The Chess Player

by Andrew Parker

  ‘Ill get it over to you this afternoon’ Doc mumbled as he took his last mouthful of sandwich.

  ‘Great, we must do this again’ Howcroft smiled.

  As they left the Pig and Whistle, a grey damp day awaited them. They shook hands and reconfirmed the report would be with Howcroft later that day. Howcroft had a sense of excitement as he headed back to the office, eager to make the telephone call.

  Howcroft was sitting at his desk, leaning back in his chair with his hands behind his head. He was pleased with the conversation he just had with Zara Norton. They had agreed to meet that evening, to Howcroft’s surprise in Bournemouth. He had given her directions, and she would call if there were any hold-ups or she got lost. Howcroft knew the file wasn’t the true reason for her hasty visit. He recognised it would be a good opportunity to counter question and find out about Assistant Commissioner Tarling.

  There was a knock at his door. ‘Come in’ Howcroft sounded, and returned his arms back on the desk and sat up straight. As Jason entered all he could see was this pearly white grin. ‘How you doing’ Jason greeted him, as he bounded over to the desk.

  ‘Great’ Howcroft laughed, as Jason had one of those appearances of always cheering you up, whatever mood you were in.

  ‘Good thing man, Doc asked me to bring this report over to you. He’s gone for a nap’.

  Howcroft eagerly stretched out his right hand and took the report from Jason. ‘Thanks’ he said, with a look of concentration directed at the report. He looked up at Jason, ‘can’t handle his drink at lunchtime?’

  Jason nodded with a grin ‘Ill see you around’. Jason left the room and cosed the door behind him. Howcroft turned the pages, ‘thorough as usual Doc’, then there it was in black and white. He shrieked out a forceful ‘yes!’ Tarling’s DNA sample from the hairbrush was a direct match with the semen found on Susan Kenyon-Lloyds body.

  ‘Got youyou bastard’, Howcroft jumped out of

  his chair in excitement and rushed to his office door. ‘Williams’ he shouted across the office. Williams cut short his conversation with Sandra and hurriedly made his way to Howcroft.

  ‘Guv, haven’t seen you that excited since Bournemouth beat Spurs in the Cup’.

  ‘Direct match with Tarling’s hair and the semen found on the body, another development is that I’m meeting one of his team tonight’ Howcroft beamed.

  Williams looked surprised at this latest development, ‘why is one of his team coming to see you?’

  ‘That file I sent back, but I think the real reason is Tarling wants to know how we are progressing in the investigation. He’s worried and we know why!’

  ‘What about Judge Lloyd?’ Williams asked, ‘do we stop following him?’

  ‘Not just yet’ Howcroft paused in deep thought, ‘I still feel there is a strong connection with these two’.

  It had just gone seven pm, Sandra Jones popped her head around Howcroft’s door, ‘night George’ she

  smiled ‘and a visitor to see youa Miss Zara Norton’

  Sandra raised her eyebrows as if suggesting a romantic rendezvous.

  ‘Good night Sandra’ Howcroft replied, waving his hand for her to cear off.

  Zara Norton appeared in the doorway, she had short cose cropped, blonde hair, which made her facial features more prominent. But they were features that could easily appear on the front cover of a fashion magazine. She was wearing a tight black dress that showed the curves of her stunning figure. Tucked under her arm a long raincoat and a briefcase tightly gripped in her hand. ‘You’re staring’.

  ‘Sorry Miss Norton, didn’t expect to meet someone as beautiful as you’ as he embarrassingly stretched out his hand to shake hello. ‘Pease sit down’, Howcroft pointed predictably to the chair in front of his desk, while he made his way around to the other side. He sat down in tandem with Zara and asked her to call him George. ‘Would you like tea or coffee?’ Howcroft offered.

  ‘No thanks’, Zara Norton was in business mode and tried to speed along the peasantries. She placed her briefcase on the floor beside her and the raincoat over her lap. She then reached into her briefcase and pulled out the file. The unsolved Colombian murder. ‘Chief Inspector—. Sorry, George, I understand you found this file as you were going over some old cases?’ she placed the file in front of him.

