Death on High (The Lakeland Murders)

by Salkeld, J J

  ‘Unlucky’ said Spedding, holding up a pound. ‘Rack ‘em up again?’

  This time it was Mann who won. He picked up his glass and raised it to Spedding.

  ‘Cheers’ he said, and sat down to enjoy his pint. Spedding and his crew were still there when he left, talking quietly and seriously. In ten minutes none of them had laughed once, and that wasn’t natural. Either someone very close had just died in tragic circumstances, or they were working on something. The King’s Head was probably the closest that Joey Spedding would ever get to having an office.

  Monday, 18th February

  Andy Hall was already at work when Jane knocked and came in to his office.

  ‘Thanks for the photos’ he said. ‘The weather looked lovely.’

  ‘It was. I go walking with a friend, a girl from college, so I suggested we did that one yesterday. Kill two birds with one stone you might say.’

  ‘Thanks, and I’m glad you enjoyed it. I must admit I thought about doing the self-same thing. But I’m quite glad I didn’t because yesterday afternoon I discovered that the washing basket, which was half-empty when I did the washing on Saturday, was suddenly totally full, and everything was needed urgently. I don’t know what those girls think I am, a bloody laundry.’

  Jane wasn’t sure what to say. But at least the awkwardness had gone. ‘See anything of interest in the pictures, did you boss?’

  ‘Not really. What were your impressions? Visibility was very poor up there that day, so could he have just wandered off the path do you reckon?’

  Jane shook her head. ‘I doubt it. The path is very clear, that place is like a motorway so it’s really well worn, and they’d both walked that route before. He must have known that drop was there. And by the by there is another path, a few yards further away from the edge, and I’d say the views would be every bit as good from that one. I’ve been thinking about it and I think you’re right, there’s something not quite right here.’

  ‘I know what you mean, but I can’t put my finger on it either. I went to see the bloke who runs the Mountain Rescue team yesterday, and he told me that Tony Harrison was well equipped, had good boots on, and had fallen further than they’d expected. He’d taken ‘quite a header’ was how I think he put it.’

  ‘Charming. Lovely big mountain man type was he?’

  ‘No, more like a rather emaciated Bill Oddie. Anyway, what’s the craic from here? Shall we let it go, or maybe have a quick chat with the grieving widow?’

  ‘Have we got a reason?’

  ‘I don’t think we need one. I’d like to understand why an experienced and well-equipped walker came to make such a bad decision, that’s all.’

  ‘So you’d like me to set it up?’

  ‘Yes, no time pressure, just when suits her.’

  ‘OK boss.’

  ‘Thanks. And when Ray rolls in would you ask him if he could spare me a minute? I want to chat to with him about Ian.’

  ‘How’s he getting on?’

  ‘Very well. I wouldn’t have Ian Mann down as the most sociable of blokes but he’s already bosom buddies with Brockbank, and has at least made contact with Spedding. I want to tell Ray that he did a grand job there, and get him signed up for a bit of undercover work himself.’

  ‘How do you mean boss?’

  ‘At some point, in the not too distant future, I need the targets to meet one of Ian’s mates, our very own Ray Dixon, who can then drop out of the picture for a while. I don’t want the targets to be spooked if they see Ray again later on, when I might need to have someone close to Ian. You know, as and when things hot up.’

  ‘And you think Ray looks like the kind of mate that Ian would have?’

  Hall laughed.

  ‘Point taken. But I don’t have too many options. I could only go undercover at a geography teacher’s convention, and without any undue stereotyping Jane, I just don’t see you stripping the lead off church roofs.’

  Jane laughed. ‘That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me boss.’

  It was almost five before Jane was able to confirm their meeting with Vicky Harrison, at her house on Kendal Green at six. ‘Can you manage that OK boss?’ asked Jane, as she poked her head round his office door.

  ‘I wouldn’t miss it for the world’ said Hall. ‘The kids can just cook my tea for a change.’

