Dead and Gone

by Bill Kitson

  ‘The Golden Bear will be getting a bad reputation. That’s not the first time something like that has happened there,’ Clara remarked. ‘And if Lisa is at the scene, it’s sure to bring back unpleasant memories for her.’

  Some years earlier, DC Lisa Andrews, based at Netherdale HQ, and Nash, had investigated a double murder at the Golden Bear. They cleared the main suspect, a man who later became Lisa’s partner.

  When Mironova and Pearce reached the scene, Stark Ghyll was bathed in warm sunshine, the magnificent views in total contrast to the grim nature of the task facing the emergency services. Where the winding ascent levelled out, the road was cluttered with all manner of vehicles. There were two Land Rovers, both bearing the logo of the mountain rescue team. Added to these were an ambulance and three police cars. The equipment from a fire engine was being offloaded.

  One of the traffic officers who had been first on the scene hurried over to the detectives, bringing with him the team leader from the mountain rescue unit. ‘We’ve rigged a line up, but the mountainside is so steep, anyone going down has to more or less abseil. One of our chaps is down there already. As far as he can tell there’s only one occupant, and that’s a male, trapped in the driving seat. However, the car’s such a mess, he can’t be one hundred per cent sure there’s nobody else in there. Nor is he sure whether the driver is alive or dead; he thought he felt a pulse when he reached through the driver’s window.’

  The police officer continued. ‘We needed someone down there as soon as possible and one of the paramedics has volunteered to be lowered.’ The officer grinned. ‘Actually, I think his boss volunteered him for the job. They’ve been instructed to smash the windscreen to access the driver better. Only after he reports will we know if we need to hurry or not.’

  ‘I’m surprised you need to smash the screen,’ Pearce commented. ‘I’d have thought it would have smashed on the way down.’

  ‘It must be one of those shatterproof glasses. The screen’s broken right enough, but still intact, if you get my meaning.’

  At that moment the radio held by the mountain rescuer crackled into life. ‘I think I can see child seats in the back and there’s another one further down the hill. I’m trying to see but it’s just too much of a mess. Everything’s crushed. God, I hope there’s no little ones in there.’

  The response was instant. ‘You help the paramedic first and I’ll send more help down to check it out with you.’ He turned away and began firing instructions to others, similarly clad in climbing gear.

  Pearce and Mironova walked to the edge of the cliff and looked over as a second man began the descent. They watched anxiously as he was lowered slowly down the steep mountain face, his progress made difficult by the rucksack strapped to his back. ‘I reckon they’re wasting their time,’ Viv muttered. ‘I don’t see how anyone could survive a drop like that, especially when you see the state of the car.’

  ‘I know what you mean. But we’ve seen plenty of instances where cars have ended up as crumpled wrecks and the drivers have walked away with barely a scratch.’ She turned away.

  ‘You OK, Clara?’

  ‘Yes, it’s just, well … if there are children….’

  Viv Pearce smiled and placed a reassuring hand on her arm as she took a deep breath.

  ‘Come on,’ she said, ‘we need to check with the traffic guys and see if they’ve taken any photos yet. Go talk to them. Ask them to take some of the vehicle from up here. If they use their telephoto lens they can try and pick up the registration from the number plate if the angle allows. But don’t let them try if it’s too risky; we don’t want anyone else going over the edge. I’ll go and talk to the mountain rescue people and the paramedics.’

  ‘Morning, sir.’ The officer stationed by the door to the corridor acknowledged Nash when he arrived at the Golden Bear. Nash accepted the bag containing protective clothing and continued past him to find Superintendent Fleming and DC Andrews waiting in the open doorway to the room. Standing in the corridor was a harassed-looking man who Jackie introduced as the hotel manager. ‘The chambermaid identified the dead man as the room’s resident. He’s been staying here three days, registered as Paul Jennings, with an address in Leeds. Mexican Pete and a SOCO team are inside.’

  Both women were clad in disposable suits and overshoes, which had already caused a number of curious glances from guests who had been asked to vacate their rooms temporarily.

  ‘I take it you’ve been in?’ Nash asked, glancing over their shoulders as he spoke.

