A Grave Death (Crane and Anderson crime thrillers Book 4)

by Wendy Cartmell

‘You’ve been served,’ he said and he thrust the envelope at Brian who automatically grabbed it, then he turned and walked away without another word.

  ‘What is it, Brian?’

  ‘How the hell should I know? Really Judith, you ask the stupidest of questions.’

  She watched as Brian opened the envelope, pulling out a letter. He scanned the contents, then promptly sat on the bottom step of the staircase.

  ‘I’ve been called to give evidence. In court. At the trial of Paul Dean.’

  ‘Where? When? What for?’

  But her husband wouldn’t reply, he simply stood, brushed her aside as he climbed the stairs and slammed the office door behind him.

  64

  The Trial

  Charles Walker looked at the man who had just climbed into the witness box. He was going to enjoy this. Talk about leading a lamb to the slaughter. But he mustn’t get ahead of himself. He needed to get his opening right.

  Leaning on his lectern he asked, ‘Are you Brian Monaghan?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Could you please give the court your address and date of birth.’

  As Brian gave the information, Charles noted the man was not displaying any erratic behaviour. No tic of the eye, no playing with his hands or fingers. It was as if he were acting cool. As though he did this every day.

  ‘Could you describe your relationship with Dean Engineering.’

  ‘It was a professional one.’

  ‘Professional?’

  ‘Yes.’ Brian appeared to puff out his chest. ‘I ran a very successful employment agency and Dean Engineering was one of our largest clients.’

  ‘Largest? Could you quantify that please?’

  ‘Well, they are the largest employer in the Aldershot area.’

  ‘Oh, so that’s what you meant, when you said they were the largest.’

  ‘Yes, I suppose you could look at it that way.’

  ‘What other way should I look at it? Were they your most profitable client? How many employees did you find for Dean Engineering?’

  ‘Well, I don’t have the figures at my fingertips. But I know we dealt with many of their vacancies.’

  ‘Like any other agency in the area.’

  ‘Well, I suppose so. But I do believe we were a preferred supplier.’

  ‘Ah yes, preferred supplier. That’s what the police found out wasn’t it?’

  ‘Was it?’

  ‘Yes, and then they paid you a visit, didn’t they?’

  ‘Well, yes.’

  ‘When they wanted to know your movements on the nights of Kevin Dean’s death and also Jill Dean’s.’

  ‘I, um, helped the police with their enquiries.’ Brian seemed to rally at this thought. ‘It was natural they should come to me to talk about our professional relationship. Meetings we had. Employees and vacancies. That sort of thing.’

  ‘Really? I thought they were more concerned with your movements on the nights of the deaths.’

  ‘Oh no, I think you’ve got the wrong end of the stick there. Yes, definitely got that wrong.’

  ‘Your Honour, I’d like to admit into evidence photocopied pages of the police notes on the interviews when they visited Mr Monaghan at his home.’

  ‘Very well,’ intoned the Judge.

  Once Brian had the papers in his hand, Charles said, ‘Can you see the highlighted area?’

  ‘Yes, so what?’ Brian said belligerently.

  ‘Perhaps you could read out the highlighted section on page 4 please.’

  Brian did as he asked. ‘We asked Mr Monaghan specifically about his movements on the nights when Kevin Dean and then Jill Dean died.’

  ‘So that rather proves it, doesn’t it? You are lying on the stand Mr Monaghan.’

  ‘I wouldn’t call it that!’

  Charles could hear the desperation in Brian’s voice.

  ‘What would you call it then?’

  ‘Um, differences in recall. After all, it’s their word against mine. They could write what they want to in a book afterwards.’

  ‘So now you’re accusing the police of lying, are you?’

  As Brian stood there dumbfounded, clearly not knowing which tack to take, Charles struck.

  ‘You do that a lot don’t you?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Lie.’

  Charles could hear rustles from the jury. Glancing at them he could see every one of them was engaged with this testimony. Leaning forward. Appearing to be holding their breaths. Not one of them was looking at Paul. All eyes were on Brian Monaghan. Good. Let’s see him squirm, thought Charles.

