Dark Rooms

Chapter Fourteen

The following morning Jane got to work early, finding the squad room in a self-congratulatory mood as Sergeant Hunt explained that more stolen property had been retrieved and matched to various thefts over a lengthy period of time. It was as if DCI Carter had captured Al Capone and his mafia mob instead of seven adolescent gang members, and Jane tried not to show her irritation. Everyone seemed to have forgotten about the Stockwell case, so when at twelve o’clock Superintendent Beattie arrived at the station and requested a meeting with her, she was expecting the worst.

She was pleasantly surprised when he told her that closing the case in a satisfactory manner was essential to counteract the bad press the investigation had generated so far. ‘So, Detective Inspector Tennison, I am giving you permission to travel to Australia, accompanied by another officer, to question Beatrice Thorpe with reference to the infanticide murder.’

‘Thank you very much, sir,’ she said, feeling her cheeks flushing. ‘I will do my best to get the answers we need.’

‘Good,’ he said, abruptly, heading to the door. ‘I will leave you to run through the itinerary with DCI Carter. You should go as soon as possible, but obviously you need to ensure you have a visa and that your passport is up to date.’

Jane would have liked to let out a yelp of excitement, but instead she took a deep breath to calm herself down. The only downside was having to discuss her trip with DCI Carter.

Emily Thompson called Arnold Hadley’s office, her hand shaking slightly as she dialled.

‘This is Miss Thompson from the care home, with regard to Helena Lanark, it is very urgent.’

‘I’m afraid Mr Hadley recently retired and is no longer working with the company,’ the secretary who answered informed her. ‘I’m sorry I can’t help you, Miss Thompson, but if he should call here, I will forward your message.’

‘Thank you, please do,’ Miss Thompson said, her voice catching. ‘And please do remember to tell him it’s urgent.’

DCI Carter was having lunch in the canteen when Jane approached his table and asked if she could have five minutes of his time when he was finished. He answered without looking at her.

‘Give me half an hour and I’ll be down.’

Jane got herself a cup of coffee and a sandwich and went back to her office. It was considerably over half an hour later when Carter entered without knocking.

‘I know what this is about,’ he said, and with his hands in his pockets walked around her desk and sat on the edge nearest to her. ‘So you reckon this woman Beatrice Lanark is going to tell you what exactly happened in that shelter...’ he cocked his head to one side with a sly smile, ‘even though it was thirty years ago?’

Jane knew he was trying to undermine her and found his closeness slightly unnerving. ‘I think that the birth of a child is something you would not forget.’

‘So, you’re suggesting that it could be Beatrice’s baby?’

‘It’s a possibility,’ Jane said. ‘But I feel it is more likely to have been the very young sister, Marjorie, who subsequently committed suicide. Although we cannot establish the length of time between the birth of the baby and the suicide, DS Lawrence and the pathologist felt they could be close together.’

Carter started swinging his right foot. ‘Really? So, you wouldn’t say that the belt buckle with the initial HL is enough evidence to accuse Helena Lanark of infanticide?’

‘Well, it’s obviously evidence implicating Helena but...’

Carter reached forward and touched Jane’s arm. ‘But due to her dementia it would be difficult, if not impossible, to actually determine whether it was her child and if she actually killed it.’

Jane found herself squirming as he leaned over her, disdainfully giving his view of her investigation. Then, to her relief, he uncrossed his legs and folded his arms.

‘Helena Lanark didn’t actually speak to you at all, did she?’

Jane hesitated. ‘No, she did not. In my report I clearly stated that she has been in the care home for a considerable time and is in a completely uncommunicative state.’

Carter nodded. ‘So, then you took her photo album?’

‘Yes, I did.’

‘Without permission or a warrant...?’

‘I don’t quite understand where this is going, sir? I did take the photo album because I felt it would be important to understand the Lanark family—’

Carter interrupted her. ‘Then we get the nephew making complaints against you for taking the album, but thanks to me we were able to put the situation to bed.’ He reached out and took her hand. Jane wanted to remove her hand, but he held on tightly, and then to her consternation began to stroke it. ‘I think I’m going to have quite a time before any of my arrests get to court and I wouldn’t mind a nice, relaxing trip away — a couple of nights in a good hotel in Sydney... maybe take in a few sights, the Opera House...’

Jane could not believe what was happening. With his other hand Carter had moved on to her knee, pushing up her skirt as his fingers inched towards her crotch. He moved even closer and she could see he had an erection pressing against his trousers. ‘It would be a good career move, Jane.’

Jane dug her heels into the carpet and pushed her desk chair back on its wheels. She was shaking.

‘A good career move?’ she repeated, her voice trembling. ‘If you lay one hand on me ever again, I will make sure your career is finished.’

Carter had the audacity to laugh as he pushed himself off her desk.

‘You thought I wanted to fuck you? You’re a stuck-up little bitch. Get your arse off to Australia, then. You can get a flight there and return the following day and you had better get something useful while you’re out there. I’m going to make it clear that I think it is an unnecessary expense.’

