Текст книги "The Cop Killer"

Автор книги: Harry Nankin

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 10 (всего у книги 14 страниц)

She rose and it was obvious the conversation had ended; they were all outside in a moment.  The officers in the van were it seems distracted by some type of disturbance. Rachel ran up the path got into the waiting car driven by a middle aged man who kissed her as she sat down and both were gone in a flash.

Jack looked at Doris who said, “Not a grieving widow long it appears”.

Jack made no comment he was more interested in what the commotion was. As they arrived they saw a man had been arrested he was accompanied by several others all of whom were carrying banners “Fathers for justice”. It was only moments before an estate car arrived with Manchester Television Centre written all over it.”Jack looked at Doris and said, “Time for us to leave I think".

They got into their car and were away from there and from the area.  Appearing on television was the last thing he wanted.  Doris stopped lower down the road and typed in various items into the navigation box, then said, “It’s in, Chorlton Water Park”.

 They were mobile once again and after about twelve miles arrived at the vast lake well signed Chorlton Park and Nature Reserve.

They walked around and it was not long before they came upon a seat with a bunch of flowers tied to it, the inscription on the seat read, “In memory or Rick Masterton a faithful friend and colleague of the mounted section of Manchester police who sadly died at this spot”.

“Well” said Jack “it appears this is the spot. He looked around then walked over to a map and description boards located nearby confirming all the chief had said of the area”.

Fifteen minutes later they were south bound for the rural area of Shropshire nearly 100 miles away,

“Well” said Doris, “there certainly now seems to be some links. It appears Wrexham Sid was known to Rick Masterton and to the two Cheshire Bobbies.  We also know that it appears this same lady visited the officers both in Cheshire and here in Manchester not forgetting the same in Wrexham.

“Yes,” said Jack “very interesting. If there is a connection between Wrexham Sid and this woman that will be another line of enquiry. I have a note in my file. When we arrive back at the office, we will write it all up fully. We are still not any further forward regarding the causes of the deaths other than natural”.

“I agree” replied Doris “but as this Sid works at the hospital he could have had access to something but there again it should have shown up either at the PM or the toxicity tests”.

“Yes we still have a long way to go,” said Jack as tiredness was catching up with him especially as he now saw the sign Tarporley on their left as they headed south unable to stop at home.

The peace and tranquillity were disturbed when Doris’s phone went, yet again, thought Jack who recalled he had placed it in the car holder and so pressed answer and called “Yes, Jack Richards.”

A voice said “ Hello this is Chief Superintendent Ralph Jackson of the Shropshire police just to confirm we have arranged for you to see Mrs Sandra Cheshire here at Shrewsbury Police Station, she prefers to be seen here rather than having the police visit her home”.

“That is fine,” replied Jack.

“I also confirm,” said Jackson “that I myself will deal with this, I will accompany you to the scene of the death and I will hand you a copy of the Officer’s personal file upon your arrival”.

“Thank you so much,” said Jack and the call was ended.

It was 2pm when they arrived at the car park at Shrewsbury Police Station. A building in the modern design, that is to say two stories, dour and flat looking. Stopping in the car park there were the usual designated parking spaces in the usual pecking order from the Chief Superintendent down to Inspector, there were no specific spaces for the minions though Jack felt in the exalted few for there were some for visitors.

Having parked up they went into the reception and were greeted by a civilian dressed in a brown uniform one of four at the counter there being no sign of any uniform resembling that of a police officer.

“Hello can I be of help?” Asked the lady who from her name badge was a Mary.

“I am Inspector Scott-Ling; this is Mr Jack Richards both with an appointment to see Mrs Cheshire and Chief Super Ralph Jackson”.

“Ah yes, you are expected”. If you would please go to interview room 1 over there and take a seat someone will be along”.

 ”Thank you” replied Doris and as they turned and walked to the door, it opened as if by magic either that or Mary had pressed some device which unlocked and open doors.

They both went inside. It was a large room for an interview room, about three meters square.  There was a desk with two chairs against the wall and two more placed in front of the desk. It would appear these had been strategically placed in advance pending their arrival. There was recording equipment in the room and a surveillance camera.

Jack and Doris looked at each other and it was left to Doris to comment, “Very different from our reception at the other police premises, Manchester in particular”.

Jack was an old hand and new the ropes so kept his own counsel but thought it was a case of belt and braces and over sensitivity.

They had been waiting only moments when a uniformed officer sporting a crown and chevron indicating he was a Chief Superintendent. He walked in accompanied by a lady.

