Where Is She?

by Roger Rapel

  Once in his car he thought fucking hell Broadbent what body she’s got you must be slipping, but then thought of Jackie and came back down to earth.

  The occupant who Jim left the note for contacted him and gave him a forwarding address for Debbie, but no phone number.

  Jim went back to see Langton to update him on the progress or in this case the lack of it. ‘I’ve just got Debbie to see and try to persuade her to make a statement, if that fails Sandra won’t make one, she’s shit scared of him.’ Langton opened his bottom drawer and poured two fingers of scotch in each glass they chinked glasses as they toasted the hopeful conclusion to the case.

  ‘Jim, you just need to be aware the spooks are making more noises about another job for you.’ ‘What now; where, who, when?’ ‘I don’t know any more than that; Yvonne called this morning to say another important issue has arisen and your talents may be needed. Are you sure you’re not giving her one?’ ‘No guv, I’ve told you she’s ‘M’ she’s way out of my league.’ Langton looked suspiciously at him through half closed eyes. Jim smiled at him as he drank his scotch, then nodded to him as he got up and opened the door; leaving Langton wondering if he was, or wasn’t.

  Jim thought as he walked out ‘what do the spooks want now?’ He wracked his brain for scenarios, but no point; it could be anything, so no good in trying to second guess.

  Jim checked the phone book for Debbie’s number; she could have married and changed her surname by now. He couldn’t find anything under Andersen, he then checked directory inquiry’s, still nothing. Although it was getting common for people to just use mobile phones these days.

  Jim got up early the next day and drove the twenty or so miles to Debbie’s address; he sat outside of the house in Brompton village, number 32, Brompton cottages, which was in amongst a long row of cottages all constructed the same; they looked as if they had at one time been tied cottages probably attached to the village farm. The whole row as in darkness, but then as if there was a communal alarm all the lights of the cottages virtually came on at once.

  Jim watched as the activity in 32 came alive, he gave it a few minutes, and then knocked the door. It was opened sheepishly as he saw a young woman striking in appearance and instantly recognisable as Debbie answered, then he heard the sound of a male voice in the background inquiring who it was.

  Jim introduced himself to Debbie as she nodded and smiled in recognition of him. Jim asked if he could make an appointment to come back when more convenient. Then the male person appeared at the door, a big muscular guy, who looked like he could handle himself. Jim was expecting a confrontation, but the guy asked him in.

  Jim then outlined the reason why he was there and understood if they wanted him to come back. Debbie looked at her husband who just nodded then said ‘no carry on we can make time for this.’ Jim went into the reason for his visit including and most importantly Janet Crosby, who had been a girlfriend of Sumner’s after Debbie; she had been missing for some 15 months. He then discussed the issues of her assault and asked if Sumner was the assailant when he investigated the assault against her. Her husband Craig looked a Jim, then said ‘I know all about him, Debbie told me how he used to beat her up, it was all I could do not to go round and give him a good hiding, a taste of his own medicine, but Debbie stopped me.’ ‘I must say you look like you can handle yourself?’ ‘Yes I train as often as I can, and I’m a black belt in Karate.’ Jim nodded ‘The crunch is Debbie we need to get something on Sumner for his violence against women. If we could get enough women to come forward it would be enough to place him before the court on a suspected murder charge, as the coincidence of Janet missing, and him having such a violent temper which he inflicted on you, and nearly killed you, would be enough to throw suspicion on him for the murder of Janet. When you were assaulted battered and bruised you refused to say who your assailant was, was it Sumner?’

  Debbie looked at Craig who shrugged his shoulders and said ‘Debbie, this is your call, I know how sacred you were before we met, but he won’t hurt you now, he won’t get through me. This would also be the way of paying him back for what he did to you.’ Debbie looked at her husband Craig then looked at Jim then said. ‘Give me your number let me have a think about it, I will let you know.’ Jim handed Debbie his card then said ‘was it him who hurt you; she welled up as she hugged Craig and nodded; then started crying. ‘Look Debbie I know this is a cliché, but we need to prevent him from doing this again.’ Debbie nodded then said ‘I’ll call you.'