  Jane followed Hall in her own car. Going in one vehicle hadn’t even been discussed. They both found spaces on the Green, and knocked at the front door of the imposing Victorian house.

  Vicky Harrison opened the door, and Hall had the sense that he’d seen her somewhere before. She was about his age he thought, so she might be one of Carol’s friends, maybe a mum who’d watched her kids and his at anything from a reception class Nativity play through to a sports day the previous summer. In fairness Hall hadn’t seen all that many of either, but he’d made it to a few. Now, especially now, he wished it had been more.

  They went through to the kitchen at the back of the house, and while the rest of the building seemed to have retained its period features this large room was a temple to structural steel and skylights, with full height glass doors looking over the garden. And Hall began to regret asking for coffee when Mrs. Harrison started using the coffee machine on the worktop. It looked like it would take forever.

  Eventually they sat at the long table that filled the side extension. Vicky Harrison didn’t seem remotely nervous or defensive.

  ‘How can I help you? I understood from the other officer that your enquiries were closed.’

  ‘We’re still completing them’ said Hall. ‘I know this must be painful, but could you tell me what happened on Hart Crag?’

  ‘Just what I told the other policeman. My husband wanted to walk along the path right at the cliff edge, and as were walking along he must have slipped or something. I was watching my footing, and sticking to the path, so I didn’t see exactly what happened. I just saw him trying to regain his balance, and then he fell. It all happened so fast. I got as near to the edge as I could, and started shouting for him, but there was no reply. Then other people started to arrive, and they were trying to see him down there. Eventually Mountain Rescue turned up, and you know the rest.’

  Jane expected Hall to ask more about the accident, and the lead-up to it, but he didn’t.

  ‘Can you tell me a bit about Tony, Mrs. Harrison?’

  ‘Vicky, please. Well Tony was an architect. We moved up here from the midlands when our son Peter was born, and I joined a small accountancy practice when he started school. Tony set up his own architectural practice, and that’s what he’s done ever since.’

  ‘And what about hobbies and interests?’

  ‘He liked walking obviously, and he was a collector of modernist furniture and art pottery. We’ve got quite a few rare pieces. These chairs are quite famous actually.’

  Hall had thought they’d come from Ikea. He sat corrected he thought, and tried to remember that for later. He’d like to see Jane laugh again.

  ‘And what was his usual attitude to risk, would you say?’

  Vicky Harrison didn’t seem remotely phased by the question.

  ‘I don’t think he went looking for it, usually anyway. Tony lived a very controlled kind of life.’

  Both Hall and Jane heard the emphasis on ‘controlled.’

  ‘So he didn’t go bungee jumping, rock climbing, anything like that?’

  Vicky laughed. ‘Good God no. Tony was born middle aged.’

  ‘So he was well equipped when you went walking?’

  ‘Yes, he was meticulous about everything really. ‘The devil is in the detail’ was his favourite expression. So even if we were just going up on the Helm he’d check his daysack had everything we’d need in it. I used to joke about it, years ago.’

  Hall nodded. ‘So he’d never fallen before? Never got in to any trouble on the fells?’

  ‘No, he hadn’t.’

  Hall changed tack again.

  ‘So you hav
e a son Vicky. Any other children?’

  ‘No, just Peter. Tony found children’ she paused for a moment, ‘unpredictable.’

  ‘Well mine certainly are’ said Hall, smiling. Vicky didn’t respond, so Hall went on. ‘And is Peter at home, with you?’

  ‘No, he’s away at university. He came home for a few days, until the funeral, but then he went back. I didn’t want him missing anything important.’

  ‘What’s he reading?’

  ‘Architecture.’

  ‘Like his dad’ Hall smiled. ‘But not at the same place surely?’

  ‘Yes, at the same place. It’s what Tony always wanted.’ Jane Francis thought that Vicky didn’t look especially pleased about it though.

  Hall put his cup down carefully. The table was probably valuable too, although it looked as if it had come out of a French farmer’s chicken shed.

  ‘Thanks for your time Vicky, and for the coffee too. Is there anything else you can think of, any other background that might help us?’

