Bad Tidings

FIFTEEN

‘I read a book once,’ Jerry Tope explained after Henry’s question.

‘What — about punching people’s lights out?’

Tope snuffled a laugh. ‘No, not quite. It was about the Kray twins — you know, Ronnie and Reggie? Nice guys. One of the things they used to do was offer someone a cigarette and as that person was just about to put it into their mouth, at the exact moment when their jaw was slightly relaxed, they’d punch the unsuspecting stoolie on the side of his face at the jaw joint and break the poor sod’s jaw. They got it down to a fine art. . they were both boxers, of course. I was always intrigued by it and I thought I’d give it a shot, especially when he came to the door with a shotgun. Obviously the Krays could hit harder than me, but I did pretty good, didn’t I?’ he finished proudly. He licked the tip of his forefinger with his tongue and gave himself an imaginary tick in mid-air.

Henry shook his head in amazement. ‘Yeah, you did good, Slugger Tope.’

‘Went down like a sack o’ spuds.’ Tope dropped back and started dancing on his tiptoes, throwing punches as though he was shadow boxing with Ali.

Henry watched him, amused. It was as if someone had lit his blue touchpaper and somehow brought him to life. Even though it was six hours later he was still pumped with adrenalin and Henry had never seen this dour man so animated. Now he wanted to fight the world.

‘OK, Jerry, time to wind your neck in,’ Henry said.

Tope threw one last punch, caught the wall by mistake and howled with pain, doubling over and cradling his fist under his armpit. ‘Ooh, that hurt.’

They were standing in the corridor outside Henry’s FMIT office at headquarters. Henry ushered Tope in and sat him down.

It was the first time they had stopped since Clovelly’s arrest. Henry slid behind his desk, sat down and took a breath.

It had been a hectic six hours and now Clovelly was trapped up in the Blackburn cells, having had a hospital visit during which he had become violent and had to be further restrained. When he arrived at the cells he was pinned to the floor, searched properly, then heaved head first into a cell after managing to assault the custody officer. Not the best of moves for a comfortable stay.

He wasn’t going anywhere for the time being.

In the meantime the house had been searched and his car seized. A couple of addresses he was known to frequent were also searched, as well as a lock-up garage in Oswaldtwistle where a very large chunk of evidential gold was discovered: the Nissan that had been used in the drive-by shooting and as a getaway car from the club in Blackpool where Runcie Costain had been shot to death.

Although it seemed unlikely that Clovelly would admit anything when he was interviewed, the forensic side was coming together nicely.

Henry had also arrested the person who had done a runner from the back of the house, hoping to fool officers into thinking it was Clovelly. This turned out to be his girlfriend, dressed in his clothes. Henry held her for harbouring a fugitive — a bit of a weak charge at the best of times — but he bailed her quite quickly when she revealed she was pregnant.

Now he was back at HQ, taking stock, seeing where everyone was up to and preparing for an 8 p.m. debrief.

He looked at Tope, still caressing his wall-scraped knuckles.

‘What have you got, Jerry? You told me you found a killer.’

‘Possible killer,’ Tope corrected him.

‘I’m listening.’ Henry consulted his watch. ‘At least for the next five minutes.’

Tope sat up, cleared his throat and got a grip of himself. ‘You remember that school photograph?’

Henry nodded.

‘Well — back then school records weren’t as good as they should be, it wasn’t exactly the age of the computer, but, with due diligence, extremely well-honed computer research skills. .’

‘Hacking, you mean?’ Henry knew Tope’s skills were unsurpassed.

‘That, too,’ Tope acknowledged. ‘I managed to find out the names of all but two of the people in the photo and did a bit of delving. Some of course were of no interest. Two were dead, not including our victims, that is. Natural causes and a kosher accident. But one was very interesting — and I don’t mean Freddy Cromer.’

Henry knew when to say nothing. He waited.

Tope went on. ‘Remember a rape and murder quite a few years back? In Darwen? Young girl abducted on the way home from school. Body found a few days later in an industrial dustbin?’

Henry knew it. Even knew the little girl’s name — Tina Makinson. Twelve years old. Even though he hadn’t been directly involved in the investigation, Henry recalled it being a heartbreaking case. The murderer, found by good, solid detective work, had been one Rafe Liversage, a man whose offences against children had been growing increasingly serious and violent. He had been released from prison only days before he took Tina.

Henry leant forward and tapped his computer mouse. His monitor came to life, still on the school photograph he had been inspecting before turning out to deal with the arrest of Clovelly. He looked at it closely. His jaw sagged as he focused on one particular boy in the class.

‘Shit,’ he whispered, raising his eyes to look at a smug Jerry Tope, who licked his finger and ticked the air again.

‘He was released on licence seven days before Christine Blackshaw’s body was found. They must have known each other,’ Tope said. ‘Same school, everything.’

