Guts for Garters

by Linda Regan

  Lox nodded.

  ‘We’re gonna start with the swings and slides in the playground,’ Alysha said. ‘We’ll get a quote on that, and see if we can get it going for the summer, then the kids can play out.’

  ‘We gotta sort the Wilkinses too, remember, we said we’d sort them,’ Tink reminded Alysha.

  ‘Yeah, that’s happening,’ Alysha told her lifting her two thumbs in the air. ‘And plans are all in place.

  ‘Great stuff,’ Panther said, high-fiving the girls.

  ‘And then, when Harisha’s arrested and put away for Burak’s murder, we let things die down, then we get the weapons back out,’ Alysha told them, ‘an’ sell ’em, from there, on to the North London mob. Don’t want them on South streets,’ she added.

  ‘There’s other guns in the tunnel too,’ Tink told her.

  ‘More for us to sell,’ Alysha smiled. ‘That’ll bring in a tidy profit.’

  ‘And then I can ’ave my beauty parlour, an’ we can build the play area back up?’ Tink asked, childlike.

  ‘That’s exactly what will happen,’ Alysha told, her rubbing the top of her pink hair. ‘This time five years from now, this estate’s gonna be a great place to live, not an old shithole like it is now.’

  ‘We’re like Robin Hood,’ Lox said.

  ‘Who’s Robin Hood?’ Tink asked.

  Alysha, Panther, and Lox shook their heads.

  ‘Don’t matter,’ Alysha said. ‘You’re great.’

  Georgia turned off the main road and into the side road that led to the Crown. ‘Bell the DCI,’ she said to Stephanie. ‘Give him the update on the lock-up info, and ask him if he can get us a warrant issued for first thing tomorrow. Tell him we believe the information is sound and there is a good chance a consignment of machetes is in that lock-up, possibly firearms too. We have reliable information that the key to the garage is in Harisha Celik’s flat. Ask the DCI to get a search warrant so we can turn Celik’s flat upside down first thing in the morning.’

  Stephanie started to press his number into her phone. ‘This is the best part of today, she said, ‘He’s such a dish.’

  ‘He’s spoken for,’ Georgia reminded her. ‘And don’t fall out with Alison Grainger, she’s giving us enough trouble already.’

  ‘A girl can dream,’ she said, just as Banham picked up.

  Stephanie switched the phone on to speaker. She repeated what Georgia had said, and asked for the search warrant to be issued, adding that they now had information that the murder of Burak and the burning of Zana had some kind of a link. Banham asked her to tell him more. Georgia then spoke as she drove. She told him that their informant had told them about Melek Yismaz, that they had photos of Melek and Zana Ghaziani on Zana’s computer, that Zana and Burak Kaya had been close.

  ‘Coincidence?’ Georgia said into the hands-free, ‘I don’t think so.’ They were sending the computer over to TIU first thing in the morning, and would wait to see if that brought more to light. Georgia wanted to bring the parents in for questioning, she thought it highly possible that Zana’s murder was an honour killing. However, Zana was definitely connected to Burak Kaya and therefore the SLR gang.

  ‘A raid on the lock-up might lead to us solving both these murders, guv.’ At the very least it would bring in a very good result for the Serious Crimes Unit; a consignment of arms would be off the streets of South London. She could then arrest Harisha Celik and question him about the murders.

  Banham was delighted with their work. He would call by a friendly magistrate on his way home, he told her, and get a warrant tonight. They could then go straight to Celik’s flat with a team of uniformed officers first thing in the morning. He would also arrange for the CO19 gun unit to be there for backup.

  ‘DI Grainger will take the morning’s meeting,’ Banham said. ‘The post-mortem on Burak Kaya is scheduled for tomorrow morning, but DI Grainger has already spoken to Forensics and the wounds on Burak Kaya’s body were likely caused by a machete. If you can pull a consignment of them in, and prove Harisha Celik was involved, then we just need to match the weapon to the wound and Celik will be back behind bars where he belongs.’

  He said PC Bevan would be with the Ghaziani family, 24/7 at present, she would be keeping track of their movements, and he would make sure that it stayed that way, while TIU had the laptop and they were waiting to see what else that turned up.

