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

by HELEN H. DURRANT

  “Have you had anything in from Lancashire Holdings in the last couple of days?” Harry asked.

  “No,” Shaw said. “They’re blacklisted. But in any case, they haven’t been back.”

  “You sure about that? There’s a lot of lorries out there. I suppose you know where they’ve all come from?”

  “Yes, they’re all regulars,” Shaw said. They thanked him and left.

  “If not here, then where?” Jess asked on their way back across the yard.

  “Andy’s factory. Lancashire Holdings must have bought it with a purpose in mind,” Harry said.

  It turned out to be a good call. As they pulled into the car park, they could see signs of life. The lights were on inside, but the blinds were all down.

  “Perhaps they’re re-fitting the place,” Jess said.

  “I’m going to take a look,” Harry said. “You wait in the car until the cavalry arrives, they’ll soon be here. First sign of trouble, give them the nod.”

  Harry approached the building and hammered on the main door. If there was anyone from Lancashire Holdings in there, he wanted to get his hands on them first. “Police!” he shouted. “Open up!”

  He could hear voices coming from inside and then the tip-tap of high heels on the wooden floor. The door swung open to reveal someone quite unexpected.

  He blinked. “Emira?”

  “As you see. What can I do for you?”

  “Are you with Lancashire Holdings?”

  “Yes.”

  “In that case, I need you to come down to the station and give a statement,” he said.

  But Emira merely shook her head. “I don’t think so.” She leaned forward and whispered, “Did you not listen to me this morning when I said you were going to work for us?”

  This had to be a joke. These people were killers. Harry waved his badge at her. “I’m a policeman, a detective. If you think I can be intimidated or bribed, then you’re wrong. You lot are prime suspects in two murder cases, possibly more. Those are serious offences and you will answer our questions.”

  She smiled and stroked his cheek. “You are very handsome when you’re angry, did you know that? But it’s such a waste of energy.”

  Harry had heard enough. “You are coming with me now, Emira. You will be interviewed at the station under caution.”

  “I think not. You are in no position to make me or my partners do anything, Harry. Like I said, we know all about you.”

  Harry felt a sudden tremor of fear. What was she talking about? What did ‘they’ know? And who were they?

  “What is it to be? I am busy, so make up your mind. But I seriously suggest that you tell your people this is a huge mistake and leave us in peace. Or . . .”

  “Or what?” he said. “Go on. What do you think you know about me?”

  The smile became a thin line. Her eyes were hard. “You are trying my patience. You had better do as we tell you, Harry. Or should I call you Paul?”

  Chapter Thirty-five

  “You drive us back, Jess.” Harry got into the passenger seat. He was stunned by what Emira had just said to him.

  Jess glanced at him. “What happened? Why aren’t we dragging them in?”

  “Mistake, Jess,” he said. “I made a wrong call, so I told the cavalry to stand down.”

  “So, were they Lancashire Holdings or what?”

  “No, just another clothing manufacturer setting up. They’re refurbishing the place, like you thought.”

  “This property and the business were both bought by Lancashire Holdings, so what’s going on? Where the hell are they then?”

  Harry said nothing. He couldn’t deal with this now.

  “Fair enough,” Jess said. “Perhaps they re-let the building, but we still need to find the container from the Cassidys’ place. That lorry must have been carrying one.”

  Harry shook his head slowly. He couldn’t get his head straight. If only Jess would stop wittering on. He had enough to think about without her questions. He had no idea what was going on, or how Emira knew what she did.

  Receiving no response from him, Jess shrugged. “We’ll set uniform on the job of finding it. Those things are too big to hide for long. And we don’t know there was a container anyway. We’re simply presuming there was.”

  Harry leaned back and closed his eyes. Emira must have spoken to someone, but who? He needed to speak to Sandy. Alone.

  “Who did you speak to back there?” Jess asked. “I couldn’t see.”

  “One of the admin people, I think. Look, Jess, I’m not feeling too good. Last night catching up. D’you mind if I go home for a couple of hours, get my head down?”