Jack and Doris stood to greet the lady held out their hands but there was no response, the two simply walked by and sat behind the table.

Jack and Doris sat down and as they did, so Jack spoke first, “I am Mr Jack Richards. I am a retired detective Superintendent of New Scotland Yard and this is Police Inspector Scott-Ling of the Cheshire Constabulary.”

“We are making some enquiries to review the deaths of several young police officers.”

“The initial enquires and to date our enquiries indicate the deaths were all natural causes.”

Our task at the request of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary is to prepare a report for the Home Secretary to confirm the deaths were in fact natural”.

“I see,” said Jackson “well you are aware who I am. This is Mrs Sandra Cheshire widow of Constable Gerald Cheshire. Mrs Cheshire has requested that I remain present whilst she is interviewed and that a record is made of the proceedings, is that correct Sandra?”

“Yes it is” she replied, seemingly to order.

“Well now” replied Jack doing all he could to remain calm but was inwardly livid, not only from the surroundings but the attitude adopted. Belligerent he thought but nothing he could report adversely on to the HMI.

“Well Mrs Cheshire and Mr Jackson, let me first of all put your minds at rest. Neither myself nor Inspector Scott-Ling have the slightest intention of interviewing you.”

“I might add if you were given that impression you have been misinformed.”

“We hope simply to ask you one or two simple questions to ascertain if you may unwittingly have some information that may be of help.”

 “Now Mr Jackson it is your police station you may conduct proceedings how you choose but I must emphasise this from the outset, all our questions and answers if any are given will be for the eyes and ears of the office of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and that of the Home Secretary and those they designate to also receive our findings, is that quite clear?”

“Why yes,” replied Jackson having the wind taken out of his sales more than a little by this obviously seasoned investigator.

“I will begin,” said Jack, “How long had you known your husband, how did you meet and how long have you been married?” He rolled three questions together to save time.

“We met at Shrewsbury flower show two years ago, Gerald was a dog handler. I like dogs, we got speaking I stroked the dog and we went from there, we married six weeks later.”

“May I ask you if your husband had mentioned anything of any sudden deaths in his family”?

“No never, nothing”, she replied.

Doris was looking through the file and said; “I see he had not one day’s sickness in the three years he was a police officer”.

“Well he had none whilst I knew him” came the reply

Jack leaned over and asked Doris a question, then said, “Mr Jackson I see Gerald joined the force some three years ago in the month of February, I suspect there was no recruiting at that time, can you account as to how he came to be appointed”.

“Ah yes I knew Gerald well, he was a dog trainer at a local club as well as being a local gardener.”

“He was highly recommended to us by the previous Chief Superintendent, Dan Davies, according to the file as you will see.”

 “The circumstances I am not aware of as my predecessor left on sickness and has since died tragically.”

“There must have been an over whelming reason why he appointed Gerald who I might say proved to be an outstanding officer”

“I am sure he was,” replied Jack.

“May I ask you Mrs Cheshire are you aware if Gerald knew or had any contact with a man from the Wrexham area possibly named Sid”?

“No I never heard the name and he never mentioned Wrexham”.

“Your husband it appears was gardener before joining the police are you aware of what he had done before that, I see there is nothing of previous employments in his file”.

”I am sorry Mr Richards I have not a clue in fact I do not really know anything of his past life before we met.

“I see,” replied Jack “Did he have any strange visitors to see him before his death?”

She thought then replied, “The only stranger I recall was a lady”.

“A lady” asked Jack.

“Yes one day whilst he was on foot patrol in the town here I saw him speaking with a foreign lady she looked like an Arab type or Spanish something like that. I saw them speaking I decided to stop and have a word, Gerald looked a ghastly shade of pale as the lady left”.

“Did you ask him about the lady?” asked Doris

.”Several times but he would never discuss it,” replied Sandra.

“I see”. May we both thank you very much indeed Mrs Cheshire for agreeing to see us, you have been very helpful”.

“Is that it?”

“Yes that is it. Thank you so much. May I say how very sorry I am at your sad loss of such a fine husband and officer?”

“Well thank you Mr Richards”.

“Well Mr Jackson if we may visit the scene please”

“Why yes of course I will just arrange for an officer to transport Mrs Cheshire home”.

“By all means” replied Jack, “in fact we will make our way to Church Stretton and meet you in the town then we can all travel to the actual scene together”.

It was a twenty-minute journey to the picturesque town of Church Stretton.