  ‘Yes, but luckily we didn’t have to stay long, because SOCO arrived so we were able to make our escape. It’s a bloodbath, I’m afraid.’

  ‘I’d better take a look.’

  ‘While you’re doing that, we’ll go downstairs. I think the manager is in need of a sit down.’ Jackie began to remove her protective clothing, indicating that Lisa should do the same.

  Nash ripped open the plastic bag and struggled into the paper suit, watched with interest by the young constable standing guard. As he stepped through the doorway, the pathologist, who was kneeling alongside the corpse, looked up. ‘Ah, Mike, I felt sure it wouldn’t be long before you arrived. Did you get a phone call, or were you aroused by the scent of blood?’

  ‘No, I couldn’t smell it. Unfortunately, the wind was in the wrong direction.’ Nash stepped carefully round the stained carpet, looking around the room as he did so. ‘What do you reckon was the cause of death? Poisoned?’

  Professor Ramirez smiled slightly. ‘Unlikely, nor do I think he cut himself shaving. Several stab wounds to the chest and his throat slashed. But I’ll know more—’

  ‘I know, after the post-mortem,’ Nash finished for him. ‘No sign of the weapon, I suppose.’ Nash looked at the SOCO team leader, who was listening to the conversation.

  ‘Yes,’ the man answered. ‘Found this in the bathroom.’ He held up a plastic box, which contained a large kitchen knife.

  Ramirez added, ‘Which also rules out suicide. That, I guess, was going to be your next question. And as to the next-but-one question, I’d estimate time of death as yesterday evening sometime, say between six o’clock and midnight.’

  ‘You seem to have answered all my questions without me asking them,’ Nash said. ‘Is there anything else I should know?’

  ‘Only that I’ve got a meeting to attend tomorrow. So unless you find any other bodies for me I want to do the post-mortem today. I’ll ring you with a time.’

  The SOCO officer spoke again. ‘There are a fair few fingerprints in here so it will take a while to eliminate the staff. I’ll let you know if we find anything relevant. We’ve also recovered a mobile phone from the dressing table, which I assume belongs to the victim.’

  ‘I’ll need to take a look at that once you’ve finished with it,’ Nash told him. ‘Well, you seem to be playing nicely, so I’ll leave you to it.’

  The only reply was a grunt from the pathologist. It might have been ‘goodbye’, but Nash doubted it.

  He placed the suit and overshoes in the bag provided before heading downstairs to find Jackie Fleming. Seeing three people clad like something from a science fiction film or an episode of CSI would have caused even more incredulous stares from guests.

  The receptionist smiled at him and indicated a short passageway to the side of her desk. There, in the manager’s office, he found the superintendent and DC Andrews. ‘Like you said, a real bloodbath,’ Nash told them. ‘Has anyone asked if Jennings had any visitors? Apart from the one we know about,’ he added with a grim smile.

  ‘That’s not as easy as it sounds,’ Jackie told him. ‘The receptionist on duty at the moment confirmed that she hadn’t been asked for Jennings, or his room. But then, she only does the morning and early afternoon shift. Another receptionist takes over at three p.m. and works until just after midnight, and when she finishes, the night porter is in charge of reception.’

  ‘That’s rather late, isn’t it?’ Nash turned to the manager for explanation
.

  ‘We get a lot of coach parties staying here and some of them don’t arrive until gone eleven, so by the time they’ve registered and been allocated their rooms it can be very late.’

  Jackie continued. ‘He has tried to ring the off-duty receptionist and the night porter, but got no response from either of them.’ She smiled reassuringly at the man, seated behind his desk clutching a, by now, cold cup of tea and obviously struggling to come to terms with the morning’s events.

  ‘They probably switch their phones off in order to get some sleep,’ Nash commented. ‘I don’t see that there’s much more we can do here at the moment.’

  The detectives thanked the manager and stepped into the reception area to continue their conversation. Across in the lounge, uniformed officers were taking statements from the guests on-site. The lift doors opened and Professor Ramirez stepped out. ‘Ah, Nash, you’re still here. Saves me a phone call. I’m going. My patient is leaving by the goods lift. I’ll expect you at two, sharp, after I’ve had my lunch.’

