DEAD & BURIED a gripping crime thriller full of twists

by Helen H. Durrant

  “Sergeant Bayliss is on maternity leave,” Joyce told her.

  “There you are then — sorted. You can take this desk for now, DI Calladine, and I’ll have your office. It won’t be for long.”

  Calladine opened his mouth.

  “I’ve brought my own laptop. Tell your techie people I’ll need to connect to your network,” she said to Joyce. “And if there’s a cup of tea going, I wouldn’t say no. I’ll be at my desk.”

  “Is she going to call the shots on the Blackwell case now, sir?” Rocco asked.

  “Officially she is,” Calladine replied. “But whatever she gets up to it won’t impinge on what we do.”

  There was a general sigh of relief.

  “I want more background on Emily,” he told the team. Calladine was trying to concentrate on the incident board and its scant information but he couldn’t get Eliza King out of his head. He thought he’d worked out how she’d made DCI so young. She’d clawed her way up, kicking all rivals in the teeth as she went. He found himself smiling. She was some tough cookie. Nevertheless, she was a problem they could do without. She’d said she suspected a connection between Emily and Costello. Calladine couldn’t think what, but it gave them something else to think about.

  “Rocco and I went round and spoke to her sister. I don’t know about you, Rocco, but I got the impression Enid Mason was being evasive.”

  Rocco nodded.

  “There’s a story there and I think it has something to do with Emily’s ex-husband. And that money she got paid each month. We need to get the background on that.”

  “I’ll do some digging on the system,” Imogen volunteered.

  “Her ex is Ken Blackwell. Rocco and I will go back to the Hobfield, make our presence felt.” He checked his watch. “It’s gone seven now, so it’ll be tomorrow. We’ll take a couple of uniforms. I’ll talk to anyone who knew Wayne Davey — Kayne Archer in particular. Rocco, you speak to Emily’s neighbours. Find out what you can about her private life. Imogen, speak to her employers. Try and find out who her friends were. We need to know why she went up Clough Hill and who with.”

  “I’m still trying to find out about that woman, Mrs Mallon, who bid for the cottage. She’s a bit of a mystery. I know she didn’t buy it but she tried hard enough.”

  “Talk to the auctioneers again. They should have her details. For now we’ll call it a day. Rocco, I’ll meet you outside the Hobfield community centre at eight tomorrow morning.”

  Joyce handed him a scrap of paper. “Message for you, sir, from Ruth.”

  “Urgent . . . I’d better drop by on my way home.”

  * * *

  Ruth Bayliss flopped back onto her sofa. “If I don’t get some sleep soon, I’ll go mad,” she groaned. “All he does is cry. I’ll swear he can cry round the clock. Jake’s impervious, he can sleep through anything, but not me. Every little whinge and I’m wide awake.”

  “He’s cute though, isn’t he?” Tom Calladine was watching the wriggly bundle on Ruth’s rug.

  “Oh he’s cute alright, but the lungs on him! I was under the impression that babies slept all the time. I mean, how are you supposed to know? I’ve got no idea what to do. It’s not as if they come with a ‘quick start’ guide or anything.”

  “Why not get him ready, stick him in his pram and I’ll take him for a walk. I’m told I could do with the exercise and you can get your head down for an hour.”

  She grinned. “You are looking a bit out of condition. Too many pies.”

  He threw a cushion at her. “You’ve got some cheek!”

  “Mind you, I’m not one to talk. I could do with getting into shape myself.”

  “You’ve got an excuse.” Calladine stroked the infant’s cheek. “Rocco was telling me about a new gym in town. I might give it a go.”

  “That’s not a bad idea. I might just join you. I’m ready to squeeze my lumpy bod into lycra if you will too. What d’you say? We can suffer together.”

  “Okay, you’re on, but you can forget the lycra.”

  Calladine was grinning as he rummaged through a pile of baby clothes. It felt like old times talking to Ruth like this. He wished he had her at his side on the case. She’d sort out the Yorkshire madam. “Will this do?” He’d found what appeared to be a padded onesie.

  “Yep, perfect. Give him here.” She held out her arms. “Are you sure you’ve got time for this? Haven’t you got work to do?”