  Jess gave him one of her funny looks. “Something’s happened, hasn’t it? One thing I do I know about you, Harry Lennox, you’re no good at lying.”

  “I’ll be back after lunch,” he said, ignoring her comment. “Meanwhile, why don’t you go and speak to Lisa? Find out what we wanted to know about her and Andy’s story.”

  * * *

  Harry rang Sandy from the camper van. “I need to see you. Where are you staying?”

  “The Bluebell Guest House by the park. Great breakfast. I can recommend it.”

  “I’ll pick you up in ten, don’t disappear.”

  As he finished the call someone started hammering on the van door. “Open up!”

  Standing outside was the young man Harry had met on the night of the riot at the Baxendale. “Zeno! I’ve been looking for you.”

  “Well now you’ve found me. In fact, I came looking for you.” He smiled. “A lot’s changed. Anyway, Emira says to give you this for a job well done. What she wants now is for you to release her driver. You have him locked up, I believe.” Zeno held out a brown envelope.

  Harry eyed it suspiciously. “What’s this?”

  “Like I said, a reward. You’ve earned it.” Zeno turned to go. “Emira wants her driver back today. Don’t let her down, she can be a vicious bitch when she’s crossed.”

  Helplessly, Harry stood and watched him walk away. What could he do? Nothing, without starting a battle he would likely lose. And he didn’t want that. It would mean giving up the job he loved. He looked inside the envelope. As he suspected, it was stuffed with money. Judging from the bulk, he reckoned about five grand. This couldn’t go on. Grabbing his keys, he went to find Sandy.

  * * *

  “And that’s what she said, Harry? Those exact words?” Sandy said.

  “Yes, ‘or should I call you Paul.’ She knows, Sandy. And I don’t understand how.”

  Harry pulled into the deserted car park of a pub along the Stockfield Road. “We need to talk properly. This place is safe, there’s never anyone here at lunchtime.”

  Harry went to the bar and got the drinks. Though he was driving, he got himself a whiskey. He needed it for his nerves.

  “Someone has to have given her the information, laddie, and that could only be one person.”

  “Salton?”

  “I’m afraid so. Apart from Salton himself, you, me and your twin, who’s dead, no one else knew the truth about what happened that day.”

  “And McBain? I can only suppose he crossed Salton and suffered the same fate as Sutton and Marsh,” Harry said.

  “We don’t know for sure that those killings were down to Salton or that McBain is dead. But it is his style.”

  “Do you really think Salton is behind what’s happening on my patch?” Harry asked.

  “Possibly, but I’ve heard no whispers. I’m going home later today, so I’ll try to find out. If Salton is up to his old tricks, someone will know. Meanwhile, you must be careful. I don’t need to tell you how dangerous he is.”

  “Think I don’t know that? But what do I do? I don’t want my past to come out. I’ve been careful, moving to a station in Yorkshire and then here. I’ve covered my tracks, told no one the truth.”

  “Don’t panic. Sit tight for a day or so. Meanwhile, I’ll try and find one of Salton’s people, and when I do, I
’ll force the truth out of him.”

  “Don’t take any risks, Sandy. I don’t want you getting hurt for my sake. Morag would never forgive me.” Morag was a cousin of Harry’s mother. She and Sandy had been seeing each other for years.

  “If it is Salton,” Sandy said, “he’ll make a move against you soon. He isn’t known for his patience.”

  “I think he already has. I’ve been given a pile of cash. Salton’s making it look like he’s bribed me. This comes out and my career is over. He knows that,” Harry said, dismay making his voice quiver.

  “You need to calm down, laddie. Things aren’t that bad. Keep the money safe for now and don’t spend any of it, whatever you do. Don’t tell any of your colleagues what’s happened. Your super finds out and, like you say, he’ll have your badge.”

  “I’m damn worried, Sandy. This is just what I’ve been trying to avoid ever since I left Glasgow.”

