Snatched

by Gillian Jackson

  Everything moved swiftly after that. The nearest police car to the junction was dispatched to follow the suspect car and within minutes a second car joined in. The team gathered round to listen to the real time commentary from the pursuing cars. Screeching sirens ensured that other traffic moved out of their way and the first car made visual contact with the Lexus in a matter of minutes. The driver, however, began to pull away at speed.

  ‘The idiots are trying to make a run for it!’ Best said.

  Everyone in the room was aware of the potential dangers of a high speed chase and silently prayed that there would be no collateral damage. Once the Lexus began to put space between them and the pursuing police car, more cars were dispatched to the two nearest exits which the suspects might choose to take in their efforts to evade capture.

  ‘Slow down, you fools, we’ve got you now!’ Radford muttered as the team listened to the commentary from the pursuing cars.

  Best was following their progress on GoogleMaps and saw the junction approaching. ‘Are the backup cars at the junctions yet?’ he asked.

  ‘Yes,’ DS Simms answered and the room again fell silent.

  The speedometer of the pursuing car touched a hundred miles an hour but was still slipping behind the Lexus — for them public safety was paramount and therefore they were unable to take the same risks as the suspect car. The Lexus continued to gain distance before recklessly taking a junction at the very last possible moment and the first pursuing car sped past the exit, no longer in sight of their target.

  The second car in pursuit, guided by radio, immediately took the exit and in a matter of seconds screeched to a halt, reporting a multi-car collision on the slip road.

  Groans and expletives hummed around the room and the atmosphere grew heavy with tension. They listened helplessly to the uniformed officer as he tried his best to keep them updated.

  ‘It appears that the Lexus ploughed into stationary traffic at speed. I can see at least three cars jack-knifed ... but I’m unsure how many casualties there’ll be. We need traffic control here ASAP and medics too, it’s a bloody mess!’

  Nothing more could be heard above the static and background noise.

  ‘Come on, Graham, let’s get down there.’ Radford grabbed his jacket and set off at a run with his DS following close behind.

  Their blue light granted passage through the rubberneckers to a scene of utter devastation. The Lexus was on its side on the grass verge, half covering an upturned Peugeot, with a Mini concertinaed into the other side of the Peugeot. All three cars were certain write-offs. Radford waved his ID to gain closer access to the scene and asked a paramedic about casualties.

  ‘We’ve sent four off so far, a few broken bones and possible concussion. The driver of the Mini’s still trapped inside and the fire crew are working releasing her now. There’s a couple of walking wounded over there, lucky bastards. This could have been so much worse; I’m amazed there are no fatalities.’

  ‘What about the couple in the Lexus?’

  ‘Ah, they were both unconscious when we got here. It looks like their car caused the pile up but they’ve got away pretty lightly. They were in the first ambulance to A&E.’ The paramedic turned back to his vehicle.

  ‘I don’t need to ask where we’re going.’ Best had to run to keep up with the Radford, who was heading back to his car.

  ‘Let’s get to the hospital and make sure they don’t walk. After all this carry on we can’t lose them now.’ Radford put the blue light on and his foot down to get to Bristol Infirmary as quickly as possible.

  Chapter 40

  The emergency department was buzzing with activity when the detectives arrived at the hospital and a major traffic accident only added to the already stretched resources. The detectives were kept waiting for several minutes before a doctor was free to speak to them. Radford thought the young man, who introduced himself as the duty doctor, looked as if he’d barely started shaving yet, never mind qualified as a doctor.

  He hurriedly informed the detectives that the woman they were enquiring about was waiting to go to X-ray and the man was already being prepped for surgery. His leg was badly crushed and needed setting under anaesthetic. The intention was to keep them both at least overnight, possibly longer for the man.

  Radford concisely explained the situation and informed the doctor that he’d be arresting the pair immediately on very serious charges and that it would be necessary to leave officers at the hospital to ensure that neither would escape. He and Best were once again asked to wait before being allowed to interview Serena. Pete Turner would have to wait until he was out of theatre, but it sounded as if he wouldn’t be going anywhere for a good while.