  “It’s piling up. One murder and a shooting on the Hobfield, and that’s just today.”

  Ruth started to dress her son. “We haven’t had one of those since Richard Pope. What’s going on?”

  “I’m not sure. But the name Costello is being bandied about.”

  Ruth frowned. “Vinny Costello?”

  Calladine nodded.

  “That is bad news. We don’t want him running the Hobfield.”

  “I’m not sure he is. But something is going on.”

  “You can always pop round and run stuff past me. I feel so out of things, stuck at home.”

  “I might just do that. I’m going to need a sounding board. We’ve had a DCI from Daneside or the Yorkshire force thrust on us. One Eliza King. Proper handful she’s shaping up to be. Easily irritated and doesn’t want to share information. What are we supposed to do with that?”

  “I’ll remind you of those words when you get the hots for her.”

  “That won’t happen. For starters she’s only a child.”

  “Come off it, she’s a DCI.”

  “Well, she looks like a child, a damn scruffy one too.”

  “Daneside, you said?”

  “Officially she’s from Yorkshire on secondment to Daneside, and now with us. I know what this is, can’t kid me. No one can cope with the little madam. So they hand her around like pass the parcel.”

  “Why do you need another DCI?”

  “We don’t. She’s here on a mission of her own, something to do with Costello. Eliza King thinks she’s going to bring him in.”

  “Does she know who she’s dealing with, Tom? You have warned her?”

  He shrugged. “I have done my best, but she’s not the type to listen.”

  “Costello has been quiet for a long time. What is it she’s got on him?”

  “An informant — who might be persuaded to give evidence.”

  “She needs to watch her step.”

  “Too bloody true she does.”

  Ruth changed the subject. “We’ve decided to have him christened. Harry John Ireson will be baptised at Leesworth Parish church this Sunday. That’s what was urgent and why I rang the nick. I would have given you more notice but you’re a devil to contact, Tom Calladine.”

  “Does that mean I’m invited?”

  “Of course you are. But not only that. Jake and I would like you to be Harry’s godfather.”

  Calladine was touched. “I’ve never been a godfather before. Are you sure I won’t make a mess of it?”

  “You’ll be fine.” She chuckled. “Even you can do it. It’s easy. You come to the service in your best suit and you repeat a few lines the vicar will tell you, and that’s it. There will be a bit of a bash after. At the Wheatsheaf in town, in their function room at the back.”

  “Who else is coming?”

  “The world and his wife, Tom. Family, friends and I’ve asked our crowd from work, plus Doc Hoyle and some folk from the Duggan. But you could do with a plus-one.”

  “Who do you suggest? I was seeing Tasha Barrington but I don’t think she’s keen.”

  “You can ask Eve,” Ruth told him firmly. “She’ll be pleased, and I was going to ask her anyway.”

  “She’s my mother. Won’t be much fun, will it?”

  “It’s a christening. It’s not meant to be fun. Only joking!” Ruth smiled.

  “There we are, baby boy. All ready.” She laid him in his pram and wheeled it over to Calladine. “Thanks for this, Tom. I really appreciate it. With a bit of luck Jake will be home when you get back. I
f he is, just hand him over. I’ll probably still be asleep.” And she yawned. “Here’s your official invitation. The vicar wants us to have a practice before Sunday, so I’ll let you know.”

  “Come on then, young master Ireson. Let’s give Leesdon Park a whirl.”

  Pushing a pram was a new experience for Calladine. His daughter Zoe had been brought up by her mother in Bristol and he’d missed all the childhood stuff with her. It was about seven thirty in the evening but at this time of year the nights were long and light. He wandered down Leesdon High Street, making for the park, when he almost bumped into Eliza King coming out of the supermarket.

  “Yours?” she asked doubtfully, peering into the pram.

  “No. He belongs to my sergeant, Ruth Bayliss. I’m giving her a break.”

  She gave him an odd look.

  “Have you found somewhere to stay?” he asked.

  “Yes. The pub further down.” She gestured to the Wheatsheaf.

  “It’s a bit rough there. You won’t get much peace and quiet.”

  “Just as well I don’t sleep much then, isn’t it?”

  She had an answer for everything.

