Deadly Intent (Anna Travis Mysteries)

by Lynda La Plante

“As you can see”—he gestured to the table—“we have our work cut out for us; judging from the stink, these could have been left in situ for some time.”

  “Right,” said Cunningham, “we’re going up to ballistics. Thank you for your time.”

  “We are doing our best,” Jenkins said, and glanced at Anna. She looked away and followed Cunningham out of the lab.

  “Bullets fired from a Glock Meister, very nice weapon: 22LR barrel recoil, spring assembly, speed loader. We have no cartridges and we think at least six of the ten-round magazines were emptied. Mostly, I hear, into the poor chap that died.” Vernon Lee, a small solid man with crinkly gray hair, turned to a cardboard box on his desk. “This was found at the site, which surprised me; they must have left in one hell of a hurry to leave this kind of equipment behind. This, ladies, is a very expensive item. It’s a Glock Meister optic and mount, with lights and lasers. I’ve got onto Saber Ballistic over at Caterham Barracks to see what they can give me but, as I said, it’s a very upmarket weapon and not usual here in the UK. Stateside, yes, but it’s costly. Yardies might be flash enough to own one, but this was a squat, wasn’t it?”

  Cunningham sighed. “Let me tell you, Vernon, you’d be surprised what weapons these kids get their hands on. From Kalashnikovs to bazookas…”

  “I know, I know,” he said, looking down at his notes. “Did the pathologist discuss the trajectory of the shots, because they make it interesting? I’d say your shooter was short, or knelt down, like so.” He cupped both hands as if holding a gun and bent his knees. “The bullets to the chest area, fired from behind the door, went in at an upward angle; the head shots were literally fired at a downward angle, no more than a foot and a half away from the body. There were not, as first surmised, two different weapons. All the bullets are from the same gun.”

  Anna chewed her lip. “I think whoever was the shooter knew exactly what he was doing. He looked through the spyhole, saw who it was, and fired from behind the door. Then, satisfied he’d hit his target, he opened the door to finish him off.”

  Vernon shrugged. “Possible. We’ve set up a laser line to help. It all looks very clever but, reality is, poor bastard took three bullets to the head and two to his upper torso.”

  “Five?”

  “Yes, five bullets.”

  Anna frowned and recalled Mrs. Webster telling her how many shots she had heard. She asked if the Glock could have a silencer. Vernon nodded.

  Back in the patrol car, Cunningham yawned as Anna flicked over her notes until she found the conversation with Mrs. Webster.

  “I’ve asked for some Drug Squad officers to give us a direction on what they think we’re dealing with,” Cunningham said. “I’ve not brought them in before, because they could cause a lot of aggro. We pulled in a bunch of hoodies; God knows how many people scored that night. Right now this is a murder inquiry. What I don’t want is those guys stepping on our toes.” She leaned back and closed her eyes.

  Anna nodded, and checked her notes. Mrs. Webster had said she heard six bullets fired. She was adamant about how many, even describing the sound the last three shots made—pop, pop, pop—and a gap between them and the first lot—which she said were louder than the last. If there were only five bullets found in the victim, they were one short. Anna closed her notebook to discuss it with Cunningham, when she realized that her boss was fast asleep.

  Julia Brandon opened the front door herself. She gave a half sigh, as if to express her irritation that the police were back, then turned toward the lounge, expecting them to follow.

  Today she was wearing a chic black dress, high-heeled slingback shoes, and her hair was freshly blow-dried. Her body was toned and her long slender legs were worked out, as was the rest of her. Perfect makeup, elegant jewelry; she looked today like pure class. In no way did she look as if she was in mourning. Frank Brandon just didn’t, to Anna, mix and match with her on any level.

  “What do you want?” she asked.

  “We just need some answers,” Cunningham said softly.

  “I would like some too. I have to arrange my husband’s funeral; when will his body be released?”

  “I am sure it will be in the very near future.”

  “Will somebody let me know?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  There was a palpable pause. Anna was unsure how Cunningham was going to open up the interview. Julia was examining the toe of her shoe as it dug into the thick-pile carpet.

