The Darkness Visible

by Tori de Clare

  ‘Yes, I know that much.’

  ‘This one never made it. Too slow. The queen, you see, can move great distances in no time at all, and has hacked it down in one move. The king observes and needn’t move.’

  ‘Interesting,’ Dobson said. ‘You seem to know a lot about this work. Local artist?’

  ‘Very. All the paintings are mine.’

  Nick Dobson cocked an eyebrow. ‘Well, I’m impressed.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Solomon stepped back. ‘Can I get you a drink or anything?’

  ‘Not for me, thanks.’

  Knowles shook her head.

  ‘Is there somewhere we can go to talk?’

  ‘Of course.’

  Solomon led them into the lounge and invited them to sit down. They bunched up on the sofa while Solomon sat alone in a chair beside the fireplace. Knowles was wearing a charcoal skirt with matching jacket. Her legs were long and shapelessly slender right down to her ankles. She scratched her nose and withdrew a small pad and pen from her jacket pocket.

  Dobson’s eyes were taking in the room, particularly the painting above the fireplace. He made no comment.

  Knowles said, ‘So what do you do for a living, Mr Solomon?’

  ‘Ah, the day job. I have an online vintage clothing business that I run from here. There’s a room full of clothes upstairs. You are, I’m guessing, five-eight tall, just under nine stone in weight, size eight clothing. You sometimes have to resort to a size ten for your top half because of chest size. Size six shoes?’

  Knowles shifted uncomfortably and smoothed her skirt. ‘You’re very observant.’

  ‘I know that, but am I right?’

  She looked down. ‘Mostly, yes.’

  ‘Mostly?’

  ‘We’d like to question you –’

  ‘Size seven shoes. That’s it isn’t it?’

  Knowles stared at Solomon, who smiled back. ‘We’d like to question you about any information you might have regarding the disappearance of Naomi Hamilton.’

  ‘I’m not sure how much I can help.’

  ‘She either vanished on the night of her wedding, or she went on honeymoon and vanished from the Caribbean and returned home to the UK.’ Solomon waited. Knowles crossed her legs and continued.

  ‘Lorie Taylor also disappeared at the same time. She was either abducted on Naomi’s wedding night, or she impersonated Naomi Hamilton and went to the Caribbean in her place. Incredibly, we have no solid evidence to say which girl was abducted and which girl went away with Nathan Stone. Both girls claim to have been abducted by Dan Stone for entirely different reasons. According to forensics, both girls were in the boot of Dan’s car. Both girls were fastened to a bed in a remote cottage in Cumbria. Short of sending forensics to the Caribbean, we can’t get any further and there are no credible witnesses. Can you shed any light?’

  ‘What a fascinating scenario.’

  ‘It’s more of a frustration for us.’

  ‘Which girl has the better tan?’

  ‘This is a serious matter, Mr Solomon.’

  ‘Of course.’ Solomon offered his sincerest smile. ‘I’d seriously like to help, but I can’t tell you which girl went with Nathan. All I can tell you is that Naomi came to see me with a sum of money to settle a debt that Nathan owed me. Nathan hadn’t paid on time despite an agreement in writing and she offered me a little extra to give up an evening of my time.’

  ‘To do what?’

  ‘To meet up with Nathan and assure him that the debt was settled and that our acquaintance could end amicably. I accepted Naomi’s offer and showed up when he returned from the Caribbean. It was quite a gathering in the end. Lorie, Nathan, Naomi and Dan.’

  ‘They were all there when you got there?’

  No hesitation. ‘That’s right.’

  ‘Why at a cemetery late at night?’ Juliet Knowles asked.

  ‘The cemetery was Naomi’s suggestion. I don’t know why she chose it. I worked until late that night and had a couple of my employees with me. I always have someone drive me in case I’ve had a drink at the club. Nathan didn’t know his wife had settled the debt at that point. I think she maybe wanted to teach him a lesson that he wouldn’t forget, about not gambling and getting into trouble. Maybe she wanted to set a memorable scene.’

  A pause while Knowles scribbled notes. ‘And did she want you to hurt her husband?’

  ‘No, of course not. Has Nathan complained about me or any of my employees?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Because he knows me. We never touched him. No one was hurt.’

