by Menon, David
Hettie sniffed. ’I told you when you showed them to me at the police station that I didn’t know them and that’s still my answer’.
‘Oh stop this crap!’
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘Too many lives have been lost for me to listen to anymore of your lies, Mrs. Goldstein’.
‘You’re calling me a liar in my own house?’
‘Yes, that’s exactly what I’m calling you, Mrs. Goldstein. A callous, cold-hearted downright liar’.
‘How dare you!’
‘Oh I dare, Mrs. Goldstein’ said Sara, calmly. ‘I dare because of the lives that have already been lost because of you and your husband’s treachery and I dare in case anymore will be lost too’.
‘My people have been involved in a worldwide struggle for our dignity for three thousand years and millions of us have been murdered throughout history’.
‘Yes, well, it’s just the last few weeks here in Manchester that concern me’.
‘Why shouldn’t we hit back?’
‘Sorry? What did you mean by that?’
‘Exactly what I said. Why shouldn’t we hit back at a world that is totally against us?’
‘You see its remarks like that one that lead me to conclude that you’re guilty. Now come on, Mrs. Goldstein. I want the truth and my patience is running out. You know who these men are so just tell me and get this over with’.
At that moment Sara’s mobile rang and she handed it to Tim to answer. He stood up and went out into the hall to speak. When he came back, he gestured for Sara to step into the hall.
‘What is it?’ asked Sara in a low voice.
‘The editor of the Manchester Evening Chronicle? James Henderson?’
‘Yes, what about him?’
‘His body has been found by a man walking his dog near Cheadle village’ Tim revealed.
Sara thought for a moment.
‘What are you going to do?’ Tim wanted to know.
‘Something that will cause a mini riot in this community so will you call for back up?’
‘Sure’ said Tim. ‘But what are you going to do?’
Sara told Tim of her plans and then she went back into the living room where she arrested Hettie Goldstein for the same offences as her husband had been charged with.
‘I believed your husband when he said you weren’t involved’ said Sara. ‘But the picture has changed and now I don’t even think you’re sorry for what you’ve done. In fact, I think the only thing you’re hiding your crimes behind is old age’.
‘You will be very sorry for this’.
‘Are you threatening a police officer, Mrs. Goldstein? Well let me return the favour and threaten you with a charge of conspiracy to murder because if I can make it stick I damn well will’.
‘I was going to ask if you thought you might have lost it a bit in there’ said Tim as he and Sara walked out to the car.
‘And why didn’t you?’
‘Because in the end I agreed with your approach’ said Tim. ‘In fact, I‘d go so far as to say I think you could’ve been even more aggressive’.
‘Then that gives me scope for the next time I think oldies like her are lying to me’.
‘And they are’.
‘Oh yes, they fucking well are’.
*
Sara and Tim walked into the twilight world of June Hawkins in her laboratory and both rolled their eyes up at the music. Again it was Bon Jovi blasting out of the speakers and this time the song was called ‘It’s My Life’.
‘Don’t you ever get sick of playing this lot, June?’ asked Sara.
‘Wash your mouth out with soap, young lady’ June retorted with the greatest affected emphasis. ‘This is the best band in the world’.
‘If you say so, June, if you say so’ said Sara. ‘But what about the body of James Henderson here?’ The body was lying on a slab covered in the usual cotton sheet.
‘Are you ready for this?’ asked June, standing near the top. ‘I’ll warn you, it is pretty gruesome. Not for the faint hearted’.
‘We’ll be alright I think, June’ said Tim.
June then pulled back the sheet and both Sara and Tim wrenched. They could barely look. The scene went beyond gruesome.
‘So what happened?’ Tim asked.
‘Well they must’ve started off torturing him in the same way as they did to Robert Jackson’ June informed. ‘Looks like all these black marks over his body are the same electric shock burns that we found on Jackson’s body. But then they saved the best till last’.
‘The best?’ Sara asked. Her face was still contorted and her hand was close to her mouth.
