DARK MURDER a gripping detective thriller full of suspense

by Helen H. Durrant

  As far as Greco was concerned, this was wasting time. This woman could rattle on for hours and they’d still be none the wiser. “Would anyone around here have a key to the flat?” He asked patiently.

  “Her two doors up, she’ll have one.”

  “Can I ask your name?” Grace asked, “just in case we need to speak again.”

  “Mavis Bailey. I live four streets that way, ask anyone.”

  “Intriguing, sir.” Grace remarked. “Wonder what happened for Rose to give the woman two thousand quid?”

  “None of our business, Constable. If it’s nothing to do with the case then we don’t want to know.”

  Greco could tell from her face that that wasn’t how Grace saw things. She was curious and that was good but for now they needed to get on with the task in hand.

  The inside of Rose’s flat gave very little away. But it didn’t look as if she’d gone anywhere. The place was untidy. There were pots stacked up in the sink and the cat was asleep on the sofa. As they entered it rushed to them, mewing.

  “I think it’s hungry,” Grace decided. “I’ll give it something and have a word with the neighbour.”

  “If Rose hasn’t left the cat in her care then you’re right, she probably hasn’t gone away. So where is she?”

  Greco’s mobile was ringing. He went outside to take the call. When he rejoined Grace he didn’t look too happy. “I’m going to have to leave,” he told her.

  “Just let me take this back and see what the neighbour says.” Grace waved the key at him.

  When Grace returned to the car Greco was tapping impatiently on the steering wheel.

  “Well, Rose hasn’t gone away. She always leaves instructions for the cat with her neighbour and she knows nothing.”

  “We need to find her. I only hope she’s not in the same situation Brenda found herself in.”

  “Where to now, sir?”

  “I’ll drop you at the station but I’m going to have to go and pick Matilda up I’m afraid. Apparently the heating’s gone in the school. I tell you, there’s always something.”

  “Fixing it could take time. What have they said?”

  “Nothing that helps; just that they’ll be shut for a few days.”

  That gave him one huge problem. What was he going to do with a small child while he worked? There was no one else, and he wasn’t expecting Suzy back any time soon.

  “There is the kids’ club, sir. It takes all ages and for any number of reasons. You need somewhere, someone,” she insisted. “I’ll give you the number.” She jotted it down on a piece of paper and left it on the dashboard.

  She had that no nonsense look on her face. The one Greco was fast coming to recognise. Grace Harper had it in her to be bossy, confrontational. The way her life had made her, he supposed. It seemed a shame to him that she didn’t have someone to share her problems with. She wasn’t unattractive. He knew she was only twenty-six, but she looked older than that.

  “I’m not sure . . .” He looked at the number and shook his head. There could be all sorts at a place like that. Matilda has led such a sheltered life. I’m afraid Suzy and her parents have seen to that.”

  “The kids do seem to like it though, sir. I know Holly does. Sometimes she goes there and sometimes my mum takes her. Would you like me to ask my mum if she’d have Matilda? She is a registered child minder. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind.”

  “Where does she live, your mum?”

  “Not far from Oldston Park. She’s inspected regularly and everything. She’s very nice.”

  It was a very kind offer, but should he accept it? “I’ll think about it.”

  “If you like, your Matilda can come round to mine later, have her tea with Holly and meet my mum. The girls are the same age and if she had a friend, then Matilda wouldn’t feel so strange.”

  It was nice of Grace to do this. She was going out of her way to be helpful. Was it that she sympathised, or was there something else? He wasn’t stupid; she was a young woman with no man in her life. He’d have to be careful. He didn’t want to encourage a romance where one wasn’t going to happen.

  Greco nodded, and thanked Grace. Despite his reservations, it was certainly worth thinking about.

  * * *

  Speedy was at the Spinners. “You seen Geegee?” he asked.

  “He was kicking about outside a while ago, bothering a couple of teenagers,” he replied. “Gave one a bit of a kicking and dragged him off. He’ll be back, he’ll need a pint after all that exertion.” He laughed.

  So Geegee was in bash ’em and stuff the consequences mode. Speedy cursed and took a swig of the beer Les handed him.

