by Roger Rapel
‘He was a client of a friend and was invited to a party where we met, then one thing led to another and then I became hooked up in sex parties.’
‘Where were they held?’
‘Oh, all over the place at different people’s houses.’
‘Then what?’
‘I was introduced to Lynda and Stuart, they had a big house; I would go there with a select few where women would attend and have sex them.’
‘Then what?’
‘Sumner started to bring women who were less than willing, but we all engaged in sex with them.’
‘By less than willing; you mean raped them?’
Prentice looked down and as he nodded.
‘Does that nod mean yes?’
‘Yes, okay, nod means yes.’
‘So you knew they were not willing, but still had sex with them, is that what you’re saying?’
‘I’ve said that yes I did.’
‘Then what happened to the women afterwards?’
‘I don’t know they were led away by Charles.’
‘Why do you think the women never complained to the police about being raped?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘If the women had been willing, why weren’t they brought back?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘They couldn’t come back because they had been killed and buried in the woods. So each new party had another woman bought in and raped.’
‘I didn’t know they had been killed I didn’t.’
‘Okay I want you to watch the end of the first tape; just as Janet is being pulled out of the room.’
Jim nodded to Vicky who replaced video 1 inside the machine. Vicky pressed play, the scene showed Janet being led out of the room naked and crying, carrying her clothes. Then Prentice could be heard saying ‘who is going to do this one, it must be exciting hearing someone die?’
‘I think you may have thought the tape had been switched off. That comment Mr Prentice makes you a conspirator in the murder of the five women. So let me recap, and remind you again, you have been arrested for murder, conspiracy to murder, rape, conspiracy to rape, sexual assault and conspiracy to commit sexual assault. I will just remind you that you are still under caution.’
Prentice just sat there looking dejected and watching his whole world now going down the pan, his kids in private school, his big 5 bed house, his country retreat and wife would be all gone.
‘Okay Mr Prentice you heard the comment at the end of the tape what did that mean?’
‘Yes I knew they were going to be killed yes I knew okay, I’m done for.’
Jim wrapped up the interview then charged him with rape and conspiracy to murder Janet Crosby and prepared the remand in custody report; then called Langton.
Langton was over the moon as he said ‘you need to get this wrapped up Jim as Yvonne has been on the blower, she needs to brief you next week.’
Jim thought fuck me to the states again what a result, he then thought of Jackie, but knew he could buy her something nice on the expenses.
Jim got Vicky to finish up with the procedures of fingerprinting and photographing Prentice. He then said ‘how would you like to help put this job together if Langton agrees?’ ‘Oh Jim that would be great, what a fantastic job thanks.’ ‘No problem, but it’s a lot of work; Langton will want things done right. I have another job with the Home Office looming up which means I will be away.’ ‘Oh what’s that Jim?’ ‘Sorry, I don’t know yet, just bag carrying for some enquiry I think.’
Jim refrained from letting Jackie know about the spooks till the week-end was over; he just wanted to be pleased and to please her.
Jim informed Langton that Vicky would help put together the file she was a competent detective. Langton agreed and called for a meeting with them both the following day.
Jim then started to write up the log with regard to the interview then gave a copy to Langton for his policy log. Langton reached for the bottom drawer and before Jim could object he had poured two fingers of Islay. Jim was sipping the glass when there was a knock at the door. Jim handed the glass to Langton to hide as he called ‘come in’ with that the door pushed open and in walked the Chief. ‘Sit down please gents’ said the Chief as Jim and Langton began to stand up.
The Chief was beaming, ‘another good job well done, come on Langton where’s the scotch let’s have a toast?’ Langton opened the drawer and poured another glass and handed them out, they all toasted the job; the Chief then asked Langton to bring his policy log to his office in an hour, then he left.
Jim then discussed the interviews as Langton scribed the log. Langton then said ‘I know what this is about; I bet the Chief has got a number 10 interview again; he will be asked to try and keep the MP’s name out of the limelight.’ ‘Yeah another cover up, any other villain would be poleaxed.’ Langton nodded as he scribed his log.