  ‘No, not at all. Of course not,’ Brian blustered. ‘I wouldn’t get such a good reputation if I did.’

  ‘Reputation?’

  ‘Oh, yes. My standing in the local community. That sort of thing.’

  As the man puffed out his chest, Charles thought Brian was still delusional. But that was good. Charles could do a lot with that.

  ‘I understand your employment agency has folded.’

  ‘Yes, that’s right. Sometimes businesses run their course. If you were as experienced as I am, you’d know that.’

  ‘What are you doing now then?’

  ‘Working on starting another business.’

  ‘What kind of business?’

  ‘I’m not sure I should answer that. I don’t want to give away all my secrets now do I?’

  ‘Secrets?’

  ‘Yes. Business secrets, new ideas that I’m working on. I need to keep those close to my chest, you know?’

  ‘So where are you working on these new ideas in secret?’

  ‘In my car,’ Brian said proudly.

  ‘Your car?’

  Is this man for real, Charles asked himself? He’d interviewed some strange characters in his years of legal practice, but Brian topped them all.

  ‘Yes, I go to an empty field I know in Farnborough. To get a bit of peace and quiet, you know? Away from the demands of family life.’ Brian said it as though it was the most natural thing in the world to sit in an empty field in your car.

  ‘So that’s where you were on the nights in question? The ones the police asked you about. The nights when Kevin and Jill Dean were killed.’

  ‘Oh definitely.’

  ‘Can anyone confirm that?’

  ‘Confirm that?’

  ‘Yes, confirm your alibi.’

  ‘Well, no I suppose not.’

  ‘I don’t suppose so, either, Mr Monaghan. Especially as the police can’t find your car on the CCTV system in the Farnborough area on those nights. But they can find it in Aldershot.’

  ‘Aldershot?’ Brian’s face relayed his shock to the jury.

  ‘Yes. On the first of them you are travelling in the direction of Dean Engineering and on the other in the vicinity of the Redan cemetery.’

  ‘Oh, no I don’t think so. There must be some mistake.’

  ‘I’m afraid it’s true, Mr Monaghan. I put it to you that the CCTV doesn’t lie. It’s people that lie, Mr Monaghan. People lie.’

  ‘Now look here…’

  ‘And so I put it to you that you are lying, Mr Monaghan. I put it to you that you went to Dean Engineering and killed Kevin Dean and subsequently went to the Redan cemetery and killed Jill Dean.’

  ‘No! That’s outrageous! How can you even think that?’

  A sheen of sweat was appearing on Brian’s brow. If Charles could see it, then the jury would be able to as well. This was all going just as Charles had planned…

  65

  The Trial

  With Monaghan worried, his hands wringing, his face wet and his voice going, Charles continued to stalk his prey, by changing the subject.

  ‘Your mother is dead, is that correct?’

  Brian managed a small, ‘Yes.’

  ‘What did she leave you, Mr Monaghan?’

  ‘Nothing,’ Brian mumbled.

  ‘Speak up, Mr Monaghan,’ the Judge asked. ‘I’m sure I’m not the only one in this court ro
om that suffered from some degree of deafness.’

  ‘Sorry,’ he mumbled, but not much louder.

  ‘Oh dear,’ Charles continued his questioning. ‘Nothing at all?’

  ‘No, I said so, didn’t I?’

  ‘No legacy? Fortune? House?’

  ‘What?’ Brian looked at Charles as though he were mad. ‘No, nothing. We’re not a rich family. Everything I have has been down to me. I’m the one that provides for my family. There’s no silver spoon in my life. Not like some I could mention.’

  Charles wondered if that comment was aimed at himself. He smiled. This little worm of a man was about to be plucked out of the ground, wriggling and screaming, caught in a bird’s beak. Could it be Dean Engineering that Brian was talking about? Charles decided to find out.

  ‘You mean the owners of Dean Engineering?’

  Yes. But not just them.’

  ‘Are you sure? Because I think you meant the Dean siblings specifically.’

  ‘Why would I?’

  Charles didn’t answer the question. That wasn’t his role. He questioned, others answered. It was as simple as that. ‘What did your mother leave you?’

