Class Murder

by Leigh Russell

  ‘We have to protect ourselves.’

  ‘What are you talking about?’

  Leah hesitated before jumping up and leaving the room. She returned a moment later, holding a brown paper bag.

  Beth couldn’t help laughing, she was so surprised. ‘What’s that going to do? Are you going to put it over your head so the killer can’t recognise you?’

  She stared in disbelief as Leah took a small black gun out of the bag. ‘What the hell are you doing with that? You have to get rid of it, now! Someone could get hurt.’

  ‘Well, it’s not going to be one of us. I’m going to make sure of that.’

  ‘You don’t even know how to use it.’

  Leah smiled. ‘I lived on a farm until I was ten. I know how to protect myself. No one’s going to come here and stab us to death.’

  ‘You’re insane.’

  ‘No, I’m being sensible.’

  Leah slipped the gun back in the bag. ‘You mustn’t tell anyone about this. Promise me you won’t.’

  Beth shrugged. ‘If you say so.’ She didn’t intend to carry on arguing with a lunatic holding a gun.

  23

  When Naomi invited Geraldine to join her for lunch in the canteen she thought it might sound churlish to refuse, even though she was in the middle of writing up a report on Freddie Crawford. The job wasn’t urgent, and it was important for her to get to know her colleagues in York. Naomi chattered easily as they made their way to the canteen, keen to tell Geraldine about the interesting sites in York. She said nothing that couldn’t be found in any guide book, but Geraldine listened politely, responding when appropriate. When they were sitting down over soup and salads, the conversation drifted to the investigation.

  ‘There’s still the unidentified DNA,’ Geraldine pointed out. ‘That has to be the key to this whole thing.’

  Naomi nodded. No one could deny the significance of the DNA they had found.

  ‘But without a match, there’s nothing we can do,’ Naomi said.

  ‘I think we ought to take a sample from everyone who was at that school with the victims,’ Geraldine answered. ‘Pupils and teachers.’

  ‘That would be a massive undertaking.’

  ‘But necessary. We’d only need to look at the ex-pupils who are still living in the area. How many of them can there be? And the teachers who were there with them, most of them have probably moved away by now.’

  Naomi nodded. ‘You’re right. We need to start taking samples from everyone who was at school with them. We could spread the search even wider, to everyone who might have come in contact with them. I expect Eileen will get on to that. To be fair, we have only just discovered they were in the same class at school.’

  After they had been eating in silence for a moment, Naomi asked how Geraldine was settling in.

  ‘I’ve only ever worked around here, first in Northallerton and then I recently moved to York. I love the area, but it must be exciting in London?’

  Geraldine nodded, refusing to be drawn on the reason for her move.

  ‘Well, you’ll find we’re a sociable bunch. I’m sure you’ll soon feel as though you’re among old friends here.’

  ‘Yes, and I’ve worked with Ian before.’

  Naomi looked up. ‘When was that?’

  Geraldine told her that she had worked with Ian in Kent, before he had been promoted to inspector and moved to York. Naomi put down her knife and fork and leaned forward. Lowering her voice, she intimated that she wanted to ask a question about Ian.

  ‘I’m just thinking that, as you’ve known him for a while, you might know the answer. Don’t tell me if you don’t want to, or if you don’t know, but I heard a rumour that he’s married and I wondered if that’s true.’

  Geraldine wasn’t surprised to discover that Naomi was interested in Ian. He was an attractive man. If she had been younger, she might have made a play for him herself, but she was five years older than him and besides, they knew each other too well as old friends for him to ever see her in a romantic light. Geraldine was surprised that he hadn’t responded to Naomi’s advances. Slim and blond and pretty, she was not unlike his estranged wife, Bev, although not as beautiful. Her make-up was too heavy, and her skirts too short, for a woman in a serious professional role. Yet she was undoubtedly attractive, combining her flirty attire with an air of confident efficiency that smacked of someone who knew how to do her job, and do it well. She listened attentively as Geraldine explained that Ian was estranged from his wife who was living with another man, back in Kent.

