The next morning at ten minutes before nine, Kinsella and Doris were approaching the door to the chief’s outer office. A knock brought a “Come in Superintendent."
Opening the door and entering Kinsella was making the best of a bad job. Attempting to bring some humour into the situation, she said, “Miss Renton you must have acquired foresight knowing it was me.”
Mildred, all said her name fitted her personality, she was definitely a Mildred, looking and without a smile replied, “The screen, there on my desk, to the security camera I saw you approach.”
Nothing more was said but she leaned and pressed the buzzer on her phone.
“Yes Mildred?” called Watkiss,.
“Maam, Superintendent Kinsella and Inspector Scott-Ling are here, awaiting your pleasure.”
Doris did have a sense of humour for she smiled on hearing this. Miss Watkiss was a self confessed lesbian and lived in a same sex relationship. It just struck Doris as funny, they were there to pleasure the Chief, crude she thought her thinking about it, something one would never utter.
“Show them in please.”
Mildred looked and then walked to the door and opened it a clear sign for the duo to enter.
Once inside Chief Watkiss was seated, two chairs already waiting in front of her desk.
“Please be seated.”
She now picked up her file and opened it. Looking at it for some moments, keeping the duo in suspense she finally closed the file again and commenced.
“I have read all the matters in the murder case of Mrs Iris Carter. I noted Hayes is playing his usual trick, the silence card. I think the evidence we have will see him with egg on his face. But there again, how many times have the police thought and said that only for the villain to get away with it.? No officers, what troubles me is something my father was saying.”
“Miss Kinsella you may not know my father or perhaps you have never heard of him. He is himself a retired detective and spent some years working on the National Crime Squad with Jack Richards. He was saying to me this morning. Oh, by the way he is retired but he is my official driver. Not to digress, he commented, from what he has seen and read in the media, this murder could well be one in a series. The money left to the murderers a definite motive.
With that Kinsella was about to speak, but Watkiss held up her hand for silence.
“I have taken this on board. I have seen no reference to this in your file thus far.” She continued her narrative.
“The Commissioner has been to see me, it now appears there are likely to be political ramifications, as usual of course. The Heath Authority and I must say others are now asking if we are covering this possibility. The political fallout would be intense if we are found lacking. If these two are serial killers there will be calls for public enquiries into their history and how the police and health service are run. Oh I am sorry Superintendent, did you wish to say something?”
“Well yes madam I have myself thought upon this aspect.” The Chief came in again, “Yes, I am sure you have, I had thought an early mention from you verbally or in your written reports might had proved helpful, not to worry. I see your are due to attend the senior command course next week.”
“I could postpone it,” replied Kinsella. not really meaning what she had uttered.
“No, no Superintendent, no need for that I think Miss Scott-Ling is now fully qualified to be the police officer dealing with this.”
Doris was now cringing, It was great the Chief had such confidence in her ability but to investigate a series of murders committed by serial killers, Christ she thought.
The Chief had a chink in her eyes, she was now to throw in the bombshell. “Superintendent, you will attend the course, your wonderful efforts and the early arrests have been noted and placed on your record. You have my consent to refer to this within the confines of the secure lectures at the police college. No I think you should attend the course.”
Watkiss turning to Doris, “Now Inspector, you will be in full police command of this enquiry. I am sorry, but due to the current restraints in manpower and resources. We are all aware of these blasted cuts. Unfortunately I am unable to supply you with additional detectives.”
Doris now nodded she understood, in reality her knees were knocking at the prospect.
“I have decided,” said Watkiss, “that I will request that Mr Jack Richards be called in to assist you, your bag carrier I think the junior officers refer to it. He charges nothing being on pension, other than any expenses.
“But madam, I do not think that is a good course of action. Mr Richards has a good record I am sure, but things have changed since his day. May I please ask you to reconsider this course of action. I am prepared to go on the next course,” chimed in Kinsella.
The Chief Smiled, “You attend your course Superintendent Kinsella.”
She picked up her telephone, “Miss Renton, please call my driver and book me out, I am going to Tarporley to speak with Jack the Hat.”
Replacing the receiver, the two visitors realised that was the end of it, they stood to leave.
The trio left the office simultaneously but their destinations were totally diverse from each other.
For Kinsella it was to her office to finish off other odd jobs and then make calls regarding her course.
For Doris it was to the police museum located next to the police station. It was an old Victorian building still kitted out with the old offices and decor, including fittings. When Jack had first been called in there was resentment as there was likely to be now.
