She wondered if they’d leave her a piece but had faith they’d not empty the box and cut off the hand that fed them that easily. No matter what their stomachs told them.
Eventually the herd thinned and Claudia made her way to the fan of open boxes. She selected a slice and took it away. It did indeed smell divine. The scent of warm cheese, tomato and pepperoni wafted gently under her nose as she shoved the pointed end of the slice into her mouth. It was only then that she realised how hungry she was. Work had distracted her. She couldn’t remember when she had last eaten. Maybe this morning before she left the house.
She was striding into her office with the slice of pizza flopping in her hand when a voice shouted behind her, grabbing her attention with the excitement in the sound. It was loud and high-pitched. Like a squeak. Desperate to get the words out before she disappeared from view.
She turned slowly. Trepidation seizing her muscles.
‘Ma’am,’ the officer at the back of the incident room shouted at her again.
She looked his way.
‘Ma’am.’ He was on his feet, the landline phone handset to his face. A finger pressed firmly down on the mute button. ‘I have someone on the line who thinks the drawing the press have put out is a picture of himself. He’s quite upset and wants to know what the hell is going on.’
CHAPTER 42
Claudia took Dominic with her to the house. She was conscious she’d relied heavily on Russ recently and needed to use Dom more than she had been doing. It surprised her how quietly he’d taken this and got on with the tasks at hand. Maybe he realised how important the job was.
A male Claudia instantly recognised opened the door. He was the double of the man in the drawing. There was no mistaking the guy had correctly identified himself.
The killer was a talented illustrator and deserved the moniker the press had given him in that respect. His drawings were always so true to life. How he could depict exactly how his crimes would go, though, was beyond her. He had an active imagination and an intricate attention to detail.
The man who she now knew to be Zach Williams was wired, as you’d expect him to be after seeing a drawing of himself plastered all over the news.
‘My phone’s been ringing off the hook,’ he said before they could get through the door, and even though mobile phones didn’t have a hook, the phrase had still clung on.
‘I’m sorry,’ said Claudia. ‘Can we sit somewhere and explain what’s happened?’
Zach was in his gym gear and several times rubbed a finger around the inner neckline of his T-shirt with the energy that was coursing through him.
Claudia and Dominic followed him through to a small living area.
‘You live alone?’ she asked.
‘Yeah, I moved out earlier in the year.’ He blushed. ‘With a little help from my parents.’ He didn’t bother to sit, instead he turned on them. ‘So tell me.’
The room was sparse. A young lad on his own, still attempting to find his feet, to find out who he was in a space of his own. There were no family photos. No prints on the wall. Instead, the focus of the room was the television in the corner, and to the side of it a bookcase crammed with assorted books. Claudia studied the shelves, trying to make out what Zach was in to. She was always interested in other people’s reading habits.
From what she could see he was a sci-fi reader. Old classics like Dune, Fahrenheit 451 and The War of the Worlds, smashed up against new releases by authors such as Charles Stross, John Scalzi and Blake Crouch. There was a book, A Town Called Discovery, by R. R. Haywood, slung casually on the sofa, a bookmark poking halfway through it. There was an attempt at comfort with cushions scattered along the back of the sofa. Claudia could imagine him curled up here reading his book, not a care in the world.
Zach had his whole life in front of him, and here they were about to terrify the life out of him.
‘Shall we sit?’ asked Claudia, directing her gaze to the sofa.
Zach huffed. ‘Tell me.’ He sat down and Claudia and Dominic followed suit.
‘You’ve been following the news?’ Claudia asked by way of an answer.
Zach thought for a minute. Obviously there was nothing but negative reports coming through on the news channels, and his mind was too scared to make the very clear link with the drawing. Though she wasn’t sure how the press had presented it.
‘You don’t mean . . .’ He struggled to find the right words as his mind stumbled over the answer.
‘The murderer we are trying to trace that the press have dubbed the Artist, yes. I’m afraid so.’ Claudia was sitting forward, offering her reassurance.
‘You must have it wrong.’ He clawed at his neck.
