Taste of Fury

by M A Comley

  “Nope, I was about to say the same. That leaves this man, Nikodem Nowak.” Katy enlarged his image and stared at it for several moments. “What do you think? A possibility?”

  “I’d say so. He has distinctive eyes, even if the image is in black and white.”

  “You’re right. Let’s do some research, see what we can find out about him. No, to save time, I’ll do that, why don’t you see what shows up for the fourth man, Ethan Romero? I’ve got a good feeling about this Charlie.” Katy was buoyed by what they’d discovered so far.

  “Me too. Does that mean we get to go home earlier than anticipated?”

  Katy chuckled. “You never know your luck.”

  They both set to work, pounding their respective keyboards. Katy’s adrenaline flowed at a fair pace through her body, as if leading the charge to find the information that would be the key to breaking the case.

  “Aha! What do we have here? According to this article written at the back end of last year, Nowak is an award-winning restaurant owner in the area.”

  “He is?” Charlie frowned and queried.

  Katy glanced up at the clock, it was already ten-thirty. She reached for the phone, dialled the number of the restaurant and held her crossed fingers up in the air as she waited for her call to be answered.

  “Hello, Toskas. Can I help you?” A young female voice with a slight foreign accent filtered down the line.

  “Oh hi, yes, I hope so. Is Nikodem there, please? If so, I’d like to have a brief chat with him.”

  “Who are you?”

  “Sorry, I should have introduced myself. I’m DI Katy Foster of the Met Police. Is he there?”

  “No. I don’t know where he is. It’s a mystery, he usually shows up just after we open, at around seven, but tonight, he nowhere to be seen. I tried calling him, but his phone just rings and rings and then goes into voicemail. I’ve given up trying to contact him now. He must be out having nice time with a girl. Sorry, ignore me, I shouldn’t have said that.”

  “I won’t tell him what you said. So, am I to understand he’s not married then?”

  The girl let out a real belly laugh. “Him? No way. No woman would ever be able to tie him down, many have tried over the years, or so I’ve been told. He goes out with a woman for a maximum of six months before he dumps her. He prefers life alone rather than be tied down, is that how you say it?”

  “It is. Perhaps you can give me an address where I can contact him?”

  “Why? Me no like handing over personal information to someone over the phone. You could be trying to trick me.”

  “I’m not. I promise. My concern is genuine for Nikodem.”

  “I still not sure. You come here in person, let me see your ID before I hand over information. How about that?”

  “I could do that, but it’s only going to prove a waste of time. Please, just give me his address.”

  Silence filled the line for what seemed like eons. The girl tutted on the other end. “Wait a minute. I wouldn’t do this usually, but I must admit I’m worried about not being able to get in touch with him. He’s always available twenty-four hours a day. He loves this place and finds it difficult to let go.”

  “I understand. His address, if you will?” Katy prompted.

  “Just a moment. I need to get my mobile, it’s in my contacts.” She dropped the phone on a desk, so Katy presumed, and returned less than a minute later. “Here it is. Forty-one Turnpike Close. Do you know it? It’s not far from the restaurant. He insists it would be a better idea to be on hand, just round the corner, in case of emergencies.”

  “I’ll look it up on the map. Thanks for your help.”

  “It’s okay. I hope he doesn’t have a go at me for giving out his address.”

  “I’ll make sure you don’t get into trouble, you have my word.” Katy ended the call and looked at Charlie who had raised an expectant eyebrow. “Well, according to the young lady, he hasn’t shown up for work this evening, which is a rarity. I have his address, but it’s not going to be any use, he hasn’t got a girlfriend or partner. Sounds like a Polish Casanova to me, or he was. From what she told me, I’m making the deduction this is him, our third victim. I’ll try and ring Patti.” She reached for the phone.

  “Umm… you think that’s wise at this time of night? She’ll hang, draw and quarter you if you wake her up. By the sounds of it, she doesn’t really get a lot of sleep as it is.”

