“I see, so it was my fault he attacked me?”
“Well, he didn’t exactly attack you, did he? He certainly got very angry…”
“I would have thought you’d have got a pretty good view of what happened from where you were sitting – and standing. If Constable Carroll hadn’t reacted so quickly and effectively, your client would have been facing at least one additional charge right now.”
“Well, perhaps so. And on the subject of charges, I’m getting confused. I’m not sure I understand the relevance of his whereabouts on the night of this party. What has that got to do with his being suspected of dealing banned substances? Are you suggesting that he was at the party selling drugs? My client has no idea what this is all about.”
Jo chose not to respond for some time. When she did, it was with carefully chosen words.
“Mr Rockwell, this is somewhat out of order, isn’t it – you coming in here, just the two of us, nothing recorded – trying to find out what we’re going to say next to your client, so you can get him prepared with suitable responses. I don’t believe that’s how it’s supposed to work. So instead of looking forward, just let’s recap on what we’ve got. Firstly, Mr Kadawe felt the need to invent an alibi for the night of 3rd April – the night of the party at Etherington Place. Now why would he do that?”
“Well you say he invented the story, though I’m not sure where this reference to an alibi comes from. An alibi for what? And where does the rucksack come in to this?”
“Well, the rucksack has recently been used to store and/or transport a large quantity of cocaine. It also contained a pair of surgical gloves. DNA testing will certainly tell us who has worn these gloves, providing, of course, we can get – or already have – a sample from that person. As we have said, we believe that person is your client.”
“But why? I just don’t see how the two are linked.”
“The rucksack was found under the boards in the back of a van containing equipment for use at small outdoor gigs. The last time the van was used was on the night of the party. The equipment was all taken out at the site and then replaced afterwards. No-one has used the van or the equipment in it since that night. It has just been parked up with all the stuff inside since then. We believe the rucksack had been placed there just before the equipment was put back in the van on 3rd April – in fact, on the morning of the fourth.”
“But my client wasn’t at the party, Detective Inspector. I think that’s a given, isn’t it?”
“It would have been if Mr Kadawe hadn’t lied about where he was. He was invited to the party; he organised the music for the party; it was a surprise when he didn’t turn up; and the reason he gave for not turning up was a lie.”
“Is that it, Detective Inspector? I mean, you’re making enormous assumptions here. Firstly, about when the rucksack was placed in the vehicle. Why just before the equipment was put back? Why couldn’t the bag have been there a long time before the party? Since the previous time the equipment was used? In fact, any time someone wanted to hide it there, they’d just move the stuff and then put it back afterwards. And secondly, you assume my client must have been at the party just because you doubt he was where he says he was. Even if he didn’t go to Heathrow he might have just changed his mind and made up the excuse. If you haven’t tested the gloves yet, I don’t see anything that links my client to the rucksack.”
“Well, then let’s just wait for the results…”
“And all this will prove beyond reasonable doubt, that my client is a drug dealer?”
“At the very least,” Jo said.
“Really? What else did you have in mind?”
“Well, that’s looking forward, Mr Rockwell. And we said we wouldn’t do that.”
Rockwell stood up.
“Anyway, my client still maintains he did go to Heathrow and feels he may have been mistaken about the delay at the airport, by the way. He may have just drawn that conclusion because of the long wait after checking-in. It’s two-and-a-half hours before take-off on these long-distance flights, you know. And as far as the lady is concerned, it’s not unusual for Black South Africans to change their names even now, in these post-apartheid times. I’m sure you, in particular, are aware of that.”
“If that comment refers to the colour of my skin, Mr Rockwell, you should know I’m West Indian, not African,” Jo said, “so, no, I wasn’t aware of that. Oh, and as far as the aforementioned gesture of goodwill is concerned, I’m sure you reminded your client that we already have his DNA and fingerprints on file, anyway. So as far as gestures are concerned, not wishing to sound ungrateful, that’s about as hollow as they come.”
Rockwell walked out, closing the door behind him.
Jo reached for her desk phone and called O-SFS, asking to be put through to Doctor Menzies.
“We’ve got the okay to take a swab from our friend Kadawe, Don. Can you arrange? Tell whoever you send to take PC Geordie Carroll in with them.”
“Okay, will do.”
Jo ended the call then pressed the direct line button for John Mackey. It was a minute after 3.00 pm.
*
At 6.30 pm, Jo called Mags.
“Hi, Maggie, Jo Cottrell. I’m sorry but I don’t think I’m going to make it tonight. I need to speak with John Mackay before I see you and he’s not been available all day. So I have to wait here and hope he gets to me later.”
“That’s okay, Jo. Tomorrow then?”
“Yes, I guarantee to be there tomorrow. One other thing, Maggie. I think your husband should be there as well. I know you told me you’re having problems, but… well, it’s up to you.”
Jo held on to the sound of a long pause then a loud sigh.
“Okay.”
“Thanks, Maggie. See you tomorrow.”