He walked out of the office as Jane pulled down her skirt. She took a deep breath. It wasn’t the first time she had been harassed by a higher-ranking officer, but Carter’s clear sexual intention had disgusted her.

Minutes later Sergeant Hunt was at her door. ‘You should have seen the look on Tim Taylor’s face when they told him he’d be going to Australia with you! He’s never been further abroad than Jersey.’

Hunt guffawed.

‘I told him not to get too excited, ma’am. You’ll be cramped in cattle class on a twenty-four-hour flight from the UK to Perth, refuelling in Bangkok, then a four-hour flight to Sydney... and less than a day later, you’ll be on your way back again. I doubt you will have any time for sightseeing...’

‘Thank you, Sergeant Hunt,’ she said, cutting him off. ‘Can you please ask Tim if he can be ready to leave in about half an hour as we need to go to the Australian Embassy to get a visa?’

‘Yes, ma’am,’ Hunt said, still smiling as he walked out.

Jane knew the entire incident room would have the same attitude as Hunt, thinking the whole trip was a ridiculous waste of time and money, but she would just have to ignore it. She also knew she had now made a real enemy in Carter and the pressure was on to get a result. If she didn’t, he would be waiting to stick the knife in.

Jane had just left when Sergeant Hunt received a call from Arnold Hadley asking to speak to her. He was informed that she was not available and when he requested her home number, Hunt remembered the kerfuffle over Jason Thorpe being given Jane’s number, and his request was denied.

Hadley sounded anxious and upset. ‘Please tell her it’s an urgent matter in connection with Helena Lanark.’

Jane and DC Tim Taylor were at the Australian Embassy for nearly three hours. When each of them had their interview, they were told that their visa would not be approved for forty-eight hours. Jane was loath to return to the station, so instead she told Tim to ask Sergeant Hunt to contact whoever at Scotland Yard would oversee the tickets and travel arrangements, booking a flight as early as possible to give them as much time in Australia before they had to return the following day.

It was rather challenging trying to explain to Tim that it was probably best to fly out on Thursday night because of the time difference. He couldn’t get his head round the fact that they would be eleven hours ahead of the UK. If they arrived early on Saturday, about 6.30 a.m., they would have two full days to speak to Beatrice as their return flight could be on Saturday evening, giving them one night in Sydney. She also instructed him to see if they could get a police car to take them to Beatrice’s house in Mosman, and to book a hotel for them both for the one night.

On returning home, the cacophony of transistor radios in Jane’s house was at its usual deafening level. The bathroom suite was just being carried up the stairs as Eddie called out to her from the top landing.

‘Your new bathroom has arrived... and your bedroom has been stripped. We finished plastering in the bathroom and should be ready to put the tiles up at the end of the week!’

The station received a second call from Arnold Hadley asking to speak to DCI Tennison. DC Tim Taylor took the call and then went over to Sergeant Hunt.

‘He seems to be pretty upset. What do you think I should do, sarge?’

‘You can’t give him Tennison’s number, Tim. Just take his number and then give her a ring, passing on the message.’

Jane went into the kitchen which was piled with workmen’s clothes, stacked Tupperware boxes and flasks. There was a mountain of used tea bags sitting in the sink. Jane decided she would go to the shops to top up supplies. As she went back into the hall, the corner bath was being carefully hauled up the stairs. Eddie was at the top, making sure the boys didn’t damage the new plaster.

‘I’m going out to do a grocery shop,’ Jane called out. Eddie waved to her but was clearly more concerned about the new bathtub.

Still balanced on one of the stairs, Jane’s phone rang. The answerphone had not been reconnected and eventually one of the workmen picked up the receiver. Eddie heard the workman shouting up the stairs.

‘It’s a call for her!’ he said loudly.

‘Tell whoever it is that she shouldn’t be too long, she’s just gone to the shops for some groceries.’ Eddie saw the receiver being replaced before he had time to instruct his worker to take the details of who was calling.

Jane went to the local Tesco and bought enough bread to make sandwiches, along with tea, coffee, milk, and some other essentials. By the time she returned home it was almost seven and the lack of blaring radios told her that Eddie’s team had left. She staggered into the kitchen with the bags and found Eddie standing at the kitchen sink washing up the mugs.

‘Here, let me...’ He crossed over and took the bags from her.

‘I’ve done a major shop. The boys can make sandwiches if they like... and there’s more teabags, coffee, milk and sugar.’

Eddie unloaded the shopping smoothly, seeming to know exactly which cupboard to put everything in. He picked up one sliced loaf.

‘Shall I put one in the freezer as you’ve got three?’

She nodded, taking off her coat and throwing it over the back of the chair.

‘I’ll show you around so you can see what we’ve done today,’ Eddie said.

‘I’d like that, but first I need a cup of tea.’ Eddie picked up the kettle and filled it as she sat at the kitchen table. ‘I’ve not had a very good day.’

He turned to her. ‘What happened?’

She sighed. ‘Just something I should have dealt with maybe less forcefully than I did.’

‘What do you mean?’ he asked.

