by P. F. Ford
'So, if you've seen him, you should be able to tell us what he's like.'
'I didn't take that much notice. It's not as if I was trying to decide if I fancied him.'
Norman stepped forward, his fists clenched. 'D'you think this is some sort of joke?' he snarled. 'There's a woman lying dead on a slab in the local mortuary. There's a kid lying in a hospital bed who might die in the next couple of days. You told us you thought he was a good kid, so how about you stop pissing about and help us try to find out who did this? We think her death and Spiderhair's attack are connected, and probably the same guy did both. You claim to look out for these people, so how about you start doing it?'
Jasper swallowed, loud and hard. 'Well, when you put it like that, I suppose . . . But an undercover drug squad bloke wouldn't kill anyone, would he?'
'You know for sure he's in the drug squad?'
'Well, that's what he said.'
Norman sighed in exasperation.
'Look,' said Darling, 'we're not asking you to draw a bloody portrait. Just tell us what you can remember.'
For the first time, Jasper actually looked as if he was concentrating, and Norman thought that perhaps, at last, he was going to tell them the truth.
'He was tall,' he said.
'How tall?'
'Taller than me.'
Norman reckoned Jasper was about six feet one, and he started to get that old tingly feeling. He glanced at Darling. He could see she was getting it too. 'What else? Was he fat? Thin? What?'
'He had a big coat on, but I seem to remember thinking he was skinny, with sort of hunched shoulders. He had straggly, long hair and a sharp, beaky sort of nose. When I met him he was dressed in black. I remember now because he reminded me of a vulture.'
'Anything else?' asked Darling. 'Any distinguishing marks, like a tattoo?'
'I didn't see any, but then he had that big coat on, and his collar was turned up.'
Fifteen minutes later, Norman and Darling were walking back into town. 'So what do we think?' asked Darling. 'Is Jasper telling us the truth, or should we expect to find someone trying to run us down any minute?'
'That's a tough one,' said Norman. 'The description he gave us for this Driver guy is a pretty good match for the guy who ordered the pizza, so I think that much is true, but I'm not sure I buy the bit about him being drug squad.'
'Oh, come on, Norm. It fits perfectly if only you're prepared to accept Bradshaw is involved in Jenny's death. I think we should confront him and see what he has to say.'
'But we don't have any real proof! The guy might have told Jasper he was drug squad, but he could just as easily be working for Ben.'
'For God's sake, take those blinkers off,' Darling said. 'Just admit you got it wrong. Bradshaw's behind Jenny's death.'
'But what about the kid? Why would Bradshaw want him dead?'
'Because he was helping us learn too much. Don't forget, until he told us where he found Jenny's phone, we were getting nowhere fast. Maybe Bradshaw thought Spiderhair knew more than he actually did, so he had to be silenced.'
Norman sighed. What Naomi said could so easily be exactly what had happened. 'I'm still not convinced. I think we need more.'
'And how are we going to do that?'
'I dunno,' he said thoughtfully. 'Do you think you can remember how to get to Jerry's place?'
'Yes, sure.'
'Okay, let's make a deal. You drive us out to Jerry's now, and we'll speak to him again. If I can't find any answers there that will convince you I'm right, then we'll go and face Bradshaw.'
Chapter Twenty-One
'I didn't expect to see you back here so soon,' said Jerry, smiling knowingly. 'Money's not so easy to turn down after all, is it?'
'Oh, we're not here for your money,' said Norman. 'We just have one or two more questions we think you might be able to help us with.'
Jerry's smile rapidly changed into a frown. 'What sort of questions?'
'Did you know you're not the only person paying Jasper for information?'
Jerry heaved a sigh of resignation. 'No, I didn't know, but I'm not really surprised. I suppose it goes with the territory. People who do what he's doing are unlikely to have much respect for loyalty, are they?'
Norman thought that sounded like the voice of a man who didn't much care any more. 'Don't you worry he's going to sell your secrets?'