  Jackie Fleming smiled as she watched him leave. ‘Talkative today, isn’t he?’ The others nodded in agreement as she turned to Nash and said, ‘We need to look into the dead man’s background.’

  ‘SOCO found a mobile phone in the room. We’re assuming it belongs to Jennings. I’d like to check that out as soon as they’ve finished with it. Who knows, it might provide us with a clue as to who killed him. What do you suggest we do in the meantime?’

  ‘I think we should have a word with West Yorkshire and get them to send some officers to Jennings’ house. He might have a wife and family. We also need to know why he’s staying in Netherdale. It seems a little curious, when he only lives fifty miles or so away. Did he enter any car details when he registered?’

  ‘Yes, he did,’ Lisa answered. ‘I looked in the car park at the back of the hotel, and it’s there. I told SOCO about it.’

  ‘Run up to the room and ask if they’ve found any car keys.’ Fleming waited until Andrews was out of earshot. ‘Will she be OK, Mike? She was involved in that double murder here a while ago, wasn’t she?’

  ‘Yes, leave it to me,’ Nash said. ‘I’ll sort it.’

  Lisa came back across the foyer. ‘They have the keys. They were in the dressing table drawer along with his wallet. I suppose that rules out robbery?’

  ‘You never know,’ Nash replied. ‘That’s another job for forensics. His car will need to be checked over, but in the meantime we need to run Jennings through the PNC and see if he has form. Until we know more about him, we can’t hope to make any headway.’

  ‘I’m going back to HQ,’ Fleming told them. ‘I can ask Tom Pratt to do the PNC check. I’ll also arrange for uniform to remain on-site. They’ll be needed later.’

  ‘That’ll be a help.’

  ‘Someone from CID also needs to interview members of staff and liaise with SOCO re fingerprints,’ Fleming told them before leaving.

  ‘I’ll stay if Mike’s going,’ Lisa said.

  ‘Are you sure you’re all right being here? In view of what happened before?’ Nash asked.

  ‘It isn’t easy,’ she admitted, ‘but I’ll have to put up with it; there’s nobody else available.’

  Nash thought for a moment. ‘No, you won’t. I’ll get Viv to come here and you can help out with the other job. I’m not leaving you here if it makes you uncomfortable. I’ll ring Clara and get it organized. I need to know the state of play there anyway.’

  Within minutes of arriving at the vehicle, the paramedic reported back via the mountain rescuer’s radio that the man was alive and urgent medical attention was needed. The mountain rescue team lowered a portable generator and cutting equipment needed by the fire crew. Others began assisting the firemen and the second paramedic in their descent. In the midst of this, reports came back that all the child seats were empty, much to the relief of all those present.

  Clara’s mobile rang. She glanced at the screen. ‘Hi, Mike, how are things in Netherdale?’ She listened for a moment, then in response to his question told him, ‘Miracle of miracles, the driver survived. From what we can see of the car, though, I didn’t give much for his chances. However, he’s unconscious and the paramedic isn’t able to tell how badly injured he is. Added to that, he’s trapped by his legs and the steering wheel. The only way to free him is by cutting him out of the car, which is going to take an age. That in itself won’t improve his chances. It was first thought there could be children with him but thankfully, there weren’t. Now we’re waiting for the Sea King helicopter from RAF Leconfield. They were already on standby and have a doctor on-board. But it’s going to be a very slow, laborious business, I’m afraid.’

  ‘Any news as to who he is?’

  Clara sighed, her frustration apparent. ‘No, the front number plate is missing; probably ripped off. The rear number plate may be still attached, but it’s jammed up against several tons of rock, so that’s no help. I can’t ask anyone to look for the plate either; they’re all far too busy trying to save the driver.’

  She listened for a moment. ‘Anything else?’

  She listened again. ‘OK, I understand. I’ll tell Viv.’ She ended the call and turned to Pearce. ‘Mike wants you to go to the Golden Bear and take over from Lisa. Take my car back to Helmsdale and pick yours up. Lisa’s already on her way here.’

