Death on Account (The Lakeland Murders)

by Salkeld, J J

  ‘I’m sorry, boss’ he said, as soon as the door was closed.

  Hall held up his hand. ‘Stop there, Ray. Jane told me what you said to her, and that’s the last we’ll say about it. I don’t want the Super finding himself yet another whipping boy in my team. But in case anyone asks, you chatted to Alison last night, the subject of her employer came up, and it was this morning that you made the connection. It just came to you, in the shower or something. Is that clear?’

  ‘Yes, boss, but it’s not all that convincing, is it?’

  ‘In comparison with what? I have lots of my best ideas in the shower. That’s what happened, and when the team meeting starts in,’ Hall looked down at the old Omega that had belonged to his father, ‘nine minutes time I’m going to congratulate you on a brilliant and dedicated bit of Police work. And what are you going to say?’

  ‘Nothing. Just look modest.’

  ‘That’s right. You’ve done nothing wrong, and because of you we’ve got a breakthrough at last. Tony Sheridan will get Murphy in again, but it will do him sod all good. But if we can get hold of Alison Thornton before Cafferty’s crew do, then we could be on our way to nailing Murphy for conspiracy to murder.’

  ‘You think she’s in danger? Bugger, I hadn’t thought of that.’

  ‘It’s a possibility, Ray. Look, get back out there, and don’t be surprised if the Super takes a special interest in all this, if you follow my drift.’

  ‘So it’s true, he did get Alison signed up as a Special?’

  ‘Oh yes indeed. She wrote to him, as one God-botherer to another I wouldn’t doubt, and he fast tracked her in. Jane’s had a look, and she didn’t attend the assessment day at all.’

  ‘So his arse is on the line.’

  ‘Yes, DC Dixon, I’m very much afraid that it is.’

  Dixon tried to look solemn as he left the office, but his mood was back on the up. Terry Walker had been given a thorough hiding, and now the Super was right in the shit. Perhaps he was right: maybe there was a God after all.

  ‘All right’ said Hall, walking in to the office, ‘let’s have a catch up on where we are. Everything; SOCO, tech, CCTV, door to door. And remember, because Alison has been a Special, and worked in this very room on the Williams killing, we know that she knows a fair bit about our investigative methods.’ Hall tried not to catch Robinson’s eye, but a few of his colleagues weren’t so tactful. ‘So tech, I’m assuming slim pickings?’

  ‘Yes, Andy’ said Jamie White, the most senior of HQ’s tech team and the reigning Constabulary champion on most of the console games, ‘we found her mobile in the house. Nothing of any interest, but at least she didn’t leave it on a train or something. She missed a trick there. Could have sent us chasing after it for hours.’

  ‘How about her laptop?’

  ‘Nowt so far. And don’t get your hopes up either. It was new when she came up here, so there’s not much on it, and I’d be amazed if we found anything incriminating.’

  ‘How about anything to tell us where she’s gone?’

  ‘Not a thing, she was totally wise to that. She hasn’t even tried to erase any browsing history either. How many of us could say the same?’

  Most people laughed. Robinson didn’t.

  ‘OK, Jamie, keep at it. Peter, what about door-to-door?’

  ‘We’ve got her leaving on foot sometime before eight, carrying a bag. Walking in the direction of town. I’ve got people knocking, trying to pick her up again in the adjacent streets, but nothing yet.’

  ‘Good. CCTV then, Ray?’

  ‘No, she wasn’t picked up by any of the CCTV on her side of town. The nearest camera is on the edge of the town centre, and that’s only a five minute walk from her place.’

  ‘No surprise I suppose. Jane, any luck with the taxi firms then? We’re looking at that or an accomplice by the looks of it, and I hope to God there aren’t two of them.’

  ‘Nothing from the Kendal firms, so I’m widening out to Windermere, and down to Carnforth. Any pick up in Kendal of a single woman within half an hour of the time we have her leaving the house. If I wanted to buy a bit of time I’d have done that, used a firm from out of town. She’d know we might not check, or at least not check first.’

  Hall nodded. She could be well on her way to almost anywhere already, and with every minute that passed they were just a fraction less likely to find her. But he wasn’t about to say that.

