The Cuckoo is a Pretty Bird

by L M Krier

  But not the only one.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Another kitchen.

  Another body.

  Headless.

  Blood on the tiled floor.

  No chance of a Forensics team for this one.

  Just Ted. On his own. Standing surveying the crime scene.

  Seven potential suspects. Each as inscrutable as the next.

  Holding Ted’s gaze without wavering. With no flicker of guilt.

  ‘We’ve talked about this before,’ Ted told the cats sternly. ‘I don’t mind the odd mouse, if you must, but you’re supposed to leave the birds alone. Certainly not drag them in through the cat flap looking like this. And it’s not as if you don’t have enough to eat.

  ‘Now I’ll have to clean this mess up to have the place looking nice by the time Trev gets home. And Roger. A little tip for you. If you’re going to lie to a police officer, make sure you wash the feathers off your whiskers first.’

  He took off his jacket and tie, rolled up his sleeves and made a start on the cleaning. By the time Trev got home from self-defence and his own judo session afterwards, the kitchen was spotless once more. Ted was showered and changed. A takeaway, being kept warm in the oven, was giving off welcoming and inviting smells.

  ‘Mmmmm, that smells so good. And very spicy. You might just possibly be forgiven for standing me up yet again,’ Trev told him as he enveloped him in a hug.

  He’d clearly had a shower before leaving the gym. His body exuded a rich, exotic scent and his black curls were still damp.

  ‘It’s Chinese chicken. With extra ginger,’ Ted told him. ‘I hope that’s all right? I didn’t open any wine yet. I thought you might prefer a lager with it. There’s some chilling in the fridge.’

  ‘Fabulous! I’m starting to remember why I married you. How was work. Any more bodies?’

  ‘I came home to one,’ Ted told him, and recounted the tale.

  It was a warm and relaxed moment between them. Exactly the sort of thing which got Ted through the most difficult days of his job. But at some point he was going to have to risk spoiling the ambiance. He needed to check with his partner if he was still happy to talk to Jono about his experiences with a predatory paedophile. Someone he’d believed himself to be in love with at the time. And to tell him that the interview was due to take place in a few days’ time.

  He decided to wait until after they’d finished eating. He’d taken the safe option for dessert, with a selection of sorbets.

  Once they’d finished, Ted stood up to put the kettle on then said, ‘Jono phoned me. About interviewing you. He’d like to come up next Monday, if that’s all right with you? I know it’s tricky, with you in charge at work.’

  ‘There’s no point in delaying it, really. I imagine they’ll want to crack on with the case. I can leave Neville at the helm again for a couple of hours. It shouldn’t take longer than that, should it?’

  ‘I wouldn’t have thought so. I was going to suggest using the vulnerable witness room at the station ...’

  Trev made a face. ‘Too many people know me at the nick. If they see me coming in to be interviewed, there are bound to be questions. I’d prefer it if not too many people knew about that particular phase of my life. Could we do it here?’

  ‘Of course, if that’s what you want.’

  Ted put mugs of tea on the table for both of them and sat back down. Trev reached out and took hold of his hand.

  ‘And you will be there with me? This won’t be another time when you promise me something then let me down at the last minute, will it? Because I really do need you there, Ted. And if you do break your word on this, it’s not going to be something you can fix with even another riding holiday. Even somewhere much more exotic than Corsica.’

  It was late morning when Kevin Turner walked into Ted’s office and looked pointedly towards the kettle.

  ‘I definitely wouldn’t say no to a brew, Ted, if there’s one going,’ he told him, sinking onto the spare chair. ‘I have work stuff to discuss, but first I need some legal advice. Hypothetically speaking, if a man strangled his wife for banging on incessantly about going on a cruise, for weeks on end, there’d be a solid defence of provocation there, wouldn’t there? Asking for a friend.’

  Ted laughed. ‘As bad as that?’

  ‘Bloody worse. Anyway, the work stuff which brings me up here. Houston, we have a problem. Or rather you do. Possibly. Ta,’ he added, as Ted put a mug in front of him. The kettle had still been hot from Ted’s last brew.