  Nick Dobson fired, ‘Naomi and Dan’s statements both claim that you were armed with a weapon.’

  Solomon grinned. ‘It was a water pistol. As far as I know, there’s no law against carrying a weapon that fires water.’

  ‘No, but it is an offence to threaten someone with what appears to be a weapon.’

  ‘I didn’t threaten anyone,’ Solomon said quietly.

  ‘Did Naomi ask you to bring a weapon?’

  ‘No, no. It was my juvenile way of injecting a little fun. It’s a standing joke between Nathan and me. He knows I sometimes squirt next door’s cat if it attempts to do its business in my garden. Nathan knew it was my water gun. Didn’t he say so?’

  ‘Yes he did. But Naomi and Dan weren’t privy to this little joke of yours. Their statements say that a weapon was produced and that you gave it to Nathan.’

  ‘A harmless bit of fun, like I said. I must apologise to Naomi if I ever see her again.’

  Dobson and Knowles exchanged a look and then Knowles carried on taking notes.

  Dobson said, ‘Have you ever owned a gun, Mr Solomon?’

  ‘A gun? Absolutely not.’

  ‘Any of your employees own a gun?’

  ‘No way. We operate strictly within the law. I’m very particular about who I employ.’

  Knowles looked up. ‘Naomi’s statement includes an account of being taken to a cemetery on the night of her wedding. Dan’s statement supports it. She said that they met one of your employees there and that he had a weapon. Do you know anything about that?’

  ‘I have four men who work for me very closely. There are other employees strictly associated with the club, but the four I mentioned are friends. We socialise. That night, we were all here. We played poker until about midnight. Then Leon Chambers left around 12.30 and the others stayed here. As it happens, I took a picture on my phone that night which I can show you. All four of the lads are on it and it has a date.’ Solomon scanned his pictures and quickly came up with the one he wanted and showed Knowles. ‘See?’

  Knowles leant forward and took the phone. ‘Do you mind us taking a copy of this picture?’

  ‘Not at all.’

  Knowles showed Dobson the picture then handed the phone back. ‘This proves nothing, of course.’

  ‘I’m telling you, it’s impossible that any of my employees left my place to visit a cemetery before midnight,’ Solomon insisted. ‘We knew nothing about that abduction until we saw it on the news.’

  Dobson shuffled forward in his seat and fixed his eyes on Solomon while Knowles continued to scribble. ‘Previous to Naomi delivering this money, had you ever met her before?’

  ‘Never.’

  ‘What were your thoughts when she turned up at your house when it was all over the news that she was missing.’

  ‘Shock and surprise, naturally. Glad that she was alive. Glad that I was getting paid. It was good news all round. It’s irrelevant, but I thought she was intensely attractive and intriguing. I wanted to kiss her and told her so. She refused.’

  ‘And why would you ask to kiss your friend’s wife?’

  ‘Nathan is no friend of mine. His wife has her own mind. I was interested to see if she’d use it.’

  Knowles looked up. ‘Did you have any knowledge of a plan to abduct Mrs Stone –’

  ‘She objects to that name.’

  ‘Why is that?’

  ‘I wouldn’t know.�
�� Solomon shook his head apologetically. ‘And no, I knew nothing about an abduction plan.’

  ‘Were you aware that Nathan Stone was in a relationship with Lorie Taylor?’

  ‘What does Nathan’s love life have to do with me?’

  ‘Can you answer the question please?’

  Solomon linked his fingers together. ‘No, I didn’t know that Nathan was two-timing his fiancée.’

  ‘So you had no prior knowledge that Naomi would disappear on her wedding night? No connection to her father’s missing car?’

  ‘I had no prior knowledge about the abduction, but the car – that’s why I invited you here. After Naomi came to see me to pay Nathan’s debt, I heard two of my employees whispering about a Rolls-Royce, so I pressed them for information and learned that Chambers had actually stolen the car and sold it to a guy in Maidstone. I was very disappointed. I told him I’d involve the police unless he got the car back or paid up the money. The car miraculously returned the following day and I made sure it appeared at that cemetery the night I called you. I didn’t particularly want Chambers to be apprehended because he’s valuable to me, so I made an anonymous call. I stupidly thought that if he made amends he might avoid prosecution.’

