The Wood Beyond

xiii

Jimmy Howard was still in police custody but only just.

After the arrival of the TecSec solicitor he had made a statement which completely denied any knowledge of the contents of the envelope found in his car.

In fact, when the lab analysis was complete, it turned out that Howard might have been pretty safe even without his denial, as the capsules contained ketamine hydro-chloride, a mild hallucinogenic which, known as Special K, had a moderate street value, but hadn't yet made it to the banned drugs list.

The small Mid-Yorks drug squad had tossed the case back at Wield, saying they had enough on their plate without wasting time on what looked at best like a case of simple theft and receiving stolen property.

The lab assistant, Jane Ambler, had been interviewed in her home the previous night. She had denied handing any envelope to Howard and showed no reaction to talk of fingerprints, a calmness confirmed when examination revealed only one usable thumbprint on the envelope. This was definitely Howard's and provided Wield with the thin thread by which he kept the ex-constable tethered in custody.

Search of both the woman's home and Howard's had failed to throw up any supporting evidence.

Wield ran it all in front of Peter Pascoe who said, 'Looks like a politician's promise to me. Prick it and what have you got? Your evidence that you saw a person who might have been Ambler handing Howard an envelope that might have been the one found in his car containing a legal drug. Without an admission, this one's a no-no.'

'I was doing fine with Howard till that likely lad sent by TecSec turned up,' said Wield gloomily. 'Staff perks,' said Pascoe. 'But he's going to find it hard to carry on at Wanwood without being able to drive out there. This should mean his licence goes for at least another year.'

'Yeah. Great result,' said Wield.

'What about Ambler? No cracks there?'

'Butter wouldn't melt.'

'In her mouth?'

'In her anything,' said Wield savagely.

'You don't like her?'

'I saw her injecting a little monkey.'

Pascoe raised his eyebrows at this nonprofessional reaction from the man he'd always regarded as the acme of professionalism. Perhaps Dalziel was right and the sergeant had undergone some sea change in Enscombe.

'Anyway it'll clear the decks, and we'll need plenty of space to get this business with Marvell sorted.'

'Finding out who killed Walker, you mean,' emended Wield gently.

'Yes, that's what I meant. Listen, I reckon it's time I met the famous Cap. Why don't you see if you can make contact with Walker's sister-in-law, the widow in Redcar, see if she'd heard anything recently? Someone ought to tell her the news anyway.'

'I think mebbe I'll leave that to the locals,' said Wield. 'But I will have a word myself. After I've been back to Wanwood.'

'Wanwood? Look, forget those files for the time being. We've more important fish to fry.'

'Not the files. I wanted to have a word with Dr Batty about drug records and staff supervision. He was busy this morning so I didn't like to press.'

Pascoe grinned and said, 'Meaning you reckon you can keep Jimmy banged up so long as you're still pursuing enquiries. When's his first twenty-four hours up? About tea time? I don't think anyone's going to give you an extension.'

'Me neither,' said Wield. 'How's Ellie?'

'Fine. Why?'

'Walker was a mate, wasn't she? And from what she told us yesterday, it strikes me she could easily start blaming herself.'

The same thought had occurred to Pascoe the previous night, but there'd been little sign of breast-beating from his wife so he'd thought it best to let sleeping dogs lie. Wield's concern still came as a reproach.

'She's fine. I'm just going to give her a ring actually.'

The phone was answered on the second ring as if Ellie had been expecting a call.

He said, 'Hi, love. How are you?'

'Pretty well. Anything happening?'

'Just proceeding with enquiries. Which means that Cap's spent most of the morning with her solicitor while we've been checking everything twice.'

'And?'

'And she's still in the frame. Good news is, Andy's out of it. I'm in charge now.'

'Good God. What did you use? A bulldozer?'

'He went like a lamb. You sure you're OK?'

'Yes. Well, still a bit numb. Listen, if you're worried I think it's all my fault, well I do, a bit. But I'm not sure how much till you idle sods find out what really happened. Like the man said, guilt without responsibility is the prerogative of the masochist throughout the ages. And while I don't mind a bit of biting by way of erotic arousal, I draw the line at the whip. But I'm glad you rang. I've just had Poll Pollinger on the line.'

'Oh yes. Any luck?'

