by L M Krier
'I did say it and I meant it, sir. I'm your bagman, from now on.'
On the drive over to Alderley Edge, Ted told the DS, 'I don't often do it, but I did tell the Professor a little white lie on this occasion. I said we were calling on Tina's parents in Handforth first. I thought it sounded less suspicious than coming over specially to see him. So if he asks, that's what we've been doing.
'You're sure the Gulfstream didn't take off to anywhere on Boxing Day?'
'As sure as I can be, sir,' the DS said. 'I couldn't find any evidence that it had, but it definitely flew to St Moritz on the twenty-seventh of December. I really want to speak to the regular pilots about the twenty-sixth, to be positive, but I thought that would alert the Professor that we were on to him, so I've left it for now.'
'Good thinking, Mike. Now, when we get there, let me do the talking. Just sit back and enjoy the cake. I've given the Professor our ETA so he is expecting us.'
When they pulled up outside the Professor's impressive home, the Jag was parked at the bottom of the broad steps leading up to the striking stone portico. The DS was clearly a little shocked at the sight of the opulent house and the expensive car. Ted and he were just getting out of the humble Renault as the Professor appeared at the front door.
'Ah, two for tea, how delightful,' he beamed and ducked back inside the half-open door.
Something about his movements kicked in Ted's sixth sense for danger and flooded his body with adrenaline. He was already diving sideways to knock the DS to the floor as Hard G reappeared, with the side by side barrels of a Purdey raised and pointing to where their bodies had been a split second before the dive. He calmly squeezed the trigger.
The DS, being taller, was higher up and slower to hit the ground. Some of the shot hit him and Ted felt blood splatter onto him. He had Hallam down and he kept him there whilst the Professor nonchalantly dropped the Purdey into the passenger seat of the Jag, jumped in after it and roared away in a spray of gravel, without a backward glance at the two men on the floor.
The DS was struggling to sit up. 'I'm fine, boss, it's just flesh wounds. Get after him, for God's sake.'
Ted sat up carefully, looking down at the man. He could that see he was right. Most of the blood was coming from a nick to his right ear, but there was no sign of any serious injury and the DS was most insistent. 'Go,' he said, brandishing his mobile, 'I can call for medical assistance myself, and back-up.'
As Ted got to his feet, there was another roar and Trev's Triumph came hurtling up the drive, skidding to a halt right next to him. Trev half tossed Ted's helmet to him, shouting, 'Get on, quick.'
Ted had one last glance at his DS, who waved him away impatiently, then hurdled onto the bike, jamming on his helmet and bellowing through the intercom, 'What the hell are you doing here? Do you know how dangerous this situation is?'
'You seriously think you could follow him in the Renault? The Jag can do a ton and a half. Even the Triumph can't match that head to head but at least we can keep him in sight while you call for back-up,' Trev said, as he set off in pursuit, handling the big bike with ease. 'Speaking of which, you better do it, and quick.'
Ted was already through to the control room using his helmet's in-built Bluetooth. 'This is DI Darling. Shots fired. I have an officer down, repeat, officer down,' he gave the location of the Professor's house. 'I am in pursuit of the perpetrator who is still armed and should be considered extremely dangerous.
'The vehicle is a Jaguar XK-E, British racing green, cream top, registration number Hotel 4 Romeo Delta Golf, I say again Hotel 4 Romeo Delta Golf.
'I believe he may be heading for the PharmaGill company airstrip, where they keep a Gulfstream jet aircraft. Request an armed response unit. I suggest you try to clear a route for him, he's not going to stop.'
The DCI's voice came online. He must have been notified the minute Ted's call came through. 'DI Darling, cease pursuit immediately. I repeat, cease pursuit.'
'Signal is poor, incoming calls breaking up,' Ted lied shamelessly. 'Request you listen without interrupting. We now have the suspect on visual. I repeat, suspect in sight.'
'Ted, back off, dammit!' the DCI bellowed.