Whilst parked up waiting the two investigators finally laughed and spoke.

“What a pompous ass?” said Doris.

“I take it you mean Jackson?” Replied Jack, pushing his hat back into the action mode.

“Yes of course” she said.

“God knows what he thought we would do with a widow in the case of a natural cause death as we have it now”, said Jack.

A knock came onto the window, they looked it was Jackson, “get into our car,” said Jack.

“Right” said Jackson, “drive straight on up the hill I will tell you when to stop”.

They drove only half a mile when Jackson said,

 “Pull over there, it was in that lay-by it all happened there” said Jackson.

Doris stopped and parked, they alighted and Jack paced the area then looked down the hill. He walked to each end of the lay-by then took out his camera and took several photographs. Within ten minutes, they were finished, back in the car and heading down hill.

Arriving in the town Jack smiled as he saw a traffic warden placing a ticket on the car of Chief Super Jackson, who jumped from the vehicle and was last seen remonstrating with the warden.

When they arrived back in Tarporley, it was 6pm.

Doris dropped him off at home and commented, “I am ready for a drink”.

“I also” replied Jack “a strong one”.

He closed the car door went inside and was soon flopped in his chair, the smell of cooking charmed his irritation at the last job of the day but as usual said nothing.

It was nearly 9pm, the telephone rang, Jack answered it to find it was Doris who announced that Striker required her at the police Station for a few days.

“Ideal” replied Jack “I will take a few days to think things over, making notes and plans. Ring me when you are free otherwise I will call in at the office to ensure nothing is happening. Oh, I see. If you would that will be ideal”.

He replaced the phone and before she could ask he said, “Anne, I will be here for a few days, Doris is required on her regular work, I will spend some time here going over things. She will also check at my office to ensure nothing is amiss. You are stuck with me for a while it appears.

She smiled, gave him a kiss on the cheek and went to the kitchen to finish making the nightly drinking chocolate.

The next morning with little to do it had been some time since they had made a foray into the village but this particularly sunny Saturday morning Anne decided a breath of fresh air was just the thing.

The walking finally over they were returning home when they arrived at Mrs Delwright’s meeting house as Jack now christened it.  Who should be going in were the Woodcocks. Seeing Jack approaching, Christian stopped just inside the door, obviously spoke to his wife and called “Hello Jack and Anne come in for a mid morning drink?

Arriving at the door there was really no alternative so inside went Anne closely followed by Jack who for a change was not wearing his normal hat but incredibly, he had agreed to wear a new one.

It was cream and black advertised as summer wear and taken into use after Anne had bought it as a birthday present.

Entering the café the scene was the same as all other visits in that there were groups of mainly middle-aged women, it being a golfing opportunity for the men folk on such a delightful Cheshire morning.

When the new common arrivals, just policemen and their wives walked in there was a sudden silence save for Mrs Delwright who was in full flow announcing “ That Erica, was a lady filled with emotion, a drama Queen”.

Walking further inside and becoming seated Jack finally took off his hat and sat quietly but was all ears, mostly for tacit entertainment.

There was a group of six ladies typical of the Cheshire clique society.  One lady was more outstandingly entertaining than the rest who frankly, Jack judged, was the leader and the rest were her followers.

It appears her name was Vera, at least which is what Girda called her as she arrived with the additional hot water to ensure the group had a top up of drinks on the once used tea bags thus saving on the cost of additional drinks but permitting more gossiping time.

“I say”, announced Vera for the whole room to hear, “These farmers complaining of no bees what a complete load of balderdash.”

“Where I work there are thousands of bees, blasted horrid things and their fellows the dreaded wasps. They are everywhere”.

The group nodded in agreement encouraging Vera to add, “Ghastly, they really are ghastly”.

“What are you two having to drink?” asked Jean.

Anne answered for saying, “Jack and I will have tea, I will have Early Grey, Jack will have a peppermint.”

“Any cake?” asked Jean,

“Not for us” replied Anne though quietly, not wishing to draw the attention of the gathered hoards of morning coffee and teacake brigade to the fact they were not eating.

Vera saved the day when she now announced she was taking her CSE in cooking and then proceeded to describe in intricate detail the make up of cooked fresh salmon and beetroot, which according to her was “ Delicious but was so wonderful as to be pronounced “Deeeeelishous”.

Christian made a pass at work asking, “Enquiry going according to plan, Jack?”

Jack nodded though passed no comment but changed the topic “What is your golf handicap now Christian?”

