by Liz Mistry
Grabbing a chair, Gus joined the little circle and sat down. ‘Come on, Imti. We’re friends. If I can help, then I will.’
Shahid sniffed and looked away. Ordinarily Gus would have interpreted this as disdain, but studying the other man’s profile, with his Adam’s apple moving convulsively, Gus realised Shahid was distressed. Imti looked at his brother and when no support came from that direction, he glanced at his girlfriend. Serafina sighed and linked her fingers through his. ‘What Imti’s trying to explain is that. Well – it’s Jess.’
‘Jess?’ Jessica was Shahid and Imti’s half-sister. She was in prison for murder and Gus had no idea what they wanted him to do about that after all this time.
‘She’s dying.’
‘Dying?’ Gus frowned, aware that repeating the last words of each of Serafina’s statements was not the way to move forward, but at least now he knew what was wrong with the brothers. Despite their differences, they loved their sister, even after everything she’d put them through. ‘What’s wrong with her?’
‘She was shivved in the shower.’
Gus heard Alice’s gasp. This was just a bit too close for comfort for Alice, who had had a similar experience. Despite himself, Gus shuddered, at the thought of what could have happened to Alice. While Alice had ended up in hospital, Jess, it seemed wasn’t going to be able to recover from her injuries. Still, he wasn’t sure what they wanted from him. So, he waited till Serafina spoke again.
‘She’s in BRI. She’s on machines to keep her alive, but she insists that she won’t let any of us be with her at the end. She made her solicitor write a contract.’
Biting his lip to prevent himself from repeating Serafina’s last words, Gus sighed. Jess had hated Shahid for a long time and although he had his reasons to hate Jess in return, somehow, he’d found the strength to rise above it. Shahid’s face was tense as he stood up and stalked over to the window, unwilling to meet anyone’s gaze.
‘I’m still not clear what you want me to do, Serafina.’
‘Well, we can’t go in and they’re turning off the machines tomorrow at noon.’ She glanced at Imti before continuing. ‘She can’t die on her own – she just can’t.’ Tears rolled down her cheeks and at last Gus had an inkling of what they were asking of him.
‘We want you and Alice to be there with her. Please.’
The final word was Gus’s undoing. Uttered in a plaintive tone, he’d have had to have a heart of steel to say no. So, heart sinking, trying not to wrench up all the memories from that period in his own life, Gus nodded. His eyes met Alice’s and she too nodded, conveying the silent message that this would be difficult, but they would do it – for their friends.
Shahid turned from the window, his eyes red, and walked over to Gus. When he spoke, his voice was gruff. ‘I owe you. Big time. Anything … I mean anything.’
Imti and Serafina hugged Gus and left, leaving Gus desperately attempting to drag his thoughts back from a time when he thought life could be very different for him.
Chapter 31
Bradford
The Man in Black supposes they’re getting all hot under the collar. Nearly a week and no other killing – well not one they recognised as being his work. Are they wondering if it’s all over? If they can start to wind things down? Gus is clever, he’ll have spotted the links and that profiler will make them expect another death. The thing is, they’re equally well aware that some killers leave it for months or even years between kills. They’ll be beginning to wonder if that’s what he’ll do. Of course, they’ll be conflicted – on the one hand they need the next victim to extend their profile, to give them more clues, but that means another death and they’re duty bound to try to prevent that. What a curious conflict to have.
But they won’t have it for long because the Man in Black is nearly set. He doesn’t have months and years to waste with this. No, he’s going to hit them fast and furious with it – bam, bam, bam.
They won’t have made the connection between Erica Smedley’s death and Miranda Brookes. Maybe he needs to give them a Twofer – a two for the price of one. Get this one out of the way, enjoy the banter as the team processes and use his observations to choose his next target – anybody who makes an awful mistake like Erica Smedley. Who will it be, another CSI? A police officer? Someone directly in McGuire’s team, the pathologist? The choice isn’t exactly limited as there’s always some idiot out there to choose, but even after the next victim is disposed of, they still won’t connect the dots.
