by Mel Sherratt
‘Because!’ She looked up at Sam through the mirror. ‘I need to do my job, Sam. I don’t want to be mollycoddled. It’s bad enough with all this risk assessment bollocks since Chloe Winters was raped, as well as having to be babysat.’
‘But you still need to be safe!’
‘I can’t cope if I don’t do it, can’t you see?’ Allie turned to her. ‘Doing what I do best blanks everything else out. It’s the only thing I’m good at too.’
‘You’re going to be in so much trouble,’ said Sam.
‘I know.’ Allie touched her arm. ‘Promise you won’t say anything.’
‘I – I –’
‘You have to promise! Once things are over with Karen,’ Allie took a deep breath, ‘then we can go after the bastard that did it to her. But for now, I just need to concentrate on her. And to do that I have to block her out too and do my job.’
Sam stayed quiet.
‘Please, Sam.’
‘Okay, I’ll trust you on this one.’ Sam sighed.
‘Thanks,’ Allie said. ‘You’re a true friend.’
‘I’m a bloody sucker,’ said Sam. ‘Come back when you’re ready. I’ll tell Nick you’ll be fine.’
Once Sam had gone, Allie took a few moments to calm down. She splashed her face with water, gave herself a good glare in the mirror and, head high again, she went back into the office.
‘I reckon it’s your shout for the oatcake order tomorrow,’ said Nick, his stare a little friendlier than she had anticipated.
Allie’s smile was faint but it was there. He was trusting her to get on with it and he wasn’t going to give her a bollocking for insubordination. She sighed with relief. She didn’t want to be sent home.
Perry shook his head as she sat down again. ‘You are one smooth operator,’ he teased.
‘Why?’
‘You swore at the boss man and got away with it.’
Allie smiled faintly. What she was more concerned about was how much Nick would swear at her when he realised she had kept something back from him yet again.
11.00 P.M.
Allie and Nick arrived at The Gables.
‘You sure you’re okay to do this?’ Nick asked.
Allie nodded. ‘Sorry about earlier. I was out of order.’
Nick knocked on the door and turned to her. ‘You’re a good officer, Allie. If your emotions get the better of you every now and then, it’s hardly a bad thing. Even though you do try my patience at times.’
Ryan opened the door.
‘Mr Johnson.’
He nodded and stood aside for them to pass.
‘My apologies for it being so late,’ Nick said to him as they followed him into the living room. Kirstie was standing barefoot in front of the fireplace, enveloped in an oversized cardigan and leggings.
‘Oh, not you again.’ She rolled her eyes after glaring at Allie.
‘Can I get you a drink of anything?’ Ryan ignored her. ‘Coffee – something stronger?’
Allie felt a shiver tickle her skin as she recalled the last time she had been asked that, when she’d been at this house alone with Terry.
‘I’m not wasting good drink on the likes of her,’ Kirstie retorted.
‘Clearly you’ve had enough of the stuff already,’ said Ryan.
‘We’re fine.’ Nick sat down when urged to. ‘We just have a few more questions about Jordan. It seems from CCTV footage at Flynn’s that you may have been the last person to see your brother alive at the club, Ryan. We wanted to clarify a few things from last night, now that we know the reason Jordan was at Harrison House this morning.’
‘You mean he was going to see that trollop,’ said Kirstie.
‘You knew he was seeing someone who lived there?’ said Allie with a frown.
‘I thought it was the barmaid, as you know. Ryan told me her name.’
‘I didn’t want her to find out from anyone else,’ said Ryan.
‘We’ve spoken to Miss Nicklin twice today,’ said Allie, taking great satisfaction in deliberately using the woman’s name. Miss Nicklin was no trollop. ‘It seems that Jordan had arranged to meet her there after he’d finished work at Flynn’s. You also went to see her this evening, didn’t you, Ryan?’
‘I bet you loved saying every word of that, didn’t you?’ Kirstie almost spat the words out. ‘You can’t wait to get one over on me.’
