by OMJ Ryan
‘I did, honestly I did. Check your visitors’ logs. A week after Candice died, I came in to speak to someone in charge to tell them, but I was told to leave a message and I’d get a call back. I never did, so I came back again a week later. That time I was told no-one from CID was available to take my statement, so I gave it to a uniformed copper. Again, I didn’t hear anything back, so I got tired of waiting and decided to look for the car myself.’
Jones cut back in. ‘That still doesn’t explain why you were parked up with a sex worker tonight, just a few metres from the stretch of canal where Candice’s body was found.’
Armitage exhaled loudly. ‘I was trying to shock Chloe into giving up the life. I thought taking her there would scare her into realising the danger she faces each night she’s on the streets.’
Jones nodded for a moment before continuing. ‘So why do you care so much about Chloe? What’s in it for you, Billy?’
‘Candice and I were super close growing up, and it broke my heart when she got into drugs. I tried everything to get her off the junk and keep my niece, Katie, out of care. So when she died and Katie was placed in foster care, it felt like I’d failed. I wanted to make up for that. Chloe’s a good person, and she’s not stupid. She could have a real chance at a happy life without the drugs. She’s still got custody of her daughter Zoe, but if she gets arrested one more time, she’s been told Zoe will be taken into care too. I was trying to stop that from happening. I thought it might, somehow, make up for what happened to Candice and Katie.’
‘I’m not sure I buy that, Billy,’ Jones was quick to dismiss him. ‘When we moved in to arrest you, it was because I saw Chloe hit you in your car. If you care about her so much, why would she do that?’
Armitage let out a loud sigh as he rubbed his large hands down his face, causing his cheeks to redden. ‘Because right before you lot arrived, she told me she wasn’t going to give up hooking. She was determined to take her chances. I lost my temper and called her a stupid fucking whore. She took exception to that and slapped my face. The next thing I knew, lights were flashing and cars were screeching in all around us.’
Phillips glanced down at her own notepad, which was full of scribbles, then across at Jones’s, which looked almost identical to hers. She’d heard enough. The more they dug, the more questions they seemed to uncover. She reasoned it was time to pause the interview and regroup, see if Chloe Barnes’s version of events matched Armitage’s. She closed her notepad and nodded to Jones. ‘For the purpose of the tape, Detective Chief Inspector Phillips is pausing this interview. The time is one-oh-five-a.m.’ The DIR beeped, indicating it had stopped. She smiled at Singleton as she stood. ‘Feel free to have that catch up with your client now, Mr Singleton.’
Singleton attempted to reply, but Phillips paid him no attention. She wasted no time in getting out of the room, with Jones following behind, and headed for the observation room at the end of the corridor.
26
Entwistle caught the brunt of Phillips’s anger as she strode into the observation room with Jones at her back. ‘How the hell did we not know Armitage was Roberts’s sister? Jesus, Entwistle, we looked like a bunch of amateurs in there!’
‘I’m sorry, Guv. After hearing what he said, I had a quick look into their backgrounds. Strictly speaking, they’re not. His mum – Mary Armitage – and her dad – Richard Roberts – were partners for many years, but they never married. That’s why nothing showed up on the preliminary searches. Scanning through council tax records and the voting register, it looks like Richard and Mary got together in 1997, when Billy and Candice would’ve been toddlers. They’d both been married before, but were widowed when their kids were babies. It appears that the four of them lived together as a family until Richard Armitage died from a heart attack four years ago. Not long after that, Billy moved out. Candice followed him out of the family home about twelve months later. That was just after her first arrest for drug possession. She was arrested and charged again six months later for soliciting. She got three months inside that time.’
‘What about the car? Does ANPR back up Armitage’s story?’
Entwistle turned his laptop to face Phillips. A host of images were displayed on the screen. ‘It does. A blue Ford Mondeo with fake SORN plates registered to a car from Adders Scrap Metal Merchants.’
Phillips looked at the images, then back at the observation monitor. ‘Shit,’ she said, frustrated. ‘It looks like he’s telling the truth.’
Jones appeared more optimistic. ‘Guv, even if it’s not Armitage, we do at least have a fresh lead on the mystery Mondeo. And all roads point back to Adders Bahmani. As you always say, there’s no such things as a coincidence.’ A hopeful smirk spread across his face.