'Well she's seen the file on the court martial, but says that her pet colonel reckoned the Ministry of D would make whatever she can do to him seem painless if he let her make photocopies. What she did though was make pretty comprehensive notes of the things she thought you'd want to know. Even these are a bit risky and she wanted to make sure that either you or I were around before she faxed them here. Even as we speak the modern marvel which turns your house into a litter bin is starting to talk. Hang on a sec. I'll just check to make sure it is Poll's notes and not some double-glazing hand-out.'

There was a pause then she resumed. 'Yes, it is. "Field General Court Martial of Sergeant Peter Pascoe convened at Zillebeke November 1917, Officer Presiding-"'

'Yes, fine,' interrupted Pascoe. 'I'll see it all later. Not sure when. If I'm going to be late, I'll try to let you know..'

'Hang on, Peter. Before you go. That chap who called the other night, the rather charming military gent with bits missing. What was his name?'

'Studholme. Major Hilary Studholme. Why?'

'Well, just a coincidence perhaps, but your great-granddad's Prisoner's Friend, which Poll glosses as untrained defence counsel, is down here as Captain Thomas Hilary Studholme of the West Yorkshire Fusiliers. Interesting, huh?'

For a moment Pascoe was back in the museum mock-up of the front-line trench with the lifelike dummy reclining on the camp bed, open on his breast a copy of The Wood Beyond the World inscribed To Hillie with love from Mummy.

'Peter, you still there?'

'Yes,' he said. 'I am. And you're right. Very interesting indeed.'

When Wield arrived at Wanwood, Des Patten was waiting for him.

'What's the word on Jimmy Howard?' he asked.

'Helping with enquiries,' said Wield.

'You gonna do him for drugs? No, don't look like that. It's not a guilty secret. Tony Beasley gave the captain a bell.'

'So much for client confidentiality. Would it bother you if we did?'

'I'd have to hire a replacement.'

'So, not personally?'

Patten shrugged.

'I hate to see anyone getting into bother, but there's bother and bother. Like in the mob, one of your men gets himself in trouble for nutting some short-changing barman or shagging some local scrubber, you rally round, send him on a course, say he was on guard duty that night. He gets in bother with stealing a mate's dosh, or flogging his ring down the park, then that's it. He's out, and good riddance.'

'How about a drugs charge?'

'Out. In both cases. In the mob, no one wants a hop-head backing you up.'

'And in TecSec?'

'We're very particular. Get a criminal record and it's goodbye.'

'Not bothered by driving over the limit though? Or driving without a licence?'

Patten frowned.

'Over the limit can happen to anyone,' he said. 'But not having a licence.. that's plain stupid. I didn't know. We sometimes do driving jobs. That could have got us in big bother.'

'He's got himself in it, certainly. But the way it's looking, that might be all he's facing. No way your clever young brief's going to get him off that.'

'Beasley was the captain's idea. Very paternalistic, the captain. Good quality in an officer, getting close to the men. That's why they have NCOs to make sure they don't take it too far.'

'Like with Rosso?'

Dalziel had passed on Piers Pitt-Evenlode's revelations about Buster Sanderson's interesting military career.

'What's that mean?' said Patten, very alert.

'Just that he must have been very upset by the accident.'

'He was,' said Patten. 'Very upset. Dr Batty's waiting for you. I'd tread careful. He's not in a very good mood today.'

He turned smartly on his heel and marched away.

Dismissed, thought Wield.

Batty jumped up from his armchair as Wield entered the staff sitting room. He looked pale and drawn as if he hadn't slept much last night.

'Sergeant,' he said running his hand through his soft brown hair. 'What's all this about Jane Ambler?'

'Do you use ketamine hydrochloride in your labs, sir?' said Wield.

'K? Why yes. Sometimes. What's that got to do with anything?'

'What do you use it for, sir?'

'As a relaxant. In certain circumstances as an anaesthetic. It was developed by the Americans for veterinary purposes initially, and because our experimental animals are used in tests which can involve anything from new drugs to surgery we have to have available a wide variety of control techniques so we can be quite sure whatever tests we're conducting on a new drug, say, aren't being affected by an existing drug …'

'I'm with you,' said Wield. 'So would it be possible for you to check your supplies of K and see if any is missing?'

'How much are we talking?'

'Twelve capsules.'

Batty shook his head in irritation as if Wield had said something stupid.

Who's been rattling his cage? wondered the sergeant.

'We make up our own capsules here if we need them, so it's not just a matter of counting. Twelve, you say? Couple of grams tops. Well, we'd know of course how much has been used and where it's been used. But if anyone cared to change the proportions slightly, or if a spillage was reported…’

'Spillage? What do you mean?'

