Ultimate Dilemma (Justice Again Book 2)

by M A Comley

  Katy chuckled. “Worth a try.” She downed the rest of her coffee and sprang out of her seat. “I could drop by with another update at around one, if that’s all right with you, sir?”

  “Get out, you, cheeky scoundrel.”

  Katy reached the door and flashed him a smile. “Shoot me for trying. What about if I get an intravenous line running along the corridor tapped into your coffee machine?”

  “I’d snip it halfway down. Now go.”

  There was a lightness in her steps as she made her way back to the incident room. It felt good to have a bit of banter first thing to ease the stress running through her during an investigation.

  “Any luck, Charlie?”

  “Yep, managed to book an appointment with a Doctor Marlow for seven o’clock this evening. Do you want me to call Nadia and tell her when and where to attend?”

  “If you would. Thanks. I’m just going to give AJ a call and then I’ll go down and interview Amy Bird. Oh, by the way, we have an update on the missing gun from the evidence room. An officer has been named, and it’s in the hands of the IPCC. He was coerced into doing the deed, shall we say.”

  “That’s terrible, guv, are any of us truly safe?” Karen asked.

  “It makes you wonder, Karen. Have you managed to find out anything about Penny Wallender?”

  “I was a tad sneaky there. I rang her home number and pretended to be someone from the gas board. I told her there’d been a leak reported a few doors down and asked if she’d been present in the house all week and had she noticed any strange smells lately. She said she’d been at home all that time, mourning the loss of her father.”

  “Good thinking, Karen. Well, that appears to rule her out of the equation. I won’t be long.” She drifted into her office. The post had already been dealt with when it had arrived earlier, so she didn’t have that mindless chore to deal with.

  She called AJ on her mobile. He answered after a few rings. “Hello, sweetheart, just checking in on my favourite two people.”

  “Hey, you. We’re fine, how are you holding up?”

  “Ditto. I can’t talk for long, I have someone I need to interview, she’ll be well stewed by now. What are you guys up to today?”

  “You’re not missing out on much. Playschool this morning, and then I thought I’d take the little minx to the park for a picnic, if the weather stays fine.”

  “That’ll be wonderful for her. You’re such a thoughtful dad, AJ.”

  “Am not. It’s what any father would do, given the chance, I’m sure.”

  “I doubt it. Do you have enough food in? Don’t go giving her all carbs. Bung in some fresh fruit and raw veggies like celery and carrot sticks. Damn, what am I saying? You know all this.”

  “I do. I don’t blame you for checking, though. Thanks for that. Are you tired?”

  “No, not at the moment. I’ve just had a welcome Colombian coffee with the boss that’ll keep me satisfied and functioning properly for a while.”

  “I bet it’ll hit you around lunchtime. If you’re in the area, drop by the park, we’ll be there from around one, if I get my act together. I’ll make up an extra serving for you and Charlie just in case. Georgie and I can always have it for lunch tomorrow if you’re a no-show.”

  “We’ll do our best. The park at the end of the street?”

  “That’s the one. I don’t want you getting jealous, though. I’ve arranged to meet up with a few of the other mothers down there.”

  “No fear of that, love. I haven’t got time to get jealous. Anyway, I trust you implicitly.”

  “The same here.”

  “I have to shoot off now, AJ. I love you, don’t ever forget that.”

  “I won’t. I love you, too, Katy. I think you’re a wonderful mother and DI to boot.”

  “Why thank you, kind sir.” She ended the call and dabbed her eyes with a tissue. “Silly woman, turning to mush like that.”

  Charlie appeared in the doorway. “Oh God, is everything all right?”

  “Yep, just hubby and I getting all sentimental with each other.”

  “You’re entitled to do that after working all night. Is he okay about you not going home last night?”

  “Yeah, he was fine. He understands it only happens now and then. Did you manage to contact Nadia?”

  “Yeah, she’s agreed to the appointment.”

  “Great stuff. I forgot to ask you to mention to the doctor why we needed the appointment.”

  “All in hand. I filled him in. Can I speak freely?”

