Prime Justice

by M A Comley

  “You first. Why the happy face?”

  He lowered his voice. “You know why—I rang you earlier. Joe and I are putting this idiot under surveillance for a few days, see what he gets up to.”

  “I’m excited for you, love. Just don’t do anything foolish and risk the chance of getting him caught. You’ll need to catch him in the act of a criminal offence. My thoughts are that the road rage is probably low down on the probable crimes he’s committed.”

  “Don’t worry; it’s all in hand. Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?”

  “I need a drink first. Do we have any wine in the fridge?”

  He guided her to the table and pulled out a chair for her. “I’ll get you one. Want me to slow down the dinner so we can chat?”

  “No, it’s fine. Is Charlie around?”

  “She’s in her room. She looked a little peaky, so I told her to have a rest.”

  Lorne placed her head in her hands for a second or two.

  Tony put the glass in front of her and went back to stirring the curry. “I hate seeing you like this, Lorne.”

  She removed her hands and smiled at him. “You worry too much. I’m fine. A trying day, that’s all. I’ve just found out who killed Nadine and Kath.”

  “That’s great news. I don’t understand why you’re looking so down in that case.”

  “Because the killer is on the run, and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it. During the drive home, I’ve been kicking myself for not realising it sooner.”

  “Who is it?”

  “The gardener-cum-handyman at Green Gables.”

  “Wow, seriously? What a shocker.”

  “It really shouldn’t have been. He was a little shifty when I first questioned him. When we carried out the background checks on both the Daveys, nothing showed up. They’ve worked at Green Gables for over fifteen years, for Christ’s sake. Why now? I can’t for the life of me see why things would change.”

  “Maybe he simply felt that time was passing him by. Thought the change would be better while he was still youngish enough to enjoy himself.”

  “I can understand people wanting to escape the feeling of being trapped, but why kill the person who pays your wages? It just doesn’t add up to me.”

  “I get what you mean. It does seem strange if you put it that way. Dinner’s ready; shall I dish up?”

  “Yep, not that I’m hungry. Don’t lecture me if I leave it, will you?”

  “Me lecture you? That’ll be the day. Can you call Charlie, see if she wants some?”

  Lorne took a large gulp of wine and went upstairs to Charlie’s room. She listened at the door before she knocked and entered. Muffled music could be heard from the headphones of Charlie’s iPod, as she lay on the bed with her eyes closed. Lorne sat on the bed next to her daughter and placed a hand over Charlie’s.

  Charlie’s eyes shot open. “Mum, you scared the crap out of me.”

  “Oops, sorry, love. Dinner is ready. You coming down?”

  “Okay, Mum. How was your day?”

  “The usual—trying. And yours?”

  “The collie, Drago, has a prospective home to go to. The nice couple are coming back tomorrow to arrange the home visit.”

  Lorne grinned broadly. “Now that’s the kind of news that would brighten the dullest day, love. Drago has been with us the longest, hasn’t he?”

  “Nearly two years. Such a sweet soul, too. I’ll miss him.”

  “Come on. This means we get to celebrate with a curry dinner and a nice bottle of wine.”

  Lorne and Charlie joined Tony as he was placing their plates on the table. “Wow, you’ve surpassed yourself, Chef Tony.”

  He bowed and turned back to retrieve his own plate before he sat down opposite Lorne. “You haven’t tasted it yet.”

  Lorne winked at her husband, put a dollop of mango chutney on the side of the plate, and tried a mouthful of the warming dish. She spluttered a little. “Wow, this would chase any chills away on a freezing cold day.”

  Tony fanned his mouth. “Maybe I overdid the chillies a tad.”

  They all laughed. Wrapped up in the love of her wonderful family, Lorne soon forgot about her awful day.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  When Lorne walked into the incident room the following day, AJ was at his desk, shoulders slumped, looking glum. “I take it that it’s not good news.”

  He nodded. “The worst news imaginable really, boss. Looks like the bastard has got away.”