  Howcroft nodded, Zara quickly moved on ‘this file has become significant, as my boss is out in Colombia on a special combined operation with the FBI. We are disappointed that this file has not been returned to us and would like some answers from you being the investigating officer’.

  The allure of this woman was quickly fading from Howcroft’s mind and he was surprised at her tone.

  Suddenly he fell uneasy that Special Operations were pointing the finger at him. ‘Hold on Miss Norton, this was an unsolved murder investigation that was filed unsolved due to no leads’. He relayed his three points by sticking up one finger at a time. ‘No motive! No witness! No

  suspect!and I must point out there has been no

  communication from your department requesting this file back’.

  ‘I can only apologise on behal of my department’.

  Howcroft rudely interrupted ‘Sorry Miss Norton, but I don’t believe this is the real reason you came to see me? I think your boss has sent you to find out how we are progressing in our investigation!’

  Zara shook her head, ‘No that is not the reason’.

  Howcroft leaned forward onto his desk, ‘We both know that’s the reason you are here, and not to rake over some old file. In fact if you do want to know something’. Howcroft paused for a moment contemplating the effect his words might have. ‘ In fact there is strong evidence linking your boss to the crime scene’.

  Zara had a look of dismay, her head exploded with thoughts and questions she wanted answers to all at once. ‘Evidence?what evidence?’

  ‘We have a positive result on a DNA sample’.

  The sunken look of Zara gave her an air of vulnerability, and

  Howcroft fell pleased he had said what he did. He would now push it further, could he employ Zara’s help in entrapment? Look, I know you will be protective of your boss, but with this compelling evidence I could arrest Tarling as soon as he sets foot back in England. But I respect his position and require your help’.

  Zara sunk into her chair, shaking her head in a bewildered state. Their was a look of resignation in her face, ‘okay, Ill help you if you tell me one thing’

  Howcroft nodded in anticipation, if it would get his man. ‘Tell me’ Zara carried on ‘tell me what is the strong DNA evidence?’

  Howcroft sensed an ulterior motive to the question, maybe their relationship had sexual undertones. If so he would tell her the truth. He would gamble on her help? ‘There were traces of Tarling’s semen on Mrs Kenyon-Lloyd’s body’.

  Zara welled up with emotion and wanted to let her anger out with an explosion of expletives. Howcroft could see she was hurting ‘Sorry Miss Norton, I didn’t‘.

  Zara anticipated what Howcroft was going to say ‘no that’s alright, we are professionals and if Stephen Tarling is a murder suspect, then you will receive my full co-operation’. Howcroft smiled sympathetically.

  Zara stood up, ‘I need to go to the bathroom for a moment’.

  Howcroft stood up likewise, and told her the directions. He took her coat and hung it on the inside of the door.

  Zara dumped the briefcase next to the basin, ‘Bastard!’ she shouted letting out her anger and emotion. She ran the cold water tap and gently splashed her face, removed some tissue paper from her briefcase and patted her face dry. ‘Bastard’ she reiterated, and breathed a heavy sigh as she looked into the mirror. She was good-looking, young, why would he do that? She took another heavy breath and composed hersell she pouted her lips and reapplied some red lip
stick. She made her way back to Chief Inspector Howcroft.

  ‘Okay, so what do you want me to do?’ Zara asked.

  Howcroft noticed the emotion had gone from her face and was pleased she was on his side. ‘I assume Tarling will be making contact with you soon?’

  Zara nodded hesitantly and asked ‘Why don’t you just bring him in for questioning’

  Howcroft laughed ‘This is the Assistant Commissioner we are taking about, can you imagine the internal politics, not to mention the press having a field day! My arse would be on the line for arresting him, and at the slightest chance of him getting off I could kiss my pension goodbye’.

