Deadly Waters

by OMJ Ryan

  Trudy’s eyes widened. ‘Oh my God. That’s so fucked up.’

  ‘Yeah. It really is, and we need to find the bastard that did it before it happens to another girl.’ Gibson nodded towards Phillips. ‘This is Detective Chief Inspector Phillips from the Major Crimes Unit. Just in case you were wondering.’

  ‘I wasn’t.’ Trudy’s eyes darted around them.

  ‘You look nervous. Is everything ok?’

  ‘Vadim won’t be happy I’m talking to you. It’s bad for business.’

  ‘Her pimp,’ Gibson said by way of explanation to Phillips. ‘So where is he tonight?’

  ‘Around. Always watching.’

  Phillips was keen to press on. ‘Did you see Chloe last night?’

  Trudy took one final drag from her cigarette and stubbed it out under her shoe. ‘For a bit, yeah.’

  ‘When and where?’

  ‘She was working across the street, over there.’

  Phillips followed her line of sight. ‘What time was that?’

  ‘Not long after we started, so probably about ten.’

  ‘And how long was she there before she was picked up?’

  ‘Dunno. I wasn’t really paying that much attention.’

  ‘But she was picked up? She didn’t just walk away,’ asked Phillips.

  ‘No, she was definitely picked up. Some guy drove up and called her over. She spoke to him like she knew him, then she got in.’

  ‘Can you remember the model of the car?’

  A cold blast of wind rushed along the street, causing Trudy to hug her arms in an attempt to keep warm. ‘No, just that it was a big one. Like a family car.’

  Gibson produced her phone from her pocket and opened up the photos app. She presented Trudy with a still image of the silver Insignia they had spotted last night on the ANPR cameras, ‘Was this it?’

  Trudy scrutinised the image for a moment. ‘Could be but, like I said, I wasn’t paying much attention.’

  It was Phillips’s turn to produce her phone this time, presenting Trudy with an image of Don Mountfield. ‘Do you recognise this man?’

  Trudy scowled. ‘All the girls know that creep.’

  ‘Tell me how,’ said Phillips.

  Trudy gestured to Gibson. ‘He’s one of her lot.’

  ‘Has he ever asked you for sex?’

  A look of uncertainty crossed Trudy’s face as she shot a look at Gibson.

  Phillips spotted her nervousness. ‘It’s ok. There’ll be no recriminations. DS Gibson and I just want to know the truth.’

  Trudy took a moment to answer before nodding.

  ‘And did he pay for sex?’

  This made Trudy laugh. ‘Did he fuck. He never pays.’

  Phillips pressed on. ‘Are you saying you wanted to have sex with him?’

  ‘No chance.’

  ‘Then why?’

  ‘He pays me in kind.’

  ‘What do you mean “he pays me in kind”?’ asked Gibson

  Trudy glanced around the street once more before answering. ‘I give him sex whenever he wants. In return, he makes sure I don’t get picked up by you lot.’

  ‘So when was the last time you had sex with him?’ asked Phillips.

  Trudy shrugged. ‘Must be a month ago now, which is a long time for him. He usually wants something every week.’

  Phillips’s heart sank. If Mountfield hadn’t been around for a month, it was unlikely he was the killer. ‘So you’ve not seen him for a month, then?’

  ‘I’m not saying that. No, I’ve seen him a few times driving around, but he’s passed me by each time, thank God. Sex with him is bloody awful.’

  Phillips’s spirits rose. Mountfield could still be their man. ‘Oh. Why’s that?’

  ‘Because he likes it rough. Plus, he won’t wear a rubber; insists on coming inside me too. Every time I ask him to cum on my back or my arse, but he won’t have it. So I have to get the morning-after pill on my way home. That means waiting for the chemists to open at 9.00 a.m., which is a massive pain in the arse. Especially when you’ve been out in the cold all night.’

  ‘Do you know if you’re the only girl he has this arrangement with?’ asked Gibson.

  Trudy scoffed. ‘You’re kidding, aren’t you? He’s shagging most of the girls on the strip. I’m surprised he has time to work. He’s always down here.’

  ‘Was Chloe giving him sex?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘Could he have been the man who picked her up last night?’

