Murder Mile

Chapter Sixteen

Jane walked to her flat to collect her car, which was parked in a side street. As she drove back to Peckham, she wondered if Helen Matthews had taken Simon to see Simmonds for his braces check-up on the same evening the man who looked like Aiden Lang was outside the clinic. If that person was Lang, then it was possible he was waiting for Helen and Simon. She also wondered about the man in the car, but realized he could simply have been a waiting mini cab driver, or someone who had stopped to ask directions.

Entering the Peckham CID office, Jane couldn’t help but notice they were running out of space on the far end wall, which was now covered with crime scene and pathology photographs of the three victims, as well as other notes about the investigation. The civilian clerk told Jane that DCI Moran had said he wanted a full office meeting when she returned, adding that he was not in a good mood. They were no nearer to finding Aiden Lang, even though they’d had a slew of calls about possible sightings of him after the press release. The press was also hounding Moran, demanding constant updates on the state of the investigation, as were the top brass at the Yard.

Jane took a deep breath and made her way to the meeting room. She’d just taken her place with the rest of the team when a weary-looking Moran entered with DI Gibbs, who in contrast seemed to have a spring in his step and looked quite animated. Jane wondered if it was Tamara who made him so perky, or, as she’d previously suspected, Andrew Hastings’ wife, Jo. If it was the latter, she had a terrible feeling he was playing with fire.

Moran laboriously went over all the developments since the last team meeting: the connections among the three women, the suspected sexual abuse of Simon Matthews, and the fact that Aiden Lang’s fingerprints had been found in both Helen Matthews’ and Eileen Summers’ flats, which had been ransacked.

Moran took a gulp of coffee before continuing. ‘Obviously we can’t tell when Lang left his fingerprints in the women’s flats. In my opinion, it’s more likely he entered Eileen Summers’ flat after she was murdered. With respect to Helen Matthews, it could have been before she was murdered. It’s also possible she knew Lang, allowed him in her flat and he abused Simon, then when Helen found out he murdered her.’ He turned to Jane. ‘Have you spoken with social services about interviewing Simon Matthews?’

‘Not yet, sir. I was visiting a dentist Helen Matthews worked for this morning. I was going to ring social services after the meeting.’

‘It needs to be done and quickly, so get it sorted. Simon Matthews may know a lot more about Lang than we bloody well do right now. Did the dentist have any useful information?’

Jane briefed the team about her visit to the Harley Street clinic, but without mentioning that she’d seen DCS Blake.

‘Did you show Simmonds Lang’s mugshot?’

‘He didn’t recognize him.’ Jane paused to find her notes of what the receptionist had told her about the man who looked like Lang.

‘Has anyone got anything positive to tell me about Lang’s whereabouts?’ Moran asked, with an edge of sarcasm in his voice.

‘Yes, sir,’ Jane said. ‘I just need to find the page.’ As she flicked through her notebook, Moran continued.

‘I want you to organize house-to-house enquiries in the blocks of flats where Helen Matthews and Eileen Summers lived, Tennison.’ He looked at Edwards. ‘I want you to make enquiries about Lang in every gay bar in the West End.’

Edwards didn’t look happy. ‘Gays don’t like the Old Bill, so it’s hard to get anything out of them.’

‘Unless you pay for it, sweetie,’ a detective chipped in, mimicking oral sex with an up and down hand movement whilst pushing his cheek out with his tongue.

There was more laughter in the room. Jane was on the point of telling them to grow up when Moran exploded.

‘The lot of you cut the jokes and start taking this fucking investigation seriously! Someone out there must know where Lang is — he can’t just disappear off the face of the earth. I’ve checked with the passport office and he hasn’t got one, which means he must still be in the country.’

Jane raised her hand.

‘What?’ Moran snapped.

‘I didn’t get to finish telling you about my enquiries at the dental clinic.’

Jane heard someone mutter, ‘Here we go. Miss Marple is off again.’