‘That’s true, Jonesy.’ Phillips turned and pointed to the observation monitor. ‘How are Gibbo and Bovalino getting along with Barnes?’
‘I dunno, Guv, I’ve been watching your interview since we started.’
Entwistle pressed a button to change the video feed to Interview Room Three. The back of Gibbo’s and Bovalino’s heads appeared. Chloe Barnes looked like she was in desperate need of a hit, hugging her arms and rocking back and forth in her chair.
Entwistle turned up the volume so they could hear what was being said. Gibson was talking,
‘…but I still don’t get why Billy gave you a thousand pounds, Chloe.’
Chloe Barnes looked agitated as she rocked in her chair. ‘I told you, to get me off the gear.’
Gibson responded. ‘Come on, Chloe, he’s a painter and decorator. He doesn’t earn enough money to chuck a grand at a street-walker just to help you detox. So stop messing about and tell us why he really gave you the money?’
Barnes shot an angry look at Gibson. ‘Are you fucking deaf? Like I already said, it was to help me get clean.’
Gibson sat back and folded her arms, glancing at Bovalino. ‘I’m not buying it. Are you Bov?’
‘Sounds like bullshit to me, Gibbo.’
The room fell silent for a moment as Gibson and Bovalino stared at Barnes. This seemed to make her even more agitated.
‘The sooner you tell us what we want to know, the sooner you can leave, Chloe.’ said Gibson.
‘This is ridiculous. I don’t even know why I’m here. You didn’t arrest me, so you can’t keep me here.’
Gibson sighed. ‘Chloe, how long have we known each other?’
Barnes shrugged her shoulders. ‘I dunno.’
‘Four years, Chloe. For four long years I’ve watched you working the streets, listening to all your bullshit stories and lies. I’m an expert at knowing when you’re bullshitting, and you’re lying to us right now. I can see it in your face. You can’t look me in the eye, can you?’
As if to prove Gibson right, Barnes shifted in her seat and glanced down at the table.
‘Here’s the deal, Chloe. You tell us the real reason Billy gave you the money and we’ll let you go tonight. If you keep lying to us, I’m gonna arrest you for soliciting right here, right now. With your record, that’ll mean prison time. Is that what you want?’
Silence filled the room once more. After about a minute, Barnes relented. ‘Fuck it. You’ll find out anyway.’ She sounded like a petulant teenager. ‘Billy gave me the money for my daughter Zoe.’
‘Zoe?’ Gibson sounded shocked. ‘I thought she was in foster care?’
Barnes rocked even harder in her chair now as she spoke, the drug withdrawal getting worse with each minute. ‘She was. But I got clean back in the summer and social services said I was ok to look after her.’
Gibson ran her hands through her peroxide-blonde hair. ‘Jesus, how the hell did that happen? You’re not fit to look after a child.’
‘Fuck you!’ spat Barnes.
Bovalino broke up the fight. ‘Is Billy the father, Chloe?’
Barnes scoffed as if it was the most ridiculous idea she had ever heard. ‘God no. He’s so not my type.’
‘Well, I’ve heard eve
rything now,’ said Gibson sarcastically.
Barnes scowled. ‘Anyone can fuck me when they’re paying for it, but when it’s on my own time, I happen to be very choosy.’
Gibson let out an ironic chuckle as Bovalino spoke. ‘So if he’s not the father and you’re not sleeping with him, why is Billy Armitage giving you a thousand pounds for your daughter?’
‘Because Candice’s daughter was taken into care. He feels guilty for it. I guess giving me the money for Zoe makes him feel better about himself. And if he wanted to give me his money, then I wasn’t complaining.’
‘And did Zoe see any of that money?’ asked Bovalino.
‘A bit.’
Gibson lost her cool now, slamming her hand down on the table. ‘Cut the crap, Chloe! She got nothing. The whole lot went into your veins, didn’t it?’
Watching on the monitors, Phillips scoffed. ‘And the award for mother of the year goes to Chloe Barnes.’ She turned to Jones and Entwistle. ‘So Armitage has been lying to us, the sneaky little shit. I want to know why. Jones, come with me.’
