Killing the Beasts

Chapter 12

1 November 2002

Jon sat down on the footplate of the ambulance, making sure the level of his head was lower than hers, ensuring his presence was as unthreatening as possible. 'Hello, my name's Jon Spicer from Greater Manchester Police. I understand that you discovered Mary?'

The girl raised her head, complete lack of make-up making the redness below her nostrils more apparent. She wore a sensible lilaccoloured overcoat, Marks amp; Spencer's probably, and her hair was held back by a band very similar to Mary's. Jon guessed they went to the same church.

'Yes I did,' she whispered, dabbing a damp handkerchief at her nose.

'How did you know Mary?'

'We go to the same church, St Luke's on Alexandra Road. That was where we were going this morning. I call round for her.'

Jon thought for a second. 'So was her front door open? How did you get in?'

She fished in her pockets and produced a set of keys. 'I let myself in. I have a key from when I looked after her cat, Mogwai. He died in the summer. She didn't answer the door, but I knew she was in. I'd spoken to her last thing yesterday night.'

'Last thing? How do you mean, exactly?'

'We often ring each other before going to bed.' She looked like she was about to start crying again.

'And she sounded normal?'

'Yes, we're preparing a play for the Sunday school class. She rang off saying she'd see me this morning.'

'Was she expecting anyone else to be calling round last night?'

'I don't think so. Not at that time.'

'A boyfriend?' Emma's eyes widened in shock. 'Oh no. She wasn't seeing anyone, I'm sure of that.'

Jon noted her defensive, almost possessive tone. 'Fair enough. One other thing. There's a sign round the back about a CCTV.'

Her face reddened and she looked down at her hands.

'Is there a camera somewhere?'

Emma started fiddling with her hanky. 'No. Mary put the sign up to stop the cars. Men would drive round the back with prostitutes. They'd leave soiled contraceptives behind. It went on all the time after it got dark.'

Hiding his disappointment, Jon said, 'OK Emma, when you feel ready, I'll get an officer to drive you to the station if that's all right. We'll need a statement.'

The girl didn't object. Another car pulled up and two plain clothes officers got out.

Jon stood up. 'Thanks for your help. 'Having recognized them as CID officers he had worked with once or twice before, Jon made a beeline for them. 'All right boys? DI Spicer, MISU.'

He saw recognition and then surprise play across their faces. Jon sensed slight resentment that he'd beaten them to the crime scene. 'We got a call straight from the control room. This one matches another from two days ago.'

'That girl over in Hyde?' asked one.

'Yup.'

No one spoke and Jon could sense from their expressions that they were wondering if he was the SIO, not quite able to believe that he would have been handed such a major investigation so soon. He decided to leave them wondering. 'I just need a word with the SOCO; see you in a bit.' He walked back along the side of the house and called in through the back door. 'Hello? DI Spicer again.'

The SOCO reappeared in the hallway.

'Any chance of dusting the doorbell as a priority? Someone called round before her friend turned up.'

Jon got in just before nine o'clock, Punch bounding down the corridor in delight at his arrival. As he tickled his dog's stomach, he could hear Alice and Ellie in the kitchen. The laughter in their voices made him smile.

'How's it going, girls?' He was careful to inject some life into his voice, even though he was completely exhausted.

They were laying out the cartons of curry on the table, a stack of naan breads to the side. 'Good timing,' said Alice as he kissed her on the cheek.

Ellie gave him a massive squeeze and opened up the fridge. 'Does big bro want a Stella?'

Jon licked his lips. 'You beauty.'

She cracked two open and a can of diet Lilt for Alice.

'Any news on the handbag?' asked Jon, taking a swig.

'Nah,' said Alice with a note of finality in her voice. 'It's gone — probably at the bottom of a canal somewhere.' She pointed with a fork at the cartons. 'Prawn dopiaza, beef madras and vegetable korma.'

As they were eating, Jon said to Ellie, 'Have you seen the wrinklies lately?'

Ellie rolled her big brown eyes. 'Mum's just enrolling on an evening class in picture framing at Ridge Danyers College. Before that they're going on a sailing holiday round the Greek islands. Dad's knees are giving him loads of grief now the weather's turning colder.'