  ‘You’ve just asked that and I’ve answered you.’

  ‘Indeed he has,’ interrupted the judge. ‘Move on, please Mr Walker.’

  ‘Let me put it another way, Mr Monaghan. What do you know about your family history?’

  ‘My family history?’

  ‘Yes, that’s what I said. Your mother’s maiden name was?’

  ‘Heather Clements Stirling.’

  ‘That’s right. And she married?’

  ‘My father, Simon Monaghan.’

  ‘Yes, that’s correct. That’s the information I have on their marriage certificate.’

  ‘Marriage certificate? What are you doing with my mother’s marriage certificate?’ Brian looked around the court and for the first time Charles could see chinks of uncertainty appearing in Brian suit of armour.

  Once again Charles ignored Brian’s questions. ‘Your honour, I submit the relevant papers to the court.’

  As the Usher passed copies around, Charles took the opportunity to double check his notes.

  ‘Mr Walker?’ The judge intoned.

  ‘Thank you, your Honour.’ Charles collected his papers and tapped them on his lectern to straighten them. ‘Now, Mr Monaghan, we were talking about your family. I’d like to now turn to your mother’s background in more detail.’

  ‘Really? What has this got to do with anything. I thought I was here for…’

  ‘Yes, Mr Walker. What has this to do with anything?’ His Honour leaned down from his place high up at the top of the courtroom.

  ‘It has a great deal of bearing on this case, Your Honour. If you would just indulge me for a few more moments?’

  ‘Oh, very well, but could you get there sooner rather than later, before we all fall asleep.’

  Charles knew, as did the judge, that no one in this whole court room as in danger of falling asleep. You could feel the anticipation. Charles could taste it and it was as sweet as the honey he’d had on his toast that morning.

  ‘Right, Mr Monaghan, I believe your mother was adopted. Wouldn’t you agree?’

  ‘How? What? Well, yes, but…’

  ‘And according to her birth certificate it clearly states that your mother was the illegitimate daughter of Anne Clements, who later became Anne Dean on her marriage. Which makes Anne Dean your grandmother and the mother of Jill, Kevin and Paul Dean.’

  A collective gasp went around the court. Monaghan grabbed hold of the witness box and dipped a little, as though his legs were giving way.

  ‘Did you know you were related to the Dean family?’

  ‘I, um, I mean…’

  ‘I think you did know, Mr Monaghan. According to your wife, you found your mother’s birth certificate in the papers that were handed to you after her death.’

  ‘I, oh.’ Brian looked stunned.

  ‘How did that make you feel Mr Monaghan? Angry? Upset? Just think of all that money they have and how little you have. It’s not right is it?’

  But Brian still seemed a few questions behind. ‘How do you know…’

  ‘It seems the building society are on the verge of repossessing your house, aren’t they?’ Charles felt like a boxer, jab, jab, punch.

  ‘Yes. It’s true. It’s all true.’

  ‘That’s what I thought. So how did that information make you feel?’

  ‘Make me feel? How the hell do you think it made me feel?’ Brian finally cracked. He turned towards the jury, addressing them directly. ‘I had nothing, nothing! And they had everything! My mother had been deliberately cut out of the family. She’d been the baby that had been thrown out with the bath water. It was criminal I tell you – criminal!’ Brian screeched.

  Brian was breathing heavily, his eyes wild, as his head swivelled, looking for allies. There weren’t any. There were only two people in the court who mattered at that moment. Charles Walker and Brian Monaghan. Charles closed in for the kill.

  ‘It was indeed criminal, Mr Monaghan. Being cut out of your inheritance would make anyone angry. I can’t say I blame you.’

  Brian nodded frantically. ‘No and who would? The only money I had was money I’d earned myself. I struggled and worked like a dog to provide for my family.’

  ‘And the Deans?’

  ‘Don’t get me started on them. Swanking around town in their posh clothes and posh cars, it made me sick.’ Brian was breathing hard through his nose.

  ‘Made you feel sick enough to make them pay?’

  ‘Yes of course it did! It was up to me to put things right. They didn’t deserve all they had. They had to pay for what they’d done to me.’