  “Tell me about your previous partner.”

  Julia didn’t show any sign that this question fazed her. She simply replied coolly: “I have no reason to discuss my private life with you or anyone else. If that is the reason you are here, then you have had a wasted journey.”

  “We are investigating the murder of your husband, Mrs. Brandon.”

  “I have told you all that I know. I last saw him early in the morning on the day you said he died. I didn’t speak to him the entire day and went to bed early. He was often out until late, sometimes not returning until three or four in the morning. On those occasions, he used a spare bedroom so as not to disturb me. I wasn’t worried when he wasn’t at home the following morning. I made breakfast for the children and took them to nursery.”

  Anna leaned forward. “Did Frank drive a black Mitsubishi jeep?”

  Julia sighed. “I’m not sure…He used to drive my Range Rover but, for work, it’s possible.”

  “But wasn’t it parked outside your house?”

  “No, he used a lockup garage a few streets away. I have only room for two cars: the Range Rover and my Mercedes SL convertible, so he rented the garage.”

  Cunningham gritted her teeth as she asked for the address. Julia walked to her desk and opened a drawer. She rifled through some papers, then picked up a Post-it and jotted down the address, which was close to their home in Wimbledon.

  “Thank you. Do you have a set of keys for the garage?”

  “No, I don’t.”

  “Could I please see your spare room? The one you say your husband used when he returned home late?”

  Julia shrugged. “It’s the bedroom at the end of the landing. Help yourself.”

  Cunningham glanced at Anna as she left the room.

  Julia went back to digging the toe of her shoe into the carpet pile. “I don’t like that woman,” she said quietly to Anna.

  “Why don’t you want to discuss your previous partner?”

  “I don’t think it has anything to do with you or anyone else.”

  “What if it did?”

  “It doesn’t. It was over a long time ago.”

  “Do you keep in touch?”

  “No.”

  “Not even for the children?”

  “They are not his, and he was never that interested, so no. He doesn’t keep in touch with either me or them.”

  “But he has made substantial provision for them?”

  “Yes,” she hissed.

  “And for you?”

  “Yes—but again, I really can’t see that this is any of your business. As I said, my relationship was over when I met Frank.”

  “You know, Julia, we can, without your permission, gain information regarding your ex-partner. Wouldn’t it be simpler if you just—”

  Julia looked up and glared at Anna. “Are you married?”

  “No.”

  “Have you ever loved someone?”

  “Yes. Yes, I have.”

  “If that someone lied and betrayed you and hurt you, would you want to rake it all up? I don’t want to discuss this at all, I really don’t.”

  “I’m sorry. It must be very distressing. I do understand, but you must also understand we are investigating the murder of your husband.” Anna did not add that Julia appeared to be more emotionally connected to her ex-partner than to poor Frank Brandon. “Your financial adviser, Mr. David Rushton, gave us his name: Anthony Collingwood.”

  Julia gave a deep sigh.

  “Do you have a recent photograph of him
?”

  “No, I do not. David should not have even mentioned his name. I don’t think he ever met him. So much for client confidentiality.”

  “Is that the name you knew him by?”

  Julia looked away.

  “When was the last time you saw him?”

  “Years ago; as I said, we separated a long time ago.”

  “How long ago?”

  “For Christ’s sake, about three years ago. I have not seen him since.”

  “Do you have a contact address for him?”

  “No! What on earth has this got to do with anything?”

  “Perhaps a lot. Do you know if he uses any other names?”

  “No, I don’t.”

  “What business was he in?”

  “He was an investment banker.”

  “Which bank?”

  “I have no idea. We did not discuss his business. You have to understand that when I first met him, I was only sixteen years old.”

  “Where did you meet him?”

  Again, Julia sighed with irritation. “I was in Florida, staying with friends in Palm Beach. They knew him well; he came aboard their yacht and—”

  Cunningham walked back into the room and gestured to Anna. “Would you excuse us, Mrs. Brandon? I’d like Detective Travis to join me.”