“It is six,” replied Woodcock who then proceeded to describe in detail his latest forays into his weekend golfing world and the various clubs he had visited as a guest.

 All coming with his job as the HMI thought Jack.

The two wives, policemen had wives the Cheshire set had ladies. They were engaged in conversation as to the various recipes whilst Jack noted Anne had quickly made a note, which ominously read “Beetroot, Salmon".

The drink over they rose to leave, the best entertainment of the session for Jack was yet to come.

At they approached the door there was an attractive lady seated near the counter, Jack recognised her as a gardener who worked at two houses in their road.

She had been a laugh amongst other gardeners according to the Garden Rescue fellow who visited Jack.

He had pointed out the lady arrived armed only with a light mower and a hand fork, no other tools. She proceeded to spend the next two hours wearing marigold gloves and picking weeds out individually.

At the end of the session the garden, she had done look no different than when she arrived save for the grass was mowed but not the long straggling lawn edges.

Standing by her was a man he was aged early fifties, very tall well over six feet, slim, handsome with a moustache and stood like a guardsman.

He had all the panache required to charm the ladies. He was a frequent visitor to the café and stayed for several hours as Jack had noted as he went out on his walks only to find the man still sitting there by the window when the walk was done.

 The man was gazing down into the eyes of the lady gardener he was telling her of a plan she should adopt to obtain more clients, none of the plan it appeared included more equipment and more work.

Whilst this was taking place the leaving group sensed the importance of the moment for none moved or spoke, just stood waiting for the event to come to its natural conclusion.

Jack had his day made when he glanced at Mrs Delwright who in turn was standing there, stained drying clothe in hand looking for ever upwards into the face of the man currently engrossed not with her but his new target the lady gardener.  The man appeared to be named Roger but whom Mrs Delwright always referred to him as “Rojaa”

A moment of love and bliss was written upon the face of Mrs Delwright for her eyes were fixed, her mouth partly open but with a fixed smile, to quote a Hollywood movie she was swooning over Rojaa.

 If ever there had been a moment to leave a place without paying, this was that moment for as far as Mrs Delwright was concerned all her world was transfixed on this tall brown-eyed handsome man.

The moment of sheer delight for Jack was broken when Girda arrived and said, “You all pay now”, this brought the love scene to an abrupt end and as the till bell rang it was back to the real world for everyone.

Once outside Jack asked, “Christian, did you know the tall fellow in there?”

“I know of him put it that way,” replied Christian. “He has a way with the ladies, drives a sports car has all appearance of wealth and the trimmings.

“I was speaking with a retired cop who had been working for a firm of solicitors and so visited lado in there with some papers.

The old cop served him with the papers but then old Roger who in fact was only a lodger prevented the process server from leaving saying, “Mind if I ask you a question?”

“Why of course not” replied the agent and so Roger asked him, “How are you going to get out of this house?"

 The son, just as tall has him was now blocking the door so to escape the process server agreed to take the papers and so left the house with them.

When he got outside, he threw them down and made his escape.

“Some time later the boys in blue arrived at the home of the retired cop who they knew of course.

 It seems old Roger made a complaint against the old bobby who was about to be arrested. This Jack is where attention to detail as you say comes in, for at the critical moment the old copper produced a tape recorder, he had it all on tape”.

The tables were turned and they now asked him if he wished to prosecute Roger for false imprisonment wasting police time and the rest, the old cop declined and finished doing the lousy job”

“Not so smart as he thought he was, old Roger” replied Jack as they parted.

Sunday morning 6am Jack was awake, he realised he was unable to sleep further so decided to rise and take an early walk.

He washed, shaved, dressed then made Anne a drink, which he left by the side of the bed, she appeared asleep but he knew she always woke when he did so left it on the small table at her bedside.  He was out of the house by 7am but then closing the front door he saw an axe laying on the step.

He stopped, returned into the house brought a clean large brown envelope, lifted the axe with gloved hand and placed it inside the envelope. He then took it inside and secreted it inside his desk and left on his walk.

He knew of the axe warning it was an old East End of London gang warning, He had every gut feeling this axe had been left not by an East End gang but something nearer home possibly North Wales.

He continued his walk and on return made no mention of its finding to Anne.

It was eleven am Doris answered the phone thinking it was Striker yet again he had already called last night and again that morning.

“Hello” she said, “Doris here”

“Hello Doris its Jack Richards I am dreadfully sorry to interrupt your week-end but something has come up and it can’t wait”

“Oh dear it sounds ominous”

“I was going out this morning and on the door step I found an axe”

“God gracious have you called it in,” asked Doris.

