My Caroline

by Roger Rapel

  Once back at HQ’s Jim went to see Langton whilst Vicky managed to force open the flimsy lock on the diary then began to read the contents.

  Jim sat in Langton’s office going over the interviews. Langton poured a scotch and said ‘the room will be set up by the end of today so be here first thing tomorrow for the briefing.’ Jim sipped from his glass as he nodded ‘we have only one potential clue; one of the male dance class students Michael moved away leaving no forwarding address or number, Veronica Wright the teacher is making a list of class members, perhaps one of them has his number, but that’s it, I hope he turns out to be one and the same as the name on the note from her purse. I also need to confirm the alibi of the husband as he said he was at work, not arriving home till late.’

  Langton nodded as he made notes and swigged back his scotch. Jim nodded as he left the office.

  Vicky was reading the diary making notes as she went through it, Jim looked at her notes, as he yawned and looked at his watch, ‘oops I need to go and see Francesca; you finish off the diary and be here first thing for the briefing.’ Vicky nodded as she went back to reading.

  Jim arrived at the address of Francesca, it was a small semi-detached house in a nice area, which was made up of part council and part owned houses, although most of the council houses had by now been bought by the occupants.

  Jim rang the doorbell, it was opened by a very attractive woman in her late 30’s she was smoothing down her skirt as she smiled at Jim. ‘Please come in’ she said ‘excuse the mess I have just arrived home from work.’ Jim followed her into a small compact kitchen which had a couple of chairs around a drop leafed table. ‘Please sit down, would you like coffee?’ Jim nodded and smiled ‘white no sugar.’ ‘This was an awful shock to me, I cried all last night when I heard, poor Craig how is he?’ ‘He’s as well as can be expected.’

  ‘Thanks’ Jim said as he received the coffee. ‘Okay Francesca, please tell me about Caroline, everything you know, the good, bad and the ugly bits, please don’t hold back on anything, we need to catch her killer?’ ‘What do you want know?’ ‘Okay from your school days what was she like all the way through to the present, please take your time.’

  Francesca went through the early school days, then Caroline’s marriage to Craig, including her disappointment at not being able to have kids, but Jim could tell she was glossing over it, he knew she was only confiding the good bits.

  ‘Okay thanks Francesca, now the bad and ugly bits, was Caroline happily married?’ Francesca looked down and shook her head ‘no she wasn’t, Craig was always at work, she had what she wanted material wise, but what she didn’t have was his love, he was too removed from her, he wanted to be successful, but at the expense of their marriage.’ ‘Was she having an affair?’ ‘I’m not sure, oh what the heck, yes she was.’ ‘Do you know him or his name?’ ‘I met him once in the Crown after Caroline’s dance class, I think his name was Colin or Chris, I can’t remember as I only met him the once, but Caroline was besotted with him, she worshipped the ground he walked on.’ ‘Do you think she would have divorced Craig?’ ‘I think things were getting close to it as she was besotted with Colin; sorry I just remembered; it was Colin.’ ‘Was Colin a member of the dance class as well?’ ‘I’m not sure, as I said I only met him the once.’ ‘Did Craig know about her affair?’ ‘I think so, he was always telling her off about the short skirts she wore to the dance classes.’

  Jim sipped his coffee then said ‘what was her conversation about when she met you?’ ‘Oh, we talked about lots of things, men mostly and clothes, you know the normal woman stuff.’ ‘Was Colin part of that conversation?’ ‘Yes, when we met she was always full of the joys of spring when she talked of him.’ ‘How often did she meet him?’ ‘I think she would meet him at least once a week, maybe twice, after her dance classes.’

  ‘When was the last time you saw her?’ ‘Oh, let me check.’ Francesca flicked up the wall calendar ‘oh here we go two days before she went missing.’ ‘Was she okay then?’ ‘No far from it, she had found out Colin was married, he had promised her that he would run away with her, but then he was backing down.’ ‘Are you sure you don’t know where he lives?’ ‘No sorry, give me your number and I’ll read through my diary and see if I wrote anything down.’ Jim handed her his card then thanked her, saying he would be back at some time.