  ‘We’ll pick her up soon, just keep at it everyone. Merseyside have got her mum’s place under observation, and they’re talking to all her friends and colleagues from down there. So we might get a lead as to where she’s making for. Have we spoken to the other Specials? Anyone very friendly with her? If so we need to talk to them, and right away.’

  ‘I think she got on well with Gill McGrath’ said Jane cautiously. ‘I’m not saying that there’s any connection between them at all, not that Gill’s her accomplice or anything.’

  Hall nodded. He’d been thinking the same. The connections between the two women just felt too close for comfort. ‘Let’s find Gill and bring her in, as soon as, please. We need to eliminate her or identify her as a possible accomplice. Either way, let’s move quickly on that. Anyone have any other ideas, or questions?’

  No one had. Normally in these situations, and with these resources, Hall would have given himself a 90% chance of catching a suspect within 48 hours. But with Alison he was less sure. With every intelligent move, every action that would slow them down as they tried to follow her trail, she increased her chance of getting clean away. But, if he’d read Cafferty right, Alison would be much safer if they found her before she made contact with Cafferty. Because if she did that then Hall gave her no chance of seeing her next birthday. It was obvious to him, but would she see it too? Or rather, would she see it in time?

  When Nobby Styles was stood down from the door-to-door he hitched a ride back to the station. He changed, put his recorder in his pocket, then popped up to see Ray Dixon.

  ‘Sorry, I’ve not had a chance to keep an eye on Kylie for you, Nobby.’

  ‘No problem, Ray. I was just going to tell you that I’ve got eyes on Kylie anyway, and she’s in town at the moment. Went in after the hospital. So I’m off to see if I can engineer a meeting, accidentally on purpose like.’

  ‘Eyes on? Who’s that then?’

  ‘Who do you think?’

  ‘Ian? Good call, Nobby. He knows he’s in the clear over the Williams thing now, does he?’

  ‘Yeah, I told him. He was talking about putting in his papers, but maybe that’ll help him change his mind.’

  ‘All right, off you go then. But if you get anything on tape bring it straight in, get it transcribed and the time confirmed, and give a statement to anyone who’ll take it from you. Just make sure it’s straight after, OK?’

  Nobby called Ian Mann as he drove in to town.

  ‘You were right, Nobby, she’s doing food shopping. She’s got a fair trolley full already, and loads of it is frozen. So she’s bound to be after a cab to take her back home.’

  ‘Right, I’ll hang about between the front of frozen food place and the taxi rank, and get parked up behind now. I’ll offer her a lift home, and see what she says.’

  ‘Nice one. I’d say you’ve got about ten minutes. She seems very choosy about her frozen pizzas. Personally I’d rather eat the box.’

  Nobby laughed and rang off. He found himself cutting someone up as he drove round the one way system, and parking badly when he reached the car park behind the store. He realised how much he wanted this chance to put things right.

  Ian Mann called him again and told him that Kylie was paying for her shopping.

  ‘She hasn’t even shoplifted anything’ he said. ‘What are the chances? She must be preoccupied.’

  ‘I don’t think anyone can stuff an eighteen inch stuffed-crust pizza down their front’ said Nobby.

  ‘Speak for yourself’ said Mann. ‘She’ll be outside in two minutes. Let m
e know how it goes.’

  Nobby turned his recorder on, made sure the microphone was secure and well hidden, and he reached Kylie half way between the shop and the taxi rank.

  ‘That looks heavy’ he said, ‘let me help.’

  Before Kylie could say anything he had the bags in his hands.

  ‘Can I give you a lift? I’m just heading off myself. Had to go to the bank after work.’

  ‘You’re all right, Nobby.’

  ‘Come on Kylie, love, you’re safe with me.’

  She laughed. ‘It’s not that, Nobby. I don’t want to put you to any trouble.’

  ‘After what you’ve been through? Don’t talk daft. I’m only parked round the back.’ Nobby set off through a yard that came out near the car park, and Kylie walked a step or two behind him.