There’s time for a snooze before they find this one. She was a bit more of a handful than the other, but everything got done. Savouring her terror, leaving all the little clues, setting her up just so, and still he had time for a quick coffee, before shimmying back up to his cubby hole.
It’s not as comfy as the last one – but that doesn’t matter to the Man in Black. Who needs comfort when you have excitement and anticipation to keep you company? That’s all he needs.
Using his backpack as a pillow, he settles down for a nap, secure in the knowledge that there’s no way the main event will go off without alerting him. There’ll be the scream, the panic, the slamming of doors, the frantic phone calls and then the awareness that perhaps the monster who did this is still inside and off they’ll go screeching like banshees, heart hammering, shock making them illogical – for of course the killer can’t possibly still be inside … or can he? Such fun!
Chapter 32
Bradford
Gus was still mulling over what he’d agreed to do the next day for Imti and Shahid. Although he’d interviewed and indeed arrested Imti and Shahid’s sister, Jess, he didn’t know her personally. She had been his then girlfriend, Sadia’s childhood best friend. That investigation had been the catalyst for a low time in Gus’s life where he’d lost Sadia, the woman he thought he might one day marry. His memories of Jess were all tied up with Sadia and the investigation that had led to the demise of their relationship. Jess was a woman who’d been let down by society as a child. After her mother had died a gruesome death by burning, for which Jess had blamed her brother Shahid. She ended up living with her uncle, a well know Bradford pimp and drug dealer, who prostituted his own niece. Jess’s life had been tragic and now it appeared her death was set to be equally tragic.
Why she’d opted to die without those who loved her around her, he had no idea. Maybe she thought it was what she deserved or perhaps she assumed it would be easier for them. Over the years since her death, she and her brothers had come to a strange sort of reconciliation, despite everything, Shahid, in particular, had suffered at her hands. They visited her, and she accepted their visits with a sullen sarcasm, according to Imti. Yet, she’d refused their support at her final hours but was happy to allow Alice and him to be there – two acquaintances at best. Maybe she wanted to taunt Gus for being responsible for her death. Maybe she blamed him for arresting her. Maybe this was Jessica’s way to get back at him. Whatever the reason, he and Alice were committed now, and he’d just have to make the best of it.
The ringing of his mobile dragged him from his reverie. ‘McGuire.’
‘Hey, boss, we got another one – same MO. Over near St Luke’s hospital. Roslyn Terrace – another back-to-back terraced row. Victim’s a Beatrice Flateau.’ Taffy’s voice lowered. ‘She was pregnant too.’
Although he’d expected this, the actuality of a second death triggered a surge of anger. Gus smashed his fist onto his table, attracting the attention of both Compo and Alice. ‘We’ve got another.’
He was already standing up, adrenalin forcing him towards the door. ‘Come on Al. Taffy’s nearly there already. Comps, get Carlton to meet us there.’
Alice, eyebrows raised, gave him that look. The one that told him without words that he’d overstepped the mark. The one that told him she was right at the end of her leash, but would, for the sake of the team, bite down on her frustration with him. He wound to a halt. They were both in a difficult position, but he wasn’t making it
easier for Alice. He hadn’t deliberately overstepped the mark, but it must smart that Taffy’s first instinct was to phone Gus. He was well aware it was just habit, but, knowing Alice as well as he did, he realised just how irritated she must be.
He bit his lip and shrugged. ‘Sorry, Al. Taffy must’ve forgotten that you’re SIO. Of course, I’ll stay behind and keep on top of things here.’
He offered his phone to Alice, wishing he hadn’t allowed his temper to get the better of him earlier, because his knuckles now smarted like billy-o every time he bent his fingers. Head bowed he feigned interest in the crime boards and listened as Alice told Taffy off.
‘Taff, how the hell can you expect me to trust you with more responsibility if you can’t even remember who the SIO is? Yes, yes, never mind that now. Just get the uniforms organised and tell the CSIs to leave the body till we arrive. Is it Sid’s team?’
Taffy’s voice, subdued and nervous, drifted into the room. ‘Yes, it is. He’s on it, and I’ll set the uniforms off on a neighbourhood sweep when I get there. I’m just pulling in now.’