  Lorne kicked out at the nearby table and winced when she misjudged her aim and hit her little toe on the table’s leg. Then she wandered over to study the whiteboard.

  AJ came to join her. “What are you thinking, boss?”

  She looked at him and shrugged. “Not sure really, AJ. I’m just hoping that Patti can come up with something useful once SOCO have collected the evidence from the shed. Right, I’m going to head downstairs to interview Ruth Davey. I suspect she knows far more than she’s letting on.”

  “Anything in particular you want me to do?”

  Lorne nodded. “Do we know where Davey landed?”

  “Chicago.”

  Lorne grimaced. “Great, doesn’t everyone go to Chicago for a connecting flight? Look into that and see what you can come up with. Then maybe try and contact the local police.”

  “I’ll try. Not sure the police stateside will be willing to divulge anything with the limited information I can give them.”

  “Just do your best. I’ll be back in about an hour.”

  Lorne rushed down the stairs to see the desk sergeant. “Can you bring Ruth Davey through to Interview Room One?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Just warning you that she hasn’t had the best of nights. Pounding on her door at two this morning, demanding to be let go, she was.”

  Lorne’s head tilted to one side. “Oh, was she now? I’ll wait for her in the room. Don’t bother offering her a drink. Let’s make this interview as uncomfortable for her as we can.”

  “Want me to ring the duty solicitor?”

  “Yep, let me know when he or she can come in, but tell them that the interview is taking place now because we have a killer on the loose.”

  “Right you are, ma’am.”

  Lorne walked down the corridor, settled herself at the table in the interview room, and twiddled her thumbs until the door opened.

  A female police officer deposited Ruth Davey at the table opposite Lorne then retreated to stand by the door.

  “Hello, Ruth. I hope you had a good night’s sleep?” Lorne smiled pleasantly.

  “I didn’t. I don’t know why you brought me here. I had nothing to do with what John has been up to.”

  “Let’s wait until we get the tape started before you say anything else. A solicitor has been called, but there’s no telling how long he or she will be, so, if it’s okay with you, I’d like to begin the interview.”

  Ruth stared at her. “Whatever. I’m not sure I’ll be able to tell you anything other than what I’ve told you so far.”

  Lorne hit the record button and said the usual spiel for the tape. “Right, can you tell me how long you and John have been married?”

  “Over thirty years.”

  “In that time, has your husband ever laid a finger on you?”

  Ruth’s head dropped to her chest. “Yes, virtually every day.”

  “Then why did you stay with him?”

  “I wouldn’t expect you to understand, but I loved him. I still love him.”

  Lorne shook her head. “In spite of what you know about him now? That he’s a murderer. Can you tell me how that works, Ruth?”

  Refusing to look up, Ruth ran a hand over her face then dropped it back on the table, but still she gave no answer.

  “Okay, let’s simplify things a little. When was the first time John killed someone?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “But you do admit you knew that he had?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you tho
ught that was okay? Just one of life’s natural occurrences?”

  Ruth finally looked up at Lorne. “No. You can’t even begin to understand what it was like living with that man. Not everyone lives in a loving relationship, Inspector. Sometimes we’re forced to live our lives in a certain way because we have little option to alter it. I knew what my husband was years ago—he made sure I found out.”

  “Why do you think that was, Ruth?”

  “Because that way, he could control me. He had me by the short and curlies, I suppose.”

  “But all that could have changed if only you had come forward when the opportunity arose.”

  “That’s just it—I never had the chance. He was with me constantly, and when he did venture out on his own, he either locked me in my bedroom or drugged me. Now do you understand how difficult all this has been for me?”

  “I’m beginning to understand, but then look at it from my point of view, Ruth: it’s not as if you were alone with him, you’ve worked at Green Gables for fifteen years. Nadine and Rebecca don’t seem to be the type of people to treat their staff badly. Couldn’t you have confided in them?”

