The Cuckoo is a Pretty Bird

by L M Krier

  ‘SIM-jacking, you mean, sir? That would definitely be one for Océane rather than me. She’s much more up to date on it than I am. But I’ll have a first look and then see if she’s free to take over. It shouldn’t take her long to do, once she has the phones.’

  ‘I’m not sure I even know what SIM-jacking is, but it sounds like the sort of thing I was thinking of, without knowing the name. Thanks, Steve, keep me posted.’

  He was about to head to his office when Steve added, ‘There’s a delivery for you, Jezza. I think it’s the school records you were waiting for, about Abigail.’

  ‘Let me know as soon as you find anything relevant, please, Jezza. I’ll be in my office,’ Ted told her. He was interrupted by his phone ringing. He recognised the number and picked up the call as he shut the door behind him.’

  ‘Hello, Ted, it’s Jono. How are things in your part of the world? Actually, I was hoping to find that out for myself. That’s why I’m phoning. I was wondering if I could come up next Monday to talk to your partner. About the paedo ring and this bloke Harvey Warboys. If that’s convenient to you both?’

  Jono. Ted’s contact in the Metropolitan Police. Needing to talk to Trevor about the incident in his youth which had caused him so much grief and left a rift between him and his parents which had never healed. Trev had only agreed to talk to the police after his father had turned up out of the blue to talk to Ted about it. It had caused problems when Trev saw it as a betrayal, that Ted had even spoken about him to Sir Gethin.

  Probably the last thing either Trev or Ted needed right now, with both of them up to their eyes in work. But there was no point in putting it off. It was something which wasn’t going to go away.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Ted was in his service vehicle, heading for Heaton Mersey Bowl and the latest crime scene. Rob O’Connell was perfectly capable of running things by himself, but Ted needed an excuse to get out of the office for a bit.

  He stopped to grab a sandwich; chucked it onto the passenger seat in the vague hope that he’d find the time to eat it at some point.

  There were more onlookers there now, being kept the right side of the outer tape by two officers from Uniform. It was a waste of valuable resources. One they could well do without.

  Necks were craning, mobile phones being held aloft. The modern fascination with being the first person to post something grisly on social media.

  As soon as Ted put one foot outside the car, Penny Hunter, the shy, mousey local newspaper reporter, appeared out of nowhere and began with her customary greeting.

  ‘Erm, hello, Chief Inspector.’

  ‘Hello, Penny, and to save you asking the question, it’s the usual answer from me, I’m afraid. You’ll have to wait for the statement from the Press Office.’

  ‘But it is a body?’ Politely tenacious, as ever.

  ‘We’re investigating a suspicious death, yes. That’s all I can tell you for now. I imagine there’ll be an official statement later today.’

  He signed himself in, ducked under the tape, and set off down the slope. One of the reasons he wanted to be out of the office was that at some point someone would need to do a press statement, and a piece to camera, about Abigail’s arrest and now this sudden death. Ted always tried to avoid such things if he could, hence blatantly nicking off when he really didn’t need to be on site.

  He found Rob deep in conversation with Priya Chowdhury. They seemed to be getting on well. The body had been removed and she and her team were carefully examining the ropes used to hoist it, as well as every inch of the ground beneath where it had been hanging.

  ‘I’m not checking up on you, Rob,’ Ted told him. ‘We’ve charged Abigail, and it’s been quite heavy going and I needed some fresh air. So tell me where you’re up to.’

  They moved aside, Rob speaking as they walked.

  ‘You were right, boss. The Professor came and she was very helpful. Something very interesting from her initial examination, once the body was taken down. All the blood around the mouth, you remember? She had a look and showed me. The teeth had all been broken to buggery and the end of the tongue had been cut off. A warning to anyone who might be thinking of talking, perhaps? She said, from the amount of blood, it was likely to have been done while the poor sod was still alive.’

  ‘The warning idea is a definite possible, but let’s not jump to any conclusions too soon. But the Professor was able to open the mouth? So rigor hadn’t fully set in, or had already passed, perhaps? Did she say which?’

