The Chess Player

by Andrew Parker

  ‘Chief Inspector Howcroft’ Judge Lloyd smiled, ‘pease come in’.

  ‘Thanks, I think we are going to have a storm’ Howcroft stated as he brushed passed the Judge.

  The Judge raised his eyebrows and took a step forward to sense the elements for himself. The rain drops were beginning to beat down heavier, and thick heavy couds were outlined by a flash of bright yellow for a brief second. Judge Lloyd quickly cosed the door ‘I can see why you’re Chief Inspector’ he laughed, let me take your coat’.

  Judge Lloyd led Howcroft into the lounge and the warmth and smell of the open log fire was the welcoming greeting that Howcroft desired.

  ‘Brandy’

  Howcroft walked to a position in front of the fire where the heat just fell right, ‘on this occasion I won’t say nothanks’.

  Judge Lloyd went over to the drink’s cabinet, rattled some bottles before reaching for his fine French cognac. He returned to where Howcroft was standing, with double measures in crystal glasses and handed one to the Chief Inspector. ‘Pease sit down’ the Judge gestured towards a large inviting armchair, ‘You’ve come to update me on the investigation’ he spoke calmly with no emotion in his voice.

  Howcroft nodded hoping the lie wasn’t visible across his face. He momentarily decided to change tact and ask about the Judge’s well being, although he still had Hothi’s words of ‘bring the Judge in’ ringing in his ears.

  A sudden clatter of heavy rain against the windows, followed by a loud clap of thunder made them both widen their eyes in realising how vicious this storm was turning out to be. Howcroft took a sip of his brandy before looking up at the Judge, who had moved into the exact position he hadjust vacated. ‘How are you coping’ Howcroft frowned in trying to be sincere.

  The Judge let out a hal-hearted laugh ‘Is this the caring side of the police? My wife has been bloody murdered! How do you think I’m coping’ ‘I’m sorry

  George, you didn’t deserve that’ Judge Lloyd said outwardly admitting the outburst wasn’t justified, ‘I know you’re only doing yourjob’.

  Howcroft noticed a sudden change in the Judge’s demeanor, ‘that’s okay, you have lost a wife a woman you loved very much’.

  ‘I did’ was a sharp angry response from the Judge which made Howcroft feel nervous, then a calm exterior flowed back over the Judge and he then spoke in a tone of fondness. ‘ Do you know what George?’ he turned and looked at the glowing fire, which had devoured the wooden logs and threw out bright yellow flames. ‘We used to curl up in front of the fire, bottle of brandy andjust talk about anything and everything, I used to run my fingers

  through her hair‘ he broke off into more intimate

  thoughts in his head, before turning to face Howcroft again. ‘She was a beautiful woman George’.

  Howcroft nodded without saying a word, and took another sip of brandy as though plucking up courage to say something.

  ‘Anyway George I digress, you’ve come to update me on the investigation?’

  It started to drizzle out of the night sky as Williams and Harris made their way to the front entrance and buzzed through on the intercom. They heard the door click, pulled it open and made their way to the reception area.

  ‘Hello again’.

  Williams recognised the security guard from before who acknowledged them with a nod of the head, ‘hello, sorry I didn’t get your name last time’ Williams smiled apologetically.

  ‘Tony’ was the grunt back.

  Harris turned his head away and grinned. Williams knew what he was thinking ‘dealing with a right idiot’. Williams placed his hands on top of the wooden reception desk and started moving his fingers up and down on the surface as though he was nervous.

  Tony slowly stood up from the chair he was seated on ‘I know why you are here’.

  Harris swivelled back around on his heels, surprised, mouth slightly open, Williams slanted his head in a curious manner and stopped the finger banging. ‘You do?’

  ‘Yes, had some of your mob earlier’.

  Harris and Williams looked at each other and frowned. Tony continued and looked for confirmation ‘you’re here about Jack aren’t you?’ He looked at their blank expressions both in turn. ‘The murder of Jack Lyon?’

