The Dirty Dozen

by Lynda La Plante

  “According to the guard inside the van, the stolen cash box contained two grand in one-pound notes.”

  “Two fucking grand. They shot an off-duty PC and nearly killed the crew of Juliet 1 for five hundred quid each!” the Colonel exclaimed.

  “The other cash box contained six grand in fives, tens and twenties. We should release that to the press to really piss the bad guys off,” Baxter suggested.

  “Up till now I thought we might be dealing with professional criminals—not a bunch of amateur desperados,” Teflon said.

  “Actually, I think these guys knew exactly what they were doing,” Kingston said.

  “Look, the robbery went pear-shaped when the off-duty PC decided to have a go and got a stomach full of rice for his trouble—” said the colonel.

  “The other barrel of the sawn-off was probably loaded with a real cartridge, ready to be used if needed,” Murphy added.

  Kingston nodded in agreement. “Although the guy with the handgun popped off a few shots at the crew of Juliet 1, he seemed calm and precise in his actions during the robbery.”

  “The torching of the Cortina and clothing suggests planning from experience as well,” Stanley said.

  Jane raised her hand and Murphy pretended not to notice, but she kept it raised until he acknowledged her.

  “What now, Tennison?”

  “I spoke to a young witness called Abby Jones. After the police car crashed, the man with the handgun walked towards the officers, but the man with the shotgun said something and the two of them got back in the Cortina.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us this earlier?” Murphy asked, clearly annoyed.

  “She didn’t see their faces because of the masks and refused to make a statement.”

  Murphy sighed. “Did you try and persuade her?”

  She looked to Kingston.

  “Tennison did mention it to me, but the girl was only seventeen, in shock and had a baby with her, so I said to let her go for now and speak to her again in a day or two.”

  It wasn’t quite the truth, but Jane appreciated that Kingston was at least backing her up.

  “Is there anything else you’ve overlooked, which you’d like to now share with the team?” Murphy asked.

  Jane ignored his sarcastic tone. “The bank manager told me he’d recently had CCTV installed on the inside of the premises, but none outside where the crime took place. I wondered if it was possible the robbers had been tipped off about this and that’s why they decided to rob the security van in the street.”

  She realized that everyone was staring at her.

  “It’s a valid question,” Kingston remarked, attracting a few funny looks.

  Jane assumed he was defending her because she hadn’t embarrassed him about Abby.

  Kingston continued, “Thursday is a regular cash delivery day at many banks as companies need to withdraw money to make up their employees’ Friday wage packets—and criminals are just as aware of that fact.”

  “Thank you, sir,” she said, acknowledging his support.

  Murphy looked quizzically at Kingston. “Moving forward we need to be aware that these four men will undoubtedly strike again, especially as they didn’t get away with much this time. It’s also highly likely they’ve robbed other cash in transit vans, banks, jewelers, etc., etc., so, Katie, I want you—”

  Kate jumped in, eager to be center-stage.

  “I’m already on it, sir. I checked with the Tower Bridge and Barnes squads before the meeting and they’ve nothing on file for any robberies that match the MO or description of the men. I will of course make further enquiries after the meeting,” she added, looking pleased with herself.

  “Good work, KP—as reliable as ever,” Murphy said with a smile.

  Dabs nudged Jane and whispered, “See what I mean about her being a teacher’s pet?”

  Jane looked at Teflon, who blew out his cheeks to show Katie’s ingratiating behavior made him want to throw up.

  “Is there anything else you or DI Kingston would like me to attend to?” Katie asked Murphy.

  “Not that I can think of for now, but I’d like DS Tennison to spend some time with you. That way she can see how we handle investigations and paperwork within the office.”

  Katie didn’t look pleased, and Jane knew Murphy was deliberately burdening her with office work, but she could always use the house-to-house as an excuse to get out of Katie’s clutches for a while.

  “Right, is there anything else anyone wants to raise?” Murphy asked.

  Everyone shook their heads apart from Baxter.

