Dead Guilty

by Helen H. Durrant

  “We’ll have Thorpe.” He tried to sound upbeat but knew he’d failed when a loud groan went round the room. “Okay, I’ll keep him on a tight rein,” he gave in. “The rest of you make use of uniform. Alice will look for this ‘Street’ and find out who else is in his little gang. Rocco, you go after Wells. We want to know who’s joined him and what their beef is.”

  Ruth looked at him. “And me?”

  “I want you to get close to Annie Alder and that friend of hers, Joanne. Win their trust. My gut tells me that there’s something in the family’s background that has led to this kidnap. We’ll meet back here before home time, see what we’ve got.”

  * * *

  Ruth grabbed the Alder file and made herself comfortable. There wasn’t much. Statements taken from Annie and Joanne, and notes made about what the boy, Jack, had told DI Long. Also, the research Rocco had done earlier. She added the email printout and the photo Annie had given her of Sophie. She stopped for a few seconds to study it. Sophie Alder was wearing a party dress and had her blonde hair in plaits. She clutched a blue teddy bear and looked straight at the camera. The toy drew Ruth’s attention because it stood out against the cream colour of Sophie’s dress.

  Ruth’s son, Harry, had a favourite soft teddy. A battered old thing he’d had since birth. It had been through the wash a hundred times and was almost threadbare, but Harry loved it. Ruth smiled. Little ones were all the same.

  She picked up the office phone and rang Joanne, Annie’s friend. She’d speak to her and the boy first. “Sergeant Ruth Bayliss here. Could we meet?” she asked. “I’d also like a chat with Jack if that’s possible.”

  “Jack’s my nephew. I take care of him while my sister works part-time. I promised to take him to the soft play centre in Hopecross this afternoon. I don’t want to disappoint him.”

  “That’s fine,” Ruth said. “I can meet you there. I don’t want this to be formal. He’s more likely to chat if he gets to know me. I want Jack to tell me what he remembers about that afternoon.”

  “Jane, my sister, says he’s having nightmares.” Her voice was sharp. “He’s aware Sophie is missing and keeps saying that the witch has taken her.”

  Ruth frowned. “That’s an odd thing to say. I thought he told you a man was standing by the gate? Does Jack now think it could have been a woman?”

  “I don’t know what Jack thinks. He’s a kid, and gets mixed up. He knows talking to strangers is wrong. People bang on about it enough. He’s worried. He’s aware that Sophie is in some sort of danger. Jack is four now, a bit older than Sophie, and understands more.”

  “Let’s call it a ‘getting used to me’ session, if you like,” Ruth suggested. “No pressure on either of you.”

  “I’ll have a word with Jane first. If she’s okay with it, we’ll be there about two.”

  “Who will be with Annie while you’re gone? Has our family liaison officer turned up?”

  “Yes. Annie sent her packing, I’m afraid. Frankie is with her. She’s calmed down and has agreed to be more helpful.”

  That was something at least.

  Chapter 9

  Calladine would have to speak to Sean’s mother. It was not something he was looking forward to. The PM hadn’t been carried out yet and she was sure to ask. Forensics would be all over his bedroom. Kat would not relish the intrusion.

  “I’m going to see Joanne and her nephew this afternoon,” Ruth told him. “I’m hoping the little lad will talk to me. He is our only witness, young as he is. He’s now saying that a witch took Sophie. I don’t know what to make of it.”

  “Best of luck. I don’t know which is the worse option, you with the kid or me with Kat Barber.”

  “I thought you said you know her?”

  “She’s a neighbour, but in a case like this, it doesn’t help.”

  Ruth looked up at him. “What’s wrong with you today? I know we’re pushed but you’ve got that face on.”

  Calladine let out a sigh. “Layla’s dumped me. What with everything else, it’s a blow I could’ve done without.”

  “And you didn’t see it coming?”

  “Should I have? I thought we were fine.”

  “You don’t get any better, Tom.” Ruth shook her head. “She’s the commitment type. I knew Layla wouldn’t be fobbed off with your weird idea of a relationship for long. You’re lucky it lasted all these months.”