  ‘So, you confronted Kevin first?’

  ‘Yes, and do you know what he did? He laughed at me. Laughed! Can you believe it? He called me a stupid little delusional man. So he got what was coming to him.’

  ‘And what was that?’

  You could have heard the proverbial pin drop. Everyone in court stared at Brian Monaghan. Charles put his hands below his lectern. He didn’t cross his fingers but clenched his fists. Please. Please, God, let this have worked, he prayed silently.

  ‘Well I killed him, of course. He didn’t deserve to live.’

  Everyone gasped. Charles looked around, eyes wide, mouth open, struck dumb. But then he realised he still had one other confession to wring out of this horrible man.

  He cleared his throat, then asked, ‘And Jill?’

  ‘Ha! She was as bad. Called me a money grubbing little liar. So I sent her to join her brother, literally as well as figuratively and no one would have been any the wiser if the police hadn’t intervened. She’d never have been found because who would have thought she would be in her brother’s grave.’

  ‘But the police did, didn’t they?’

  ‘Yes, but in the end they did my job for me.’

  ‘Oh, really? Could you explain?’

  ‘Well, by charging Paul Dean with the murder of his siblings, of course. He’s going down for life and then I’ll get everything I’m due. As he won’t get a penny of his inheritance from Jill and Kevin.’

  ‘But he didn’t kill them.’

  ‘No, clever isn’t it?’

  ‘You killed them, didn’t you Mr Monaghan?’

  ‘Of course I did, that’s what I’ve been trying to tell you…’

  Brian stopped talking. Charles didn’t ask a question. No one moved. Then, it was as if Brian suddenly realised that everyone in the court was looking at him. He looked around at the sea of faces and finally his legs did give way and he crumpled and landed out of view on the floor.

  That triggered a burst of conversation, with the voices becoming louder and louder as people realised what had just happened. Brian Monaghan had just confessed to the murders of Kevin and Jill Dean. In Court. In the witness stand. In front of everyone. They were interrupted by the Judge’s gavel.

>   ‘Mr Walker? Anything further for this witness?’

  ‘No further questions, your honour.’

  And at last Charles could sit down. He groped behind him for the comforting feel of the wooden bench and sank down onto it. As his hands left the lectern to rest in his lap, he saw them tremble. Fluttering, with a life of their own. His breathing was shallow and rapid and he was starting to feel light headed. That had been the highlight moment of his career. A grin began to flicker across his mouth.

  ‘Bailiff, take Mr Monaghan into custody. I’d like to see both counsel in my chambers. Now!’ The Judge said, and the gavel banged one final time.

  ‘Beautiful, just beautifully done, bro!’ James was hanging onto his brother’s arm, grasping his hand, shaking it and grinning. A face splitting grin, reminding Charles of a clown’s painted on mouth.

  ‘Thanks, but we’ll have to leave the celebrations for later. The Judge calls.’

  James nodded and Charles managed to take one final breath before standing, briefly touching the back of the bench as he held out an arm to balance himself, then walked the long walk to the Judge’s chamber behind the court.

  66

  The Trial

  ‘Well, that was a fine piece of theatre in there, Mr Walker,’ the Judge said from behind his desk. He had moved there when he got in the door, but he remained standing. He also retained his robes and wig. Charles thought all those things were good signs. His Honour wasn’t intending to give him a lengthy lecture.

  ‘Thank you.’ Charles couldn’t resist the grin that broke out from behind his usual poker face.

  ‘So, if the prosecution are in agreement I suggest they move to dismiss the case against Paul Dean, a motion which I will accept. I just wanted to make sure we were all on the same page here.’

  ‘Yes, Your Honour,’ Jonathan Stone, the prosecution counsel, agreed.

  ‘Good, I just needed to check as the last thing I want is a surprise from you. It’s clear to me that Paul Dean is innocent and it’s up to the police now to interview Monaghan and do what they can. Mind you, that was pretty much a full and frank confession from Brian Monaghan and on the record. How in hell did you miss that when you were building your case against Paul Dean, Mr Stone?’