Taken to Die: A chilling crime thriller (DCI Danny Flint Book 4)

by Trevor Negus

  Danny put the phone down.

  The report for Potter could wait. This had to take precedence.

  He quickly made a list of things he needed to put into place.

  As he did so, an all-too-familiar sense of trepidation began creeping over him.

  He had never dealt with a genuine kidnap enquiry before. He was struggling to remember all the protocols.

  Suddenly, he had an idea. Grabbing the telephone on his desk, he dialled the number for the Regional Crime Squad.

  The phone was answered immediately, and Danny said, ‘Good morning, it’s Chief Inspector Danny Flint at the MCIU. Can you put me through to Chief Inspector Carlisle, please?’

  After a brief pause, a familiar voice came on the line. ‘Danny Flint, it’s good to hear from you. Have you got another surveillance job that needs doing?’

  ‘No, Mattie. What I’ve got is a full-blown kidnap, and I need your expertise.’

  ‘Bloody hell! What are the details?’

  Danny quickly outlined the circumstances.

  After listening carefully, Mattie Carlisle said, ‘Listen, Danny, I’m free this morning. Why don’t I drive over to your office; then we can get our heads together and talk this through properly?’

  ‘Thanks. That would be a massive help. Can you meet me at Radford Road nick in an hour, and we’ll go and see the victim’s parents together?’

  ‘That sounds like a plan. Don’t worry, Danny. I know this type of crime is as rare as rocking-horse shit, but we’ll soon get things organised.’

  Danny suddenly felt much happier. Mattie Carlisle was an old friend. Somebody he knew he could trust.

  35

  3.00pm, 10 October 1986

  MCIU Offices, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire

  Rob Buxton knocked on Danny Flint’s office door. He opened it quickly and said, ‘Everyone’s here.’

  ‘Thanks, Rob, we’ll be out in a minute.’

  Rob nodded and closed the door.

  DCI Mattie Carlisle turned to Danny and said, ‘Are you happy you’ve got everything covered now?’

  ‘I think so. It’s helped massively, having you here. Did you pick up on anything else from Rebecca Whitchurch when we were at the house?’

  ‘Nothing. The only vibe I got from her was that of an extremely worried mother. I didn’t pick up anything remotely sinister.’

  ‘Me neither. Right, let’s go and brief the teams.’

  Danny walked into the large briefing room, flanked by Mattie Carlisle.

  There was a general murmur in the office as the assembled detectives speculated as to why the briefing had been called. Unless a new murder case had broken, it was unusual for the entire MCIU to be called to a briefing.

  Danny shouted above the din: ‘Alright, everyone, settle down!’

  There was instant silence.

  Danny said, ‘Thank you. We’ve now got an active kidnapping to investigate. A fourteen-year-old girl, by the name of Emily Whitchurch, was reported missing eight days ago. This morning, a ransom note has been delivered to her parents’ address, at Richmond Drive in Mapperley Park. The note states that the parents of this young girl will not see their daughter alive unless they pay a ransom of a quarter of a million pounds.’

  Danny paused to let that information sink in before continuing. ‘The MCIU haven’t previously investigated a kidnapping offence. I’ve spent the morning in close liaison with Detective Chief Inspector Carlisle from the Regional Crime Squad, and together we’ve determined the tactics we’re going to use to investigate this crime. Our number-one priority will always be the safe return of the victim. Is that understood?’

  There was a murmur around the room.

  ‘I’ve already spoken with our press liaison officer to arrange for a total media blackout on this case. The ransom note demanded that the girl’s parents were not to contact the police in any way. Therefore, all our enquiries must be carried out discreetly. Are there any questions?’

  The room remained silent, so Danny continued, ‘DC Helen Bailey is currently at the victim’s home address, on Richmond Drive. She’ll remain at that location for the duration of the enquiry and will act as the liaison officer with the family. I don’t want anybody going to the home address, under any circumstances, without contacting her first.’

  Again, Danny paused.