Langton spoke with the Chief’s secretary as he waited for him to clear the last issue. The green light then came on; she stood and opened the door inviting Langton in. The Chief invited Langton to sit down and as if by a reciprocal arrangement, he poured two glasses of scotch. The Chief toasted Langton on a good job, but he passed it down to Jim. The Chief acknowledged the referral as he raised his glass. They then went over the policy log as the Chief took copious notes. The Chief then said ‘who knows about the back bencher, as I anticipate questions that will be asked from the top, can we hide his name?’ ‘Well sir, there’s the interview team. Then of course the others involved especially Prentice, the Small’s and last but not least, Sumner, and of course the other women present, they will all know each other.’ ‘God what a mess so, in effect there is no way of hiding this.’ ‘I don’t think so; there are too many eyes and ears involved.’ ‘Okay just testing the water, so I can batt off the anticipated questions. Thanks I will keep you updated. Oh and by the way as you are aware ‘Box needs’ Jim again.’ ‘Yes I spoke with the intelligence head earlier last week.’ ‘They think a lot of Jim; you need to be careful they don’t poach him.’ ‘They’ve already tried, but he has stayed loyal to us.’ The Chief raised his glass as they drank the dregs, then Langton left.
The following morning Jim picked up Vicky and the drove to HQ’s. On route Jim said ‘get on the right side of Langton and you could have a friend for life, he likes a job done well, he can also be a pain in the arse over getting it right. Do you drink scotch?’ ‘I love it, especially single malt.’ ‘That’s a great start; if I were you I would get him a bottle of his favourite, any one of the Islay brands; that will soften him and show you’re on the same wave length.’ ‘Thanks Jim, I’ll do that.’
They arrived at HQ’s where they met in Langton’s office Jim introduced Vicky, they shook hands; then sat down as Jim outlined the case and where they had got so far. Vicky was making copious notes of the meeting.
Jim had identified all the men in the video sequence and one of the women Lynda Small, but there were two other unknown women to find, Vicky responded confirming she had their first names and would speak with Lynda at the next remand hearing to see if she would name them fully.
The meeting was just about to wrap up when Jim said to Langton ‘Oh yes guv, Vicky enjoys a scotch as well, so you can have a dram without fear.’ With that Langton opened his drawer and poured a drop into three tumblers, then passed them over, toasting the job and the follow up which Vicky would do. Jim and Vicky finished then left the office; he sat Vicky down and went over the issues that still needed to be completed.
Jim was half way through the briefing when his phone went and saw it was Yvonne. He walked away as he answered it. ‘Be at the same hotel Birmingham next Tuesday 4 pm bring an overnight bag, but also have a case at home packed ready to go, things have heated up and your services are required.’ ‘That sounds good my service is required.’ ‘Bugger off Broadbent. Tuesday 4 pm’ the conversation over; the phone went dead.
Jim finished off with Vicky then headed home for a long week-end. Jim a
rrived to an empty flat which was expected, so he checked the fridge for the ingredients that Jackie had left out ready to be cooked, he saw mince and a bolognaise sauce so presumed it was going to be spag bog.
He went and changed then put on an apron wearing just jockey shorts and tee shirt. He fried off the mince and added the sauce then let it simmer away as he measured out the spaghetti and heated up the water. He watched the water come to a rolling boil as he thought of Yvonne and the way she boiled over and took every bit of him to the max.
The water was ready as he entered the stems of the spaghetti thinking he was like the stalks being slowly entered into the heat of the boiling water. He kept thinking what was going on in the states that the spooks couldn’t handle internally?
Just as he was drifting off into another fantasy world, when he heard the door go and pretended not to have heard it, just like Jackie did when he came home; he felt her hands on his bum as she rested her head against his back then wrapped her arms around him giving him a big squeeze. Jim turned and kissed her and gave her a squeeze, ‘get changed nearly ready babes.’ ‘Okay, I’ll open the wine.’ ‘Make it a nice one.’ ‘I only get nice wine’ as she laughed. Jim dished up and bought in the piping hot plates and a kitchen roll to use as napkins, as it would probably get messy. ‘You look sexy in an apron Jim.’ They laughed as they ate their fill then relaxed on the sofa as they watched TV; one of Jackie’s favourite soaps was on. Jim sat watching and thinking, this is really exciting.