  Stephanie asked if Banham wanted her to phone Alison to pass all this info to her. Banham said it wouldn’t be necessary because DI Grainger was there, with him, at the station, listening to the call. They were on their way to the Friar’s Arms to have supper, and perhaps Georgia and Stephanie could join them for a drink and an update.

  Georgia looked at Stephanie, threw her eyes to heaven, and then indicated, and turned the car round, heading back the way they had come.

  ‘So much for a quiet, home cooked supper in the Crown,’ she said, speeding back in the direction of the station’s local, the Friar’s Arms.

  ‘I expect she’s too embarrassed to come in tomorrow unless she meets us and sorts it,’ Stephanie said.

  ‘I don’t think her a wimp for fainting but I do think she isn’t ready to tackle a fire murder victim investigation, just yet,’ Georgia said, sighing irritably.

  ‘What irritates me more,’ Stephanie added, ‘Is the fact that she ignored our warning, strolled on to the murder scene, and messed it up.’

  Georgia shook her head, although she kept her focus on the road. ‘No, what really irritates you,’ she teased her friend, ‘is the fact that she’s getting laid by the DCI. Now that really gets to you.’

  ‘His loss,’ Stephanie said cheerfully, reaching into her pocket for the remains of a large Mars Bar.

  ‘You’d think she would want to be in on all this,’ Georgia said, noticing Stephanie peel the chocolate wrapper down, stick her finger into the gooey caramel and then lick it from her finger.

  Georgia became immediately irritated. ‘Don’t eat all of that or you’ll spoil your dinner. And can you watch where you put the wrapper?’

  ‘Now I know you are a frustrated mother,’ Stephanie laughed, biting the end of the chocolate bar, and then wrapping the rest in its wrapper and pushing it into the pocket of her parka. She lifted her hands in surrender mode. ‘All sorted,’ she said. ‘No need for panic.’

  ‘I’m thinking of the car. I hoovered a multitude of crumbs from in here at the weekend.’

  Stephanie put her hands in the air defensively again. ‘There are no crumbs. Mars Bars don’t make crumbs.’

  ‘Yours do. You get chocolate everywhere. You can never eat chocolate, or anything for that matter, without half of it sticking to my car upholstery.’

  ‘You do know that if you were a mother, your kids would leave home,’ Stephanie laughed.

  Georgia said nothing.

  Alison was sitting on her own at a table in the Friar’s. Georgia and Stephanie made their way across the pub to join her. Banham shouted across from the bar to ask what they wanted to drink: Georgia a vodka and tonic and Stephanie a pint of Guinness.

  Georgia pulled a stool from under the table and sat beside Alison. Stephanie settled in a chair opposite and studied the menu.

  ‘No problem about today,’ Georgia said quietly to Alison, thinking how pale and tired she looked. ‘It happens to us all from time to time, it certainly has to me.’ It had been a long day, and two murders on her first day back was, understandably, taxing. Still Georgia had to agree with Stephanie, Alison wasn’t ready, as yet, to lead a double murder investigation, and one that was, probably, gang related.

  Before Alison had the chance to speak, Banham was back with the drinks. As he handed Alison a glass of orange juice, Georgia caught Stephanie’s eye. This woman didn’t even drink.

  Banham clinked his glass of red wine against Alison’s orange juice and winked at her.

  Feeling a little uncomfortable, Georgia stood. ‘I’m going to order food,’ she said. Stephanie followed. Neither not
iced as Banham got up and followed them.

  ‘Christ, she even drinks fruit juice,’ Stephanie said as she joined Georgia at the food board.

  ‘Nothing wrong with that,’ Banham answered, making them both jump in surprise and embarrassment. ‘But actually, Alison does drink, just not at the moment, as she’s not feeling very well.’

  Georgia felt a rush of heat to her dark cheeks. ‘Look, sir,’ she said, ‘It could have been any of us, this morning. That cadaver wasn’t a pretty sight. So perhaps you could assure her we don’t think any less of her, and, if she is still heading this investigation, there’s a lot to get on with.’

  Banham raised his eyebrows but didn’t answer.

  Stephanie flicked a warning glance to Georgia and then buried her head in the cardboard menu standing on the counter, listing the specials for the day.