  ‘Our technical support unit has installed a recording device that will monitor all calls into the property. Any calls made, both in and out of the property, will be recorded. I want DC Singleton and DC Ball to monitor all calls into the address. I’m relying on you two to ensure that as soon as the kidnappers make contact, we’re onto it straight away. Are you both okay with that?’

  The two detectives nodded, and Danny continued, ‘I want you to sort out your own shifts. I want one of you on duty, listening to the phone, at all times. Can you sort that out?’

  Mike Ball said, ‘No problem for me, boss.’

  Nigel Singleton said, ‘Or me. I’ll let the DI have a copy of the roster we work out to cover it.’

  Danny smiled and said, ‘Thanks, gents. I think you’re both going to be working some very long hours.’

  Both men nodded.

  Danny then turned to DC Martin Harper. ‘Martin, I want you to undertake a complete survey of the streets between the Nottingham High School for Girls and the junction of North Sherwood Street and Alpha Terrace. Alpha Terrace is where the girl was supposed to have been met by the family au pair after school. I’m aware that divisional CID have already looked for CCTV along this route and found nothing. There’s always a slim possibility they have missed something, so I want you to do a thorough check for me. Okay?’

  Martin scribbled down the locations. ‘Okay, sir.’

  Danny continued, ‘As from five o’clock this evening, the Special Operations Unit will be conducting covert observations on the victim’s home address. This will be a twenty-four-hour commitment by them, and they will be updating me twice a day with any information. Their brief is that should anyone be seen approaching the premises after dark, they are to be placed under surveillance and followed to their home addresses. Under no circumstances are they to make an arrest. As I said earlier, our number-one priority has always got to be the safety of the girl.’

  Danny then turned to DC Fran Jefferies and said, ‘Fran, I want you to undertake the role of exhibits officer, okay?’

  Fran nodded.

  Danny continued, ‘Start by fast-tracking the ransom note and envelope through forensics. I want to know, as soon as possible, if there are any marks of value on that note. You will need a set of elimination fingerprints from the girl’s mother, as she handled the note when it was first received. You’ll need to liaise with Helen Bailey to obtain the mother’s prints.’

  Fran Jefferies said, ‘I’ll get onto Helen straight after the briefing.’

  Danny said, ‘Thanks, Fran. You never know, we may get lucky and get a worthwhile print.’

  Danny paused before saying, ‘The parents of the missing girl are Rebecca and Dominic Whitchurch. Both are extremely successful barristers, who have spent their working lives undertaking both prosecution and defence work at the Crown Court. DI Buxton, I want you to sort the remaining staff into pairs and start making discreet enquiries into the backgrounds of both parents. I know the ransom note has intimated there’s a financial motive for the kidnapping, but that could be a smokescreen to hide a grudge. I’m sure that, over the years, both parents will have made quite a few enemies.’

  Rob replied, ‘Okay.’

  ‘Rob, the most difficult enquiry will be at Mulberry Chambers. Earlier today I had a conversation with Anthony Conway; he’s the head of chambers. He suggested that all our enquiries are directed through Sebastien Dawson, the barrister’s clerk. He’s the man responsible for the distribution of briefs. Mr Conway tells me that Dawson has an encyclopaedic knowledge of all previous cases undertaken by the law firm. He can recall details of defendants, results of cases, any threats made, etc
. I want you to contact Sebastien Dawson and arrange for two detectives to go to Mulberry Chambers and trawl through old case files involving either Dominic or Rebecca Whitchurch.’

  ‘No problem.’

  ‘Right, everyone. There isn’t much more we can do for now. If you’ve already been allocated a task, crack on with that. If not, speak with DI Buxton to be given one. Let’s get going – and remember, discretion is of paramount importance. There will be an updated briefing tomorrow morning at eight o’clock. Thanks, everyone.’

  There was a crescendo of noise as chairs were pushed back, and everyone started talking at once.

  Mattie followed Danny back into his office.

  There was a knock on the door, and Brian Hopkirk walked in. He said, ‘You haven’t allocated me an enquiry.’