‘I’ve had to identify him from dental records which wasn’t easy considering what they’d done’ June explained in her usual matter-of-fact when she adopts when talking business. ‘It looks like they stuffed his mouth full of newspaper, poured petrol onto it and then set fire to it. As you can see it’s taken half his head off’.
‘Jesus Christ’ Sara exclaimed. ‘The poor bastard’.
‘Well he wouldn’t have known much once it started’ said June. ‘But of course, leading up to it must’ve been Hell. There are signs on his clothing that he pissed himself’.
‘I’m not fucking surprised’ said Tim. ‘It comes back to the same thing as with Andy Masters and Robert Jackson. What did they think these men knew?’
‘Well Robert Jackson certainly knew something that he was going to tell his boss about’ said Sara. ‘But he never got round to it. Henderson was telling the truth about not knowing what the dynamite scoop was that Jackson had but whoever they are didn’t believe him’.
‘Which is why they made the poor sod suffer so much’ said Tim. ‘They must’ve been convinced that he did know’.
‘So what’s the theory now?’ asked June.
‘I’m working on something’ said Sara. ‘Let’s just say the fog is clearing’.
*
Like everyone else on the squad, Adrian had gone through a long, tiring day trying to find two men wanted for questioning in connection with at least three murders and who remained exasperatingly elusive so far. They’d received dozens of calls from people claiming either to have seen them or to know who they were, some could be dismissed straight away, whilst others deserved more careful judgement as to whether an investigation was necessary or not. It was all time consuming but like everyone, Adrian didn’t feel like the city could sleep easy until this whole sorry mess was dealt with and concluded.
But he needed some time out. As it was he only had twelve hours before he was back on again in the morning but he needed to attend to some more primal needs.
Luca Johnson lived in an apartment block just across the road from Salford Central station. Adrian parked his car nearby. He called his Mum who was looking after things at home. He told her he was going for a couple of pints and she said that everything was fine and he wasn’t to worry. He should be going home to the kids. He should be talking to his son Tom about him finding out about Adrian’s gay affair with Matt Hunter. But it could all wait. He needed what he’d come here for in order to be able to cope with everything else.
He’d called in advance so Luca was expecting him but as he walked up to the main door and looked for the buzzer, he couldn’t help but be a little overwhelmed with nervousness. The last time he’d slept with a man it had resulted in his poor wife Penny being murdered. But he needed it. He needed to feel what only a man could give him. He’d been feeling so fucking lonely, so in need of touch and response.
Luca let him into the building and told him to come up to the third floor and number 3B. When Luca opened his front door he was dressed in a short sleeved white thin cotton shirt over black jeans with black leather sandals. He was still as fresh faced and bright eyed as he’d been that day when he’d come to the station. He had a masculinity about him that belied his age and there wasn’t even a trace of camp gesture about him. If Adrian didn’t know any better he’d say he was a real man’s man wh
ich was an ironic term given the situation. He was sturdily built, big muscles on his arms, a solid jaw.
Adrian reached into his back pocket and produced a wad of notes that he’d just taken from the cash point. He counted out eighty pounds. ‘I looked you up on the net. Eighty in cash on arrival’.
‘Put your money away’.
‘What?’
‘I decided at the police station that if you ever came round I’d do it for free because I think you’re so fucking fit’.
‘Really?’
‘Put your money away’ said Luca. ‘And come through’.
Luca led Adrian through to the living room of his flat which was open plan with the kitchen area and the dining table. It was one of those very modern flats that Adrian didn’t like very much because it was so bloody small. But it meant that people like Luca could afford to live in the city and, presumably, work around the limited space. The main light wasn’t on, just two table lamps, one either side of the sofa, and Luca took Adrian’s jacket and then loosened his tie for him. He undid the sleeve buttons too.
‘I knew you’d be round’ said Luca.
‘Did you?’
‘It was the look in your eye when we were talking’.