  ‘Without wishing to speak out of turn, Guv,’ Georgia continued, ignoring the warning glance from Stephanie. ‘She is supposed to be joint SIO on this investigation. We have made headway today, and she has a lot of catching up to do.’ She noticed his angry glare but was determined to have her say. She rubbed her lips over each other, slightly nervously, and continued, ‘What I am trying to say, Guv, is, in my opinion, and given that this second murder involves a woman burnt to death, and because of what happened to Alison’s colleague …’

  ‘You think I should take her off the case?’

  She was a little taken aback with the sharpness in his tone, but wasn’t the kind to back down. ‘Yes, guv, I do,’ she said. She flicked a glance to Stephanie, who was still bent over, studying the menu, and wearing a pained frown across her forehead.

  Banham stared at Georgia. ‘When I last looked, DI Johnson, I was the senior officer in this station.’

  ‘Guv.’

  ‘So, I make the decisions.’

  Steph’s body sunk even lower over the menu, and Georgia would swear she saw a little warning shake of her head.

  ‘Guv,’ Georgia said again, but this time there was a hint of submissiveness in her tone.

  ‘Alison is staying on the case,’ he told Georgia. ‘And, I will be working more closely on it. I’ll keep my eye on Alison.’ He stared straight at Georgia, ‘So she won’t be, as you might want to think, someone that needs carrying.’

  Georgia took in breath, and then nodded, ‘Guv,’ she said quietly.

  ‘Secondly, I would remind you that she is the more experienced of the two of you, therefore more senior. I decided to make you joint SIOs, as I believed the case would benefit from your experience with gang crime. Thirdly,’ he moved closer to her. ‘If I hear any more of your schoolgirl bleating about the capabilities of one of my senior officers, then it is you who will be off this case. Do I make myself clear?’

  Georgia blinked. ‘I’m sorry, sir, I just …’

  ‘I invited you here to get an update, and to buy you a drink. I am up to speed with the case, the warrant will be here waiting for you when you arrive in the morning, and I have bought you a drink. There is another free table over there. I am going back to DI Grainger. I will see you in the morning. Enjoy your supper.’

  As he walked away Stephanie turned to Georgia,

  ‘I shouldn’t have opened my mouth, I get it,’ Georgia said.

  ‘Well, I’m not opening mine, either, after that,’ Stephanie said. ‘Let’s down our drinks and go back to Wandsworth for that quiet supper.’

  ‘Do you still think he’s a dish?’ Georgia said as they got in the car and set off, for the second time in the direction of Wandsworth.

  ‘Yes, but I also think he’s blinded by his feelings for Alison Grainger. Listen, what you said was true and right, but my advice, as a mate, is keep your opinion to yourself.’

  Next Morning

  Stephanie was holding the warrant. CO19 were parked in the road adjacent to the Bugle Estate, where Harisha Celik lived with his older brother. Three patrol wagons heaving with uniformed officers turned into the Bugle Estate. They parked up, one behind the other, and the occupants started piling out onto the pavement.

  Some of the estate residents had started to notice and word was going round that there was another police raid. Some half-dressed residents were running out their doors desperate to hide their small stashes of drugs. Other were frantically throwing covers over the cannabis plants they were growing in their back rooms, all anxious that it might be their flat that the feds were about to turn over.

  ‘OK, let’s do it,’ Georgia shouted, slipping her arm into the sleeve of her black leather jacket as she slammed her own car door closed.

  Dressed in a clean white T-shirt, a black lambswool cardigan, jeans, black boots, and her leather jacket, she headed for the steps at the side of Celik’s block, closely followed by Stephanie, and a team of uniformed officers. The front three PCs carried the red battering ram between them. They had a warrant, and nothing would stop them going in. If necessary, they would to take the door down with the ram.

  But before Georgia even had time to knock, the flat door opened, and Harisha Celik’s face appeared, a look of contempt written across it.

  ‘Looking for me?’ he asked, raising his eyebrows, and eyeing Georgia with contempt.

  She waved the paper in front of his face. ‘Please stand aside, I have a warrant to search your premises. And while my officers are doing that, I’d like to ask you some questions.’

  The uniformed officers made an attempt to go in, but Harisha blocked their entry with his foot. ‘Nothing in there to find,’ he said, ‘but please feel free.’ As they moved forward to enter, again he blocked their path with his foot and stretched out his hand. ‘But show me the warrant first.’