'Suspect is turning left, left, left, onto the A535. Speeds are excessive. Whatever you do don't try to intercept him at that speed,' Ted continued, totally ignoring the DCI. 'Try to clear some road ahead for him as best you can. He's ignoring all traffic lights and stop signs.
At a roundabout ahead of them, a police patrol car came out of the side turning and took up pursuit, behind the Jag and in front of the bike.
'I now have visual of a patrol car in pursuit. Suspect is speeding up in response. For God's sake,clear him some road ahead, don't try to stop him anywhere there is traffic about, it will be carnage.
'We need a reception committee as near to the airfield as possible, where it's relatively quiet. Stingers and armed response.'
The DCI tried a gentler approach. 'Good work, Ted, back off now and leave it to the patrol cars.'
'Signal breaking up,' Ted said again. 'Still have him on visual, he is still heading for PharmaGill. The speeds he's driving at, he's going to be there very shortly. Where are we at with armed response?'
'Mobilised, Ted,' the DCI said, 'but it will take a while.'
'Alert PharmaGill and the nearest Air Traffic Control to what's happening. That Gulfstream does not leave the ground!' Ted shouted. 'We're approaching another roundabout ahead. I can see another patrol car manoeuvring to try to cut him off. Tell the bloody fool to stay where he is, then to follow when we're past! Let him through. Let's shepherd him to the airfield where we can at least contain him, away from too many people.
'ETA at the airfield is now less than ten minutes. Do you have stingers in place?'
'Affirmative stingers, negative on armed response as yet,' the DCI said. 'Ted, I'm warning you, do not try to approach this suspect if he is halted by the stingers.'
Ted ignored his boss and didn't reply or acknowledge his order.
Trev's skills with the bike were impressive, even at the speeds they were going, round bends and roundabouts. The tarmac was flashing past in a black blur. They now had a patrol car in front and one behind them, with the Jag still effortlessly holding its lead.
Cars trying to join the road were skidding to a halt on smoking tyres and swerving out of the way of the Jaguar. Mercifully, so far, there had not been a collision with another vehicle, but Ted could see it was only a matter of time before there was.
'I have visual on the airfield now and can see further patrol cars ahead, so I'm hoping they have stingers out. Remind all units that the suspect is armed and has already fired once.'
'Remind yourself too, Ted,' the DCI muttered.
'Any word on DS Hallam?' Ted asked.
'Ambulance is on site and confirms the injuries are not life-threatening,' the DCI replied.
'Shit! Ted said loudly as the Jag ran over the first of the stingers and started to swerve alarmingly all over the road. The second stinger made sure there was no air left in any of the white-walled tyres. The Jag went into a spin and took a nose dive into the shallow ditch at the side of the road.
Ted was off the bike before it had fully come to a halt and running at top speed, crouched low, up behind the Jag. He leapt onto the back of the crashed vehicle just as a badly shaken Hard G was trying to gather his wits and reach for the Purdey.
He didn't even see Ted coming until he found himself suddenly immobilised in a neck-lock with one arm behind his back.
'You're nicked, mate,' Ted couldn't resist saying, then, more formally, 'Roger Gillingham, I am arresting you for the attempted murder of DS Mike Hallam and on suspicion of the murders of Vicki Carr, Maggie Fielding, Nicola Parks and DC Christina Bailey. 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.'
The uniformed officers were closing in, l
ooking a little warily at Ted, despite having been reassured over the radio that he was a plain clothes officer. One of them sensibly lifted the Purdey out of harm's way, aware as he did so that it was probably the most expensive firearm he had ever handled.
'Get an ambulance and get the Professor checked over thoroughly before he's brought to my nick for questioning,' Ted told them, slackening his grip enough to flash his warrant card for them all to see. 'Someone cuff him carefully, but don't move him in case of injury. Don't hurt him at all, whatever you do. I've not hurt him, just immobilised an armed suspect with minimum force. And he is not to be left unattended at all for any reason.
