The Chess Player

by Andrew Parker

  The investigation had put a strain on their relationship, especially with her mother taking up a lot of her time. Was she being selfish? Was she not giving John enough support? She knew there would be times like this. She just didn’t need it at this moment!

  Her mother was wheeechair bound since Nikki was the age of nineteen and she had doted on her mum ever since especially when her Dad died two years later with a sudden heart attack. Her mother had broken her back in a car accident, the other car involved was with a ‘jack the lad’ seventeen year old who was over the drink drive limit, but escaped unharmed in more ways than one; £200 pound fine and a three month ban from driving.

  She smiled when she thought how determined her mum had been in conquering her disability. No use of her legs but she became as independent as she could. It didn’t stop her from driving going to the shops and whizzing around the Supermarket and going to all sorts of places on holiday. Nikki had a photograph of her mum and dad in India with her mum riding an dephant. It was her favourite photograph. Her mum was disabled while her dad died two months later, the last photograph of them together.

  But now her mother was bed bound for a few weeks with a bed sore and although the nurse came around in the morning to dress the wound and attend to her mother’s wants and needs. She had to go around at lunchtimes with magazines to stop the daytime TV boredom and make lunch, then again later in the afternoon to make dinner and then stay for a little while in the evenings making idle chit chat.

  This evening was different, it was Sunday, her night for aerobics, time for herself and to let out all her stress and frustrations.

  As she continued walking to their flat, which was thankfully only ten minutes away from her mother’s house, she could hear footsteps behind her. Although it was only around five o’cock at night it was pitch black and the route home was dimly lit with infrequent passers by. She decided to quicken her pace as she always fell a little bit nervous walking alone. The footsteps behind also seemed to quicken, Nikki suddenly stopped and stood still, there was silence. She turned anxious to see who was following, there was no one there. Nikki was frightened and started to run, it was only another eight hundred yards to the flat.

  As he followed her he could see her long flowing brown hair, she was only small about five feet four but very well proportioned he thought as he began to fantasise.

  Nikki let out a loud scream as she ran into this brick wall of a man.

  ‘Sorry didn’t mean to scare you’ the heavy Scottish voice said.

  Nikki stepped away from this very large man, well over six feet tall, shaven head and goatie beard. An appearance that would put the fear into most, never mind running into him unexpectedly in the darkness winter brought. Her heart skipped a beat, as she looked at him rigid with fear.

  ‘I know your husband, I’m a copper’ Mac^od said as he showed her his I.D.

  ‘You scared the hell out of me…what do you want’ Nikki replied as she struggled to gasp for air.

  ‘I am truly sorry I should have phoned first but I desperately need to see your husband’.

  ‘What for?’

  ‘It’s in connection with the arrest made yesterday, it is very important. Could you ask him to meet me at the Angers Retreat tonight?’

  Nikki had walked back ten yards, although her body had stopped shaking she was still very wary and shocked that he had crept up on her in this way. ‘Yes Ill tell him’ she replied nervously.

  ‘Thanksby the way he’s a very lucky man’

  Maceod smiled.

  Nikki fell repulsion creep all over her body and hated the perverse thoughts that he was implying. She just wanted to get home, call John and get him to come home as soon as he could.

  ‘Angers Retreat okayIll be waiting’. Maceod

  said as he made his way past her and walked away Nikki fell a shudder through her body and thought it would be best to make her way home as quickly as possible.

  Williams received the call and was angry and embarrassed that Nikki had called interrupting the interview with Stephen Tarling for the murder of Susan Kenyon-Lloyd. When he heard the anxiety and worry in her voice pleading for him to come home after her encounter with Mackod he had no hesitation.

  Howcroft let Williams go on the proviso that he wasn’t seeing red mist and that his main focus was on Tarling. Once Williams had seen Nikki, making sure she was alright, he sped to the ‘Angers Retreat’ Public House. He was seething that Macteod had made contact with Nikki in that way, and he knew exactly what he was trying to do.