A minute later, Phillips burst into Interview Room Two. She stood in front of the table opposite Armitage and his lawyer, and waited for Jones to close the door. ‘Billy, why don’t you tell us about Zoe Barnes. We know she’s the real reason you gave Chloe the money.’
Armitage looked startled.
‘Why have you been lying to us, Billy?’ Phillips growled.
Singleton interjected. ‘Is this an official line of enquiry, Inspector? Because if it is, shouldn’t it be on tape?’
Phillips glared at him. He shrank back into his chair. She turned her attention back to Armitage, leaning on the table in front of him. ‘What else are you lying about, Billy?’
Armitage stuttered. ‘N-n-nothing, I swear.’
‘So why lie about the money? Why not just tell us the truth?’
Armitage raised his hands in surrender. ‘I’m sorry, I made a mistake. I should have told you. But I was scared.’
‘Scared of what?’
‘Social services finding out.’
Phillips took a seat and Jones followed. ‘What has any of this got to do with social services?’
Armitage appeared nervous. ‘Look, it was obvious when I saw Chloe tonight that she was using again. A blind man could see it. Because of that, I didn’t want to bring the fact she had a daughter to your attention. I lost my niece Katie into foster care and I didn’t want the same to happen to Zoe. I knew if I told you about her, with Chloe being back on the streets and using, you could take her away too. I figured if I kept quiet and you didn’t know, you’d leave her alone.’
‘And you think she’s better off with a junkie street-walker?’ said Jones.
Armitage dropped his chin to his chest. ‘I was just trying to help.’ Tears welled in his eyes as he stared at the table for a long moment. ‘So are you going to tell social services, then?’
Phillips considered her options for a moment. Her main priority was to ensure Zoe’s safety. At the same time, she took no pleasure from separating a child from its mother. Deep down, she hoped that would only be necessary as a last resort. Her tone softened. ‘Billy, if Chloe is using, then her daughter is better off in foster care. I mean, who is looking after Zoe when Chloe’s on the street?’
Armitage looked back up and appeared embarrassed. ‘I don’t know.’
Phillips was incredulous, ‘Jesus, Billy. She could be at home on her own right now for all we know.’
Phillips and Jones exchanged a look. The child needed protecting.
Phillips knew Armitage was an idiot, but she had little to charge him with. She turned to Patrick Singleton. ‘Your client is free to go home for the time being.’ Her gaze moved to Armitage. ‘But the vigilantism stops as of now. And if I so much as see your number plate on even a single camera within a mile radius of the red-light districts, I’ll nick you for obstruction of justice. Am I making myself clear?’
Both Singleton and Armitage nodded with relief.
‘Right, now piss off the pair of you.’ Phillips stood and hurried out of the room and down the corridor. A moment later, she opened the door to Interview Room Three. ‘Gibbo, Bovalino. Can I have word?’
The full team gathered a few minutes later in the observation suite. ‘I’m letting Armitage go.’ Phillips pointed to the monitor showing Chloe Barnes sitting alone a few rooms down the corridor. ‘We can cut her loose too. But before we do, I want a uniform team round to her flat ASAP. If she’s got custody of that little girl, God only knows what kind of state she’s in.’
‘I’ll go with them,’ said Gibson.
‘Are you sure? It’s late?’
‘Yes, Guv. I’ve met Zoe before, so she may remember me. Seeing a familiar face might make it less distressing for her.’
‘Ok, thank you Gibbo.’ Phillips turned to Jones and Bovalino, standing next to each other as always. ‘It’s time to pay another visit to Mr Bahmani and find out exactly where he was the night Candice Roberts died. And this time I’m coming with you.’
Gibson cut in. ‘He won’t talk to you, Guv. Like I said, he hates women.’
Phillips gave Gibson a hard stare. ‘I don’t give a flying fuck whether he likes me or not. I’m a detective chief inspector investigating three murders. If he doesn’t talk to me, I’ll nick the bastard for obstruction. Entwistle, I need you to find me anything I can use for leverage with him.’
‘On it, Guv.’