  Jim left Francesca’s and drove home letting Jackie know he was on the way; as it was too late for anything else. He arrived home to the sound of music with Jackie bopping away in the kitchen. She was wearing one of his shirts as normal. Jackie had heard him as she waited for him to wrap his arms around her and nuzzle her neck. She didn’t have to wait long as she felt his arms encircling her as he squeezed her tight then slid his hands inside of the shirt cupping a breast in each hand. ‘Oh Jim I love this’ as she turned and planted a huge kiss on his lips. ‘Right get changed you, dinners nearly cooked.’ Jim changed into his dressing gown with just his jockey shorts on; then he opened a bottle of red wine. Jackie bought in the plates holding them with oven gloves. ‘Mind Jim the plates are piping hot.’ Jim could feel the heat radiating from the steaming hot shepherd’s pie.

  They chatted away about their day and the work load they both had. They chinked glasses then Jim patted his stomach, ‘wow Jack that was so good, thank you.’ ‘My pleasure my prince, but you will pay for it later.’ Jim smiled then his mind went back to Francesca, thinking she could hold the key to this, especially if she had the address where Colin lived; he needed to rule Colin in or out of the enquiry.

  Jackie called out ‘Broadbent stop working and help wash up!’ Jim smiled as he got up saying ‘yes ma’am’ then dried the dishes.

  Jackie then watched one of her soaps when finished she dragged Jim into the bedroom where she feasted on him then did her normal, dragging his head between her thighs. The night was full of passion as they fulfilled each other’s desires; then they both crashed to sleep.

  5

  Vicky sat reading the diary of Caroline’s there was nothing much in it during the early stages just normal work related entries and a few dance mentions.

  Vicky skipped forward to a couple of weeks before she went missing. She wasn’t privy to the conversation between Jim and Francesca, so she knew nothing about Colin, but she read in the diary ‘looking forward to meeting Colin, he always sends my heart aflutter, I can’t wait to be with him for ever.’ Vicky thought wow, this is hot stuff. Colin was her bit on the side.

  Then the mood changed a couple of days before she went missing. ‘Bastard he’s married the arsehole, that’s it, it’s over, either he leaves his wife or he can go fuck himself; he’s getting an ultimatum when I meet him.’

  That’s it Vicky thought, Colin has done her in we got him. Wow can’t wait to tell Jim in the morning, she wanted to ring him there and then, but she wasn’t sure how far he would be with the interview of Francesca so decided to leave it.

  Langton had already gone to some meeting or other so Vicky went home full of the joys of spring regarding her find. She took the diary with her to read at home making notes as she turned the pages. She had nothing prepared for dinner so got fish and chips on the way home.

  She sat at the table eating her meal with a fork to prevent getting greasy finger marks over the pages of the diary. Vicky talked to herself as she made notes, Caroline certainly didn’t have a lot of time for her husband. The more she read, the more she realised that when they interviewed Craig he never spoke of the full blown arguments leading him to accusing of her having a love affair.

  Then Vicky read a paragraph; Craig isn’t normally violent, but he hit me last night accusing me of being a slut, he was raging at me calling me all the names under the sun, then he slapped me around the face, it really hurt.

  Vicky sat thinking as she mulled over in her head, Craig never mentioned arguments and certainly nothing in relation to her having a lover. The tiredness began to creep up on Vicky as her eyes were closing, so she called it a nigh
t and went to bed. But she couldn’t get out of her head Colin being given an ultimatum, also Craig accusing her of having an affair and hitting her. This put two suspects in the frame they both had motives. Then finally the tiredness overtook her as she entered the blackness of sleep.

  6

  Jim arrived at HQ’s early and to his surprise Vicky was sat at her desk reading the diary and making notes. He said ‘you’re early?’ ‘Yeah I wanted to get this read before the briefing; there is something not right Jim, Craig is holding back on the truth; according to her diary he was accusing her of being a slut and had hit her on a couple of occasions, she was also having an affair with a bloke called Colin.’ Jim picked up her notes as he nodded then quickly scanned the comments made. Jim looked at her ‘well done Vick this opens another can of worms. We really do need to confirm Craig’s alibi as he is now the prime suspect with Colin and Michael coming in at a close second and third.’

