“I’m on him,” The first officer sounded breathless. “Assistance required, assistance. ..”
Alec reached the end of the next row of four. He tried the gate. Locked. He clambered over, hoping that the rotten looking structure would support his weight. It creaked and cracked, but was still standing as he landed on the other side.
“Hey, who the hell are you?”
“Police,” Alec shouted back.
“That doesn’t give you the right. What the hell?”
Alec didn’t stay to find what it didn’t give him the right to do. He could see the officer on the grass verge, struggling with a man twice his size and build. He had one cuff in place and was using it to restrain, pressuring the man’s wrist. Alec knew from a demonstration in prisoner control, just how painful this could be, but it didn’t seem to be having an effect of Steven McGuire. Alec dived in and grabbed the second, flailing arm and together they managed to cuff him and Alec shouted a rather breathless caution as the second officer arrived. Together, they hauled their man to his feet and led him back into his street to the waiting car. Alec watched as they got him inside. McGuire wasn’t fighting now, but he wasn’t doing anything to help. He checked that they could cope and then returned to his own car. The girl he had spoken to was standing there, arms folded, watching her father being bundled into the police car, but he didn’t seem to be the thing holding her attention and, as Alec approached, he realised that her interest was focussed on Napoleon.
“You shouldn’t leave a dog locked in a car,” she told Alec angrily. “You should leave a little gap in the window open, especially in this heat.”
Alec opened the door and Napoleon yipped joyfully at him. “You’re dead right,” Alec told her, solemnly. “You ok, big fella?”
“Is he a police dog,” she wanted to know.
“No, I’m looking after him for a friend.”
She raised an eyebrow and Alec amended his statement. “I’m trying to look after him. You like dogs?” He stood back so that she could pat Napoleon’s head and stroke the warm black fur. “Yeah,” she said. “They’re better than people.” She stood back and glanced in the direction the police car had driven off. “I’ll tell me mam,” she said. “What’s he done? Stole another car?”
“Something g like that, “Alec nodded. “What’s your name?”
She gave him a suspicious look as though she thought that giving your name often led to the giving of a whole lot more. Then she shrugged. “Hayley,” she said “and if you want someone to watch him next time, all you got to do is ask.”
CHAPTER 23
Simon had been watching the news with Mari, the two of them observing intently as the Parker’s gave their live and exclusive interview.
“So, when did you realise,” Tyso asked them, “that the very people you relied upon to help in times of crisis, had put you and the others in such mortal danger.”
“Mortal danger,” Mari almost exploded with contempt. “No one says that any more. Simon, when you come to write your account of all this, I expect you to use more civilised language.”
“Are you all right?” Simon asked her. “Mari, if this is too upsetting…”
She shook herself angrily. “No, I’m the one that wanted to watch it, love. I am glad you’re here but I seem to have spent most of the day looking for company and then not wanting it. I don’t know what’s the matter with me.”
Simon said nothing. He didn’t need to. He knew exactly what was the matter with Mari. She’d already lost a daughter to violence. Now she was facing the possibility of losing a son and grandson as well.
Mrs Parker was explaining how they’d heard the shot and all been so scared. They’d been threatened and forced to lie on the floor and how her husband had whispered not to panic, just to lie still until the robbers went away. And then they’d heard the sirens and the robbers had closed the doors. “I thought we were all going to die,” a tearful Mary Parker finished. Her husband, who’d contributed little to the interview so far, reached across and patted her hand. “It’s all right. We’re safe now.”
“No thanks to the local police,” Tyso finished triumphantly. He turned to camera. “So far, senior officers are refusing to say if those responsible have been suspended. Our sources suggest that these were inexperienced young men, just out of training, which begs the question, why had they not been placed with more senior and experienced personnel who would have known to use discretion in an incident like this. It also begs the question…”
Mari switched off. “I can’t stand that man,” she stated. “He used to do this late night discussion thing. I never used to watch. He’d put my blood pressure straight through the roof. Never give anyone the chance to get a decent word in.” She shook herself again and managed a smile. “I’ve tried to get hold of Alec, but he’s been so busy, I told them it wasn’t urgent.”
“He’d have talked to you, Mari. You only need have given your name.”
“I know that. Truth is, Simon, I don’t think I knew what to say to him. I went to a meeting with all the other families today. That constable Andrews is trying to get us all together to support one another, but I couldn’t stay. There they were all sitting and waiting for news. Oh Simon, I’ve done all that, sat and waited for that phone call or that knock on the door. When I lost my Helen…we hoped and hoped and kept on hoping even when it was stupid to think anything but that Helen was dead. Simon, if any of them….I couldn’t go on.”
“Oh Mari…” Simon sat down beside her on the arm of her chair and hugged her tightly. “Look, do as I said and pack a bag. Mum and dad want you there and they know not to ask stupid questions or waste their breath on platitudes. Mum doesn’t want you to be on your own and I think she’s right. I’ll tell Alec where you are.”
Mari nodded. She’d been resisting until then and it worried Simon that she’d given in. he’d never known Mari to give in.