  ‘Not sure. I didn’t see the guy's face. If it was him, he was in a different car to normal.’

  Phillips cut in. ‘I thought you said you didn’t know cars?’

  ‘I don’t, but everyone knows Mountfield’s car round here. We all try and get out of the way when we see it cruising around.’

  ‘Can you describe it?’ asked Phillips.

  ‘Big and blue. That’s all I can tell you, but I’d know it from a mile away.’

  Another blast of wind surged up the street, causing Gibson to plunge her hands into her pockets. ‘So which of the other girls was Mountfield using?’

  ‘Just ask around. You’ll find them.’

  ‘We don’t have time for that, Trudy. We need names,’ said Gibson.

  ‘Look, I’m not a grass.’

  Phillips was in no mood for the ‘honour amongst thieves’ bullshit. She leaned in close to Trudy, her voice threatening. ‘Stop wasting our time. Either you give us the names now or I’ll lock you up for obstruction and soliciting, and I’ll guarantee you get a custodial sentence.’

  Trudy raised her hands in defence. ‘Jesus. All right, all right. No need to get out of your pram.’

  ‘We’re waiting,’ said Phillips sternly.

  Trudy shot a furtive glance around and spoke in a whisper. ‘You didn’t hear this from me, ok?’

  Phillips and Gibson nodded.

  ‘He uses Siobhan and Nat – that I know of.’

  Phillips looked at Gibson. ‘Do you know them?’

  ‘Yes, Guv. They work over on the next couple of streets.’

  ‘Ok. Let’s go and pay them a visit. Thanks for your time, Trudy,’ said Phillips as she turned to walk away.

  Trudy appeared agitated now. ‘You won’t tell anyone what I said, will you?’

  Phillips ignored the question as she moved up the street, with Gibson following closely behind.

  36

  Despite their initial reluctance to talk to the police, both girls backed up Trudy’s account of her experiences with Mountfield, as well as sharing their own stories of his abuse. They too had identified him as driving a large blue car each time he picked them up. Siobhan Ferris had even recalled it having a radio fitted that allowed him to monitor police chatter. The evidence was starting to mount up: three eyewitnesses had identified Mountfield as a constant presence at the locations where the girls were found dead.

  ANPR camera footage clearly showed a blue Mondeo – identical to one he used regularly – driving around those same locations within a two-hour window of each murder. His own sickness and leave record demonstrated he easily had the opportunity to commit to the crimes. Plus, he had inner knowledge of the workings of Adders Scrap Metal, meaning he could easily have stolen the plates spotted on the mystery blue Mondeo. Phillips decided it was time to bring him in.

  The plan was that they would arrest him at his home in the early hours of the following morning.

  Phillips had agreed to Gibson’s request to sit out the operation, understanding how difficult it would be to arrest her own partner. The remainder of the team, however, now dressed in stab vests, sat in a squad car, waiting for the Tactical Firearms Unit to take up their positions outside Mountfield’s flat in Sale, a large suburb six miles south-west of Manchester city centre.

  As the time approached 5 a.m., Phillips turned to brief the team, Bovalino in the driving seat, Jones and Entwistle in the back. ‘Ok, guys. When the TFU boys give us the signal, we’ll follow them in. Mountfield’s
car is parked at the rear of the property, so we expect him to be inside. Hopefully he’s asleep and we can take him by surprise.’

  ‘How many bodies are we expecting inside the flat, Guv?’ asked Jones.

  ‘Four, if everyone’s at home; Mountfield, his wife Trisha, and his twin daughters Gracie and Gillian, both aged seven. So, as much as we want this guy, we need to be careful not to scare the kids. Gibbo says he also owns a large Siberian Husky, so we’ll wait for the all-clear from the dog unit before we head in, ok?’

  The team agreed and waited for the signal from the TFU unit.

  A few minutes later, the radio crackled into life. ‘This is Alpha-1-3. We’re in position and ready to go.’

  Phillips replied. ‘Standby. We’re heading your way.’

  Phillips took point. As she and the team reached the entrance to Mountfield’s flat, the TFU guys launched into action, smashing open the external door with a large metal battering ram before rushing through.

  Inside, shouts of ‘armed police’ could be heard, alongside the sound of savage dog barking for a moment, before the dog team managed to control and muzzle it.