  “Of course, always, you know that, Charlie. Come in, take a seat.”

  Charlie closed the door behind her and sat.

  “What’s on your mind?”

  “It’s a bit of an out-of-the-box idea, and I swear I haven’t been speaking to Mum about any of this, just in case you aim that one at me.”

  “Go on, I trust you.”

  “You know what we’re up against, a missing body of the victim from twenty-four years ago…well, I wondered if it would be worth having a chat with—”

  Katy held her hand up. “Stop right there, I know what you’re going to say. You want me to get Carol involved, right?”

  “Trust me, I’m in two minds whether to contact her myself, but surely, it would make sense, wouldn’t it?”

  Katy contemplated, for a good few minutes, her partner’s suggestion of bringing the psychic in to help before she found the voice to answer her, “Okay, I think you have a point. Why not? Will you call her, or shall I?”

  Charlie’s teeth showed through her parting lips. “I think it would make her day if you rang her.”

  “Get me the damn number then. Do you think she’ll do it over the phone? Or will she need to come here?”

  “Not sure, ask her. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with what she can do, and she’ll be thrilled to know that you thought of her.”

  “Correction, I didn’t think of her, you did. This is between you and me, right? If Roberts hears about this…he’ll strike me off as being a loon and for taking after your mother.”

  “You reckon? I’ll get my phone.” Charlie nipped out of the office and returned within seconds. “Here you go. Want me to hang around while you make the call?”

  “Go on then, I’ll put it on speaker, in case I miss anything. Wish me luck.” Katy punched in the number and waited for Carol to pick up.

  “Hello. Who is this?” Carol asked suspiciously as Katy’s phone would have come up with a ‘number withheld’ status.

  “Carol, it’s DI Katy Foster. I’m not sure if you’ll remember me or not, we worked on the Noelle Holten case together.”

  “Of course, I remember you, dear. Lorne’s sceptical partner.”

  “That’s the one. Although in all fairness, by the end of that case I was a true believer in your abilities, if you recall correctly.”

  “Hmm…I suppose I remember the outcome differently to you. Anyway, this is a surprise. What can I do for you?”

  “First of all, Charlie’s here listening in, she was the one who suggested I should call you.”

  “Aww…hi, Charlie, long time no hear, love. How are you?”

  “Sorry, Carol. I’ll remedy that soon. We’re in the middle of working a hectic case.”

  “I know all about it, dear. I’ve been sitting here twiddling my thumbs, waiting for you to get in touch to ask for my help.”

  “Oh my. Dare I ask what you know, Carol?” Katy jumped in.

  “Well, first of all, I have four men sitting here with me. Want me to give you their names?”

  “Why not?”

  “All righty then. I’ve got Bruce, Dale, Robin and Ellis around me now, ladies. What do you want to ask them?”

  “Where do you start?” Katy whispered to Charlie.

  “At the beginning,” Charlie responded, then chewed on her lip anxiously.

  “Okay, Carol, perhaps the gents wouldn’t mind telling us what went on that night twenty-four years ago.”

  �
�I’ll ask. Oh dear, a few of them have bowed their heads in shame. All right, boys, let’s have it.” A few moments of silence passed before Carol spoke again. “Most of them are remorseful, with one exception, Bruce. He’s telling me she deserved what she got.”

  “Why am I not surprised to hear that?” Katy replied. “Let’s ignore him for a moment and concentrate on the others, Carol.”

  “As you want. Come on, guys, let’s help the police officers out here. Tell me what happened.” Another lull was followed by Carol gasping.

  “Are you all right, Carol?”

  “I’m fine. Oh my, that poor defenceless woman. You men should be ashamed of yourselves for putting her through that. And you, Bruce, you’re a despicable piece of shit. I hope Hell welcomes you with open arms for treating your wife, and daughters, come to that, in such a horrendous way.”

  “What’s going on, Carol?” Katy queried, eager to know.

  “That night, like many others before, all the men raped Sonia Crawford. Things went too far. They tried something different to add to the thrill. Two of them tried strangling her and, well…their little game went too far and she died.”