  Langton arrived in the office he was surprised to see both Jim and Vicky there already; he nodded and acknowledged them both as he went into his office and closed the door. Jim looked at Vicky then said ‘he has to prepare for the briefing so will be tucked up till then.’ Vicky nodded as she replied ‘this is such a responsibility Jim.’ ‘Okay Vick finish the diary then we’ll sit down and go through your notes before the briefing.’

  Jim sat down making his notes of the interview with Francesca, then thought, is she holding back, or hadn’t Caroline confided in her about the assaults and the arguments with Craig?

  Vicky after about an hour said ‘finished Jim.’ Jim nodded as he was just wrapping up on his own notes. He called Vicky over as he explained the interview with Francesca before they read her notes. Jim said ‘I can’t understand why Caroline would confide with Francesca about Colin, but not the arguments with Craig, especially the assaults. It doesn’t make sense.’ Vicky agreed as they quickly read through her notes before the briefing.

  Jim knocked on Langton’s door he waited for a reply then went in. Langton was busy making notes. ‘Yes Jim, make it quick.’ ‘I just thought you should know this before the briefing.’ Langton put his pen down as he listened to Jim’s brief outline of the diary entry and the interview with Francesca. ‘Thanks Jim that certainly cast’s some doubt.’ Langton then returned to his notes as Jim left closing the door behind him.

  Jim and Vicky went to the incident room, the hum drum of voices and laughter was well underway. Jim acknowledged old colleagues who had been seconded to assist. The banter and chatter was never ending. After about 20 minutes Langton walked in and took his position at the front. ‘Okay ladies and gents quieten down please.’ The noise of the chatter in the room quietened as the attention was now on Langton.

  In his normal jovial self he said ‘dearly beloved we are gathered.’ The room erupted with laughter again then descended to a hush.

  ‘Right this incident room has been set up to investigate the murder of Caroline Romney. Her body was found partly clothed in woodland on the Larches estate. The post mortem has been undertaken, the pathologist in his opinion concluded that strangulation was the cause of death. From swabs taken it looks like she had also been raped. Some personal belongings were discarded including her hand bag which contained money and credit cards; so from that we presume that robbery was not a motive. The one thing that hasn’t been found yet is her car which is a blue Land Rover Freelander.’ Langton then read out the registration number.

  Langton glanced down at his notes then continued. ‘We know on the night she went missing she went to her weekly salsa dance class and left at the normal time. Although she turned down the usual after dance drink in the Crown and Thistle public house with some of the other class members. That is where the trail ends. What happened between the time of her leaving the dance class and being found dead is the question? The initial investigation has been carried out by DS Jim Broadbent, who I think most of you know, I will now call on him to fill you in on what he has found out so far.’

  Jim went to the front standing next to Langton, he opened his A4 book. ‘Okay there are two issues uncovered so far, both could have far reaching implications, but they may not be connected so keep an open mind after I explain. The victim’s husband Craig Romney is successful in a local company where he works as the managing director. His lifestyle is high with all the trappings of wealth. The victim worked part time in a local firm of accountant’s as a secretary. Their marriage was childless as the victim was unable to have children.’

  Jim took a sip of water then continued ‘we have spoken to her best friend Francesca who stated that the victim was having an affair with a man called Colin who is also married, although at the time of the affair the victim didn’t know he was married according to her diary. The revelation when she found out caused a rift between them. The victim was going to give an ultimatum to him, go away with her or it was over. We need to find Colin as he could hold the key to this.’

  Jim took another sip of water, then he continued, ‘then to cap it all after reading Caroline’s diary, she describes a big bust up with her husband Craig, he called her a slut and hit her around the face on a couple of occasions. This revelation will be followed up by DC Vicky Howser and I, as neither her husband nor Francesca mentioned the heated arguments or the assaults when interviewed. That is about it at this early stage, apart from in her handbag was a hand written note stating, Michael 8.30, nothing else, who Michael is and whether it is connected we don’t know. What we do know is the victim attended a salsa dance class weekly; apparently there was a Michael in the class until he moved away a couple of months ago, is he connected to Caroline? I have no idea, so keep an open mind, that’s about it from me.’

