THE GUILTY MAN an absolutely gripping crime mystery with a massive twist (Detectives Lennox & Wilde Thrillers Book 1)

by HELEN H. DURRANT

  “Ryan’s got himself a new bird, so he’ll be trying to impress.”

  “Unless it’s her place and she’s trying to tame him,” Jess said. “Either way, I’m not keen on living so close to one of the Cassidys, not with my job.”

  “Don’t tell the neighbours what you do. In fact, take my advice, keep your life close and folk at arm’s length.”

  “Like you do. Anyone would think you were hiding some big, dark secret, Harry Lennox.”

  He laughed. “Got it in one. Stop digging, Jess, it won’t do you any good and it’s beginning to grate.”

  This was how it always was. He’d crack a joke but say nothing enlightening. The more time Jess spent with Harry, the more intrigued she became. Time to change tack. “I’m surprised Martha gave you Ryan’s address. What did you do, smile nicely?”

  “Something like that. As I said, she saw my hands. She must have felt sorry for me, so I took advantage.”

  “Bet she wouldn’t have given me the information.”

  He grinned. “Martha just needs handling right, most women do.”

  Harry in this sort of mood irritated Jess. One day he’d fall flat on his face. She’d put up with his wisecracks and his secretive ways for two years now and it was eating away at her. Why did he have to be such a closed book? What was so wrong in telling people about yourself, your family, where you were brought up? Harry never even spoke about his time in the force before he transferred here. What was he hiding? Jess watched his face as he drove. It gave nothing away. The time had come to make some discreet enquiries of her own. She’d speak to Anthea. If anyone knew about Harry, she must.

  * * *

  Ryan’s house was a pleasant semi on a street of similar properties. As Jess said, not where you’d expect to find one of the Cassidy clan. There was a new car on the drive, nothing ostentatious, a hatchback, and Harry could hear music coming from inside.

  “We’re in luck. Looks like someone’s at home,” Jess said.

  Harry rapped on the door and stood back.

  “Come in! Door’s open.”

  The pair went inside. A young woman, glass of red in hand, smiled at them from the hallway.

  “We’re celebrating,” she slurred. “Wine’s in there.” She jerked her head. If it’s Ryan you’re after, I’ve sent him out to get more booze.”

  She spun round and, singing to the music, danced her way into the kitchen. “Who are you anyway? You don’t look like Ryan’s usual crowd.”

  “We’re not, we’re police,” Jess said.

  The woman laughed. “Martha did her best to warn me. She said their Ryan attracted trouble.”

  “We just want a word, that’s all,” Harry assured her.

  “You’re cute,” she said, moving in close and stroking his cheek. “Not like any policeman I’ve ever met.”

  “Why the celebration?” Jess asked, coming between them.

  “Money, love,” the woman grinned. “Ryan had a big win on the horses. We intend to make the most of it — first a party and then a holiday somewhere hot.”

  “Sizable amount was it, this win?” Jess said.

  “Big enough to keep Ryan out of trouble for a while. Please you lot, that will.” She took another slug of wine. “If you see that family of ’is, not a word — got it? Slightest whiff of money and Martha’ll be round here in a flash demanding a share. That woman’s a first-class nightmare.”

  “Adele! What’s going on?” A man strode into the kitchen and set down a bag.

  “Thought I’d kick off on my own,” she said, holding up a wine bottle. “Want some?”

  One look at Harry and Jess, and Ryan Cassidy’s face fell. “What’re you doing here?”

  Harry showed him his warrant card. “You’ve guessed who we are then.”

  “I’m a bright lad. Know a copper anywhere I would. What d’you want?”

  “You had words with Nick Sutton a few days ago, about an invoice we believe. Things got nasty and a car was damaged.”

  “That wasn’t down to me or Ma. As for the invoice, Sutton’s a tight bastard, he needed telling. We did a good job and wanted paying right. He saw sense in the end.”

  “Have you seen Nick in the last couple of days?” Jess asked.

  “No reason to. Anyway, I’m taking a back seat in the garage business for a while. Me and Adele here are having a long holiday.”