  Jim got to HQ’s where he saw Langton and updated him. Langton nodded then said ‘you need to be here later this afternoon about 2.30 as Yvonne will be here with your next assignment.’ ‘Any idea what or where it is?’ ‘Not a clue.’ Jim nodded then went back to his desk and began looking at the paperwork; he went over and over the same old ground looking for inspiration seeking something he may have missed, but nothing came to light.

  He sat and pondered thinking if he got Debbie and Sandra to make statements against Sumner for ABH or GBH then, if CPS would agree to similar fact evidence being used to show how he was a controlling person, who had used violence on women before, then using Sandra and Debbie as his previous victims he could, if they agreed charge him with Janet’s murder. He rubbed his hands together then made a loud noise as he clapped them together. Then smiled to himself saying ‘Sumner, your mine my old son.’

  Debbie hugged Craig and sobbed for a couple of minutes then Craig said ‘this is up to you Deb’s I will stand by you either way.’ ‘Thanks, you are my rock Craig, I feel so safe in your arms.’ They then began to rush around getting ready for work.

  Debbie spent the day thinking and mulling over the issues involved in making a statement. Her mind was on nothing else, she just kept welling up each time she felt his hands around her throat. She had seen a film the night before it happened when a woman was strangled and played dead by flopping her arms and going limp which made the assailant believe she was dead, and then he let her go. This had saved her as she did the same and it worked; Sumner had left her lying in the street, he ran off when he heard noises. She had been found by a passer-by who called the police and an ambulance.

  The tears continued to fall as she thought of that time and how she nearly died at the hands of Sumner. She had met Craig about a year later. They met in the gym where he trained on weights; she did aerobics and used the running machine. She had seen his physique he was muscular and tall. She had anticipated him being arrogant, but he was gentle and kind. They started dating then after a whirlwind romance they married. She told Craig about Sumner, he was fuming and wanted to go and sort him out, but she had persuaded him not to. It was about the time that Craig was training for his black belt in karate. He used to train so hard and she saw the power in him as he practiced at home. He was so pleased when he obtained it after the long hours of dedication.

  Debbie never told Craig the full truth about Sumner; it would have ripped him apart to know what he had done to her.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Jim sat in with Langton as Yvonne was shown into his office; they both stood as Yvonne shook both their hands and smiled greeting them both as she gently squeezed Jim’s hand.

  She looked ravishing; her business suit was pristine, she unbuttoned her jacket as she sat down showing offer her brilliant white blouse which was being pushed forward by her ample assets. Yvonne relished the attention she was getting from both Langton, but more so from Jim; she crossed her legs then tugged at the hem line, but it was fixed with no material left to cover her exposed knee.

  The pleasantries were exchanged, as Langton looked at Jim then Yvonne; as he sat wondering is he giving her one or not? Jim sat poker faced as did Yvonne, not giving anything away.

  Yvonne opened her briefcase taking out a manila folder with top secret stencilled in red across the top. Jim thought why put that on it, as it only makes people more nosey as to what’s inside.

  Yvonne opened the folder, clearing her throat ‘okay guy’
s this is another issue that has arisen and involves our American cousins again. They have uncovered a plot by a terrorist group to assassinate someone from the UN council. Which member we don’t know yet? That is your job Jim, working with Barney, he is our trusted CIA operative.’ Jim interrupted ‘when?’ ‘We don’t know; there are background checks going on at this time and operatives all over the world are listening into radio and phone messages. It maybe we will pick something up, then we won’t need you, but on the other hand if we don’t; it will be down to us and the Americans to protect all the UN council members as the meeting is in 2 months-time in New York, so we are on a short fuse.’ Langton said ‘But surely you must have agents all over the world, including undercover operatives involved with all kinds of terror organisations who could handle this?’ ‘Yes we do, but there are break-away cells being started up all the time, so we need to try and infiltrate the newest ones. The one making this threat is from one of those new terror groups.’ ‘Where do I come in I can’t infiltrate any organisation?’ ‘Quite so Jim, nor would we expect you to do that; what we want you to do is get back in the good books of Carol-Anne, she is now working on the desk where new terror groups are looked at. We believe one of her colleagues has gone rogue, we may want you to work with her.’ ‘She was under the control of Barney surely he can do that, can’t he?’ ‘Yes she was, but a big re-shuffle was made, and now she can’t openly mix with him due to different areas of work, it would not be seen as protocol.’ ‘But she can mix with a Brit cop?’ ‘Yes she can, you won’t be seen as an internal threat; just an across the pond love affair.’ ‘Okay when; and how long for?’ ‘Probably next week, I’ll let you know; we will top up your credit card account again, is it the same number?’ Jim confirmed it was. The meeting finished Jim showed Yvonne out, they got in the lift as he put his hand on her bum and squeezed her, she looked at Jim as she said ‘not here Jim, god I’ve missed you, I’ll book a room in Birmingham next week, I need you inside me again.’ They alighted at the ground floor as Jim took her visitors pass; he shook her hand as he tickled her palm. She coyly smiled as she slowly removed her hand then walked to the carpark as she waved to her driver who picked her up.