  Danny said, ‘No, I haven’t. I’ve never been one to put all my eggs in one basket. I want you and Rachel to continue making enquiries as though this was still just a missing person situation. Do you know what I mean?’

  Brian was thoughtful for a second, then said, ‘I understand. We’ll start by reinterviewing the au pair. We can then follow up where young Emily was found the last time she went missing.’

  Danny smiled. ‘That’s it. For all we know, this ransom note could be a load of bollocks. I’ve got to try to keep an open mind as to exactly what may have happened to this girl.’

  Brian nodded and walked out.

  Mattie said, ‘You seem to have things well under control. I’ll shove off.’

  ‘Thanks for all your help, Mattie.’

  ‘No problem. If there are any further developments and you need more advice, you know where I am.’

  Danny was then left alone in the office, with just his thoughts for company. For the first time all afternoon, he allowed those thoughts to turn to Adrian Potter. At some stage, he would need to update his new boss that the misper case had now potentially turned into a full-blown kidnapping.

  Potter could wait. Right now, he had too much to organise.

  36

  7.00pm, 10 October 1986

  The Belmont Hotel, Winterburn Street, Leicester

  The sound of lead-crystal wine glasses clinking together was followed by Dominic Whitchurch saying softly, ‘Here’s to us. What a formidable team we are.’

  Angela Temple took a sip of the velvety red wine and smiled.

  The first day of the trial had been slow going as the jury was selected and sworn in. That whole process seemed to take an interminable amount of time. Dominic had just concluded his opening statement to the jury when the judge had called time on proceedings.

  She had watched the jurors intently as Dominic painstakingly set out the numerous reasons why their client should be found not guilty. How he was, in fact, the subject of a malicious and unsubstantiated allegation by a woman who was clearly working to her own agenda. That agenda was simply one of revenge. He had explained at great length how the alleged victim had been scorned by the defendant. He went into great detail outlining the false allegation and how it was all an elaborate plan for revenge, fuelled by that hurtful rejection.

  The signs were encouraging, especially from the female members of the jury. She had noted head-shaking and tutting as Dominic had laid into the character of the alleged victim. If the female members of the jury were set against the victim already, the men would surely follow their lead.

  After arriving back at the hotel, Angela had taken her time getting ready. Wearing a tight-fitting black cocktail dress and black stockings, she looked amazing.

  Dominic couldn’t take his eyes off her as they sat in the bar of the hotel, enjoying an aperitif before dinner.

  The table had been booked for six thirty. In the thirty minutes they had been waiting in the bar, Dominic had drunk three large whiskies. He was in an avuncular mood and enjoying himself. A concerned Angela had told him to slow down a little.

  She had winked and said, ‘Take it easy, darling. I don’t want you too drunk for later.’

  He had smiled and told the barman to cancel his fourth whisky.

  Eventually, they had walked through to the Michelin star restaurant that formed part of the hotel’s magnificent reputation. The waiter had shown them to a table set for two, in a private alcove.

  The starter had been delicious.

  After the waiter had cleared the table and as they waited for their main course to arrive, Angela slipped one stiletto-heeled shoe off. She ran her stocking-clad foot slowly up Dominic’s leg until she reached his crotch. She made full eye contact, and as her foot caressed him, she said seductively, ‘Shall we take dessert in the room?’

  Dominic’s eyes lit up. He placed his wine glass on the table and spluttered, ‘I think we’d better, sweetheart.’

  Angela hastily removed her foot from the top of Dominic’s thigh as she saw a waiter approaching their table.

  The waiter wasn’t carrying food.

  He was carrying a telephone, which he plugged into a socket at the side of the table. He checked that it was working, and said, ‘Mr Whitchurch, I’m very sorry, but we have your wife waiting on this line. She said to stress to you that this is urgent. There’s been a development regarding your daughter.’

  As Angela tutted loudly, all the colour drained from Dominic’s face.