  “Okay, that account matches up with what we already know, Carol. Thank them for their honesty.” The words stuck in Katy’s throat. Why should she thank a bloody murderer, least of all a dead one, communicating with her through a medium? It was beyond her but a necessity all the same, if they were going to find out where the body was buried. “I need to know what happened to her body once it left the house and was placed in the boot of the car.”

  Carol then asked the spirits who surrounded her the question. “Right, okay, they’re telling me that Sonia is buried in a forest. Which one…? Shendon Forest, do you know it, Katy?”

  Charlie picked up her phone and did the relevant search. She angled the phone in Katy’s direction.

  “Yep, I’ve got it. They need to give me more than that. How far in? Any markers to identify where?”

  “Come on, guys, you can do better than that. Where exactly is she buried?”

  The silence in between the questions was killing Katy. She gestured for the proceedings to go faster, and Charlie chuckled.

  “Okay, I have a location for you. There’s an opening trail that leads into the woods. Take the right fork and go twenty feet or so. On the right, there’s a marker of sorts, at least there was back then, they’re telling me. She’s buried there, still wrapped in the rug.”

  “Thanks, Carol. Dare I ask if Sonia’s spirit is there with you?”

  “No. She wouldn’t show up, not with this mob present. I’ll leave it a while and try to contact her later. I’ll call you if I succeed.”

  “You’re a star, thanks, Carol. Speak soon.”

  “Katy, I’m glad you rang. I’m always here at your disposal, remember that.”

  “Thanks. Will do. I’d better go and get on the phone to organise a search of the forest.”

  “Good luck. Love to both of you. Don’t be a stranger, Charlie.”

  “I won’t. I’ve been working flat out, Carol. I’ll make it up to you soon, I promise.”

  “I know you have. You’re in my thoughts, ladies.”

  Katy ended the call and lifted her office phone. “Bring the team up to date, will you, Charlie? I won’t be long.”

  Charlie rushed out of the room and closed the door behind her.

  “Patti, sorry to trouble you. I have some news.”

  “Go on, surprise me.”

  Katy filled her in on what Carol had revealed and asked for assistance. “Can we get SOCO over there to check it out?”

  “I can arrange that for you. I might even take a wander out that way myself if I can finish the next PM promptly. How exciting. Sorry, that sounded bad. I didn’t mean it to come across that way. I meant after all this time, it’ll be a relief to finally lay that woman to rest properly, not in a pauper’s grave. And good on Carol for playing her part in all this as well.”

  “We’ll see if what she told us turns out to be the truth or not. I wouldn’t put it past these men to be winding us up even through their spirits.”

  “There is that. Let me get the ball rolling. See you out at the site later.”

  “Definitely. Thanks, Patti.”

  Katy sat back after ending the call and reflected on whether she was doing the right thing or not, taking the word of four spirits. She shook her head. It sounded unreasonable to consider, but at this point, she was willing to do just about anything to get a result. Maybe Sonia’s spirit would show up soon and talk to Carol, possibly even reveal who the damn killer was.

  She joined the rest of the team not long after. “Charlie, come on, we’ll take a leisurely drive over there. I want to be there when they start digging. I hope it doesn’t turn out to be a false alarm.”

  “I’m sure it won’t. Have faith in Carol’s abilities, she’s never let Mum down in the past, has she?”

  Katy cast her mind back and had to admit, she couldn’t think of a time when Carol had failed them. “You’re right, let’s hope this isn’t the first time.”

  14

  The forest was a well-known walkers’ paradise in the local area, but even on a bright August day there was an eeriness to it. The paths were well cared for. A sign told Katy that the upkeep was down to the National Trust. “Looks like SOCO are already here.”

  “Wonder how long it will take them to set up.” Charlie peered through the dense area ahead.

  “I shouldn’t think it would be too long.”

  “Hello again, ladies, nice of you to join us.” Patti startled them both by sneaking up behind them.

  Katy spun around, her hand covering her chest. “Holy shit! Thanks, Patti, as if this place isn’t creepy enough already.”

  “Sorry. Shall we?” Patti marched ahead, expecting them to join her.

