The Needle House

by Robin Leslie Roughley

'That might well be true, but I still can't discuss…'

  Michael lunged, both hands bunched into fists, Fossey reached out a hand to stop him, but all he managed to do was pluck at the sleeve of his T-shirt. By the time Fossey spun around, Michael was sprawled on the grass; Lasser kneeling at his side, a firm grip on his left arm.

  'Get the fuck off me!' Michael twisted his head, his eyes manic.

  'What's happening?' Jenna was dashing towards them with Ronnie trailing behind.

  Lasser released the arm and rose before taking a quick step back, Fossey studied the Sergeant's face, he appeared nonchalant as if the sudden outburst of violence had never happened.

  Michael sprang to his feet and spun around ready to charge again.

  Lasser didn't move, his arms hanging loosely at his sides, a picture of calm. 'Look, Michael, just calm down.'

  'Calm fucking down, are you taking the piss or what?'

  Jenna stood by Patrick's side, shocked by what had happened. 'What do you think you're doing?' she looked at the newcomer in disgust as if he were the incarnation of every schoolyard bully.

  Fossey placed a hand on her arm. 'Take it easy, Jenna, Lasser was just defending himself.'

  'But he knocked him down!'

  Lasser slipped both hands into the pockets of his coat; Fossey had to admit the detective knew exactly what he was doing. As soon as he got Michael onto the floor he'd stood up and backed off trying to defuse the situation and now he'd put his hands into his pocket to give the impression that as far as he was concerned the whole thing was finished. However, when Fossey looked into the Sergeant's eyes he saw a different story, a hardness that spoke volumes.

  Fossey stepped between them. 'Take it easy, Michael.'

  The boy jabbed a shaking finger at the detective. 'But he knows what happened and he treats it like some kind of fucking game.'

  Lasser shook his head. 'Believe me, Michael; nobody's treating what happened to your brother as a game.'

  'So, why won't you tell me what happened?' Michael's jaw jutted out, his eyes blazing.

  Fossey moved his position slightly until he was blocking Lasser from view. 'Because that's not the way these things work, Michael.'

  Michael's eyes were flitting everywhere, as if looking for something else to attack. 'But I have a right to know, how would you feel if your brother had been killed and you had someone who knew why and yet they wouldn't bloody tell you?'

  Jenna wanted to turn and run, suddenly the heat of the day seemed to evaporate, the flesh on her arms rising in fear. When she looked up she could see the anguish on his face, she locked her hands together in an effort to stop them shaking.

  'Come on, Michael, you know the score. I could feed you a load of bullshit; I could even give you a name.'

  Michael whipped his head around. 'A name?'

  Somewhere in the distance a magpie laughed.

  Lasser sighed. 'Yeah, but it wouldn't be the name of the killer, though you'd simply latch onto it and then what?'

  'Tell me who it is?'

  Lasser pursed his lips in disappointment. 'That's the wrong question, Michael.'

  'What the fuck are you talking about?'

  Fossey slid his hands into his pockets. 'He's saying you have to trust him, Michael.'

  'Trust a copper!'

  'It sounds as if you have to start trusting someone, lad.' Ronnie had his tin out; he stuck a cigarette paper to his bottom lip then pulled out a small pinch of tobacco.

  Michael looked at the old man. 'What, you think coz he's a copper, he's going to tell me the truth?'

  Lasser could feel his own anger growing, this was the same old bullshit, the same old woe is me attitude. 'What is it with people like you, Michael?'

  'Me?'

  'I mean, come on, why don't you explain why you find it so hard to trust a copper?'

  The boy's face twisted into a sneer. 'You're joking right?'

  'Not really, you have a problem with the law because you spent so much time breaking it.'

  Fossey watched as Michael's mouth fell open, Lasser remained unmoving his hands back in his pockets.

  'Go and fuck yourself,' Jones spat.

  'Oh, come on, son, if you expect me to start treating you like an adult then why don't you act your bloody age.'