  “See, I told you, you’re a wise officer. In that case, maybe I’ll leave it until the morning. How have you got on? Any luck?”

  “Ethan Romero is an IT consultant with Dorett Bytes. That’s all I have on him really, except reading through that article he was the driver of the vehicle.”

  “Was he now? Let me take another read through the editorial before we decide what to do next.”

  Charlie left her to read and bought them both another cup of coffee. “You read my mind, thanks, hon. Jesus, considering these guys were joy riding and the devastation they caused, they sure did get off lightly. Maximum term served was by Ethan, he got four years. The others ended up doing three years each.”

  “Shameful. Why is it driving offences tend to carry a lesser sentence than a murder conviction when it amounts to the same thing? In the wrong hands, i.e., joy riders, a vehicle can be classed as a lethal weapon, can’t it? Why don’t judges see it that way?”

  Katy blew out a large breath that puffed out her cheeks and she tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear. “Your guess is as good as mine. It’s always been the same as far as I can remember.”

  “It’s disgusting. Those poor kids weren’t taken into consideration at all, not in my eyes.”

  Katy found herself nodding in agreement. “The courts were far more lenient eighteen years ago. Thinking about it, I’m not sure hit and runs or joy riding accidents are taken any more seriously nowadays.” She paused and mulled over something which flicked through her mind. “There was that case recently where a mother and toddler were killed outright when that young driver swerved to avoid hitting a dog. He climbed the pavement instead and knocked them down. If I recall rightly, the driver pleaded his innocence in court only to be handed down a five-year sentence for manslaughter. Two lives snuffed out in an instant, and that warranted five years sitting behind bars?” She sighed and shook her head in dismay. “He could be out in two and a half years, what kind of message is that sending out to the general public?” Her heart raced as she thought about another high-profile case that had angered her. “And don’t get me started on that US diplomat who fled the country after running over and killing that young man. I feel for his parents; on top of the grief they’re experiencing, they’re having to travel the globe to seek justice for their son. Diplomatic immunity sucks, big time. That woman shouldn’t have been behind the wheel of that car in the first place. I hope she rots in hell.”

  “Maybe Biden will step up to the plate and force her to take the punishment, there’s no way Trump would have had the guts to speak out against the woman. ”

  “Yeah, I hear you. So glad the US people finally decided to vote him out. Anyway, enough of putting the world to rights, I’m thinking we should take a drive out to see this Ethan Romero.”

  Charlie raised an eyebrow. “At this time of night?”

  “Why not? If he’s the only survivor of the four, I think it’s imperative that he should be warned of a likely imminent danger, don’t you?” Katy switched off her computer and stood. She slipped on her jacket and headed for the door.

  Turning off her own monitor, Charlie joined her. “You’ve got a point. Let’s hope he’s at home. Should we try calling him instead?”

  “Nope. It’s all or nothing right now, I don’t think we should take the risk.”

  “I suppose you’re right.”

  Ethan Romero seemed pissed off to see them standing on his doorstep. He refused to let them into the house, going as far as to bar the way with his muscular arms. A female appeared and peered over his shou
lder. “Who are they?”

  “It’s the police, Donna. Let me handle this, go back inside.”

  Katy picked up on the fact that he was warning the woman to go inside rather than asking her politely to leave. “Is something wrong, Mr Romero?”

  “No. Should there be?”

  “Not really. Anyway, if you wouldn’t mind answering a few questions, we’ll leave you in peace to enjoy the rest of your Saturday night.”

  “What sort of questions? I know nothing about anything that should involve the police.”

  Katy smiled. “Is that right? Let me cast your mind back to the accident you were involved in all those years ago. Can you remember?”

  His eyes narrowed and Katy noted him chewing on the inside of his mouth. Is he nervous, or angry at being confronted about his past misgivings?

  “What about it? It was a long time ago. An incident I’ve done my very best to forget about over the years. I did my time as punishment for my sins.”

  “You did. You served what? Two years in total. Not much of a sentence considering the outcome of the accident, I’m sure you’ll agree.”