  ‘You know we let Busty Beff and Reece Williams go on police bail. Reece went back to his mam’s and Beff found an auntie to put her up. They’re on twice daily reporting and they both came in yesterday, meek as little lambs.

  ‘Today, no sign of either of them. Nothing.’

  ‘It’s earlyish yet, though. Overslept, maybe? They’re not exactly known for reliable punctuality, from what I’ve read of them.’

  ‘Ah, but there’s more.’ He took a loud slurp at his tea, wincing at the heat of it. ‘We had a young woman come in this morning. Very apologetic that she hadn’t been able to get in yesterday, only work stuff, bla-bla-bla.

  ‘Yesterday she was exercising her dog in a park. Throwing a ball for it. She noticed a bunch of what looked like teenagers hanging around a bench. Nothing unusual there. Then she saw a man walking towards them. A dwarf, she said. With dark glasses and a white stick. The teens started trying to shove him around a bit.

  ‘The witness has some bottle, I’ll say that for her. She was going to go over to stop them bullying him. She’s got a big dog. But she said the man didn’t seemed bothered. He pointed his stick at them, said something, then walked off. But first he dropped something on the floor. It looked like some folded up paper, she said, and it seemed to freak them out when one of them picked it up to take a look. A couple of them threw up, then they all legged it at high speed.’

  ‘How’s this related to our case?’

  ‘Two things. Well, three, really, but two very big things.’ He gestured with his hands as he went on. ‘Our witness was observant. She couldn’t describe all of the youths but she said one of the two girls in the group was very well endowed. So we’re thinking Busty Beff, especially as we haven’t seen her today.’

  ‘Tenuous, but possible,’ Ted conceded. ‘And the third thing?’

  ‘I like this lady. As well as being on the ball to bullying, she also doesn’t appreciate people dropping litter in our parks. She makes a point of picking stuff up and putting it in bins. She went to pick up the paper. The dog got there first and was very interested. She called it off, as it seems to be obedient, and had a look.

  ‘The end of a human tongue, which she kindly brought in for us, without handling it. And didn’t your body up in the Bowl have part of the tongue cut off?’

  ‘And this one is definitely human? Not some sadistic animal torture thing?’

  ‘You know I said I like this lady? You’ll love her as a witness. She’s a dental nurse. She’s seen more than her fair share of human tongues. Based on her telling us it’s human, I’ve sent it off for testing and for reuniting with your Bowl body, to see if it’s an exact fit.

  ‘But I’m guessing this is all a bit worrying now, though? An indication of a connection between both your cases. And the strong possibility of a threat to a group of teenagers, which appears to include Busty Beff and possibly Reece Williams, who’ve now gone missing.’

  ‘That’s not the only worrying thing about it. Something like this reinforces our ideas of some sort of gangland, or organised crime, involvement.

  ‘When your witness says a dwarf ...’

  ‘She was being literal, rather than offensive. She said she’d have put him at not much over four foot one or two. A new one on me, for sure. I’ve not heard of any sinister blind dwarves operating on our patch before. Like you say, something to do with the new drugs presence? Time to get Drugs involved?’

  ‘Quite possibly. I’ll need to talk to
Jim and Her Majesty. Thanks, Kev, I’ll get someone to liaise and take all the details from you. In the meantime, I need to take some action pretty sharpish. I don’t suppose, by any chance, you have a spare unit to look for Beth and Reece?’

  He saw the look Kevin gave him and went on, ‘I know, I know. But can you at least get everyone to keep an eye out for them, please. I’ll get some of my team out there, too. We need to round up these teens. Their lives might be in danger.

  ‘Oh, and tell your friend it’s not worth it. There are easier ways to avoid a cruise than getting banged up for murder. And I don’t want any more killings on our patch. We’ve got enough on our plate as it is.’

  Ted picked up his mobile. Made a call. Then spoke.

  ‘Maurice? I need to get you and Ronnie moved to a new safe house. Soon as. No cause for panic but there’s been a development which means I want to err on the side of caution. Just please be extra vigilant until I can arrange it. There’s no reason to suppose your location is compromised, but I don’t want to take any chances. I’ll keep you posted. If you have any concerns at all, call for armed back-up.’

