Hail and Farewell (The Lakeland Murders) (28 page)

‘Next day the bloke turned up in hospital, Ian. He nearly died.’

‘You’d told your dad?’

‘Of course. But I’ll tell you something. I’ve told him nowt since. He nearly died, Ian.’

‘Aye, well. So you’ll be around later on, then?’

‘I certainly will. There’s a little place I go to for a sandwich at lunchtime. We could get a coffee at the same time. I usually go at around half-twelve.’

‘Jobs a good ‘un. See you then.’

Bill Iredale didn’t have to wait in the taxi office this time, and it was Lee Bell who took him upstairs.

‘The boss asked me to sit in’ he said. ‘And we shouldn’t meet here again. From now on I’ll tell you where, and when.’

‘OK.’

‘George is just sorting something out. He’ll be along in a minute. Would you like a coffee, water, anything like that?’

Iredale smiled and wondered when organised crime had gone so corporate. It had to happen, he thought, but that didn’t stop it from still seeming strange. Maybe they were doing customer satisfaction surveys with their addicts now as well.

‘Bill’ said Hayton, ‘as he came into the room. ‘Sorry to keep you. A family matter to attend to. You know what they’re like.’

‘I do.’

‘So, progress then. What can you tell me?’

‘Not much. My son doesn’t know who DCI Hall has identified as your man on the inside, sorry.’

Hayton nodded. He seemed calm. ‘That’s to be expected, Bill. I’d have been pretty suspicious if you did have a name, to tell the truth.’

Hayton glanced across at Bell, who nodded slightly.

‘But I do know one thing,’ Iredale went on. ‘You know the video tape, the one they sent off for analysis?’

‘Aye?’

‘I don’t know for certain, but Keith said they were all getting pretty excited about something. It must be on the tape, like.’

‘When was this?’

‘Yesterday. He heard DS Mann on the phone to Hall apparently, but Mann closed his door.’

‘So these people they’re using, they work at the weekends?’ asked Bell.

Iredale shrugged. ‘The way I hear it Hall was really piling the pressure on to get the job done quick, like.’

‘That makes sense’ said Hayton. ‘Hall needs something fast or he’ll get closed down, and that’s a fact. He’ll have overspent massively on this investigation already.’

‘Aye, that’s right’ agreed Iredale. ‘So what do you want from me now?’

‘Keep listening. Like I said before, don’t push it. But as soon as you know anything I want to know it too. Got it?’

‘Aye.’

‘Good. Now, how’s the wife today?’

‘A bit better. You know, under the circumstances.’

‘I do. I had one of my boys take the flowers over, personal, you know.’

‘Aye?’ Iredale tried to keep the tremor from his voice.

‘Aye. He didn’t get in to her room. But he did say that there’s a nurse with her, all the time like.’

‘That’s right. Round the clock.’

‘Well, you’d best get off then. I appreciate this, especially at such a difficult time for you. And just you remember, Bill. I look after my friends. Always have, always will. But I take care of my enemies too.’

Bell was smiling as Iredale got up to go. It was as if they’d all just agreed on an order for two photocopiers and a year’s supply of toner. And as he followed Bell back down the stairs Iredale wondered how the bloke would handle himself in a fight, against Ian Mann, for example. And because of that it was Bill Iredale who was smiling when he opened the door back out onto the street.

DS Mann enjoyed the drive to Cockermouth. He was in no hurry, and he hadn’t left half a dozen tasks half-done for once. He didn’t even have to keep on top of all the paperwork generated by the investigation, because that was Jane’s responsibility. He knew that if he’d been SIO she’d still have been pushing all the paper, and he smiled at the irony of that. Twelve years in the military had taught him that being in charge wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Not by a long shot.

He pulled in to the yard at just before twenty past twelve, and parked in one of the visitor spaces at the far end of the office building. He got out, and as he aimed his key fob at the car he half-heard, half felt the rapid steps behind him. He ducked, stepped sideways and turned in one fluid movement. The baseball bat missed him by a foot, but Mann’s grip on the man’s arm was strong and sure, and the judo throw was savagely quick.