Their dad had worked all his life in the docks at Salford, unloading the cargoes that were carried up the Manchester Ship Canal on vessels from all over the world. During the early part of his career only low levels of mechanization existed and the years of toil had taken their toll.

Jon turned to Alice. 'Our childhood holidays involved nothing more than trips to Southport, Formby or Blackpool. Oh yes, one year we travelled to Anglesey and that seemed adventurous. Now look at them. One trip to Spain to celebrate the old man's retirement and they're addicted to as many foreign breaks as they can afford.'

'Exactly,' laughed Ellie. 'I keep telling them to leave something for our inheritance.'

Once the curry was finished Alice glanced at the clock on the wall. 'Shit, it's nearly ten. We'd better get this video on.'

After the lift of his first few sips, the beer had brought on a wave of tiredness. Now, with a stomach full of curry, Jon could feel sleep dragging him down. He got up to shake himself out of it. 'What did you get?' he asked, pulling two more cans out of the fridge, hoping another might bring him back to life. 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' answered Ellie, cramming the debris from the takeaway into the bin.

Nodding at her choice, he handed her a can and they went through into the TV room, turned the lights down and put the video on.

Twenty minutes later, Alice nudged Ellie and pointed over to Jon. He was fast asleep in the frayed old armchair, legs straight out, one hand curled round the can on his stomach, the other resting on the top of Punch's head.

Ellie reached over and plucked the beer from his fingers. 'Poor old codger.'

Alice laughed quietly as she reached towards the table. Spread out on it was a variety of different chewing gums.

'Got enough flavours there?' Ellie asked as Alice selected a cinnamon one.

'Anything's better than the nicotine type. Taste like some sort of mouthwash gone wrong. Help yourself, by the way.'

Ellie started sifting through them, 'Still finding giving up hard then?'

Alice blew her cheeks out. 'Those first few cigarettes you sneak on the way back from school? It was so exciting, but if I'd known what a nightmare it would turn out to be…' She looked across at Jon. 'I'll never touch one again though, I can say that for sure.'

'Oh?'

Alice checked Jon's sleeping face again, 'I was dying to break some good news tonight, too.' Looking to Ellie, she tapped her fingers on her stomach.

Ellie's face lit up. 'You're not?'

'Looks like it.' Suddenly Alice felt tears welling up.

They hugged each other, then Alice's eyes strayed back to Jon as he started to snore. 'I've been bursting to tell him, but this investigation he's on… I'll just have to wait for a better time.'

'I won't say a thing,' whispered Ellie.

Later, as the film credits rolled, Ellie yawned and got to her feet. 'Right, I'd better get back.' She started reaching for her jacket.

'You're not walking home now.'

Ellie laughed. 'It's only five minutes away.'

'Ellie, 'Alice said more sternly, cursing the fact she'd never passed her driving test. 'I'll wake Jon up — he can take you in the car.'

'No, leave him.'

'Crash in the spare room, then, 'Alice insisted. 'I've got a clean T-shirt and knickers you can borrow.'

Ellie hovered at the door. 'You sure? I don't want to be-'

'You're not,' Alice interrupted. 'Anyway, you can't leave me to sort those two out on my own.'

As they looked at Jon and Punch, both dead to the world, a mobile started to ring.

'Who's taking care of…' Jon started saying, the fractured remains of a dream dying on his lips. He blinked at the two women, realizing where he was. 'That my phone?'

Alice fetched it from his jacket and tossed it over.

'Jon Spicer here,' he said, rubbing at the back of his neck. He remained silent for a few seconds before interrupting the flow of words. 'Hold it, hold it. I'm not on the case any more.' He listened again. 'Well, the list should have been updated. A memo went out yesterday. No, don't worry, it's not your fault. Yeah, any of the other officers. 'He was about to hang up when he said, 'By the way, what type of car was it?' He gave the sort of nod that indicated he wasn't surprised and pressed the red button.

Looking at Alice and Ellie's questioning faces, he explained, 'It was the duty officer at Altrincham police station. He still had me down as being on the team for Operation Fisherman. Some guy just heard a car revving on his front drive, looked out the window to see his Porsche roaring off up the street.'

Hating the fact he was no longer involved, Jon sat back in the armchair. One hand returned to the top of Punch's head as a memory of Tom in his Porsche Boxter resurfaced.