  She was clutching a packet of crisps and a bottle of cola.

  “Is that your tea?” he asked.

  “I don’t go a bundle on healthy eating. Work’s so full on, I’m usually too busy. Is there anything else you’d like to know, Inspector, before I crack on?”

  Keep out of my business and leave me alone. It came through in everything she said.

  “I was just being friendly,” he said.

  “Well, you’d be better off making friends with someone else. I don’t do friends. They take up too much time.”

  “Shame. This is a friendly town. The team are an okay bunch too. We should try to get on. We are working together.”

  “No we are not. I’m here on a case that has to do with the Daneside and Yorkshire forces. I’d appreciate you keeping out of it.”

  “That’s me told,” he said.

  “Look, I don’t mean to come across as a narky bitch. It’s just how I am. You can take it or leave it. I come to work to do exactly that — work. I don’t intend to stay round here long and I’m not interested in making friends. Polite conversation is frankly boring and I’ve got a report to write tonight. So if you don’t mind, I’ll let you get on with your stroll.”

  * * *

  Eliza King knew that if she wasn’t careful DI Calladine would be all over her case like a rash. He was as keen on putting Costello away as she was. But she wasn’t going to let that happen. This particular criminal was her catch.

  He’d been right about the pub, though. It was a dump. The room they’d given her was straight out of the seventies. Even two floors up, she could still hear the music and the shouting coming from the bar.

  She took her phone and tapped in a number. “Becca? You okay, love? How did you get on?”

  “Difficult, Mum, and I was a bag of nerves. I don’t like exams and this was GCSE maths. It was hard.”

  “You’ll have done alright, you always do. Look at the marks you got in the mocks, they were brilliant. How’s your sister?”

  There was a silence.

  “She’s gone out with him again — Harvey,” Rebecca King finally admitted. “There was nothing I could do to stop her. She was being a right cow.”

  Eliza’s heart sank. “It’s not your fault. Did he come round? Jade didn’t let him into my house, did she?”

  “No. He rang her and arranged to meet. She’s hardly been home at all. It was four this morning when she got back from last night. She stunk of booze and hardly said two words to me. I think Jade’s drinking too much. She said I wasn’t to tell you. Before she left tonight, she gave me a tenner and made me promise to keep my mouth shut.”

  “She never learns,” Eliza said bitterly. She was angry. This was the first time she’d left her daughters. It wasn’t something she’d do ordinarily, but the Costello case was so important she’d had no choice. She’d made her eldest daughter, Jade, promise to stay at home. She was almost nineteen and Eliza was relying on her. It was obviously asking too much. Where Harvey Evans was concerned, the girl was blind.

  Jade simply didn’t understand how important her mother’s work was. Eliza was a single parent and it was her work that fed and clothed them all. She’d had her daughters young. She was thirty-eight years old but looked much younger. All she asked was that Jade meet her halfway and do as Eliza asked when it mattered.

  “When are you coming home?”

  “I won’t be back until the weekend. Becca, you can’t stay in the house on your own. If Jade doesn’t come home within the next hour, get Alison to stay over.” Alison was the daughter of a neighbour and Becca’s friend. “I’ll ring Jade and see what she’s playing at. If I don’t get anywhere with her, you’ll have to go to Auntie Sarah’s. I’m sorry, love. You shouldn’t have to cope with this on top of the exams.”

  “It’s okay, Mum. But Jade’s turning into a right problem. Earlier, well, she was like before — you know, when she was ill. She was all edgy and pale, a real bag of nerves. She seemed to calm down when he rang.”

  And Eliza knew exactly why that was, although she didn’t want to discuss it with Becca. She had enough on her plate with the exams. Jade was weak. She’d fought one battle with drug addiction and come through it. But now she was falling into the abyss again. Becca would be devastated if her big sister put them through all that again.

  “I’ve got some work to do but I’ll ring before you go to bed. Lock up tight and don’t forget to feed the cat.”

  Eliza rang Jade straight away. When the girl eventually answered her speech was so slurred Eliza could barely understand her. “Where the hell are you? You are supposed to be at home with Becca!”

  “Keep your hair on.” Jade giggled drunkenly. “Me and Harvey are out. We’re having a good time. Something you could do with having yourself!”