  “I’d no idea she was so into me.”

  Ruth sighed. “Then again, neither of you are getting any younger. Perhaps she simply saw you as a safe bet.”

  “Thank you for that.” He sniffed. “Remind me not to ask for advice on affairs of the heart from you again!”

  Ruth was serious now. “Stop mucking women about, Calladine. Find one you like and then do the right thing.”

  * * *

  Vehicles belonging to the forensics team were parked outside Kat Barber’s house. It made finding a free space on the narrow back street difficult. These houses had been here since the last century and the streets were never meant for today’s volume of traffic.

  Calladine found the front door open. Kat Barber was pacing the sitting room. “They’ve been up there for hours,” she told him. “What are they looking for? My Sean was the one murdered. He didn’t do anything.”

  “It’s routine, Kat. I’ll go up, see where they’re at.”

  Calladine climbed the stairs and met one of the forensic team on the landing. “Are you done yet? Kat’s had enough.”

  “We’ve given the lad’s room a thorough going over. We’ll take his laptop away. And we found this little lot stashed under the floorboards.” He held up a clear plastic bag containing a dozen or so wraps. “Cocaine, I reckon. And we found this in one of his drawers.” It was a mobile phone.

  Sean was a user? Calladine didn’t know why he was surprised by that, but he was. He nodded at the mobile. “I want to know what’s on that phone pronto.”

  “There’s this little lot, too.” The forensics man held up a plastic bag containing jewellery and other valuable small items. “He’s been on the rob for a while, I’d say. There’s all sorts in here, including some antique silver.” He reached into the bag and brought out an object. “These snuffboxes, for example.”

  “I’m aware Sean was no angel. He even tried to rob me the other night. But I never suspected him of dealing.” Calladine sighed and took a closer look at the drugs.

  “If that’s what it is,” the forensics bloke said. “There’s not much here. It’s the supplier you need to get your hands on.”

  “Don’t say anything to his mother just yet. I’ll deal with that one. Take them away and get that laptop looked at. There might be something on it we can use.”

  Calladine went back down the stairs to speak to Kat. This was going to be tricky. He doubted she had any idea what her son had been up to. “They’ve found quite a haul. It looks like Sean was making a career of thieving. Sorry, Kat, I know it’s not what you want to hear.”

  “I knew he was up to something, but I was too scared to ask.” She folded her arms. “But he was my boy. He didn’t deserve to die like that. He met a wrong ’un and I want him found, Tom. I’m trusting you. Don’t let me down.”

  “I will do everything I can.” He paused. She looked pale and drawn, probably hadn’t slept. Now was not the time to bring up the drugs. “How are you coping? Is your sister staying with you?”

  “Yes, thanks for that.” She managed a weak smile. “Buckley’s have given her time off with pay. Good of them. You must have some influence to pull that one off. Right tight bunch as a rule.”

  Calladine felt embarrassed. Should he tell her? Why not? Enough people in this town probably knew by now anyway. “Eve Buckley is my birth mother,” he admitted after a moment or two.

  Kat looked puzzled. “What d’you mean? I thought you were Freda’s lad.”

  “Freda Calladine brought me up from when I was an infant. I knew no different. She never told me the truth about Eve. After F
reda died, I found a letter she’d left for me. It told the whole story. My dad and Eve had an affair. I was the result. But Eve was young, unable to support herself, so Frank took me home and Freda raised me as her own.” He inhaled. Talking about his parents brought a lump to his throat.

  “Do you see her, Mrs Buckley?”

  “Now and then. We have accepted each other, although I think her other son, Simon, isn’t keen.” Eve had gone on to have two more children, Samantha and Simon.

  “Will you inherit some of her money when she’s gone?”

  Calladine laughed. “I have no idea. We’ve never discussed it.”

  “I’d say it’s the least she could do. She gave you up. I don’t understand how any woman can do that. She should leave you the lot.”

  “It’s not that simple.”

  “Sorry, I shouldn’t pry. And I haven’t even offered you a drink.”

  “I’m fine, Kat. I’ll get on. I’ll be in touch when we’ve got something.”