  ‘I don’t think she ever really settled here, and she wasn’t happy being married to a police officer. The unsocial hours were a problem for her.’

  Naomi nodded. ‘It happens,’ she said. ‘But do you think they might get back together?’

  ‘I don’t think so. She’s living with someone else and they’ve started a family. It’s the other man’s baby, which makes it complicated.’

  ‘Was he very cut up about it?’

  Geraldine nodded. ‘He adored her. She was really stunning, and I think she broke his heart, as the saying goes.’

  ‘Oh, poor Ian. What about you? Have you ever been married? Any family?’

  Geraldine told Naomi that she had never been married, and went on to talk about her adopted family.

  ‘So Celia and I weren’t that close when we were growing up. We’re much closer now, but she’s a long way away. And then…’

  About to tell Naomi about her twin, a recovering addict in London, she changed her mind.

  ‘What about you? Have you ever been married?’

  Naomi laughed. ‘I’m only twenty-six.’

  All at once, Geraldine felt very old. Returning to her desk, she realised that she had told Naomi quite a lot about herself, but had learned very little about her young colleague. She must be lonelier than she had appreciated, to talk so much about herself. She had said nothing about the person who was uppermost in her mind, but as soon as she arrived home that evening, she phoned the clinic to find out what was happening. Three days had elapsed since she had last spoken to her twin sister, and agreed to pay her rent. Since then she had heard nothing, and she was beginning to worry. Her concern grew when it seemed to take a long time for the clinic to find Helena and put her on the phone. For once Geraldine’s fears seemed unfounded. Helena sounded both sober and cheerful.

  ‘I think I done it this time,’ she said.

  ‘Done it?’

  ‘Yeah, I finally kicked the habit. I tried before, you know, only it never come to nothing. I tried a few times and never got anywhere close. But this time – well, they tell me it’s one day at a time, but I’m telling you, I’m feeling good. I never felt this good in my life before.’

  Geraldine was cautiously optimistic. ‘That’s great!’

  ‘I’m not saying I’m expecting it to be easy. But I’ve got started and I’m not going to screw it up this time.’

  They discussed the arrangements for Helena’s move back to her apartment. This time when Geraldine repeated her determination to pay the rent directly, Helena agreed without demur. She even thanked Geraldine for helping her to stay clean. At least that area of life seemed to be moving forward in a positive way. But Geraldine had too much experience of addicts to feel confident that Helena wouldn’t relapse. After hanging up, she wondered whether she ought to have suggested Helena come and live in York, where Geraldine would be able to keep an eye on her. It might be a good idea for Helena to move right away from her existing contacts. But if she wanted to resume her habit, she could do so anywhere. While Geraldine was deliberating, her phone rang.

  ‘I haven’t spoken to you for days,’ Celia said.

  ‘I know. I’ve been really busy.’

  ‘You’re always busy.’

  Geraldine sighed. Her adoptive sister was still upset with her for moving
away from Kent, where Celia still lived.

  ‘York? Are you joking? York?’ Celia had spluttered. ‘York’s miles away. It’s right up in the north of England. It’s nearly in Scotland. Why on earth would you want to go there? I can understand you wanting to be in London. Like you said, it’s a good career move. But how can it be a step up to go from London to York? It doesn’t make sense. I suppose you’ve been promoted. Does this mean you’re a detective chief inspector? Even so, is it really worth it? You’ll be hundreds of miles away…’

  Aware that she should have confessed she had been demoted to sergeant, Geraldine had bottled it. ‘No, I haven’t been promoted,’ was all she had said.

  Now Celia sounded frosty when she asked how Geraldine was settling into her new post.

  ‘It’s OK,’ Geraldine replied. ‘Early days, you know.’

  Celia sniffed as though to say she really didn’t know what Geraldine meant.