  ‘How’s the old man?’ asked Nobby as he loaded the shopping in to the boot. ‘I was in there, in hospital, taking his statement.’

  ‘He said, aye’ replied Kylie dryly.

  ‘Look, Kylie’ said Nobby, when they were in the car, ‘we know what happened had nothing at all to do with you. We know that, love, everyone does. You think I’d be giving you a lift now if I thought you were involved in causing Eleanor to do what she did? I’d cross the bloody road to avoid you.’

  ‘Plenty of folk are’ said Kylie. ‘It’s not fair, I liked Eleanor, and Gemma.’

  ‘I know, but you get just lumped in with Terry and his lads. But you’re not like them, are you, love? You should put the record straight.’

  ‘How do you mean?’ Nobby could hear the suspicious tone in Kylie’s voice, and he knew that he needed to be careful.

  ‘I mean tell them. Anyone who blanks you, go out of your way to tell them that it was down to Terry.’

  ‘I can’t do that.’

  ‘Why not? I would. Otherwise people will just assume that you were part of it otherwise. Folk won’t forget, Kylie. Not round here, not something like that. We both know it.’

  Kylie went quiet, and Nobby slowed down. The black Audi behind him flashed its lights as they started to climb the hill out of town. He ignored it.

  ‘It was all his fault.’

  Nobby took his time before replying. He didn’t want to sound too eager. ‘How do you mean?’

  ‘You know what he’s like. But I never saw this coming, Nobby. I put up with worse than she had to, don’t I?’

  Nobby bit his tongue. ‘Of course you do, Kylie.’

  They were turning in to the estate, and as they did so Nobby sensed a change in Kylie.

  ‘Drop me off here would you, Nobby love? I don’t want to take you out of your way.’

  ‘It’s no trouble.’

  ‘I said drop me off here, please. You’re a good bloke, Nobby, and I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but you’re still a copper. And this is where I live. It’s where I’ll always live. And I don’t want anyone to see me with a copper.’

  Nobby Styles pulled over, got out, and took Kylie’s shopping out of the boot. He watched her walk away. When he was back in the car he turned off the recorder and called Ian Mann.

  ‘I got nowt mate, but thanks for your help.’

  ‘Don’t worry about it, Nobby. We’ll get Terry and his lads, don’t you worry. Maybe not for this, I’ll grant you that, but we’ll get them.’

  ‘So you’ve decided not to jack it in then?’

  ‘How do you work that out?’

  ‘You said ‘we’ll get them’.’

  ‘Oh aye. You should be a detective, Nobby, forensic mind like that.’

  Nobby laughed. ‘I was hoping to slip in to your job as it happens, but it sounds like that’s off the agenda. Anyway, do you fancy a pint? It looks like it’s going to be a grand evening.’

  ‘I’d love to, Nobby, but I’m off out for a run in a bit. I need to get myself back in shape. But thanks for the offer, and sorry you got nowhere with Kylie. It was always a long shot.’

  When Nobby had rung off he sat and thought about Kylie and Terry, and about Eleanor too. Eventually he started the engine, turned the car round and drove home. Not being able to nick Terry wasn’t all bad, because if he knew Alan Frostick there’d be a welcoming committee waiting for Terry when he got out of the hospital in a day or two. And if he could have, Nobby would have liked to have been one of them. And not as an onlooker, but as a participant.

  Andy Hall wasn’t looking forward to interviewing Gill, but Robinson cleared him for it, so at a little after six in the evening he walked in to the interview room. Jane Francis was with him. He’d thought about using another DC, someone down from HQ maybe, but that didn’t feel right somehow. But nor did asking Jane to lead the interview.

  ‘Gill, we need to ask you some more questions. But not about your mum this time.’

  ‘OK, if I must.’

  ‘You don’t have to. You haven’t been arrested. You’re free to go at any time.’

  ‘I’ll bear that in mind.’

  ‘How long have you known Alison Thornton?’

  Hall was sure that the look of surprise, of confusion, was genuine. Instantly he felt relieved. For himself, and for Gill too.

  ‘Alison, why do you want to know about her?’

  ‘How long have you known her, Gill?’

