Kickback (3 page)

The file had been marked ‘Accidental Death’, the coroner notified accordingly and the body released for cremation. An interim death certificate had also been issued pending the formal inquest.

‘Well?’ asked Bateman.

‘Accidental death,’ replied Dixon. ‘Maybe Jon Woodman knows something we don’t?’

‘Ring him and ask him then.’

‘I intend to, Sir. I just need the loo first.’

‘There’s one under the stairs,’ said Jane.

Dixon walked out of the lounge and along the hall to the downstairs lavatory. He switched the light on and closed the door without going in. Then he went into the kitchen and closed the kitchen door behind him.

‘Give me your tabard, Louise.’

‘But...’

‘Just do it. Please.’

Louise Willmott took off her fluorescent tabard and helped Dixon put it on.

‘Oh, for fuck’s sake,’ said Inspector Watts.

‘What is it?’ asked Bateman, spinning round to see Watts looking across the road through a gap in the curtains.

‘You’d better come and have a look, Sir.’

Chief Inspector Bateman looked out of the front window. He could see Dixon standing on the doorstep of number 37.

‘Stand down,’ said Watts, into his radio.

‘I hope he knows what he’s doing,’ said Bateman.

Jane Winter ran forward and looked out of the window, just in time to see the door open and Dixon go in.

She took a deep breath and then looked at Bateman.

‘He does, Sir,’ she said.

Dixon took two steps into the hall before he heard the front door close behind him. He turned to face Jon Woodman. He was holding a handgun in his right hand.

‘An old 9mm Browning,’ said Dixon. ‘I fired one of those on Salisbury Plain once, with the cadets.’

‘What the f...?’

‘Where’s your father?’

‘I dragged him into kitchen.’

‘Ok, here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to check on him now and then I’m going to get two officers in here to get him out. Then we’ll talk.’

‘I say what’s going to happen now. Not you. I’m in charge.’

‘Oh, really?’ replied Dixon, ‘what makes you think that?’

‘I’ve got the fucking gun.’

‘And I’ve got twenty more outside. Machine guns too.’

Jon Woodman shook his head. Dixon continued.

‘So, we’ll do this my way or not all. Then everybody might get out of here in one piece. Ok?’

Jon raised the gun and pointed it at Dixon’s forehead.

‘Think about it, Jon. You’re facing firearms offences at the moment, assuming your father lives and neither he nor Natalie press charges. I’m guessing you want me to look into Noel’s death, which I’m happy to do. But we all need to walk out of here for that.’

Jon hesitated before lowering the gun.

‘What do you want me to do?’

‘Wait here while I check your father.’

Dixon walked through into the kitchen. Tom Woodman was lying face down on the floor in front of the sink. Dixon checked his neck for a pulse. He was still alive.

‘I’m going to arrange for two officers to come in and get him out, Jon. You wait in the lounge. And for heaven’s sake stay out of sight.’

Dixon reached into his pocket for his mobile phone and rang Jane.

‘Nick, are you alright?’

‘Yes, fine. Put it on speakerphone and then pass me to Bateman will you?’

Jane selected loudspeaker and then passed the phone to Chief Inspector Bateman.

‘What the bloody hell do you thi...?’

‘Do you mind if we talk about that later, Sir? I’ve got him to agree to let his father out. I’ll need a stretcher and two officers to come in and get him.’

‘Two of my lads can go in, Sir,’ said Watts.

‘Where will you be?’ asked Bateman.

‘We’ll be in the living room with the door closed,’ replied Dixon.

‘We could...’

Dixon cut Watts off in mid sentence.

‘There’s no need to try anything. I’m quite confident I can bring him out, Sir. We just need to get his father to a hospital as soon as we can.’

‘Ok. Give me a minute.’

‘Ring me back when you’re ready to come in,’ said Dixon.

Dixon went into the lounge and sat on the sofa next to Natalie. Jon Woodman was pacing up and down in front of the fireplace. Dixon noticed a single bullet hole in the middle of the television screen.

‘Who do you think you are? Elvis Presley?’ asked Dixon. He thought he saw Jon Woodman smile.

‘What’s happening?’ asked Natalie.

‘They’re sending someone in to collect your father and then we’re going to have a chat about Noel’s death. Aren’t we, Jon?’

‘Yes.’

Dixon’s phone rang.

‘Dixon.’

‘It’s Bateman. We’re ready to come in and get the father.’

‘I’m putting you on speakerphone, Sir, so Jon can hear what’s going to happen for himself.’

‘Fine. We have two unarmed officers ready with a stretcher.’

‘Good,’ said Dixon. ‘I’ll unlock the front door. Tell them to wait thirty seconds and then come in. I’ll be back in the lounge by then. He’s in the kitchen, which is straight through to the back of the house.’ 

‘Ok.’

‘I’ll keep you on the line, Sir. Are you happy with that, Jon.’

‘Yes.’

Dixon went into the hall and unlocked the front door. He then returned to the lounge, closing the door behind him. They listened to footsteps approaching along the front path and then the front door opening. After a short pause the footsteps continued along the hall to the kitchen. They could hear muffled voices.

‘You take his feet.’

And then the sound of footsteps moving back along the hall and the front door closing again.

‘We’ve got him,’ said Bateman.

‘Thank you, Sir. I’m going to lock the front door again now. I’d be grateful to know how he is as soon as there’s any news.’

‘Will do.’

Dixon rang off and then locked the front door.

‘How about a cup of tea after all that excitement?’

‘Let’s cut to the chase then, Jon. Two questions interest me. Firstly, why did you say it was all your father’s fault and, secondly, why do you think Jon was murdered?’ asked Dixon.