  ‘Rigor had begun, but the jaw had also been broken and dislocated, so she could see enough of the mouth to tell me that. Once he was taken down, it was easier to see in his mouth.’

  ‘When can she do the PM?’

  ‘Not before Friday at the earliest, she said. They’re backed up. She’s going to put DNA samples through on fast-track for us, though. No chance of face recognition or fingerprints, so unless there’s anything else to help with ID, that’s all we’ve got.’

  ‘What does the scene tell us?’

  ‘The Professor confirms that the body was brought here already dead and strung up. Killed elsewhere. Priya says there are three distinct sets of boot prints but they may well not help us much. They look like Army issue boots and the treads suggest they’re probably quite new. Easy enough to get hold of anywhere, including online. If they’re new, they won’t have had time to acquire any individual characteristics to help much with identification, like if they were worn down more on one side than the other. Then if they disappear straight away, to a charity shop or into the recycling – maybe even to a homeless ex-serviceman – we might never link them to whoever was wearing them.’

  Ted noticed Rob’s use of the CSM’s first name. He obviously needed to brush up on his own charm skills as she was still being frostily formal with him. He thought they’d parted on better terms than they started the last time they had met. Clearly he needed to begin again from zero.

  ‘Professionals, then. Or at least they knew what they were doing with this one.’ Ted was looking round him as he asked, ‘I’m assuming no cameras anywhere near here? What about up near the parking areas?’

  ‘Nothing, boss. I’ve walked all round everywhere. Whoever did this definitely knew what they were doing. The guy who found the body saw nothing of them either, although he can’t have been far behind them, going on the timings the Professor indicated. Probably just as well for him he didn’t run into them, looking at what they did to this poor sod.’

  Ted frowned. ‘Does he usually do early-morning runs round here? Only if they were professionals, I’d have expected them to have done a recce for things like that.’

  ‘First time he’s been down here. He’s new to the area. Exploring his options for the best places to run. He’ll probably give this one a swerve after today, I imagine. I’ve got his full statement and contact details so I let him go as he needed to get to work. Was that okay, boss?’

  ‘Yes, fine, you did the right thing. What else have you discovered?’

  ‘That it’s not as easy as it looks on the telly. Certainly not for my first solo effort,’ Rob told him. ‘I’ve had Uniform going all over the site and like I said, I’ve gone round everywhere myself. But I can’t see anything any of us could have overlooked. What have I missed, boss?’

  ‘Probably nothing, from the sounds of it. Sometimes it’s a slow start, until we get an ID. We’ve started trawling Mispers, pending the DNA results coming back ...’

  Ted was interrupted before he finished his sentence by his phone ringing. The Ice Queen.

  ‘Chief Inspector. You appear to be AWOL,’ she greeted him.

  ‘Not exactly,’ he said, a touch on the defensive. If she was looking for him, it was almost certainly about the press conference which he had been deliberately trying to avoid. ‘I just came out to the recent suspicious death site to see how Rob was getting on.’

  ‘Perfectly well, I imagine. And I need you back here. You need to discuss with Jim and m
e what we’re going to tell the press today about both cases. And who’s going to do it. Soon as, please.’

  As Ted made to leave, Priya Chowdhury called after him, ‘How are the cats?’

  Ted turned back, surprised. ‘They’re fine, thank you. And your carnivorous plants?’

  ‘Equally fine. There really isn’t a lot to go on here, but we will do our best to give you everything we can, and as soon as possible.’

  It was late afternoon before Ted realised, with a guilty start, that he’d completely forgotten about junior self-defence club and his promise to be there in time to open up, if Trev was delayed.

  As he’d suspected, the royal summons had been to inform him that he would be speaking at the press conference later that afternoon, although the Ice Queen was also going to be there. It would simply take the form of a brief statement which Ted would read from the station steps to any press or media who turned up. They wouldn’t be answering any questions. The Ice Queen’s role was to quell any attempt to solicit further details. One look from her could usually silence anyone, even a determined journalist.