  “What about ‘keep ’em peeled’?” He touched his eye with his index finger, then pointed into the room and winked. Everyone recognized the impersonation of Shaw Taylor, the presenter of the Police 5 TV program. “He could appeal to the public for information.”

  “Actually, that’s not a bad idea.” Murphy looked at Jane. “Give them a ring and ask if they could fit our case in. Also contact the bank and see if they’re prepared to offer up a reward for information leading to an arrest and charge. If you get a result with Police 5 or the bank, discuss it with DI Kingston.”

  Jane nodded to herself. Murphy obviously wanted as little to do with her as possible.

  Murphy closed his pocket notebook.

  “I know we’ve other unsolved investigations ongoing, but this case is our number one priority. Once you’ve finished your reports, I want you out on the streets talking to your informants and hassling any other lowlife on our patch for information. If it means visiting any dodgy pubs, you go in pairs, and I don’t want any of you coming back here shit-faced. We’ll regroup here at ten tomorrow morning. I want results, lads, and I want them quickly before someone does get killed by this gang.”

  Chapter Nine

  When the meeting finished, Murphy told Kingston he wanted a chat with him in his office.

  “How did Tennison take being told she was an experiment?” Kingston asked as he pulled up a chair and sat down.

  “Not as badly as I hoped she would,” Murphy replied as he opened his desk drawer, then got out the bottle of whisky and two glasses.

  “Just a small one for me,” Kingston said.

  Murphy poured him a large measure.

  “I was hoping she’d tell me to stick the Flying Squad up my arse and piss off back to divisional CID. She’s thicker skinned than I thought she’d be.”

  “As a female officer she’s probably used to being put down all the time—”

  “Why are you defending her?”

  “I’m not—I just reckon she’ll do her best to show us were all wrong about her abilities, that’s all.”

  Murphy gave him an inquisitive look. “You don’t think she’ll be an easy ride then?”

  Kingston pretended to look offended. “What do you mean by that?”

  “I know you too well, Stu. Your dick has always ruled your brain and you’re only being nice to Tennison so you can get in her knickers.”

  Kingston laughed. “No way! She’s not my type—far too serious for me.”

  “Bollocks! She’s reasonably attractive, got big tits and a nice arse—”

  “Sounds like you fancy her, Bill.”

  “Don’t try and turn it around, Stu, we both know she ticks all the boxes in your quick leg-over book. I’d rather you steered well clear of her. She’ll screw up soon enough and then we can get rid of her.”

  “I don’t fancy Tennison—but as I see it we’re stuck with her for now so there’s no harm in giving her the menial stuff to do to keep her out of harm’s way.”

  “Most of the bloody office reckons KP’s got the hots for you and some even think she’s your bit on the side. If you start making a play for Tennison it could cause you all sorts of bother. The last thing I want is two women in the office fighting like tarts over you!”

  “For Christ’s sake, Bill, I flirt with KP, that’s all. She likes attention and it keeps her on her toes.”

  “Well, for everyone’s
sake keep it that way, Stu.”

  Kingston downed his whisky. “Is there anything else you wanted to talk about?”

  “Yes, this landlady, Fiona Simpson—is she a good witness?”

  “Yeah. She’s feisty, that’s for sure, and she seemed willing to go the whole way—as a witness, that is,” he added quickly.

  “Stop being so bloody defensive. Get a statement off her, then take her up the Yard to look through the Flying Squad mugshot albums.”

  “I’ve already arranged for an artist’s impression to be taken from her at five today, then she has to open the pub at six. But I’ll give her a ring and see if she can do a statement tonight.”

  “Get Tennison or one of the others to take the statement off Simpson.”

  “The rest of the team are all busy and I don’t think Tennison is experienced enough to do it—”

  “Ten minutes ago, you were telling us what a good job she’s doing.”

  “What I meant is she’s inexperienced when it comes to armed robbery investigations. Simpson is our only witness who might be able to identify one of the blaggers and needs to be handled carefully.”