  Zara understood and gave a singe nod, while looking down at the floor in deep thought. Howcroft came over and touched her on the shoulder, bringing her out of

  her en-vision. ‘I need your help on this one ZaraI’m

  banking on your cose friendship with Tarling’.

  Chapter 13.

  The rain started hitting the windscreen quite heavily making visibility poor. Williams was following up on a tip-off he had received at the office. Dave Harris had taken the call in his own inimitable stye and passed on the message to Detective Sergeant Williams.

  Williams was making his way to the Happy Eater at junction 8 along the M3, hoping it wouldn’t be a wild goose chase. But the message was for him to: Come done, Happy Eater at 8pm, with a significant lead in the murder investigation. Williams knew the result; of the DNA test with Tarling, but it was an invitation too intriguing to refuse.

  He could now see the bright sign of Happy Eater in the distance and the blurred flashing orange lights as cars indicated to go into the Diner’s car park. Williams pulled up into one of the parking bays, windscreen wipers still frantically trying to keep the rain off.

  He was told that the person would recognise him and that he was just to order a coffee and sit at an empty table. As he walked into the Diner he was quick to scan all the people that were inside. There was no obvious suspect and how was he to know what they looked liked anyway? Williams polite^ took his coffee and made his way to a two-seater table by the window.

  ‘Williams I assume?’ was the deep sounding Scottish voice that caught Williams by surprise. He nodded as he looked up to see a brute oo a man, shaven head and ‘goatie’ beard.

  ‘Williams I won’t beat about the bush, I want to know why you was in my bosses house the other day’

  Williams could sense the menace in his voice and a look in his eyes that would put the fear of God in most people. Williams didn’t know what to say and how did he know he was at Stephen Tarling’s residence.

  ‘Sorry, first things first, who are you? And what house are we taking about?’ Williams responded in a manner that showed he wasn’t going to be scared off.

  ‘Look you little tosser! You know exactly what

  the hell I’m taking about’ MacCleod said leaning slightly across the table with fists cenched ‘You were at Stephen Tarling’s house and he wants to know what you were doing there?

  MacCleod leaned back in the uncomfortable screwed down, plastic chair, hoping his tactics would work and Williams would tell all. He remembered the call from Zara requesting the softly, softly approach, but that wasn’t his stye.

  Williams still looked a picture of calmness and took another sip of his coffee, he was thinking how bloody stupid he was to get into this situation, but would play it nice and easy and leave as soon as he could.

  ‘I you are referring to the break-in, then I just happened to be in the vicinity at the time, I had no idea it was your Governor’s housethe local boys took over’.

  Macteod huffed in a show of contempt, he leaned forward again and looked wild eyed straight at Williams.

  ‘Look we’re flow coppers yeah’ Macteod said. His tone was now more rational, although it still boomed out in a deep Scottish accent. ‘My boss is trying to stop drugs coming into our country. We’re making great strides in nicking the pushers and dealers and you want to incriminate him in some bloody murder investigation?’

  Williams knew Tarling was anxious about the investigation and had sent one of his heavies to warn him off. But he was also angered in the way they could just discard someone’s life in a pissed-off sentence.

  ‘Look, if your boss is implicated in anyway and I’m

  not saying that he isthen we will have to follow up any

  leads and eliminate. If your boss can help us with our enquiries then we will be more than grateful, in the meantime I suggest this meeting is a waste of time and unless you’ve got anything useful to tell me I’m going!’

  Maceod was stunned into silence and was struggling to find a response. He suddenly stood up

  looking vexed. ‘Just go careful Williams.just go

  careful’.

  Mackod strode off barging a young adolescent out of the way as he did so. Williams breathed a sigh of relief and couldn’t believe how asinine he had been. His hand shook slightly as he finished his coffee and replaced it on the saucer. He was keen to get home and see Nikki and attack the bottle of ten year-old ‘Chivas Regal’.

  Williams phoned George Howcroft on his mobile eager to tell him of the little chat that he had just encountered.