  ‘Sorry. I should have phoned you sooner. But I’m not ...’

  ‘… going to get to the dojo at all tonight, let alone in time to open up,’ Trev finished for him, then laughed. ‘It’s just as well I know you so well after all these years, Mr Policeman. And for some bizarre reason, I still love you. Neville will just have to lock up for me. He knows how to do it in theory, although it’s usually Geoff or me who does it. And what is it this time? Another body?’

  ‘It’s the follow-up on the one from this morning. I drew the short straw. I have to stand in front of the baying press pack and try not to scowl too much at the cameras. I’ll try to be home before you are, though, so do you want me to pick up a takeaway? If so, what do you fancy?

  ‘I’m in the mood for spice,’ Trev told him, the familiar provocative tone in his voice. ‘And also for some spicy food. Just make sure you don’t forget about it. I’ll no doubt be ravenous by the time I get back and I don’t want to have to eat cat food. Or start on you.’

  Ted rang off quickly. He didn’t need images like that in his mind just before he had to face the cameras.

  Ted had called a team meeting at the end of the day for a progress report. With any luck, the phones might start ringing soon after his press announcement had gone out. They might even get lucky with some genuine leads, instead of the usual time-wasters wanting their five minutes of glory.

  Before that, he went to find Jo to see how he’d been getting on with the videos. With his Spanish ancestry, Jo’s usual complexion was more olive than classic IC1. He looked paler than Ted had ever seen him before. His jacket was slung on the back of his chair, his tie pulled halfway down and there was a distinct smell of cigars about him. He’d clearly needed to sneak out for a crafty smoke to get through the ordeal, despite his constant assurances to his wife that he’d given it up years ago.

  ‘Bad?’ Ted asked, as he took a seat on the opposite side of Jo’s desk.

  ‘Very bad, Ted,’ Jo told him. ‘I can’t be the only bloke who’s not a stranger to watching a bit of porn from time to time. But this is beyond anything I would normally watch. No wonder it’s behind a paywall.

  ‘The thing which is troubling me the most about it is how compliant Abi is through it all. Even the worst bits. I know you say she’s generally passive and willing to please, but this goes beyond that. Like Steve said. But is it drink or drugs? Are the cuckoos feeding her some of the merchandise to exploit her for the films? Or is she someone with a low alcohol tolerance? She can’t surely be complicit in what’s happening. Can she?

  ‘Would you take a look at a bit of it, at least, Ted, to see what you think?’

  ‘The thing is, if they’ve got her hooked on drugs to make her easier to do whatever they want with her, wouldn’t she be showing signs of withdrawal by now? And wouldn’t we have seen them when she’s come in for interview? But yes, of course, I’ll look at some and see what I think.’

  His hand went instinctively into his jacket pocket for one of his lozenges which he put in his mouth as Jo turned his computer screen so they could both see it at the same time.

  Ted could only stomach five minutes before he signalled to Jo to switch it off.

  ‘I’m no expert but I would say drunk, rather than drugged. And compliant by nature. From the less violent stuff Steve showed me, and from her own notes, it’s clear that Abigail thinks that what happens between her and Data is a normal loving relationship. Rather than just the warm-up to stuff like this. At least they can’t get at her for now.’

  ‘What about when this is over? We’re never going to get a case to stick against her. We’d have to disclose this to the defence. She’s going to walk, whatever happens. Even if she’s on probation. But she can’t possibly go back to living on her own. I can’t imagine what the parents were thinking of letting her even try. And then there’s her baby to consider. Unless they decide to press her into getting rid of it.’

  ‘Not our circus, Jo,’ Ted told him. ‘Not our monkeys. We just have to make the bullets. It’s up to the CPS whether or not they get fired.’

  Five youths were grouped around a bench in the park. Closer together than usual. Almost huddled. Seeking comfort in the presence of each other.

  One boy sat on the back of the bench, mobile phone in hand, digits flying frenetically over it as he sought answers. He looked up at the others.