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Harry dropped Sandy off at the guest house and they said their goodbyes. “Let me know as soon as you find anything,” Harry said. “I’m desperate.”

  “Leave it with me, laddie, I’ll put the word out.”

  He should go to the station. The lorry driver was waiting to be interviewed. If he didn’t show willing, his colleagues would think it odd, particularly Jess.

  Harry decided to carry on as if nothing was wrong. He’d just have to stick the problem in a box in his head and tape it up tight. There was nothing else to do until he heard from Sandy. With luck, his friend would let him know what Salton was up to, and then he’d be on firmer ground.

  * * *

  Soon, Harry was talking to the duty sergeant, asking about what the driver had said so far.

  “He won’t give his name and there’s nothing helpful on him,” the sergeant said. “He’s been making a helluva din and he’s refusing food and drink. He’s been offered a solicitor, but he’s refused that too. He just says he wants to make a phone call.”

  “Did you manage to get prints and a sample of his DNA?” Harry asked.

  “Yes, but it wasn’t easy.”

  Harry had dealt with plenty of difficult suspects before, but the prospect of interviewing this one made him nervous. He’d have to tread very carefully. Emira evidently knew about him, but he’d no idea who else in her organisation did. The last thing he wanted was this man telling the entire station.

  “I’ll interview him with a uniformed officer. Make sure there’s some backup close by. The man is obviously volatile.”

  Harry got himself a mug of coffee and despite his churning stomach, downed it in one. He’d just accepted a bribe — career over if anyone found out. “Which interview room is he in?”

  “Number three.”

  Leaving the empty mug on his desk, Harry, with the PC beside him, made his way to the interview room. Their guest was shouting and screaming, but not in any language they understood. What had Jess said? Urdu? As soon as they entered the interview room, he turned on Harry, his eyes blazing with fury.

  “You have made a mistake. You do not cross my people. Payment will be swift and deadly, I swear it.”

  “Dearie me,” Harry said, taking a seat. “Threatening a police officer, eh? Not a good start. You have the right to a solicitor. D’you want one?”

  “I will not be here that long.”

  “You’re very sure of that. Do you realise that you’ve been arrested for a serious offence? Discharging a firearm at a member of the public carries a heavy penalty.”

  “No comment.”

  “Where did the lorry you were driving start its journey?”

  The man’s gaze burned, as if his eyes were on fire. “Go to hell.”

  “What were you carrying?”

  “I will not talk to you. You were told to release me. Disobey and you will suffer.”

  Harry turned to the PC and rolled his eyes. “The lengths they’ll go to.”

  “This is wasting time,” he said to the driver. “I have no idea what you’re on about. You’ve been arrested for attempted murder. I want to know why you were carrying a gun, and everything you know about that lorry. Bear in mind you committed a serious offence that carries a prison sentence.”

  “I will make that phone call now.”

  “We will do that. Give me the number and a colleague will relay a message.”

  “I want to speak to them myself.”

  “You do not have that right. Think yourself lucky we’re informing someone for you,” Harry said.

  * * *

  “Who did he want to call?” Harry asked back in the main office.

  “Some bloke answered, said he’d get a solicitor here as soon as.”

  “Foreign?”

  “Yeah, and not very talkative. I told him our guest was being held on a charge of attempted murder and that he shot at someone.”

  “It’s lucky none of the Cassidy family was killed,” Jess said, joining them.

  Harry smiled at her. “Get much from Lisa?”

  “No. She reckons they were sound and didn’t like me insinuating otherwise.” She stared at Harry. “You look bloody awful. Something happened?”

  “Hangover,” he whispered. “I tried to have that rest, but I had to see Sandy off. He’s gone back home.”

  “Shame, I liked him. I still need to talk to Lisa. She kept saying her and Andy had been fine, but there was something, you know, a look in her eye. She really didn’t like the idea that he might have been unfaithful. Want to come with me?”

  “I have to stick around and see what our guest says once his brief gets here,” Harry said. “It might be an idea to speak to Babs Milton. She worked with Andy, took his calls, saw who came and went. If he was up to something, she’d know.”

