by Taylor Leon
‘The murders were all carried out in different ways.’
The Superintendent shrugged. ‘But the numbers were carved into the victims giving us a connection.
‘Detective, my job is to make the public feel safe, not to scare the living daylights out of them. Of course, the cases stay open until we have a confirmation, but in the meantime, I am not going to suggest to anyone that there is a team of killers operating in and around our capital.’
‘Sir, DCI Shenker said I could continue my investigation.’
‘We’ve had second thoughts,’ and he glanced across at Arnie when he said “we”. ‘We are not sure that you are the right person to continue this particular investigation. The bravery shown when you tackled the NID terrorists several weeks ago was exemplary. The hierarchy has begun to take notice of you, in the right way.’ He tilted his head. ‘Do I make myself clear?’ The smile was gone.
I looked across at Arnie. ‘Please tell him, I can do this.’
Arnie looked over at the Superintendent, but didn’t give any indication.
The Superintendent turned back to me. ‘We are under the microscope on this one, Detective. It also needs a delicate hand shall we say, when talking with the press.’
‘I am more than capable of managing the press.’
‘We don’t agree,’ The Superintendent said coldly.
This was Meredith’s doing.
The Superintendent gave a brief pause before continuing. ‘I know how much work you have on currently, Detective. So, we have decided to pass this case onto Detective Vranch, who will work with Detective Cade and be based at this station for the duration.’
‘You can’t do that!’ I said, raising my voice.
‘Of course, I can. Detective Inspector Cade has agreed and so it is decided.’
I glared over at Arnie. ‘And you’re okay with this?’
Arnie looked at the Superintendent as he trotted out a rehearsed line. ‘We’ve got a lot on at the moment, so if someone else can help ease the burden, then that is fine with me.’
‘Detective Vranch is a very competent officer,’ the Superintendent cut-across. ‘And was the original investigating officer for the Melissa Fairweather murder. He is also the officer who collected and chased up the blood sample which led to Marcus Simms identification. Now, after we have finished here I want you to hand over your files to him.’
‘Is that an order sir?’
He looked me square in the eye. ‘Yes, Detective Dark, it is.’
‘And what will you be telling the press?’
‘I will be telling them that we believe Marcus Simms murdered Melissa Mayweather, and we are now following up the likelihood that he was responsible for several others. Anything there that isn’t true, Detective?’
I didn’t answer immediately.
‘Detective?’ he prompted.
‘No, sir.’
He smiled again. ‘Then, that will be all.’
I left the office quite literally shaking. Cade was standing at his desk with Vranch. I felt as though everyone was watching me, as though they all knew what had gone inside Arnie’s office.
‘Does he know?’ I said to Cade, dropping my handbag onto my desk and nodding at Vranch, who turned a little red.
‘Yes,’ Cade said. ‘I’ve just told him.’
‘Look, I didn’t plan any of this,’ Vranch started saying.
‘I know,’ I said without looking up as I gathered together some of the files on my desk.
‘Because Melissa Fairweather was the first victim,’ Vranch continued saying to me, ‘and then the link to Marcus Simms, I guess it makes sense…’
His voice trailed off when I came around and thrust three ring-binder files at him. ‘Here, take these,’ and I walked off leaving him standing there.
Cade hurried after me. ‘Erin, what exactly did they say to you in there?’
My anger hit boiling point. I couldn’t contain myself any longer.
‘You are all so desperate to believe Marcus Simms killed them all,’ I said to him.
‘Everything points to it,’ Cade said.
‘Did you see the sheet Wills showed us about Helen Green? She was beaten to death. Melissa Fairweather beaten to death.’ I paused for breath. ‘That’s how Marcus Simms kills. That’s his method. Jennifer Brooks and Amy Harper were strangled, Elias James was stabbed. That’s not how Marcus Simms kills.’
And I know he didn’t kill Amy Harper because Frankie saw the killer.
‘Erin, the numbers are carved into the bodies. That links all the murders back to the number one victim which we have matched him to.’
