‘I’m looking for someone name of Pearson who committed a crime at least fifteen years ago. Maybe longer.’
‘What male or female?’ asked Sam.
‘I think it may have been a female.’
‘First name?’
‘Sorry, no. Might have begun with a J. But that’s pure speculation.’
‘Heavens, you don’t want much do you? Apart from a family name, you’ve no idea of first name and you suggested a crime. Does that mean you don’t know what sort of crime?’
‘No. I’m afraid it’s a bit of an idea of mine. It might be earlier than fifteen years ago too. Do you think there’s any chance of you finding her?’
‘Not really but leave it with me. I’ll have a search.’
‘You’re amazing. Thanks very much. I’ll buy you a pint if you find anything.’
‘I should think I’d deserve a bottle of single malt if I find anything from what you’ve told me.’
‘Don’t push your luck,’ laughed Ray. ‘But many thanks in advance.’
‘I’ll give you a call if I find anything of interest.’
Ray Jones sat at his desk, working through various reports. His phone rang.
‘Yes?’ he said in answer to it.
‘Is that the detective chap?’
‘I am a detective, yes.’
‘You gave me a card and told me to ring you if Bert appeared. Well, he has.’
‘Oh yes, of course. Thank you very much. I’ll be over in about twenty minutes. Try to keep him there if you possibly can.’
‘Right you are. Bye.’
He called Ted and asked him to go along with him.
‘It’s our chance at last, to interview him. He’s an elusive character, I must say.’
‘I’ll be there with you right away,’ Ted agreed.
Once more they drove to Foredyce’s and parked. They both went along to goods reception and they interviewed with Bert.
‘Is there somewhere we can talk?’ asked Ray.
‘We can go in the office,’ Bert told him. ‘Dunno why you want to see me again any way.’
‘A few more questions. Your daughter is working upstairs in the Christmas Grotto. That correct?’
‘Yer. I got her that job. Just till Christmas but you never know. They might keep her on. Be a good help in our house.’
‘Which house would that be?’
‘What d’ya mean?’
‘I gather you have a second family. Over the other side of town, I understand.’
‘Dunno what ya mean.’
‘Where have you been for the past two days and nights?’
‘I’ve bin off work. Felt proper bad I did.’
‘Shame you weren’t at home then. I came to see you three times, I think it was.’ He stared at this man waiting for him to speak.
‘All right. I stayed with a friend, a woman. And he was there before you start thinking nasty thoughts.’
‘Can you account for your whereabouts last Wednesday afternoon?’
‘I s’pose I was ‘ere. I dunno.’
‘Surprising how many people say things like that.’ He caught Ted looking at him with a smirk on his face.
‘And Saturday morning, around let’s say, nine-thirty? Where were you then?’
‘I don’t know. I ‘spect I was here working, as usual.’
‘And you never went upstairs at all? To see your daughter?’
‘Well, as a matter of fact, I did go up to see her and found she’d left. Only temporary of course. You had that murder up there on Saturday didn’t you? The old boy wot plays Santa. Terrible business that.’
‘Indeed yes, and you of course, had nothing to do with that?’
‘Course I bloody dint. If you must know, I wanted to check on my girl. Make sure she was all right.’
‘Very creditable.’
‘We’d all heard about the stabbin’. These things pass round the store like wildfire. With my girl working there, course I wanted to make sure she was all right.’
‘Do you have knives down here? To cut parcel tape or whatever they use to fasten them closed.’
‘Course we do. Sort of small bladed knives, like craft sort of knives. Nowt that would kill anybody.’
They asked a few more questions and both of them decided that the man wasn’t bright enough to have been lying.
‘Where’s your brother now?’
‘Back at his home I s’pose. Why?’
‘I have a few questions I need to clear up with him.’
‘He never worked ’ere for years. But you know that considerin’ you’ve had ‘im under your thumbs for years.’
‘But he’s been out for the past few months hasn’t he?’ Ted remarked.
‘I’d like his address please. We need to see him.’
Grumpily, Bert told them where his brother was staying and then asked if he could go now.
‘Go on then. And make sure you stay here all day. I know your colleagues were pretty cross about your absence.’
‘That was a bit cheeky, wasn’t it?’ said Ted after Bert had left.
‘What was?’
‘You telling him to stay here all day.’
‘Get over it. I want to see if our Miss Pringle is here yet. If she isn’t then we have a new problem.’
‘Okay. Let’s go and see.’
They walked up the now familiar staircase and went along to the office. This time, the door was unlocked and there was Miss Pringle.
‘Oh good, you’re in. I came up this morning but you weren’t here.’
‘No, I’m sorry. I had to go to the doctor’s. I didn’t arrive here till after ten. Was there something you wanted?’
‘I did go round to your house and was about to get the boys round to break your door.’
‘Good heavens. Why on earth would you do that?’
‘I thought you might be lying dead or at least unconscious upstairs.’
‘Detective Chief Inspector, I do think your imagination is running riot. Really, I was simply slightly late in to work and all this is going on. Why did you want to see me?’