The Superintendent of that time had arranged for Jack and Doris to work from an office within the museum, and therefore out of the way for the real police work. The staff at the museum headed by Sergeant Large took care of the visitors, mostly school children, whilst the investigating duo worked from secure offices upstairs. She would now see Large, pick up the spare keys and get everything set up for when Jack Richards arrived.
As for the Chief, thirty minutes later her car pulled up outside the nice house of Jack Richards, as good a place as any copper on a pension could afford in this up market area.
She walked along the path and then a glance through the window she saw Richards.
She gave a smile, for he was seated at his desk, wearing a white shirt and navy blue tie, and with that damn trilby hat still on his head.
She had no need to knock for Anne Richards had seen she her car pull up and she approaching. “Good day to you Mrs Richards,”
“And to you Chief Constable” Anne knew all the etiquette.
“Is Mr Richards at home, perhaps?”
“Yes, he is, sitting at his desk as usual. Please go through, I will bring you a drink.”
Watkiss opened the study cum office door and as she did so Richards looked up.
He then put his papers away, but it was too late, for she saw what he had been reading. A mass of newspaper cuttings relating to the case she had come about.
She said nothing of what she had noticed of course but realised Jack was already interested.
“Good day to you Chief Constable, how can I help today.?”
She said. “I have come to enquire if you would possibly have sufficient time to assist Inspector Scott-Ling in this Iris Carter murder. Superintendent Kinsella has to go away on a course. With the cuts in budgets and other strains on staff I just do not have sufficient resources from within the force.
“He looked, hesitated and then said, “Yes of course Maam, subject to the usual conditions.”
“Pray what might they be?” she asked.
“If I might use my old office at the museum is one. If May Day the cleaner and office assistant might help out and finally, if my out of pocket expenses, car mileage and what ever else I spend is paid. I will of course submit a list with receipts to finance for reimbursement.”
“All that is agreed,” she said, clearly relieved, she had over stepped the mark committing herself before seeking to know if he would assist.
/> “There is more,” he said, “I would like to think I will have all the communication links as on previous occasions computers etc. A motor cyclist, the best you have to rush things to the lab and back, one who will keep mum at what he sees and hears.”
“Again Mr Richards, all is agreed. I will also speak with Inspector Shannon in the control room to ensure the traffic cars, dog section and crime scene officers will be available. I will additionally send communications to the Forensic Science Laboratory telling them, you are assisting. I suspect you will require Professors Bolister and Hallam to deal with anything you send. They are private now, so please use them only if you are desperate. The private company is normally used but they are not so good of course, they use inexperienced staff but are cheaper.”
Jack nodded and then changed tack, “How is Bad Eye Watkiss your Dad, I see he is in the car outside.”
“Fine he is fine, but getting forgetful as you appear to be Mr Richards.”
“Pray what makes you think that Chief Constable?”
“Well you ask about father but I seem to recall he said you were speaking with him only yesterday passing on your theory that this might well be a case of multiple murders.
“Really Miss Watkiss, you are correct, I am losing my memory, I do not recall such a conversation.”
“No, I suspect he will say the same, two devious buggers you are. Still it did get me thinking about it last might, it had not crossed my mind nor it would seem the mind of Kinsella for she has made no mention of it. It will be a bind if it is, but worse if we were to overlook it, especially with the Commissioner getting uptight anything might fall onto him. Right, I will be off, can I expect you to begin tomorrow, say at nine, I will inform Doris.
“You can Madam, oh, one thing for you tomorrow, I suggest you hold a press conference, seeking witnesses and relatives of any other deaths similar to the Carter case. Old folks dying and money being left to anyone, that is if you get my drift.”
She nodded she had not thought of that either, and with that they parted.
Anne was there but missed it, when the drinks arrived Watkiss was getting into her car and was gone.
Chapter 5
Chief Constable Watkiss kept her word and so the following morning Mildred Renton, her secretary rang the newspapers and television and radio stations announcing a press conference would be held later that morning.
Later, looking through her window down onto the rear yard and parking area of the police station Watkiss saw the media vans and cars arriving, the occupants could only be described as scrambling to remove their equipment. They were clearly desperate to obtain the best seat in the house, to quote a phrase.
It was then her telephone rang, and on speaking with the caller, it was bad news, as always.
“Yes Commissioner, I am just about to leave, you will have to be brief.”
“I will be as brief as I can, I hear you are holding a press conference, my secretary has no record you have updated this office. Firstly, I will be there and before you go further Madam. I have spoken with Superintendent Kinsella; she informs me that the Commandant at the Police College has spoken with her. He says there has been an outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea and thus all courses have been postponed. Naturally I assured the officer you would now reinstate her onto the case. Her more modern ideas and knowledge will be much better suited, that is if you had thought of bringing in this Richards fellow. Well now you can get off, Chief Constable.”
