Dead Nasty

by Helen H. Durrant

  The team looked at each other. He was on one, but he was right.

  Ruth began. “I’ve been thinking about the motive. Who would want to kill a teenage girl? I know they can be hard work — Jake complains enough. We should look again at what links them.”

  “School; that online stalker, Aiden; and a dislike of Gaby Donnelly,” Rocco said.

  Ruth looked at the others. “Do we have anything more on this Aiden? He chatted up the girls, going from one to the other. Megan said he’d dumped Elsa and moved onto her. It was then that Elsa went missing. I’m wondering if he’s moved on again. Chosen his next victim and done for Megan.”

  Calladine was on it immediately. “Donnelly! This was how he operated the last time. Not online, but he’ll have learned a thing or two inside. I spoke to him last night. He was evasive. Hid behind the vicar. He has to be top of our list, surely?”

  “He can account for his actions. That diary he keeps, remember? He’s working for that vicar helping local residents. They can vouch for him. I don’t see how Donnelly would have the time,” Ruth demurred.

  Calladine went on, “I want you all to look for any link, no matter how tenuous, between Donnelly and those girls. We know about Peach. He went out with both Elsa and Megan. But what else is there? And be aware that he’s working with someone else. Jason Kent, the man who visited him in prison, has been seen on CCTV here in Leesdon, and in the same place, at the same time, as Megan. I don’t believe he’d come here and not seek Donnelly out. But Donnelly has denied seeing him. According to him, this character was fascinated by the Annabelle Roper killing. We need to find Kent fast. I don’t think that will be easy. He’s clear enough in the images but both Thorpe and I reckon that’s a disguise.” He passed copies of the images to the team.

  Imogen looked at the pictures. “Even so, if this is how he’s going about, we should pass it on to uniform. They might spot him.”

  “He looks as if he’s living rough. We could check the hostels,” added Rocco.

  Calladine nodded. “Okay, circulate the image. See what comes back.” He stood by the incident board, a marker in his hand.

  “Both Elsa and Megan were being chatted up online by this charmer, Aiden. He has to be in the frame,” Ruth said.

  Calladine started writing. “Pity we don’t know who he really is then. Imogen — chase the Duggan for more on that one. We could do with a location at the very least. Your IT wiz might have a lead on that by now.”

  “We still haven’t spoken to Gaby Donnelly,” said Ruth.

  “We’ll do that today. We’ll speak to Rachel Hayes too.”

  “Have you looked at that notebook of Donnelly’s, sir?” asked Rocco.

  “Yes, it’s all pretty mundane. I’ve passed a couple of queries onto uniform but it all appears to check out.”

  Imogen looked up from her computer screen. “Julian has sent the interim forensic report through. He says will you ring him, it’s urgent.”

  “I suggest you give it a look over before we go any further. I’ll see what Julian wants.” Calladine went into his office, closed the door behind him and, still on his feet, called Julian. He couldn’t settle. “Julian, what is it?”

  “I think you’ll be pleased. You have the report, most of which I or Natasha have already relayed verbally. I’m still conducting tests on the girl’s hair. But we did find something. Among the detritus in the dustbin was a pair of earrings. There was a tiny smear of blood on one of them which does not belong to Elsa Ramsden. It doesn’t have the same DNA profile.”

  Calladine held his breath. Was this the much-needed breakthrough?

  “The blood belongs to one Craig Donnelly. An individual you know, I believe.”

  “You’re sure, Julian?”

  “I know my job, Tom. Donnelly’s DNA is on record.”

  “So the bastard did kill her! Up to his old tricks, just as I thought.”

  “That is a possibility.” There was a pause at the end of the line. “Although things are not always as they seem. Blood on one of Elsa’s earrings alone may not be enough. There was some hair wrapped around the earring. We’re testing it to make sure it’s Elsa’s. But, apart from that, we could not find any of Elsa’s DNA. Odd, if she’d been wearing the earrings. Also there are differences between this killing and that of Annabelle Roper.”

  “Did you find anything else?”

  “No. I’ve emailed you an enlarged image of the earrings.”

