Death Rope

by Leigh Russell

  Geraldine listened patiently, but this was going nowhere.

  Gently, she tried to press him. ‘You said at the funeral that he didn’t strike you as the kind of man who would take his own life?’

  He inclined his head. ‘Yes, I recall saying something to that effect.’

  ‘What did you mean by it?’

  He shrugged and glanced out of the window again. ‘Mark wasn’t volatile. On the contrary, he was an even-tempered chap, at least here at work.’

  ‘What about at home?’

  ‘As far as I knew, he was happily married. But of course people can behave very differently in different circumstances, and things go on behind closed doors that outsiders would never imagine, as I’m sure you know very well in your line of work, Inspector.’

  Geraldine didn’t correct him. If she came across as higher up the hierarchy than she actually was, that was only to be expected, given that until recently she had been a detective inspector. She hoped the lawyer might be more inclined to confide in her if he thought she was more senior than she now was. But he was circumspect in his responses, and gave little away. She was fairly convinced he knew no more than he had already told her.

  ‘Off the record, is there anything you could tell me that you’re not prepared to say officially?’ she asked at last. ‘Anything that might possibly help me build a picture of Mark’s character or circumstances?’

  His response was assured. ‘Nothing at all, Inspector. I’m sorry. I’d help you if I could.’

  ‘Was he particularly friendly with anyone else here?’ Geraldine asked as she thanked him and stood up.

  He shook his head again. ‘Not that I was aware of, but you’re free to have a word with everyone here. If there’s anything we can tell you that helps answer any queries you have over the circumstances of Mark’s death, we’d all be more than happy to help. If you have a word with Nellie on reception, she’ll tell you who’s in today. We have a few part-timers,’ he added, with a faint grimace.

  Geraldine wondered if the part-time solicitors were women. Without being an out-and-out misogynist, the senior partner must be old enough to remember the days when the firm had been staffed by men working full-time. She had a suspicion he might hark back to those days with a feeling of nostalgia. But she didn’t say anything. If her impression was correct, that was his problem. Old men like him weren’t going to turn the clock back.

  She spoke to several other solicitors working in Mark’s firm and a similar picture emerged from them all, of a reasonable man who had been efficient and pleasant to work with. No one had anything to say that was anything other than bland and ultimately unhelpful, confirming only that Mark didn’t sound like a man who had drunk excessively or suffered from mood swings or depression. He had never had any unexplained absences from work. In over twenty years, he had only taken one week off when he had gone down with flu a few years ago, in an illness that had already been mentioned by his doctor. Healthy in mind and body, he had given no indication that he might be considering suicide. Back in her car, Geraldine double checked her notes from her visit to Mark’s doctor the previous week. Everyone told her Mark was physically healthy and mentally stable. Everything pointed to his having been murdered, but she was no closer to discovering who had killed him.

  31

  ‘Well? Have you thought about what I said?’ he asked, putting a glass down on the table in front of Eddy.

  Eddy was pretty sure Abe wasn’t his real name. He regretted having told the man his own name, but it was too late to change that now. He shifted uncomfortably on his chair and reached for his pint. The man calling himself Abe leaned right across the small wooden table until his face was very close to Eddy’s.

  ‘Well? What do you say?’ he hissed.

  His breath stank of stale cigarettes and grease. Eddy held his breath and looked away, refusing to meet Abe’s stare. At last, feeling under pressure to say something, he spoke as breezily as he could.

  ‘Cold in here, isn’t it?’

  Abe leaned back in his chair. ‘Don’t give me that crap,’ he said. ‘If you’re not interested in my offer, it’s no skin off my nose. There’s plenty of blokes would jump at a chance to make some easy money.’

  They sat for a moment without speaking. Eddy knew he ought to stand up and walk away. In fact, that was what he was going to do, just as soon as he finished his pint. There was obviously something dodgy about Abe’s job, and Eddy was in enough trouble already without landing himself in more hot water. Meanwhile the silence was becoming oppressive.

  ‘All you’ve got to do is drive a car,’ Abe said. ‘Surely you can manage that?’

  ‘You haven’t told me what it’s all about yet.’