‘My father hated Noel. He hated his own son. The bastard threw him out when he was seventeen, sevenfuckingteen, and left him to fend for himself.’

‘Why?’

‘Noel was gay,’ said Natalie.

‘He threw him out with no money, nothing,’ screamed Jon.

‘Just because he was gay?’

‘Yes.’

‘What did your mother say?’

‘She’s dead.’

‘What did Noel do?’

‘Do you want me to spell it out?’

‘Yes,’ replied Dixon. ‘I find it avoids any misunderstandings.’

Jon Woodman turned away.

‘He was a rent boy,’ said Natalie. ‘It was the only way he could make any money.’

‘Until he found horses. He loved horses,’ said Jon.

‘Then he got the job at the racing stables,’ said Natalie. ‘He was going to be a jockey.’

‘Ok, so why do you think he was murdered?’

‘The last time we spoke he said he knew something and was going to go public with it,’ said Jon.

‘Did he say what it was?’

‘No. Just that it was big and he was gonna blow the whistle on it.’

Dixon turned to Natalie.

‘Did he say anything to you?’

‘No.’

‘Is that it?’ asked Dixon.

‘What do you mean "is that it"?’ screamed Jon. ‘Isn’t that enough?’

‘Probably not, no. The post mortem report details multiple injuries consistent with being kicked by a horse, there are horse shoe marks on his body and he was found in a stable with an aggressive colt. A horse he knew he shouldn’t have gone in with, apparently.’

Dixon’s phone bleeped announcing the arrival of a text message.

‘DCI Lewis is here. Jx’

‘What’s that?’ asked Jon.

‘My boss is here,’ replied Dixon.

‘So, what happens now?’ asked Jon. ‘I’m not going out there until someone does something. And neither are you.’

‘We’re going to need more than just one conversation about blowing the whistle on something big to get a murder investigation authorised, Jon.’

‘He was murdered. I know he was murdered,’ said Jon.

‘I’ll make a deal with you then,’ said Dixon, standing up. Jon backed away, still pointing the gun at Dixon.

‘What?’

‘You’re going to have to trust me. I’m assuming you do, otherwise I wouldn’t be here.’

‘Yes.’

‘Good. Do you remember the chap I was sitting with at the Zalshah last night?’

‘Sort of.’

‘His name’s Roger Poland. He’s the senior forensic pathologist at Musgrove Park.’

‘So what?’

‘Natalie, do you consent to a second post mortem on Noel?’

‘Why me?’

‘Your father is unconscious and Jon is...indisposed, shall we say? That makes you the next of kin.’

‘What good would it do?’ she asked.

‘Well, that’s the deal, isn’t it?’ replied Dixon. ‘A second post mortem on Noel by Roger Poland. He’s good, very good. And if he thinks Noel was murdered that will be enough to trigger a formal murder investigation.’

‘And if he doesn’t?’ asked Jon.

‘Then Noel wasn’t murdered. And you’ll just have to accept that. Either way, you put down the gun and come out.’

‘What will happen to me?’

‘You’ll be arrested and remanded in custody. Then you’ll go to Exeter Prison. But that’s better than the alternative, believe me.’

‘I suppose.’

‘We can get the second post mortem done this morning. I can pay a visit to the racing yard at the same time.’

‘You’re not going anywhere.’

‘I need to go out there and set this up for starters, Jon.’

‘No.’

‘I’ll keep in touch by phone and I’ll be back too. One way or the other.’

Silence.

‘Do you want someone else to investigate it?’

‘No.’

‘Then you have to let me out.’

Dixon stared at Jon Woodman. Beads of sweat appeared on Jon’s forehead. He began to tremble.

‘It’s crunch time, Jon.’

Silence.

‘I’m offering you what you want. But we need to get it done today. He’s being cremated on Friday, don’t forget.’

‘Ok, ok,’ replied Jon. ‘But you’re coming back?’

‘I am. And when I do, good news or bad, you’re putting that bloody thing down and coming out. Agreed?’

‘Agreed.’

‘Where is Noel?’

‘He’s at the Co-op in Bridgwater,’ said Natalie.

Dixon took his phone out of his pocket and rang Jane.

‘What’s happening?’

‘I’m coming out in two minutes. Tell Watts to make sure I don’t get shot, will you?’

‘Leave it with me.’

Dixon turned back to Natalie and Jon.

‘No one will come in before I get back so stay out of sight and don’t do anything stupid.’

Dixon walked out into the hall and closed the lounge door behind him. He unlocked the front door and then rang Jane again.

‘I’m coming out now. Ready?’

‘All set,’ replied Jane.

Dixon opened the door and stepped out into the light from the arc lamps. He held his right hand up and then walked slowly forwards along the path. Jane came out to meet him.

‘You alright?’

‘Fine.’

‘Lewis is hopping mad.’

‘He’ll get over it.’

‘What’s the story then, Dixon?’ asked Bateman. ‘We can come back to the flagrant breach of a direct order later.’

‘I’ve agreed with Jon that Roger Poland will do a second post mortem on Noel this morning. Natalie has given her consent as next of kin. While Roger’s doing that Jane and I will visit the racing yard and see what we can find.’

‘And the point of all this?’

‘Well, for a start, once it’s done, Jon will come out. If he’s right we’ll also find evidence of a murder.’

‘Great. So, we just wait a few hours and then tell him Poland found nothing,’ said Watts.

‘He’s going to be pointing a 9mm Browning pistol at me when I tell him it’s been done so if you think I’m going to try to blag him you’re...’

‘What Inspector Dixon means is that it needs to be done and done properly if we are to bring this situation to an end satisfactorily,’ said DCI Lewis.