  Calladine wanted to make further enquiries about the drugs. He wanted to know exactly what Sean had been involved in.

  Chapter 10

  The play centre was busy. It was a half-term afternoon. Ruth spotted Joanne sitting opposite the bouncy castle, watching Jack jump up and down. The noise was off the scale — lots of laughter and screaming kids running around.

  “Thanks for coming.” Ruth sat down beside her. “Can I get you a coffee or something?”

  Joanne shook her head. “I’ve explained things to Jack,” she said. “He’s a good boy. He knows what’s happened to Sophie isn’t right.”

  “Will he speak to me?”

  Joanne nodded. “We can try, but take it slow. It’s hit him hard.”

  She beckoned the boy across to join them. “Jack, this is Ruth. She’s the lady I told you about, the one trying to find Sophie.”

  Ruth gave him a beaming smile. He was slight, with blonde hair. “I bring my little boy, Harry, here. He loves playing on that,” she nodded at the bouncy castle. “He’s not as big as you so he falls off a lot.”

  Jack giggled. “I’m going to a party. It’s Ellie’s birthday.”

  “Is she having her party here?”

  He nodded. “A man is coming to do magic.”

  “I think I’ve seen him here before, he’s good.”

  “He gives us a balloon and a present.”

  “Sounds like fun,” Ruth said.

  The smile suddenly left Jack’s face. “I don’t know where they went.” He backed off slightly. “I shouted at Sophie to come back but she didn’t.”

  “Who was there, Jack? Who did Sophie run to?”

  “The witch. It was the witch who called her. She ran off and left me by the froggy pond. We were looking for frogspawn.”

  “It’s the wrong time of year,” Ruth told him. “You should try again in the spring. There’ll be lots then.”

  Jack frowned in concentration. “She wasn’t bothered about going with the witch. She waved bye-bye at me.”

  “Can you remember what the witch looked like, Jack?”

  “No!” He ran off.

  “See,” Joanne said. “He’s just not comfortable talking about it.”

  Ruth thought that he’d seemed perfectly okay with it up until the moment the witch’s appearance had come up.

  “I’ll leave it at that for now,” Ruth told Joanne. She turned to look at the boy, who was back bouncing on the castle. “I’m going now, Jack,” she called to him. “Will you talk to me again?”

  The boy edged a little closer, staring at her. “I don’t want to.”

  Ruth smiled at him. “Tell you what, I’ll do you a deal. One more question and that’s it.”

  He nodded.

  “Did Sophie know the witch’s name?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t know. But the witch was at the party. The one when Sophie bumped her head.”

  Jack bounced off and Ruth turned to Joanne, puzzled. “Do you know what he means?”

  “No idea. He’s a kid. For all we know, he could have dreamt it.”

  “You mean there was no party? Sophie didn’t bang her head?” Ruth asked.

  “Not that I can recall. He’s confused because there’s a party going on here today, and one or two of the kids are dressed up. See.” She nodded towards a group of people. “That little girl over there is dressed as a witch.”

  * * *

  Ruth knew very well that children made up stories. Her own son, Harry, did. But Jack had seemed so sure.

  “Get anywhere?” Sergeant Thorpe asked her as she entered the incident room.

  “If the kid is to be believed, perhaps. But he’s four years old and told me that a witch took Sophie.”

  “That’s kids for you.” He laughed and leaned back in his chair.

  Ruth frowned. “I thought you were up to your eyes in research.”

  “Nowt to look at. Can’t find any ‘Street,’ and the Alders are whiter than white.”

  “Look at their private life. There’s something, I know it. Annie isn’t happy and Rick spends all his time at work.”

  Much to Ruth’s annoyance, Thorpe was constantly checking his watch. As a rule, he didn’t stay a second longer than he had to. Calladine wouldn’t like that. The team usually worked until they had the case cracked.

  “No one admits to knowing this ‘Street,’ Sarge,” Alice announced as she entered the incident room. “I’ve asked at the youth club and even been round to the school. But they’ve heard of him. From the furtive looks they gave each other, I could tell that much.”