  Williams tilted his head back in relief after thinking the Judge had given strict instructions not to entertain any visitors, especially from the police. ‘No Tony, we have a search warrant to search the premises of Judge Francis Lloyd’.

  ‘Oh., I wondered last time why you were asking questions about the Judge, can I see?’ Tony held out his ape like hand.

  ‘Yes, of course’ Williams was holding the forgery in his hand and passed it over. He looked up to the ceiling and prayed, as Tony appeared to study it carefully. ‘All seems to be in order’ Tony acknowledged, ‘I knock off at seven, so Ill take you up there and then inform the shift changeover’.

  Keys rattling in his hand Tony led the way to the levator, Harris and Williams followed behind. The levator stopped on the third floor and the doors pinged open. Tony turned right along the red shag pile carpet, head down he led them the short distance to Thirty-One A. He located the key he wanted and inserted. ‘There you are gentleman, Ill leave you to it’ and shut the door behind them once they were inside.

  ‘Wow, nice pad’ Harris remarked.

  The room walls were decorated in light green, covered by copies of Monet’s and Picasso’s. Over a replica fireplace was a water-colour of the great racehorse ‘Nijinsky’.

  In the middle of the room was a glass coffee table with an arrangement of flowers, coming out of a typical Ainsley china vase. Williams opened the door to the right of him. It was Judge Lloyd’s study big oak desk with a black leather chair and a computer sitting plumb middle of the desk.

  ‘So what we looking for John?’ Harris asked as he scratched the back of his head.

  ‘Anything that will connect him to the murder of his wife’ Williams said eager to find some evidence, ‘especially a black coat and bowler hat’.

  Harris pulled his eyebrows in together ‘I suppose Ill start with the bedroom then’.

  ‘Okay, I’m going to see what our Judge has in his

  study’.

  Williams entered the room and made his way to behind the desk, the computer was in the middle, to the right hand side a two-tier tray system in which both were empty. On the left was a telephone and silver framed photograph of the Judge and his wife on a skiing holiday. Williams sat down on the chair and the soft leather enveloped his body.

  There were two sets of drawers on either side of the desk, Williams wrapped his fingers around the brass ring pull and slid the drawer open slowly. Nothing. Apart from the usual, pens, pencils, notepad, stapler etc…which Williams gave a hal-hearted rummage, but knew there was nothing doing. He slammed the drawer shut and pulled the next drawer open.

  ‘Going on holiday?’ Williams thought, as he

  grabbed the brochures‘Holiday Homes Abroad’,

  ‘Prestige Property’, ‘Exdusive Caribbean Villas’—’Shit’ he whispered in amazement as he read an acknowledgement letter from Resort Quest in the Caribbean. ‘We are awaiting confirmation from Zurich Bank International of transferring the nine hundred thousand US dollar for the five bedroom beach villa at St.James’. Williams crashed the brochures onto the desk as he fumbled for his mobile telephone in his haste to contact Sandra Jones.

  The phone lit up as he punched in the number, he looked up at the ceiling praying Sandra would still be in the office, as she was often the last one to leave. ‘Sandra.its John’.

  Sandra dropped her keys and handbag back down on her desk, she dropped her shoulders and sighed ‘Yes John what is it?’

  ‘Sorry Sandra’ Williams fell back in the chair relieved he had caught her ‘Could you have a look in the file and see i
f you can get hold of Judge Lloyds secretary and see if she knew about him buying any expensive property abroad?’

  Sandra raised her eyebrows ‘Okay don’t you know I was on my way home, picking up a Chinese and settling down to watch that film, oh, Gosford Park’.

  Williams let out an apologetic laugh, ‘Could you call me back as soon as—you are a sweetheart’. Williams switched off his mobile ‘right’ he murmured to himself lets see if we can get into this computer?’

  Sandra retrieved the file from Howcroft’s office, and made the quick phone call. She was astonished to learn that Judge Lloyd was taking early retirement but his secretary was unaware he was moving or buying any property abroad.

  Sandra jumped into her car she was eager to get home now. It had been a long day. She noticed the illuminated figures on the dashboard showed eighteen: fifty-five.