Phillips checked her watch. It was 3 a.m. ‘All right, Gibbo, away you go with uniform. The rest of you, get home, grab some food and get a wash. I want us all back on deck first thing this morning. The clock is ticking and our guy is still out there. He could strike again at any moment.’
27
Snow had fallen overnight, partially covering the sign that covered the locked gates to Adders Scrap Metal Merchants. Parked up across the road, Phillips sat in the passenger seat of the unmarked squad car with Bovalino at the wheel. Jones was in the back, leaning forwards with his head through the front seats. Agitated and anxious due to their lack of progress and sleep, Phillips checked the clock on the dash: 9.45 a.m. ‘I thought this place opened at nine?’
‘That’s what it says on the website, Guv,’ said Jones.
‘If he’s as crooked as Gibbo reckons, and this place is a front for his shady dealings, then I doubt our man cares much about passing trade,’ added Bovalino.
Phillips rubbed her hands to fend off the cold. ‘It’d be nice for something to go right in this bloody investigation, just for once. I’m really starting to wish I’d left it all well alone.’
‘Don’t stress, Guv,’ Jones chimed in cheerily from the back. ‘We’re onto something here with Bahmani, I can feel it. And you’re gonna love the man himself. Isn’t she, Bov?’
Bovalino glanced left at Phillips and chortled. ‘Oh yeah. He’s a real charmer. Right up your street.’
‘He can be Genghis-bloody-Khan for all I care. As long as he turns up soon and his office is warm.’ Phillips rubbed her hands again, ‘Is that heater actually working, Bov?’
‘Jesus, Guv, how can you still be cold?’ said Bovalino. ‘It’s on full blast and like a bloody sauna in here. In fact, I was just about to open a window. I’m suffocating.’
‘Don’t you dare,’ laughed Phillips.
At that moment, a white Range Rover approached the gates and stopped. A large Asian man got out of the driver’s seat.
‘That’s him,’ said Bovalino.
They watched as Bahmani unlocked the gates and opened them wide before climbing back into the SUV and driving into the yard.
‘In we go, Bov,’ ordered Phillips.
A minute later, the team moved carefully across the snowy ground towards the office. Phillips was first into the Portakabin, drawing an angry look from Bahmani, who had turned to face her.
‘Er, what the fuck are you doing? There’s no women allowed in here.’
Bovalino stepped inside with Jones just b
ehind him. ‘She’s with us,’ said the Italian.
Phillips walked to within a foot of Bahmani and held up her ID. ‘Detective Chief Inspector Phillips. I’d like a word.’
Bahmani forced a thin smile. ‘Well, I’d like to be Brad Pitt, but we can’t have everything we want now, can we, love?’
Phillips returned his fake smile. ‘I’ll get straight to the point.’
‘That’d be a first for a woman,’ he said sarcastically.
Ignoring the jibe, Phillips continued. ‘We have reason to believe that decommissioned number plates from cars registered to this yard have been used to commit serious crimes across Manchester.’
Bahmani walked round to the other side of his desk, dropped into the large leather chair, and pointed at Jones and Bovalino. ‘Like I told these two the other day, I don’t mess about with bad plates. That’s illegal.’ His delivery was slow and deliberate, as though he were slow-witted and had been taught the words to say.
Phillips wasn’t buying the act and moved towards his desk, flanked by Jones, whilst Bovalino remained by the door. ‘Word on the street is you’re a bit of a gangster.’
Bahmani continued to play dumb. ‘Me? No love. I’m just a businessman trying to feed my family.’ He pointed to the photographs of his wife and kids on the wall behind him.
Phillips gestured towards the window where the Range Rover was parked. ‘Is that your only car?’
‘Oh, that’s not my car. That’s my wife’s. I just borrow it from time to time.’
‘Where’s your car, then?’ said Phillips.
‘Me? I don’t have one. Too expensive, like. After all, I’m just a humble man with simple tastes.’
Observing the garish gilt-framed animal print decorations adorning the walls, Phillips believed the exact opposite to be true.
‘Have you ever driven a Ford Mondeo?’
‘A Mondeo? Maybe, but then I see that many cars every day, I don’t remember.’ A lopsided grin spread across Bahmani’s face. He was giving her the runaround and they both knew it.