  ‘More important, how are you? It must be what, eight weeks to go?’

  As she spoke, she was conscious that she hadn’t phoned her pregnant sister for over a week. Anything could have happened in that time. She wasn’t even sure without checking how long it was until the baby was due.

  ‘You are still OK, aren’t you?’ she added in sudden panic.

  ‘I’m fine, just fed up. And missing my sister.’

  Geraldine understood that Celia was likely to be emotional, with her hormones in turmoil. Even so, she felt uncomfortable when Celia burst into tears.

  ‘You know I’d come round if I could,’ she said feebly.

  ‘When am I going to see you?’ Celia sniffed.

  ‘Tell you what, why don’t I come down tomorrow? It’s Sunday and I’m due a day off.’

  ‘But aren’t you busy with an investigation? I wouldn’t want to get you in trouble.’

  It was just as well Celia couldn’t see Geraldine’s sour expression. With her demotion and enforced relocation, she could hardly be in much worse trouble at work.

  24

  Leah had spent the evening with her belly dancing group which had gathered for a post-Christmas celebration. It had proved impossible to find a time they could all make in December. As soon as the term ended, several of the group, including their teacher, had gone away for Christmas and the New Year, so it was well into January before they were all able to go out together. The date had been agreed weeks before Stephanie had been killed. Under normal circumstances, Leah wouldn’t have thought twice about walking home alone through the village. She needed the exercise. That was the reason she had signed up for a belly dancing class in the first place, after all. Since they had fixed the date, circumstances had changed.

  Thinking about the killer loose on the streets, she nearly made an excuse to stay at home. But as the class had arranged to meet at a pub in Uppermill, she felt obliged to go. Besides, the others were good company and she didn’t want to miss out on spending an evening with them. The pub wasn’t far from her flat, and it wasn’t as if the police had issued a warning for people not to go out alone after dark. No one else was curtailing their activities on account of the recent murders. Stephanie had been killed miles away in York, and Peter hadn’t been attacked in the village. Perhaps Beth and the others were right, and she was being needlessly anxious. She resolved not to let fear govern her life. In the end she decided to compromise by going to the dinner, and taking a taxi home.

  Her courageous decision not to be cowed by what had happened to Stephanie and Peter didn’t embolden her, however, and she was too anxious to enjoy the evening. No one else so much as mentioned the subject of the local murders. Yet all the time her friends were exchanging Christmas horror stories, she was preoccupied with thinking about her journey home. Reluctant to leave before anyone else, she took the first opportunity to clamber to her feet when someone else said she had to get home for her babysitter.

  When Leah stood up to a chorus of surprise at her leaving so early, she said she could feel a headache starting.

  ‘I thought you weren’t your usual self,’ someone remarked.

  Leah felt like an old frump, going home early while the others were ordering another round of drinks, but she didn’t want to stay any longer than she had to. She thought she would soon be home, but the cab company told her that they wouldn’t have a car available for at least an hour, unless she had booked one in advance. She prevaricated for a moment, but she had already left the pub and didn’t want to go all the way up the stairs again. In any case, the others might leave before her taxi arrived and she didn’t want to end up sitting alone in the pub. There was nothing for it but to walk home as quickly as she could.

  The cold air made her shiver as she walked out into the foggy night. As she passed a row of shops, she caught a glimpse of her reflection in a shop window. A wide pale face stared back at her before it disappeared in a swirl of fog, making her look like a ghost. She hoped it wasn’t a bad omen. Still, she didn’t have far to walk. Involuntarily she quickened her pace. The main road through the village was fairly busy, with people out drinking on a Saturday evening. Revellers spilled out on to the pavement outside a club, the centre of Uppermill’s nightlife. Many older residents complained about the hubbub emanating from the place on Saturday nights. Leah was briefly buoyed up by the crowd of local people, a few of whom she recognised. But the knowledge that any one of them could be the killer undermined her fleeting surge of confidence.