‘You have a tattoo of wings that go across your chest?’
His eyes widened in shock. ‘How can you . . . how do you . . . how?’
‘Do you have a bag you can pack?’ Dominic asked.
‘A bag?’ Zach couldn’t keep up with the conversation.
‘We need to relocate you tonight,’ Claudia explained. ‘As you can see from the image, it very clearly is you. It’s a warning that you’re the next victim. We want to put you in a safe place where he’ll be unable to get to you.’
Zach jumped to his feet. Spun on the spot. Ran his hands through his hair. Spun around again.
‘Look,’ said Claudia. ‘This is a lot to take in.’ She was over the moon they had found Zach before he had turned into a victim, but it was clear he was scared and uncertain and didn’t know what to do with himself. Her job was to reassure him and get him to come along with them so she could keep him safe. That was her first step. Once he was safely ensconced in a hotel room, they needed to focus on finding a way to get their hands on his prospective killer. ‘If you can slow down and take a couple of deep breaths we’ll walk you through everything at a pace you can cope with.’ She’d go as slowly as he demanded. Now they were with him, he was safe. She couldn’t imagine how terrifying something like this must be. Seeing the Artist all over the news reports for his drawings and subsequent murders and then seeing your own face on the next drawing — it must be totally horrifying. No wonder he was a man on the edge.
‘I have a job. In the morning. I can’t just . . .’ He trailed off.
‘I’m sure they’ll understand,’ said Dominic, ‘considering the circumstances.’
‘Your safety is paramount,’ said Claudia. ‘As you can see, the image is of you. That means you’re his next target. He’s coming for you, and we won’t allow that. We need to take you out of circulation. Do you consent to being in our protection?’
Zach quivered. His whole body vibrating. Then he nodded.
‘Good.’ Claudia kept her tone relaxed. ‘Pack that bag. It only needs to be light. We’ll get out of here and put you up in a hotel. Somewhere he can’t find you.’
Zach looked around the room, then stalked to the corner, where his phone was charging at a plug socket. He pulled the charger out and held it with his phone. ‘I’ll go and get a couple more bits.’ His voice was shaky.
Claudia and Dominic sat on the sofa and waited. They could hear him moving about in the other rooms of the flat. He soon reappeared with a small holdall in his hand and a jacket thrown through the handles. He walked to the sofa and collected the book that was resting there, shoving it into the unzipped bag.
‘Let’s go then.’ Dominic stood. ‘We’ll get you to safety and go from there.’
The hotel they chose, the Jurys Inn, was not too far away from Zach’s flat and it didn’t take long to get him booked in to a room on one of the higher floors.
‘There are only a handful of us who know you’re here,’ said Claudia as she inserted the plastic key card into the reader.
She entered first and had a good look around. Nothing was out of place. It looked like any other hotel room she had ever been in. There was a television on a wide set of drawers and a tray with a kettle and a couple of mugs with tea and coffee sachets ready for thirsty guests. Opposite w
as a double bed, and on the bedside table a couple of pamphlets for things to do nearby as well as a box of tissues and the remote control for the television.
‘Looks like you have everything you need,’ said Claudia.
It was a nice hotel. Zach looked worried. ‘You’re paying for this?’ he queried.
‘Don’t worry.’ She smiled. ‘This is most definitely on us. We have an organisational discount with the company. If you can, try to relax, make the most of this. Order yourself something to eat. Room service, please. Don’t leave your room under any circumstances. And do not inform any of your family or friends where you are tonight. Of course, you can be in touch with them. I’m sure your parents are worried about you. Call them and tell them you’re safe. Tell them the police have installed an alarm at your address. No need to worry them. But pretend you’re at home.’ She stared hard at him. ‘Do I make myself clear? We do not want this killer to have any possible way of finding out where you are.’
Zach nodded.
‘I mean it. No updating your Facebook profile that you’re the guy in the drawing and are in a hotel for your own safety. No matter how exciting it might sound. You do anything like that and you alert him to the fact you’re not at home. We’re going to have officers watching your flat. As long as you do as I tell you and keep your location secret and even the fact that you’re not at home a secret, then you’ll be safe.’