  “Took a packet off you last night.” The landlord pulled a face. “Must have hurt, even for someone like you with a regular job.”

  “Did sting a bit,” Speedy said. “What d’you think the chances are of him doing a deal?”

  “Not a cat in hell’s chance, mate,” laughed Les. “He’ll have you strung up first.”

  Jed Quickenden couldn’t remember a time when he’d been in so much trouble. He’d ballsed things up at work but worse than that, much worse, he was about to tell Geegee he couldn’t pay his debt. The man might kill him. It most certainly wouldn’t be pretty. He slammed the empty pint pot on the counter and shouted for Les. “Stick another one in there and give us a whiskey too.”

  He looked around; there was only one or two in. “D’you do much lunchtime trade?”

  “Not really, don’t do food you see, but I don’t mind if folk bring their own.” He nodded at a young man seated in a corner munching his sandwiches.

  “Who is that? I’ve seen him in here at night once or twice recently.”

  “I’ve no idea. He’s hatching some plot with Geegee. Probably doesn’t know what he’s getting into, poor sucker.”

  Speedy downed the whiskey, grabbed his pint and went to sit down beside the lad. “Don’t mind, do you?” he smiled. “I’m looking for Geegee. Are you meeting him here?”

  “You’re that cop, aren’t you?”

  Quickenden nodded. “Not a problem is it? Geegee never bothered about my day job.”

  “Perhaps, but I’m a bit pickier.” The lad smirked. “I don’t like coppers; too nosey.”

  “Only doing a job, son,” he said, taking a gulp of his beer. “Currently we’re investigating the murder of a woman. She was found just along the canal from here.”

  “Nowt to do with me.”

  “I’m not saying it is. We’re speaking to lots of people.” He looked into the boy’s face, he was good-looking with fair hair and smallish features, but he had strange eyes. For a few seconds, Quickenden was almost mesmerised. They were the coldest eyes he’d ever seen.

  “How well do you know Geegee?” Quickenden asked.

  He watched the boy frown. “Well enough,” he said putting a half- eaten sandwich back into his plastic box. “You?”

  “I’ve known Geegee since I was a schoolboy. He was always the big man around here. Everyone was scared of him but he was a useful bloke to know.”

  The boy nodded.

  “You’re dressed for work,” the sergeant said, glancing at his overalls. “Not many people Geegee knows actually hold down a job. What are you up to?”

  “Nowt. I come here because I like it,” he admitted. “It’s edgy, the people are hard, raw, I get a buzz from that. Me and some of my friends come quite often. You can buy anything you want, if you know what I mean.” He smiled.

  Was he talking drugs? The no-hopers who came here would see him as an outsider, a kid after kicks, and they’d be only too happy to accommodate him. Speedy was surprised no one had tried it on, taken advantage. “Don’t you get picked on when you come in here? I mean with you being different?”

  “I’m no different from them, not really. I work because I have to. Anyway you’ve got no right to talk, copper, look what you do for a living.”

  He was about to buy the lad another pint when Geegee walked in.

&nbs
p; Speedy felt his stomach lurch. If he got out of here without a beating, he’d be lucky. “I need a word with him,” he told the boy, pulling a face.

  “You owe him, don’t you?” the boy whispered. “I heard you lost at cards. He’s a hard man with a brute of a temper. Not very wise of you, that.”

  “Unfortunately, yes, I did and now I’m going to suffer for it.”

  “Do you like him?”

  “God no — I hate the slimy bastard, he’s evil. I really should avoid him, and so should you. Take my advice; leave this pub well alone before you get into serious trouble. It’s a cesspit, no place for a lad like you.”

  “He sells some great stuff though,” the boy nodded, “as long as you don’t ask too many questions. He had a watch the other night, a solid gold job it was, and he only wanted fifty quid for it. I was hoping to get it for my mum’s birthday but he ended up giving it to that woman, that Lily, who hangs out here.”

  “Did you ask him about it?”

  “Yes, but it wasn’t suitable,” he shrugged. “It had initials engraved on the back, AH. My mum’s VP, so you see the problem.”

  “Copper!” Geegee interrupted from the bar. “Come to pay your debts?” He chuckled.