  ‘Like what? It was an accident, that’s all. There is no background. It was just a random event, the kind that Tony spent his whole life trying so hard to avoid. Ironic really, when you think about it.’

  ‘Yes, I suppose so. We’ll leave you to it now, but one other thing before we go. Did Tony have any close friends, any mates who we could chat to about him?’

  If Vicky was surprised by the question she still didn’t look it. Hall started to feel relieved. He’d been wrong about Vicky Harrison, and wrong about what had happened up on Hart Crag. He was almost sure of it.

  ‘My husband wasn’t the sort of man to have mates really. Probably the best person would be Ed Willis, his partner in the practice. They’d been together for nearly fifteen years.’

  ‘Thanks’ said Hall, ‘that’s really helpful.’

  But before her front door closed behind him he’d decided not to bother. Maybe he’d simply wanted there to be something wrong, or maybe his instincts weren’t as sharp as he’d thought. Because Andy Hall hadn’t got the slightest whiff of fear, nor of grief come to that. But then maybe Vicky Harrison just hadn’t liked her husband all that much, especially after many years of marriage, and there was absolutely no law against that.

  Wednesday, 20th February

  It wasn’t often that Superintendent Robinson invited Hall out for lunch; in fact Hall couldn’t remember the last time. Robinson’s mind ran as straight as the creases in his trousers, so Hall guessed that it was something that Robinson wanted to keep off the record, or at least as unofficial as Robinson ever managed to be. Beyond that Hall didn’t speculate, because he had lots to do and insufficient information to take his guess any further.

  At half-twelve on the dot Robinson emailed and asked Hall to meet him at the front desk. When he got there Hall was surprised to see that Robinson was dressed in civvies. Even the desk sergeant looked surprised. Robinson drove them down into town in his Volvo.

  ‘I thought we’d go to that cafe down by the river. The people who own it go to my church.’

  ‘That’s fine sir.’

  ‘Call me Eric. This is a strictly social lunch. Nothing to do with work.’

  Hall guessed that it would turn out to be quite the opposite, but he kept that thought to himself. And he liked that cafe anyway.

  When they arrived the place was busy, and the full length windows overlooking the river were steamed up. It was grey, windy and cold. Robinson ordered soup and a roll and Hall did the same. When it arrived he watched Robinson carefully cut half of his pat of butter and spread it, very thinly, on his roll. Hall used all of his.

  Robinson didn’t say much as they ate, and afterwards Hall went to order coffees.

  ‘I’m going to have a slice of flapjack with mine Eric, would you like anything?’

  Eric wouldn’t, and a few minutes later they were half way through their coffees. In five minutes they’d be leaving, and Hall was still waiting.

  ‘There was something that I wanted to mention to you actually, Andy. Just between ourselves.’

  Hall nodded his assent to the implied agreement.

  ‘It’s about the death of Tony Harrison. I understand you’ve had a look at it.’

  ‘Yes. We had a walk-in eye wit who thought that Vicky Harrison had reacted strangely to his fall, so I had a quick look. Mainly when myself and Jane Francis were off the clock.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘Nothing, really. Waste of time. Absolutely nothing to suggest that it was anything other than a tragic accident. It seems he was reckless, which was out of character, and he paid a very heavy price.’

  Robinson nodded. Hall waited. Eventually Robinson spoke again.

  ‘I know the family you know, have done for years. I knew him well actually. Did Vicky mention that at all?’

  ‘No, she didn’t. If you don’t mind me asking, how did you know them?’

  ‘From church. The whole family came for quite a lot of years, but more recently it had just been him.’

  Robinson didn’t seem to have anything to add.

  ‘Well thanks for letting me know’ said Hall eventually. He thought that there was all there was, but it turned out that he was wrong. Because Robinson hadn’t finished.

  ‘Now I’m sure you just think of me as a pen-pusher, and not a proper copper, so feel free to ignore what I have to say if you want. But I think your first instinct was right. When I heard he’d died, and the circumstances, I just wasn’t surprised.’