‘Please sit down. I have a few things to ask you. I think I know what you were about to say the other day.’ She sat down heavily. ‘Did you actually change your name?’
‘I ... er I ... do I have to say?’
‘Yes, you do.’
‘Well yes. I changed it so long ago I can scarcely remember my old name.’
‘Pearson. It was that, wasn’t it?’ The poor woman looked almost as if she was to be sick. She nodded.
‘Yes,’ she whispered. ‘It was all done legitimately.’
‘May I ask why?’
‘I wanted a change.’
‘Not good enough. Come on now. Tell me.’ His voice became more gentle and persuasive.
‘Oh dear. Promise you won’t tell anyone else?’
‘I can’t make that sort of promise, I’m afraid.’
‘But it could mean the end of my job here. The end of my life, as I have made it now.’
‘I’m sure it can’t be all that bad. Why did you change your name?’
‘Be ...be cause of my mother.’ Her voice was little more than a whisper.
‘Your mother? What did she do?’
‘Haven’t you heard of Marjorie Pearson?’ The two officers looked at each other and shook their heads. ‘The child murderer? She killed about five children. May have been more but we shall never know.’
‘But that was eons ago. Why, you could only have been a small child yourself.’
‘Oh I was. About ten years old. I had to grow up rather rapidly. Once I reached the age of eighteen, I decided to change my name. I kept my first name. Jennifer.’
‘Well, thank you for telling us. I don’t think there will be any need to pass on this information.’
‘Really? Oh thank you. Thank you so much.’
‘Like I say. I don’t think it will be necessary but I can’t promise anything.’
They left her
and went back to the police station. Back in his office, he typed in Marjorie Pearson and soon arrived at all the details. He read it through and felt astounded at what he read. Ted came in and he said,
‘Look at it on my computer.’ He came over and read the file.
‘Heavens. So do you think it might run in the family?’
‘I doubt it. But it certainly makes you think. The photo ... makes it pretty certain we have the right file. She looks just like our Miss Pringle.’
‘Wasn’t she married then?’
‘I think so. Yes, look here. She actually murdered her husband. Would have been tricky for her if she wasn’t. So how old do you reckon our Miss P is?’
‘Don’t know... Forty odd? Bit more maybe.’
‘That’s what I’d have thought. Interesting anyway. Perhaps we have got someone else to add to our list of suspects.’
‘Who are we talking about? Miss Pringle?’
‘Miss Pringle, indeed. Her mother’s a convicted murderer. I gather she’s gone batty actually. At least she’s in a secure prison for people with mental disorders.’
‘Good lord. Perhaps my suggestion that she may not be all she seems, was correct. I suggested her when we first started this inquiry.’ After Ted read the account, he sat down. He looked very shocked. ‘This does really open up a new line of investigation. But when I think about it, she did seem very stressed at the idea of finding another person to play the roles.’
‘You’re probably right. I must let Sam know I’ve found what I needed. He’ll still be working on it otherwise.’ He went down to see the elderly man and told him what he’d discovered.
‘I was just about to call you with a few queries. But if you’ve found it yourself, that makes me redundant. Sounds a terrible business. Was she someone you know?’
‘Not at all. I was following a line of inquiry. Thanks for looking anyway. I think that line is out now. I’ll still buy you a pint sometime.’
‘I s’pose the malt whisky just went out of the window?’ he asked hopefully.
‘Sorry. You’ll just have to wait and see what Santa brings!’ he said with a laugh. He’d already decided to buy the old chap a bottle for Christmas. He was a good colleague and probably not greatly appreciated by the rest of the force.
He worked for the rest of the day and decided to go home a bit earlier than usual. His brain was working all the time and never reaching any conclusion. He concentrated on all the people they’d interviewed and gradually dismissed them from his list. It was extremely puzzling and unlike most of his cases. Perhaps he should see Bert’s brother. He had plenty of motivation after being sent to prison because of his thieving from Foredyce’s. He was quite likely to try to hit back but to murder two people, was that likely? He really didn’t know. He would interview him the next day and go with his gut feeling. It was a pity he couldn’t emulate Agatha Christie’s Poirot and have them all lined up in a room and gradually tick them off.
Chapter Thirteen
Matti arrived home feeling completely exhausted. She’d had a very busy day being an elf and just wanted to sit down with her feet up.
‘You’re late home,’ snapped her mother. ‘I’ve been sitting her on my own all day, no-one to talk to and no-one to even make me a cuppa.’
‘I’ll make you one in a minute,’ Matti told her.
‘And I’m starving. What are you getting for dinner?’
‘Do you know, I haven’t even given it a thought.’
‘A nice steak pie would be good. And some chips to go with it.’
‘I’ll go down the chippy later then. I’m knackered Mum. It’s been a very hectic day. The new Santa doesn’t have much idea of what he’s doing and it’s up to me and Mandy to keep him on track. And he keeps forgetting to ask if they want a picture taken.’
‘What about my cuppa?’ her mother asked again.
‘Okay, I’ll go and make it. Then I must have a sit down for five minutes. It’s all right for you, sitting there all day.’