There was the sound of mumbled voices beyond the door as a couple walked past the room.
Worry washed over Zach’s face again. ‘You’re leaving me here? Alone?’
‘You’re not alone Zach. There’s a marked police car outside the front and someone will check on you every hour or so. It might disturb your sleep, but that’s not really why you’re here tonight, so you’ll have to put up with it. The thing is, the killer will search for you at your home and we only have so many resources, so I’m prioritising your flat. I’ve risk assessed this decision, and so long as you do as I say and don’t leave this room, then you’ll be perfectly safe. Do not make me regret trusting you, Zach.’
CHAPTER 43
As soon as they arrived back at headquarters, there was a message for Claudia and Dominic that Sharpe wanted to see them.
Claudia looked at her father and he shrugged.
She popped into the ladies and straightened herself up, spraying herself with deodorant to cover the after-effects of the day’s heat and frustrations. Then with Dominic’s agreement they selected the lift. Climbing the stairs was too much right now, even though the warmth was lessening as the day died.
Sharpe’s PA had gone home and the door was ajar. She must have seen Claudia or Dominic, as she called them through the second they arrived.
Sharpe was standing, face to the window, arms crossed. Without turning she instructed Claudia to close the door. An icy shiver ran down Claudia’s back. This didn’t look good. She had no idea what it was about, but she didn’t have a good feeling.
Eventually Sharpe turned. Her features pinched. Her lips pursed. ‘Have a seat.’
Dominic did as he was told, but Claudia didn’t want to sit. She had an urge to pace around the office space. This wasn’t positive news and sitting still was not what she wanted to do. ‘Can I stand, ma’am?’
Sharpe gave her a pointed look, recognised that she herself was still standing and inclined her head.
Claudia let out a silent breath. Whatever was coming, she would control her reaction.
Dominic looked between the two women who were now towering over him and got to his feet. Sharpe let out an exasperated sigh.
‘I’ll get straight to the point,’ she said. ‘You’re wondering why I’ve called you here when you’re so busy.’
Claudia needed to organise a team to sit up on Zach Williams’s address. She hoped this wouldn’t take long. All she could do was wait her boss out.
‘I’ve had a phone call today from the prison liaison officer at Doncaster, and apparently a guy by the name of Craig Lawton, Tyler’s cellmate, has made a statement saying Tyler confessed to him one night in their cell to killing Ruth.’
Claudia’s throat tightened up. The air that was so natural for her to breathe became thick and cloggy. She struggled and choked. Coughed and spluttered. How could this be? She’d spoken to Tyler. He’d been adamant he hadn’t killed Ruth. Why would he then confess to someone else he had done it?
Dominic jumped up to Claudia’s aid. He grabbed her arm, swung her sideways and rubbed her back, gently telling her to breathe.
Easier said than done.
She grasped for air.
Dominic wavered in front of her.
The heat of the day and the shock of the announcement had affected her, but she could get this under control.
She looked at her father supporting her and steeled herself. How dare she react so badly when this was his wife and the love of his life? She slowed down her breaths, taking them in deep until they were under control again.
Sharpe was peering at her awkwardly and with some degree of concern.
‘I’m okay.’ She straightened herself up and pulled herself free of Dominic’s grip. ‘I’m okay,’ she said again, feeling more than a little foolish for her reaction.
The news had come from out of the blue. Tyler had only just finished trying to convince her he hadn’t killed Ruth. Why would he then blab to someone else and tell them he had killed her? She shook herself and focused on her father. ‘How are you?’
He gave her a weak smile. ‘It brings some kind of closure, I suppose.’
‘I’m sorry to be the one to bring this news to you, especially in the middle of such a difficult case.’ Sharpe walked to her desk and seated herself behind it.
Claudia and Dominic were still standing, processing the information she’d imparted.
‘You believe the snitch?’ Claudia asked to no one in particular.