  Once they received the all-clear, Phillips led her team in and made her way through to the main bedroom, where Don Mountfield and Trisha were sitting up in bed, looking shocked and confused.

  Phillips wasted no time. ‘Don Mountfield, I’m arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Candice Roberts, Chantelle Webster, Sasha Adams, Estelle Henderson and Chloe Barnes…’

  ‘What the bloody hell are you talking about?’ Mountfield sputtered, incredulous.

  Phillips continued. ‘…You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention, when questioned, something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.’

  Trisha was crying now and looking to her husband, desperate for answers. ‘What’s happening, Don?’

  Mountfield was doing his best to keep her calm. ‘I’ve no idea, love. This must be some sort of mistake. I’m a bloody copper, for God’s sake!’

  Bovalino stepped forwards and pulled back the duvet. ‘Can you step out from the bed please, Mr Mountfield?’

  As Mountfield reluctantly got out of bed, Bovalino grabbed his arm. He pulled away violently, pushing Bovalino backwards. ‘Get your bloody hands off me. I’m not a criminal.’

  The big Italian, reacting with lightning speed, grabbed Mountfield’s wrist and twisted him round in one movement. Forcing him forwards onto the bed, Bovalino yanked both arms behind his back and locked them in handcuffs.

  Trisha was hysterical, screaming and wanting to know what was happening and why.

  Phillips ignored her and left the room in search of a uniformed female officer. She found one talking to the twins in their shared bedroom. Both looked scared and confused. Phillips smiled and spoke softly to them. ‘It’s ok, girls, there’s nothing to worry about. Everything is going to be fine. We just need to ask your dad some questions.’ She moved her gaze to the officer. ‘Are you the only female in the unit?’

  ‘No Ma’am. PC Sahni is here too.’

  ‘Where is she? I need someone to look after Mrs Mountfield. She’s a bit upset.’

  The officer pointed towards the front door. ‘She’s just walked in, Ma’am.’

  Phillips turned to see a fresh-faced young officer stepping into the flat. She moved towards her. ‘PC Sahni?

  ‘Yes Ma’am.’

  ‘I’ve got a job for you. Come with me.’

  A few minutes later, with Trisha now sat safely in the kitchen flanked by her two daughters, Phillips and the team could focus on gathering the evidence they needed against Mountfield. Having calmed down sufficiently, Bovalino had removed his cuffs and helped him get dressed. He had continued to protest his innocence throughout, and showed no sign of letting up as Bovalino, accompanied by a couple of uniformed officers, escorted him to the waiting police van.

  When he was finally out of the way, Jones and Entwistle began a preliminary search of the flat, looking for anything that might connect him to the girls. Entwistle soon found a laptop and mobile phone, which he presented to Phillips. ‘I'm hoping there’ll be something on these, Guv.’

  ‘Do you have passwords for them?’

  Entwistle smiled wryly. ‘No, but that’s never stopped me before. Once I get back to the station, Digital Forensics can open this lot up pretty quickly.’

  As Bovalino returned to the flat, Phillips called the team together. She checked her watch; it was coming up to 6 a.m.

  ‘Right. Mountfield will be processed in the next hour, which means we’ve got until approximately 7 a.m. tomorrow to find something to charge him with. If we don’t, we’ll have to let him go. So, we need to work fast.’ Phillips passed Bovalino a pair of latex gloves. ‘Extra Large for you, Bov.’

  Bovalino grinned.

  ‘Right, guys. I need this place taken apart inch by inch. Jonesy, you carry on in the living room, Entwistle take the kids bedroom, Bovalino, you’re in the kitchen, so make sure you take it steady around the wife and kids, ok?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘I’ll take the Mountfield’s bedroom. We’re on a clock here, guys, so I want it done in double-time, understood?’

  ‘Yes Guv!’ the team replied in unison, and set about their search.

  37

  Sometime later, back at Ashton House, Jones approached the open door to Phillips’s office and knocked on the glass. She looked up from her notes. ‘You don’t usually knock. Is everything ok?’

  ‘You looked fed up, Guv, that’s all.’

  Phillips reclined in her chair. ‘I am, Jonesy. How can the search of Mountfield’s flat turn up nothing to connect him to the girls? I was convinced it was him. I’m seriously starting to doubt myself now.’