  “Thanks, Julian. I’ll tell the team the good news.”

  Calladine was jubilant. He’d put this down to Donnelly right from the start. The earrings had to belong to Elsa. Why else would they have been found with the body? He went back into the incident room and wrote the name in huge letters across the incident board. “His blood on an earring found in that bin along with Elsa’s body. I want him bringing in — now!”

  * * *

  “Donnelly, it’s me. I need a place to stash some stuff. It can’t stay here. I’ve had the police sniffing around.” Peach sounded anxious.

  “There’s nothing I can do, Peachy. You know how things are. You’ll have to go somewhere else.”

  “You have to help. There is no one else. I’ll make it worth your while.”

  “I’m busy. I’ve got jobs to do for Livings. They’ll take me the rest of the day. I haven’t got time to mess around with you.”

  “What’s happened to you? Tell the barmy God-botherer to do one. I warned you what it’d be like before you got out. Don’t listen, that’s your problem.”

  “Get off my back. I’ve warned you before. Keep out of my life.”

  “Perhaps I should have a word with the good vicar.”

  “Do that and it’ll be your death warrant.” He meant it. Donnelly didn’t want anyone or anything spoiling what he had. “I won’t do anything to annoy him. He’s given me a home and a job. If Livings sees you hanging around here he’ll go to the police. He trusts me, and I owe him.”

  “You owe me too. Or have you forgotten about that? I did you a huge favour not long ago, took risks. So far I’ve had nothing in return.”

  “You’ll get yours. You need to be patient. Meanwhile, I won’t have Livings rattled. It’s down to him that I’m out.”

  “In my book you owe me double what you owe him. Have you forgotten what I did for you?” Donnelly didn’t reply. “I need a safe place for a short while. You can sort it, given that huge rambling pile you live in.”

  Donnelly didn’t like it, but he’d have to help Peachy. He was a loose cannon. For now, there was more to be gained by keeping him sweet. “I’ll leave the van unlocked. It’s parked by the side gate. Put it in the back, under the tarpaulin.”

  “Thanks, Craig.”

  “What’s in the package?”

  “Better if you don’t know.”

  “Dodgy then. The police keep asking me about you. They’ve been round here too. What if they come back?”

  “All you have to do is keep your mouth shut.”

  “So what is it? Drugs?”

  “I need the money.”

  “Who do you owe?”

  “Keep out of it. Safer that way.”

  “I’m not doing this for nothing.”

  “I’ll give you a ton. I’ll leave it with the package. But no questions, and don’t blab to anyone. Understand?”

  “The drugs — stolen are they? If you’re willing to part with a ton then someone’s looking.”

  “No one’s looking. Hide the stuff and don’t breathe a word.”

  “So why pay me so much?”

  “I’m paying you a ton so you don’t ask stupid questions. Just keep your bloody mouth shut! I’ll be in touch again when I need to pick the stuff up.”

  Conversation ended, Donnelly pocketed his mobile and walked into the graveyard. At the far end, sheltered by a high hedge and down half a dozen steep steps was a vault belonging to the Brayshaw family. It was nearly one hundred and fifty years old. At one time the Brayshaws had been the wealthiest
folk in the area. In the nineteenth century, Ernest Brayshaw had owned a cotton mill in Oldston, and had made a fortune. None of the family was left, so the church was left to maintain the vault.

  Donnelly had looked the vault over. But decided not to start any maintenance for now — except for fitting a new lock. The place could prove useful. He’d been inside a couple of times to sweep up the leaves and other rubbish that had collected over the years. He hadn’t looked too closely, but he reckoned there were at least six coffins in the vault. The vicar had not been near it for years, and neither had anyone else. It was the perfect hiding place.

  Donnelly inhaled the fresh morning air. This transaction did have its compensations. A ton was good. He’d buy something nice for Gaby. Try to get her back on side.

  * * *

  First to reach the vicarage were two police cars full of uniformed officers. Within seconds Michael Livings was peering out of the door. He was about to tackle them when Calladine’s car pulled up.

  “Donnelly. Where is he?”