‘They’ve pulled me off the case,’ I said, ‘because I’m hell-bent on proving their assumptions wrong and I’m not telling them what they want to hear. Also, your friend Meredith stuck her oar in. Said I can’t deal with the press.’
‘They told you she said that?’ He looked genuinely surprised. ‘I seriously doubt Meredith had anything to do with this.’
‘I wished you defended me the same way you do her,’ I snapped, and stormed out.
28
THE UNOFFICIAL LINE was that there was a single serial-killer, Marcus Simms, responsible for the four murders.
In the pub that evening I stuck to sparkling water. Marcus Simms was dead, and the team was trying to relax after a rough few days. I was sitting there amongst the in-jokes and name-calling, the laughs and quips, thinking I couldn’t remember the last time I had seen the team letting their hair down like this. But I felt like shit. I knew what they didn’t. That this case wasn’t over yet, not by a long shot.
Vranch came over, asked a couple of the guys to shift over so he could drop onto the bench next to me.
‘Are you mad at me?’ he asked.
I shuffled up a little to make some space. ‘No Vranch, I’m not mad at you.’
‘Good,’ he said and took a swig from his pint glass and I noticed it looked like orange squash. It was unusual to see one of the boys without a beer.
‘I’m going to be based here for a few weeks at least,’ he continued. ‘Be good if we could get along.’
Someone on the other table called out to him. I didn’t hear what they said, but Vranch raised his glass and called back, ‘Cheers, mate.’
‘You’re a popular guy,’ I said.
‘Well, I’ve worked with some of these people in the past.’ He lowered his voice and leaned in. ‘You probably know that I left the Force for a while.’
I remembered a strange exchange between Cade and Arnie a few days earlier.
‘Can you trust him now?’
‘I’ve been assured that he’s sorted himself out.’
‘After I split up with my wife, I went through a rough patch.’ His eyes flitted around to see if anyone was listening, but everyone else was wrapped up in their own conversations. ‘I drank heavily, became unreliable. A real mess.’
He watched me for a reaction, but I didn’t give one. I didn’t care too much about his history, just what he was like now.
‘I haven’t had a drink in two years,’ he said, holding up his glass.
I looked him right in the eye. ‘Just make sure you find the other killer, okay?’
Vranch nodded. ‘If there is someone else, then I will find him.’
‘There’s no “if”,’ I said.
There was a TV on the wall opposite running a twenty-four-hour news channel. A red banner ran across the bottom of the screen.
Dead body found in hotel identified as Marcus Simms, chief suspect in the murder of Melissa Fairweather, Jennifer Brooks, Elias James and Amy Harper.’
I shook my head in disgust.
‘It’s just PR,’ Vranch said.
I looked over at the bar and saw Cade and Arnie talking and smiling together.
I couldn’t bear this. Amy Harper’s killer was still out there. I couldn’t sit here playing this charade.
‘Ma’am,’ Wills said, on my other side, as I stood up. ‘If you’re going to th
e bar?’
I looked down at him and the other guys. ‘Sorry?’
‘You stood up,’ he said. ‘So, I thought you were going to the bar.’
I shook my head clear. ‘No, I’m sorry,’ I spoke hurriedly. ‘I have to go.’
I didn’t want to stay here. I didn’t want to see and confront Cade or Arnie.
I had wanted to see the case through. I wanted to get the bastard who had killed Amy Harper, the girl Frankie had watched being murdered. Despite everything I could do as an officer of the law and as a member of The Coven, I had been unable to protect her. Now I was being prevented from bringing the son-of-a-bitch who killed her to justice.
I hurried out of the pub, wishing Vranch and the team a brief goodnight.
I crossed the car-park, pulling my coat around me tightly to protect myself from the chill. As I bent to open my door, I saw a flicker of movement in the window’s reflection and spun around. Police training had prepared me to expect the worst and I was ready to let fly with a hard kick to the groin to disable my attacker, followed by a sharp left and right fist combination.