  Jones took a seat in the chair opposite her. ‘Do you think we have enough to question him, Guv?’

  Phillips pursed her lips. ‘I think so, but as a copper himself, he’ll know it’s pretty thin. A blue car captured on ANPR cameras that we suspect could belong to Sex Crimes, a loose connection to a scrap yard dealing in fake plates, and eyewitness accounts from three sex workers with drug problems. Hardly enough to get the CPS excited, is it?’

  ‘Well, when you put it like that…’ said Jones

  Phillips was suddenly consumed by doubt. ‘Shit, Jonesy. Have I jumped too soon on this one? We’re supposed to be one hundred per cent certain when we go after our own.’

  ‘From what the girls told you, he has to be a wrong’un. And if that’s the case, he’s bound to let something slip in questioning that will incriminate him.’

  Phillips said nothing for a moment, deep in thought. ‘I guess you’re right.’

  ‘Well, the clock’s ticking before we have to charge him or let him go. So it’s time to shit or get off the pot.’

  Phillips nodded.

  ‘He’s in Interview Room Three with his police rep when you’re ready, Guv.’

  ‘Who’s he’s got?’

  Jones paused. ‘Daniel Thiel.’

  Phillips dropped her pen on the pad in front of her and let out a frustrated sigh. ‘Oh God, that’s all we need. He’s a right bloody snake.’

  ‘I’ve only ever met him a couple of times, and that was twice too many. Horrible little man.’

  Phillips said nothing for a moment, drumming her fingers on the desk. ‘We’re gonna have to box clever with Thiel. As I said, our evidence is very thin at this stage. He’ll rip it to shreds if we’re not careful.’

  At that moment, Entwistle walked through the main door to the incident room and headed straight towards Phillips, an excited look on his face. ‘I’ve just got back from Digital Forensics. Wait till you see this, Guv.’

  Entwistle handed her a thick Manila folder, which she opened and laid out on the desk. As she ran her eyes down the pages, a wide grin spread across her face. ‘Jesus Christ. I think we might just have enough to charge the bastard!’

  Jones sat
forwards, his eyes dancing. ‘What have you got, Guv?’

  ‘Have a look at this lot.’ Phillips began passing him the pages, which he took and scanned, one at a time.

  ‘Bloody hell,’ he whispered at length. ‘This stuff is dynamite.’

  Phillips sat back and clapped her hands with glee. Finally, she had some evidence the CPS couldn’t ignore. Standing, she gathered the pages back into the file and picked up her notepad. ‘Come on, Jonesy. Let’s see how Mountfield explains this little lot.’

  38

  Before they started the interview, Phillips and Jones stepped into the observation suite to check out what was waiting for them in Interview Room Three. On the large monitor attached to the wall, they could see the two men sitting side by side behind the plastic-topped table. Thiel’s miniature frame was dwarfed by Mountfield, who had folded arms and was staring straight at the camera.

  ‘Look at the arrogance of the man,’ said Phillips.

  ‘Yeah, I doubt he’ll be quite so cocky when he sees that file.’

  As eager as she was to confront him, Phillips wanted to ensure their strategy for the interview was clear. ‘Let’s not rush straight to the new info. Thiel is smart, and we have more chance of blind-siding him if he thinks the circumstantial evidence is all we have. If that’s the case, he might drop his guard a little.’

  ‘Agreed.’

  ‘So follow my lead. But, as usual, if you see an opportunity, jump in.’

  Jones nodded as Entwistle stepped into the room. It was his job to monitor the conversation and, if necessary, find evidence that either backed up or contradicted Mountfield’s account of events as the interview progressed. The door opened again. This time, to Phillips’s surprise, Gibson stepped inside. ‘I wasn’t expecting to see you in here, Gibbo.’

  Gibson looked a little sheepish. ‘No Guv, neither was I. But I’m finding it hard to sit on the sidelines. I can’t ignore the fact all the evidence is pointing towards Mountfield. I took an oath, and if he did kill those girls, we need to get him for it. I was hoping to sit in with Entwistle if that’s all right with you? I know him well enough – or at least I thought I did. Maybe I can help.’