  Fossey glanced at Jenna; she was a carbon copy of Michael, her mouth open in shocked surprise, Ronnie was putting a match to his cigarette, his eyes placid and watchful.

  'And what the fuck is that supposed to mean?'

  'Listen, I spend my days chasing little scrotes who will lie, cheat and take the piss at every opportunity.'

  'Little scrotes like me, is that what you're saying?'

  'If the cap fits, wear it.'

  Fossey would have thought it was impossible for Michael's mouth to open any further. It was obvious he had never been spoken to like this before; he looked at Fossey as if he expected some kind of support, his eyes bemused.

  'You…'

  Lasser took a step forward. 'Never mind me, Michael, we're talking about you. When I saw you that night you told me you were going to college trying to get your life sorted and I thought what a load of bollocks.'

  'Hey, hang on!' Jenna was astonished, it was no wonder Michael hated the police if this was what he had to put up with, Fossey placed a hand on her arm and shook his head.

  'Well, that's where you are wrong; I do go to college, I…'

  'Not for much longer.'

  Michael's hands bunched into fists. 'Are you threatening me?'

  Lasser shook his head. 'There you go again, Michael, always thinking you're being victimised. I mean, you could probably go into that house now and put the television on and find out who we have in custody…'

  'I fucking knew it!' All the anger came flooding back like a faulty firework that keeps reigniting.

  Lasser ignored him. 'Then you could go on the rampage, all because you had a name. Trouble is, Michael, it would be the wrong name, but you wouldn't believe that because in your eyes all coppers are liars, aren't they?'

  'I…'

  'So, you'd go and play the big man out for revenge and then we would have to get involved and you could wave goodbye to any idea of a career in IT. You'll go to jail just like your old man,' his voice was laden with sarcasm. 'Though it'd be all right, you could play happy families. But, when you do get out no employer will touch you, they won't be interested in what you did at college, the fact that you could be the next Bill Gates will mean sod all to them. Then you'll move back to the estate, drift back to your old mates but hey, you can always start selling some crack to the little kids just like your dad used to do, probably make him proud.'

  Michael stood rooted to the spot, his face rigid with disbelief.

  'I,' he looked at the ground; Jenna watched horrified as tears slipped from his eyes, gravity did the rest. 'Just need to know.'

  'Come on, lad, let's go and get a drink.' Ronnie placed an arm around Michael's shoulder, for an instant he tried to pull himself free and then he seemed to sag as Ronnie led him away.

  Jenna looked at Lasser, her eyes blazing. 'You disgusting man, is this how the police treat people? He's just lost his brother and you speak to him like that,' she spun away and stalked towards the kitchen door.

  Fossey ran a hand across his forehead, the skin tender from where the sun had caught it.

  'That was harsh.'

  'Yeah well, I'm pushed for time…'

  'So, that gave you the right to ridicule him, is that what you're saying?'

  He looked at Fossey, maybe he was a bloody do-gooder after all. 'Jesus Christ, you're meant to be a psychologist, so, you work it out.'

  Fossey looked up at the sky, for the first time in days he could see dark clouds gathering on the horizon, the sun slipping towards the wooded hills. 'Look, what are you doing here?'

  'Well, I did come round for a quiet chat.'

  'But I don't see how else I can help you.'

  Lasser spat a flake of tobacco from his li
p. 'Come on let's take a walk.'

  59

  The temperature beneath the trees was falling rapidly, the heat of the day being absorbed back into the earth dragging the cooler air down with it. Already the light was beginning to fade; Cathy Harper could see a technician in a white paper suit moving around in the gloom setting up the portable arc lights. This place made her feel uneasy; she knew in part it was because of what had been discovered in the tower, though this was not the sole reason. She never felt comfortable in the countryside, give her a badly lit street on some rough estate and she was OK, but all these trees and the shadows in between filled her with apprehension.

  As soon as the body had been removed, encased in a black body bag, the reporters had begun to dash away, all competing to get the news out as quickly as possible. Shortly after her colleagues had slowly left the scene; Hopkins had said he wanted them all back at first light to continue a fingertip search of the area.