I guess Cade saw something coming because he had his hands up, ready to catch my fists. He wouldn’t have been able to stop the initial kick to his groin though. It was just as well for him that my reflexes were in such good working order that I could pull back from my attack when I saw it was him.
‘Whoa,’ he said. ‘You need to be careful, before you do someone a serious injury.’
‘What do you want?’ I asked tersely.
It didn’t take a psychologist for him to tell I was still pissed off. ‘Erin, I know you’re angry, but-’
I cut him off and pointed at the pub. ‘They think the murders have all been solved.’
Cade sighed. ‘Erin, the chances are it was all Marcus Simms. We both know that.’
‘I don’t know that, and you can’t prove it.’
‘Not yet,’ he said. ‘But we will.’
‘We not me.’
‘Don’t be like this Erin. George is a good guy. If it turns out we’re wrong and Simms didn’t kill the others, then we will find the person who did.’
‘I wanted see this through,’ I protested. ‘When I see people murdered, their lives ended,’ I clicked my fingers. ‘I just want to give them justice. That’s all I want. Justice. But that’s not enough, is it? Now, it’s all about PR and controlling the media. Traits that your girlfriend apparently has told our bosses I lack. By the way, what is it with you and her?’
‘Ahhh,’ he said and thrust his hands into his trouser pockets. ‘So, that’s what this is about.’
‘That’s what what’s about?’
‘Your mood with me.’
He drew in impossibly close, so close I could smell the fading tang of after-shave on his cheeks, and the beer on his breath. Our lips were inches apart. If I closed my eyes, I felt certain we’d kiss.
‘My mood is about the case,’ I said, and he pulled away.
‘I’ve known Meredith for a long-time,’ he said.
‘Professionally or personally?’
‘Why?’
‘Your over-familiarity with her.’
‘I have a relationship with the press. That’s a good thing.’
‘More specifically,’ I said. ‘You have a relationship with her.’
‘She and I have history,’ he said.
‘Go on.’
‘It’s personal Erin,’ he said.
That there, was his slam-dunk-put-down. I may have been his partner, but there were some boundaries that were still off-limits.
‘Please don’t be mad at me,’ he said.
I didn’t say anything, just climbed into the car.
He grabbed the door before I could close it.
‘She didn’t call anyone about you,’ he said. ‘She wouldn’t do that.’
I looked out at him. ‘Because you read women so well?’
‘I know Meredith.’
‘I just bet you do,’ I said coldly. ‘Now let go of the door or I’ll climb out and put one on you.’
He stepped back and I slammed the door shut.
I revved the engine and sped away, watching him in my rear-view mirror until he was a little speck. When I turned out into the road he disappeared from view.
Only then did I realise I was crying.
29
‘I CAN’T THANK you enough for everything you’ve done,’ Oriane said to Patti as she stuffed the last of her belongings into the small rucksack.
‘Your taxi’s here,’ Patti said, glancing out the window. She looked back at her friend. ‘Are you sure you want to go home tonight?’
Oriane laid her case flat on the floor, then looked around the front room. The couch and coffee table was littered with the crisps, chocolates and wine they had been gorging on whilst watching a chick-flick.
‘I should have gone earlier,’ she said, ‘but you made me stay and watch the film.’
‘Oh yeah,’ Patti laughed, ‘I made you!’
‘I have to go to work tomorrow morning,’ Oriane reminded her, ‘and I don’t have any work-clothes here.’ She crossed the room and gave her best friend a hug. ‘Honestly I could never have got through all this without you.’
As they released one another Patti stroked her friend’s face. ‘You get straight into the taxi downstairs and then go straight through your front door, okay?’
Oriane nodded. She pulled on her coat which had been thrown over the single armchair.
‘And call me, as soon as you get there,’ Patti added.
Oriane laughed. ‘I will, I promise.’ She went back across the room, grabbed her rucksack and slung it over her shoulder.
They walked over to the front door together, Patti wrapping an arm around her friend’s slim waist. ‘I’m going to sit here by the phone until you call,’ she said.
