by L M Krier
They sat together over coffees in a small café Ted knew, not far from the station. Ted tried to make small talk, but he was not good at it at the best of times and felt that Rob firmly had the shutters down, which didn't help.
'So how are the team bearing up on this one?' he asked eventually. 'I don't imagine it's easy for anyone. I suppose Sgt Reynolds has the most experience of this sort of case of any of us. Are you up for sitting in with either me or DS Hallam on interviewing some of those on the Offenders' Register who've not yet come up with an alibi?'
'Are you asking me if I might thump someone, boss, like Maurice threatened to? I might feel like it, but I don't think I will,' Rob told him.
'Okay, Rob, here's the thing, I'm no use at being subtle,' Ted smiled ruefully. 'I'm worried about you. You don't seem yourself and I want to know if it's the case that's getting to you or if it's something in your private life, something you'd prefer to stay private.'
'About as subtle as Maurice on a bad day, boss,' Rob returned his smile, much more like his normal self with his joking reply. 'It's fine. I'm fine. Like all of us, I'll just be glad when this case is over.'
CHAPTER Eighteen
'Today will be quite a difficult day for most of us, I imagine,' Ted said, beginning the morning briefing. 'We're going to be starting to interview those people on the Sex Offenders' Register who live on our patch. Those who have not so far provided an alibi, or at least not a convincing one, for the twenty-eighth, the night that Aiden was killed.
'I just want to make it clear at the outset that, no matter what any of us feel about those who commit sex crimes, especially on children, these are people who have been convicted and served their time. We are professional police officers. No matter how hard it is for any of us, we put aside our personal feelings and do our job.'
He looked round at his team, letting his glance linger a moment longer on Maurice Brown, to make his point. They all looked solemn today. There was none of the usual relaxed air and ready banter.
'Rob, I want you and Steve to go back to the Hotel Sorrento so that Steve can have a look at their computer system. Tell me if this so-called crash is genuine or if the records are still there somewhere. Steve, I also want you to find out anything you can about this Parish's Pies, the firm which is supposed to have made the block booking.
'Maurice, you and Sal are in charge of ferrying these people in for Sgt Hallam and me to interview. And Maurice, I'm counting on you not to do or say the slightest thing which could compromise this enquiry. I know I can trust you.'
'I can't promise it will be easy, sir, but I won't let you down,' Maurice assured him.
'Right, that leaves Virgil and Jan to sit in with me and Sgt Hallam. Are you both comfortable with that? Please say if not.'
The two nodded in silent agreement. Ted looked across to his sergeant. 'Mike, have you a rough running order of who's coming in when?'
'Yes, sir,' Mike told him. 'We've warned all those on the list that we'll be bringing them in for questioning. I preferred to do it that way to make as sure as we can that we get them and they don't just disappear. For ease, I've arranged it that I'll take the morning ones, you take over at the start of the afternoon, then I'll mop up any that are left at the end of the day.'
He looked significantly at Ted, who realised that he was actually telling him the man David Evans he had mentioned as knowing, would be one of those coming in early on. Almost unconsciously, Ted's hand went up to loosen his tie and top button as he immediately started to feel the familiar shortness of breath.
'We won't get through them all in a day,' Mike Hallam continued. 'The list is worryingly long, and of course, there will be those who just disappear. But we're hoping we can make a good start at least and possibly start eliminating some of them.'
'Meanwhile, of course, forensics are cross-matching DNA samples on all those on the list against traces of anything found on Aiden's body,' Ted told the team, trying to keep his voice as steady as possible. 'In the meantime, we mustn't overlook this taxi driver shooting, there's a link there somewhere and we need to find it. Virgil, if you work with Sgt Hallam this morning, can you get back out there afterwards, see if you can find any more witnesses? Maybe talk to your homeless person again, see if he remembers anything else? Straws are all we have to clutch at, so let's not neglect any of them.'
Mike Hallam followed Ted as he went back to his own office and headed straight for the kettle. 'I just thought you'd like to know that David Evans is supposedly up first, at ten o'clock, if he comes quietly when Maurice and Sal go to fetch him. Sir, can I ask you how you know this man?'
'You can ask,' Ted said guardedly. His meaning was clear. He wouldn't necessarily answer.
'Were you involved in his arrest?' Mike asked.
Ted shook his head. 'I was in firearms then. Can we leave it at that for now, Mike? It's handy that he's in first. Inspector Turner and I have been summoned to see the super at that time. Have you worked on sexual offence cases before?'
'Luckily not, boss, this is my first experience.'
'Just something you need to be aware of, when you're speaking to some of these people. Often in their eyes they've done nothing wrong,' Ted told him. 'Don't forget it's not all that long ago that there was an attempt to remove the age of consent altogether, to make sex with children legal. I'm just flagging it up for you because it can come as a nasty shock if you've not come across it before. Right, good luck, let me know when you want me to take over.'
Ted went to find Kevin Turner in plenty of time before their meeting with the Ice Queen. He was particularly anxious to avoid any possibility of crossing paths with David Evans when he went downstairs. They went to her office together and Ted knocked on her door on the stroke of ten o'clock. They waited for her invitation to go in.