‘Kirstie, for Christ’s sake, show some respect.’ Ryan turned to Nick, his annoyance clear. ‘Yes, I went to see if Jordan had visited her last night. It seems he was supposed to but he didn’t turn up.’
‘That’s bloody convenient, don’t you think?’ Kirstie folded her arms. ‘I mean, what man turns down sex on a plate with a tart?’
Allie bit her lip to stop from shouting out at her to grow up. She’d had just about enough of her selfish attitude.
‘We found his car parked in Sparrow Street.’ Nick ignored Kirstie. ‘In case you don’t know, it’s a few minutes’ walk from Harrison House. According to neighbours who were questioned, it was often there during the early hours of a morning, but gone before most people were up the next day.’
‘So he screws her and comes home to me.’ Kirstie looked more disgusted than hurt.
Allie was confused: were she and Jordan still a couple? Had they got it wrong after all?
‘Can either of you tell us if he was carrying any money on him?’ Nick asked.
A glance between Kirstie and Ryan made Allie and Nick do the same.
‘You said you had his wallet,’ Ryan answered. ‘There would have been a few notes in that, I guess.’
‘I’m talking a lot more than a few notes, Mr Johnson. A whole lot more.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘There was a bag of money near to where Jordan was found. It’s possible that he could have been targeted and robbed for it.’
‘Killed for money?’ Kirstie gasped.
‘It’s looking that way.’ Nick nodded. ‘We’re trying to establish whether the money belonged to him and also if it was the reason why he was killed.’
‘Have you asked her?’ Kirstie almost snarled the last word. ‘That Sophie woman?’
‘We are following that line of enquiry at the moment,’ said Allie. ‘There was also a woman with long dark hair and a slim build seen going into Harrison House around three thirty a.m., at the same time Jordan was found.’
‘Similar to me, you mean?’ Kirstie pointed her finger at Allie’s face. ‘You really have it in for me, don’t you? Wasn’t it enough for you that you put my father in prison?’
‘We’re just following lines of enquiry.’ Allie looked up, holding Kirstie’s gaze to show she wasn’t intimidated.
‘But why would he have that much money on him? I mean, you can’t just shove thirty-five grand underneath your jumper.’
‘Thirty-five thousand?’ Nick raised his eyebrows. ‘What makes you think it was that much?’
Kirstie looked down at the floor with a shrug. ‘You’ve just said it was.’
Nick looked at Allie for confirmation. She shook her head.
‘We didn’t mention an amount to either of you,’ he said.
‘I can’t have plucked that figure out of thin air.’ Kirstie moved to stand by Ryan. ‘They did say thirty-five thousand, didn’t they?’
The muscle in Ryan’s cheek began to ripple as he struggled to keep his features straight. ‘It’s been a long day,’ he replied. ‘We’re all confused.’
‘That’s highly possible, given the circumstances, Mr Johnson,’ said Nick. ‘But to make things easier, we’d also like to check around your and Jordan’s rooms again while we’re here. Would you mind? We’ll make it quick.’
Kirstie shrugged her shoulders. ‘Be my guest.’
‘And maybe we could take a look in the back of the
wardrobes while we’re there,’ said Allie.
Kirstie burst out laughing. ‘I suppose you think you’re going to find something in the hidden compartments again, don’t you, Detective Sergeant Shenton? Just like last time when you stitched my dad up?’
‘Secret compartments?’ Ryan frowned.
It seemed genuine to Allie that Ryan didn’t know anything about them, but she wasn’t taking anything on face value.
‘Well, now that you come to mention it,’ Allie stood up, ‘it’s as good a place as any to start.’
‘I – I –’
‘Mr Ryder had compartments built into the wardrobes for safekeeping, to hide his wife’s jewellery,’ Allie explained to Ryan. ‘But we found some interesting items in there when we searched the property three years ago; we found a knife covered with blood wrapped up.’ She turned to Kirstie. ‘I suppose you’re going to tell me that you don’t have the key fob?’