Puzzlement covered both Dominic and Sharpe’s features, and Claudia was a little anxious at having broached the question. It was clear from their faces they’d swallowed the story whole.
‘What are you thinking?’ asked Sharpe, rather than answering Claudia’s question. Ever the diplomatic supervisor. She ruled with an iron fist, but she was cautious and sensitive when the need arose. Especially when it came to the loss of a serving police officer, and having the family of that police officer — both of them serving officers themselves — standing in front of her. Claudia could see that she knew when to be careful.
Dominic’s face was darker. Like he wanted to shut her down. Like this was over for him, and she was about to explode a bomb under it all. He wanted it all to be clear cut, she knew. He could grieve and have someone to blame. It made it easier.
Yet, here she was about to, if not explode a bomb under it all, at least light a touch paper. And at the very least, show them an unearthed ordinance.
‘I spoke to Tyler,’ she turned to Sharpe. ‘You know that.’
Dominic’s eyes darkened.
‘He said he didn’t kill Ruth.’
Sharpe leaned forward and steepled her hands in front of her face. ‘How many criminals have you known, Claudia? And how many of those have pleaded their innocence to you? It’s what they do. But in the dark of the night when they’re alone in a tiny space with no one in the world for comfort but some other scrawny guy to talk to, what do you think they’re going to do? They’re going to talk. They’re going to try to make a connection with someone. I’d let what he told you slide, Claudia. We have it in a proper statement from Lawton. He’s no reason to make it up, and he hasn’t been promised anything in return for making his statement. Those are the best kind of statements, as well you know.’
And she did. She sank into one of the chairs opposite Sharpe and put her head in her hands. ‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Dad.’ What must he think of her, putting her own feelings before his?
A hand landed on her shoulder. ‘It’s okay, love. It came as a shock to both of us. It was something I hoped for, thou
gh. You, on the other hand, have been given the run-around by the evil bastard.’
She looked at Sharpe, who shrugged.
‘I suppose I’d better get back to the team and carry on with what we need to do.’
‘You’re both okay?’ asked Sharpe.
‘I am,’ said Dominic, his hand still resting on his daughter’s shoulder.
Claudia stood, shrugging off her dad. ‘I’m fine. If Tyler has screwed with me, then so be it. I’ll move past it. I’ve got other things to be getting on with.’
Sharpe gave a curt nod and released the two detectives from her office.
CHAPTER 44
The mood in the incident room was buoyant. They had identified the third victim and had him stashed away in a hotel. There would be no murder tonight. They had stopped the killer in his tracks and it felt pretty damn good. If they could drink on the premises, then Claudia knew they’d be popping a cork or two this evening.
‘Let’s not get ahead of ourselves though,’ she said. ‘We’ve done well with the ID of Zach Williams, but the difficult part of this investigation is still in front of us, and that’s catching the guy behind all this. He’s been two moves in front every step of the way. I need a couple of volunteers to stake out Zach’s address to see if this killer makes an appearance. The rest of you can go home and get some rest, ready for tomorrow. I’ll update the uniform night shift inspector about what we’re doing, that way if you need backup they’ll be there immediately.’
She looked around at her team. ‘So, volunteers?’
Lisa raised an arm.
‘Thanks, Lisa. One more. Don’t leave Lisa out there on her own. You know she’ll fall asleep if she doesn’t have someone to talk to.’
Lisa objected and the room laughed.
Krish shouted out that he’d join her for the night. If anyone was going to get their hands on the Artist, he would be the one.
‘Thanks, both. Keep a discreet distance. Don’t put him off coming up close. Allow him to make a move on the property. Keep your wits about you, pay attention. We’ve got permission from Zach to watch his flat, and all the directed surveillance authority paperwork is in order. Stay safe. I don’t want to come in tomorrow and find out one of you has fallen into his hands because he’s lost his target. He’s not a stupid man from what we know of him.’
SECONDS TO DIE a totally gripping serial killer thriller with a twist (Detective Claudia Nunn Book 2) Page 16