Jane ignored the remark. ‘I showed the receptionist Lang’s photo. She told me she’d seen a man who looked like Lang standing outside the clinic. This was about a week or so ago, around six thirty p.m. and he was standing next to a car with another slightly older white man in the driver’s seat, who she didn’t get a good look at. The man who looked like Lang wore a jacket with the hood up, so she couldn’t see the color of his hair.’

‘It could be any Tom, Dick or Harry then,’ Moran said sourly.

Jane felt Moran was unfairly taking his frustrations out on her. ‘Maybe. But the receptionist also said the man in the coat had a tooth missing. From what Simmonds told me, it’s possible Helen Matthews attended the clinic that evening with Simon.’

Jane felt vindicated as this new information brought silence to the room as everybody focused their attention on her.

‘Which tooth was missing?’ Moran asked.

It dawned on Jane the receptionist pointed to the right side of her mouth and Lang’s missing tooth was supposedly on the left. She began to wish she’d spoken in private with Moran, but realized she had to be honest about what happened at the clinic.

‘I’ve just realized the receptionist indicated the missing tooth was on the upper right side of his jaw,’ she admitted in a disconsolate tone.

There were a few sighs around the room and some officers shook their heads, which only made her feel worse, but then she remembered something she had come across many times when taking statements from a witness.

‘But it’s not uncommon for witnesses to mix up left and right when face-on to a suspect, and I believe that could be a possibility here. I don’t think we should rule out Lang as the person the receptionist saw.’

Gibbs nodded in agreement. ‘I was once at a PM with Prof Martin when he referred to the left hand as the right until DS Lawrence corrected him.’

‘I read in the news once about a man who had the wrong limb amputated because a doctor made the left/right error,’ Edwards chipped in.

Moran seemed pleased. ‘Any other revelations you’d like to share with us?’

‘It could be the man in the car was an accomplice who was involved in the murders,’ Jane said.

There were murmurs of disagreement around the room.

Moran shook his head. ‘Every piece of forensic evidence we have points to one killer. Professor Martin said all Hastings’ stab wounds were from the same weapon, plus Summers and Matthews were strangled with the same type of cord.’

Jane persisted. ‘I’m just suggesting two killers is a possibility we should consider. From what we know of Lang, he’s quite slight. Moving two bodies in one evening would have been hard work on his own.’

‘Stop muddying the water, Tennison,’ Gibbs said a little harshly. ‘Summers’ body was in his bloody hostel room.’

‘You also seem to be forgetting Lang’s fingerprints are all over Summers’ and Matthews’ flats, and jewelry was stolen,’ Moran added.

She looked at Gibbs. ‘You said Lang was gay. If that’s right, then maybe an accomplice raped Helen Matthews and Eileen Summers.’

‘Maybe Lang swings both ways.’ Gibbs shrugged.

Moran vented his frustration on Jane. ‘Maybe I should do a new press release and say: “Sorry, I screwed up, as one of my less experienced detectives thinks I’m wrong and there are two maniacs on the loose.” Let me assure you, Tennison, I’ve already considered that Lang may have had an accomplice, but you tell me one bit of hard evidence that supports that theory.’

Gibbs, fearing Jane was digging a hole for herself, changed the subject. ‘The workload is mounting up, sir. Is there any chance of extra staff on the team?’

‘I’ll speak with DCS Blake,’ Moran replied. ‘But for the moment, you will all have to work the weekend. Sort it out amongst yourselves and split into two teams. One lot can work Saturday and the other Sunday.’

Some officers looked pleased, knowing that as it was on short notice they would get double pay and days off in lieu. Other weren’t so happy, particularly those with families or those who had made plans for the weekend.

‘Which day are you working, guv?’ Gibbs asked, assuming he’d be doing the other day in charge.

‘Both, and so will you,’ Moran told him firmly. ‘I want contact numbers for everyone in case I need to call you all in. And if I do, you’d better not be pissed. Right, any questions?’