‘Don’t you think I like it. What with your dad coming and going wherever he wants. I don’t know where I am.’
Matti went into the scullery and put the kettle on. Why did her mother have to be like this? Surely she could make some attempt to walk? Lazy cow. Admittedly, she was right about her dad. He came and went as he pleased, leaving her to look after her mother all the time. Where was he now? He must have finished work some time ago and once more, he never came straight home. She assumed he’d stopped at the boozer and if he did come home, he’d be demanding food and possibly drink as well. Too bad, she thought. The kettle boiled and she made a mug of tea for her mother and one for herself.
‘There you are. I’ll go to the chippy after I’ve drunk mine.’
‘Haven’t you got any biscuits to keep me going?’
‘Don’t think so. You ate them all yesterday.’
‘You’ll have to go shopping sometime. Buy some more. Those chocolate chip ones are my favourites.’
‘Yes mum.’ She drank her tea and got up to go to the chip shop. ‘You want a meat pie and chips?’ she asked.
‘Ta. Get plenty of chips with it. There’s some money in the drawer in the sideboard.’
She went to look. There was nothing there.
‘Where’s it gone?’ she demanded.
‘Probably your dad took it. He came home for a bit this morning. I didn’t see him take it.’
‘So what am I supposed to use to buy supper?’
‘Haven’t you got some?’
‘Not till the end of the week. He really is a bastard.’
‘Now then Mattie. That’s no way to speak of your father.’
‘Well he is. I s’pose he’s gone to the pub on his way home if this is what he calls this place.’
‘Fetch my bag. I might have some money in there.’ She found a fiver and gave it to her daughter. ‘There you are love. That should be enough. Don’t forget the salt and vinegar.’
Wearily, Matti went along to the chip shop. The bill came to five pounds fifty and she managed to find an fifty pence piece in her pocket. When she finally got home, her father was there.
‘Oh good. You’ve got some supper. I’m starving,’ he announced.
‘I haven’t got any for you. How was I supposed to know you were coming round this evening?’
‘I’ll have yours and you can go and get some more,’ he snapped back. Matti sighed.
‘Give me some money then.’
‘I haven’t got any.’
‘What about the money you took from the drawer this morning?’
‘I needed it. Expenses. Your mother’ll have some.’
‘She gave me what she had to go and buy this supper. But there was over fifty quid in there before. What on earth did you need all that for?’
‘Told you. Expenses.’
‘Not good enough.’
‘You cheeky little brat. Use your own money and give me that parcel of food.’ He swiped her across the face and snatched the packet from her hands. She burst into tears and tried to thump her father to get her supper back. But it was useless. He thrust a package of food at his wife and sat down to eat what he deemed was his share.
‘I hate you. You’re a selfish bastard. Why can’t you go and eat with your fancy woman and leave us alone?’ She was sobbing as she spoke and furious with the man.
‘Stop whining. Go and buy summat for your supper,’ he said throwing a handful of change on the floor. She bent down to pick it up and ran out of the house. At least she could now get a decent meal.
‘You shouldn’t shout at the girl like that,’ Mrs Pryce said. ‘She does look after me all right. If she left us, I’d be in a terrible state.’
‘Yer, well she’s too big for her own boots.’
‘I need to go to the loo. Can you help me?’
‘What do you do all day? Can’t you do that now?’
‘You know what I do. I’ve got this bag and it needs changing.’
‘Bloo
dy hell woman. What do you take me for? Wait for the girl to come back. I’m goin’ out now.’
‘Will you be back later?’
‘’Ow do I know?’
‘Where are you going?’
‘To see a man about a dog. Me bruther if you must know. He’s in a spot of bovver. Needs my ‘elp ‘e does.’
‘What sort of bother?’
‘Never you mind. Tek it from me. He needs ‘elp.’
‘Don’t do owt stupid. You don’t wanna end up in jail like ‘im.’
‘Right then. I’m off.’
‘Bye then love. Take care.’
Bert left the house without any further comment. A while later Matti came in and looked round.
‘Is ‘e here?’
‘E’s gone. I’m sorry love. ‘E don’t mean nothin’ by the way he be’aves.’
‘Is he coming back?’
‘Said he didn’t know. Can you help me now love? I need the loo.’
‘Okay Mum. You’ve done very well today. Come on then. Let’s get you up.’
*
Bert went straight round to see his brother, who was actually staying with Bert’s other woman.
‘Whacha doin’ now?’ he asked when he got there.
‘Just sitting here. Ta for the dosh, by the way. I’m thinkin’ of going up north for a few weeks. Till the dust settles, at least.’
‘But where will you stay? And how will you pay for digs?’
‘Don’t be so bloody practical. You know me. I usually manage to find some way of paying for stuff.’ Dickie was the typical con man who always seemed to get what he wanted.
‘Yer but you’re really in trouble now.’
‘Nobody can prove owt. Whacha worrying about? It got your girl some work. And I finally got me own back on that bastard North. That’ll teach ‘im not to get me put away. And I hope it will teach that bastard company a lesson. Hoped they go bust if Christmas was ruined for them.’
Christmas Killing Page 11