'He doesn't know any secrets. Dennis deals with him, not me. Anyway, I don't really care what he does, to be honest. I just want to know who killed Jenny.'
'I'm afraid we still don't know that, but we have a lead you might be able to help us with. We think the other guy Jasper deals with is a drug squad officer.'
Jerry leaned forward. 'You think the drug squad had her killed? But why?'
'No, no, of course not,' said Norman hastily. 'But we think Jenny's death is linked with the local drug scene, and we think if we can find this guy, he may know something that would help us.'
'The local drug scene? What would her death have to do with that?'
'It's a theory,' said Norman. 'We know drugs come in through the harbour here, and we think it's possible the people responsible would like to reach the biggest market of all, which is London. So it figures they could be the people who were making all the threats about Jenny before.'
Jerry's eyes widened. 'You think bringing her here led to her death? God, that would mean it was my fault, wouldn't it?'
'Let's not jump to any conclusions,' said Norman. 'Like I said, it's just an idea. If I can find this guy, maybe he can tell me if it's worth pursuing. I don't suppose you have any idea where I might find him?'
'D'you really think drug squad officers are the sort of people I usually socialise with?'
'No, but I figure it might help to know your enemy and know his movements, if you get my drift.'
'That would be something my brother might know, but I'm afraid I can't help you with it. I suppose I can always ask him.'
'You're in contact with him? I thought you were leaving all that behind!'
'Yes, well, there doesn't seem much point now, does there?' Jerry said sadly. 'I'm better off with my family than on my own.'
'What's his take on all this?' asked Darling.
'He thinks it's someone trying to frighten us off. He's told me to stay down here until I find out who's behind it, but if you can tell me something about this guy, maybe Ben can fill in some blanks.'
'Apparently he goes by the name of Driver,' said Darling.
Jerry's head snapped around to face her. 'Driver?'
'Yeah. D'you know him?'
'Err, no. It just seems a weird sort of name, that's all.'
Norman was watching Jerry closely. 'We don't know if that's his surname, nickname, or if it's some sort of code name.'
'Any idea what he looks like?' asked Jerry.
'Tall, skinny, a bit stooped,' said Darling. 'Likes to wear a big coat that makes him look like a vulture.'
'Sounds like he's a pretty distinctive-looking guy. I'm sure Ben will remember him if he's come across him before.'
'You're sure you don't know him?' asked Norman, 'Only you seemed to recognise that name.'
Jerry laughed. 'No, not at all. I just thought it was a bit of a weird name. Like I said, Ben might know more.'
'Okay,' said Norman, doubtfully. 'It might well come to nothing, but every lead's worth following up, you know?'
'Yes, fine. Leave it with me. Leave me your number and I'll let you know what he says. Now if you don't mind, I have guests.'
'Oh, sorry,' said Norman. 'You should have said. We'll get out of your hair.'
'D'you think he really had people there?' asked Darling, when they were in the car, heading back to town.
'Well, he didn't let us past the front door, so maybe.'
'He knows who we're talking about, doesn't he? Did you see his face when I mentioned the name?'
'Yeah, he knows alright, but if he doesn't want to tell us who it is, it's not really much help,
is it?'
'You realise you're going to have to keep your end of the bargain now, don't you?' said Darling. 'He didn't say anything that made me change my mind about Bradshaw. In fact, if he knows this Driver, the drug squad guy, that more or less wraps it up for me.'
'I wish I was as certain as you,' said Norman. 'Something's not right about this, but I can't see what it is.'
'It's those Bradshaw blinkers you're wearing. We'll go and confront him in the morning, and you'll see I'm right.'
'Okay, I suppose it was my idea, and we did make a deal. But we're not going tomorrow. Tomorrow is Sunday, and we're going to have a rest day. We'll drive up there on Monday morning after breakfast.'
'And you promise you won't tell him we're coming?'
'I promise,' said Norman.