Oriane opened the front door and smiled at Patti as she gently slipped away from her. ‘I’ll be fine,’ she said. ‘Straight into the taxi and then straight into my place.’
Patti held up her phone. ‘I’ll be waiting.’
Oriane turned and skipped down the stairs, then out the doors into the cold night. Her phone buzzed and she picked up.
‘I’m watching you,’ Patti said.
Oriane turned and looked three floors up. She could see a shadow standing in the golden yellow light. She laughed and hung up.
The dark taxi’s engine was running. Beaumont Taxis. A local company Patti used, and insisted Oriane did tonight. She peered inside and saw a young Indian guy behind the wheel.
‘Miss Orianna?’ he asked reading off his phone that was resting in a holder on the dashboard.
‘Oriane,’ she laughed softly. ‘That’s me.’
She climbed into the back and pulled the seatbelt across her chest. They pulled away from the kerb and started the twenty-minute journey across town.
Patti called one minute later. ‘You got in the taxi, okay?’
‘Now I know you are taking the piss,’ Oriane said.
Patti laughed. ‘Seriously, call me when you get home.’
‘I will. Twenty minutes.’
Exactly twenty minutes later, Patti called again. This time Oriane was climbing out of the taxi in front of her ground-floor maisonette.
‘I’ve just got here,’ she said walking around to the driver’s side. ‘Wait a minute while I pay the driver.’
‘You don’t need to,’ Patti said. ‘I paid over the phone when I ordered it for you,’
Oriane straightened up as the taxi pulled away without warning. She was standing in the empty communal car park in front of the small cluster of maisonettes.
‘Well, I’m back now,’ Oriane said. ‘So, you can relax. Here I go walking up to the front door. I’m just reaching for my keys to open up…’ She laughed. ‘I can’t actually open the door and hold the phone to speak with you at the same time. Is it okay to say goodnight now?’
Patti sighed and then giggled. ‘Go on, then. Get some
sleep. Love you.’
‘Love you too,’ Oriane said and hung up, exchanging the phone for the keys in her coat pocket.
That’s when she heard a female voice call out from behind her.
Oriane turned around and saw a young good looking woman wrapped in a long coat, scarf and knitted bobble hat, shivering in the cold, her hands thrust deep into her pockets. ‘I’ve just moved into number six,’ she said, nodding towards the end maisonette.
Oriane frowned. ‘I didn’t realise the Ivers were moving away?’
The woman shrugged. ‘It all happened very quickly. I guess that’s the rental market, eh?’ She pointed towards her car, parked behind her in the shadows away from the streetlight that lit up half the car port. ‘I have a small foldaway guest-bed in the back of my car. I just came out to get it because my new bed didn’t arrive as planned. It’s awfully heavy. I don’t suppose you could give me a hand and lug it up to my door?’
Oriane hesitated. She was absolutely shattered now, and she had work early the next morning. But she couldn’t say no to this woman, especially if she was going to be her new neighbour. Besides, how long would it take for the two of them to heave a guest bed over to her door? Five minutes?
‘Sure,’ Oriane said. She pushed her keys back into her pocket, and pulled her rucksack up so it was over both shoulders.
‘This way,’ the woman said and guided Oriane over to her car.
‘Thank you so much,’ the woman laughed softly. ‘I think I would have been out here all night struggling with the damn thing on my own.’
‘Why didn’t you take it in earlier?’
‘I kept putting it off.’
‘And you couldn’t sleep on a sofa tonight?’
The woman frowned at her. ‘They haven’t delivered the new sofa either.’
There was something in her sharp tone that suddenly alerted Oriane.
‘Here we are,’ the woman said indicating the car. ‘It’s jammed tight, so we’ll have to tug it out.’
She pulled the door open and waved her hand for Oriane to lean in.
‘See what I mean?’ she said, from behind her.
The backseat was empty.
Oriane squinted, thinking the darkness must be playing tricks on her. ‘I can’t see any-’