  Ted went out to the main office to see who was available. They needed to find Reece and Bethany, urgently, plus step up their efforts to find Sarwar Dabiri and the as yet unknown girl, Lauren. Most importantly, Ted wanted to get his hands on Data, whoever he was. He had a feeling he was going to be an important part in solving several aspects of the case.

  He called everyone together and told them what Kevin had reported on.

  ‘I’m going to ask the Big Boss if we can get someone in from Drugs as a matter of some urgency now. Threats like this implied one make me think more and more that drugs are behind what’s going on here. And if anyone has heard of a blind person of short stature working for whoever this Big Man is, to pass on messages and threats from him, they should know.

  ‘I may be over-reacting but I’m getting Ronnie moved to a new safe house, just in case. Jo, can you run things from here. The rest of us – all of us – need to get out there searching. And can you see where we’re at with the DNA results from our body at the Bowl, please? If that really is one of the same cuckooing gang, then it could be either Sarwar or Kane Lomax. Or possibly Data.

  ‘Jezza, you come with me. If you drive, I can talk to the Big Boss and also make sure Ronnie and Maurice are moved to a safe location.’

  Ted glanced at Jezza as he got into the front passenger seat next to her.

  ‘Are you all right, Jezza? Only you don’t look on top form.’

  ‘Thanks, boss,’ she told him as she backed the car out of its parking space. ‘You always know how to flatter a girl. But seriously, though, if this is what being pregnant always feels like, I’m bloody glad I’ve made the decision not to play any more. After next Monday, I might be back to something resembling normal.’

  Ted wasn’t convinced she was taking it all as lightly as she appeared to be. But for now, they both had work to do. He phoned Jim Baker, while Jezza drove. They were heading first to Beth Hayes’ aunt’s house, where she was supposed to be living whilst on bail.

  ‘Can we bring in someone from Drugs, boss?’ Ted was being formal, with Jezza in the car. ‘This is much more their field than ours. Even if they only come over to hear what we have so far and to brief us on what they might know about it. Meanwhile we’re all out and about trying to round everyone up before someone else finishes up strung up from a tree with a part of their anatomy missing.’

  ‘Get me some bloody results on this one, then, Ted. I can stretch the budget if you get some solid arrests, and preferably convictions. Or if we can show that lives were saved. Otherwise ...’

  Jezza parked the service vehicle in a street on the edge of Brinnington. Her slight wince as she got out of the car wasn’t lost on Ted’s sharp eyes.

  ‘Are you sure you’re all right, Jezza?’ he asked her anxiously.

  ‘What is it you’re always saying, boss? I’m fine. Don’t fuss. It’s just a touch of cramp or something. All perfectly normal, I’m sure. So, shall we go and do this?’

  They had to knock several times before the door opened to a short, overweight woman. Even before they lifted their ID to show her, she clearly knew who they were by the look of open hostility.

  ‘She’s not here. I said she could come and stay but I’m not her keeper. She’s out with her mates somewhere.’

  She made to close the door but Ted stepped forward to block her.

  ‘When did you last see her, Mrs Mason?’ Ted asked. ‘She was meant to report to the police station twice a day and she missed this morning.’

  ‘Not since she said she were going there to sign in yesterday. She never come home after that. Like I told you, I said she could crash here but I ain’t keeping her locked up.’

  ‘Do you have any idea where she might be? Who she might be with? Do you know who her friends are?’

  An indifferent shrug. ‘I ain’t seen much of her in a while. We’re not what you’d call close. I just said she could stop here, so she could get out on bail. She’ll turn up. So she was late for her slot this morning. Means nowt. She’s not what you’d call reliable.’

  She was still trying to shove the door closed. Ted’s foot might not have been a large size but it was very determinedly parked to stop her from doing so.

  ‘Mrs Mason, we need to find Beth because we have serious concerns for her safety. We think she may be mixed up with the wrong sort of people and we need to see she’s protected. Please, here’s my card. If you hear anything from her at all, can you urge her to get in touch? It’s important.’