No one said anything. Moran walked over to Jane.

‘After you’ve arranged the Simon Matthews interview with social services, come to my office.’ He strode out of the office.

Jane exchanged a look with Gibbs, then picked up the phone. She contacted Peckham Social Services to arrange the interview for 1 p.m. the next day. Jane then rang Brenda Matthews. They had a brief conversation and Jane told Brenda she’d pick her and Simon up on Friday from Mrs. Rowlands’ at midday.

Jane trudged along the corridor to Moran’s office, suspecting he was going to give her a bollocking for undermining his authority in public. The dark look on his face told her she was right.

‘I don’t like people challenging my views in front of junior officers. It’s not what I expect from anyone, let alone you as supervising DS, who should lead by example.’

Jane sighed. ‘I wasn’t challenging you, sir. I was merely offering an alternative viewpoint, which I felt should be considered. But I accept I may well be wrong.’

Moran seemed satisfied. ‘Good. I appreciate that every theory must be considered — but on the evidence, not wild flights of fantasy. You are very perceptive and have the makings of a good detective, but you still have a lot to learn, so think before you speak. What you said in that meeting could diminish the respect your colleagues have for you. When that happens, you can end up becoming ostracized by the rest of the team. If something’s troubling you, or you want to voice your opinion, you can always speak to me or Gibbs on a one-to-one basis. OK?’

Jane nodded.

‘Everything arranged for the Simon Matthews interview?’

‘Yes, sir. It’s tomorrow, one p.m., at Peckham Social Services.’

‘Good. Now go and get your reports for the case file up to date.’

Leaving Moran’s office, Jane frowned as she saw Gibbs walking towards her.

‘What’s up?’ he asked.

She shrugged. ‘You tell me. I was ridiculed from all sides, especially by you and Moran. I thought we were friends.’

‘We are, Jane,’ Gibbs insisted. ‘I wasn’t having a go at you; I was just trying to make you see reason. This investigation is getting to everyone — the long hours, lack of sleep, all of that. We all want to find Lang. If he kills again, all hell will break loose in the press — not to mention Scotland Yard.’

Jane sighed. ‘I sometimes feel like I can’t say anything without someone jumping down my throat. If I was one of the lads, you’d all be patting me on the back and saying, “Good job, son.”’

Gibbs smiled. ‘But you’re not one of the lads. You’re WDS Jane Tennison and should be proud of what you’ve achieved in your career so far. You’ve got more savvy about you than detectives with a lot more experience. All the same, sometimes it’s better to think before you speak. Weigh up the evidence against what you suspect might have happened. Gut feelings aren’t a bad thing, just don’t put them forward until you have firm facts and evidence to support them.’

‘Have you been speaking to Moran about me?’ she asked.

Gibbs raised his hands defensively. ‘No, I haven’t.’

‘Well, he said virtually the same thing to me.’

Gibbs gave her a sly look. ‘Then one of us must be right, Jane. Listen, don’t take it personally; consider it as constructive criticism and keep your focus on the investigation.’ Gibbs reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out two tickets and held them up. ‘My band’s playing at the Churchill Arms in Chelsea Friday night. I’d really like you to come and meet my girlfriend. You can bring someone, if you want.’

Jane instantly thought about asking Paul Lawrence. As she reached to take the tickets, Gibbs leant forward and kissed her quickly on the lips.

‘I’ve always wanted to do that... but it doesn’t mean I want to shag you.’ Gibbs walked off with a contented smile.

Jane rolled her eyes. ‘And I wouldn’t let you.’

Gibbs turned and gave her a thumbs up. ‘Good. I’m already spoken for.’

Moran appeared out of his office. ‘The duty sergeant just called me. He said there’s a woman at the front counter claiming to be Aiden Lang’s sister. Pop down and check her out, will you? See if she’s got any ID. She could be press trying to pull a fast one.’

‘And if she’s legit?’ Jane asked.

‘Bring her to my office and the two of us will interview her.’