Mann didn’t even watch his attacker hit the ground, but turned and moved again, ready for another attack. And when it came he almost laughed. The man ran at him hard and fast, a long knife in his right hand. Mann let him come, sidestepped, left a foot trailing and tripped the man as he ran. He watched as the man tried to keep his balance, arms flailing, before he slammed into the side of Mann’s car. The cuffs were on him before he could get up again.

Mann kept his eye on the other figure, who was barely conscious, while he phoned the local station and asked for a van and an ambulance. Then he called Andy Hall.

‘Well at least you didn’t kill either of them’ said Hall. ‘They won’t die, will they?’

‘Not unless you can die of stupidity. I barely laid a hand on either of them, and that’s the truth. Honestly, Andy, I sometimes wish that cons would learn to do things better, just take a bit of trouble, you know?’

‘Well I’m glad they don’t. Not when it comes to fisticuffs, anyway.’

‘You want them nicked?’

‘Too bloody right. Get the uniforms to take statements from any wits when they reach you, and I’ll call the CPS. Just because they didn’t manage to lay a finger on you doesn’t stop it from being a serious offence, does it?’

‘Just a bit of fun, that’s all. What do you want me to do about Debbie? Nick her if she was involved?’

‘Did anyone else know you’d be there?’

‘Not unless she told them.’

‘How about at our end?’

‘Good point, but no. I didn’t mention it to anyone.’

‘Not even Keith?’

‘Christ, Andy, you can’t think…’

‘I was only asking.’

‘No, come to think of it I didn’t. Listen, a bit of a crowd is gathering. I’ll call you later.’

‘Fine. And you just watch yourself, OK?’

By the time the first response vehicle arrived the first man was sitting up and talking, and Mann had both their names. He arrested both, and handed them over, saying that the first one would need to go to the hospital before the nick, because he’d been semi-conscious for a few minutes. Debbie Hayton was standing in the small crowd with a couple of her colleagues. When he’d first seen her she looked shocked, and her left hand was across her mouth, but now she seemed calmer.

‘Your office?’ he said.

‘What’s the alternative?’

‘You wouldn’t like the alternative.’

She nodded, and turned away.

‘Are you OK?’ she said, when they were in her office.

‘Aye, grand. Never better. Your old man’s lads aren’t the best at the duffing up job, and that’s a fact.’

‘You’re sure they work for my father?’

Mann laughed.

‘Do you often find folk being attacked in your car park by blokes with bloody hunting knives?’

‘No, of course not.’

‘Then yes, I’m sure that they work for your old man.’

‘But how did they know you’d be here?’

Mann didn’t reply, and just looked calmly at Debbie. Despite the fun of the fight his good mood had completely evaporated, like morning mist on Thirlmere.

‘You think I told dad? Are you off your head? I have as little to do with my father as I possibly can. Ask anyone. I’d never tell him anything like that.’

‘Then how did he know? Who did you tell? Did you mention it here, to anyone at all, like?’

‘No. No, I’m sure I didn’t.’

‘Well then.’

‘Look, Ian. I didn’t say anything. I like you. I hoped that we’d…’

‘Aye, well. So did I.’ He paused. ‘Hang on, though. Did you put it in your diary? Anything like that?’

‘Yes, I did.’ She smiled, and Mann had to force himself not to do the same. ‘Is that how they knew?’

‘It’s possible, I suppose.’ Mann distrusted technology, and as far as he was concerned this would probably end up being just more evidence for the prosecution. He tried to think of the kind of questions that the techies asked, but he usually wasn’t listening. ‘Who else has access to your calendar? Who do you share it with, like?’

‘Hang on.’ She walked quickly to her desk and pressed a few keys. ‘Here, take a look.’ He stood next to her, and for a second he found himself concentrating more on her perfume than the list of names. ‘Would you like a print-out?’

‘Aye. Thanks. That would be useful.’

They stood in silence while the printer on a table in the corner of the room chugged into action. Then Debbie walked over and handed Mann the piece of paper.

‘You do believe me, don’t you? I’d never let anyone be attacked, least of all you.’

‘Aye, I believe you.’

‘But won’t this be awkward for you as well? You’re off duty, like you said on the phone.’

Mann hesitated.

‘No, I’m working.’

‘So I’m a suspect? Is that it? Is that why you bloody lied to me, Ian? You think I’m involved in whatever disgusting stuff my dad is doing? Well I’m not. I thought you understood that.’

‘I do.’