  “Do whatever you like,” Julia snapped.

  The box bedroom was very neat and tidy. There was a television and DVD unit, a single bed and fitted wardrobe. Cunningham opened the wardrobe to display a row of shirts and suits, plus shoes. “This looks to me as if he was living or at least mostly staying in this room. I’ve searched all the pockets and come up with nothing; I’d say someone had a good clear-out before me. There are banks of videos and DVDs, a dressing gown and pajamas in the bathroom ensuite. Now, you tell me, does this look like someone who just spends the odd night in here when he’s home late?” Cunningham held up a leather-bound desk diary and opened it to reveal the torn pages. “Like I said, someone’s cleaned this room out.”

  Anna looked around; from the open wardrobe came a waft of the cologne that Frank used. “Maybe we should get over to his lockup, see if the car’s there.”

  “I doubt it, but we might as well. Did you get anything?”

  “She agreed that her ex-partner’s name was Anthony Collingwood but I didn’t push it—you know, bring up the Fitzpatrick connection.”

  “Yeah, we’ll hold off on that, but I want to come back with a warrant. Something isn’t kosher.”

  “I agree.” Anna bent down and looked under the bed. A pair of slippers were side by side, but there were no dustballs, nothing. She felt alongside the mattress.

  “Don’t waste time—I already did that. Let’s go.”

  Anna hesitated. “In the kitchen, there are wedding photographs. Maybe we could take a look at them before we leave.”

  Mai Ling was polishing the floor, using an electric buffer. There were no photographs on the dresser or the side table where Anna had last seen them. Anna asked where they were while Cunningham said goodbye to Mrs. Brandon.

  “Put away. Emily and Kathy very sad and asking for him, so madam took them away. She upset too.”

  “Do you know where they are?”

  “No, I not know.”

  “Thank you.” Anna walked out.

  Back in the car, Cunningham’s foot twitched with irritation.

  “She really pisses me off. She’s not going to like me when we go back for the third time, because I want that place stripped. She’s lying through her teeth.” Her mobile rang.

  Cunningham finished up the call. “They traced the Donny guy, the driver. We’ve got an address for him, so I want him brought in for questioning. His full name is Donny Petrozzo; sheet for handling stolen goods and six months for acting as a fence. He’s been clean for five years. Be interesting to hear what he’s got to say for himself.”

  Frank Brandon’s lockup garage was part of a substantial property divided into six flats. There was a horseshoe drive that branched off to the rear, where the garage was located.

  The door was unlocked. Cunningham took out a handkerchief to turn the handle and looked inside. “Well, well, well—look what we’ve got here.”

  The black Mitsubishi looked like a dark brooding monster with all its tinted windows. It was filthy: mud covered the wheels and sides of the doors.

  Anna found the light switch; then Cunningham tried the driver’s door. It was unlocked and the keys were in the ignition. “Get this baby towed in as quickly as possible and don’t touch it.”

  Anna suggested they look into the glove compartment, just in case.

  Again, Cunningham used her handkerchief to open it, but it was locked. “We might have prints on the keys. I’m loath to tamper with opening it up. We leave as is.”

  “Up to you.”

  “If it was you?”

  “I have some surgical gloves in my briefcase.”

  Cunningham glanced at her. “My, my. Old Langton taught you well, didn’t he?”

  Anna didn’t wish to get into whether or not Cunningham knew her father, Jack Travis, but he had been the one to remind her always to keep a spare set with her. She shrugged and gestured to their patrol car.

  “Should I get them?”

  Cunningham nodded as she called in to the station to arrange for the jeep to be towed. Anna snapped on the gloves, secretly pleased with herself. She removed the keys from the ignition, selected the smallest, and opened the glove compartment. It contained a torn envelope with the insurance documents for the jeep in Frank Brandon’s name, a parking ticket, and a creased, folded map. Inside the map was a page torn from a small notebook. Written on it were five scrawled numbers and letters but no obvious words. Then Anna looked in the backseat.