Alice turned to Gus and hitched her head to the door. ‘Compo can hold the fort; I need you and Carlton to see this scene. Just keep your humungous mouth shut and let me take the lead.’
Gus exhaled. This was a huge concession for Alice to make, but they both realised it was the right choice. It may be more than he deserved, but he and Alice worked well together and after all he had seen the first scene. She’d made a good call and it showed that the investigation came before personal aspirations for Alice. A fact he’d make sure to inform Nancy of.
****
Roslyn Terrace was a little better taken care of than Princeville Terrace had been. The front gardens of the terraced street were well-tended with flowers and kids toys and suchlike scattered within them. The street was busier than Gus would have liked. Probably due to the combination of the decent weather bringing kids outside and making the most of relaxed restrictions and the attraction of the police presence and cordoned-off areas. What really got on his nerves though, was the press presence. Jez Hopkins from the Bradford Chronicle was here, nosing about, grinning, and being his usual smarmy self. ‘Hello, DI McGuire, can you give us a statement?’
Gus saw the man wink at Alice, and he wanted to punch him. How the hell had he got wind of this so damn quickly? With any luck he wouldn’t be putting two and two together with the other murder too soon. ‘How’s about Fuck off? There’s a statement – see what you can do with that, eh?’
‘Tut tut, tut, McGuire, surely you can do better than that. It’s not every week we have a spate of deaths on our doorsteps.’
Gus shook his head. ‘If only that were true, Hopkins, if only that were true.’
Gus clicked his fingers as if suddenly realising something important. ‘Of course, what am I expecting – you’re a journalist – you don’t know the meaning of truth do you. Now, can you please back off.’
Gus turned to a uniformed officer. ‘Extend the outer cordon please. I want the cockroaches as far away as possible.’
While the officer scurried to do Gus’s bidding, Alice scowled and tugged his sleeve. ‘So much for keeping a low profile, Gus. Besides … I’m the one who should be ordering the uniforms around, not you.’
Gus nudged her and grinned. ‘Role play, Al. Last thing we want is the scourge of the city sussing out that you’re SIO instead of me and suspecting something’s off.’
Sighing, Alice shook her head. ‘He’s only doing his job, Gus. No need to antagonise him, is there?’
But Gus couldn’t care less about Jez Hopkins. He disliked the man, but with Taffy approaching, he’d already dismissed thoughts of him from his mind. Taffy had done a good job; he’d managed to get the inhabitants of the terraces adjoining the victim’s to leave. That meant the crime scene cordon could completely incorporate the entire area around the block of four houses and the road in front. As yet, Gus could see no other sign of the press, but as soon as they got wind of this, they’d fly in on their broomsticks keen to get a lead for their newspapers. The last thing the investigation wanted was for loose tongues to let slip any details they’d so far managed to keep from the press.
That’s why he was doubly glad that it was Sid’s team on the ground. It minimised the number of people who had viewed the two scenes. Not that Gus expected any of the CSIs to slip details to the press, but you just didn’t know. A few drinks, or a couple of twenties could be enough to loosen some people’s lips and his officers were no more immune to temptation than anyone else.
Taffy approached from where he was directing a group of uniforms to get statements from the neighbours. He kept his voice little more than a whisper but made sure to direct his comments to Alice. ‘I’ve not been in yet, boss, but Sid says he’s setting it up ready for you to have a look. He’s limited the CSI access to downstairs so far. Says he’ll wait till after you’ve seen the body in situ before having her moved.’ Taffy frowned. ‘You asked for the boss’s dad … I mean DI McGuire’s dad. Em, I mean Doc McGuire to come?’
Alice shook her head. ‘Not this time, Taffy. Don’t want to give the press any ammo to create a stink and get them wondering why we’re bringing in the big shots. No, we’ll try to play it as low key as we can when they arrive. Although he won’t be conducting the actual PM, I’ll arrange to have him present to ensure continuity of analysis.’
Taffy bit his lip and focussed on a point over Gus’s shoulder. ‘Your da … I mean, the doc. Is he OK?’