‘One of the officers I work with came on to me. You’d honestly think that by now I’d be used to it, but I just didn’t see it coming. I know there will be repercussions and that’s what is so shit about this job. Sometimes, I don’t know why I do it.’

Eddie nodded sympathetically. ‘Do you want sugar?’

‘No, thanks.’ He put her mug down in front of her.

There was an awkward silence, then Eddie said, ‘Do you want to have a look at your bathroom? I think it was a good choice to make it a corner bath — it’s going to look very classy.’

Even though she didn’t really want to, Jane picked up her mug and followed him up the stairs and into the bathroom. Nothing had been plumbed in but there was a new wash basin, a shower with a glass-fronted sliding door and the most enormous corner bath.

‘Wow! It’s quite big, isn’t it?’ she said.

‘It’ll look better when all the tiles are up. I’ve decided to tile the whole bathroom white. We should start to get it plumbed in tomorrow and then you need to decide on the floor, because now we’ve taken up all the carpet.’

‘What do you suggest?’ Jane asked.

‘I think you should tile the floor as well as the walls. You don’t want wet wood, and definitely not carpet.’

‘OK, that’s fine with me,’ Jane said, unable to really focus on what he was asking her.

He moved ahead into her bedroom. All the bedroom furniture had been piled into the centre of the room and covered with dust sheets, and the walls had been stripped of wallpaper.

‘This room doesn’t need plastering so we can hang the new wallpaper sometime this week.’

Jane sipped her tea, wondering where she was going to sleep, as everything in the second bedroom had been piled high with junk.

‘I’ll need to get some things out of my wardrobe.’

Eddie looked at her. ‘You just need to take the dust sheets down. The lads cleared the other bedroom, so you’ve got somewhere to sleep tonight.’

‘I need to get out some summer clothes. I’m going to Australia and it’s summer there.’ She caught the look of astonishment on Eddie’s face.

‘You’re going to Australia?’ Eddie asked, plaintively. Jane nodded, unsure whether he was saddened she was leaving or concerned that he would be out of a job.

She laughed. ‘It’s only for a couple of days. It’s for work.’

He looked relieved. ‘Oh, thank God. I thought you might be thinking of selling up and leaving me.’

‘No, Eddie, I’m not leaving you,’ she said, instantly regretting her choice of words. She hadn’t really meant to make it sound so loaded.

She turned back to head down the stairs.

‘Actually, Eddie, I have got a bit of a telling-off for you... when I got back home last night the back door was ajar. You or one of your team must have left it open. It rather unnerved me.’ She walked into the kitchen and put her mug down.

Eddie followed her, frowning. ‘Jane, I definitely locked that back door and I guarantee every one of the guys who work for me would double check it before leaving. We are used to working in other people’s homes and security is always a priority.’

‘I’m sure it is, Eddie, but I’m just telling you the back door was open last night, and I was rather concerned.’

He shrugged. ‘I’ll check it out with the guys tomorrow. So, you’re going to Australia...’

‘Yes, it’s the case I’m working on... you know, the one with the baby? I want to question one of the women who used to live at the Stockwell property.’

‘OK... do you fancy going out for dinner tonight, then?’

‘I need to get prepared for my trip,’ Jane said. She laughed. ‘Actually, what I really need is a long soak in a bath, but that will have to wait. Besides, I’m not leaving until Thursday so... yes, I would love to go out for dinner.’

Eddie picked up his jacket. ‘I’ll pick you up in an hour. I need to scrub up first myself.’ He paused. ‘You know, if you want, you could come back with me to my place after dinner and have a bath there?’

Jane hesitated. ‘OK... give me a few minutes to grab a change of clothes.’ As Jane went into the hall, her phone rang. She heard her mother’s voice as soon as she picked it up.

‘So, Pam says you have a new boyfriend? We were just saying to each other that we hadn’t seen you properly for such a long time...’

‘I’m sorry, Mum, I’ve been really busy at work, and with all the work at the house here. I really wanted to get it all done before getting you and Dad over to show it all off.’

‘He’s a builder, Pam said.’

Jane sighed. ‘Yes, yes, Mum... he’s fitting a new bathroom and doing some redecoration.’

‘Oh, that’s nice, dear. Now, we think you should come over to dinner and introduce him to us. Are you free on Friday?’

‘Not this Friday,’ Jane said. ‘But the week after would be lovely.’

Jane closed her eyes and covered the mouthpiece. ‘Eddie, would you like to have dinner with my parents a week on Friday?’ He was bending down, examining one of the stripped boards in the hall.

‘Sure.’

‘OK, Mum, Friday it is. What time?’

‘Seven thirty — he isn’t a vegetarian or anything like that, is he?’

‘No, Mum, he’s definitely a meat eater.’

‘Ho, good. All right, bye bye... love you.’

As Jane and Eddie were about to leave for his house her phone rang again. It was Tim, passing on the message from Arnold Hadley. Jane rang Hadley straightaway, but he wasn’t picking up and after a while she gave up. Oh, well, it couldn’t have been that urgent, Jane thought.