Henry thought back, recalling the media coverage of Tina Makinson’s murder. The angst of the parents. The massive police searches and an equally big investigation, some seventy detectives grinding on it full-time. Then her tiny, broken body being found behind a factory in Darwen, and soon after, Liversage’s arrest. Then his conviction for life — but, such are the vagaries of the criminal justice system, the man was already legitimately back on the streets.

He looked through narrowed eyes at Tope. ‘MO?’ he said.

‘I knew you’d rain on my parade,’ Tope said, but not seriously. ‘I know it doesn’t quite fit what we’re looking at, but maybe he has some pent-up, festering grudge against these people. Peters and Blackshaw.’

‘Mm,’ Henry mumbled. ‘What about the Milner woman who was killed in West Yorkshire the year before Blackshaw was killed? Where was Liversage then? In prison, or what?’

Tope had a pained look. ‘I don’t know for sure. Maybe he’d been out on Christmas leave.’

‘See if you can find out.’ There could be a grudge thing going on, but he wasn’t convinced Liversage was involved, certainly not as an offender. Just a gut thing. ‘Whatever, he needs looking at. Have you got a current address for him?’

‘From the Probation Service. A room in a bail hostel in Accrington.’

‘Right.’ Henry pondered this new information. Without doubt Liversage was a cruel and violent man, but he didn’t somehow fit what Henry had in mind as the Twixtmas Killer. But he had been known to be wrong on occasion. Liversage needed careful attention. ‘OK — tomorrow we pull him, how about that?’

‘Can I?’ Tope pleaded.

‘Got a taste for blood now, have you?’

Henry conducted the debrief in a way, he hoped, that would be clear and logical to all concerned.

The detectives now dealing with the shootings at Blackburn went first, followed by those sorting the drive-by on Shoreside, then Runcie Costain’s death in John Rider’s old club. There had been lots of people to see, grieving, angry relatives to deal with and keep calm; post-mortems, forensics, crime scenes and a deteriorating public order situation on Shoreside, which was keeping the uniform branch busy.

With Clovelly’s arrest, things were going well — although he was still acting ‘like a shithead’ in custody, it was reported. Terry Cromer was still at large, but Henry was convinced he would be found soon.

In all, he was pretty happy. Next day he had negotiated for more bodies to be drafted in and it would all surge ahead nicely.

He didn’t keep the murder squad any longer than necessary, thanking them and telling them to be back for a briefing at nine next morning.

Henry had used one of the classrooms at the Training Centre for the debrief, and as he walked back to his office his mobile phone rang, cutting into his thoughts.

‘Mr Christie, it’s Bernadette Peters.’

‘Oh, hi Mrs Peters, how are you?’

‘As well as can be expected, I suppose.’

‘What can I do for you?’ he asked hopefully.

‘You called earlier, remember?’

‘Of course I do.’

‘You asked about infant school. I might have something for you.’

It was 9 p.m. when Henry drove into Blackpool and around to Bernadette Peters’ home. She was waiting for him this time, and although Henry didn’t want to be sexist in his thoughts, he had to admit that she scrubbed up well and looked much more with it than when he’d interrupted her on Christmas Day. She was still dressed sloppily, in a baggy T-shirt and tight-fitting Lycra bottoms, three-quarter length, that showed her shapely legs to good effect. Her hair was pinned back, but touches of subtly applied make-up gave her face a pleasant look — and she was smiling this time. And she smelled nice.

She let Henry in and showed him to the lounge. She sat on an armchair across from him, curling her legs underneath her.

Henry smiled back. He was impatient to get a move on, to see his mother. He had been checking throughout the day and she had been in good spirits. Then he wanted to get back to Kendleton, eat a good meal and chill out in front of the box before bed. He was determined to be asleep before midnight.

‘You said you might have something?’

‘Oh yeah, yeah. . I was thinking after your call this morning. . really going through things in my head. And something came to me.’ Henry waited, the smile still affixed. ‘It’s probably nothing,’ she admitted with a derisive laugh.

‘Anything could be helpful.’

‘I just remember David once reminiscing about Belthorn School and some of the characters he remembered. . he mentioned mad Freddy Cromer and Terry, his brother.’

Henry blinked, tried not to look too interested. But deep below, his ring piece twitched.

‘He said everybody picked on Freddy, including Terry. I don’t really remember either of them. Like I said, they were all older than me and I was only there a few months. I think Freddy was a bit backward, or something. He’d probably have gone to a special school these days. But back then, he was just looked on as dim and stupid, I suppose.

‘Anyway, one day after school, David and some of the others went to a nearby farm. Don’t know which. . there’s a lot of farms up there. They’d heard that some chicks had been hatched, or something. I think it was chicks. In one of the coops on the farm. Chicks? Maybe kittens, I’m not certain.’

‘And something happened?’ Henry kept his voice level, but he was holding his breath.

‘Well, that’s where David went a bit vague and I can’t exactly recall what he said to me. I think there was a fight or something. Freddy was involved, and Terry and David. I think they all ganged up on Freddy. .’ She looked pained at Henry because her memory was letting her down. ‘Sorry. . vague.’

‘That’s OK.’

‘It was something to do with him being locked in.’