  It was empty, but there was a smell, one she had grown used to since joining the murder team. She got out of the car, handing the map to Cunningham, and walked to the rear of the jeep. Due to the blacked-out windows, she could see nothing in the storage section at the back. “I think we should take a look inside.”

  Cunningham was eager to leave.

  “Can’t you smell it?” Anna persisted.

  “Okay, let’s open it up.” Cunningham grimaced as she stood beside Anna.

  Covered in black bin liners wrapped around with thick masking tape was, they both knew, a body. “Don’t touch it. If we open it up, we might lose evidence.” Cunningham moved well away; she obviously found the stench difficult to deal with. It surprised Anna; as much as she was revolted by it, she had been on enough murders not to be that repelled.

  It wasn’t long before police cars were drawing up with the tow truck. The jeep was to be driven to the station yard, the body removed and taken to the lab for forensics to start work.

  When the Mitsubishi had been taken away and the garage secured, the two women began checking out the residents of the house. Out of the six flats, they were able to gain access to only two.

  First they interviewed a smart, elderly, rather deaf gentleman called Alfred Hall who lived in the basement and ground floor. The flat smelled of mothballs, urine, and stale food. He complained bitterly that the original owners had not included the garage facility but, to his knowledge, rented it out for an exorbitant price. Numerous vehicles had used it over the years he had been living there, but he had not met any of their owners. He did know about the Mitsubishi, because it was often driven in late at night, and he was woken up by the lights and noise. He couldn’t really recall the last time he had been woken, but he thought it was within the last couple of days.

  The second tenant was a woman who was reluctant to let them in. Arlene Thorpe was in her midforties, thin, and with a yapping Jack Russell dog, which she had to shut into a bedroom. She was able to describe Frank Brandon and the Mitsubishi, as she had met him once when she was heading out to Wimbledon Common with her dog for his morning walk. He had been washing the jeep down and seemed quite pleasant. As far as she could recall, he had only been using the gara
ge for the past six months; before that, it had been used by the local estate agents who handled the rental.

  Cunningham and Anna interviewed the estate agents, a local firm who were able to confirm that Mr. Brandon had seen the rental advert in the local paper and contacted them. He had paid six months in advance, at five hundred pounds per month. He had given his address as the house owned by Julia and said that he would probably require the garage for year-round rental but, until he had more details, it would be for six months only.

  By the time they returned to the station, the body had been removed. After grabbing something to eat, Anna yet again accompanied Cunningham to the mortuary.

  There were no identification papers or wallet: the dead man’s pockets had been emptied. He was wearing a cheap gray suit and a white Marks & Spencer shirt with a black tie. He had black lace-up shoes with navy-blue socks. His age was put at around late forties, early fifties. Cunningham asked for his prints to be rushed through to see if he had any form. Anna, however, was certain she knew who he was. The gray suit and black tie was almost like the uniform of a chauffeur.

  By four o’clock, she was proved correct. The prints from the dead man matched those of a Donald Petrozzo, his record for burglary and fencing on file. The forensic team reported back that someone had done a very thorough cleaning job of the interior of the jeep. They were coming up empty-handed so far, but had only just begun stripping down the seats.

  Cunningham held a briefing to discuss the new developments. The case was opening up, its loose ends dangling like stalks. Whoever accompanied Frank Brandon on the night of his death drove his jeep away from the drug squat. The connection to Donny Petrozzo had to be drugs. Anna would have to requestion Wrexler and Taylor. She returned to her office and sat brooding, making a jigsaw of her notes. She constantly came back to the possibility that Anthony Collingwood, the man Julia Brandon admitted was her ex-partner, could be the kingpin dealer Alexander Fitzpatrick. Langton had always said there were no coincidences; Anna was beginning to think he was right. The key, to be certain, had to be Julia Brandon.

  She checked that the surveillance was still in operation. If Julia was the vital link to Fitzpatrick, her life could be in danger. It was still not clear why he would not only be with Frank Brandon, but accompanying him to the drug squat. It didn’t add up. She was certain they were overlooking something: the question was—what?