  Jim returned to Langton’s office where he said ‘you are, aren’t you?’ Jim said ‘what you on about now?’ ‘You know what I mean; you’re giving her one aren’t you?’ ‘I told you she’s beyond my station.’ Langton smiled as he opened the bottom drawer and poured two fingers of scotch in two glasses, as he handed one to Jim, they chinked the glasses, then Langton said ‘You’ll be gone for a while in the states so get me all the information on Sumner and how far you’ve got with it?’ ‘No problems, but I want if possible to be the one that interviews Sumner.’ Langton nodded as he tipped his glass taking a mouthful of the golden liquid. ‘Anyway next time you see Yvonne, give her one for me.’ Jim smiled and said ‘you just won’t let it go will you?’ ‘I just know you are?’ Jim smiled swallowed the last dregs from the glass, then got up and went back to his desk.

  He reopened the file when his phone went, it was Debbie ‘I’ve decided to help you, I never thought I would because I was so afraid of him, but now I have Craig to protect me I feel better and more secure.’ ‘Okay when can I pop around?’ ‘This afternoon if you like I finish at 4.30.’ ‘Okay see you then.’ Jim called Jackie ‘Hi babes I will be late tonight, I’ll grab something on the hoof; speak later.’

  Jim collected his brief case and checked for the forms he would need and topped them up. Then drove to Debbie’s house; he knocked the door and was let in by Debbie. They sat in the kitchen as Debbie made coffee.

  ‘Thanks Debbie, I needed this. Okay let me tell you what I need; then I will talk you through it.’ Debbie smiled and nodded. ‘Right Debbie, I want to know your relationship with Sumner? Where you lived? Where you went? Who you went with and whether you knew or were aware of any other girlfriends he had?’

  ‘Okay; when I was sixteen, I didn’t get on with my mum and dad at that time, I drifted from boyfriend to boyfriend then bumped into Sumner at a party; I’m not sure if I was invited or gate crashed; anyway we got talking and one thing led to another and I ended up at his place. Then a couple of days went by and we ended up in bed.’ ‘Did you consent to sex with him?’ ‘Sort of.’ ‘What does that mean?’ ‘He said I could stay with him now and then’ ‘Okay go on?’ ‘It was okay to start with then he started to get rough with me and wanted to do all sorts of weird things to me; then wanted to get other people involved, when I said no and ran away from him, he caught me and hit me, he hit me so hard he broke my jaw and tried to strangle me if it hadn’t have been for someone coming along, he would have finished me off, I’m sure he would. I was so afraid of him after I was released from hospital I went home to mum and dads where they looked after me, that’s when you interviewed me.’ ‘Are you okay now?’ ‘Oh yeah Craig is so good to me, he is my protector. Even my mum and dad like him, so he must be okay.’ Debbie laughed as she cupped her hands around her mug and sipped the hot coffee.

  ‘Did you ever get involved with any other people he suggested to you?’ Debbie nodded ‘Yeah he made me.’ ‘Did you get their names?’ ‘Yeah one couple were called Stuart and Lynda.’ ‘Do you know where they live?’ ‘Yes, but don’t tell Craig any of this will you?’ ‘I won’t, but I need you to make a statement, that’s the only way I can get Sumner, so I suggest you talk with Craig, you needn’t tell him everything, just prepare the ground for him.’