“But Commissioner, you are acting beyond your remit, how dare you interfere with operational matters, hello, hello Commissioner, are you there?”
He was gone, “blast,” she would now have to make peace with Jack Richards. She flopped down in her seat. There was little she could do at the moment, but later, well now yes, later there would be a reckoning.
Mildred knocked on the door and in answer to the call came, “Yes, come in Mildred,” she placed down the pre written script she had typed out from the dictating machine the chief had given her, onto the desk in front of her boss.
Watkiss picked it and read through. It was the basic, nothing of consequence could be prepared in advance for the real questions the media were interested in, scandal and lies, anything sensational true or false, it made no difference.
The time arrived and so Chief Constable Watkiss and her Detective Inspector, Chester Division, Doris Scott-Ling arrived, no sign of Jack Richards of course. He neither had the right nor any desire to be present neither to answer questions, nor seek publicity, but it went without saying when Kinsella arrived she was all smiles.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for coming,” commenced Watkiss. “I will first of all get my secretary Miss Renton to hand out to you a full résumé of police enquires to date. You are well aware two arrests have been made in the murder of Mrs Iris Carter. My purpose in holding this conference is to seek your assistance and also the assistance of your readers.”
There was silence in the room, for the moment, thought Doris, sitting next to the Chief.
There was an interruption when the door opened; it announced the arrival of the Police Commissioner Sir Leighton Knox. Clearly he had not been invited as there was no chair placed for him.
Nothing was said but Miss Renton dutifully arrived, bringing a chair, placing it on the other side of Miss Watkiss.
After several coughs and a little shuffling from the audience, Miss Watkiss continued her spiel.
“The police would like to hear from any person or persons, who, in the last two years have had a relative die suddenly, even in cases of apparent natural causes where it was later discovered that substantial funds had been left to some unusual person or persons. I say unusual in that I would clarify any persons who had contact with the deceased but would not in the opinion of the friends or next of kin of the dead person have anticipated such an amount of money would be left to such beneficiaries.”
There was now uproar. Those present standing, shouting waving papers anything to attract attention. The Chief looked and thought to ask a selected person to ask a question, when the Commissioner leaned over and whispered the name of a reporter who should be given precedence. After all, she was local and could be useful to publicise other police matters, not forgetting of course his re-election campaign which was due soon.
Miss Watkiss called, “Bessie Bromley, of the Chester News, what is your question?"
Bromley stood, this was also her moment, a new reporter set to make a name for herself, here if possible in company with the country’s leading media staff.
“Chief Constable, should we assume that you are now concerned this retired police officer and the so called nurse are serial killers. Out there somewhere are lying the bodies of yet more innocent victims?”
“Miss Bromley, we have assumed nothing, we are just making enquiries, covering every aspect. As we do here in Chester, make a thorough investigation into all cases.”
The barrage continued, questions being fired from all angles, none really seeking to know what help was being sought but rather either fishing or revealing items they clearly wanted to publish to make the case or cases more sensational. Lies or truth it would not matter, as for cost, well that didn’t seem to be a problem they would pay as long as they got the story.
The questions and calls came hard and fast
“Chief Constable is it correct Mr Gittins had several complaints made against him whilst a police officer, for excessive force on prisoners?”
“No, not true.” she said.
“Is it true nurse Gittins was once in the forces as a nurse but was dismissed for giving an overdose of medication to a wounded soldier?”
“I have no knowledge of the antecedents of Mrs Gittins; you will have to speak with her employers, the Health Authority or her solicitor.”
The questions showered in hard and fast from all parts of the room. Most were way out, accusations of violence to patients, even acts of sexual abuse. One even called for information that nurse Gittins h
ad been an abortionist whilst serving overseas. As for Ron Gittins seemingly the word was out that he was not only a prisoner beater, but had several allegations of perjury made against him. News to Watkiss was the fact the officer had been moved several times in his service as other officers refused to work with him because of his violent nature and persistently lying when preparing his reports, seeking they should support him. As far as his personal file showed he had only ever been stationed in Chester City, no other police station.
She was flabbergasted as to where it all came from. She dreaded what the newspapers would contain on their next printing. Her mind was cast to Ron and Kyle Gittins. She hoped they had agreed to isolation, when this lot was broadcast on the television news they would definitely be at risk. Heaven knows how the Judge was going to be able find an impartial jury when the case came to trial.
The Judas Murders Page 12