He just couldn’t get his head around how people got so engrossed in such drivel; well that was his opinion anyway.
They were both tired and just crashed to bed. Jim woke up half way through the night to find he was nearly pushed out of the bed. Jackie had taken up all of the space leaving him on the edge; he managed to turn half over as he said ‘shove over Jack.’ Jackie never woke she just rolled away and turned over.
Jim woke to his alarm to find he was on the edge of the bed again with Jackie snuggled up to him. Jim got out and showered then heard Jackie in the kitchen as the aroma of cooked eggs, bacon and black pudding reached his nose. Jackie just smiled as she plated his full English and handed him the plate. He made coffee for them both then he wolfed his breakfast down mopping the plate with bread and butter.
Jackie was slowly coming to life as she sat opposite Jim cupping her hands around her coffee mug, they chatted about the week-end plans.
Jim left it until Sunday to tell Jackie about the looming US trip and the spooks briefing in Birmingham with the probability of an overnight stay. But when Jim finally told Jackie she was none too pleased, but she accepted it, as she knew Jim relished the excitement of working with the spooks. But inwardly she was afraid not knowing what he was involved in.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Vicky sat looking at the still facial photos taken from the video sequences of the two unknown women Julie and Maria; she had a number of flyers made of the facial features, and gave them to the intelligence section who pinned them on their notice board seeking information as to the identities. It didn’t take long before the identifications were made.
Vicky obtained the addresses where they lived then did a drive-by checking the cars parked in the drives of the well to-do houses, she took the car numbers and checked against the PNC; then checked the voters register, confirming the occupants of the houses concerned which, also included the first names of the two women in question.
Vicky got back to HQ’s; on route she had purchased Langton a bottle of Islay, to start off on the right foot; she placed it in her shoulder bag to prevent prying eyes. She knocked on Langton’s door and was invited in, then she began to highlight her findings; then lent over and took out the brown paper wrapped bottle and handed it over; she didn’t speak just nodded as Langton smiled. ‘Shut the door please Vick’ as he opened his bottom drawer taking out his already opened Islay which was nearing the end of its life and poured two tumblers a quarter full handing one to Vicky. ‘Good health Vicky and welcome to my team.’ Vicky raised her glass ‘Cheers guv and thank you.’
‘Okay what have you got Vick?’ Vicky smiled at him coyly ‘well guv this is the identity of the other women on the tapes, I have checked their addresses against voters and car registrations; it all matches up.’ ‘Okay what do you need?’ ‘I think an early call tomorrow morning would be good, I will need two teams me on one with a couple to assist, then another team for the other address if Jim’s not available?’ ‘No I’m afraid Jim will be out of the game for some time, so I will get you some manpower. In the meantime get a briefing report completed; by then I will have a team nominated by this afternoon.’ Vicky finished her drink then stood up smoothing down her skirt smiled at Langton picked up her bag then left his office. She found a type writer and rattled out a briefing, it didn’t take long as she was a competent touch typist. Vicky was looking forward to the arrest as she knew that once arrested the fun would begin.
Langton called Jim expressing his approval at his choice in Vicky; he commented on the following morning’s arrests. Jim bid him good luck and wished he could be there, but he had received a briefing from Yvonne which he had to work on. Langton again gave a questioning remark ‘are you sure you’re not giving her one?’ ‘No I’m not I told you, you just won’t let go will you?’ He laughed as he put the phone down.
Vicky’s team was assembled for a briefing for the next morning’s early door knock. Langton stood in background as Vicky gave out the briefing highlighting the evidence that could possibly be found at the addresses. The addresses look top end so they could expect top end lawyers as well. Vicky then explained that she required video players in each interview room she also nominated different police stations for each prisoner to be taken too.