  Ruth snorted. “If I had done that then Nadine wouldn’t be the only one lying in a coffin now. You really don’t understand what a living nightmare I have been submerged in.”

  “I’m still baffled as to how you could let him continue killing women. I’m presuming it is only women he’s killed?”

  “Yes, I believe so. He probably doesn’t have the guts to attack men. Isn’t that usually how it works, Inspector?”

  Lorne nodded. “Usually, yes. I’ve never come across a case where the wife knew what was going on and failed to report it to the police, though, Ruth. I’m finding that very hard to process, even if he was abusive to you.”

  “It’s hard to explain. I suppose I’ve felt dead inside for years. He saw to that.” She fiddled with her blouse and lifted the material. “This is what I’ve had to contend with every day of my miserable life.”

  Lorne winced. Witnessing the differing intensity of the bruising on the woman’s torso certainly conjured some sympathy for Ruth. “I’m sorry you’ve been subjected to such brutality. It must have been hard. Even more reason for you to help us find him. Please, Ruth, is there anything you can tell us that will help us catch him?”

  “He kept a lot of secrets. When I saw that woman in the shed a few days ago, I tried to confront him, and this happened.” She pointed at the bruises she’d just shown Lorne.

  “Do you know what happened to the woman? I saw a lot of blood but nothing else when I looked in the shed.”

  “What always happens—he got rid of the body.”

  “Any idea where?”

  Ruth shook her head. “I’ve never been privy to what he did with the bodies, only that he disposed of them.” Clasping her hands tighter, Ruth looked up at Lorne. “My heart aches for what he did to Nadine. I had no idea until yesterday that he’d killed her. I didn’t care about the others because I didn’t know them. I could never forgive him for killing her.”

  Lorne couldn’t tell if Ruth was telling the truth or trying to worm her way out of charges, so she asked Ruth the one question she thought would rock her world. “We searched both of your backgrounds and found nothing before you started at Green Gables. Is that because you’re now living under assumed names?”

  The woman swallowed hard but said nothing.

  “Let me try this, Ruth—what about the name Duggan. Does that mean anything to you?” The woman shuffled uncomfortably in her chair.

  “While we’re discussing names, I wonder if you recognise this one—George Rogers.”

  Ruth’s gaze met hers. “No. Should I?”

  “I’d rather keep my cards close to my chest on that one, for the time being. Are you going to admit that your previous name was Duggan?”

  “Yes. It was John’s idea to assume a different identity when we started working at the big house.”

  “Why? Was it always his intention to continue killing?”

  “Inspector, with John, I could never ask a reason why. I was ordered to just do as I was told. My life has been a succession of orders. If I failed to comply, then I was battered.”

  “So you keep saying.” Though Lorne couldn’t put a finger on why, Ruth’s tone agitated her. Sometimes she believed the woman’s tales, and at other times, she didn’t. “One way you can help us, Ruth, is by giving us a list of names of all John’s victims.”

  She shrugged and shook her head. “I can’t. I have no idea of their names. There have been too many over the years to remember anyway.”

  “Okay, perhaps you can tell me where you worked prior to working at Green Gables?”

  “We worked on cruise liners.”

  The revelation surprised Lorne. “Is that where your husband got his penchant for wanting to relieve the victims of their money? He was envious of the passengers’ wealth?”

  Ruth pondered the question briefly then nodded. “I believe so, yes.”

  “So, why didn’t he kill Nadine sooner? Did he even get his hands on her money?”

  “I can’t answer either of those questions.”

  “Can’t or won’t?” Lorne shot back swiftly.

  “Can’t,” Ruth said, emphasising the word.

  “I’m calling a halt to the interview now. Once your solicitor arrives, I’ll call for you again. In the meantime, maybe you’ll contemplate the severity of the charges against you and be more open with me during your second interview.”

  “I realise the implications, and I swear I’ve told you everything I know.”

  Lorne ended the interview for the tape and stopped the recording, then she instructed the uniformed officer to escort Ruth back to her cell.