  Langton came back to the front thanking Jim; then the incident room was formally opened. The normal humdrum of voices was heard as the teams paired up.

  Jim checked his actions for the day, which included re-interviewing Craig Romney and Francesca.

  Jim and Vicky were just on the way out, when one of the incident room staff members called Jim over. ‘The Freelander has been found in a carpark just outside of town the keys are still in it.’

  Jim knew the location so he and Vicky attended. A patrol car was there protecting it till Jim arrived. The officer handed Jim the keys then had to go as his back log of work was growing. Jim contacted SOCO who requested the car be brought in for fingerprinting.

  Jim looked through the windows of the car then carefully opened the door and looked inside it was clean and tidy with nothing obvious on show, so left it until SOCO could undertake a proper search. He handed the Keys to Vicky to drive it to central and park it in the SOCO bay. Jim followed her to the police station then after parking he took keys up to the SOCO office.

  Jim made an appointment to see Francesca before they went to see Craig. Jim knocked the door as Francesca opened it, he saw she was smartly dressed in a business suit, she looked very attractive. Francesca smiled as she invited them both inside. Jim introduced Vicky to her as they went into the small kitchen where coffee was already in the cups, she poured hot water from the kettle anticipating that both would accept the offer. Then she placed the cups on the table as she sat on a stool, she smiled and said ‘how can I help you?’

  Jim opened his A4 book ‘thanks for the coffee Francesca I just want to go over a couple of things from yesterday. You said that Craig was aware of the affair?’ ‘No, I said I thought he did; as he was always on at her for wearing short skirts.’ ‘Oh okay, did Caroline say he had confronted her about the affair she was having with Colin.’ Francesca looked down and said ‘yes, she said he had argued with her.’ ‘Did she mention he was violent towards her?’ Francesca nodded ‘sorry I should have mentioned it, but Craig is such nice man, but totally business minded, I didn’t want it to sound like he was a bad man, I think he was just jealous of what Caroline was doing.’ ‘Okay what did she say about the arguments?’ ‘It was mainly when she was going to her dance classes in short skirts and heels, that’s if
he was home when she went or when she came home.’ ‘Okay we have read her diary where she describes Craig as hitting her hard and really hurting her, did she mention the pain she was in?’ ‘Look, yes she did, but as I said Craig is such a nice man, I think she pushed him a bit too far sometimes.’

  Jim noticed how Francesca was in some way trying to protect Craig. Jim then said as he watched for her reaction. ‘You say Craig was a nice man, how did you know him?’ ‘We met when Caroline invited me to a dinner party one night he was so charming.’ ‘Have you met him since?’ ‘No I haven’t, what are you saying?’ ‘We are looking at all angles.’ ‘No I haven’t.’ Jim looked at her, she was lying he could see her avoiding eye contact and putting her hand over her mouth as she spoke when answering difficult questions.

  Jim looked at Vicky who also suspected her of lying then said ‘where were you on the night she went missing?’ ‘I was here on my own as normal. Now if you don’t mind I have a conference to attend.’ Jim said ‘Thanks for your time Francesca we will be in touch if we need anything else.’

  In the car they both looked at each other as Jim said ‘she’s lying big time. I bet she’s on the phone to Craig Romney now.’ Vicky nodded, ‘I bet she is.’ Jim thinking out loud said ‘I wonder if she was having an affair with Craig or maybe just the odd leg over.’ Vicky laughed as she said ‘nicely put sergeant’ as she continued smiling to herself.

  Jim said ‘Right I’m hungry you want a bite to eat?’ Vicky nodded. Jim drove to a local café where they had a sandwich and coffee. They chatted over the day’s events so far. ‘Okay let’s get into Romney.’ Jim called Romney requesting an interview with him at his home in the next hour.

  No sooner had Francesca seen Jim and Vicky drive away, she was on the phone to Craig ‘look Craig we better not see each other till the dust settles as the police suspect we were seeing each other. I told them I was on my own on the night Caroline went missing, you okay with that?’ ‘Yes I’m fine okay just let it settle.’ ‘Are you okay Craig?’ ‘Yes fine, I must go.’