Where Is She?

by Roger Rapel

  The following morning Jim went to the game keeper’s cottage as he drove along the lengthy drive negotiating the speed bumps and potholes, he noticed the pheasants on the edge of the woods; he also saw a herd of fallow deer grazing in the field. He then thought how much he missed the country scene.

  He knocked the door of the keeper’s cottage; June the keeper’s wife answered it wiping her hands on her apron. Jim introduced himself asking if Brian was about. June invited him and called Brian on the 2 way radio. June came back ‘he’ll be 10 minutes or so, would you like a coffee while you wait? Jim nodded ‘white no sugar please.’

  Jim admired the décor with an array of shooting paraphernalia. He had noticed the kennels when he entered which were empty so presumed the dogs were out with Brian. Jim made small talk with June about the idyllic way of life that she and Brian lived. June smiled ‘it looks good from the outside, it’s not the best paid job, but Brian loves it.’

  June looked out of the window as she saw Brian’s Land Rover coming down the long drive, ‘here’s Brian now.’ Jim finished his coffee as he heard the rattling diesel engine of the Land Rover pull up outside. Brian entered as Jim introduced himself. June made more coffee asking if she should go. Jim shook his head ‘you’re fine no problem.’

  Jim then explained his reason for being there as he spoke of the missing girl and the suggestion the suspect had visited the estate at night with another woman. Brian took out a reduced sized map of the estate asking if he knew where. Brian spread the map on the table. Brian pointed to the location of the cottage as Jim tried to get his bearings of where he had been with Sandra. He backtracked to the main road re-tracing as best he could the route he had taken to the cottage; after a while he was sure he had found it. ‘Right just here, I’m sure that’s’ it, as he pointed to the track he had driven into. ‘How often do you go there?’ ‘Not very often, it’s part of the estate, but is not used for shooting, apart from deer stalking. Jim’s ears pricked up ‘is that high seat or stalking?’ ‘High seat only, why do you shoot?’ ‘I used to, but what with work and failed a marriage I had to give it up.’ ‘If you fancy sitting in a high seat sometime then give me a call, you can borrow one of my rifles.’ ‘I might just take you up on that.’ ‘Please do, as the deer herds are growing and need to be thinned out.’

  ‘Right come on then I’ll take you to the place you pointed out; we can drive through the woods it will give you a chance to see the size of the place.’ Jim climbed into the Land Rover as Brian was putting his Spaniels in the kennels; he smelt all kinds of odours. ‘Excuse the mess but, it’s a working vehicle.’ Jim smiled as he nodded. The hard springs of the Land Rover jostled Jim from side to side as Brian went across the rough edges of the fields till he reached an entrance to the woods; the mown grass rides were less rough. It wasn’t long before they reached the area Jim had pointed out on the map; Jim confirmed it was the place.

  Brian stopped and got out. He looked at the tyre marks on the grass ‘were you here before?’ ‘Yeah I popped in yesterday to confirm it was the place.’ ‘Oh that’s okay; I thought it may have been poachers.’ ‘Is it a big problem?’ ‘Sometimes; it varies, I just have to watch for signs then try and get the police involved.’

  Brian walked the area as he kicked over the leaves from the fall he then stood and looked at a patch he had just kicked over. He pondered then moved on kicking over more leaves, he then returned to the spot he had been to earlier. Jim said ‘what you looking at?’ ‘How long has this girl been missing?’ ‘About 15-16 months; why?’ ‘This patch here looks disturbed; it’s not as firm as the rest.’ Jim looked at the ground and bent down as he pressed the soil with his hand. ‘Okay thanks I need to get this looked at by a search team.’

  Jim went back to HQ where he liaised with Langton who arranged for a search team and SOCO to meet Jim there the following morning.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  The search team arrived at the woods together with SOCO. Brian and Jim showed them the suspect site; then the long careful process began as the earth was moved. The excavation was painstakingly slow; it had to be to ensure potential evidence wasn’t missed. Slowly the earth began to reveal an odour in keeping with rotting flesh. The earth was moved more slowly with trowels rather than shovels. The smell was becoming ranker the closer the unearthing got. The suspense was growing with Jim hoping it was the body of Janet.