  ‘You are not going scare me or my family you bastard!’ Williams muttered under his breath. He skidded to a halt in the pub’s car park jumped out of the car and slammed the door shut behind him. He barged through the doors looking for Mackod. The pub was beginning to fill up with after work drinkers. He spotted Mackod at the bar chatting with the barmaid.

  Williams pushed his way through to the bar, getting shouts of ‘watch it mate’ as some precious lager was spilt. As he got coser to the bar Mackod saw him and smiled.

  ‘Take that smile of your face Maceod, before I wipe it off!’ Williams blasted.

  ‘Ooh’ Macteod mimicked and burst out laughing.

  Williams nearly swung for him, he was full of pent up anger but he managed to control himsell Just. ‘Look Macteod I don’t know what game you are playing but if you ever scare Nikki like that again, I promise you Ill fucking kick the shit out of you!’.

  Maceod grinned, revealing a gold tooth on his upper front teeth. ‘Nikki eh? Nice name. You done well for yourself she’s got a cute little….’

  A punch full in the face stunned and knocked Mackod backwards. He put his hand up to his nose it stung like crazy. A slight trickle of blood fell from one of his nostrils, he wiped it away and stared at Williams, like a cobra would stare before pouncing on its prey. He lunged at Williams and they both fell to the floor, they both struggled fiercely, Williams in trying to defend himself and Maceod trying to seriously harm Williams.

  Other customers at the bar were knocked and nearly brought down in the scuffle. Some drinks were dropped scattering glass on the floor, nervous screams were shrieked from two young teenage girls who were at the bar buying their ‘Barcadi Breezers’. The Landlord was quick to dial 999 and report the scuffle going on.

  Three blokes jumped into the affray to try and break it up. Two of them grabbed Mackod one held onto his neck firmly, levering him up, the other grabbed his arms stopping him from landing any more heavy bows. Maceod was frenzied like trying to take a bone from a dog and it took all their effort in trying to stop Maceod and pull him off Williams. The other guy jumped in quickly when Maceod’s arms stopped thrashing he yanked Williams to his feet and held on to his arms, just in case Williams wanted to retaliate.

  ‘Alright, let go of me’ Maceod demanded. They slowly relinquished their grip. ‘Let fucking go! They relented. ‘I won’t finish the piece of shit off Maceod said dusting himsel down.

  Williams shook his head in realising what he had done like two kids in the playground. He then touched his cheekbone and winced. A nice shiner will appear tomorrow. At that moment a police siren was heard outside.

  ‘Out of the way people, come on out of the way’ Officer Andrews said as he made his way through the crowd that had now gathered, ‘John’ was the shout of surprise as he recognised DS Williams. ‘Don’t tell me‘

  Williams bowed his head in shame and made his way out. Also officer Jordan made his way in and bumped into Williams, ‘Don’t tell me you were involved John’ he smirked.

  ‘Leave it Jordan’ Williams snapped as he bustled his way back out, trying to reach the cold air outside and cear his head. He knew Howcroft was going to be livid, and he had a fair idea of what the consequences were going to be. He just hoped Nikki would understand? A fool for doing what he did, but a hero for defending her
integrity.

  The two officers took statements, one from the Landlord who described the disturbance, the other from Macteod.

  ‘My name is Jack MacteodSpecial Operations

  New Scotland Yard’.

  A look of astonishment came across the face of the

  Andrews ‘what you meanyou and John had a fight’.

  Andrews was finding it hard to believe that two senior policemen had caused such a disturbance and altercation. But why It must have been over something very serious? He thought. ‘Could you tell me exactly what happened?’ he asked Mackod.

  ‘Of course I can officer, I was standing at the bar minding my own business having a drink and Williams came barging over, obviously very excited and angry about something and out of the blue whacked me straight on the nose’.

  Andrews stood there scratching his head, knowing that Williams wouldn’t just cause a fight for no reason. ‘What no argument?….nothing said to upset him?’