  ‘I’m afraid not. I’ll have to ask you for his details.’

  Solomon sighed dramatically. ‘OK.’

  Dobson passed Solomon his pad and pen. ‘Could you write his contact details just there please?’

  Solomon obliged.

  ‘Who fastened Nathan and Lorie to the cemetery gates?’ Dobson asked.

  ‘I don’t know. I was the first to leave.’

  ‘Nathan identified the person as Leon Chambers. Lorie agreed.’

  ‘Well, Leon has a temper. He wasn’t pleased about retrieving the Roller, so maybe Nathan got the back end of his frustration. Looks like I’m about to lose my best doorman, doesn’t it?’

  Knowles fixed her eyes on Solomon. They were a watery blue shade and her eyebrows were dark against lighter hair.

  ‘Anything else?’ Solomon asked.

  Juliet Knowles coughed into her hand. ‘We have to ask, why do people refer to you and your employees as gang members?’

  Solomon laughed. ‘Have you asked them?’

  ‘I’m asking you.’

  ‘Jealousy, probably. My late father owned a nightclub. I inherited it when he died, so I’m a wealthy man, which upsets some people. You’ve heard of Rhapsody in Deansgate, Manchester?’

  Knowles almost smiled. ‘I used to go there.’

  ‘That’s my club now. It’s a second business. I need doormen, bouncers. Those are the four friends I’ve been referring to as my employees. They keep people in line if there’s any trouble. My lads can look after themselves. Big, all of them. They escort me places, take turns to drive. We enjoy casinos and play for big money. We win some, lose some. I like to play poker and chess too and occasionally invite a few people over. If they take their chances against me and lose, I expect them to honour the debt – whoever they are. Nathan didn’t want to be reminded of that. Does that make me a gang leader?’

  ‘It depends what method you used to remind Nathan.’

  ‘I rang his phone repeatedly.’

  Knowles flicked back a few pages in her pad. ‘See, Naomi Hamilton has told us that she was threatened by a man last year. We have a name, Damien Carter, who happens to fit the description. He works for you, doesn’t he?’

  ‘He does. Did Naomi report it at the time?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Well, I have no comment about a so-called incident that happened a year ago regarding someone fitting Carter’s description. I didn’t send anyone to Naomi Hamilton, who I’d never heard of at the time, if that’s what you’re asking. I suggest you question Damien about that.’

  ‘We intend to.’

  Silence a beat, then Dobson took over. ‘So tell us, how did you meet Nathan Stone?’

  ‘That’s easy.’ Solomon sat back in his chair and pressed the tips of his fingers together. ‘Dan introduced me to him.’

  Dobson exchanged a lingering glance with Knowles. ‘Dan Stone? You know him?’

  ‘Of course. I once had a little battle at home with a tin of fish and ended up in A&E. That was March of last year. 5th of March to be precise.’

  ‘How do you remember the date?’

  ‘I have a photographic memory. I can always recall details. Anyway, Dan stitched my hand for me just here.’ He exhibited his right palm which had a faint scar. ‘I don’t much care for the sight of blood. Dan was a trainee doctor. He was very careful, very reassuring and professional, which I appreciated. We talked a little. I invited him to the club to have a drink on me. He came and brought Nathan.’

  Silence while Dobson scratched notes again.

  ‘And what date did the brothers visit the nightclub?’

  ‘March 15th, Saturday. It was the anniversary of my father’s death.’

  Nick Dobson looked at his colleague then got to his feet. ‘Well, I think that’s all for now. Thank you for your time.’

  Solomon stood up and stepped forward. ‘Not at all.’

  Knowles uncrossed her legs and stood up too.

  ‘If there’s anything else I can do . . .’ Solomon said. ‘You’re very welcome to look around if it helps. I’ve nothing to hide.’

  ‘Not necessary. You’ve been helpful enough already,’ Dobson said, making a move towards the door. Solomon shook their hands in turn before showing them out and closing and locking the door. He returned to the window and spied them through his angled shutters. They drove away in their filthy car and his world turned silent again. Then Solomon hurried to the kitchen to scrub his hands.

  <><><>

  Crush inched his chair forward.