  ‘Where the fuck is everyone?’ he demanded. ‘I’ve lost the trace on the slag now, too. After she left where she was and headed into town. And Ronnie’s off the radar as well. Latte’s phone’s been off since this started and now Kane’s has gone dead. Beth, Reece, did you do like I said?’

  One of the boys nodded then flipped his fringe back out of his eyes.

  ‘Course we did. We’re not fucking stupid. Ditched the phones and showed the feds the dummies. They let us out on bail but we have to report in twice a day.’

  ‘Sarwar and Lauren, you need to do the same. It’s only a matter of time before they lift you. I’ve brought clean ones, set up like yours. Give me the others.’

  Sarwar hesitated for a second. It brought the other boy springing to his feet, jumping down from the bench and going at him in open aggression.

  ‘Give me the fucking phone. I’m trying to save all our arses here, you twat.’

  In the tension of the moment, none of them noticed the small figure coming towards them. A man. Not much above four feet tall. Mirror shades hiding his eyes below a large forehead. A white stick out in front of him, swinging from side to side, checking for obstacles in his way.

  The well-endowed girl known as Beff saw him first. She looked towards him, a feral smile crossing her face. She tugged the back of the jacket of one of the youths who was squaring up.

  ‘Hey, look at the Oompa Loompa. He’d look good in a home movie, if he’s got anything down his pants worth filming.’

  ‘Stop pissing about. We have more important stuff to sort,’ the boy with the mobiles spat at her.

  She sashayed towards the short stranger, swinging her hips provocatively, not knowing if he could see her or not, but going for maximum effect in case he could.

  ‘Hello, darlin’, how would you like to star in a movie with me? Is everything about you small? Or have you got a whopper hidden down there?’

  She reached out a groping hand towards his crotch. As soon as her fingers touched the fabric of his trousers, the hand not holding the stick chopped down swiftly, knocking her arm out of the way, sweeping it well out of play.

  ‘Ow, you bastard, that hurt. Right, so now I really need to know what kind of a beast you’re hiding down there. Come on, gizza hand.’

  Mobile boy was still protesting, telling them they were wasting time. The other two boys and the second girl, distracted now and laughing, rushed forward towards the man. He calmly stood his ground and raised the white stick so it was pointing towards them.

 
There was an ominous click. They found themselves staring at a lethal long stiletto blade which had sprung from the end of the stick, like a flick-knife.

  ‘Listen to what Data is telling you, children. If you know what’s good for you.’

  ‘How the fuck ...’ the one with the phones started to say.

  ‘I know everything about you,’ the small man told them. He turned his head from one to another of them. It was impossible to read his expression behind the shades. But it was clear he knew exactly who each of them was.

  ‘Kane told us everything about all of you. Before he died. Slowly.

  ‘Data, you think you’re so clever with your little trackers. But you’re an amateur. A child. Even if you look good on film.

  ‘Sarwar. I can smell the fear off you from here. Have you pissed yourself?’

  His gaze seemed to land directly on each of them in turn. They had no way of knowing if he could see them. They felt as if he could see inside each of them.

  ‘Beff. One day I’ll happily show you what’s down my pants. And I can promise you, you won’t like it. Lauren, don’t think having no record makes you safe. And Reece, you pathetic little shit. You couldn’t even outrun a pig.

  ‘Now listen very carefully, kiddies, before I really start to lose my patience. I have a message for you from the Big Man. He’s pissed off. Really, seriously, pissed off with the lot of you. Your fucking incompetence has cost him a shitload of money. And he wants it back.

  ‘It’s not up to me to tell you how to put things right. I’m just here to advise you that you need to find a way to do it. And just in case any of you is stupid enough to think that talking to the pigs is a good idea, here’s a little souvenir for you. From your friend Kane.’

  He tossed something small, wrapped in paper kitchen towels, at their feet. Then there was another metallic click, the blade disappeared back inside the stick, and the man walked away, completely unconcerned.

  Reece was nearest to the object and bent to pick it up. When he peeled back the paper and found the end of a human tongue lying in the palm of his hand, he was the first to vomit.