'Tell the hospital I want a full psych assessment on him before I interview him, and tell them that that is not a request. I don't want to give his legal team any excuse to get him off. When Armed Response arrive, I want them babysitting him at all times.'
The Professor remained tight-lipped and silent, only a supercilious sneer and slightly raised respiration betraying any emotion on his face.
Trev had propped the bike and was sauntering over, smiling at the excitement of it all. Despite the seriousness of the situation, he hadn't had so much fun on the bike since he'd got it. He'd certainly had it up to speeds he wouldn't dare even to attempt normally, knowing how angry Ted would be if he got himself a speeding fine, or even a ban for excessive speeds.
Ted jumped down off the Jag and walked towards him with a face like thunder.
'You are in so much trouble,' Ted told him menacingly as he approached.
'God, you're sexy when you're angry,' Trev told him, and laughed.
Chapter Forty-seven
Trev dropped Ted off back at the Professor's house to collect his car. He knew he was still angry with him for taking such risks so he didn't push his luck, just gave him a brief peck on the cheek and rode away.
The place was already starting to look like a crime scene. SOCO had arrived and were setting up, there was a uniformed presence at the gateway checking anyone arriving, and Rob and Virgil were already on site.
'How's the Sarge, sir?' they asked Ted, as soon as he arrived.
'As far as I know, it's not serious,' Ted told them. 'He took a bit of shotgun blast but we managed to duck most of it. Luckily he only fired off one barrel.
'How are we doing with search warrants? I want every inch of this place going over with a fine- tooth comb. I also want the two members of staff, Collins, their name is, taken in to the station separately and kept separate at all times, to be interviewed at length.'
'The Big Boss is sorting warrants out now, sir,' Rob told him. 'He told us to tell you he wants to see you the minute you get back, no excuses. Not sure he's going to present you with a big bunch of flowers, boss.'
Just for a moment, Ted grinned conspiratorially at his team members, then his serious face went back on.
'I want statements from the pilots of the PharmaGill Gulfstream, confirming its whereabouts, especially over Christmas, backed up by flight plans they filed, and details of any and all passengers.
'Find out which firm has been doing the cleaning here and I want statements from them. Anything at all unusual they noticed at any time, no matter how seemingly insignificant. I'm guessing they will have been paid well above the odds, as will the Collinses, to turn a blind eye and develop a poor memory, so we need to impress on them the seriousness of this enquiry. And mention the word accessory enough times to rattle them.
'I've had the Professor taken off to hospital for a physical check-up after the crash and a psych evaluation before I question him. He will have the best legal teams in the country at his disposal. I bet London silks are already fighting over him, so I don't want any errors anywhere.
'This means you do not go over that threshold into the house until you have search warrants in your hands. I may be being over cautious on that, but I'm not taking any risks at all. This is a crime scene, outside the house, stick to going over that while you wait. And sort the Collinses out early on; I don't want to give them time to be cooking up a story between them.
'Right,' Ted said resignedly. 'I better get back to the nick and go and see the Big Boss. But at least we have a strong suspect under armed guard, which is a big step forward. Remember, a thorough job.'
The DCI's first words to Ted when he walked through the door were a growled, 'I hope you're covered in Teflon, Ted, because you're going to need it to stop this lot sticking. What the hell were you playing at?'
'Catching a killer, boss,' Ted said innocently.
'Don't get clever, Inspector,' the DCI said warningly. 'With an officer injured in circumstances I knew nothing about, there will need to be an enquiry and you know it. What were you doing at the Professor's in the first place, without first discussing it with me as I had instructed you to?'
'We were invited to tea,' Ted told him, looking totally unperturbed.
'This is not the time to play the smart arse for the first time in your career, Ted,' the DCI told him 'I'm a whisker away from suspending you. Don't force me into it. Tell me what happened, and first of all, tell me what the hell Trev was doing involved in all this, playing cops and robbers on that bike of his?'