  “Point taken. Try and get the statement tonight if you can, if not, tomorrow morning at the latest. I need you to hold the fort here this evening as I’ve got a seven o’clock meeting at the Yard re this Operation Countryman fiasco.”

  “Are they looking at us for anything? Or the rubber heelers?” Kingston asked.

  “I don’t know for certain, but it’s only a matter of time before they decide to stick their noses into our business.”

  “I don’t think we’ve got anything to worry about—”

  “Come on, Stewart, we both know some of us have sailed close to the wind evidence wise—especially the Colonel.”

  “To be fair,” Kingston insisted, “he’s never put a man in prison who didn’t deserve it—”

  Murphy slapped his hand down on the desk. “A disgruntled man in prison turned supergrass and started bloody Countryman!”

  Kingston shrugged. “But we wouldn’t get convictions if we didn’t use the occasional verbal.”

  Murphy shook his head. “The ends don’t justify the means as far as Countryman’s concerned. To them bending the rules is corruption even if it means putting villains away.” He leaned forward across the desk. “I don’t want any fit-ups on the Leytonstone job, Stu—especially with Miss Goody Two Shoes on the team.”

  “Don’t worry about her. Tennison doesn’t need to be involved in any arrests. You could stick her in the office to man the radio.”

  Murphy nodded. “You know I’m not averse to putting words into the mouths of suspects when it’s necessary, but I prefer to nick them red-handed on the plot, that way the evidence is watertight.”

  Kingston smiled. “I’ll make sure the lads are aware of your feelings and everything is above board—as far as possible.”

  “OK, I’ll leave a number with KP so she can call me at the Yard if anything urgent comes up.”

  “Have you heard back from the rest of the team on the surveillance operation?” Kingston asked.

  “They think the gang they’re following is going to hit a jeweler’s in Chingford next week, so we’ll all be needed if that’s a goer. I’ll let you know when I hear more, but they’ve got enough to be getting on with.”

  Waiting for Kingston to finish his meeting with Murphy, Jane phoned Barclays Bank to speak to the manager, but there was no answer. It was nearly 4:30 p.m. and she suspected the bank must have closed and the staff had gone home. Next, she contacted ITV and asked to be put through to the office that produced Shaw Taylor’s Police 5. They were very helpful and said the best they could do was to give the robbery a voice-over mention at the end of the show next week, as they had other cases that had been filmed and were ready to go on air. Jane thanked them and said she would speak to her DCI and get back to them.

  She then phoned Leytonstone Police Station and spoke to the duty sergeant. He said that the house-to-house enquiries at Edgar House were still ongoing; there was no important information to relay to her and they hoped to be finished by 6 p.m. Jane said she would try and collect the completed forms later in the evening, or the following morning.

  She sat at her desk checking the completed house-to-house forms and signing off those that needed no further action. A lot of the residents were elderly people and she made some notes about the couple at number 40 Edgar House, where ADC Murray had spoken with Mrs. Helen Clarke about garage 29. She wanted to speak to Mrs. Clarke as there were some important questions Cam had failed to ask her. She read through the form the uniform sergeant had completed regarding the woman who’d seen two men walking towards Felstead Road, and felt it was lacking in detail. Jane decided she should also visit this woman, who was called Rita Brown and lived at flat 14 Edgar House.

  Katie walked up and dropped some statements on Jane’s desk.

  “When you’ve finished what you’re doing, would you check these for any further action or enquiries that need to be made and type them up,” she said, before starting to walk off.

  Jane called after her. “When I’ve finished what I’m doing I will be going over the house-to-house enquiries with DI Kingston and then revisiting some of the residents at Edgar House. I might have time to check the statements for further action, but I’m not an office typist.”

  Katie started to say something, then, spotting DI Kingston coming out of Murphy’s office, she picked up the statements and called out to him.

  “Excuse me, sir, could I have a word with you?”

  “Not just now, Katie.” He looked across the room. “Colonel, I need a word with you.”

  The two men went into his office.

  “What’s up, Guv?” the Colonel asked as he closed the door.

  “Murphy thinks I fancy Tennison,” Kingston whispered, worried that Katie might be waiting outside his office close enough to hear what was being said.