  Maceod stared back in a way as though he was being accused of lying about what happened, causing Andrews to raise his eyebrows with the response. ‘It’s just that I know Williams quite well and he isn’t the sort of guy that would just hit you unless you’ve caused serious offence or he had done it in retaliation’.

  Maceod went nose to nose with Andrews ‘Look just put down in your report, I won’t be pressing charges, but next time Ill break his fucking legs’. Mac^od walked away slowly leaving Andrews looking bemused. Andrews blew out heavily through his lips and waved the air with his hand after smelling Maceod’s breath. Whiskey, lager and cheese and onion crisps.

  Jordan came over, ‘Alright’ he asked Andrews, noticing the way Mac^od had been in Andrews face.

  ‘Yeah I’m okay, what did the Landlord say’

  ‘He said they had a bit of an argument and Williams hit him and then all hell broke loose’.

  Andrews stood there shaking his head ‘Doesn’t look good for John, lets go and get his side of the story back at the station’.

  Williams cosed the door behind him after telling Jordan and Andrews his side of events and the circumstances leading up to him hitting Maceod. The previous meeting with Maceod where he was threatened,

  Macteod following Nikki and scaring the life out of her and what Mackod said about Nikki in the pub. He hoped all those combination of events would help him in any disciplinary action, and they would take them into account.

  As he walked down the corridor he noticed Harris walking towards him.

  ‘Howcroft wants to see you in his office straight

  away’.

  Williams nodded’ He knows then?’

  ‘Everyone in the station knows’ Harris said alarmingly.

  Williams approached Howcroft’s door and knocked before entering. ‘You wanted to see me Guv’.

  Howcroft looked red faced shaking his head wandering around like a caged Lion. He was so incensed with Williams, ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing’ he foamed at the mouth.

  ‘Look Guv’ Williams tried to explain.

  ‘No you look John, I am so pissed-off with you, we are conducting a murder investigation. We have a high profile suspect who is one of our own and you go off and have a punch up with one of his team, the press are going to have a field day and in a minute I’ve got to explain everything to the hard nosed bitch upstairs’.

  ‘Guv, look Macteod‘.

  Howcroft cut off any explanation or excuse Williams wanted to give. ‘I don’t bloody care what Macteod did or didn’t doyou DON’T go off for a confrontation in a public place and two senior officers especially one of mine and have a bloody fight!’.

  There was a knock at the door. It was Jordan with the report. He gave it to Howcroft and walked straight back out.

  Howcroft sat back down at his desk, he leant forward putting his head in his hands. He looked back at Williams who seemed to be staring into oblivion. Howcroft straightened back up and in a calmer tone told Williams he would defend him to the hilt, regardless of what the report said. He would say that Williams was a very important member of his team. His detective work has been exemplary and had shown great initiative in this investigation.

  Williams nodded ‘Thanks Guv’.

  ‘Now go home to Nikki, I think you might have some explaining to do and Ill call you in the morning after I’ve found out from upstairs what your fate is’.

  Howcroft now had to go and see his boss the hard nosed bitch as she was known, Chief Superintendent Hothi. She was the highest-ranked black female in the country and proud of the fact. But she took no prisoners, no surprise due to the position she had climbed to.

  ‘Ma’am I have a report on one of our investigating officers into the Susan Lloyd murder. Not good reading I’m afraid’.

  She took the report with a scowled expression and studied the report carefully while Howcroft waited.

  ‘Not good reading indeed’ she said sternly. ‘Your opinion on DS Williams?’ Requiring Howcroft’s perspective.

  ‘He is a very good officer and this is totally out of character. If you note on the report his partner was harassed and then insulted and I’m sure most of us would have reacted in the same circumstance’.

  ‘Hmm’ she noted, still peering into the report, ‘unfortunately George I have no hesitation in suspending DS Williams from his duties immediately pending a full internal enquiry by CIB’.