Chapter Twenty-Two
As they drove out of town on Monday morning, they passed a large sign that said 'Thank you for visiting Redville-on-Sea'. Darling decided this would be as good a time as any to broach the subject Norman seemed to be struggling to come to terms with. 'I do understand why you have a problem accepting Bradshaw could be behind this.'
'You do?'
'Of course. You've known him for a long time, he has a reputation for being honest, and he's known to take good care of his staff.'
'He was always as straight as an arrow when I worked with him,' said Norman. 'I just find it hard to accept he would have used Jenny like that.'
'He was tipped for the top. Wasn't that what you said about him?'
'Yeah, that's right, he was destined for great things.'
'So what happened?' asked Darling.
'How d'you mean?'
'Well, what he's doing now isn't exactly sitting at the top table, is it?'
'I haven't seen the guy since he shot past me up that greasy pole years ago, but this thing he heads is a new project. It's his baby.'
'You really think digging up cold cases and taking on the stuff no one else cares about is en route to the top?'
'All that ladder-climbing shit never interested me, so, if I'm honest, I can't say I've given it much thought.'
Darling smiled knowingly. 'I guessed as much, so I got my laptop out last night and did some bedtime reading.'
Norman gave her a sideways look. 'And?'
'Well, I can't say for sure, but from what I can see, this "project" isn't such a big deal unless your name's Bradshaw and you're trying to impress people who aren't in the know.'
Norman raised an eyebrow. 'What's that supposed to mean?'
'Well, he's told you it's some serious, big-deal job, right? But the reality is it's only his baby because no one else wanted it, and he had no other choice but to take it.'
'You mean it's a sideways promotion?'
'It's actually a "sideways into a backwater" promotion. As far as Bradshaw's career is concerned, the route to the top has been well and truly closed.'
Norman let out a whistle. 'He must have messed up big time.'
'That's what I thought, so I dug around to see what I could find, and guess what?'
Norman looked across at her again, and she gave him a triumphant grin in return.
'You know what I'm going to say, don't you?' she said.
Norman shook his head in disbelief. 'Oh crap! Don't tell me . . .'
'D'you think you might put the blinkers away now?'
Chapter Twenty-Three
'Come in,' called a voice from the other side of the door.
Norman leaned on the handle, pushed the door open, and walked through, Darling hot on his heels. From behind his desk, Bradshaw's face was a picture of surprise. 'Norm! You should have called,' he said, as he began to rise from his seat.
'No, it's okay, don't bother to get up,' said Norman. 'This shouldn't take long.'
'You didn't need to come all the way up here, I would have met you halfway.' Bradshaw nodded to Darling. 'Naomi.'
'I bet you would have preferred that,' said Norman, 'but we've more or less wrapped up this case now.'
'You have?'
'Like I said, more or less. There are one or two things we're not quite clear about, but we thought you could help us with those.'
Bradshaw looked puzzled. 'Me? How can I help?'
'When we spoke the other day, you told us there wasn't anything else we needed to know. You said you had told us everything.'
'Yes, that's right.'
'But it's not right, is it? You forget to mention what was probably the most important thing of all.'
Bradshaw looked vacant.
'Don't try to stall us with that dumb "I don't know what you mean" crap. We know about you and the Shapiro trial.'
'Ah, yes, that,' said Bradshaw. 'I suppose I probably should have mentioned it.'
'You "should have mentioned it"?' echoed Norman. 'You denied being involved! You even said you never worked for the drug squad.'
'I didn't think it was relevant.'
'Of course it's relevant, that's why you lied about it! Losing that case put an end to all your promotion hopes, didn't it?'
Bradshaw shook his head vigorously. 'It wasn't like that.'
'So why don't you tell us what it was like? Because from where we're standing, you've got one hell of a motive for making sure Jenny died!'
Bradshaw looked shocked. 'Who the hell do you think you are? You can't come barging in here accusing me of murder!'
'So what should we accuse you of?' asked Darling.
Now Bradshaw's eyes were blazing, and he pointed an angry finger at her. 'This is outrageous! I've never heard such twaddle in all my life. Jenny was a family friend. I've known her father for many years. When she went off the rails, he asked me if I could find out what had happened to her.'