“If I lost any of them, Simon, I couldn’t cope. Naomi’s become like a daughter to me and having Harry and Patrick so close has been wonderful. We’ve been a family again after all these years.” She clung to him, dry sobs racking her body.
“They’re together,” Simon told her. “They’ll look out for one another. You know they will.”
He felt her nod her head and then she pushed away from him, wiping her eyes with the palms of her hands. “I’ll pack a bag,” she said. “Simon, I don’t want to be alone.”
CHAPTER 24
Sarah had Danny on the phone. So far, the call had been tense and somewhat one sided, Sarah listening while Danny outlined what he wanted and what he feared. He had presaged this by telling her “look, I don ‘t want to be rude, but I’ve only got a short time before he starts yelling at me to get back in there so listen.”
“I’m listening,” Sarah told him. “Talk to me.”
“He thinks you’re planning a raid tonight. That’s why you’ve cut the power. He’s threatening the hostages and one in particular; he’s got a grudge against her. He’s decided she was one of the police that arrested him and he thinks she should pay. Is she? Her name’s Naomi. Naomi Blake. She’s the blind woman.”
Sarah looked across at Hemmings, who nodded. “Harper’s right,” Sarah told him. “Naomi was there.”
“Shit!” It was clear Danny had been hoping otherwise and that he’d be able to placate Ted Harper. “So,” he said. ”You do know who he is?”
“We know,” Sarah confirmed. “We believe his son might be in the bank as well. Is that right, Danny?”
Danny didn’t reply directly. “Look,” he said. “Put the power back on, send us some food. I’ll try to keep the lid on things. He hesitated. “You know, I nearly walked out today. There was a moment when I could’ve done it.”
“Why didn’t you, Danny?”
“You don’t understand. He’s capable of killing. Time you got in here, there’d be no one left to rescue. He’d do it too. Just put the power back on and send some food.”
He brok
e contact then.
“So,” Hemmings looked grave. “Things are getting nasty. There was water running in the background, so he must have been in the toilets. Ted Harper probably doesn’t know he’s contacted us.”
“I suggest we call back, now, tell them we’ve decided to put the power back on, “Sam said. “Tell them food will be sent in. See how we get on. That way Harper might think he’s making progress and back down a bit.”
“I’ll arrange it,” Hemmings said. “Then I’m going to talk to Superintendent Blick. I’ll brief Alec when I get back.”
“With Alec gone, you should stay here. Make the Super come to you.”
Hemmings frowned, but nodded. “You’re right, of course. By the time he gets here Alec might be back and, come to that, we could do with your input. But I’m going to advise that we’re caught on the back foot here. We’ve got to go in and do it soon.”
“You think Alec will agree?”
“I don’t know. Ultimately, it’s not solely our decision,” Hemmings frowned. “Sarah, I think you should make that call. Hopefully you’ll get our friend Danny and not that other tosser. I’ll call Blick and see if I can find out how Alec’s getting along.”
***
Steve McGuire liked to play the hard man but he knew when he was cornered. He’d always been a bit player in the scheme of things. The driver, responsible for getting the rest away and disposing of the car that had been stolen to order the day before. He got his fair cut and was satisfied with that. Always in trouble of one sort or another, his family were used to doing without the services of a husband and father and it was probably apathy rather than affection that meant his family were still there when he came back.
He’d occasionally been known to hold down a proper job.
Alec had no problem getting him to admit to stealing the Granada, but McGuire seemed more reticent when it came to giving names. Ted Harper, it seemed, had an advantage over Alec. Harper scared.McGuire; Alec did not.
“I know it’s him,” Alec pressed.
“If you know it’s him, why keep asking me?”
“Because I want to know who else. You know anyone called Danny. Big guy, well built, black. Ring any bells? “
McGuire reacted and Alec knew he’d struck out.
“So, Danny what? It won’t take us long to find out anyway, so you may as well tell us about him.”
“Why should I want to save you time?”
“Because it’ll look better for you in court,” Alec told him. “Your solicitor will tell you that.”
McGuire glanced sideways at his brief. He was the duty officer, not one of McGuire’s choosing, but he hadn’t asked for anyone else. Alec thought he was past caring. Probably so used to the system that he didn’t give a damn.
“It might help,” the solicitor was wary.
“Of course,” Alec qualified, “it would depend what part your client played in the other robberies. Stealing cars is a long way from firing a gun in a crowded bank and threatening violence.”
“I never did that. Anyone says I did is a bloody liar.”
“So, who provided the weapons,” Alec questioned. “Harper?” No reaction. “Danny?” a tiny upward glance. “Danny then. Got connections has he?” again, that momentary twitch. “So, what sort of connections. They tell me that more guns come in through the channel tunnel in a week these days than were smuggled in the average year a decade ago. Then, of course, there’s all these little scams going we hear about. I believe the going rate for a week’s hire on an AK47 is about ninety quid. Not that Harper has anything quite that sophisticated, does he. Couple of hand guns and a sawn off, maybe a second shot gun.”
McGuire looked his way again. He was biting the inside of his bottom lip and Alec knew he was scoring more times than not. McGuire was scared and this time, some of it was coming Alec’s way.