  “I’d better go and pacify him,” Speedy said leaving the lad to his lunch.

  “We need to talk.” He approached with caution. “You took a packet off me last night and now I know you cheated.”

  “Me? Come on, copper, does that sound right? When have you ever known me to be dishonest?” He laughed out loud. His breath stank and he was still wearing the clothes he’d had on during the game. “Pay up, copper,” he taunted. “Because you know what happens if you don’t.”

  “Can we speak outside?”

  “Shy about folk seeing you give me all that money?” He laughed again as he followed Speedy outside.

  “Look, Geegee, I’m not going to wrap this up. I can’t pay.”

  There. It was said. There was a silence. What was the bastard thinking? “It’s impossible; I just don’t have that much money right now. But I’ll sort something out. I’ll get a loan, but you’ve got to give me more time.”

  The DS inhaled, and readied himself. This wasn’t going to be good. But he was wrong. Instead of landing one on his chin, Grady Gibbs put his arm around Speedy and led him away from the pub door. Being so close turned Speedy’s stomach.

  “Just this once I’m going to let it go,” Geegee said.

  Speedy stood stock still and stared at the man. This wasn’t right. Geegee didn’t operate like this.

  “Why? I don’t understand.”

  “Well, let’s put it this way,” he said, giving him an almost toothless smile. “Giving you time to find the dosh could pay dividends. It’s a good move on my part — a favour in the bank. A favour I might need to call in very soon.” He winked at the sergeant. “Relax.” He clapped Speedy on the back. “You got off light and don’t forget it. You owe me.”

  * * *

  “I haven’t got long,” he told the team, checking his watch. “What have we got out of this afternoon’s investigations?” Greco shuffled pieces of paper around the desk, neatening them into piles. He’d go over them again when things were quieter, make sure he hadn’t missed anything. He’d taken Grace, Craig Merrick and George into the small meeting room to talk. He’d have to make it quick. The headmistress at the Duke Academy was looking after Matilda in her office until he picked her up and he’d promised to do so within the hour.

  “Jack Hirst has no idea what Brenda kept in her handbag, sir. Her purse, he presumes and she did have a debit card. He can’t find it in the house, so it must have been taken. As for cash, he reckons about a tenner, tops. Also he’s adamant that neither of them knew Rose Donnelly.”

  “So it was hardly robbery, then.”

  “So why was she a target? Why murder her and take her eyes like that?”

  “A trophy,” Craig commented. “It’s common with serial killers, I understand.”

  “But have we got a serial killer? We have the one body, and that looks more like a revenge killing to me,” responded Greco.

  “Revenge for what, sir? Apart from her affair with Reader, she appears to have led a fairly simple life,” said Grace. “But that said, could we be looking at Reader’s wife?”

  “Check on Mrs Reader’s movements on Saturday, Craig. Get statements, I don’t want any ‘maybes.’ Make sure you pin the evidence down.”

  “We mustn’t forget about Rose Donnelly. No one’s seen her recently and her home is like the Marie Celeste,” Grace told them.

  “So what are we saying?” Greco looked around from one to the other only to be met by blank looks. “Do we think Rose is dead too? If so, why hasn’t a body turned up? Brenda was found within hours.”

  At that moment they heard the main office door open. Quickenden, Greco guessed. The DI got up and told him to come into the meeting room. He wanted to blast the man but now wasn’t the time. He’d take the sergeant to task about his behaviour tomorrow.

  “I don’t know where you’ve been, Sergeant, but you’ll have time to explain yourself, just make it good. Your job depends on it. For now sit down and keep quiet.”

  “The jewellery around her wrist was a watch, sir,” Craig said, consulting his notebook. “It was quite distinctive. It had belonged to Jack Hirst’s mother and had her initials on the back. It was left to Brenda after her death. He reckons it was valuable, nine-carat gold. It had originally been a golden wedding anniversary present from Jack’s father to his mother.”

  “Alert the jewellers and pawn shops,” he told Craig. “Did he have it insured, or have a photo?”

  “No, sir.”

  “They’re unlikely to say anything. If they get their hands on an item like that, they’ll have it flogged on in no time,” Speedy said.