  “Working, Inspector. What is it now?”

  “Working where?”

  “He’s round the back in the churchyard helping David cut the grass.”

  “Go and get him,” Calladine ordered.

  “This is getting so regular it’s laughable. You drag Craig in, you learn nothing and then you let him go. I’d have thought you had better things to do with your time.”

  The officers returned minutes later with Donnelly in tow. Despite the handcuffs, he was struggling.

  “Craig Donnelly, you are under arrest for the murder of Elsa Ramsden.” Calladine read him his rights and led him to the car.

  Livings said nothing. His eyes were blazing, but his mouth remained firmly shut.

  Calladine grinned. “What’s wrong, vicar? Cat got your tongue? That reminds me. Have you got a cat here, by the way?”

  Livings stared at Calladine. “We have two. They’re not pets. They earn their keep. We need them to keep the mice down.”

  “Make sure you get a sample of cat hair,” Calladine told one of the crime scene officers.

  Once Calladine was back in the car, Ruth gave him a concerned look. “I hope you’re right about this, otherwise Livings will have your hide.”

  “We’ve got his DNA on one of Elsa’s earrings. That not good enough for you?”

  “But no DNA of Elsa’s. It doesn’t feel right to me. I know what we’ve got. It may or may not hold up in court. Depends on how good Donnelly’s lawyer is. For me it’s a little too convenient. How come we find two earrings but nothing else?”

  “They must have come off the body when she was dumped.”

  “Both of them? Like I said — convenient.”

  “She was naked. He’d removed everything. She had no clothes, bar the tie, and no jewellery.”

  “So why leave the earrings behind, Tom? It doesn’t make sense. And one of them smeared with Donnelly’s blood, left for us to find.”

  “You think it was left there deliberately?”

  “A stitch-up — could be. But it poses questions. Try to answer them and you begin to see the puzzle.”

  Calladine decided to ignore this. “We need to get him back fast. Megan may still be alive. There has been no body found yet.”

  Ruth sighed. “I do hope you are right on this one, Tom. I don’t want to think what Donnelly’s legal crew will do to you if you’re not.”

  They pulled into the station car park. “That’s not going to happen.”

  Calladine called over to the uniformed officer holding Donnelly. “Get him processed and stick him in a cell.” He turned to Ruth. “Do you want in on this one?”

  “Someone has to get your back.”

  Chapter 14

  “SOCOs are at Donnelly’s cottage now, ma’am.”

  “Given what you’ve got, I was happy to sanction the search warrant. But it must only be the cottage, understand? We have no reason to look at the vicarage itself. Livings has not done anything wrong. I have a bad feeling about this, Calladine. Livings will take us to hell and back if we’re wrong.”

  “We’re sure to find more, ma’am. We haven’t found Elsa’s clothes, her phone, or her . . . tongue.” Calladine shuddered.

  Birch looked thoughtful. “A trophy taker. Do you want me to join you in the interview?”

  “Sergeant Bayliss and I can manage, ma’am.”

  “Okay, but I’ll be watching. And for God’s sake don’t lose it. By the book, Calladine.”

  Calladine ignored her comment, but that didn’t stop it resounding through his head. As far as he was concerned, it would be all too easy to lose it with Donnelly. “Anything on your son?”

  “No. I’ve booked a flight for tomorrow. I can’t sit back waiting for phone calls. I need to be there, get stuck in.”

  “I wish you luck, ma’am. Hope you find him.”

  Calladine returned to the incident room. He had a quick swig of coffee, nodded to Ruth and they were off. High on adrenalin, he wanted to get this rolling.

  “Found your missing model yet?” Ruth asked.

  “No. It’s not me that’s looking for her. That’s Thorpe’s case.”

  “Have you considered that it might have something to do with our man?”

  “Donnelly? What do you mean?”

  “Kate Reynolds walks through town and just disappears. Sound familiar?”

  “We’ll ask him.”

  When they entered the incident room, Donnelly was sitting beside his solicitor, whispering to him.

  Calladine began. “I’ve no intention of dragging this out. I want to know where Megan Heywood is.”