  He snatched the telephone from the waiter and said sharply, ‘I’ll take the call. Put her through.’

  The waiter signalled over to the reception desk, then moved away from the table to afford privacy. Seconds later, Dominic heard his wife’s voice, ‘Dominic, thank God. You need to come home, now. The police are here at the house.’

  ‘What do you mean, the police are at the house? What’s happening, Rebecca? Have they found Emily?’

  ‘No, they haven’t found her, but it’s really bad, Dom. I need you here. Come home, please.’

  With his wife starting to cry, Dominic said, ‘Okay. I’ll drive back now. Is there a police officer there I can speak to?’

  Rebecca didn’t answer.

  Dominic raised his voice slightly. ‘Rebecca?’

  A woman’s voice came on the line: ‘Mr Whitchurch?’

  ‘Yes. Who’s this?’

  ‘Sir, my name’s Detective Constable Helen Bailey. Your wife needs you back here now. There’s been a serious development that I can’t discuss with you over the phone, but you are needed here.’

  ‘Okay, Officer. I’m on my way.’

  Dominic hung up the phone and looked across the table to Angela.

  She was sitting with her arms folded across her chest, and an angry look on her face. ‘What the fuck’s happening, Dom? What did that arrogant bitch want?’

  ‘Sweetheart, it’s my daughter.’

  Angela rolled her eyes. ‘For fuck’s sake, Dom. Don’t you get it? She’ll say anything to make you go home.’

  ‘You’re wrong. It’s not like that. There’s a detective in my house, for Christ’s sake. I need to get back tonight. There’s something dreadful happening; I can sense it.’

  ‘How can you get back? You’ve already had way too much to drink.’

  ‘I know it’s asking a lot, and I’ll make it up to you, I promise, but I need you to drive me home right now. You’ll have to come back and take over the trial tomorrow. I need to know what’s happening with my daughter.’

  Angela leaned forward and put her head in her hands.

  ‘Please, Angela, I need you to do this for me. If you won’t drive me, I’ll get a fucking taxi.’

  With an exasperated expression, she said, ‘Alright, alright. Come on, let’s go back to the room and grab your stuff.’

  As they hastily left the restaurant, Angela was raging.

  She had made her mind up right then. If Dominic didn’t tell his wife about the two of them very soon, she would.

  37

  10.30pm, 10 October 1986

  Richmond Drive, Mapperley Park, Nottinghamshire

  The white streetlights, spaced well apart, cast a myriad of dark shadow
s throughout the Nottingham suburb of Mapperley Park. It was an affluent area where all the roads were flanked with tall well-established trees, and the large houses were detached and set back from the roads.

  Angela Temple drove her Volvo slowly along Mapperley Hall Drive, towards Richmond Drive.

  Just before the car reached the junction, Dominic Whitchurch said, ‘Pull in as soon as you turn into Richmond Drive, sweetheart.’

  Angela said through gritted teeth, ‘Yes, of course. God forbid your wife’s waiting outside the house for you, at this time of night.’

  As the car came to a stop in dark shadows, he said, ‘Please don’t be like this. I had to come back; can’t you see that? If it had been anything other than my daughter, I promise you we would still be in Leicester.’

  With a more conciliatory tone in her voice, she said, ‘I understand, Dom. I’m just so disappointed. I’ve wanted to share this special time with you for so long, I’m bound to be a little upset. I need us to be together now. Can’t you understand that?’

  ‘Of course I understand. It’s what I want too, more than anything. I promise you we’ll be together very soon.’

  He leaned over, took her in his arms and kissed her passionately.

  They embraced and kissed each other for several minutes, unaware their every move was being observed from the shadows.

  Finally, Dominic stopped and pulled away from her. He said in a hoarse whisper, ‘I need to get inside and find out what’s happening, and you’ve got a long drive back to Leicester. I’ll call you first thing in the morning, as soon as I know what’s happening here. Good luck with the trial. I love you, sweetheart.’

  ‘I love you too. I hope Emily’s okay.’