*
Tom glanced at the display on his mobile as the thumping rhythm of Every Breath I Take alerted him to an incoming call. He almost dropped the phone in his excitement.
“Katey! How are you? Is everything okay? It’s been so long. Is your mum alright? Nothing’s happened has it?”
“Hold on, Dad. Just one salvo of questions at a time, please.”
He detected a lightness of tone – almost a hint of laughter – in his daughter’s voice. Something he’d never expected to hear again.
“Sorry, Princess. This is such a lovely surprise.” He could feel himself filling up with emotion, his voice wavering.
“Well,” said Katey. “I’m fine – everything’s okay – yes, it has been a long time – mum’s alright – and what’s happened is your best pal, Mickey Kadawe, has been arrested.”
“When? What for?”
“Last Thursday; for dealing – but that may not be all. I’m phoning to invite you to a meeting – tomorrow evening, here at the house. Detective Inspector Cottrell is coming round to give us some more information. We think you should be present.”
“Does your mum know you’re asking me along?”
“Yes, she’s told me to phone you.”
“Really! Are you sure? Look, perhaps it’s not a good…”
“Just say yes, Dad. That’s all you have to say. It’s not difficult.”
Tom allowed himself a smile. “In which case, yes,” he said.
“There, that wasn’t so bad, was it? I’ll let you know what time later. We’ll have a chance to catch up afterwards. Bye.”
*
Jo’s meeting with John Mackay did not start until just after 7.00 pm. John, it seemed to Jo, was a different person, hardly meeting her eyes throughout the session and using phrases and clichés which were completely foreign to the man she knew and respected.
“So just let me understand this,” said Jo, her teeth clenched and jaw set in anger and disbelief. “Are you seriously asking me …”
“Telli
ng you, Jo. Instructing, directing, ordering, demanding … but not asking. You do understand the difference, don’t you?”
“You can tell me, instruct me, order me – whatever – all you like, sir, but you can’t make me. So please bear with me while I go through this again and perhaps I might see the gaping hole you’ve spotted in what I thought was a water-tight case.”
“Look, we’ve been through…”
“Please, sir. Just one more time.”
“It won’t make any difference, but…”
“Right – one – we have the loop established by David Gerrard – Mickey to Sammo to Laser to Jack, who was Mickey’s close friend. Two – we have Mickey on the night of the party inventing an alibi to place him somewhere else. Three – we know for sure that he smuggled himself in to the grounds that evening carrying a rucksack, but left without it. Four – we have retrieved the same rucksack – empty, but with enough traces of cocaine to show that it was at some time filled with the same stuff we found in Jack’s room and at Jason’s. Five – the gloves found in the rucksack, which had been used in handling the cocaine, may well have been worn by Mickey Kadawe – we’ll know tomorrow with a bit of luck. Six – one of the users who originally phoned in and subsequently appeared as a key witness for the Prosecution, changed his story twice in as many minutes under questioning by me and Harry. And – seven – we have a motive. C’est l’amour! Mickey wants Katey Tomlinson-Brown. To get her, he has to get rid of Jason.”
John sat impassively through Jo’s animated pronouncement, making no reply.
“Is all that true, sir? Is there something I’ve missed – or something I’ve included that I shouldn’t have done?”
He gave the slightest shake of his head.
“And all that is new evidence, right? None of it was available at the time of the trial,” Jo said.
No response at all this time.
“Right! So, back to my question – why are you asking me to ignore all that and ordering me to charge him with dealing, when we may not have enough on him for the magistrate to commit; and when we know we’ve got more than enough to get him committed for perversion of justice? And if he gets released, then I cannot be held responsible for what happens to Catrina Thompson, when the kid has just about put her life on the line to help us see justice done.”
John looked, unfocused, at the wall behind her, still saying nothing.
“I remember you telling me, sir, that the investigating team – and you – were desperate to find evidence that Jack and Jason were not guilty. Well this might be it. Do we ignore it because the timing’s inconvenient?”
John got to his feet, taking Jo by surprise.
“Inconvenient! Inconvenient! Right, let me say something that I shouldn’t – which is this: I agree with everything you’ve said. Okay? Not that it makes any material difference; I want you to charge Kadawe with dealing – for now. That will achieve three things. Firstly, there can be no comeback from Rockwell. He can’t start claiming we’ve held his client too long for a charge of perversion, which technically we have. Secondly, we get the perversion case absolutely air-tight – never mind water-tight – so there’s no wriggle room for him. And thirdly, it gives the police and Justice Department time to get their heads round what to say if – you’ll say, ‘when’ – the case against Jack and Jason is shown to be flawed.”
“So this is all about reputations; allocation of blame…!”