  “If I can slow my heart rate down to near normal, yes, we’ll be right with you.”

  “Wuss!” Patti shouted over her right shoulder.

  The SOCO technicians were organising themselves into a frenzy.

  Patti needed to step in and call a halt to the proceedings before things got out of hand. “I appreciate how eager we all are to get started, but let’s stick to protocol, guys. Less haste, more speed and all that. Got it?” She turned to face Katy and Charlie and dipped a hand into her bag. She withdrew a couple of protective suits and flung them in their direction. “You know the drill, even if this does turn out to be an extremely old crime scene.”

  Katy and Charlie quickly stepped into their suits and joined Patti a few feet away.

  “This appears to be the right area according to the directions you gave me via you know who.” Patti winked at Katy.

  Katy raised her crossed fingers and held her breath as two technicians began to dig carefully, half a shovel depth at a time.

  They were thirty minutes into the dig when one of the men hit something and alerted Patti.

  “All right, John, nice and slowly, scrape back the earth around the object. Try not to disturb it too much.”

  Charlie clutched Katy’s arm and then apologised.

  “It’s fine,” Katy said. “I feel apprehensive as well. Let’s hope this is the right spot.”

  The men scratched the soil away, placing it in a pile on a groundsheet for further analysis later. John beckoned Patti, who in turn gestured for Katy and Charlie to join her.

  “What is it?” Katy asked. She stared at some form of material and then gasped as the realisation dawned on her. “Oh. My. God. Is that a rug?”

  “Seems to me your assumption is spot on, Inspector. Guys, let’s have some more hands over here now. Gently does it. I couldn’t give a toss if we turn out to be here all day, let’s try not to disturb too much with the shovels, use your hands if necessary.”

  Another two men joined in. Twenty minutes later, they had uncovered a rug that was frayed and fragmented. Patti tugged one long piece from the hole and laid it on the groundsheet. This was followed by n
umerous other six- to eight-inch squares. Katy peered into the hole left behind and shook her head.

  “What’s wrong?” Charlie asked, confused.

  “It’s just a rug. There should be bones in there, but there’s nothing. Can you confirm what I’m seeing, Patti?”

  “I think your postulation is accurate, Katy. Let’s see what the men can find lower down. My prediction is that the rug was probably wrapped around the woman’s body numerous times. As you say, there are no bones at present. Hopefully that status will change the deeper we dig.”

  A bad feeling swept through Katy. The more the men dug, the more her heart sank. “She’s not here,” she leaned over and whispered to Charlie.

  “Hang tight. She must be. Where else would she be?”

  Katy cocked an eyebrow at her partner. “Have you seen the size of London? Shit, they could have put her anywhere.”

  Charlie shook her head. “It doesn’t make sense. Why would the men lead us to this location if she’s not buried here? Furthermore, why would the men bury just the rug?”

  Katy raised her arms and then slammed them against her thighs. “I don’t frigging know.” Then she gasped. “What if one of them returned to exhume the body?”

  “What? Why would they do that?”

  “I don’t know. None of this investigation has made any sense so far. I suppose anything and everything is possible, isn’t it?”

  “Sadly, yes, that’s true. Should we ring Carol, see if she has anything further to add now that we’re here?”

  “It’s worth a shot.”

  Charlie took a few steps back and rang her friend. She returned with disappointment clouding her features. “She’s as flummoxed as we are.”

  “Brilliant…not. Did she have any luck trying to make contact with the woman’s spirit?”

  “She’s tried, but her powers are failing her at the moment. She’s putting it down to exhaustion after summoning up the men earlier.”

  “Makes sense. I forgot how draining connecting with spirits can be for her. Maybe we’ll give her a while and then call back, it wouldn’t hurt to give her a nudge later.”

  “I’m sure she’ll get in touch with us soon enough.”

  Patti joined them, her shoulders slumped in resignation. “My apologies, ladies, I think we’re barking up the wrong tree here. Sorry for the inexcusable poor pun. Forensics will be able to tell if a body had been in the rug, so all is not lost.”