'Come in and sit down, gentlemen,' she greeted them. 'We may be some time, so help yourself to coffee if you need to. I wanted to update you on what has been happening with the raid on Rory the Raver's house, and the leak to the press. There have been significant developments.
'To start with, the enquiry into the leak has taken rather a back seat since it's become almost academic. In short, a large quantity of child porn was found in the raid, some of it of the worst possible kind. It should have been an open and shut case with a strong likelihood of a conviction.
'However, as soon as the story leaked, Rory simply hopped on the next plane and left the country. It's clear he has no intention of coming back. His career would have been over anyway, after something like this, and it's not as if he's short of money. Rumour has it he's gone to the Philippines, which should suit his particular proclivities ideally.
'It would be tempting to call that a result in itself, one fewer sexual predator in our area. However, it's highly likely that he could and would have named names, given the opportunity for a deal.'
Kevin Turner shook his head in bewilderment. 'I still don't see what anyone gained, apart from money, in leaking this and giving him the chance to slip away.'
'I'm coming round more and more to Inspector Darling's theory that the leak was precisely to achieve what it has done, to get him out of the way before he could start incriminate other people,' she said. 'There is now so much against him that he could never safely come back to Britain. If he did, who would believe anything he said if he tried to implicate others?
'Physically removing him, an assassination, would have been risky. This way he is rendered harmless. But that, of course, means that the leak came either from inside the force or from the CPS. It would not be the first time, though, that corrupt police officers or lawyers have been behind something like this on a paedophile case.
'Which brings me to the main reason for this meeting today.' As she spoke, the Ice Queen got up and served coffee for them all. Ted was surprised. It was the first time she had shown any signs of such a loosening of formality. He expected that it didn't bode well for what was to come.
'Some of the material recovered is of Ror
y himself, with young boys. Cheshire think there is a good chance that it may be possible to identify locations, or at least get a clue, from the material they have found.
'I realise it is asking an enormous amount from you gentlemen, but would you be willing to view it, bearing in mind that it could give us the breakthrough we need? They have already sent over a number of stills which, whilst still shocking, are probably not quite as bad as the videos, which I would ask you to view only if all else fails.'
Ted desperately needed a drink of his coffee. He could feel his throat constricting and his pulse starting to race. He was afraid that if he reached out a hand and attempted to lift his cup, the other two would see how much his hands were shaking.
'If you do not feel up to it, please say so at the outset. No one will think any the worse of you, certainly not I. There is counselling available for you should you need it,' she stressed. 'Above all, I don't want you thinking you have to be macho …'
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she realised her mistake and looked flustered, for the first time since Ted had known her. She was even going red.
Kevin couldn't retain a guffaw of laughter, giving Ted a sharp nudge with his elbow. Even Ted smiled, relieved to have something to break the tension threatening to consume him and provoke another panic attack.
'I'm so sorry, that's not what I meant at all, it was a completely inappropriate thing for me to say …'
'It's absolutely fine,' Ted assured her. 'I know it was not meant to give offence, and absolutely none was taken. I'll certainly take a look at the photos, and later at the videos, if it becomes essential.' Kevin was nodding in agreement.
'It is something I would undertake myself, in the interests of the case, but I do not yet have the sort of local knowledge you two have, which is what is needed,' she said.
'It's fine, ma'am, really,' Ted almost felt sorry for his new boss at that moment. 'Kevin's a local boy, born and bred here. I've lived in the area since I was six, Lancashire lad by birth. It's not something either of us will relish, I'm sure, but as you say, if it moves the case forward, it has to be done.'
CHAPTER Nineteen
This time the water was even deeper. So deep that each time Ted sank like a stone, he feared he would never reach the bottom. It was only when he did, that he was hauled back to the surface, sometimes by the hair.
He'd lost count of the number of times already that he had been pushed under then pulled back up. Sometimes he was not even sure if he was conscious all of the time. He wished he could just die and get it over with. But whenever he felt himself slipping away to where he was safe and could no longer be terrorised, he was dragged back up and his reflexes forced air back into his lungs to keep him alive.
This time as he shot back up to the top, he felt strong hands grabbing his swimming trunks and pulling them down. By the time he broke the surface, he knew he was completely naked. The hands holding him shoved him contemptuously against the wall of the pool, with such force that the skin on his knuckles split and his hands began to bleed, colouring the water.
He made a wild grab for the rail, and hauled himself towards the steps which were tantalisingly close. As his hands felt the welcome touch of the rough metal, he was convinced he would suddenly be snatched back for more torture but it seemed his tormentor had grown bored. He just idly trod water nearby as Ted scrambled frantically up the steps and out of the pool.
They were at the deep end, which meant a long sprint back to the changing cubicle where his clothes were. Ted used his hands to cover his nakedness and ran as fast as he could, skinny legs pumping like pistons. As he ran, he heard the jeers and catcalls of other boys in the pool ringing in his ears. He also felt the warm flood of urine on his hands as the terror robbed him of all control.
The cubicle was the last place on earth he wanted to be. A place where he felt more in danger than in the pool. But his clothes were there. He desperately needed to cover his body and get out of there, as far away from his attacker as he could.