  ‘See, I can only deal with facts, Naomi. Courts of law, they don’t work in darkness. They like to shed light on hard facts – the indisputable type. They don’t operate on hearsay or points of view. They work on solid evidence, the kind that proves things beyond reasonable doubt. And witnesses – the people who were there, saw what happened, bought the T-shirt.’

  Naomi said nothing. Bailey picked up a pen and scribbled some notes and Crush stared, nodding his head almost imperceptibly, deep in thought.

  ‘So,’ he said abruptly, ‘here’s what we have.’ He held out a palm to Bailey who reached into his brown briefcase and handed over a clear plastic wallet. In it was a mobile phone. He put it down on the table and pushed it towards Naomi.

  ‘This phone look familiar to you?’

  ‘Not really.’

  ‘Can you take a closer look at it please?’

  Naomi did. It was a dated Sony Eriksson, navy blue, a similar model to a phone she’d once had. ‘I used to have one like that.’

  ‘What happened to it?’

  ‘I can’t remember. I got an iPhone a few years ago and I’ve upgraded it twice since. I haven’t seen my old phone in ages.’

  ‘Any possibility this could be yours?’

  ‘I lost the back off my Sony. It used to have brown tape round the bottom to keep the battery in place.’

  Crush turned the bag over, revealing the other side of the phone. The back was missing. There were a few scraps of brown tape on one side.

  ‘So you agree this was your phone,’ he pressed.

  ‘I suppose so. Where did you get it?’

  ‘From lost property in the hotel where you stayed with Nathan on your wedding night. When we questioned Sammy Cooper, the hotel receptionist, she handed this phone to us and told us that a maid had found it under the bed in room 209. This is the room you stayed in, isn’t it?’

  ‘I think so, yes.’

  ‘There are only three texts on the phone. All of them were sent to Dan on the night of your wedding.’ He glanced up at Naomi. She was silent and still. ‘I’ll read them out to you.’ He picked up a sheet of paper from the brown folder and didn’t touch the phone, like it was some sacred relic or something. ‘Message one. Nine twenty-seven p.
m. You here? Dan replied: Yes. Nine twenty-eight p.m. Got Lorie? Dan’s reply: Yes. Nine thirty-three p.m. On the move now. Be ready. Dan’s one-word reply: OK.’ He put the sheet of paper on top of the closed file and leant forward, elbows on the desk. ‘Dan has deleted this conversation from his phone, unsurprisingly.’

  Naomi resisted the compulsion to run from the room. She concentrated on her breathing and kept it steady.

  ‘Hard evidence,’ he said. ‘Names. Dates. Times. The type of evidence courts like to see.’

  ‘I haven’t seen that phone for years,’ Naomi protested. ‘I didn’t send those messages to Dan and you can’t prove I did.’

  ‘Best guess who sent them?’

  ‘Nathan, obviously. It isn’t a guess.’

  ‘It isn’t obvious to us. You only met Nathan eleven months ago, and yet he has in his possession a phone you say you haven’t used in years?’

  ‘Lorie must have taken it from the house. She’s worked at my house for seven years. She has access to everything. Dan brought Lorie to the hotel. Nathan must have been texting Dan at the same time as he was following me out of the building and speaking to me on his phone. Dan knew I was coming and grabbed me. Lorie was waiting in the wings. She took my place.’

  ‘Or, you and Dan were in collusion and Dan had Lorie because he’d abducted her and he stopped by the hotel and you met him in the car park, just so that you’d have a credible story that you’d been taken. You smiled convincingly at the hotel receptionist on the way out, and you yelled Nathan’s name unnecessarily in the car park just so that Sammy Cooper would remember you and would be able to verify that you left the hotel when you say you did. But you made a mistake, didn’t you. My guess is that this phone,’ he flicked a finger at it, ‘got left behind at the hotel and no one wanted to show up to collect it. You assumed they’d bin it eventually.’

  ‘I know nothing about that ancient relic –’

  ‘Your ancient relic,’ he cut in.

  ‘Dan will tell you who sent those messages.’

  ‘Of course he will.’

  Crush sat back in his chair. Stalemate. Naomi held his gaze until he broke eye contact and glanced through the file. Bailey was reading through the notes he’d scribbled. Naomi was holding a tissue between her fingers under the desk and pulling holes in it.