  ‘Okay they live at 76, Tall Pines Road.’ ‘Are they still there?’ ‘I don’t know that was a long time ago now, it’s a big house.’ ‘Have you been there?’ ‘Yes, I think Sumner took all his girls there, they held parties there and I was forced to do all sorts of things, sorry I can’t talk anymore today, I’ll call you next week after I have talked with Craig.’ Debbie burst into tears. ‘Sorry Debbie, I know this is painful so, let’s leave it for the moment, if you want one of my female colleagues to talk to you, I can arrange it?’ ‘No you’re fine, just give me a couple of days, I’ll be alright; it’s just bought it all back to me.’ Jim finished his coffee then said his goodbyes.

  Jim grabbed a sandwich from a corner shop and ate it on the way home. Jackie was laid on the sofa fast asleep. He poured a scotch and sat reading his notes.

  He spent an hour or so then lifted Jackie’s head as he slid underneath so she rested on his lap the stroked her head. He watched a bit of TV for another hour then lifted Jackie up and carried her to the bedroom he undressed her and put her under the duvet, he spooned her as he tried to sleep. He couldn’t get Sumner and those parties out of his head.

  Craig came home to find Debbie in tears ‘what’s a wrong babe?’ ‘Oh Craig, look this police thing has brought back all kinds of bad memories, I’m churning up inside.’ ‘Hey; look if you don’t want to do it then tell that copper you don’t want too.’ ‘No Craig I need to do this, but it’s bought some things up; I need to tell you about that I kept back, so it won’t surprise you okay?’

  ‘Go on?’ ‘Look Craig when I told you I had been beaten up, yes I was and yes it was Sumner, but he not only beat me up but also raped me.’ ‘I’ll fucking kill him, the bastard.’ ‘No Craig let the police do it, I don’t want you locked up I need you, you’re my life; so strong for me please don’t.’ ‘Okay but, if the police don’t do him I will I promise you that.’

  Debbie hugged Craig as he cuddled her close, he could feel her pain and wanted to protect her and keep her safe from any harm. They weren’t hungry so they had a glass of wine and cuddled up in front of if the TV. Debbie felt so good and so safe wrapped in Craig’s arms.

  Craig would normally have been at the gym training, but this moment was far too important for Debbie, so he stayed in to keep her company.

  The following day Debbie called Jim and said ‘yes she would do it’ Jim made an appointment to suit Debbie a couple days later.

  Jim Called Sandra and explained the situation asking to pop around. ‘Pop round any ti
me today I’m off for a couple of days.’ ‘Half an hour okay?’ ‘No make it an hour?’ ‘Okay.’

  Jim arrived, he was just about to ring the bell when the door opened and there stood Sandra, he thought wow. She looked ravishing, ‘well don’t just stand come in.’ Jim thought ‘as the spider said to the fly.’

  Sandra was wearing tight pink knee length leggings, with a loose black V necked jumper; with matching pink lipstick. He immediately thought of Sandy out of Grease.

  ‘You look a picture, very nice.’ ‘Well thank you Jim; you want a coffee?’ As she poured the water into the cups; she sat down and leaned forward not attempting to correct her billowing jumper from opening. It was then she noticed that she was bra-less and the twins were free flowing. She smiled as she straightened up accepting his eyes on her, relishing his attention.

  He could have grabbed her and planted a kiss on her; he had to control his eagerness although the temptation was there. Then she leaned over again displaying the twins, it was then he caught her perfume. That sent all kinds of images through his mind.

  ‘Okay Jim how can I help you?’ As she smiled, flirting with him. Jim thought ‘fuck me Jim what a body she has got, fucking hell, she really could help me.’ But he snapped out of lust mode.

  ‘Okay Sandy; remember I told you about the other woman who had been assaulted by Sumner, and if she made a statement, would you also make one?’ ‘Yes I do; has she given you one then?’ Jim smiled at her loaded comment. ‘Not yet, but she is going too soon, although she gave me certain pointers to other things that happened when she was with him.’ ‘Like what?’