“No” said Jack,” I have preserved the axe in case we need to get it examined.  I don’t intend to do anything else immediately, I suspect our friend Wrexham Sid left it”

Very likely” replied Doris, “what do you intend to do next?”

“Well”, said Jack, “the important thing is, I really ought to get Anne away from here for a short while, just in case.”

“We have a son Craig who lives in Daram he is a schoolteacher educating the son of the Sultan. We have not seen him for a while so as you are away this week I thought to take a few days off and visit Craig.”

“I would leave Anne there, return myself and sort this dead cops thing and Sid out on my return, with your help of course.”

“Well as you mention it, Striker has been on again and doesn’t require me after all, seems it involves interviewing and he doesn’t think I am up to the job.”

 “If you are taking the week off I will see if I can take some leave as well”

“Right” said Jack, “I will ring Craig, see if I can arrange it and take Anne as a surprise visit not to mention anything of the axe incident”.

“Ok”, said Doris” I will see if I can get leave and I will come back to you”

The call ended, Jack picked up the phone, it was some time since he had spoken to Craig, it would be nice to catch up on things.

“Hello Craig, is that you?”

“Yes who is that? Is it you Dad?”

“Yes I have been thinking of bringing Mum over to visit you Craig”.

“Why yes it would be great to see you both, if you could get here for the weekend you will be able to come to the Sultan’s family wedding”

“Oh I don’t know about that, I was thinking of coming over to bring Mum for a break, I would have to return as I am in the middle of something. When I have finished the job I will return for a few days and pick up Mum”

“That would be great Dad”

“I wonder if you might assist me?” Said Jack.

“If I can,” replied Craig.

“I wonder if you might just call Mum back and you invite her here, I can’t go into why at the moment but later, I will tell you”

“I see Dad. Sounds like a mystery cop thing, I thought you were retired?”

“I am but have got involved with something, I will explain later”.

The call ended but then within moments it rang Jack answered.

“Hello Craig. I forgot to ask before are you well?”

“Yes very well. The job out here in Daram is great. Living in a palace with perpetual sunshine, what better could one ask?”

“Hang on I will put you through to mum”.

“Anne, its Craig, he wants a word.”

“Hello Craig I was meaning to ring you today what a coincidence”.

Jack left the room and sat in the lounge awaiting the storm.

It was all of thirty minutes later when Anne arrived and said, “You will never guess what?”

“I never would my love”, he replied.

“Craig has asked us to Daram.  Seems there is a wedding and we will be able to attend. What do you think of that Jack?”

A wedding in a Palace and with a Sultan”.

“I see, well the problem is I am in the middle of this job but I tell you what, I will take you over there, stay a day or two, then come back finish this enquiry I am doing and then return for a few days and bring you back”.

“Well Jack I don’t know, how will you manage?”

“I will manage” he replied, “never fear”.

The telephone rang again, Jack said, “it is probably Inspector Scott-Ling I will take it in the study”.

He picked up the handset and carried it as he spoke, “Jack Richards here”

“Hello Mr Richards I got the leave”

“Great”, he replied, “there have been developments here I have managed to get Craig to invite us to Daram, I will take Anne, stay a day or two then return, finish our enquiry and then continue the holiday”.

“Great, it will be better she is not around after the axe business. This Sid sounds a real cop hater and Looney”.

“Right” said Jack “I will ring the airport and arrange a flight”

“Ah now” said Doris, “I may be able to help here”.

“You help?” Said Jack.

“Yes, Mr Richards, get your bags packed tonight. I will arrange the flight and give you a lift.  I have often wished to visit Daram so if you do not mind, I have good contacts for cheap air flights.

“Well that is very kind of you but the hotel?”

“Don’t worry about me; I will book one from here. I suppose you will stay with your son?”

“Yes I suppose we will. This is very quick and unusual but yes, thanks I will then settle up for the cost of the flights.

Doris laughed and said, “Yes of course, get packing and be ready for a breakfast time call from me”. She was gone

Anne arrived in the room and Jack updated her, he assumed she would object but far from it, she turned and went upstairs and in moments, he could hear her moving about

He went upstairs and his assumptions were correct. Cases on the beds, clothes everywhere including the regulation shorts and short sleeve shirts.

“Passport Jack, passports, find the passport”

He could see she was very excited far from what she would have been had she had known about Wrexham Sid and the axe.