‘In where?’

‘The chicken coop, or whatever you call them.’

‘Who was locked in?’

‘Freddy, I think. I think he went totally doolally. .’ She shrugged. ‘That’s it. Sorry if I’ve wasted your time.’

‘No you haven’t,’ Henry said, his sphincter relaxing. ‘It could be very useful.’

They looked at each other and a beat of silence passed. Then Bernadette said, ‘Can I offer you a drink?’ It was said shyly, but her eyes were sparkling.

‘I must get going,’ Henry said, ‘but thanks anyway.’

A wave of disappointment washed over her face. Henry could see loneliness in her. ‘What you’ve told me is very interesting,’ he assured her. ‘It could well have some bearing on David’s death.’

She nodded, mouth rigid.

Henry rose and walked to the front door with Bernadette behind him. He reached for the lock, but she stretched past him and placed her hand over his, then manoeuvred herself between him and the door, placing her body between him and the exit.

‘I see you’re not wearing a wedding ring,’ she said quietly, her eyes playing over his face. He swallowed. ‘Please stay. . for a while, at least.’

‘I can’t,’ he said equally quietly, in spite of the surge of blood. He gave her a sad smile.

‘I’m lonely,’ she said simply.

‘And I’m very sorry, but I’m a cop investigating your husband’s murder and I’m also a professional. And I’m in a serious, happy relationship.’ The words sounded clumsy but were the best he could come up with.

‘I’ll fuck your brains out,’ she promised.

‘Excuse me.’ He reached for the door and squeezed past her, his face coming within inches of hers. He could see the glistening of tears in her eyes now. ‘That said, I’m very flattered. You’re a really nice lady.’

‘OK,’ she gasped and relented. ‘You don’t know how hard that was for me.’

‘I think I do.’

He opened the door and sidled out, not even daring to glance back, trying his best to walk in a straight line. As usual, his penis seemed to be acting in contravention of his thoughts, and the subsequent unheralded erection was caught at a very obtuse angle in his underpants.

Henry was speaking to Jerry Tope via the Bluetooth connection in his car. ‘Can you see if you can find the name of the headmaster or headmistress of the school in Belthorn at that time? Find out if they’re still alive or whatever and if we can get round to see them as soon as. And it was a church school, wasn’t it? What’s the name of the church it was connected to? And is the vicar still the same one. . you know the score.’

Tope, who was at home now, swigging his home brew, said, ‘Yes — and are we still on for Liversage tomorrow, too? He’s definitely in Accrington.’

‘You want to go for him?’

‘Yes please.’

Henry grinned at the thought of the change in Tope, who had suddenly turned into an adrenalin-fuelled super cop. He ended the call and readjusted his underwear again.

He arrived at BVH at nine thirty and took over from Lisa. His mother was asleep after an unsettled day with lots of chest and stomach pains. She had tried to eat but could not keep anything down. A nurse said she was deteriorating after the rally and her body was closing down, organ by organ.

He had a long talk with Lisa about the DNR issue without coming to a conclusion. then, sitting down next to the bed, and in spite of his determination to get back to Kendleton that night, he closed his eyes and was asleep within moments.

The vibration of his mobile phone in his pocket roused him groggily from the deep slumber he had instantly fallen into. He fumbled for the device, blinking rapidly, standing up and stumbling towards the corridor to take the call. By the time he got there, it had cut off.

He saw that he had slept through three other missed calls and the arrival of two texts. He cursed, saw it was only 10.45 p.m. — he’d thought it was much later — and scrolled through the phone to find out what he’d missed.

The texts were from Rik Dean. One read: ‘THINGS R KICKIN OFF — CROMER V COSTAIN.’ Another just ‘CALL ME!!!’

‘It’s like a Fast and Furious film,’ Rik said as he and Henry hurtled in Henry’s car towards Blackburn.

‘Just tell me,’ Henry said.

‘OK — two cars pull up outside Shady Lady’s club in Blackburn, which is operated by the Cromers. Four guys get out, tooled up, shotguns, handguns, bats. They open up at the doormen, who are Cromer employees. Big shoot-out. One guy is hit in the leg. The visitors pile back into their car — stolen, incidentally, from Blackpool, duh — and there’s a bloody big baddies’ car chase. Guys hanging out of car windows, shooting. One pedestrian clipped, plus loads of parked cars. Next, an unsuspecting cop car gets embroiled and has shots fired at him. Then there’s a foot chase through Blackburn centre, like bloody Jason Bourne. .’

Henry held up a finger. ‘Cut the cinematic references please. . where do we stand now?’

‘All seems to have quietened down for the moment.’

‘Injuries.’

‘Just the doorman, a pedestrian flipped over but OK. .’

‘Arrests?’

‘None.’

‘Brilliant.’ Henry’s mouth twisted.

They had reached the outskirts of Blackburn from the M65 side. Henry came off at the exit, but instead of heading towards town, he went to Belthorn.

He was going to pay the Cromers a visit. It was time to crack some heads together.