  Sandra grappled for her mobile phone in her handbag eventually fighting off the perfumes and lipsticks, and called Williams back.

  Tony mopped the sweat from his brow with his light blue uniform shirt it left a wet stain on his sleeve. The intercom buzzed, disturbing the early evening news he was engrossed in. It was the shift changeover, he was pleased as it was his last day on shift. As Tony stood up and enjoyed quick fire banter with his colleague, the tdevision showed local news.

  Tony explained Detectives were searching Judge Lloyd’s apartment, as he did so but didn’t hear, the local news sprang up a picture of Detective Sargent Williams explaining that he was suspended from the Susan Kenyon-Lloyd murder investigation as was Detective MacCleod.

  Williams answered his mobile impatient to hear the news ‘Sandra’ he said. Williams was not totally surprised to hear the Judge was retiring in fact, in his mind all the pieces were beginning to fit together. ‘Thanks Sandra and enjoy the film’.

  Williams had got to the password stage of accessing the Judge’s computer, but was struggling to come up with the right word, number or combination of both. He stood up, moved his head from side to side, then around in a circe motion in an attempt to relieve some stiffness he was feeling in his neck.

  Harris walked into the room smiling, ‘Is this what your looking for? Harris was holding a black knee length raincoat in one hand and a black bowler hat in the other.

  ‘Brilliant, bloody brilliant, where did you find them?’ Williams couldn’t hide his excitement in knowing they had got their man. ‘Ill phone Howcroft soon, just want to see if I can get into this computer’.

  Harris was taken aback by the jubilation shown by Williams, ‘He hadn’t hid it very well. Coat was hanging up, Bowler was in a box on top of the wardrobe’.

  ‘I don’t think he anticipated anyone searching his apartment’ Williams said as he sat back down and concentrated on typing in the right password. ‘I also believe’ Williams continued as he looked up at Harris ‘he thought he was too cever to get caught’.

  Harris nodded as he threw down the hat and coat on a chair pushed up against the wall. Harris scratched his head again as though he had an irritating flea. ‘What next?’

  ‘Would like to get into this bloody computer then on the way out we need to retrieve that CCTV tape as police evidence’ Williams spelled out.

  Williams banged his hand on the table, frustrated he couldn’t access the computer. ‘Come on Dave think it’s probably so bleeding obvious’.

  Harris shook his head and pouted his lips as though wanting to puff a cigarette. ‘Erm, have you tried

  his wife’s namewhat was it ?Susan’ Harris

  chanced.

  ‘Don’t think I have’ Williams answered typing in the letters, but expecting the same response. Password incorrect. ‘Harris you are a bloody genius’ Williams retorted in astonishment. The computer whirred into action and whizzed through screens before reaching the screen with icons to various files. Williams clicked on the email file out of curiosity. Harris by this time had made his way behind the desk and was standing up, looking over Williams’ shoulder.

  The screen brought up three emails two had been read, but there was a new one. Williams clicked on the oldest one first from two days ago. Saturday 13th. It was confirmation again from Resort Quest saying they had now received the bank transfer and would be calling him shortly. Williams clicked on the next, already opened message. This time it was from his Swiss Bank again stating the funds had been sent and received. Williams dared open the new message. But highlighted in red it was from Stephen Tarling. Williams clicked on it and it opened up the message:

  ‘Francis;

  Where are you, I’ve been trying to get hold of you? If you

  haven’t responded to this message in the next couple of

  days I’Vl know something is wrong!

  I’ve been interviewed by the police and have been honest

  in my answers and that’s why I have been trying to get

  hold ooyou. I was there on the night oothe murder, but it

  wasn’t me and I’ll tell you all when we meet up. I don’t

  think they’e got anything on our business deals, and

  now we are out, we should be okay.

  The other thing is He been trying to get hold ooFreddy, I

  can’’. Hope nothing is wrong!’.