  “The sentencing was out of my hands. We had a great barrister who believed in us. What more can I say?”

  “Let’s move on from that travesty and debacle of a sentence to the present day. Tell me, are you still in contact with your fellow joy riders?”

  He glared at her for a moment or two and then shook his head. “No. We stopped speaking to each other in prison.”

  “You did? May I ask why?”

  “Believe it or not, we were all riddled with guilt. It wasn’t our intention to kill that couple and destroy their family unit.”

  “I see. If you were torn up with guilt, why did you bother hiring a top brief?”

  “Wouldn’t you in the same situation? You’re not making any sense asking such a dumb question.”

  “Sorry if you believe it was a dumb question, I’m simply searching for the facts.”

  “Why? Why raise the incident again now, after almost nineteen years? And yes, I’m still counting the years off on my calendar.”

  “Glad to see the accident has impacted your life in some minor way.”

  “How dare you! What’s the meaning of this visit? Either you tell me in the next five seconds or I’ll shut the door on you.”

  “Touchy, aren’t you, Mr Romero, may I ask why? Has someone been in touch with you to put you on edge?”

  “What twaddle are you on about? I haven’t got a clue what you’re going on about.”

  “And you’re sure you haven’t seen your fellow joy riders in the last few days or weeks?”

  “Stop calling them that, they have names, use them.”

  “All right, I will. Brian Timms, now going under the name of Bobby Simmonds, Jason Davis and, last of all, Nikodem Nowak. Have you been in touch with them lately? Please answer me truthfully, it’s very important.”

  “Tell me why.”

  “I asked a question first. Please have the decency to answer me.”

  “It’s late. Unless you’re here to arrest me, I suggest you leave me alone.”

  “By the way you’re avoiding my question, am I to take it you have been in touch with some or all of these men?”

  “No. Now go!” He cast an anxious glance over Katy’s shoulder and closed the door.

  “Damn. I should have been prepared for that and shoved my foot in the gap.”

  They turned to walk back to the cars. Charlie sighed and suggested, “It’s late. Why don’t we call it a night? At least we know he’s safe, for now. I didn’t like the man, did you?”

  “I didn’t like his attitude, that’s for sure. Maybe I should have tried harder to have warned him.”

  “Possibly. In your defence, he was being quite offhand with you.”

  “Hmm… we’ll see what tomorrow brings. I’m only going to put in half a day, though. Do you want to join me? Will Brandon be okay with you giving up your entire weekend to be at work?”

  “It won’t be all the weekend, not if we finish at lunchtime, although that remains to be seen, knowing our luck lately.”

  Katy sniggered. “Yikes, how true that is. Okay, I’ll see you at around nine in the morning. Thanks for going the extra mile to be by my side today, Charlie. It’s truly appreciated.”

  “I know it is. I couldn’t let you do all this alone now, could I?”

  “You’re the most conscientious partner I’ve ever had, apart from your mother, that is.”

  “Good genes and all that. See you in the morning.”

  Katy waved goodbye and watched Charlie drive away. Her gaze drifted to the window on the first floor where she spotted Ethan Romero staring out of the window at her. He turned and started shouting at the woman who had also come to the door. It was clear they were arguing as he was wagging a finger at the woman and Katy could hear their raised voices, but couldn’t make out what they were saying.

  Romero closed the curtains, but the shouting continued. Katy decided to leave the couple to it and jumped behind her steering wheel. On the way home, she recapped the conversation she’d had with the man who refused to allow them access to his home. Why was that? Did he have something to hide? Could he be behind the other murders? Had one or all of the men pissed him off recently and he’d taken revenge by doing away with them? No, that can’t be right, can it? We’re looking for a woman. What about his wife, or the woman at the house? Could she be the woman who had killed the others and the two innocent walkers? Was that even feasible?

  During the drive home, despite feeling tired, the questions reverberated around in her mind without the answers revealing themselves.