  ‘What makes you say that, Eric?’

  ‘Don’t get me wrong, he was a good family man, and obviously loved that boy of his. But there was something about the way he was with his wife. I don’t know, it made me uncomfortable.’

  ‘How do you mean?’

  ‘She always seemed slightly on edge, like she was waiting to see what he wanted her to say or do before she said or did anything. It was the same at church. You could always tell that it meant more to him, that he’d seen the true path through Christ, but that she hadn’t. In the end I don’t think she could take it any more. And when I heard they’d been walking together, just the two of them, well it made me think, that’s all.’

  Hall thought about what Robinson had said.

  ‘Do you have anything concrete? Anything to go on?’

  Robinson shrugged. The diamond shapes in his golf sweater’s pattern moved up and down in sympathy.

  ‘So, what do you want me to do?’

  ‘If you did still have an interest, what would be your next move?’

  ‘If my interest were official, or still semi-official?’

  ‘Not official.’

  ‘Then I’d talk to Tony’s partner from work, and if I thought that there was anything to give us concern, and then I’d look at both of the Harrisons, including their finances.’

  ‘I see. Would you mind having a word with his partner, and then have another chat with me afterwards?’

  ‘Certainly. And would you like this meeting to be in my notebook, or not?’

  ‘Oh not, Andy. Most definitely not.’

  That afternoon Hall sat in his office and thought back over the conversation. That Robinson was keeping something back was a given, but what could it be? What did he have against Vicky Harrison? She wasn’t even a member of his precious church anymore, but Robinson had to suspect her, surely? Then Hall had an idea. What if it was Tony Harrison who Robinson was interested in, rather than his wife? There was only one way to find out.

  Hall left his office and walked over to Jane’s desk, glancing briefly at Ian Mann’s empty chair as he passed.

  ‘Jane, you know I said that there was absolutely nothing in the Tony Harrison death.’

  ‘Yes boss.’

  ‘Well, I’ve changed my mind. It’s the DI’s prerogative. So could you contact his partner, Ed Willis, and say we’d like a chat. No huge rush, tomorrow would be fine.’

  Jane looked up at Hall.

  ‘Why the change of heart boss?’

  ‘I coul
d tell you that, but if I did I’d have to kill you. And I think that might infringe your human rights or something.’

  Jane laughed.

  ‘I think it might. Will you want me to come too?’

  ‘If I haven’t killed you by then I certainly will. I’d be interested in your take on what the bloke has to say.’

  Ian Mann had been into the King’s Head every day, often twice, and had started chatting to a couple of the locals. But Spedding hadn’t been back in. So all Mann had got out of it so far was a more reliable long-potting technique and a little rash on his arm, which he thought he’d picked up off one of the seats.

  On Wednesday afternoon he fitted a new air-cleaner to the car, and a stiffer bonnet brace. He hated to think what Robinson would make of his expenses, but Mann needed to be accepted by Ben Brockbank. And he enjoyed working on the car too, it was something he hadn’t really done since he was in the Marines.

  As he ate that evening Mann found himself looking forward to the drive out to Alston, and he decided to go down to Penrith, past HQ, then up the switchback climb to Alston itself. It was further, but it would be fun. And though the road was wet and slippy Mann had a blast on the way to Alston, and as he climbed he found himself wondering about how he could increase the power still further. But by the top he was thinking more about how to improve the brakes, and especially the headlights. But at least he’d have something to chat to the others about now.

  When he arrived at the King John four other Imprezas were in the car park, all neatly backed in and side by side. He parked next to the last in the line, glanced at each in turn and walked in. Brockbank’s car was the second one along.

  To his surprise Mann soon found himself having a good time, but after an hour or so Brockbank got up to go.

  ‘Sorry lads, but I’ve got an early start tomorrow.’ He prepared himself for the ‘old man’ banter, which duly began. But Brockbank didn’t leave immediately, and he came and sat next to Mann.