  “I’m not surprised, the way you were buttering her up in the meeting.”

  “You mentioned our little bet to anyone in the office?”

  “Don’t tell me you’re welshing on it—because if you are, you’ll still owe me twenty quid.”

  “The bet’s still on but I don’t want Murphy, or anyone else on the team, getting wind of it.”

  The Colonel double-tapped the side of his nose with his finger.

  “Trust me, Guv, I won’t tell a soul.”

  “You’d better not or I’ll make sure you’re the one that gets screwed. Tell Tennison I want to see her.”

  “Making your play already?” He winked.

  “About the bloody house-to-house. Now get out on the streets and start hassling your informants for information about the robbery.”

  “I was going to speak to Gentleman Jim. He’s always had his ear to the ground when it comes to armed robberies, especially among the old-style blaggers—having been one himself, of course.”

  “Bloody hell, is he still about?”

  “Yeah, he’s sixty now and has set up a Sunday antiques stall in Brick Lane flea market—”

  “Antiques! What the fuck does he know about antiques apart from stealing them?”

  “He does a nice line in watches, if you’re interested.” The Colonel pulled up his jacket sleeve. “I got this Omega Seamaster from him—apparently Jacques Cousteau used to wear one like this.”

  Kingston laughed. “That watch is either a fake or knocked off—you tried it out in anything deeper than a bathtub?”

  “It worked fine in me local swimming pool. Anyway, Gentleman Jim always likes a few quid up front first before he starts digging around, so I’ll need at least a score out of the squad informants’ fund.”

  “Twenty quid’s a bit steep to start with—sweeten him up with a tenner and see what he comes up with first.”

  “He generally turns up trumps, so he’ll be expecting a twenty.”

  “All right, but it’d better be worth it. Knock out a request then.
I’ll get Murphy’s approval. He wants this case done by the book so don’t let Jim participate in any way or get into agent provocateur territory—”

  “He said he’s too old for robbing banks and reckons he’s going straight.”

  “We both know that’s bollocks!”

  As the Colonel left Kingston’s office, Katie walked in, holding the statements up.

  “I asked Tennison to check these statements and help me type them up, but she refused.”

  Kingston sighed. “Not now, Katie. I’ve got other things to sort out first, then I’ll have a chat with you.”

  As Jane walked into the room Katie gave her a scowl and stomped out.

  “What’s bothering her?” Jane asked with a knowing smile.

  “You are. She said something about refusing to help her type up the statements.”

  “That’s not quite true.”

  “Well, I’ll have a word with Katie and remind her you’re a DS, not a typist.”

  “Thank you, sir, I’d appreciate that.”

  She handed him the house-to-house folder.

  “I’d like to revisit Mrs. Clarke and Mrs. Brown personally and go into a bit more detail about garage 29 and the two men seen walking away from Edgar House,” she told him.

  “Seems strange they should choose that particular garage to dump the getaway car, so further enquiries are fine by me,” he said without looking up.

  “Is this evening OK, or would you like me to stay in the office and help Katie?”

  “She’s got by on her own many times before and right now the investigation is more important than typing up statements. You mentioned about extending the house-to-house at the office meeting?”

  Jane told him about the two other blocks of flats in Blake Hall Road, but Kingston said that for the moment she should just get the enquiries at Edgar House and Felstead Road completed. As he checked the rest of the house-to-house forms, Jane looked around his office. It was much smaller than Murphy’s but had the same style desk and chairs and a large locked filing cabinet; the grey carpet was stained and worn, and the walls were painted the same puke green as the squad office. She noticed a couple of Flying Squad team photographs on the wall behind the desk, and some taken at boxing matches. There was also a large black and white group photograph with about thirty teenagers dressed in sleeveless vests, shorts and boxing boots, with CHINGFORD AMATEUR BOXING CLUB 1958 at the bottom. Lined up on the ground in front of them was an array of silver cups and shields. Jane squinted to see if she could recognize Kingston in the photo.