been placed there was now vandalised with spray paint the letters ACAB being clearly visible. Jack and Doris recognised the letters, as being all coppers are bastards but made no comment as Bolister went about his examination and sample taking.
At 7pm, they made their final stop at the lay-by at Broxton, and once again, it was only fifteen minutes when the necessary samples had been taken and stored.
“They arrived back in Chester at 8.30pm Jack then produced the axe he had found on his door step, handing this to Bolister.
“Ah right yes”. Said Bolister, “the axe and Wrexham Sid, thank you, Jack”.
“I will do the necessary and include my findings with the rest. I will send you my report as soon as possible”, said Bolister, “by courier I take it?”
Yes please,” replied Jack
They shook hands and parted company.
It was 10pm before Jack finally sat in his chair, what a long exhausting day he had suffered. Doris had said she was required at the Police station for several days so he thought that other than making up his notes, contemplating and commencing to start his report, the dinner being only days away, he could catch up on some rest.
He did spend a moment to sympathise thinking of Bolister having to travel back to Birmingham. Jack realised they had, had little to eat and strangely enough he did not feel hungry.
He was about to leave for bed when he heard a noise at the door.
“Christ” he thought, “Wrexham Sid”.
His fears were allayed when Anne walked in saying “I knew you would never come back so Craig arranged a seat on a flight for me and here I am”.
“Well how very pleasing to see you my dear” he said.
“My," she replied “the house looks spic and span, no dirty crockery, nor pots and pans, my how you have been looking after things.”
He made no mention of the additional services of May; neither did he as he settled down to sleep it now being just after 1am.
The following morning he was sitting in his study when the telephone rang, it was Craig.
“Hello Craig do you wish to speak with mother”
“Yes, but first I wonder if I might ask a favour”.
“If I can help I will”, replied Jack
“Well” said Craig, “a lady from Daram the name is Ramona she appears to have disappeared over there, she was making some enquiries of some police officers but has disappeared. Her family are worried I wondered if there have been any reports”
“I will look into it,” replied Jack then handing the telephone to Anne.
“Blast” he thought, he could smell trouble, the enquiry more or less completed now this.
He rang Doris “Sorry to bother you about work but the lady who was making enquires of the dead officers.”
“I have just received a call from Craig it seems a lady named Ramona from Daram has gone missing possibly here in the UK”
“It appears she is the one who had been visiting the dead officers. Can you make some enquiries with Scotland Yard to see if there are reports of a missing person or I am sorry to say a death?”
“I will do that and come back to you”.
He sat and contemplated on everything that had occurred. There was one possibility that came to his mind; it was a way out thought but, in the event of nothing else.
If this woman was not traced, he would have to check it out way out or not.
It would be dodgy, possibly the end of him if he went into a blind alley.
After some time Doris rang back, all negative on Ramona, nothing on any Ramona.
He took the plunge. He rang Professor Webster and Garden Rescue and that night they visited the isolated church of Wixton.
The grave was opened, the coffin lifted, the contents examined.
All present made a gasp at what they discovered inside the coffin.
Webster made his usual examination and sample taking, and then announced all was completed and that which was removed from the grave was replaced.
Professor Webster looked, smiled and said, “Now that was a bloody shock but I found what you suspected. I confirm it is another case of the natural cause syndrome, I will do the tests but believe me, it will be another case”.
Within the hour, all was quiet. It would seem he had got away with it.
No one had visited, he had told neither of his associates he had no court order, nor had he told Doris, not wishing to involve her if it all went wrong.
PART TWELVE
THE LAST SUPPER
It was 6pm, Doris had just telephoned to say she was carrying out the last enquiry he had allocated her and she would hope to complete these in time to be at the venue at 7pm or just after.
“Jack it is time you got bathed and changed. The taxi will be here soon”. Called, Anne.
“Changed?”
Why would I want to get changed?” I am not invited to the bloody dinner just working to make my report”.
“Now don’t be silly, here is your dark suit, put it on or we will be the talk of the place,” said Anne.
As usual when she put him under pressure he always buckled and was soon in the tub, bathed then dressed and getting into the taxi.
He arrived at the Grosvenor, the largest and most up market hotel in Chester.
Looking through the glass door, he saw proceedings were under way.
“As Home Secretary may I first of thank you all for inviting me once again to your annual conference and to the unusual event about to take place. I would be remiss if I failed to offer a vote of thanks and best wishes to Christian Woodcock, QPM one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Constabulary, having learned today he has decided to retire from office and public service. I am sure you will all wish him well as I do.”
There was a round of applause and calls of “here, here”.
He went on, “I am pleased to announce today the retirement of the current Chief Constable of Cheshire, Miles Ridwell, QPM though there will be no tranquillity for him however for I have appointed him one of my Constabulary Inspectors to replace Mr Woodcock, who will be sadly missed!”
He sat down to a round of applause.
“Home Secretary, Your Lordship, Chief Inspector and Inspectors of Her Majesty’s Constabularies and fellow Chief Constables, may I first introduce myself to those who do not know me, I am Miles Ridwell.”
“I have been until today Chief Constable of Cheshire and your host this evening. I hope you all had a very productive
conference over the last two days, in the famous five stars Chester Grosvenor Hotel and Spa”.
“We are fortunate with all the cuts that the Home Secretary was gracious enough to provide funds to ensure the facility went on as normal, thank you sir.”
There was a round of applause and numerous calls, of “Here, here” even some knocking on the table indicating there was more than one Freemason present.
“I now welcome you all to the annual dinner after the conference with I believe some very unusual entertainment rather than the normal speeches”.
This new face after dinner event is entirely due to the tacit efforts of Christian Woodcock with the approval of the Home Secretary and Mr Jepson, the Chief Inspector. As a result, we will have a special guest to entertain us. May I first of all ask you to rise and toast the health of Her Majesty the Queen?”
“The Queen”
Ridwell sat down he was no longer a Chief Constable but a watcher of the event and he relished the idea.
A lavish five-course meal with a choice of Fresh River Dee salmon, caught in Chester or roast Deer being the highlight of the main course.
Sidney the headwaiter who, unknown to those present held some dark secrets of his own.
He was tonight however in full uniform, strutting around organising so that everything went according to plan with such high-powered guests.
The Hotel Manager appearing twice and confirming as usual Sidney was ensuring the reputation of the hotel was performing to the finest standards thus enhancing the reputation it already had.
The meal finished there was a tapping on the table and when the diners looked up it was Christian Woodcock at the helm.
Silence now in progress, Woodcock commenced what was likely to be one of his last official duties and official functions call it what you may.
“Home Secretary, My Lord and brother officers, oh I apologise and sisters I see,” There was a laugh as the female officers present put up their glasses in acknowledgement; they had not been forgotten, for once some thought.
Woodcock looking to the rear of the room, relaxed seeing his guest had arrived and so continued.
“Some time ago whilst carrying out my inspections a very unusual series of deaths was brought to my attention, five dead police officers in fact. None seemingly, known to each other, serving in different forces, Cheshire here, Manchester, Wrexham and Shropshire.”