  ‘A few months. I met her on the Specials’ induction day I think. She comes from down near me.’

  ‘Did you have anything else in common?’

  ‘I don’t think so. Like what, Andy? You’ll have to give me a clue here,’

  ‘OK, did she talk about where she worked? About what kind of job she did?’

  ‘Yes, accountancy. It sounded dead boring. Some sort of security firm I think she said.’

  ‘Do you know the name?’

  ‘No, I don’t think she ever said.’

  ‘Do you know where it is?’

  ‘Down the M6 somewhere, Merseyside area I think. Look, I’m sure you’ve got it on file, you could just look it up. I had to fill in my employers’ details when I joined.’ She paused for a moment. ‘Oh I see, you already know. You want to know if I do too. Is that it?’

  ‘Did you ever mention Alison to your mum?’

  ‘I might have.’

  ‘By name?’

  ‘Possibly. probably. Look I don’t know. But I did tell her about the people I worked with. She was worried about me not making new friends.’ Gill looked pointedly at Andy Hall. ‘But she needn’t have worried.’

  ‘And what about where Alison worked. Did you mention that to your mum?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘You’re sure?’

  ‘Quite sure. I don’t even know myself, or if I ever did it didn’t register properly. We don’t all have minds like databases, Andy, with a place for everything and everything in its place. Who wants to be a human filing cabinet?’

  As usual Hall didn’t react, nor did his calm, quiet voice alter in tone or volume.

  ‘How about a man named Patrick Murphy. Do you know anyone of that name?’

  For the first time Gill laughed. ‘Of course I do. My family are Irish. I’ve got an uncle called Pat Murphy. It was my mum’s maiden name. She told me you’d asked about him.’

  ‘And do you know what he does for a living?’

  ‘I’m not sure. Years ago he worked with my dad, but I think he’s some sort of businessman now. Always has a flash car, and he always gave me fantastic presents at Christmas. He tried to give me a pony when I was ten. Look, until a few days ago I didn’t know that any of my family had ever had so such as a parking fine, so I probably don’t know the real story about Uncle Pat. I accept that.’

  ‘OK, Gill, that’s fine, don’t worry. Now, tell me more about Alison.’

  ‘What exactly? I didn’t know her that well.’

  ‘Did you see anything of each other when you were off duty as it were?’

  ‘Once or twice. We had a drink. We were both new to the area, on our own. But that’s going back a month or two.’

  ‘Did you ever go back t
o her house?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Do you know where it is?’

  ‘No, she did say but I’ve forgotten. I’m still not really used to the street names here, sorry.’

  ‘That’s OK. I’ve lived here for years and I still forget. When did you last see her, then?’

  ‘When we were on duty together, a few nights ago.’

  ‘And where were you this morning, between seven thirty and nine?’

  ‘I was at work from about eight, maybe ten past. Before that I was cycling to the office. That takes about fifteen minutes.’

  ‘And were you the first in?’

  ‘No, there were a couple of other people in. We’ve got a big job on at the moment, and it’s behind schedule, so some people are working mad hours.’

  ‘And were you logged on to your computer?’

  ‘Yes, I was, so every keystroke will be recorded, and every website I visited. You’ll even be able to see the online dating site I visited in my coffee break. It’s not easy for us nerds to meet people, you know Andy.’

  Wednesday, 15th May

  When Alison Thornton woke up it took her a few seconds to realise where she was, and she felt the fear rising immediately. Then she remembered that she was in a hotel in Grange, and looked across at the digital clock. It was almost eight, so she’d been asleep for almost twelve hours. And the question that she’d asked herself so often the previous evening came back to her: had she made a terrible mistake by not getting right away while she had the chance?

  She turned on the TV and waited for the local news. Sure enough her picture was shown, and there was an appeal to contact the Police if anyone had seen her. Alison felt the panic rising in her throat again, but then tried to calm down. She gone to a hairdresser in Grange the previous afternoon and had her hair cut and died blonde, and she’d shoplifted a pair of glasses with plain lenses in from an opticians too. Then she’d found a clothes shop selling business clothes, and bought herself a suit and a briefcase.