  While Radford and Best were waiting, DS Simms rang Radford.

  ‘Julie, what have you got?’

  ‘I’ve been working on Turner’s disclosure, going right back to his childhood. It seems that he was taken into care before his second birthday — neglect and abandonment — but the interesting thing is that he had an older sister, Joanne, who was four at the time.’

  ‘And you’re thinking that Serena could be Joanne?’

  ‘Yes sir. It seems that they were never reunited with their mother and the father was unknown, so they went into the system. It’s the familiar story of being passed from one foster home to another, residential facilities when they either ran away or were too disruptive to cope with. You know the sort of thing?’

  ‘All too well, I’m afraid. Good work, Julie. Keep digging and keep me up to speed with anything else of relevance.’

  Radford ended the call and relayed the information to his sergeant. Before the two men had chance to discuss the development in any detail, Serena came into view at the far end of the corridor, being pushed back to the ward by a porter. She didn’t appear to notice the detectives, who rose and walked down the corridor, following their suspect as she was wheeled into a side room.

  Serena was sitting in a wheelchair in the corner of the small square room, where the only thing which afforded her a degree of privacy was a curtain hanging loosely on its frame. She was gazing in the direction of the window and Radford wondered if she was thinking about freedom — something which would be denied her for some considerable time now. She would be sporting two black eyes in a few hours and her right arm was strapped to her body, presumably broken.

  Serena turned when she heard them approach, her back straightened and her chin tilted upwards, in a defiant gesture. She cast a cold and piercing gaze towards them, her lips pressed tightly together, issuing an unspoken challenge.

  Radford addressed her as Ms Turner which gave rise to only the slightest arch of an eyebrow.

  ‘Don’t expect congratulations for connecting the dots, Inspector. Yes, Pete’s my brother.’ Her words were spoken with a certain amount of pride.

  Radford thought it pointless to attempt much more than arresting her at this stage. More formal interviews could be undertaken in the police station, when Joanne was released the next morning. The DI nodded to Graham Best who informed Joanne Turner of her right to silence and arrested her for conspiracy to kidnap. Other charges would almost certainly follow. Interviewing Pete would have to wait until the next day, or whenever he was released from hospital, but he too would be arrested, initially on a charge of kidnap and murder.

  The uniformed officers arrived to take charge of the prisoners and Radford and Best left the hospital and headed back to the station. It was only lunchtime but the day had already been long and eventful. Radford’s stomach growled with hunger and he thought longingly of a good pub lunch.

  That afternoon the mood at the station was still euphoric, tinged only with the sadness of the death of the boy, Lewis. However, a good result always buoyed the team and Don Radford was confident of handing a watertight case over to the CPS very soon.

  ‘Looks like I’ll have to fork out for that round I promised,’ Radford said and allowed himself to smile for the first ti
me that day.

  Chapter 41

  DI Radford found himself waiting in the same hospital corridor as the one he’d occupied the previous day, this time accompanied by DS Julie Simms. Pete Turner was in a side ward, recovering from surgery and currently with the doctor. After what seemed an age, the doctor appeared and gave the all clear for Radford to interview his prisoner.

  Radford had left strict instructions the day before with the two officers guarding their suspects that the two should not be allowed to meet and therefore he was confident that they would not have had time to come up with a plausible story between them.

  ‘Good morning, Mr Turner.’ Radford threw open the door to the side ward, pulled out a chair and sat at the side of Pete Turner, all in one fluid movement. Simms followed suit, smiling to herself at the look of shock on Turner’s face.

  ‘I’m not up to seeing anyone,’ Pete growled, ‘especially cops!’

  ‘Sadly for you that’s not what your doctor said. Can I remind you that you are still under arrest for kidnap and murder, therefore the caution you received yesterday still stands?’

  ‘You’ve got the wrong man.’ Like Joanne, Pete Turner was not going to make Radford’s job any easier.