  It was over fifteen minutes later that Clara phoned Nash back. ‘Just wanted to let you know that the helicopter’s arrived, and so has Lisa. We could be here for ages yet.’

  ‘OK, thanks, Clara. As soon as Viv gets here, I’m going to the mortuary.’

  It was nearly lunchtime before the firemen succeeded in freeing the driver. The doctor attending the scene told Mironova, ‘It’s surprising he’s survived this long given his injuries. If we hadn’t got him out now I doubt whether he would have made it to hospital. As it is’ – he shrugged – ‘we won’t know what his chances are until we’ve completed a scan. All I can say for definite is that both his legs and one of his arms are broken, as well as several ribs on both sides. He’s also got head injuries, but how severe, I can’t say. And those are just his external injuries. As to what’s happened internally, I dread to think. The golden hour is well past,’ he said as he shook his head, sadly.

  Clara replied, raising her voice above the whine of the Sea King hovering over the crash site, waiting to winch the injured man on board. ‘You had to cut his clothing off when you were treating his injuries. I suppose it’s too much to hope that there was a wallet or some form of identification in them?’

  ‘No, I believe not. I did give them to one of the officers to check, but I understand the pockets were empty. The hospital will need his name as well. Without recourse to his medical records we’re limited as to the drugs we can give him. We don’t want an adverse reaction with any current medication he’s on.’ The medic gave a weary smile. ‘That’s apart from the bottle of whisky he’s ingested, which may well have saved his life.’

  Clara looked puzzled.

  ‘There’s a smashed bottle in the car and the driver reeked of it. Chances are, he was not as tense as he may have been if completely sober when he went over the cliff – and therefore saved himself from death. Now I must go. I’m needed on board that helicopter.’

  With the driver safely en route to hospital, the other emergency services began packing their kit and departing. Even the mountain rescue team seemed anxious to be away, although their leader did agree to leave one unit, along with a Land Rover and their equipment, to assist with retrieval of the wreck.

  The senior traffic officer had now assumed command of police operations. As they waited for the recovery vehicle to arrive, he liaised with the men in charge of the hoist. ‘They will need to assess the vehicle to see how we can recover it. I’d appreciate your help with securing the chains, if that’s OK?’ As they continued their discussion as to the best course of action, Mironova approached him. ‘We still have to search the vehicle for some clue as to who t
he driver is. We could wait until the car’s been hauled up the hill, of course, and see if the number plate’s intact. But if it isn’t, my boss won’t want to wait until forensics retrieve the VIN number. And we’re a bit short on time; there’s a murder investigation back in town I need to help with,’ she said, offering her most endearing smile. ‘Any ideas?’

  He stared at Clara for a moment as she waited for his reply, admiring her blonde hair and impish grin. ‘OK, I’ll go down,’ he said, reluctantly. ‘I’ll borrow a helmet and harness from the Land Rover. I knew I’d find a use for my paratrooper training one day.’

  He was kitted out from the equipment in the mountain rescue vehicle and headed for the cliff edge. ‘Won’t be long,’ he called as he seemed to leap into the air and disappeared from view.

  ‘Clara, why didn’t you just flutter your eyelashes at him and have done with it?’ Lisa asked.

  ‘That would have been too obvious.’

  When he’d been winched back up the cliff, the officer handed Clara an evidence bag containing a slip of paper. ‘I found this wedged in what remains of the glove compartment. There may be other stuff in there, but I couldn’t tell. The whole thing is so badly buckled the door won’t open. I spotted one corner of this and managed to prise it out. Even then, as you can see, the paper caught on a jagged edge of metal and ripped as I was pulling it.’

  She thanked him, donned gloves and opened up the folded sheet to examine it with Lisa peering over her shoulder. ‘It’s a rental agreement for Ivy Cottage, a holiday home in Gorton, let by an agency in Helmsdale. The person hiring the cottage is called Nigel Kirby with an address in Leeds.’ She paused and frowned. ‘That’s interesting. Mike said the man found dead at the Golden Bear this morning was also from Leeds. It may be pure coincidence, of course.’

  ‘Do you think we should go to that holiday cottage and see what we can find out?’ Lisa asked.