“Just leave it, Jo, okay!” John snapped back. “There really is an issue about public confidence at stake here. That’s a fact. It’s a matter of opinion as to how high a priority that is when stacked against a possible miscarriage of justice. That’s all I’m going to say, and Eddie Mills would sack me on the spot if he ever found out what I’ve just told you. I said it out of respect for you, and now you show some for me and trust me. It’s just as important to know your friends as it is your enemies. And you will find out that I am definitely your friend, Detective Inspector.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Wednesday; 23 September
Christina Ramirez was sitting across the desk from her boss wide-eyed with amazement.
“The fact is, we’ve got him, Tina,” Jo said. “The big guys just want to make sure he doesn’t slip away through some technicality, like taking too long to question him. This will give us the opportunity to seal him in good and proper,” she added, borrowing from John Mackay’s air-tight analogy.
Tina looked doubtful. “I can’t see what else we can do, ma’am, Can you?”
“Only loose ends. The thing about his being mistaken regarding the delay at Heathrow, for instance, and about her possibly changing her name. We could use the time to show him passport photographs of all the passengers on the four flights and ask him to pick this woman out. That might be quite good fun, actually,” she added. “He can’t seriously claim he doesn’t remember what she looks like. We have to get Mickey to admit he wasn’t at Heathrow because we promised Catrina we would keep her out of the equation. So we can’t use the recording at the SRH. As you said yourself, Tina, we know what happened, we just have to get Kadawe to trip up and confirm it.”
“We could show him the pictures today, though. We’ve got until tomorrow lunchtime to charge him.”
“I know, and we will charge him with perversion – very soon, I’m sure. In the meantime, once he’s out of circulation, we’ve got until just prior to the trial itself before we need to change the charge.”
“If the magistrate commits.”
Tina left to gather the troops for the morning meeting. As Jo got up from her desk to join them, her mobile sounded.
“DI Cottrell here.”
“Hi, Jo, it’s Donovan Menzies. Good news. I can confirm that Kadawe definitely wore the gloves. Skin particles match with the DNA sample taken yesterday.”
“Yesterday afternoon at two-forty-five wasn’t it? This is somewhat less than the twenty-four hours you estimated. Must be a world record.”
“It’s not even my record. Just rushed it through for a friend.”
“Well, thank you, Don. I really appreciate it – and we needed that, believe me.”
“You’re very welcome. Good hunting.”
*
Tina stepped back into Jo’s office after showing their visitor out and looked up to the ceiling, placing her hands together as if in prayer. She flopped down onto a chair and looked at her watch. It was 3.50 pm.
“Six hours with Laura Swindley,” she said. “What did I do to deserve that?”
“Or anybody from the Office of the Crown Prosecutor for that matter,” Jo added. “Actually, she’s one of the best.”
“I guess so, and we got Mr Kadawe as far as the magistrate.”
“Yes, that went pretty well, considering,” Jo said. “At least that’s us over the first hurdle. I feel a lot better now. That data from Don tipped the balance, I reckon.”
“If there was one good thing about the dealing charge,” Tina said, “it’s that Laura worked on the Prosecution’s case with us against Jack and Jason, so supporting a case for perversion, would, by implication, have reflected on her role in bringing about the convictions. That would have been a test for her integrity.”
Tina left the office and Jo sat for a long time, deep in thought, before picking up her mobile and scrolling through her contacts list to Maggie.
*
Katey’s first day back at Bishop Adcock six-form college since Jack had died had gone as well as she had expected, helped, she realised, by the fact that her expectations were extremely low. She’d had no illusions as to how much work she would be capable of and, as such, she had arrived – just before lunch – with no books, no laptop and no knowledge of the timetable for the day. It was more of a flying visit to get over the inevitable hurdle of tearful reunions and outpourings of sympathy. That was as much as
she was able to deal with, anyway, given all the other thoughts circulating in her head.
The text from her mother arrived as she was sitting in her car, a little after 4.00 pm, drained by the emotion of the past few hours. She made the onward call immediately.
“Hi, Dad. Seven-thirty. Is that okay?”
“Should I just arrive then, or should I come earlier? What do you think? I could come straight away.”
“Well, I’m going to see Leila right now – I’ve been to college, can you believe? Aren’t I a good little girl?”
“You certainly are. How did it go?”
“Okay. Didn’t do much but talk. Starting properly tomorrow. But why not go round now. It’ll give you and mum a chance to talk. You can pretend you expected to find me there, if that makes it easier.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea…”
Katey sighed like a frustrated parent.
“Oh, for God’s sake, you’re like a couple of kids. Well, I’ll be back about six, so do what you want.”
“Listen,” Tom said. “Why don’t I meet you at Leila’s? I’ve been thinking I’d like to see her again. Got as far as Cobham station a couple of times, in fact – I just about remember. That’s if you think it’s a good idea. I guess she probably blames me for what’s happened as well.”
“No, I think that would be great. And she doesn’t blame you, although she does keep a lot bottled up inside. I don’t even know for certain if she believes Jay is guilty or not. I think sometimes it’s just her way of dealing with it. It might be easier to come to terms with what’s happened to him if she accepts that he is.”
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