  She could feel the weight of the tower behind her, a chill emanating from the stones.

  'Harper!'

  She looked over her shoulder; Hopkins was standing in the doorway, his coat hanging over one arm a frown on his arrogant face. 'Yes, sir?'

  'What time are you due off shift?'

  'I should have been finished half an hour ago, sir.'

  'Right well, I need you to stay here for a while, make sure none of the reporters double back and try to get inside.'

  'No problem, sir.'

  'I'll get Spenner to come over and give you a lift.'

  Harper nodded, Hopkins slid his arms into the jacket and began to walk away.

  'Excuse me, sir, but what time will PC Spenner actually get here?'

  Hopkins looked at her with more than a hint of disdain. 'Why, are you afraid of the dark, because I can always get someone else to do the job?'

  Cathy felt the blush creep across her cheeks. 'No, sir, I was just wondering.'

  'Yes, well don't, he'll get here when I've finished with him.'

  'Yes, sir.'

  He spun away and began the long climb up the hill.

  Just great, she looked around, the trees were already beginning to lose their definition, blurring into a single, dark mass. Not for the first time she began to wonder why she'd ever wanted to become a police officer. Both her parents had been against it, in fact, her mother had scoured the papers on a daily basis hand picking the most gruesome cases in an effort to dissuade her daughter. The trouble was her mother's constant doom and gloom had only made her more determined to go ahead with her plans. Now, for the first time she was beginning to think that maybe her parents had been right all along, standing alone amongst the trees, she suddenly felt vulnerable, she felt scared.

  Then the area was flooded with stark, white light, like a miniature super nova in bloom. Cathy turned away blinded by the onslaught, she could hear the rumble of the generator, smell the acrid scent of diesel fumes in the air. Blinking, she rubbed at her eyes, when she opened them the tower was lit by the glaring light; the edges silhouetted against the trees. She could see into the building, the bottom edge of the stairs curling around to the right leading up to… she blanked out the image and pulled her short coat tight around her, the artificial lights causing huge shadows to rear out of the dark. She didn't want to imagine what it must have been like to stand in that narrow space with the corpse hanging above.

  Shielding her eyes, she looked towards the light, there was no sign of the technician though she knew he had to be out there somewhere, but it was impossible to see beyond the blinding arc.

  'Right…'

  She spun around, heart rearing, her right hand scrabbling for the baton, the image of some axe-wielding maniac bringing the blade down towards her head snapped into her mind.

  'Jesus, Colin, what the hell do you think you're doing?'

  The technician grinned. 'Sorry I didn't think.'

  'Yeah, well next time you'll find yourself with this baton around your head.'

  Colin held up his hands. 'Understood, anyway you're not on duty on your own, are you?'

  'I am until Spenner gets here.'

  'Let me guess, Hopkins reaffirming his authority. I mean, rumour is Simms gave him a right bollocking yesterday.'

  Cathy could feel her heart thundering, suddenly she felt hot and clammy, her hand shook as she slid the baton away. 'Why, what happened?'

  'Apparently he grassed Lasser up for being here when he should have been looking into Radfield's suicide, thing is it backfired big time.'

  She smiled; any image that included Hopkins in the shit was a welcome respite from the fear of standing alone in the middle of ancient woodland as the dark crept in like an oil slick.

  'It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy,' she said.

  Colin nodded in agreement. 'I've yet to come across anyone who actually likes the man.'

  'Meadows seems to get along with him.'

  'Ah, that's because Meadows is an idiot, plus I think he has some sort of man crush on Hopkins.'

  'For God's sake, Col, I have to stand out here on my own till God knows what time, I don't want an image like that wandering around my head.'

  'Listen, I could always hang around until Spenner shows up?'

  It was a tempting offer, but she didn't want it getting around the station that she'd felt uneasy being on her own. Colin seemed like a genuine guy, but she didn't know him well enough to trust him not to blab.

  'That's OK, I'll be fine.'

  'Are you sure?'

  'Positive, besides with a bit of luck I might get a bit of shut eye.'