Trembling all over, and not just from cold, he didn't even bother trying to dry himself. He just pulled on his clothes over his wet body then ran out of the swimming baths, clutching his towel and his kit bag, and just kept on running.
Down the road he ran, blindly dodging traffic as he crossed over. Past shops and offices, on down the pavement, over a bridge. The marketplace was full of people, the metal and glass market hall heaving at the seams.
Ted was gasping for breath more than ever, totally disorientated, with no idea of where he was heading, just that he wanted to keep on running. He ran round the side of the market hall, seeking somewhere less crowded, and bumped straight into two patrolling police officers.
It was Ted's first ever ride in a police car as the two kindly constables took him back to his school and handed him over to the school secretary. There had been a bit of a panic on when he had not been on the bus returning the pupils to school after swimming, and he was nowhere to be found.
His form teacher was summoned, as was his swimming teacher.
'He had a bit of a fright when he slipped in the deep end and went under the water,' the swimming teacher said. 'Didn't you, Darling? You had us all worried for a moment there.' He laughed and looked reassuringly from the secretary to the form teacher. 'Don't worry, next week I'll personally spend time with Darling in deeper water, showing him there is nothing to be afraid of.'
'That's very kind of you, Mr Evans,' the form teacher replied. 'I'm sure Darling is very sorry for all the trouble he has caused, and is grateful for your kindness, aren't you, boy?'
Ted shot upright in bed and realised in panic that he was on the point of pissing himself with fear. He leapt out of bed and ran for the bathroom, shaking like a leaf and soaked with sweat. He emptied his bladder, shuddering in self-loathing, then doubled up and retched and choked over the toilet bowl.
When he had straightened up and washed his face in the basin, he turned to see Trev standing quietly in the doorway, lines of concern etched on his face. He held out a fleece blanket, which Ted meekly allowed him to wrap round his shoulders. Then he led him back to the bed, sat him on the edge and gently hugged and soothed him, until the shaking stopped.
'You can't go on like this,' Trev told him. 'This is worse than it's ever been before. You need to see someone. I can't help you through this, it's too dark.'
Ted patted his arm with a hand that was still shaking. 'You can help, you do help. You're what gets me through the darkness,' he said. 'I'm sorry I worry you. I will be fine, I promise.'
'Ted, you're not fine,' Trev said gently. 'You need proper professional help with this. You need to talk to someone who can help you, who can end these terrors for good.'
Ted paused for a moment to make sure his voice was back under control. 'I'll talk to you more, I promise,' he said. 'Look, it's nearly the weekend. Let's make plans. Sunday, you, me, the bike, a picnic, the Peak District. Miles from anyone. That's all I need, honestly.'
'You know I'll help you if I can,' Trev told him. 'It's just that this is getting too serious. If it's the case you're working on, you need to talk to someone at work about getting some help.'
Ted snorted. 'If I tell the Ice Queen I'm cracking up, she'll pull me off the case altogether. I don't want to be packed off to shrinks or therapists or whatever. I just need you to listen while I talk but outside. Out in the open. On top of Kinder Downfall.'
It was a cheap shot and Ted knew it. Kinder Downfall was their special place, where they had shared their life histories and a first hesitant kiss. He knew Trev could never resist the chance to go back there. It was also one of the few places where Ted felt comfortable talking about himself and the demons from his past. Trev knew most of it already, though not how it was coming back to haunt him so violently with his current case.
'If you can't talk to the Ice Queen, could you talk to Jim?' Trev asked. 'You used to get on so well with him when he was your boss, and you've listened to enough of his probl
ems over the years.'
Ted shook his head. 'That would be compromising him professionally. It's too much to ask of an old and valued friend. He would feel obliged to tell the Ice Queen everything I told him, even if I asked him to keep it confidential. He's a copper first and my friend afterwards.'
'You need to talk to someone,' Trev repeated doggedly. 'Kinder Downfall isn't the answer to everything in life. We'll go there on Sunday, we'll sit and talk, but you have to agree that you will talk to someone else, and Jim is your best bet.'
Ted still looked reluctant, so Trev pushed for a compromise. 'All right, if you have no more nightmares after Sunday, I'll let it drop. But if you do, you have to promise me that you will do something about it. Deal?'
Ted nodded, yawning, suddenly incredibly tired. He slid back under the duvet, not making any fuss as Trev tucked the fleece blanket around him, and was asleep again almost before Trev had gone round to his side of the bed and got in beside him.
CHAPTER Twenty
Ted was in early as usual the following morning and was surprised to find young Steve there ahead of him.
'Morning, sir,' the TDC greeted him. 'I was hoping to catch you before the others got in. I just wanted to tell you about my findings in private first, as I threw up something very odd in looking into the computer systems at the Sorrento.'
Ted was really pleased with the progress the young officer had made since joining the team. To begin with he had been painfully shy and clearly uncomfortable in speaking up in front of his DI. With Ted's encouragement he had really come out of his shell. Now, especially when talking about his area of expertise, he was quite happy to voice an opinion.
'Go ahead,' Ted said, intrigued.