  He was playing for time. Stephanie wasn’t having it. She all but waved it in his face, forcing him to take a step back. She used that step to enter the flat.

  ‘Be my guest,’ he said sarcastically with an exaggerated sweep of his arm gesture. The police trooped in. Georgia moved to the back allowing them all to file in before she followed. Celik again blocked her with his foot.

  ‘If anyone breaks anything,’ he said glaring at her. ‘I’ll make sure you pay for it.’

  ‘Ditto,’ she answered holding his eyes. ‘If you have broken anything, like the law, I will make sure you pay for it.’

  He dropped his gaze to her crotch and then lifted it back up to her breasts. In the background drawers and cupboards had started to be turned upside-down. He ignored the noise and kept his gaze on her breasts. ‘Said you wanted to ask me a question,’ he said with a sarcastic smirk, sucking in air as his eyes moved back to her crotch. ‘The answer is, yes,’ he said lifting his eyes back to stare into hers.

  She resisted the urge to smack him hard in the face. ‘I’d like you to accompany me to the station to answer some questions to do with the murder of Burak Kaya.’

  Immediately his temper flared. ‘You think I’d kill my own cousin?’

  ‘I’ve no idea. Could you also tell me where your friend Melek Yismaz lives?’

  ‘I’ve no idea.’

  ‘But you know who she is?’

  He shook his head. ‘Should I?’

  Georgia took a step in the flat and stayed facing him in his hallway. She was pleased, at that moment, that she had decided to wear her high-heeled black boots. As it stood, she was looking down at him.

  ‘There are two ways we can do this,’ she said holding back the anger that was starting to boil inside her. ‘So here’s the choice: You give me Melek’s mobile number, now, and then you accompany us, of your own free will, down to the station, and you answer all our questions. If we are satisfied that you had no connection in the murder of Burak Kaya, then you will be free to go. However, if you tell me one lie, just one, like saying you don’t know how to contact Melek Yismaz,’ she raised her voice and sharpened her tone, ‘I will lock you up, and charge you for obstructing a murder enquiry. Having been inside twice before, you know as well as I do that it’ll carry a custodial sentence, in your case a heavy one. S
o I am warning and advising you. Either way, I will find the information that I want.’

  She held his angry gaze.

  ‘How are you doing inside? Stephanie shouted to the team as she stood in Celik’s hallway watching the police turn each room upside down.

  ‘Nothing yet, ma’am.’

  ‘Just keep looking, we will find it.’

  Harisha raised his hands defiantly. ‘Find it? There’s nothing to find.’

  ‘Melek’s phone number?’ Georgia reminded him. ‘Oh, and the keys to your lock-up.’

  ‘I ain’t got no lock-up,’ he said, shaking his head and frowning. He pulled his phone from his pocket and clicked Melek’s number up. The screen displayed a number, her photograph beside it.

  ‘Someone’s having a laugh with you,’ he said showing Melek’s picture and her number scrolled across the screen. ‘I’m clean, no drugs, no lock-up. You ain’t gonna find nothing in here. Whoever said you would is having a laugh on you, mate. Got a pen, have you, to take the number down? CVs, that’s something you might find in there,’ he smiled sarcastically. ‘I’m looking for a job.’

  She wrote Melek’s number down. ‘In the car,’ she said, nodding to a uniformed officer to take Harisha to the waiting police van. ‘And, I am definitely not your mate.’

  She followed and watched the PC seat Harisha in the prisoner’s chair at the back of the van, before slamming and locking the rear door. She was also worryingly aware of the van full of CO19 officers standing by. A half a dozen or so of them had surrounded the flat, and one officer stood on the roof with a gun. So far they had found nothing to link Celik to any firearms, she pushed the guilt from her mind, ignored the residents crowing around their windows watching the goings on, and went back into Celik’s flat to help with the search.

  When she was satisfied they had covered every inch of the flat, Georgia called Jim, the CO19 firearms team’s sergeant.

  ‘Finished,’ she said flatly. ‘No sign of firearms, no paperwork for a lock-up, and no key. So if you want to go, I’ll call you if anything changes.’