'For heaven's sake, don't you speak English?' snapped Batty. 'These are animals we are dealing with here, sergeant. Some of them quite large and strong. They don't all just lie there and take it, you know. Quite often there will be some wastage as we administer a dosage. Of course then we start again from scratch. A spillage will be sluiced away, not swept up and used again.'

He gave a little shudder as though offended by the thought.

'Very hygienic, I'm sure,' murmured Wield. 'Can we take a look?'

They took a look. The records and the amount of the drug remaining checked exactly. There were however three reported spillages involving Jane Ambler.

'Butterfingers,' said Wield.

'Even these amounts wouldn't be enough for twelve capsules,' objected Batty.

'Then mebbe she put a bit aside for herself whenever she used the drug,' said Wield.

'But that might have had an effect on some of our experiments!' said Batty indignantly.

'I assume, if it were being used as an anaesthetic, it wouldn't have been very pleasant for the poor animals either,' retorted Wield.

Batty eyed him narrowly.

'Sergeant Wield, I assure you we have the very highest regard for the welfare of our animals. Now before we go further I insist you tell me what precise evidence you have against Miss Ambler or any other member of my staff.'

'Not enough to bring charges, not yet,' Wield replied. 'But enough to make me suggest, sir, that you take a very thorough inventory of the drugs in your care and review your security procedures in respect of them.'

It sounded pretty neutral to him but Batty was clearly at the end of his short fuse.

He said harshly, 'I don't need you to tell me how to run my labs, sergeant. Not when you can't organize a piss-up in your own brewery.'

'Don't follow, sir,' said Wield, conventionally stolid.

'You're acting like you're one hundred per cent sure that a crime's been committed here but you're telling me there's nothing you can do about it,' he sneered. 'What a way to run a police force! Well, if you can't act, I can. Good day to you, sergeant.'

He turned and marched away.

Dismissed again, thought Wield.

As he unlocked his car, Patten reappeared, smiling.

'Warned you not to upset the doc, didn't I? He can be really vindictive.'

'How do you know what I've been doing?'

'Watching you on closed-circuit of course. It's all right, it's not wired for sound but I could tell you weren't whispering sweet nothings in his ear. Look, I should mebbe have warned you, you could be on a hiding to nothing bad-mouthing Miss Frigidaire. They're very close, know what I mean?'

He gave an exaggerated pelvic thrust.

Wield looked at him in surprise. He hadn't got the feeling that Batty felt particularly protective to Jane Ambler. On the contrary.

'How do you know this?' he asked.

'The old CCTV again. Like Nixon and them tapes, you get so used to a thing you forget it's still working even when you don't want it. Saw them at it right there where they keep the animals. Makes you wonder who should be in cages, doesn't it?'

'No competition. This system, was it running the night those women ran wild?'

'Sure.'

'Why'd you not mention it?'

'Why the hell should I? No crime, no damage, no charges, what's to mention? If you'd asked you could have seen it. And don't say you didn't know. The cameras are there for all to see and you've seen the monitors.'

'Fair point. Like to see it now but if it's not been wiped.'

'We do a five-day cycle so you should be just in time. Anything in particular?'

'When you cornered Marvell and she looked set to take a swing with the wire cutters.'

'You keep on about that. Why so interested? There was no harm done.'

'Not this time.'

It was a silly thing to say. The old silent Wield wouldn't have let it slip. The sweet relaxing air of Enscombe wasn't all beneficial.

He could see Patten's sharp mind working.

'This time … er, you're never trying to tie that old bird in with that poor devil those bastards topped at Fraser Greenleaf?'

He laughed his derision out loud.

'Suppose that old bird had taken a swing,' said Wield. 'And your head had got in the way?'

Patten considered and his expression became serious.

'Yeah, well, she's certainly got the upper-body development to get that thing moving.. and there was a moment when I thought she was going to have a go for sure. . but look, there has to be something else behind all this. I mean, you can piss around with the likes of Jimmy Howard because it suits you, but someone who talks like her..'

It was a crude but not altogether inaccurate analysis of what Pascoe would call the social dynamic of police investigation.

Wield said carefully, 'We should have checked the TV tapes earlier. That was an oversight. All I'm doing now is covering my back. And I would be particularly interested if you could watch with me and try to recall exactly what was being said.'

'Always keen to cooperate with the police, sergeant,' said Patten. 'Let's go take a look.'