‘That obvious?’ said Adrian as he felt Luca’s fingers play slowly on his skin inside his now open shirt sleeves. It was a feeling that was rather nice.
‘You’ve got really hairy arms’ said Luca. ‘What about the rest of you?’
‘Yeah’ said Adrian. ‘I’m hairy everywhere’.
Luca smiled. ‘I knew there’d be another reason I liked you. Now, how about a beer to start?’
‘Yeah, that would be great, thanks’.
‘Then sit down and I’ll get it for you’.
Luca opened the fridge and took out two cans of beer. He opened them both and handed one to Adrian before sitting down beside him on the sofa. ‘Cheers’.
‘Cheers, Luca’ said Adrian.
Luca placed his spare hand on the inside of Adrian’s leg. ‘I’m glad you could make it’.
‘What was it you saw in my eyes, Luca?’
‘A man who was gagging for it’ Luca replied. ‘Am I right?’
‘Spot on’.
‘Let’s take these beers through to the bedroom then’.
The bedroom wasn’t overly large but there was enough room for a double bed with a brown leather headboard, a small table either side and a wardrobe on the left as you went in. Luca had lit several candles all over the room. Adrian put his beer down, took Luca in his arms and before they knew it they were naked and making out on the bed like there was no tomorrow.
After they were done Adrian was lying back with one arm back and folded with his hand resting between the back of his head and the pillow. Luca had let him smoke a cigarette and the ashtray was resting in the middle of his chest as he smoked it. Luca was on one side beside him, running his hands through Adrian’s hairy stomach.
‘This is absolute bloody bliss, mate’ said Adrian. ‘All the sex and he lets me smoke too’.
‘I have to make sure my gentlemen callers are completely satisfied with the service’.
Adrian looked at him and smiled. ‘Too right this one is’.
‘I didn’t think you were going to stop for breath at one point’.
‘It’s been some time’.
‘I could tell’ said Luca. ‘Was he a regular boyfriend or someone like me?’
‘It was ... complicated’ said Adrian. ‘His name was Matt. I wasn’t in love with him but it was more than just casual. Anyway, a whole lot of shit happened including the death of my wife. I stopped seeing Matt. He recently moved out to Australia with his sister. They’re living in Sydney now’.
‘That sounds like quite a story’.
‘It is’ said Adrian who nevertheless didn’t want to go any further with it. ‘But look, don’t describe yourself as someone like me. Okay, I’m not looking for any involvement but I think more of what we’re doing here than to just describe you as someone like you’.
Luca smiled. ‘Well okay then. Call me your fuck buddy’.
‘Affectionate friend’.
‘Affectionate friend it is’ said Luca. ‘Did the information I gave you prove useful?’
‘Oh yes’ said Adrian. ‘It could actually provide the key to solving one hell of a mess’.
‘Tell me more?’
‘I can’t’ said Adrian. ‘Sorry’.
‘No, no, I understand’.
‘You did a good thing in bringing it to us though’ said Adrian.
‘I did it for my Mum’.
‘I know’ said Adrian. ‘She’d have been proud of you’.
Luca’s Mum was never very far away from his thoughts. ‘I miss her and I wish she hadn’t been killed in the bombing but ... I can’t do anything about that. I’ll never forget her though’.
‘You do know that if we end up questioning you officially you can’t let on that you know me?’
‘I’d figured that out, yeah’ said Luca. ‘I’m used to keeping secrets’.
‘Sounds like you’re getting fed up of having to?’
‘I’d like to meet the right guy, yeah’ Luca admitted. ‘But then again, why would I want to be tied down when I can have the likes of you inside me?’
Adrian stubbed his cigarette out and put the ashtray over on the side table. He then turned to Luca and kissed him. ‘I want you again’.
Luca ran his fingers softly up Adrian’s spine. ‘Then I’m all yours big man’.