  'Well, make sure Hopkins doesn't find you, I mean, I wouldn't put it past that bastard to turn up unannounced.'

  The thought of her boss sneaking around in the dark did nothing to ease her mind.

  'OK then, the generator's full so the lights will stay on all night.'

  'I'm hoping to be in bed by eleven.'

  Colin looked unconvinced. 'See you tomorrow.'

  She watched as he wandered up the hillside, as soon as he reached the limit of the light he vanished as if he'd never existed.

  The tall ferns appeared unnaturally vibrant in the artificial light, some had begun to curl as cool air seeped through the trees. Pulling her baton free she walked slowly towards the tower. When she was six feet from the door, Cathy stopped, her shadow stretched out in front, the dark shape splashed onto the granite flags.

  She sniffed, convinced that she could smell something fetid coming from the building, something corrupt, the stench of a corpse. A faint mist seeped from the soil, the strong lights giving it the appearance of ethereal smoke.

  She cursed Hopkins, surely, he should have closed the door behind him as he left, the bastard had probably left it open on purpose just to try to scare her. Taking a deep breath, she moved forward, her shoes brushing through the undergrowth, she tried not to think of what was shuffling about beneath her feet. She remembered a documentary from years ago, the presenter stating that we are never more than six feet away from some kind of rodent.

  She grabbed the handle of the door and pulled it closed, feeling a sense of relief as it clanged shut. Hitching up her belt, she dragged out the baton and began to make her way around the tower.

  Jesus Christ, she wished Spenner would get a move on, though she wouldn't put it past Hopkins to leave her alone for the whole night, just to make some kind of point.

  Maybe he had a problem with female officers, though Hopkins seemed to treat everyone with equal disdain, so it was impossible to tell. She continued to follow the path around the tower, when she reached the starting point, Cathy slipped the baton back into its sleeve and thrust her hands into the pockets of her jacket, early evening stars glittered between the branches of the trees.

  She thought about Lasser, if he'd been in charge of the investigation she was sure he wouldn't have left her alone at the crime scene. She knew one or two of her female colleagues fancied the broad-speaking DS, and she had to admit that there was something about
him that she herself found appealing.

  Her last boyfriend had worked for the local council in the planning office. Six months into the relationship and she'd started to put her name down for the night shift, just so she would have an excuse not see him. A few weeks after the split she'd bumped into him at the local Tesco, she remembered glancing in his trolley, the fact that he had a load of meals for one made her feel a little guilty. When she noticed they'd all been the healthy options variety she decided it had been a lucky escape. Lasser didn't look like a healthy options type of guy. In fact, he smoked too much, and he always looked dishevelled and in need of a shave but there was something about him that appealed to her. Maybe it was the fact that he hated Hopkins so much. Jesus was she that shallow, the enemy of my enemy is therefore my friend? She looked over her shoulder, the smile slipped from her lips. The thought of any dalliance with Lasser was chased from her mind by the sight of the open door.

  60

  Sprawled on the sofa, bare feet resting on the coffee table, Lasser had the television on with the sound turned down. The conversation with Fossey had raised more questions than answers.

  'Look, Lasser, it's not an exact science.'

  'Nobody's saying it is, but you spent time in the house and you were the one who led us to the tank. So, you must have been running things over in your head; I mean, it's your job for Christ's sake.'

  'Not anymore.'

  'Don't give me that, you might write books for a living but you're still a shrink.'

  Fossey sighed. 'OK, I've given it some thought but to be honest I haven't come up with anything new.'

  'Look, we have Ashley Radfield in custody; believe it or not we found a cufflink with Radfield's initials on it. It was on the floor of the tower directly beneath the body of Billy Jones.'

  'It was trapped underneath the body?'

  'Not as such, the body was hanging from a crossbeam.'

  Fossey grimaced, he could picture the scene, it was no wonder Lasser hadn't wanted to go into detail in front of Michael.

  'So, it proves that at least one of the Radfields had been inside the building.' Fossey said.

  'Well, that's where I begin to get a little nervous.'