  Abe grinned and tapped the side of his nose. ‘You know nothing, you say nothing. Like I said, it’s easy money, and that’s all you need to know. So, are you in or not? I need an answer.’

  Before Eddy could respond, his companion stood up and walked over to the bar. Eddy watched him through narrowed eyes. Abe was tall and looked brawny in a loose-fitting khaki oilskin jacket. He returned with two more pints.

  ‘Here you go. Now, what do you say?’

  Eddy took a gulp. There was no reason for him to feel nervous. All he had to do was keep the conversation going for a short time, while he drank up. As soon as he finished this pint, he would skedaddle. But Abe didn’t need to know that. Forcing a smile, Eddy took another swig of his beer.

  ‘Bloody hell, you’re a fast drinker! Now, what do you say?’

  Abe reached across the table and laid one hand on Eddy’s arm, preventing him from lifting his glass.

  Eddy hesitated. ‘It’s good beer in here,’ he replied at last.

  ‘You up for it or not?’

  Abe was beginning to sound impatient. Eddy had the impression it might backfire on him if he tried to outwit his new acquaintance, but it wouldn’t do any harm to string him along for just a few more minutes, just while he finished his pint.

  ‘I’m not sure,’ he admitted, doing his best to sound genuinely uncertain. ‘How much did you say I’d get?’

  He nodded as Abe muttered a figure that was nowhere close to what Eddy needed. He finished his pint. Drinking so quickly on an empty stomach was making him feel woozy. Against his better judgement he was tempted. If he took the job, he might be able to cover one back payment of his rent, retrieve his television, and give something to Luciana to keep her happy. And what was more important, there might be more where that came from. He frowned, puzzling over what to do. He barely noticed Abe fetching him yet another pint. Abstractedly he began to drink it, and realised he was nodding his head.

  ‘Is that a yes?’ Abe asked. ‘Only like I said, if you’re not interested, there’s plenty would jump at the chance of such easy cash.’

  Eddy hesitated. He wasn’t too pissed to think straight. ‘Why not someone else then? I mean, why me?’

  His companion nodded. ‘You’re right. I could have spoken to someone else all right. But I hate to see a man down on his luck.’

  Eddy bristled. ‘Who are you calling a loser? Fuck off and mind your own business.’

  Abe leaned forward so that Eddy could smell his stinking breath. ‘You need bailing out, mate. Anyone can see that. And I can help you. And the beauty of it is, there’s no risk as far as you’re concerned. None at all. You’ll be parked up the road. If we don’t get out you can just drive off, and no one will know you were even involved. You’re just the driver. And you’re entitled to your cut for being there. We’re nothing if not fair. I wouldn’t be talking to you if I didn’t think you had it in you. Tell you what, Eddy,’ he went on, grinning, ‘I like to help a mate who’s down on his luck. Why don’t you take a down payment, right here, right now, and you can have the rest when the job’s done?’

  As the beer took effect, Eddy warmed to his new friend, who was nothing if not generous. There was something very engaging about his honesty. And it was about time someone started paying Eddy some a
ttention. He got more consideration from a stranger than from his own flesh and blood.

  ‘I’m entitled to a lot more than what you’re offering,’ he mumbled.

  Abe’s expression altered subtly, through surprise to irritation. ‘Bloody hell, it’s a fair whack. You’re just driving. Others are taking all the risk.’

  ‘No, no, I’m not talking about that,’ Eddy replied. ‘Not about your job.’

  ‘Keep your voice down,’ Abe said. ‘What the hell are you talking about?’

  Struggling to present his case coherently, Eddy was filled with self-pity. ‘I’m an orphan,’ he concluded. ‘A poor bloody orphan. I can’t even pay my rent and she won’t give me a penny.’

  Abe had listened thoughtfully. ‘What kind of a mother would treat her son like that?’

  ‘She’s my stepmother.’

  ‘But she’s stealing what should be yours. I feel sorry for you, mate, really I do. She’s a monster.’

  Eddy nodded, grateful to Abe for his understanding. It was comforting to have a friend he could confide in, and he told Abe as much.

  Abe paused before commenting quietly, ‘When your stepmother’s gone, it’ll all be yours, won’t it?’