‘No, you don’t. Why else would you have wanted to see me, if not to spy on me. I thought you were interested in me.’

‘I am. Of course I am. And I wasn’t spying on you. Look, Debbie, it’s complicated.’

‘No, it’s not. You’re a lier, just like the rest of them, just trying to get me to do things that are to your advantage. You’re no better than my dad.’

‘I’m on the other side, Debbie.’

‘I don’t believe you. Now get out of here, and don’t come back without a search warrant. I hope you nick my dad, and I hope he goes to prison for a long time, because that’s what he deserves. But I don’t want to see you again. Is that clear?’

DS Jane Francis was being systematic, which she knew was one of the things that she did best. She liked to feel in control. But the weekend was already a fading memory, and she could feel the tension building, tightening round her chest. So many forms to complete, questions from senior officers to answer, the nagging sense that support for the level of investment that had already been made in what might still turn out to be an accidental death couldn’t continue for much longer. By eleven o’clock she was starting to feel beleaguered. She called Andy, but that didn’t make her feel much better. He said that so long as the ACC Crime was supportive then there’d be no problem. But he added that, of course, the ACC was fundamentally a political animal, and to bear that in mind.

She made herself a coffee, and as soon as she sat back down a new email showed her in her inbox, entitled ‘Transcript.’ She opened it, and read the covering note. It was forwarded from the external consultant saying that the audio file from Alex Baker’s video was of fundamentally excellent quality, and had responded unusually well to some fairly simple enhancement techniques. Three files were attached, the original and enhanced audio files, and a written transcript. Jane opened the latter, and skimmed through it. But she stopped on the fourth page, when the time reference on the side showed that it was 10.57pm. The analytical software had identified fifteen different voices in total, and each were numbered. Jane read the next page with mounting excitement, stopped, and started to read it again. Her mobile rang, and she didn’t have to look at the display to know who it was.

‘Andy. What do you think?’

‘Bloody marvellous. All we need to do is identify which voice is which, and we can make an arrest. And if voice nine is Matt Hayton then we’ve probably got a solid conspiracy charge, even if we can’t get murder.’

‘You really think so?’

‘Come on, Jane. Voice four says, ‘have you got him?’ and voice nine says, ‘aye, the fucker’s down. It’s him.’ I think that’s going to take a bit of wriggling out of, especially with that section just before the end.’

‘When voice three says ‘Christ, I think he’s dead. You fucking idiot.’ But all we get is the start of voice nine’s reply after, ‘I just….’ I’m not sure, Andy. Another ten seconds, that would have been enough.’

‘I admit it’s probably not enough to convict, not all on its own, but we’ve got the phone he used during the burglary or assault as well, remember, and we know he was in the car that night too. It’s all building nicely now, Jane. So what’s your plan, bring Hayton in and get a recording for comparison?’

‘Yes. I’ll go straight back to Jenny and ask her to set up whatever the analysts need. Maybe they use the same kind of microphone, I don’t know.’

‘That might take a while. So I’d be tempted to get him in now, right away. Play him the cleaned up file, and see how he reacts.’

‘He’ll never admit to it.’

‘Maybe not, but he’ll know what we’ve got. And then so will his brief, and so will George Hayton. It’ll just help to ramp up the pressure.’

‘Have you listened to the cleaned up tape? I haven’t had a chance.’

‘Just a snippet, and it’s amazing what they’ve done. It’s incredibly clear, honestly. You can really hear the different voices, as well as what they’re all saying. It’ll shake Matt Hayton, I promise you.’

‘I’m not sure he’s frightened of anything though, Andy.’

‘I know what you mean, and he’s certainly not frightened of us, I’ll grant you that. The most we can do is get him banged up again, and the absolute worst charge he’s facing, realistically, is manslaughter. Personally, given the fact that it’s an intrinsically violent game, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s GBH by the time it comes to trial. What’s that, three, four years of time served? That’s just a sabbatical to the likes of Matt Hayton. But I’ll tell you who he is frightened of.’

‘His old uncle George?’

‘Exactly. And Matt’s cocked up well and truly here, hasn’t he? He got the wrong person, and he killed him rather than injuring him, and to cap it all off he and his mates have now given us a nice conspiracy case to go at as well. So make sure he understands that it’s all down to him.’