  “How should I know? I don’t even know who she is.”

  Calladine put a photo of her on the desk for them to see. “This is Megan. Young — a teenager — and blonde. Exactly how you like them, in fact.”

  “No comment.”

  “If you’re going to go down that route, Craig, we’ll get nowhere. And I’ll get annoyed.”

  “I’ve never seen her before.”

  “Try this girl then, Elsa Ramsden.”

  “I don’t know her either. You’re wasting your time and mine. You’re becoming a right pain in the arse, copper.”

  “You do know Elsa. You took her, imprisoned her and then killed her. Not content with that, you put her in a wheelie bin, just like with Annabelle. We have proof.” Calladine took the photo of Elsa’s earrings and placed it in front of Donnelly and his solicitor. “These were found in the same bin.”

  Donnelly shrugged. “So? What’s it got to do with me?”

  “One of them has got your blood on it. Can you explain that, Craig?”

  Craig Donnelly went pale. He gripped the edge of the table and his knuckles were white.

  “How did you get that scrape on your hand, Craig?”

  “I’ve been digging the gardens of half the folk in this town for the last few weeks, that’s how. This can’t be happening, not again.” He turned to his solicitor and shook his head. “Last time it was a damned necklace and a shoe. Now this. I’m being set up, just like before.”

  Calladine leaned back in his chair. “I very much doubt that, Craig. I’ll ask you again. Where is Megan Heywood? What have you done with her?”

  “And I’m telling you, copper, I don’t know her. I’m not stupid. I can see what this looks like, but I’m telling the truth. This is not down to me.” He tapped the photo of the earrings, then turned to his solicitor. “I don’t feel right.”

  “That character who visited you in prison, Jason Kent. He has been seen in Leesdon. Does he take them for you? Are you in this together?”

  Donnelly was sweating. His eyes were blazing with anxiety and rage.

  “My client needs a break. This has come as a complete shock to him,” the solicitor said.

  Calladine thumped his fist on the table. “Shock? How do you imagine the families of those girls are feeling? Tell me what you’ve done with Megan and you can have all the rest you need!�
�

  Donnelly groaned, and rubbed at his chest. “I can’t breathe,” he gasped.

  “We have forensic evidence. We will find Kent. Why not cut your losses, Craig, and tell me where Megan is?” Calladine stood up.

  “My chest hurts. I’m in pain.”

  “Get him a doctor!” Calladine stalked out of the interview room.

  “That went well. I did warn you.”

  He really didn’t need Birch’s sarcasm now. “I’m doing my best, ma’am, in the only way I know how. That bastard is putting it on. He did this the last time, on the Roper case. Threw a wobble and got carted off to hospital. There was bugger all wrong then, and it’ll be the same this time.”

  “See what the doctor says. If he’s okay, give him an hour or so to calm down before you start again.”

  Calladine made his way back to the incident room. He was furious. The longer Donnelly held out, the less chance they had of finding Megan alive.

  “I’m going for a word with Elsa’s mum,” Ruth announced. “Just crossing the t’s.”

  “Want company?”

  “Not yours, I don’t. I’ll take Rocco.” Ruth nodded at the young DC.

  Calladine disappeared into his office, slamming the door behind him. This case was not getting any easier.

  * * *

  What’s on your mind?”

  “Those bloody earrings, Rocco. I can’t get them out of my head.”

  “I don’t see why. It’s straightforward enough. How could one of them be smeared with Donnelly’s blood if he didn’t handle it?”

  Ruth scoffed. “You’re not that stupid. It’s far too convenient. We’ve got nothing else belonging to Elsa. Anyone could have set that up for us to find. Calladine is desperate to pin it on Donnelly, God knows why. I’m not entirely sure the man was guilty first time round.”

  “Calladine won’t want to hear that.”

  “Tell me about it. I’ve already voiced my opinions. Which is why I don’t think he’s entirely happy with me at the moment.” They were approaching Circle Road. There was a group of people standing around outside the Ramsden house. “The press. We’ll have to keep our heads down. And no matter what we’re told, not a word,” she warned Rocco.