  ‘That’s true, unless she decides to leave it all to a bloody charity. I wouldn’t put it past her. And in any case, she’ll be around for years. The way she looks after herself, she’ll outlive me. She’ll outlive us all.’

  ‘Unless something happens to her,’ Abe pointed out quietly.

  Eddy nodded silently. He could certainly do with some help. Meeting Abe might be the answer to all his problems.

  32

  Now they were all convinced they were investigating two murders which were related, Geraldine spent a dreary afternoon trawling through paperwork looking for evidence that the brother and sister had a shared enemy. After the initial flurry of activity viewing the crime scene and questioning people who had known the two victims, there was little else to do but await the forensic results.

  ‘That’s all policing is, these days,’ Ted grumbled. ‘Looking things up online. I won’t be sorry to leave the job. It’s not what it used to be. Even the community links are going because people move around so much.’

  ‘Well said, Sherlock,’ Ariadne chipped in, grinning at the speaker.

  Someone else cracked a joke about Methuselah.

  ‘Hey, steady on,’ Ted grinned, his good humour restored.

  Geraldine laughed. ‘If you think the population’s transient here, you should try working in London.’

  ‘It may be true that there have been a lot of advances in forensics,’ Naomi joined in, ‘but surely that’s all to the good. Think of the number of cases that would never have been solved if it wasn’t for forensics.’

  ‘Yes, yes, I know that,’ he replied. ‘I’m not wanting to turn the clock back.’

  ‘Just as well,’ Ariadne said. ‘Because you can’t.’

  ‘Maybe you should retire to Brigadoon,’ a constable suggested.

  Geraldine answered Naomi. ‘But how many cases are actually solved by forensic results? Yes, they back up or confute our suspicions, and they supply us with that all important evidence that gets a conviction in court, but most cases are still solved by people like us doing our job. Old-fashioned police work.’

  ‘Hear, hear,’ Ted said.

  ‘But what’s the point of all that if you don’t secure a conviction?’ Naomi asked.

  ‘But without us, there wouldn’t be anything for the forensic results to prove,’ Geraldine insisted.

  The conversation continued for a while, but Geraldine’s attention wandered. They were just passing the time while they waited. When Ian entered the room, the discussion stopped abruptly as everyone returned to their desks. Geraldine wondered whether her junior officers had reacted to her presence in a similar way when she had been an inspector. It was curious, witnessing her colleagues’ behaviour when a senior officer entered the room. Before her promotion, she hadn’t been aware that she had behaved any differently when an inspector appeared, but perhaps she had done so unconsciously. There was something compelling about watching her senior officers, now that she had lost that status herself, like picking at a scab.

  As she was packing up at the end of a long afternoon, Ian walked past her desk and stopped to enquire whether she was going straight home or if she would like to go for a drink, but she had already arranged to meet Ariadne for a meal that evening. She wasn’t sure if she was imagining it, but she thought he looked disappointed by her refusal.

  ‘Another time,’ she said.

  ‘How about tomorrow? Only, there’s something I want to discuss with you.’

  ‘How mysterious,’ she replied, but Ian didn’t return her smile.

  ‘Are you ready?’ Ariadne called out and Geraldine nodded.

  ‘Tomorrow then,’ Ian said.

  ‘I’ll look forward to it.’

  This time he smiled. Less than twenty-four hours ago she had been pleased when Ariadne had suggested they go out together. Now she regretted making that arrangement. But when she thought about Ian’s invitation, she realised he must want to talk to her about his relationship with his estranged wife. There was nothing in that to make her feel excited. She picked up her bag and walked down the corridor.

  Ariadne took her to a restaurant in the centre of York with views overlooking the river.

  ‘It’s better coming here in the summer when the evenings are longer and you can see out,’ Ariadne said apologetically.

  ‘It’s nice discovering somewhere new,’ Geraldine assured her. ‘I know so few places to go in York.’

  It was true. Even though she had been there getting on for three months, she had seen very little of the town. The restaurant was airy and pleasant. They took a corner table and spent a few minutes studying the menu.