  ‘But Ma’am’ Howcroft pleaded ‘Williams is very important to this case and is one of the best bloody blokes I’ve worked with’.

  ‘I’m sorry George if he is one of the best bloody blokes you’ve worked with’ disliking Howcroft’s tone. ‘Can you imagine what the press will do with this story? The investigation is already under the spotlight every day and now one of the investigating officers is having a punch up with a flow officer in a public house’.

  Howcroft nodded and imagined the ‘headlines’, ‘Sorry Ma’am, Ill inform Williams first thing’ he conceded.

  ‘Tonight we need to release two statements straight away, and you’ll have to let me know the finer details with our suspect tomorrow morning’.

  First statement:

  ‘We have arrested a male in connection with the Susan Kenyon-Lloyd murder investigation. We have ongoing enquiries to make and positive leads to follow up. But are confident, a quick conviction will be made. More detailed information will be given in a press conference to be arranged’.

  Second statement:

  ‘In an unfortunate and regrettable incident with one of our investigating officers. We have had no hesitation in suspending him pending a full and internal enquiry. Again detailed information relating to the incident will be given in a press conference to be arranged’.

  ‘George get those released immediately’ Hothi

  ordered ‘and George I want this investigation wrapped

  up as soon as. The powers above are getting restless’.

  ‘Yes Ma’am’ Howcroft nodded, ‘Ma’am I better tell you one thing as these statements are going out tonight’.

  ‘What?’

  ‘The murder suspect is no other than Assistant Commissioner Tarling’ Howcroft announced.

  ‘Bloody hell’ Hothi said falling back in her seat. ‘You had better have a case tighter than a virgins arse’ she retorted. ‘How long can you keep him?’

  ‘Another seventeen hours Ma’am’ Howcroft responded with a smile after being surprised by his bosses one liner.

  ‘Everything to me in the morning George, everything…. file, interview tapes ,evidence the lot, because if this goes pear shape‘.

  ‘I know Ma’am, Ill see you 7.30am sharp’ Howcroft conceded.

  Howcroft rolled over on to his back as the garbage trucks awoke him from his heavy deep. He groaned as he heard the noise of the bins being rattl
ed and emptied. Howcroft put his hand just above his eyebrow and tried to rub away the strong headache that was developing.

  He reached over and grabbed the alarm cock, and wondered how much time he had to doze before Jazz fm burst into life. ‘Oh shit’ he said as he suddenly jumped to the side of his bed it was 8.30am. He should have realised as the garbage round stopped religiously outside at that time on a Monday morning. ‘Bollocks’ he murmured, remembering how angry he fell about what Williams had done and quickly polished of a bottle of Valpolicella last night, forgetting to set the alarm.

  ‘The hard nosed bitch isn’t going to be happy’ he said to himself out loud, remembering he was supposed to have brought her the case history an hour go. He darted downstairs to the telephone and would profusely apologise and take an ear bashing at the same time. Howcroft grimaced as he made his way quickly downstairs, his headache thumped louder with every step he took.

  As he put the telephone down, with his ears still burning and the excuse of ‘up all night after a dodgy curry’ not working he noticed the outline of someone walking up to his door through the frosted glass.

  Howcroft opened the door before a knock at the door enraged his headache even further. It was Williams ‘good timing’ he said holding up a breakfast bag from ‘Big Mamma’s’ Italian Pantry’ in one hand and holding a tray of black coffee in the other.

  Howcroft smiled ‘you’re suspended’.

  Williams barged pass ‘Just want an update, that’s all’ as he made his way to the dining area. He was careful not to spill any as he placed the coffee down and the bag containing two Ciabatta with sausage, melted Gorgonzola and roasted pepper on the dining room table.

  ‘What you doing here John?, I thought you would be taking Nikki off to warmer climates’.

  Williams gave him a fleeting look of ‘you must be joking’ before taking a huge bite of his sandwich. ‘Sorry