Langton gave a thank you to Vicky then gave a serious warning to those assembled that it could hit the press big time, so do everything by the book.
That was it, Vicky nominated the interview team for Maria; she would take Julie. She then handed the file out with the photos of both suspects inside.
The morning came as Vicky and her team stood outside of the house, it was all in darkness, they started to walk along the short gravel drive when the bedroom light came on upstairs. Vicky rang the doorbell she waited a couple of minutes, the landing and hall lights came on then footsteps could be heard, the door opened. Vicky instantly recognised Julie Sangster from the video sequence; she wasn’t the good looking figure in the video, her hair was all over the place and was in a dressing gown looking half asleep. ‘Julie Sangster?’ ‘Yes who are you?’ ‘I am a police officer and I’m arresting you for conspiracy to rape.’ Vicky cautioned her as per the book then stepped inside as the other two members of team entered and closed the door. ‘What rape what are you talking about.’ ‘All will become clear when I interview you.’
A call came from upstairs ‘who’s at the door darling?’ ‘It’s the police I’m being arrested.’ ‘What?’ Then Vicky saw a male figure hurrying downstairs ‘what is all this about?’ Vicky said ‘Your wife I presume?’ ‘Yes it is; what’s this all about?’ ‘Your wife has been arrested and will be taken to the Central police station, but before we do we will need to make a search of the house.’ ‘Where’s your warrant?’ ‘I don’t need one as your wife has been arrested in the house that gives me the power to search for evidence in connection with the alleged offence.’ The husband backed down after the confident statement from Vicky. What struck Vicky as strange was he never asked why she was being arrested. Nor was Julie kicking up a fuss the way she had anticipated she would.
Vicky went upstairs with Julie where she searched the bedroom as Julie dressed, she noticed a big television and video recorder on chest of drawers; she opened a drawer underneath the TV and found rows of sex tapes and ordinary movie films. Vicky looked at Julie who just looked down not saying anything. Then she opened the next drawer down and found a number of homemade video cassettes. ‘What’s on these Julie?’ ‘Just some holiday pictures that’s all.’ V
icky removed them and piled them up saying ‘I’ll take these and have a look to make sure.’ Julie blushed as she knew what was on them; scenes of her and numerous men and other women in sexual positions.
The search concluded Vicky went downstairs with Julie. The other officers had kept the husband busy whilst they had searched the downstairs and had seized some photographs of Julie in the arms of other men and women and with some of the women tied up.
The husband said as they were leaving ‘I’ll call Peregrine he will be there when they interview you this is outrageous.’
Vicky kept quiet in the car on the way to the station other than ‘it looks like being a long day.’ Julie never responded just kept her head down low.
They arrived at the station where after being booked-in she was placed into a cell to await the interview.
Vicky got all the tapes and placed them on her desk then had breakfast; a full English as the early start had given her a big appetite.
She had just finished when she received a call from the front counter confirming Sangster’s brief had just arrived. Vicky met the brief at the front counter and invited him in. He was a tall well-dressed man, not the archetypal brief, more in keeping with a barrister. As soon as he introduced himself with the plumb in his mouth accent she knew this had to be done by the book.
He produced his business card and stated his name was Peregrine Farquharson. Vicky looked at his business card and saw the address as the Temple Chambers in London which confirmed her suspicions as being correct.
He was polite and not the pushy arrogant person she expected. He just said quietly can I see my client please. Vicky decided to keep him that way as she nodded then showed him the way to the custody suite where he signed-in and was shown to an interview room. Vicky then prepared the room where the interview proper would take place then confirmed the video recorder was working.
Vicky knew that the consultation with the barrister would take a while so went upstairs to the CID office where she began to look through some of the tapes seized from the bedroom. They were indeed sex videos. They were in the main of Sangster and other men and women, who all looked consensual, nothing forced. Some included her husband; then she saw something, that made her smile, as she said ‘Yes’ to herself. Then the call came in that confirmed the consultation was finished. She went into the main office where she nodded to a DC who she had asked to assist her in the interview. They went downstairs as Vicky set up the video player with the first tape.