  “Good idea. I’ll sort it.”

  Angela called out to him, “The solicitor’s here, waiting for you in reception. They’ve asked for a word with you before the prisoner is interviewed again.”

  “I’ll be right there. The sooner we sort this the better.”

  Harry took the stairs down to the ground floor. The solicitor should understand that there was no chance of bail, and that their client was as guilty as sin.

  The duty sergeant pointed to a side room. “I’ve put her in there, sir.”

  He should have twigged then, but he didn’t. He marched into the room, determined to get his own way, only to come face to face with Emira.

  “You really don’t learn, do you, Mr Lennox?”

  “You are truly pissing me off now. Everywhere I turn, there you are. There is nothing I can do for your . . . your client.”

  She raised an eyebrow and moved closer to Harry. “He is one of my operatives, and you will have him released at once. Fail to do so and I will make your life extremely difficult.”

  Harry shook his head. “People witnessed what he did. He shot at someone. Luckily he missed, but I can’t just let him go. That will cause far more trouble than your tittle-tattle, believe me.”

  “My tittle-tattle, as you call it, will finish you. So find a way,” she hissed. “Speak to your witnesses and get them to change their minds. Bribe them if you must. I will give you the money.”

  Harry was about to challenge her again when Jess came in.

  “Are you coming up? Our guest is getting very restless again,” Jess said.

  “Give us a minute, Jess.”

  Jess gave him one of her odd looks. She wasn’t buying this at all.

  “Go on. Leave us,” he said.

  Once she’d gone, Emira made for the door. “You have until midday tomorrow. If he isn’t out by then, your chief constable will get a phone call.” She kissed his cheek lightly as she passed him. “If that happens, you can say goodbye to your career, Detective Lennox.”

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  Day Eight

  Harry had hardly slept. He’d tossed and turned most of the night, trying to work out a solution to his problem. The only one he’d come up with was to tough it out. But supposin
g it didn’t work? If they checked up on him, had he covered all bases? That, he decided, would depend on how rigorous those checks were.

  There was a knock on the door, and he heard Jess calling his name. He’d have to let her in.

  “Feeling better today?” she asked. “Good night’s sleep and all that? Has it set you up for another day’s sleuthing?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine now,” he lied. “Come in and make some coffee while I go and get dressed.”

  “Still living in a pigsty, I see. You really should get a grip, Harry. I’m not surprised you’re not well, you could have caught anything in here. As for coffee, forget it. The mould in that mug over there is enough to poison an army.”

  “Leave it, Jess, this isn’t the time.” Harry couldn’t face another earful right now. He disappeared into Don’s house, had a quick shower and got dressed.

  Ten minutes later, he was on his way back to the camper van when a man stopped him. He was tall, in his late forties and smartly dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and tie.

  “DI Lennox?”

  Harry wasn’t in the mood for any more threats from Emira and her compatriots. “Who wants to know?”

  “I do.” The man held out a warrant card.

  Still only half-awake, Harry thought the bloke might be from anti-corruption, that they’d finally discovered the truth, but the warrant said National Crime Agency. What in the world did that lot want with him?

  “Would you like some breakfast?” the stranger asked.

  Harry glanced towards the camper van. “My partner, DS Wilde, is waiting for me in there, I’d better have a word.”

  “No, don’t do that.” The stranger smiled. “Speak to her later. I won’t keep you long. My car is parked down the road.”

  Harry looked to see if Jess was watching him from the window, but the curtains were still shut tight. “What was your name again? I’m still half asleep and didn’t see the warrant properly.”

  “Marcus Edge,” the man said. “I think you and me can do each other a lot of good.”

  * * *

  Jess gave Harry twenty minutes and then went to look for him. What was the idiot doing wasting time like this? They had a busy morning ahead of them, not least that chat with Babs Milton. Banging on Don’s door and shouting his name got her nowhere, though Harry’s car was still parked up. Jess had had enough. She left for the station without him.