  ‘That’s not what your sister said.’ Not quite the truth but not a blatant lie either, Radford thought. From his sudden change of expression it was obviously news to Pete that they knew Joanne was his sister. ‘Wouldn’t it be easier for all concerned if you just told us all about it now, Mr Turner?’

  ‘I’m not saying anything without a lawyer.’ A smirk settled on Pete’s face.

  ‘That is, of course, your prerogative, but as we’re here to take Joanne into custody I thought you might like the opportunity to have a friendly chat?’

  ‘I want to see my sister.’

  ‘Now, why would we let you do that?’

  ‘I have rights, don’t I?’

  ‘Like Danny Stone had rights you mean — and Lewis Green?’ Radford stared into the cold unfeeling eyes of the man in the bed and clenched his fists by his side as Pete Turner’s mouth formed a cruel smile.

  There was little more they could do until Pete was properly represented so they left the room and went to discover whether Joanne was ready to be discharged into their custody. She wasn’t — a discharge letter was the hold up this time. They again took their seats to wait.

  ‘He’s a cold-hearted bastard!’ DS Simms’s hand flew to her mouth, aware that she’d just sworn in front of the DI.

  Radford smiled. ‘I couldn’t agree more. Did you find out anything else of interest in the disclosure, Julie?’

  ‘It’s a sorry story really; if I didn’t know what he’d done I might even feel sorry for him. Apparently Pete and Joanne’s mother was charged with neglect and abandonment but only received a suspended sentence. Social services tried to engage with her with the aim of reuniting the family but she flatly refused to have them back. Within weeks of the court case she’d disappeared with some man and they gave up trying to trace her.’

  ‘No maternal instincts there then,’ Radford interjected.

  ‘None whatsoever — I can’t begin to imagine what those children felt.’

  ‘Careful Julie, you’ll be sympathising with a murderer and a kidnapper next.’ He smiled at his DS to let her know his comment was in jest.

  ‘Well, actually I do find the whole issue a difficult one, sir. The pair were initially separated — both fostered out to different families — but Joanne created so much fuss, refusing to eat until she saw her brother again, that they had no choice but to place them together. This was probably at the expense of them finding a permanent placement — few carers would be prepared to take on the problems that two damaged children would inevitably present — and they spent more years in residential facilities than in homes. School reports show Joanne to have performed better than her brother. He was a poor achiever but whether that was a lack of smarts or just laziness, who knows.’

  ‘So, what difficulties do you have with the issue, Julie?’ Radford asked, interested in his sergeant’s views.

  ‘I suppose it’s to do with blame. Can these two claim extenuating circumstances because of their background? Were they destined to turn to crime because they’ve never had the advantages which should be every child’s right? Sociologists could probably have a field day with this, but it does trouble me. Are we, as a society, culpable? But mostly, how do we buck the trend?’

  ‘Personally, I don’t think anything can condone what they’ve done — and as to whether it was pre-destined, well, who knows? I do know that there are many people out there who’ve had similar disadvantaged backgrounds to the Turners, yet have become responsible adults. However, there are far more intellectual people out there who could argue the point better than I can.’

  ‘Yeah, than me too, sir. Shall I go and find us a coffee?’ Simms grinned.

  There was no time for coffee as a nurse appeared to inform them that Joanne Turner was ready to leave. They entered her room to be greeted by the same arrogant air as before.

  ‘Good morning, Ms Turner. DS Simms here is going to escort you to the police station where we can begin your formal interview.’

  ‘I’ll want a lawyer present,’ Joanne said.

  ‘I would have expected no less. The duty solicitor will be waiting for you by the time we arrive.’

  Radford turned and marched from the room leaving Simms and the uniformed PC who had been guarding the prisoner to transport Joanne to the station.

  Chapter 42

  The duty solicitor, Esme Fowler, was a pinched faced woman, thin to the point of being under-nourished, and with a face which showed no emotion; probably an advantage in her chosen career. When DI Radford and DS Simms entered the interview room, she’d already had thirty minutes alone with her client to confer.