  ‘So how are you settling in?’ Ariadne asked when they had placed their orders. ‘It must feel strange, being a sergeant again. Having seen how hard you work, I can’t imagine you were happy about it?’

  Geraldine paused as she reached for her glass of wine. ‘How did you know?’ she asked, doing her best to hide her surprise.

  ‘Oh, I wasn’t aware that it was a secret.’

  Geraldine hesitated, absorbing what she had just heard. Ariadne seemed to imply that everyone at the police station knew all about her demotion.

  ‘Well, no,’ she said, registering that her colleague had asked her a question. ‘It’s not a secret exactly. I just didn’t think it was common knowledge. No one’s ever mentioned it. I mean,’ she stammered, afraid of sounding like a narcissist, ‘I mean, of course there’s no reason why anyone else would be at all interested in the reason for my relocation.’

  ‘It happens,’ Ariadne replied in a slightly dismissive tone. ‘You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.’

  ‘It’s not that,’ Geraldine hastened to reassure her, although of course she didn’t want to talk about it.

  But idle speculation might be worse than the truth. With a sigh, she launched into an account of her ruined career.

  ‘It’s a long story,’ she began.

  ‘I’m listening, but only if you want to talk about it.’

  Geraldine explained how she had only recently discovered that she had an identical twin, a heroin addict.

  When she had finished, Ariadne raised her eyebrows. ‘So you put your job on the line to save your sister’s life?’

  ‘Well, that’s a rather dramatic way of putting it, but yes, actually, I suppose that is what happened. Although in the end she probably wouldn’t have been shot by her drug dealer because he was arrested as she was handing over the money. Only of course it wasn’t her, it was me who was doing the handover. She was too scared to face him but if she didn’t get the money to him he would have found her and killed her.’

  ‘And he thought he was dealing with her because you’re identical, but the police had been tipped off and you were arrested instead of your s
ister! Bloody hell, Geraldine!’ Ariadne stared at her. ‘Why did you do it?’

  Geraldine had asked herself that question many times. It was difficult to explain that, desperate to convince her screwed up twin that she wanted to help her, she had acted as much for herself as for Helena.

  ‘I wanted to offer her a chance,’ she said.

  She didn’t try to explain that she had wanted to create a chance for both of them to get to know one another and build a relationship. Only that hadn’t happened. Not yet, anyway.

  ‘And how has that worked out?’

  Helena had gone through a rehabilitation programme and seemed to be coping, but it was early days.

  ‘I’m hoping she’ll be OK.’

  Ariadne nodded. ‘Does she even realise how much you sacrificed for her?’

  ‘I don’t know, I really don’t. But at least I’ve given her a chance. No one’s ever done that for her before. And I was in a position to help her. I couldn’t just stand back and watch her destroy herself without doing everything I could to help her.’

  ‘Bloody hell, Geraldine, I can’t make up my mind if you’re a saint or an absolute bloody lunatic.’

  ‘Somewhere between the two, I guess, but more of a lunatic than a saint,’ Geraldine laughed.

  Once she had recovered from her surprise, instead of feeling mortified, she was relieved that her new colleagues had been informed about her demotion. Far from being judgemental, no one seemed bothered by it in the slightest. In fact, no one but Ariadne had even asked her about it, and she was just being friendly. And now Ian wanted to confide in her as a friend. Relocating to York wasn’t turning out to be such a bad move after all.

  33

  After an exhausting day clearing out her husband’s clothes, Charlotte decided to have an early night. She had spent hours packing shoes, trousers and shirts into bin liners, ready for donation to a charity shop. The task was not only tiring, but she had found it upsetting, throwing out all his familiar clothes. First she had emptied his drawers, carting things out by the armful. The most difficult part was when she came to empty out his laundry bin and recognised the smell of his sweat on a jumper he used to wear for gardening. The knowledge that she was inhaling deposits left by his living body made her break down in tears. At last she pulled herself together and, holding her breath, bundled his dirty washing into a black bin liner and tied it firmly closed. Still the smell seemed to linger. In a fury of emotion, she dragged the bag along the landing, bumped it down the stairs, and hauled it outside to the bins. After that, she felt too unsettled to continue, so she closed the door on the clothes still hanging in his wardrobe and took a shower.