For a moment Gus studied Taffy’s serious face. His heart skipped a beat. The lad had clearly seen something to make him concerned about the pathologist and that coincided with Gus’s own unease. ‘Why do you ask?’
Taffy shrugged. ‘Oh, it’s probably nowt. He just seemed a bit’ – again with the shrug – ‘you know? Not himself … Uptight maybe, at the PM last week.’
‘Probably just overworked, Taff. He’s fine.’ But Gus wasn’t certain his dad was fine – not by a long shot. Thrusting it to the back of his mind for now, he moved over to where the crime scene tape marked off the area and accepted a forensic suit, mask, gloves, and bootees from the uniformed officer before he and Alice got decked out, signed in, and ducked under the tape.
Chapter 33
Bradford
He’s coming. DI Gus McGuire is coming here to the crime scene. That’s a bit of a surprise. He hadn’t been sure he’d be allowed to be part of the investigation. The CSIs have been nattering for the past hour as they worked. Talk about being professional. One minute they’re moaning about being shorthanded because of Erica Smedley’s death and the next they’re bitching about her. He smiles. ‘That’s life, isn’t it?’ He’d judged things well – nobody is particularly grieving their colleague. Although surprisingly, Hissing Sid has been sharp to shut them up when they moan on about Smedley. Maybe he’d been doing her. Not that he’d found any evidence of that in his trawl of her social media.
That slight show of humanity saved Sid’s life, although of course the CSI wouldn’t realise that. The Man in Black had considered Sid a worthy target, but on reflection maybe that would be just too much of a clue – two CSIs involved with the ritual killer investigation might raise a few eyebrows and although he is smarter than McGuire and co, they aren’t complete imbeciles. No, maybe this time he’ll opt for someone on the fringes of the investigation and next time swoop in for someone a little more obvious. He has plenty of time after all. Nobody is going to catch him – not till he is ready anyway.
He wishes McGuire would hurry up; he’s had a really low profile after that initial press conference last week. Now, it seems that someone else has taken over as SIO. Understandable – he thinks it might be that sweet little dark-haired officer that had been at the scene last week, DS Alice Cooper. She is delectable – smart and funny. The two of them share a house – her and McGuire. His observations told him that Alice was shagging that journalist Hopkins, but she has been keeping it quiet from everybody. Hmm, mayb
e he’d be a suitable target? It would do McGuire a favour – take out the journalist who made such a hype about Gus being the target of his boss’s psycho daughter last year. The one who had a crush on him. Then there were the sex tapes of him and his ex-girlfriend. The Man in Black had spent hours enjoying McGuire’s undoubted agility in the bedroom – quite the stud was our DI McGuire.
It was that publicity that had made his plan fall into place. It had started with him voraciously reading every article he could find on DI Gus McGuire and his family and developed into trawling the entire family and the lives of Gus’s team. He knows everything about them. From John Compton, the computer nerd’s dark lapses into suicidal thoughts and the therapist he sees weekly albeit unbeknownst to anyone else. He knows about Talvinder Bhandir’s desire to over-compensate for his family’s dual disappointment that he is a copper and going out with a white girl, by putting them before the girlfriend – wonder how long she’ll last being marginalised in favour of Taffy’s family? Not bloody long he thinks.
Then there is the delightful, happy-go-lucky Alice Cooper. She too has a dark side. She too has secrets. Has anyone ever considered how her friend Lulu had died in prison, after Alice’s tormentors met an untimely accident? He bets not, but it would live inside Alice, festering like a slop of rotting meat. Guilt is not an uplifting companion to share your head space with. Sebastian Carlton too has his secrets, though he hides them well. The FBI would have kept him on, but it was he who made the choice to return to the UK. A broken man who isolated himself on a Scottish Island for months dealing with his grief at losing the woman he loved to a serial killer in Atlanta, before re-inventing himself as the slightly ridiculous loopy professor with intuitive insights into the killer mind. The fact that he and the DCI Nancy Chalmers are drawn to each other is no surprise, really. She’d shared her bed with a vile paedophile, and it had nearly broken her.