  She wearily parked the car and opened the front door of her home. AJ entered the hallway and leaned against the doorframe to the lounge. “How are you doing? You look shattered. Have you eaten?”

  After slipping off her heels and coat, she padded across the hallway and planted a kiss on his lips. “Yeah, I’m still stuffed. Charlie and I ate a whole portion of fish and chips each. I think I’ll stay clear of the scales tomorrow.”

  “Nonsense, there’s nothing to you. I made a cottage pie, but we can all share it for lunch tomorrow, it’s no big deal.”

  “That’ll be lovely. Umm… I have a confession to make.”

  His mouth twisted from side to side. “Go on, surprise me.”

  “I have to work in the morning.” His shoulders slumped and his head dipped. She placed a finger under his chin and pulled his head up again. “I’ll be home by one, I promise.”

  “Why don’t I believe you, Katy?”

  He stood upright and went into the lounge. Sensing there was about to be an argument. Katy followed him into the lounge and closed the door so they didn’t wake Georgie. “AJ, you know I wouldn’t entertain going in on the weekend if I didn’t think it was necessary.”

  “You need to have some time off. I’m not a grouchy bugger, you know that, but bloody hell, love, what will it take for you to show us some consideration now and again?”

  Stunned by the acidity in his tone, Katy’s mouth hung open. She recovered and shook her head. “Love, let’s not do this now. I had every intention of not coming home until midnight, but here I am…” She glanced at the clock on the wall and winced. It was eleven-forty-five. “Ouch, where did the time go?”

  “See, you have no concept of time. Your daughter was in hospital last month and you’ve barely spent any time with her since she came out. I’ve had to put my own business on hold to care for her.”

  Ashamed, she nodded and whispered, “I’m sorry. I have so many balls in the air right now.”

  “You need to sort out what your priorities are, Katy. I’m not having a go at you, adding to your stress, all I’m asking is that you take a step back now and again and think about your family. You’ve become too reliant on me picking up the pieces.”

  She gazed into his eyes and saw only sadness there. Katy hesitated for a moment, willing him to open up his arms t
o draw her in. It never happened. In the end, she mumbled another heartfelt apology and retired to the bedroom.

  AJ joined her ten minutes later. It worried her how he chose to cling to his side of the bed, not daring to let their bodies touch. Katy turned to face him. Taking the initiative, she slung an arm around his waist and shuffled closer. She kissed his bare back. Glad that he neither flinched nor tried to shrug her off; that was a good thing, wasn’t it?

  He let out a long sigh and she whispered yet another apology. AJ turned in her arms, his face an inch or so away from hers on his pillow. “If I didn’t love you so much, all this would be so much harder.”

  Tears welled and she smiled. “I promise to do better. Manage my time better and not to let work dominate my life as much from this day forward.”

  “Stop!” He pulled her closer and snuggled into her neck. “Don’t promise something that is out of your grasp to fulfil, Katy.”

  “I’ll see to it. Make sure this type of thing doesn’t happen again. We’re so close to breaking this case though, you know how it is. But if it comes down to the job or losing you and Georgie, then I know the sacrifices I need to make, sweetheart.”

  “The last thing I want is to force you into choosing between us and your career, I’m not the type to bully, you know that. Forget I said anything, I’m concerned for Georgie’s sake, that’s all. She spent most of the day asking why Mummy doesn’t want to spend time with us any more and it touched a nerve.”

  Katy gasped and could do little to prevent the tears spilling onto her cheek. “Ouch! Out of the mouth of babes. Honestly, once this case is over, I’ll try not to let work get in the way of our time together again.”

  “Okay, just be aware that broken promises affect us all.”

  He kissed her, a long, deep kiss that did everything to reassure her that their relationship would stand the test of time… if she stood up to her end of the bargain and spent more time with her family.

  9

  Georgie joined them in bed the following morning, something that was becoming a habit on a Sunday. It made Katy’s heart sing to have her family around her, if only for twenty minutes or so. She kissed her daughter on the head and caressed her hair.