  Ruth was pleased. At least Alice had done some work. She was meticulous and had been an asset to the team since joining them as a university student. But why weren’t the kids talking? A lad had been killed. “Anything on the vigilantes?”

  Alice shook her head. “Not that I’m aware. Rocco has gone off to have a word with one of them. Let’s hope he gets more than I did.”

  * * *

  As Calladine was leaving Kat’s house, he heard Zoe’s familiar voice.

  “Dad!” she called. “I could do with a word.” She smiled. “Me and Jo have some news.”

  Zoe Calladine was behind the wheel of her car and had pulled over to speak to him.

  “Important, is it?”

  “Yes. How about coming to ours after work. Jo will cook and we’ll tell you together.”

  Calladine nodded. “About six, that okay?”

  “Don’t be late,” Zoe instructed as she pulled away.

  Calladine had no idea what was going on. Jo Brandon was Zoe’s partner. She was an estate agent and had an office on the High Street in Leesdon, where Zoe also worked as a solicitor. He knew they’d been looking at properties together. Perhaps they’d found one at last?

  Chapter 11

  “Drugs?” Ruth asked.

  “Several wraps of cocaine.” Calladine had told the team what forensics had found once he was back at the station.

  “Any clue where it came from?” asked Ruth.

  “No, and I haven’t told his mum yet. She’s enough to think about.”

  “You’re going soft, Calladine,” Ruth told him. “Sean Barber had to be involved with some dangerous types. Who d’you think he got the stuff from?”

  “It could have been anyone. Leesdon, and the Hobfield in particular, isn’t short of dealers.”

  “Actually, it’s gone quiet on that front,” Rocco said. “There’s been very little dealing recently in the parks or street corners that uniform are aware of.”

  Ruth shook her head. “It’s still going on, that much is certain.”

  “So what’s happened?” Calladine asked. “Why the lull? The usual crew are not clever enough to keep it that quiet.” He turned to Rocco. “Are you sure there’s been nothing? Uniform not picked anyone up?”

  “No, guv, not for dealing. Possession yes, the odd wrap or pill, but nothing major.”

  “I have to say that Sean Barber didn’t strike me as being the type. He w
asn’t the brightest either. Too easily led.”

  Calladine wrote this development on the incident board. “Don,” he addressed DS Thorpe, “what have you got for us?”

  “Nowt, sir. No one admits to knowing this ‘Street,’ and the Alders are clean.”

  Calladine stared at him. Thorpe had settled himself in at the spare desk. It was covered in dirty mugs and sandwich wrappers. He hadn’t moved all day. “Have you even left the office? Been out there and spoken to anyone?”

  “No need to. Alder is as straight as they come. Stands to reason.”

  How did Long put up with him? “Off your arse, Sergeant, and do some real work for a change. I want this putting to bed. We’ve a missing kid and the answer lies with her family. My gut tells me that much.”

  “Where do you suggest I try? The biscuit factory?”

  “No. Richard Alder is publicity shy. Find out what pub the workers use and get in there. Chat to them, find out what they think of Alder.”

  Calladine saw the grin on Thorpe’s face and was quick to set him straight. “That’s not permission to get bladdered, Sergeant, keep that in mind.”

  “When is the Barber PM scheduled?” Ruth asked.

  “I’m hoping tomorrow. Get it out of the way for Kat’s sake.”

  “Do you want me to talk to her?”

  “No. Leave Kat Barber to me,” Calladine said firmly. “Okay, back to work everyone.”

  * * *

  “You like her, don’t you?” Ruth said later on as they were leaving.

  Calladine didn’t reply. He knew she meant Kat Barber.

  “I know you do. She lives round the corner from you for a start.”

  “She’s a neighbour, even knew my mum. Freda,” he added hurriedly, “not Eve.”

  “Like I said, you like her.”

  “She’s just lost her son, for Heaven’s sake. Whether I like her or not is immaterial.” He paused. “But yes, Kat’s okay.”

  “And Layla?”

  Calladine exhaled deeply. “It’s over. She’s fed up with me. Said as much. Told me she’s moving to Inverness.”

  Ruth was surprised. “Really? You’ll miss her.”