  “Mind your tongue. Control yourself. You promised me, Jade. You said you could do this.” Eliza knew she was wasting her time. The girl was off her head. “Why him? Why put us all through that again? You know he’s no good. All he wants is to get you hooked on that stuff. Why don’t you see what he is?”

  “Because I like him!” Jade was shouting down the phone. “You always try to spoil things. Becca’s a big girl now. She can look after herself. She’s not daft.”

  “She’s sixteen! What if something happens? I take it you’re not planning on going home tonight.”

  “For fuck’s sake, Mother. Cut the umbilical cord! Me and Harvey are going back to his. I don’t know when I’ll be back — if ever! If you’re so concerned about the kid, you shouldn’t go working away. Should you?” And she rang off.

  In a fit of rage, Eliza hurled the phone onto the bed. Jade had gone too far. She’d taken advantage of her mother’s absence and there was nothing she could do about it.

  Jade had been hit hard when Eliza had split with her dad three years ago. But it didn’t help to know the reason why her eldest daughter behaved the way she did. Life chasing criminals was difficult enough without the aggro she got at home. Eliza had worked hard to get help for the girl. She even paid for her to go into rehab, but it made no difference. Within a month she was back on the drugs. And all because of Harvey Evans. He was her supplier. The bastard had been on her case right away. The problem was, his hold on Jade was now affecting her and Becca.

  Her mobile rang again.

  “We’ve lost contact with the target, ma’am,” said a male voice. It was Dominic Shevlin, her sergeant. “We texted yesterday but suddenly he’s dropped off the radar. The mobile we gave him and his own phone are both switched off.”

  “Damn! Do we have anyone watching him?”

  “No. He’s not been a problem up until now. He was just a phone call away, as arranged.”

  “He got scared. He could have been threatened.”

  “I don’t see how, ma’am. We’ve kept everythi
ng tight this end.”

  She’d made a mistake. Eliza realised that she should have kept the man on a shorter lead, brought him in sooner. “I’ve been a fool,” she admitted. “Now I’ll have to go look for him. I’ve really ballsed this up, haven’t I?”

  “No, Boss. The informant came to us, remember? He wanted this. He offered us information. We had no reason to think he’d do one when things got tight.”

  He was right, but it didn’t help. “Do me a favour, Dom. Look in on Becca on your way home. Jade’s at it again.”

  Eliza didn’t talk about her personal life as a rule, but she’d worked with Dom a long time and he’d sort of guessed. He was a good man and would never gossip to the team about her problems. He had enough of his own.

  Despite having the informant’s address, finding him could be challenging. Eliza didn’t know this town. But if he’d got cold feet and done a runner, they were screwed. She’d no idea where he might hole up or who his friends were. She had asked but the informant was unwilling to offer anything other than the evidence she needed.

  Eliza took a map of Leesdon from her briefcase and studied the network of streets. She traced over it with a finger. Got it: ‘Grange Street.’ This was the address he’d given. It was behind the hospital, so that’s where she’d make for.

  Eliza decided to walk. She stuck the map in a back pocket of her jeans just in case, and her police badge in the other. Slinging a hoodie over her T-shirt, she grabbed her mobile and left. Downstairs, the bar was busy. Several pairs of male eyes watched as she made for the exit. She was new, different and with an accent that wasn’t local. No doubt she’d be the hot topic for the next few minutes.

  Chapter 6

  Eliza had only been here a matter of hours but it was long enough to know that she didn’t like Leesdon. It had too many contrasts. It was battling with itself about what sort of place it was. On one hand it had any number of quaint, cobbled lanes full of stone cottages, some still with the historic weavers’ windows up on the attic floor. They’d be much sought after. You would need a fair income to live in one of those, she was sure. But not far away were the terraced back streets, strewn with litter, scruffy kids playing in the road, all the obvious signs of poverty. And then there was the infamous Hobfield estate: built in the mid-sixties as an overspill estate to rehouse the folk who’d once lived in the terraced streets of Manchester. If it wasn’t so close to the hills, Leesdon would have nothing going for it. But the Pennines were literally on the doorstep and lifted an otherwise decrepit town into something special.