‘I think you’ll need to come back with a warrant,’ Ryan glared at them.
‘Maybe, but we’re investigating the murder of your brother.’ Allie’s smile was kind but demeaning. ‘You did indicate earlier that you want us to cover every eventuality?’
‘Oh, don’t worry about it, Ryan.’ Kirstie padded into the dining area. ‘Let them look. There’s nothing there.’
‘Then we won’t keep you long.’
From the sideboard, Kirstie took something out of the top drawer and dropped it into Allie’s outstretched palm.
Allie held her stare as her fingers clasped around it.
‘Don’t think you’ll be as lucky as you were the last time you looked in there,’ said Kirstie.
Allie followed Kirstie upstairs, Nick and Ryan close on their heels. Along the landing, Kirstie opened a bedroom door and switched on a light. ‘After you,’ she said, not taking her eyes from Allie.
‘But this is my room,’ said Ryan from behind them.
‘It was my parents’ room, you know that,’ said Kirstie. ‘I couldn’t move into it after all that had happened.’
Inside the room, Allie glanced around as she and Nick pulled on latex gloves. The bed was made, the curtains drawn. Aftershave bottles of all shapes and sizes were lined up in a row on top of a large chest of drawers, next to a pair of cufflinks with a Route 66 emblem on them and a tie, still knotted, thrown on top of everything.
She opened the first wardrobe, full of men’s clothes, and pushed them apart. She lifted the key fob, aimed it at the wall and pressed. There was a click and a door in the wall opened.
‘What the hell . . .’ Ryan stepped forward to look.
‘Please stay by the door, Mr Johnson.’ Allie raised a hand as Nick came past her.
Inside the compartment was a metal box lined with purple velvet. Nick reached inside and took it out, carefully placing it on the bed as he lifted the lid. He glanced at Allie before pulling out a pack of twenty-pound notes in a red paper band. There were more underneath that one. Then his hand fell upon something inside a roll of purple velvet. Unwrapping it, he revealed a knife, its blade approximately five inches in length.
It was covered with dried blood.
‘I have no idea where that came from,’ said Ryan, his eyebrows raised.
Kirstie folded her arms. ‘Don’t look at me. I didn’t put it there.’
‘Well, one of you knows something about it.’ Nick stood up and took out his handcuffs. Allie followed suit.
‘Kirstie Ryder, I’m arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Jordan Johnson. You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something that you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand?’
‘Wait! No, I don’t understand!’ Kirstie stepped away from them. ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’
Allie reached for her hands and snapped the cuffs around them.
‘But I haven’t done anything!’ Kirstie turned to Ryan. ‘What’s going on?’
Nick moved to handcuff Ryan. He read him his rights too.
‘I’ll radio through for another car,’ said Allie.
11.30 P.M.
Allie and Nick were sitting in the office. Both Ryan Johnson and Kirstie Ryder had been booked into custody and were sitting in cells waiting to be questioned.
‘Get those things fast-tracked, Allie,’ said Nick. ‘Pull in any favours you can. Sleep with Dave Barnett if you have to.’
‘That’s not funny, coming from you,’ said Allie. ‘You’re asking me to use my womanly charms again, after I got into so much trouble on the Steph Ryder case?’
‘Hell, I’ll sleep with Dave if I have to.’ Nick raised his hands. ‘Will that do you?’
Allie smiled. ‘I’ll ring him but I can’t promise.’
‘Thanks. Then we need to think how to handle this one. May be a little drip feeding is necessary?’
‘Sir?’
‘Let’s talk money for now until we hear back about the knife. I want to know why she said thirty-five thousand pounds. She knows something – they both do. Then once we have more details we can go in for the kill, so to speak. If Kirstie is anything like her old man, she’ll be unwilling to cooperate. Once you’ve tasked her about the money, take a break. Let her stew.’
‘Got it.’