  He knew she wouldn’t. Suspected the card would be in the bin the minute she shut the door behind them. But at least he’d tried.

  As they walked the short distance back to the car, Jezza suddenly clasped both hands to her abdomen, swearing loudly and doubling over in evident pain.

  ‘Jezza, are you all right?’

  ‘No, I’m not. Is it meant to hurt this much?’ Then she put a hand down to the inside of her thigh, where a dark stain was starting to show through the grey fabric of her trousers. ‘Jesus, boss, I’m bleeding.’

  ‘Get in the car. Give me the keys. I’ll drive. We’ll go straight to A&E.’

  ‘The seats, boss ...’

  ‘Bugger the seats. Get in.’

  Ted put the blues on. Drove as fast as he dared. Nudging up close behind anything in his way and giving a short burst of the siren to make them give ground. At the same time he put a call through to Jo, Jezza begging him not to tell anyone what was happening to her.

  ‘Jo? Slight change of plan. No sign of Beth at her aunt’s but I’m now en route for A&E with Jezza.’ He looked at her, saw the plea on her face. ‘Suspected acute appendicitis. I’ll update you as soon as I know anything.’

  Jezza was rushed through as a priority, even though the wait seemed interminable to Ted. He paced up and down in his anxiety, desperate for news.

  A nurse finally came to find him. ‘Jessica is asking for you, if you’d like to come this way.’

  Ted had seen Jezza at one of the lowest points of her life. He didn’t think she could look any worse than she had done on that dark and dismal winter’s night. But she did. She was pale and crying. She looked like a vulnerable child.

  Ted moved over to stand next to the bed. Put a gentle hand over one of hers.

  ‘I lost it, boss. I never wanted this baby and I was going to kill it on Monday. And now I’ve lost it and I feel like I’ve murdered it.’

  She lifted both arms towards him, a little girl desperately seeking the reassurance of a hug from an adult she trusted. It brought back vivid, painful memories of that night. When the only thing she’d wanted from him was a hug. Which he’d not been able to give her.

  This time he wasn’t going to let her down.

  He perched lightly on the edge of the bed. Opened his arms to her. She fell against him, hot tears on his neck. He had absolutely no idea of what to say to her. So he just hel
d her. Hands gently stroking the shoulders which shook with raw, tearing sobs.

  Chapter Seventeen

  While Ted was waiting for Jezza’s boyfriend, Nathan, to arrive from work, he simply sat quietly next to her as she clung to him.

  He’d never felt as inadequate as he did during what seemed like another eternity. Not even on the dreadful night when Jezza had been raped. At least then he was acting as a police officer. Dealing with a crime scene and a victim of a violent attack. Even if he hadn’t found the right words of comfort, at least he’d known the correct procedure to follow.

  This time, all he could do was sit there in silence, feeling useless, occasionally giving her hand a gentle squeeze when she finally stopped hugging him, in what he hoped was a gesture of support and comfort.

  He’d turned his phone off for the moment. No doubt Jo would be trying to contact him for an update about Jezza. For now, he couldn’t bring himself to talk to anyone about it. Not even to send a text.

  As soon as Nathan came hurrying through the screens, ashen-faced, to rush to the bedside, Ted relinquished his place and stepped back to give him room. As Nat approached her, Jezza once again held up her arms to be hugged.

  ‘I’ll be off then, Jezza, now Nat’s here. Look after yourself. Don’t hurry back to work until you’re fit. And Nat, you make sure you take very good care of her, please.’

  Nathan remembered his manners, turning to Ted to shake his hand before he left.

  ‘Thanks so much for looking after her. I feel like I should call you boss. You do know you’re my serious rival, don’t you? She thinks the world of you.’

  Ted hurried away. It was all getting a bit intense. At least Jezza was now safe and in the best possible hands.

  He went straight to the reception desk when he got back to the station, to sign his vehicle keys back in and have a quiet word with Bill Baxter as soon as there was no one around to hear them.

  ‘Bill, a little problem with my car just now. I had to take Jezza to Casualty and the front passenger seat needs cleaning.’