  Thick fog that had descended during the course of the evening seemed to grow denser as she turned off the main road. She felt as though she had entered a tunnel, silence enveloped her so abruptly. With the moon and stars obscured, street lamps offered the only illumination, barely visible at intervals through the gloom. She hurried from one diffuse pool of light to another, all her senses alert to any sound of pursuit. She couldn’t believe she had been stupid enough to go out on her own after dark. Listening intently, she thought she heard an echo of her own footsteps tapping on the pavement. Or it could have been the sound of someone following her. Already walking fast, she began to trot. Hardly able to breathe for apprehension, she kept her eyes fixed straight ahead. Not only would it slow her down to look over her shoulder, but she might be paralysed by the sight of a figure at her heels. Involuntarily she broke into a run, panting at the unaccustomed exertion, and almost lost her footing. She could feel her heart racing as she regained her balance.

  Her building was in sight. A light was on downstairs. She sprinted forwards. With a final burst of energy she dashed through the gate, nearly slipping over again as she raced up the short path to her door. Reaching the doorstep she had to pause while she rummaged desperately in her bag, cursing herself for not having fished her keys out when she left the restaurant. Her fingers found the keys and fumbled to insert the right one in the lock. As the door swung open, she looked around, ready to scream if her pursuer lunged at her on the doorstep.

  Peering through the darkness, she couldn’t see any sign of movement. The fog was so thick she had managed to evade her pursuer and reach home safely. She flung herself inside, slammed the door, and ran up the stairs ready to blurt out her story to her flatmate, but the apartment was empty. Physically trembling with delayed shock, she busied herself making a mug of tea. Until Beth was home she couldn’t put the chain on the door. Still shaky, she phoned her. There was no answer. She tried again. The fourth time she rang, Beth answered.

  ‘What’s up? I saw your missed calls.’

  ‘Where are you?’

  ‘I’m out, in the village. Where are you?’

  ‘I’m at home. Beth, I think you should come back right now. And for God’s sake be really careful. It’s not safe out there.’

  ‘What the hell are you talking about?’

  Leah could hear muffled noise in the background: loud music, voices and laughter.

  ‘Where are you?’

  She cursed under her breath
on learning that Beth was at the club she had passed only about fifteen minutes earlier. If she had known, they could have walked home together. As it was, she had nearly been attacked on the street and now Beth would be facing a similar danger on her way back.

  ‘Beth, it’s not safe out there. I’m pretty sure someone followed me home. He might be out there waiting for you right now.’

  She couldn’t be certain, but it sounded as though Beth was talking to someone else.

  ‘Beth, are you listening to me? You need to come home now. And don’t walk back on your own. Ask someone to come with you. Someone who wasn’t in our class at school,’ she added, as a precaution.

  ‘I can’t really hear you. I’ll be back later. See you.’

  Beth rang off before Leah could protest. When Leah tried to call her back she didn’t answer. Leah’s terror gave way to anger. If Beth wanted to risk her own life, that was her look out. Leah had done her best to warn her of the danger. Frustrated and emotionally exhausted, she burst into tears.

  25

  It was going to take at least four hours to drive to Celia’s, even on a Sunday. By leaving early Geraldine hoped to arrive by mid-morning. She considered going by train, but it probably wouldn’t save much time, and taking the car meant she could leave whenever she wanted. If she hadn’t been on a case, she would have stopped off overnight in London and gone to see her twin sister to find out for herself how she was getting on. It had been on her mind to go to London and see her, but with Celia nearing the end of her pregnancy, Geraldine had decided to prioritise her. She set off, still uncertain whether she had made the right decision. Due to leave the clinic soon, Helena might be in more urgent need of support. Geraldine resolved not to say anything to Helena about her trip to Kent, instead sticking to the claim that she was unable to leave York at such a critical time in the investigation.

  Celia’s joy at seeing her confirmed that she had made the right decision. While Helena might or might not be pleased to see her, Celia greeted her with open arms.