  It was the morning, Thursday 11th December. Chief Inspector Howcroft shuddered and then put his hands on the radiator for a brief moment as he looked out of the window. Howcroft shook his head as he saw Williams draw up into one of the parking bays, ‘fool’ he muttered under his breath. Williams reminded him of himsel in his younger days. Maybe he would have rushed off done with a lead that was to good to refuse.

  Bloody idiot he thought, could have got killed but in a sense of contradiction he was pleased that Tarling felt it necessary to put the ‘frightner’s’ on his investigation team. Howcroft knew he was getting dose to a result;, but didn’t want to get too carried away and end up with egg on his face.

  There was a knock at the door. ‘Come’ Howcroft responded.

  It was Sandra Jones. ‘Alright to come in George?’

  Howcroft summoned Sandra in with a nod of the head and a smile.

  ‘I’ve got the bank details you were after on the Judge’ Sandra explained.

  Sandra sat down and assembled the paperwork in order so she could talk to the Chief Inspector.

  ‘Did you have any luck with Tarling’s bank details?’

  Sandra looked up with, you must be joking expression, ‘not a cat in hells chance, you would have more chance of finding out what the Queen has in her bank account’.

  Howcroft laughed and raised his eyebrows ‘it was worth a go’.

  Sandra smiled and was pleased that George was in such an insouciant mood. ‘Okay, I’ve marked on the bank statement what would seem large transactions into his bank account, but no substantial withdrawals’.

  Sandra handed copies of Judge Francis Bank statements to Howcroft, which covered the last twelve months. Howcroft studied the paperwork and looked at some of the figures highlighted with a yellow marker. They showed cash £1000, £1200, £1500 etc but with no set pattern.

  Howcroft looked up at Sandra ‘It would appear when his current bank account starts to run low, probably through his wife’s expensive shopping habits, he tops it up’.

  Sandra nodded in agreement and was eager to point out that there was nothing to suggest it was coming from an improper source’.

  ‘No you are right Sandra, but he has obviously got easy access to money from somewhere, but nothing I’m sure that is going to connect him to a money laundering operationhe’s not that stupid’.

  Sandra nodded again ‘Anything else I can do?’

  ‘Ermno. Actually yes, have a word with

  Williams on my behal and tell him what a bloody fool he’s been following up on a lead by himself, he could have been killed’.


  Sandra had a look of astonishment and shook her head, but definitely would have a quiet word in her mother-figure way. It would sound better coming from her.

  ‘So George, have you seen or spoken to Lisa recently?’ Sandra asked concerned as to whether George was not spending too many hours on the investigation.

  ‘Oh shitno I was going‘

  ‘George’ Sandra interrupted as though she was going to tell a child off in an endearing manner. ‘I can’t believe it, you think the world of that girl, don’t lose her again’.

  ‘I knowI know I was going to, but I’m in the

  middle of a bloody murder investigation, she knows the score’.

  Sandra shook her head ‘You know the score too!come on George how long will a phone call take?’

  Howcroft nodded in a reprehensible fashion, he also realised that Sandra lost her daughter who was around the same age as Lisa in a hit and run driving accident eleven years ago.

  He looked at Sandra knowing that she cared and said he would call Lisa now, even further than that he would arrange a meal out for tomorrow evening. Sandra was delighted but would wait and hear the telephone call just to make sure. Howcroft had a pleasing look of submission and duly had the congenial conversation with his daughter.

  As Sandra left the office she had a sense of wellbeing and was pleased that George was making time for his daughter even though he had the pressures of solving a murder investigation. She remembered the good times with her own daughter and how also she regretted not making more time. Tears began to well up, and she quickly wiped them away and told herself not to be so stupid.

  ‘Good morning everyone’ Williams walked through the door.

  ‘Oh John’ Sandra shouted out’ can I have a word?’

  ‘Sorry Sandra, just checking in with the Guv, then I’m off to see Brewer and Barnes, they’ve got a lead on the security deposit key’ Williams said apologetically.