‘I’ll start off with Ryan, see what he has to say about it all.’
‘Don’t you think Kirstie was a bit quick to give us what we wanted?’ questioned Allie.
‘Yes. I’m wondering if this is to take us off the scent of something else as well. Get Financial Forensic Unit to take a look into their finances in the morning and see if anything has gone out of any accounts recently.’
‘Money laundering?’
‘It’s possible, although it seems too much of a coincidence to me.’
Allie nodded. ‘Considering a knife with blood and no prints was found in the exact same place during the Steph Ryder case?’
‘Yes.’ Nick yawned and stretched his arms over his head. ‘I think it’s time you and I paid a visit to the man behind it all.’
Allie didn’t want Nick to say Terry’s name. If he didn’t say it, she could avoid ever having to see him again. It was a nice place to be.
‘The one and only Terry Ryder,’ said Nick.
Her warm and fuzzy feeling evaporated in an instant.
‘We’ll interview these two and if we get nothing from them, I’ll put a request in and we can go early in the morning after team brief. We can be back by lunchtime. Ryder might speak nicely to us if he knows we have his daughter in custody.’
Sam joined them, looking as if she was ready to drop on her feet. ‘There’s good news and there’s bad news,’ she said. ‘Forensics have found a DNA match on a cigarette butt found near to the body. The bad news is that it could belong to either of the Granger twins, and it was found on the pathway so may or may not be directly linked to the crime scene.’ She folded her arms in frustration.
Allie dropped her head onto the desk. ‘Oh, for fuck’s sake.’
‘I’m just starting to go through the CCTV we have in to see if I can see one or both boys anywhere on their walk home. In the morning, I’ll see what I can find from the shops en route, too.’
‘Talking of home,’ said Nick, ‘go and get some rest, Sam. You’ll be seeing double anyway if you don’t look at it with fresh eyes.’
‘I can stay a while longer if you need me.’
‘See you in the morning.’ Nick shooed her away. ‘There’s no point in us all staying on.’
‘If you’re sure? I’ll be back in early then.’
‘Night, Sam,’ said Allie. Once she’d gone, she let out a huge sigh. ‘I’m tired – tired of this case. It’s like playing one against the other. And now we have those idiots to talk to.’
‘The Granger twins will cove
r for each other,’ said Nick. ‘They always do.’
11.45 P.M.
Nick went in to Ryan, who was in interview room one downstairs. He sat down across from him and his legal representative at a table.
‘Right, then.’ Nick got out his notebook after the formalities had been dealt with. ‘Can you tell me anything about the items we found earlier this evening?’
‘Not a thing. I had no idea there was a secret compartment in that wardrobe until your colleague pressed that key fob. It was as much a shock to me as it was to you.’
‘So the money we found won’t have your fingerprints anywhere on it?’
Ryan remained steely-eyed.
‘Oh, come on. You’re saying you don’t know anything about it?’
‘I’m saying exactly that.’
‘What time did you get home this evening?’
‘About nine thirty.’
‘And this morning?’
‘I was out of the house for a couple of hours.’
‘And Kirstie was home?’
‘Yes. What are you trying to insinuate?’
‘Just getting to the truth, Mr Johnson. What was your relationship with Jordan like? Did you get on well?’
‘Yes, we did.’
‘Well, I suppose that’s obvious after he let you move into his house.’
‘It isn’t his house. It belongs to Terry Ryder.’
‘So it was Terry who allowed you to move in?’ Nick cocked his head to one side.
‘You’re putting words in my mouth now, Inspector. I had an argument with my wife a few months back and left the marital home to cool down. I went to see my brother and while I was there Kirstie said I could stay if I needed to. The argument with my wife was beyond reconciliation so I moved into The Gables. It’s only a temporary measure.’
‘How long have you been there?’
‘A few months.’
‘That’s rather more permanent than temporary, I’d say.’
‘I’d say that it’s none of your business, actually.’