  She marched back up the stairs, where DCI Roberts was just about to enter the incident room. “Were you after me, sir?”

  “I was. I’d like a word in your office.” He pushed through the swing doors and towards her office.

  Lorne made a face at AJ as she walked through the incident room. After closing the door behind them, Lorne walked around the desk and sat in her chair. “This looks ominous. Not another complaint been handed in?”

  “No, nothing like that. It’s good news I’ve come to share with you, for a change,” he replied, sitting down.

  “I could do with some of that, considering what’s gone on in the last forty-eight hours or so.”

  “Well, I chased up Superintendent Barton at the IPCC, and I’m pleased to tell you that he’s informed me you have been exonerated.”

  Lorne fell back in her chair and swiped a hand across her brow. “Phew. Am I delighted about that—I thought they were going to sling the bloody book at me.”

  “Oh ye of little faith. I would have fought hard if they’d done that to you, Lorne. You should know that.”

  “Yeah, I know. Not nice having a complaint on your record all the same.”

  “Just be thankful it was dealt with in a timely manner. These things have a tendency to linger for months. Now that’s out of the way, want to bring me up to date with your case? Why has the last forty-eight hours been a nightmare for you?”

  Lorne quickly brought him up to date.

  Roberts thumped his fist on the desk. “Damn, the bastard was under your nose all the time.”

  Lorne sprang forward in her chair. “Thanks for that, Sean. Hit a girl when she’s down, why don’t you?”

  Roberts laughed. “You’re hilarious when wound up. Has anyone ever told you that?”

  “No one who valued breathing fresh air,” she replied sarcastically.

  “Oops, that’s me told. Anyway, where do we go from here? Are the police in the States going to help us out?”

  “I was just about to ask AJ, although I think the time difference might be against us on this one. My gut tells me that the bastard will go underground over there for the next few days or weeks. After interviewing his wife, I think she’s lived a life of hell, but she was aware of wh
at he was up to. It doesn’t bode well for her—whether she was abused or not, she should have spoken out in the eyes of the law.”

  He rose from his chair. “I’ll let you get on. Take time out this evening to celebrate with Tony; that’s an order.”

  She smiled and mock saluted him. “Yes, boss.”

  Lorne followed Roberts out of the office, eager to share the good news with her team, who applauded the IPCC’s decision. They waited another four hours before someone in authority over in the States responded to AJ’s call. As they had suspected, John’s flight had touched down hours before, so the police in the US could do little to help, especially as the team couldn’t produce an address where the criminal might be staying.

  During the four hours they spent waiting for the US to wake up, the duty solicitor arrived and Lorne had interviewed Ruth again, but the woman stuck to her previous answers. Frustrated, Lorne had ended the interview within half an hour.

  Disappointed with how the day was progressing, Lorne called the pathology department to see if Patti had any news.

  “As it happens, yes,” Patti said.

  “Well get on with it, woman.”

  “Your impatience is getting worse as you get older, Lorne.”

  Lorne groaned. “Patti!”

  “Right, we collected samples of the blood we found in the shed and compared them to the samples we had from both Kath Brinck’s corpse and Amanda Oughton’s home, and we’ve come up with matches to both. We also found an incinerator in the garden which had been used recently. We’re carrying out tests on the contents now. Hopefully, we’ll have the results back soon.”

  “Bummer! Sad to think we couldn’t save Miss Oughton. I’ll make sure I put an alert out with uniform to be on the lookout for her remains.”

  “Very sad indeed. I’ll let you know what we find. Any news on this John Davey?”

  “Nothing, except it would appear that he’s on the run in the States. We’ve given them all three names to check on: John Davey, Jack Duggan and George Rogers. I’m just thankful that the two witnesses who came forward with Rogers’s name managed to escape with their lives.”

  “That is a relief, but also a grave concern that he’s still on the loose. He’s a practised serial killer now. He won’t think twice about continuing his killing spree just because he’s in a different country. Mark my words on that.”