  Then one of the team shouted it’s a fucking dog, a dead dog. Jim thought ‘fuck it.’ As much as he was relieved for the Crosby’s, he so wanted it to be Janet so, he could try and gain evidence to convict Sumner.

  Jim called Langton telling him to stand down, as it was a dog buried and not the victim. Langton was also disappointed as he wanted the grave to be the site of Janet Crosby.

  Jim thanked the team then went to the keeper’s cottage to find Brian. June met him at the door looking worried. She invited him in as she took the kettle off the Aga and made coffee. ‘Brian is just on his way back. Is it bad news?’ ‘No it’s a dog; someone’s buried a dog in the woods.’ ‘Oh that’s a relief; the thought of a dead body in the woods frightened me.’ ‘You can relax now.’ June looked out of the window, ‘oh here we go; Brian’s just coming down the drive.’

  Brian arrived kicking his boots off at the door, he shook Jim’s hand as he looked enquiringly at Jim ‘you can relax it was a dog, someone’s buried a dog in the woods.’ ‘Phew that’s a relief; that’ll please the boss he was getting worried; so was June.’ June smiled as she poured water into Brian’s coffee cup. They continued their small talk for an hour then Jim got up to leave. Brian said ‘have you got a few minutes?’ ‘Yeah, why?’ ‘I just want you to check my rifle is zeroed in for you; then I will leave that one for you. I can use one of my others.’ ‘What calibre is it?’ ‘It’s a Steyr .243 with a Zeiss scope; it’s a nice set up.’ Brian opened his big gun cabinet and handed Jim the rifle, he had a peak into the cabinet and said ‘you starting a war?’ As they both laughed at the number of guns he had. Jim racked open the bolt confirming it was unloaded. Brian said ‘that’s what I like to see good safety procedure.’ ‘That’s how I was trained.’

  They went out into the yard where Brian had a target already set out at 100yds. Jim rested over the Land Rover bonnet and got the feel of the rifle; he tested the trigger pull with a dry fire. It was a light pull, which he hadn’t been used to.

  Jim operated the bolt then slid one round into the chamber as he actioned the bolt forward. Even this felt good as he recalled the days gone by. He softened his breathing then steadied his hands as he took a deep breath then released it then took a half breath, as he settled the crossed hairs, then squeezed back the trigger, then bang. The muzzle flip sent the rifle barrel up, when it settled he was only an inch to the left of the bull; with an adjustment he was spot on.

  Jim thanked Brian as he proofed the rifle then handed it back, ‘I will be in touch when I get some free time, I would love to sit in a high seat for an hour or so.’ ‘Any time Jim your more than welcome.’

  Jim headed back to HQ’s where he sat with Langton discussing the way forward; but other than arresting Sumner with the anticipated no comment reply he had no other lines of enquiry to complete.

  Langton wanted Jim to get Sumner interviewed to at least let him know he was a suspect.

  Jim agreed; the following morning he would invite him into the police station, if he failed to attend voluntarily he would arrest him.

  Sumner arrived at the police station the following day with a brief. At that point there was no point in playing the voluntary side of things, so formally arrested him on suspicion of murder. The interview went as expected with no comments being made. Sumner was smirking at Jim, not taunting him just enough to let him know that Jim had nothing on him. This pissed Jim off as he liked to interview from a position of strength, not weakness. He had no alternative, other than to release Sumner.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Janet’s parents were still hoping their daught
er was alive, but the not knowing was painful as they had no closure. They had been preparing themselves for the worst, knowing that one day her body would be found. If she turned up alive it would be a joyous celebration, but in the back of their minds it was her being found dead which was so hurtful to them.

  The months went by with nothing coming forward, no sign of Janet; she had completely disappeared without any trace.

  Jim still had Sumner in his sights, but he had nothing to challenge him on, the house and garden search proved negative. Janet’s mobile phone was switched off; not a trace of her was found, no clothing or belongings, nothing.

  He then thought of trying to get Sandra involved by getting her back with Sumner, then thought better of it; anyway she was so scared of him she wouldn’t agree to it.

  Jim sat in with Langton discussing scenarios of how to move it forward and get evidence on Sumner, but with no body, they were struggling to come up with something to move the investigation forward.