  Simms switched on the tape and named each person present. She then reminded Joanne Turner that she was still under caution and took a seat next to the DI.

  ‘Can I get you another coffee, Joanne?’ Radford offered.

  ‘No, just say what you have to and then leave me alone.’ Her reply was brusque.

  ‘I’d rather hoped it would be you who would do the talking.’

  Joanne simply shrugged, as stubborn as the day before.

  ‘Well, perhaps you’d be kind enough to answer some questions?’

  No response but Radford was unperturbed.

  ‘When did you first meet Richard Stone?’

  ‘Can’t remember, but having sex with a man’s not a crime, is it?’

  ‘Not at all, Joanne, and you’re free to behave in whatever way you choose, but conspiracy to kidnap is a crime and I’d like to know how you came to be involved in it.’

  Joanne smiled and sat back, unresponsive.

  ‘Very well, perhaps you could tell me about your brother, Pete Turner. Was he the brains behind the plan, or was that you?’

  Again, no response.

  ‘Do you feel any remorse, Ms Turner?’ DS Simms cut in.

  ‘Why should I? People like the Stones have got it all — why shouldn’t I help to distribute a little of their wealth to where it’s appreciated?’

  ‘I meant remorse about the dead boy, Ms Turner. He was eleven years old.’

  ‘That was an accident! He got in the way, that’s all.’

  ‘Is that what your brother told you?’ Simms kept her voice even.

  ‘I’m not going to talk about Pete.’

  ‘So, you’re still protecting him — just like you did all those years ago when you were taken into care?’ Radford took over the conversation, noting the flash of anger in Joanne’s eyes at the mention of her past.

  ‘I’m his sister! You know nothing about the past — you with your fancy education and superior attitude! Stone, you, her, you’re all the same. Think you know how everyone should live, don’t you? You ask about remorse, well no, I don’t feel any remorse. The world’s ful
l of grasping greedy people and I’ve just done what I had to do to survive. I’m no worse than anyone else so who are you to judge?’

  ‘I’m not judging you, Joanne, I just want to find out the truth. Did you know Pete had a gun?’

  ‘I told you, I’m not talking about my brother.’ She folded her arms across her chest but the interview was far from over.

  ‘Okay, so what about Dr Stuart Parks and his daughter, Janine. What can you tell me about them?’

  Joanne remained silent.

  ‘Janine was so traumatised by her ordeal that she’s been unable to go to school since. Her mother’s had to give up work to home school her. The couple have split up too — another family broken,’ Radford continued.

  ‘Are you asking questions, Inspector, or giving out family news?’ Fowler interrupted.

  Radford stared at her for a moment, then, ignoring the comment continued, ‘Do you feel any remorse about the Parks family?’

  No response.

  ‘Whose idea was it to ask such a small amount for the ransom, Joanne? Stone, Parks and the family in Liverpool were all well off but not rock star rich. Was that your idea? Did you think they were more likely to pay up?’ Radford saw Joanne’s mouth twitch at the mention of Liverpool. ‘Oh yes, we know quite a bit, Joanne, and we’re learning more with every hour that passes. Pete’s girlfriend’s been quite helpful too, not surprisingly as he shot her son in cold blood. His accomplice is talking to us as well — the shooting finished him, he wants no part in it and is happy to help us in any way he can. Your little brother’s going away for a very long time. So, how did you choose your marks?’

  Joanne remained silent for a full minute before something seemed to change. Perhaps the amassing evidence convinced her that silence was not the best option.

  ‘They were easy,’ she said eventually. ‘Men like that are bored, which makes them easy prey. It was all my idea. Pete joined in later. Kidnap was never the intention — I just chose men with children because they were less complicated, less likely to want to leave their wives and embark on something more permanent. It was only right that they should pay for the privilege, and they could afford it. It was a reasonable living for a time, generally with nice places to live and not too many “working hours”.’ Joanne had the audacity to smile when she spoke those words.