  “Win on the horses, she told us.” Harry smiled. “Prove that, can you? You know, if it became necessary.”

  “Not a problem.” Ryan returned the smile.

  “What about Andy Marsh? Seen much of him?”

  Ryan Cassidy looked at Harry, the grin on his face broader now. “Summat’s happened, hasn’t it? Trouble on that bloody estate, I bet. Nick and Andy have been at each other’s throats for years. Been fighting, have they? One of them get hurt?”

  “One of them might even have got himself killed,” Harry said.

  “Nick? So that’s why you’re so interested in him.” He took the glass of wine Adele offered him. “Well, it’s nowt to do with me. Why not go and bother Andy instead? See what he’s got to say.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Where does Marsh live?” Jess asked once they were back in the car.

  “No idea. Somewhere exclusive, posh, with umpteen rooms and staff, I imagine,” Harry said. “We’ll pay him a visit tomorrow, but we’ve nothing on him so don’t get your hopes up. It’s getting late and I fancy visiting that private investigator before we knock off. We’ll gather all the information we can from anyone who had dealings with Sutton recently and then go after Marsh.”

  Jess looked at the card she’d found in Nick Sutton’s car. “Pickford must work from home. This address is on an estate at Hurst. I know it because my auntie lives nearby.”

  “Why would Nick hire a PI d’you imagine?”

  “Could be anything — business reasons, checking up on a supplier. Who knows?” Jess said.

  “Is that normal? Is that what businessmen do, spy on the people they deal with?” Harry asked. “Doesn’t sound right to me.”

  Jess shook her head. “We’re talking about Nick Sutton. He’s not exactly your usual businessman, is he? Sutton’s a villain who does what he wants.”

  “I think it’s something else, Jess. Call it instinct but I’m sure Nick would have people of his own to check on business associates.”

  “Well, we’re here now, so let’s ask him.”

  A room downstairs at the front of the house had been converted into an office. Framed in the window sat a middle-aged man studying a computer screen and muttering to himself.

  He looked up. “Be with you in a minute. The wife usually does my accounts but she’s at work and I can’t make head nor tail of them.” He picked up the phone. “Sorry to keep you but I can’t find the invoice in question. Can I ring you back?”

  Harry looked at Jess and rolled his eyes.

  Pickford finished the call and turned to greet them. “Sorry about that. How can I help?”

  Harry flashed his badge. “It’s about Nick Sutton,” he said. “We found your business card in his car. You were working for him?”

  “The work I do for my clients is confidential,” Pickford said.

  “Nick Sutton is missing, and the circumstances have led us to believe he may even be dead. So, confidential or not, you need to speak to us.”

  Pickford looked doubtful. “Joan hasn’t said anything about that. Are you sure?”

  “Are you Joan Pickford’s husband?” Jess asked.

  “Yes, she’s Caroline Sutton’s PA. She’d have rung me about something like this.”

  “Perhaps she forgot,” Harry said flippantly. “Now, back to business. When did you last see Nick?”

  “At least a month ago. I have little to do with him or his wife. I leave that to Joan.”

  “Why did Nick Sutton hire you?” Harry asked.

  “He didn’t. And I’m surprised you’re presuming he did on the strength of finding a singl
e business card.”

  “We found it in his car,” Jess said. “And before you lie to us, remember this is possibly a murder enquiry.”

  Pickford stared at them for a moment, and then sighed. “Okay, Nick did hire me. He suspected Caroline of having an affair and asked me to watch her.”

  They should have thought of this, Harry said to himself, but he was still surprised, given what Caroline had told him about how close she and Nick were. “And? What did you discover?”

  “As it happened, Nick was right, she was seeing someone, but it was hardly serious. I only saw them together once and all they did was go out for a meal. The bloke’s name was Bob Armstrong. They met at the Greek restaurant on Deansgate in Manchester. I spoke to the waitress and she told me Armstrong was staying at the Midland nearby and was there on business. I gave Nick a full report a month ago, which was the last time I saw him.”