“Or were they souvenirs, I wonder. You hear all these tales of army officers bringing stuff back and selling it on for little or nothing. The Balkans were a good source, apparently. There’s all sorts got into the system from that neck of the woods, or so I’m told.”
McGuire shifted uncomfortably.
“My client is not in a position to speculate,” his solicitor told Alec feeling, presumably, that he’d been silent for too long.
Alec ignored him. “Ex-army, is he, this Danny?”
“Why should I tell you anything?”
“So, ex-army then.” Alec got up and paced slowly around the room. McGuire shifted in his seat. He didn’t like it when Alec moved out of his view, Alec decided. He deliberately walked around the back of McGuire and his solicitor and them back again before sitting down. Steve McGuire had been craning his head around to watch where Alec was.
“So,” Alec continued. “We’ve got Ted Harper and his son Allan and this Danny, the ex-soldier and you and another man. You know, I bet it really got to you, Steve, when Ted Harper brought someone else on board instead of offering you the opening.”
“I drive. I never wanted anything else.”
“Oh, so you did drive on this one, then.”
“I never said.”
“No, but you didn’t deny it either and it’s a logical assumption, isn’t it. You stole the car; you delivered them all to the bank. You have a talent for stealing things, I believe.” He paused and frowned as though something had just occurred. “Maybe I’m barking up the wrong tree about Danny getting the weapons,” he suggested. “Maybe, with your skills at procuring things, you could have been the one, eh Steve?”
McGuire glowered. “I never stole no guns. I had nothing to do with anything like that.”
His solicitor glanced at his watch. “If I might have a few moments alone with my client,” he said.
“We keeping you from something?” Alec asked. “Did you have a prior engagement?”
“Alone,” the solicitor said heavily. “With my client.”
“Of course,” Alec agreed. He spoke into the microphone, making a big deal of it. “Interview suspended, nine thirteen. That’s what I have, everyone satisfied with that? Good. Inspector Friedman and constable Freer leaving the interview room.”
He didn’t keep them waiting for long. Ten minutes later they were summoned to return. “My client agrees to name those involved, on the understanding that the weaponry had nothing whatsoever to do with him. My client will insist that he did not even know the men were armed. They requested a driver and a suitable car. My client was in a position to oblige, that’s all, his total involvement.”
Alec blinked. Did McGuire really believe a jury could fall for that? He shrugged. “The names,” he said.
McGuire glowered. “Danny Mayo,” he said “and the other bloke’s called Ashwin Dutta or Datta or summat.”
“Addresses?”
“I don’t know. That’s for you to find out” McGuire sneered.
Alec nodded. “Good enough,” he said. “I’ll leave this officer to help you with your statement, Mr McGuire,” Alec said, indicating Freer,” and I’m sure your solicitor won’t mind holding on here for a few minutes until I get a second officer in here. We have to abide by the regulations after all.”
He left before anyone could object.
***
Naomi had calmed down after her confrontation with Ted Harper but she was still terribly anxious. The moment the lights came back on was one of profound relief. Danny arrived about ten minutes later with food and drink, but he didn’t speak. Just unlocked the door for long enough to deposit their refreshments on the floor and then departed.
“Pizza, again,” Harry moaned in an attempt at levity. “You’d think someone would have more imagination. It’s funny, you know, I’ve never been afraid of the dark, but I’m so relieved the light is back on, I can’t tell you.”
“I think it’s a good sign,” Naomi agreed. It was an odd thing, she reflected, but even now, she switched on the bedside lamp if she woke in the night and she always put the lights on in the kitchen when she worked in th
ere, no matter what.
“You know what is weird though?” Patrick commented with a mouth half full of pepperoni.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Harry chided.
“Sorry. But you know what’s strange; we’ve not seen the fourth man at all, not since that first day. And when they were arguing, you could hear all three of the others. I mean, their voices, even if you couldn’t make out the words. But not him.”
“It’s a good point,” said Dorothy.
“Surely he can’t have escaped? “ Megan sounded very doubtful.
“Couldn’t he have got out the back way?” The Brigadier seemed only mildly curious.
“I wouldn’t have thought so,” Megan replied. “We heard them dragging something, a filing cabinet probably, over the back door. We kept some of the old files in the kitchen,” she explained. “There wasn’t a lot of room anywhere else. You saw how full it was in here.”
“And there’s no other way?”
“Well, if he had the key to Brian’s window, I suppose. Brian kept one on his ring and there’s a spare taped underneath his desk, in case of emergency, but you’d have to know it was there.”
“There’s the toilet window,” Dorothy suggested, “but I doubt anyone but Patrick, here would be able to get through that. Even for him it would be a tight squeeze.”
“So, where is he?” Patrick asked.
No one answered.
“There’s been an odd smell in the air,” the brigadier observed. “I don’t know if any of you noticed…”
“I thought that was just us, “Harry laughed. “I’ve never been so long without a bath and a change of clothes.”
“Maybe so,” the Brigadier joined the joke and Naomi knew it was because no one wanted to pursue that other possibility. That the reason they’d heard nothing of the fourth man was because he was no longer alive.
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