  Williams pressed the print button and a copy of the email quickly appeared. ‘Good work Dave, I think we can go for an arrest’ Williams said as he rolled his head once more after staring at the computer for such along time.

  Williams stood up stretched out his arms in trying to relieve all his muscular stiffness and retrieved the print out. His eyes squinted as he read it again, he then gave a yawn, as all the days events began to catch up with him.

  He passed the print out to Harris and decided to tell Howcroft the good news, the mobile rang twice before it seemed to be cut off. ‘Funny’ Williams remarked.

  ‘What’s up?’ Harris asked.

  ‘I Iust tried Howcroft’s mobile and it was as though he switched it off Williams frowned as he redialled.

  ‘You know what he’s like with modern technology, probably pushed the wrong button’ Harrisjoked.

  ‘No, it’s turned off now’ Williams said slightly agitated that he couldn’t goat over all his hard work and success. Williams put his mobile into the inside of his pocket, and switched off the computer.

  Williams and Harris took the email letter, coat and bowler hat and bagged them, then marked them individually with identifying labels before making sure the apartment didn’t look any different and gave one last reassuring look before cosing the apartment door behind them. Harris talked to the new security guard before obtaining the CCTV tape recording and they made their way back out. They both stood in the porch way as they watched the rain sheet down, hardy making the cars visible.

  ‘Dave, when you get in your car bag and label the tape. Then take all the evidence back to the office and hand it to Hothi. I’m off the case now, going home to Nikki and I’m going to get some holiday brochures first thing tomorrow’ Williams smiled.

  Harris returned the smile and stuck out his hand. They shook hands, then Harris made a mad dash to his car. Williams did likewise and shut the car door as the rain battered the glass. Williams took his mobile from inside his jacket and dialed Chief Superintendent Hothi knowing that this could be the last piece of police work he would do. He squinted with anticipation when he told her who was calling.

  He explained that Harris was on his way back with evidence that could convict the Judge, but was concerned that he couldn’t get hold of Chief Inspector Howcroft.

  ‘I’m very angry John that you have still been working on this case you’re in enough trouble as it is!…go home and if I hear you are working on this anymore you will be instantly dismissed. Don’t worry about Howcroft, he’s bringing the Judge in, anyway the storm might be

  affec
ting the signals down hereand John, Thanks’.

  Hothi put the telephone down shaking her head with disbelief, ‘the nerve’ she thought.

  Hothi was frustrated that all her efforts in trying to track down Tarling had come to no avail. She looked up at the cock, it had just turned seven-thirty. She was tired and the thought o f a nice hot bath was too much to resist.

  She justified to hersel that George would not bring him in on a night like this and would use his tactfulness to arrange the Judge to come in tomorrow. ‘And if he had nothing to hide, he would do simply that’ was the thought that instantly ran through her mind.

  She decided to tidy up her desk and gather up her belongings for her journey home. On her ‘to do’ notepad she jotted down Tarling, she also wrote down ‘Brewer and Barnes to investigate Freddy ?, business contact, cases worked on, why lives in danger-vendetta !!.

  She switched off the lights, then realised she would have to call Harris and let him know she wouldn’t be here, but to leave the evidence at reception with the Duty Sergeant.

  Tomorrow would be interesting. Tomorrow never

  comes.

  Chapter 22

  Howcroft rolled his glass around on his lip his head was going to explode unless he asked the question? A flash of lightning speared itsetf into the room momentarily dimming the lights, before they flickered back into brightness.

  ‘I don’t think it is worth venturing back home in this for a few hours, or at least until the storm passes over’ the Judge said wide-eyed with dismay on the ferocity of the storm. Another burst of thunder showed it was now directly over head and a downpour of hailstones smashed against the windows. The Judge walked across the room and sat in his favourite armchair, he crossed his legs and dangled his arms over the armrests, swirling his brandy around in the glass with his right hand. ‘I’m all ears’ he said.

  Howcroft leant forward, as he did so his mobile telephone started ringing. Howcroft pulled the mobile out from his inside suit jacket and looked to see who was calling? It was Williams. He turned the mobile off.