  “D’you know if he tackled Caroline about it?”

  “According to Joan, Nick was livid, as you would expect, but once he calmed down, him and Caroline talked it through. She assured him it was a silly fling, and nothing had happened other than dinner, which my report backed up, and she swore she would never do anything so stupid again.”

  “This man, did he have a partner or wife?” Harry asked.

  “I’ve no idea.”

  “Do you know anything else about him?” Jess asked.

  “No, I would have kept an eye on him for a few days longer, checked if he contacted Caroline again, but he flew off to the States, so that was the end of that.”

  “What did he look like?” Harry asked.

  “Average sort of bloke, there was nothing special about him that I could see.”

  “Mr Pickford, did you take any photos of the two of them together?” Jess asked.

  “Yes, I did take a few. I emailed them to Nick, and then he insisted I delete them completely, which I did.”

  “We’ll speak to Caroline, see if we can access them, or she might have one that she took,” Jess said.

  “Thank you very much for your help,” Harry said. “If we have any other questions, we’ll be in touch.”

  “You know where I am,” Pickford said and turned back to his invoices.

  * * *

  Back in the car, Harry seemed preoccupied. Jess nudged him. “So, Caroline lied to you, said her and Nick were solid. Get over it.”

  “Why though? It could be important. She should have said something. It makes me wonder what else she’s lied about. We have no idea what went on, how Nick really reacted to finding out about Caroline’s affair. For all we know, that’s what’s at the bottom of this.”

  “Pickford said the bloke was average, ordinary. That doesn’t sound like someone who’d kill just to chance his arm with a woman again.”

  “We don’t know that for sure. We need another word with the lovely Caroline.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Day Four

  First thing the following morning, Harry and Jess went to speak to Caroline. This time they intended to push her about the affair.

  “I know you want answers, but we should tread carefully,” Jess said to Harry. “If we barge in, upset the woman, we’ll get nothing.”

  “Do you really think a spurned lover did for Nick, ’cause I don’t, Jess. Look what was done to him. Whoever took him had a score to settle. If Nick had tackled that man Armstrong, there’d have been a scuffle, one of them would have got their eye blacked, but chopping off a hand, possibly murdering the other, that’s something else.”

  Before they made it to the front door, Harry’s mobile rang.

  “Long time no speak, laddie, how’re you doing? I’ve been worried.”

  This was out of the blue and Harry was momentarily thrown. “Sandy? Sorry, I can’t talk now, I’m on a case.”

  “I could do with a chat when you’re free. You’ve not been in touch like you promised. That wasn’t our agreement. You said you’d ring every month at least.”

  Hearing the familiar Scottish lilt brought on a surge of homesickness. He’d love to see Sandy, even if it was just a flying visit, but it wasn’t that simple. “Sorry. Time flies and the job is full on.”

  “You have folk up here who care about you, laddie, never forget that. Your Morag never lets up. She wants you to come back for a holiday.”

  “You know I can’t do that, Sandy, it’s too soon. Tell Morag I was asking after her.”

  “It’s been three years,” Sandy said. “When you get a minute, she’d love you to ring her. Think you can promise to do that at least?”

  Sandy made it sound so simple, but it wasn’t. Seeing his old friend after all this time and after what had happened would be hard. There’d be the inevitable questions, the reminiscences, but he knew Sandy, he wouldn’t give up. He’d contacted him once and he’d do so again until he got his own way. “I’ll ring home at the weekend, cross my heart,” he said finally, and ended the call.

  Harry turned to Jess, who was hovering at his shoulder. “Personal stuff, sorry.”

  “Who’s Sandy and Morag?” she asked.

  “Just people I know. They’re nothing to do with the case.”

  “From back home?”

  He didn’t reply.

  “And why’s it too soon? Too soon for what?”

  “Leave it, Jess,” he said sharply.

  He didn’t have time for Jess’s prying right now. Sandy was right, he had neglected his old friends and family. But he wasn’t ready to deal with it, not yet. Hearing Sandy’s voice, that soft Scottish burr so warm and comforting, had made him think of home. There were times when he wished . . . But he’d had no choice and like it or not, he had to live with it. He shook himself and faced the door.