Never taking her eyes from his, Darling stepped slowly up to his desk, placed her hands on the edge, leaned towards him, and then spoke very slowly and clearly. 'If you know her father so well, you'll know he's been in a nursing home since her mother died a couple of years ago. His Alzheimer's is bad enough he had stopped recognising his own daughter, so I very much doubt he would have known who you were, and he certainly wouldn't have been asking for your help to keep track of her.'
Bradshaw's mouth opened and closed a couple of times.
'You like chess, don't you, Bradshaw?' said Norman. 'I think you'll find that's what they call "check".'
'What I meant was, the nursing home asked me on his behalf,' said Bradshaw, unconvincingly.
Norman heaved a heavy sigh, pulled a chair across in front of Bradshaw's desk, and sat down. 'Even you don't believe that,' he said wearily, 'and frankly I'm getting tired of all this bullshit. You know me well enough to know I'm not going to let this go , so do us all a favour, save us some time, and tell us what's really been going on.'
'I thought you had it all worked out,' said Bradshaw after a moment.
'I think we have,' said Norman, 'but I'd like to hear it from you. Straight from the horse's mouth, you know?'
'If you think I killed her, you're barking up the wrong tree. I had nothing to do with it.'
'I thought you were going to stop feeding us bullshit.'
'Do you want to hear me out or not?' snapped Bradshaw.
'I've got a better idea,' said Norman. 'Why don't I tell you what we think happened? At least that way we can avoid all the crap you're going to send our way.'
Darling had found herself a chair and pulled it over and settled alongside Norman.
'Okay, this is our theory,' began Norman. 'When Jenny tore your Shapiro case to shreds and got it kicked out of court, you were left up the proverbial creek. This had been the big case that was going to propel you even further up that greasy pole, maybe even all the way to the top, but now your whole career was going be put in limbo. This was the end of the line, unless you could somehow get the better of the Shapiros. So you approached Jenny and you tried to persuade her to work for you. You knew she and Jerry had a thing going, so you tried to get her to work against him, but she wouldn't play ball.'
'That's not how it was--' said Bradshaw, but Norman cut him short with a wave of his hand.
'You don't get to speak until I finish,' he said. 'Then you can try and spin your way out of it. Until then, you can just listen. I wouldn't be at all surprised if you had something to do with Jenny's career going pear-shaped at that point, but it didn't really matter because she had already decided to get out and shack up with Jerry. Then you tried to get her onboard again, and she told you what you could do. She even told Jerry you had approached her. Not long after that, she started getting threats.'
Bradshaw looked surprised. 'Threats? I didn't know anything about any threats.'
'I think you do,' said Darling.
'We can worry about the details later,' said Norman. 'You haven't denied anything else I've mentioned, so I guess that means we're more or less right so far.'
'What you've presented is a very interesting theory,' said Bradshaw, 'but that's all it is. You can't possibly have any proof, because I know for a fact that not one word of it is true.'
'There was a point where I was willing to believe you weren't involved,' admitted Norman. 'It was misplaced loyalty on my part, of course. But unluckily for you, I brought Naomi along. I told you she was a good foil for me, didn't I? It was Naomi who found out about Jenny's parents.'
Bradshaw looked daggers at Darling, but she simply stared impassively back at him.
'And she had the sense to check out the Shapiro trial. Up until then, I had no idea you'd ever worked on the drug squad. The worst thing was, you had lied to me about it, and that's what finally convinced me I was wrong and she was right.'
Bradshaw stared at Norman. 'Nearly everyone who wants to get anywhere works there at some stage,' he said. 'You have to know how it all works when you get to the top.'
'Yeah, but you didn't just work there – you took the lead in a major case,' said Norman. 'Anyway, once Naomi found that link, it all seemed to fit, and I understood where that guy Driver came into it.'
Bradshaw's eyes darted between the two of them. 'Driver? What the hell are you talking about?'