  They even considered an undercover female officer who would show a liking for him and try to get close to him and get him to spill the beans; but he knew it would be inadmissible.

  They continued to discuss ways of getting to Sumner but everything fell by the wayside, they were just about to put it to bed, when Jim said out of the blue ‘I’ve got it, yes I’ve fucking got it!’ This has been in the back of my mind ever since I first saw him; ‘I knew I knew him from somewhere.’ Langton just looked at him waiting for the punch line; then saw the knowing smile across his face. ‘Come on then spit it out.’ ‘Some years ago I dealt with a nasty assault on a young girl she had been left for dead, but she survived, although she knew who the assailant was she wouldn’t name him. It was when I was looking at her pictures in her bedroom in her parent’s house, that I saw the picture of her in the arms of a man, but she refused to name him, or say if he was the assailant. That picture was Sumner, I’m sure of it. If I can retrace the steps and find her, then see after all this time if she would be prepared to name him; perhaps I can get him that way.’

  Langton nodded ‘it’s a long shot, but give it a go, we have nothing else.’

  Jim had to try and remember out of all the cases he had dealt with over the years, the name of the girl; it was so long ago. He was sure it was Debbie, although her last name was evading him.

  Jim arrived at Central, although the number of people he needed to talk too had either moved-on; some had retired and taken all the knowledge they had with them.

  He went to the archive section, but without a last name he was buggered. There was no way he could search the index with just a Christian name. He was on the verge of calling it a day when he saw Trevor. Trevor had been in the intelligence section about the time he had been dealing with the case. ‘Hey Trevor, you got a moment mate?’ ‘Yes Jim,’ ‘you fancy a coffee Trev?’ ‘Sounds good to me; you buying?’ Jim smiled ‘yes mate it’s on me.’

  They sat in the canteen discussing old times and the way things were today, compared to days gone by. Jim then asked him to cast his mind back to the case of Debbie he was sure that was here name. Trevor sat and listened; he bowed his head and put his head in his hands ‘I do remember it, poor girl she only just made it; yes hold on a minute, don’t say a word.’ He sat with his head in his hands; Jim could hear the cogs whizzing around in his head.

  Jim went to get more coffee and came back with a couple of pre packed ham sandwiches. ‘I’m nearly there Jim, it’s on the tip of my tongue; come on, come on.’ Trevor opened his pre-packed sandwich, then took a big bite and slurped his coffee. ‘Sorry Jim, it’s there mate not far away, I just need a little bit more time, it’ll come to me just talk about something else for a minute.’

  They sat chatting and mulling over the good times, and how close Trevor was to his final retirement date. Jim then thought once he was gone all his information would be gone as well. ‘It’s no good Jim, give me your number I will call you when it comes to me.’ They shook hands and parted. They got to the door and about to go in different directions, when Trevor said ‘Anderson, Debbie Anderson that’s her name, bloody hell mate that took some dragging up from depths of beyond.’ ‘That’s it Trev, as soon as you said the name, it came back, thanks mate, you’re a star.’ They shook hands again as they smiled and went their different ways.

  Jim then went back to the intelligence section and punched in the name Debbie Anderson, but nothing came up, he sat pondering; he was sure it was Anderson he then had a flash of inspiration as he tried Andersen. He punched that in and up came the file; Jim read it as the case came flooding back. He found the archive number and retrieved the hard copy file.

  The big manila folder was overflowing with statements and other documents including his final report. He signed the file out and took it home. He opened it on the table and read his closing report. He sat back as he put his hands behind his head, then closed his eyes as he went back to when he interviewed Debbie; it was some 7 years ago, she was a young girl only about 17 very pretty. But her face had been bruised and battered from the assault and her neck swollen from being strangled and left for dead.

  He re-read her statement which described how she received her injuries, but had refused to name the person involved she was so frightened of him, he recalled interviewing her at her parent’s home and looking at the photograph of her and Sumner, but she refused to name him as the assailant.

  Then he thought if he could get her to name him now and then get Sandra Rose to name him as well regarding his assaults on her, he could start to build up a pattern and at least get something to interview him on.