  Joan Pickford let them in and led the way through to the sitting room, where Caroline looked up hopefully.

  “You have news?” she asked.

  Harry came straight to the point. “Why didn’t you tell us about the man you were seeing, this Bob Armstrong? Given what’s happened, that’s a serious omission.”

  She stared at them for a moment and then turned away. “Yes, I should have, but it’s something I’m trying to forget. I acted foolishly. I can’t believe I came so close to cheating on Nick.”

  “He found out. He must have been mad,” Harry said.

  “And then some,” Caroline said with a wry smile. “He hit the roof, ranted for hours about what I’d done and what he’d do to Bob if he ever got his hands on him.”

  “And did he?”

  “No, fortunately Bob wasn’t around. The day after we went to that restaurant he had to leave for the States — a business problem that needed his immediate attention. It gave me time to think and I rang him later and called a stop to the whole silly business. By the time Nick found out about us, Bob was well out of the way and had most likely forgotten all about me.”

  “Nick did nothing about it?”

  “No, he didn’t, other than have a go at me. Frustrating for him, I imagine, but the man wasn’t in the country and Nick wasn’t about to chase after him all the way to the States. Instead, he had a moody couple of days until he got over it and eventually saw the episode for what it was, a silly mistake.”

  “You had one date with the man? That’s all?” Harry said.

  “Yes.”

  “When was this?” Harry asked.

  “About four weeks ago.”

  “Do you have a photo of him?”

  “I did, but Nick made me delete it off my phone. It was no big deal. Me and Bob didn’t have a future.”

  “Why did Nick hire a private investigator? What aroused his suspicions?”

  “Bob and I only met the once, but we’d chatted via text. Nick must have seen some of our messages on my mobile. I wasn’t careful enough, left it lying around and it has no passcode.”

  “Was there anything compromising in them?” Jess asked.

  “No, but the fact that I was messaging a man Nick didn’t know was enough. He’s ve
ry possessive.”

  Harry nodded. Caroline’s story was plausible enough. But his head was elsewhere, his thoughts kept straying to his past. Sandy’s call had thrown him, put him off stride and brought back all the bad memories. He’d left his previous life out of necessity. An old enemy he’d crossed swords with on a case in Glasgow believed him to be dead, and Harry wanted to keep it that way. Return, even for a short visit, and word would soon spread.

  “There’s no chance that what happened to Nick is down to this Bob fella?” Jess asked, glancing at Harry.

  “No, he’s still in New York,” Caroline said, “and won’t be back for a while. I do get the odd message from him.”

  Harry shook himself. This needed his attention. “We’re going to need his full name and phone number. He’ll have to be checked out,” he said.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Back at the station, Harry set Angela on the job of finding out more about Bob Armstrong and where he’d spent the last month.

  “Harry!” It was the super. “The disappearance of the Green child, I’ve got Maxwell’s team looking at it again. Someone took her, and given she’s back safe, I doubt that was Sykes. That leaves you clear to concentrate on the drugs situation and the Sutton case. I know that’s pushing it, but given it’s Sutton who’s involved, the two are most likely linked. Have you got anything yet?”

  “One or two leads but nothing that’s led anywhere yet, sir.”

  Superintendent Roderick Croft scoured the incident board, frowning. “Chase up forensics. Don’t let them drag their feet on this.”

  Once he’d left the office, Harry turned to Angela. “Has anything come in from the Reid?”

  “Nothing on the system yet,” she said.

  “Are you happy with him passing on Lucy’s disappearance to Maxwell?” Jess asked.

  “What choice do I have? Anyway, we’ve got enough on as it is.” Harry looked over to where young PC Carter was having his lunch. “Was anything found on that path where the kid’s shoes turned up?”

  “We got tyre tracks from an SUV. There’s a camera a few metres away and one by the gate. We’ve had some of the footage through, and we’ll go over it.”