*
The next morning Sara went to see Hettie Goldstein who’d been held in the cells all night. She could feel the frisson of disapproval levelled at her as she passed her colleagues in the corridors but the sergeant in charge of the custody cells, Martin Lawson, was his usual ‘I’m just here to do a job’ self.
‘She’s been crying this morning, ma’am’ Martin informed her as he walked her down the corridor to the cell. ‘Nothing major, just a few tears here and there. I’m surprised there hasn’t been more to be honest’.
‘Why is that?’
‘Well given her age’.
‘Not that it would have anything to do with her possibly being involved in one of the greatest terrorist outrages to hit this country then?’
‘Oh no, ma’am’ said Martin, smirking. ‘That’s not why she’s the talk of the canteen’.
‘I thought I was the talk of the canteen for being the wicked witch who incarcerated her?’
‘Well... I was trying to save your blushes, ma’am’.
‘You’re about fifteen years too late for that, Martin’.
‘Well I’m too much of a gentleman to comment any further, ma’am’.
Sara smiled at his gallantry. ‘How’s that lovely wife of yours?’
‘She’s good, ma’am, thanks. She’s just gone back to work after our second. The two Grandmas take it in turn to child mind. I have to say that life is pretty hunky dory at the moment’.
‘Good’ said Sara. ‘Long may it stay that way and I mean that’.
‘Thank you, ma’am’ said Martin. ‘Look, ma’am, do you really think an oldie like Mrs. Goldstein here was really involved in what’s been going on?’
‘You know me, Martin. I don’t hold anybody unless my instincts are playing like a big, brass band’.
Martin opened the cell door and Sara went in.
‘Hello, Mrs. Goldstein’ said Sara.
‘Don’t you come anywhere near me!’
‘Okay, I’ll stay back here’ said Sara. The night obviously hadn’t softened the cantankerous old bag. ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’
‘I don’t want anything from you’.
‘Well I won’t be making it’.
‘I’ll have a glass of water. You can’t do much to that’.
Sara asked Martin Lawson to get Mrs. Goldstein a glass of water. He’d been waiting just outside and it only took him a matter of seconds to collect it from the water fountain in the corridor.
&nb
sp; ‘I’m reliably informed that Solomon Levy is on his way to speak to you’ said Sara. ‘Before he gets here, is there anything you want to say to me? You know who those two men are on the printouts that I’ve shown to both you and your husband. You do know, don’t you, Mrs. Goldstein? I can apply to the magistrates to hold you for several more hours if I feel you’re not co-operating when I think you can’.
‘They’re my sons!’ snapped Hettie.
The revelation hit Sara like an express train. She really hadn’t seen that one coming.
‘Would you care to repeat that, Mrs. Goldstein?’
‘The two men in the print outs are my sons, Ehud and Benyamin’ she proclaimed proudly. ‘They emigrated to Israel ten years ago and began working for the army intelligence. I’m very proud of them’.
‘They’ve murdered at least four people!’
Hettie looked at Sara and said ‘And don’t expect me to care about any of them’.
Sara took a deep breath to stop herself from slapping the bitch. ‘So are you going to tell me what their activities are all about?’
‘You’ll soon see’.
‘I want you to tell me!’
‘And I want you to go to Hell but we don’t always get what we want!’
NINETEEN
In the light of Hettie Goldstein’s devastating revelation about her sons, Sara and Tim went round to HMP Manchester to question Yitzhak Goldstein again.
‘This place will always be Strangeways to me’ said Tim as they walked down a corridor in one of the most infamous prisons in the country.
‘Yes’ Sara agreed. ‘You can change the name but the same old shit goes on inside’.
This time Yitzhak really did look like a little old man. His head was drooped forwards, his hands were folded and his bent elbows rested on his knees. His face looked grey and anxious. There was no sparkle in his eyes and it almost looked as if he’d been sleeping in his clothes. He didn’t look up when Sara and Tim came into the room where they were about to interview him once again. Sara placed the printout of the two men they’d been looking for in front of him on the table that separated them.