  “Difficult to sell,” Merrick contradicted. “With the initials I mean.”

  What are they?” Speedy asked, knocking Craig’s arm.

  “I’m sure DC Merrick was coming to that.” Greco shot him a warning look. In his book, quiet meant quiet. Merrick had put effort into what he’d done today and had come up with some valuable information. He deserved the opportunity to report back properly.

  “It’s just that a watch like Craig just described, with the initials AH on the back, was given to a woman in the Spinners. She was flashing it about last night.”

  Greco looked at Quickenden. This was so typical of how things went in the sergeant’s life. His job’s on the brink of going down the tubes and he pulls this out of the bag. He shook his head. “Are those the right initials?” he asked Craig.

  “Yes, sir, they are. The original owner’s name, Benda’s mother-in-law, was Ada Hirst.

  “In that case can we have more detail please, Sergeant?”

  “Geegee — real name Grady Gibbs,” he explained for Greco’s benefit, “gave a watch fitting that description to his latest squeeze very recently. He’d first offered it for sale but because of the initials he couldn’t find a buyer. Well, that and the fact that money is short meant no one could afford it.”

  “In that case we need to speak to this Mr Gibbs. Bring him in,” Greco told Quickenden and Merrick. “Stick him in the cells. I’ll sort out my daughter and then come back.”

  Chapter 12

  “Sir, if you can do without me, then I’ll come with you to pick up Matilda. You could explain things to her then I’ll take her to mine for tea with Holly and my mum. It would let you come back here with no pressure.”

  Greco shut his eyes and inhaled deeply. This wasn’t how he wanted to do things. He didn’t want to rely on other people, especially colleagues, for anything, but what else could he do? Quickenden and Merrick would bring Grady Gibbs in, but he had to be there at the interrogation.

  “Okay,” he finally said. “That’s very good of you. We’ll go now and get things organised.”

  It was a quick fix for now but even if the Duke Academy hadn’t had a problem wi
th the heating, he couldn’t guarantee he’d be able to pick his daughter up on time every day. The after school club they ran shut at five. He needed something else and quick. “Your Mum,” he inquired as Grace drove them, “would she mind having Matilda? It would mean picking her up from the Duke and it’s not central. It’d mean a drive out to Leesworth, but I would pay her,” he told Grace.

  “I have already mentioned it, sir. She knows it’s not for long, so yes she’s up for it.”

  That was something at least. The last thing he needed right now was a childcare issue to worry about. He looked at Grace. Now he understood. She might have her mum handy but it was still a struggle. In future, if she was late, he’d have to bite his tongue. DC Harper had problems the others hadn’t a clue about.

  * * *

  “You okay with this?” Craig Merrick asked Speedy as they drove towards the pub. “I take it you found him this afternoon, Geegee, I mean?”

  “Yes I found him and no, I’m not okay with this. I owe him, but what’s worse the sneaky bastard wanted to bank my debt as a favour.” He slammed his hands on the steering wheel as he drove. “You can imagine what he’ll say when I turn up to bring him in.”

  “Did you threaten him? You were pretty riled up when you left.”

  “No, not really. I told him I knew he’d cheated, but he doesn’t give a stuff. It was him that threatened me. If he wants something and I don’t deliver then it’ll be me you can look for in the canal,” he said grimly. “And I’m not exaggerating either.”

  It was late afternoon and the Spinners was filling up with the usual faces, including Lily, Geegee’s girlfriend.

  “That’s her,” Speedy nodded.

  “How do we play this?” He glanced back through the window to the parking space outside. “Backup is in place.”

  “Good, because we’re going to need them. When I arrest Geegee this place will go off like a firecracker. I’ll find out where he is and you speak to the girl.”

  “Excuse me,” Merrick said sidling up beside Lily. “DC Merrick, Oldston CID.” He flashed his badge. “Mind if I ask you a few questions?”

  She laughed in his face and downed her vodka in one. “You sure?” She looked scornful. “I had you down as one of the silly sods who were in the game last night.” She giggled. “Never had you down as a copper, too good-looking. Him, yes,” she pointed at Speedy. “He’s a bloody fool, but you,” she stroked a finger down his cheek, “you’re cute.”