  Jim checked the address of Debbie, but there was no phone number. The next morning he arrived at her parents address. He knocked the door there was no reply, so knocked on the neighbour’s door, the occupant an elderly woman informed him that occupants had moved somewhere a couple of years ago. The current occupant worked all different hours so it would be a hard job to catch them in. ‘Do you know the new occupants names?’ ‘There’s only one, I think he’s called Martin, but we hardly ever see each other, even when we do it’s just a nod or a wave.’ Jim thanked her then wrote a brief note with his phone number on, then posted in his letter box.

  Jim called Sandra and requested another visit as he had a proposition. ‘Now, now Mellor’s.’ Jim laughed as he said ‘I think I may need a chaperone.’ ‘You might do’ as she laughed, ‘look I’m about to finish early as I was going to have my hair done, but my appointment has been cancelled.’ ‘Okay say half an hour.’ ‘Yes that’s fine I’ll be home by then, if not, just wait outside I won’t be far away.’

  Jim left it a bit longer than the half hour; as he was driving he thought fuck me if she gave a statement, as well as Debbie he could be on a winner. He arrived and rang the doorbell. The door opened as he saw Sandra stood in a tight low cut sweater and track suit bottoms. She beamed a welcoming smile as she stepped back allowing Jim inside. ‘You don’t need your hair done it looks very nice as it is.’ ‘Oh very smooth Detective Sergeant Broadbent.’ Jim smiled as she showed him to the kitchen. ‘Coffee, Jim?’ ‘Please you probably remember white no sugar.’ Sandra nodded.

  Jim admired her bum as she filled the kettle; she made sure she was expressing her sexuality. She had been without a man for so long, although not looking for anyone, Jim seemed like a nice man, probably married, but she didn’t care as she continued to flirt with him.

  ‘Now what is this proposal, is it a ring?’ As she laughed; ‘now, now you; no it’s more serious than that.’ Sandra’s face then changed as she looked worried ‘Oh my god he knows where I live?’ ‘No not that, I told you all this is confidential.’ ‘Okay what then?’ ‘Look Sandra I’m looking for someone called Debbie, she was a previous girlfriend of Sumner before you; if I find her and she is willing to make a statement against Sumner for the injuries he inflicted on her, would you make a statement against him as well? If we got two previous statements regarding his demeanour to women and his loss of tem
per and violence we could stand a chance of getting a conviction against him.’

  Sandy brought the coffee over to the table, then said ‘look Jim I’m so scared of him he was so violent towards me and his temper is really vicious; when he loses it, he goes berserk he goes into a red mist, and just lashes out. I will have to think about this, it has all sorts of connotations; what if he doesn’t get convicted; even if he did and wasn’t sent to prison where does that leave me?’ ‘That’s the reason why I needed to talk to you face to face.’ ‘Look if the other girl Debbie makes a statement I will think about it, but I won’t promise anything because my life is back on track now and I’m doing fine, I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder every five minutes wondering if he has sent someone to keep me quiet.’ Jim nodded ‘okay I understand I will let you know how it goes with Debbie.’

  Sandra cupped her hands around her coffee mug then looked at Jim and said out of the blue ‘are you married Jim?’ ‘No divorced for a while now; why?’ ‘She smiled at him ‘oh just wondering; more coffee?’ ‘Please.’ Sandra leaned forward as she stood up pushing the twins forward on purpose as she made no attempt to hide her cleavage. Jim smiled as he half closed his eyes looking longingly at her body. Sandra accepted the attention having lustful thoughts. He watched as she washed up the cups and saw her wiggling her bum on purpose for him.

  Another mug of coffee was bought to the table where they sat and chattered about various topics. Jim looked around the kitchen admiring how clean it looked, then commented on the décor and cleanliness. Jim then thanked Sandra for the coffee and stood to leave as Sandra stood up and stretched on purpose pushing her ample breasts towards him. He couldn’t avert his eyes as he nodded knowingly. She smiled as she showed him to the door, she turned and said ‘thanks for calling around Jim; you must come around for a spot of dinner sometime?’ ‘That would be nice.’ Then she reached up and kissed him on the cheek then squeezed his arm. Jim smiled as he left the house.