Seeing Ted's surprise, he said, 'Oh yes, I've already spoken over the radio to the officers on the scene about exactly what happened. Luckily for you, they have all confirmed that you apprehended the suspect using minimum force. One even went on to say you had taken great care to immobilise the Professor's neck in case of spinal injury.'
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Ted couldn't suppress a grin and made a mental note to find out who the officers at the scene were and thank them.
'Jim, you're right and I apologise,' Ted said, realising the need to show some contrition. 'We got an early indication that the alibi for Christmas Eve was not reliable. I wanted to try talking to Roger in an informal setting, to see if he might just say something of some use to us.
'I had absolutely no cause to suspect that he was on to us or that he would use a firearm. I imagine it was the sight of two of us arriving when he thought it was just going to be me for a cosy chat that tipped him over the edge. When he first opened the door there was no sign of the shotgun. It was just when he ducked back inside we thought something fishy was going on and both managed to dive out of the way.'
'I've spoken to DS Hallam, too. He says it was you who dived onto him, knocking him out of the line of fire and probably saving his life,' the DCI said. 'It's that act which is making me hesitate over kicking your arse all round the office and out on your ear.'
There was a long pause, then the DCI softened and said, 'That, and the knowledge that I couldn't do it anyway, even though I badly want to.'
'Sorry, Jim,' Ted said, sounding much more sincere this time. 'I should have consulted you. You just seemed so against the idea, so I wanted to work it up a bit first. I put one of my team at risk in doing so. I consider myself duly chastised.
'Now, as for Hard G, I really have done everything by the book. I know the kind of defence team he will be able to afford and I'm not giving them any chance anywhere on procedural points. I've had him shipped off to hospital under armed escort and have asked for a thorough physical and a psych evaluation before I begin to question him … '
'Stop right there,' the DCI said, shaking his head firmly. 'You will not be interviewing the Professor. You are already too close to this case, too personally and emotionally involved. You have also shown me that I can't trust you on it. I will be conducting the interviews with Professor Gillingham. At the very most, you may get to sit in with me.'
'It's my case, Jim,' Ted said aghast. 'You can't take it away from me now!'
'You said yourself, he will be using the best defence team money can buy,' the DCI said. 'If you do or say the slightest thing that's out of order, you will effectively blow the whole case out of the water before we have even begun. Where's the sense in that? If we want him put away for life, and we do, we have to be squeaky clean.'
; 'What if I promise faithfully not to lay a finger on him, sir?' Ted asked.
'Well, now you really have me worried,' the DCI replied. 'When you start calling me sir in private, for probably the first time ever in our acquaintance, it makes me seriously concerned that I can't trust you.'
He gave Ted a long, hard look then finally said, 'All right, this is how we are going to play it. You are going to interview him, with DS Hallam present, if he's pronounced fit to work. I am going to talk to the DS first to tell him exactly what I expect from him. There's going to be a uniformed officer just inside the door at all times.
'I am going to be watching and listening to you on the two-way the whole time. The slightest, and I do mean the slightest, hint of anything that is not by the book, and you are off this case completely. That is your first and final warning. Is that absolutely clear, Inspector?'
Chapter Forty-eight
For the first time in weeks, Ted was home at a reasonable time. Trev was in the kitchen, starting to prepare a meal. He looked a little apprehensive as Ted walked in.
Ted went over to him, put his arms round him and hugged him fiercely.
'Sorry,' he said. 'You were looking out for me and I behaved like a grumpy old git. Thank you. But please, promise me you won't ever put yourself in danger like that again.'
Trev hugged him back in relief. 'I was just worried about you,' he said. 'I never for a moment thought Hard G would do anything like that. I was more worried about what you might do to him if you got an inkling that it really was him who killed Tina.
'I followed you from the station. I saw the whole thing from the gateway, in case you need another witness. How's Mike?'
'Nothing serious, thankfully. They had to dig a couple of pellets out of his shoulder but he was lucky.'
