Vanishing Point (6 page)

Brady looked as unconvinced as Harvey sounded.

‘Look, regardless of Adamson, his team will,’ Harvey continued. ‘I know most of them and I can guarantee that not one of them will rest until they catch whoever’s responsible. And when they do, God help him!’

Brady didn’t argue with Harvey.

The last thing he was going to do was tell Harvey that he would be making enquiries of his own into who could have done this to her. And he was certain he’d get to the bastard responsible before Adamson got even close.

*

‘What do you think you are playing at?’ demanded Gates as he sat down.

‘Sir?’ Brady asked.

His boss’s attitude came as no surprise. He’d been expecting to get it in the neck.

‘Walking into that briefing when you did.’

‘I didn’t realise that it was off-bounds, sir.’

‘Christ, Jack, do I have to spell it out for you?’

Brady didn’t answer.

‘Don’t mess with me,’ warned Gates.

He sighed heavily as he deliberated what to say next. Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his desk and clasped his hands together as he looked Brady in the eye.

‘Look, I understand this must be difficult for you,’ Gates said, choosing his words carefully. ‘It’s hard enough for the rest of us.’

Brady didn’t reply.

‘But I want to make myself perfectly clear. You are to go nowhere near this investigation. Understand?’

‘Yes, sir,’ replied Brady coolly.

‘DI Adamson is in charge of the Henderson investigation. You have your own investigation to deal with and I can’t have you compromising that because you’re not giving it your undivided attention.’

Brady watched as the DCI sat back in his chair. He looked agitated and Brady knew the reason why. Gates didn’t trust him not to get involved.

‘You’ve got your usual team; I wish I could give you more but unfortunately that’s all I can offer you under the circumstances.’

Brady nodded. He expected as much. But he was relieved that at least he had his old team. They were good, but whether they could pull off this investigation with such limited resources was highly questionable.

‘And you can have Room 201 on the second floor as an Incident Room. It’s one of the largest on that floor.’

Brady made the mistake of slightly reacting to the demotion. Ordinarily a murder investigation such as this one would have been given priority and the large room on the first floor would have been used. But that had been assigned to Adamson. And under the circumstances, Brady couldn’t object. He of all people wanted Simone’s attackers found and if that meant Adamson being assigned the best room and resources available so be it.

‘If I had my way I would have offloaded this murder investigation onto another area command. We’re already stretched as it is with Henderson’s attack. But no one wants to touch it. And I can’t say I blame them considering how little we have to go on. Who wants to have an unsolved murder case on their books affecting their damned targets?’

Gates was making it perfectly clear that he expected Brady to deliver on the case. Brady refrained from stating the obvious – that his boss was asking the impossible.

‘So far we have the best target record this year. Don’t blow it!’

‘Yes, sir,’ replied Brady dutifully, not feeling that optimistic.

Gates looked at Brady expectantly. ‘Well, Detective Inspector? What are you waiting for? From where I’m sitting you’ve got a lot of work cut out for you.’

Brady stood up.

‘And just to be totally clear, Adamson’s investigation is off limits,’ the DCI repeated.

‘Yes, sir,’ replied Brady before heading for the door.

‘And, Jack?’

Brady turned back to face him.

‘Do you know what Simone Henderson was doing in Madley’s nightclub last night? Let alone back in the North East?’

‘No, but I wish I did, sir,’ replied Brady.

Gates deliberated for a moment and then nodded.

He watched Brady as he walked out of his office, hoping that he did as he was instructed and left the Henderson investigation alone. His personal relationship with Simone Henderson made him a liability and Gates wasn’t prepared to have him screw up under his watch.

Chapter Nine

Brady walked out of Gates’ office and straight into Amelia Jenkins.

‘Sorry, I didn’t see you there,’ he apologised.

‘We need to talk,’ suggested Amelia.

‘Look, I wish I could but I’m really busy,’ replied Brady.

He couldn’t believe his luck. It couldn’t have happened at a worse time.

He could see from her expression that Amelia wasn’t buying it. He dropped his gaze, finding himself staring uncomfortably at the ground.

Dr Amelia Jenkins had a way of getting to him. She had a knack of looking too deeply into his eyes and searching for the truth. That was partly why he had never looked directly at her when they had had their shrink sessions a year ago. And at this precise moment the last person he wanted knowing that he was vulnerable – dangerously so – was Amelia. He had too much to lose. The last thing he wanted was to unravel in front of her; he needed to keep his wits about him. Especially after the emergency call he had heard. He was certain he recognised the voice. That alone was enough to send him over the edge.

‘I understand that. But given the circumstances, I thought you might want to off-load?’ Amelia ventured gently.

It had been six months since he had last talked to her. Then she had been assigned by DCI Gates to work with him on the murder investigation of a local fifteen-year-old girl.

Brady didn’t respond.

‘Jack? Listen, I know what happened between you and DC Henderson. Remember the counselling sessions we had after you had been shot?’

Brady slowly raised his head and looked at her. Of course he remembered the sessions. That was the very reason he didn’t want to talk to her now.

Before he knew it he was looking into her almond-shaped dark brown eyes. They were filled with genuine concern.

Brady’s problem was he didn’t like to talk. Especially about personal matters. Whatever he was feeling about the fact his ex-colleague was lying mutilated in Rake Lane Hospital was personal. Which meant it was off-limits. Way off-limits. He had his own way of dealing with his feelings.

His reply was straight to the point.

‘Amelia, I’m sorry. I just can’t …’ he muttered.

He turned and started to walk down the corridor.

‘Jack? Please?’ she called out, regardless of the two officers walking down the corridor towards her. He gave no sign he had even heard her. Amelia sighed heavily and quickly walked after him, her heels clicking irritably against the wooden floor.

‘Jack?’ she called again as she caught up with him.

Brady continued walking. He had somewhere to go and the last thing he needed was any distractions.

She grabbed him by the arm, forcing him to turn and face her.

He looked at her and waited.

‘Look, I know this must be really hard for you. Alright? I’m here if you need me, that’s all. I … I want to help …’

Brady looked at her. He wasn’t sure exactly what kind of help she was offering. And more worryingly, he didn’t know whether DCI Gates had put her up to this to get the ammunition he needed to get Brady signed off as unfit for work because of personal reasons.

‘Look, I really appreciate your concern, But I’m alright. I’ve just got a lot to deal with right now. I’m sure you heard about the murder victim found washed up on Whitley Bay beach this morning?’

‘Yes, I heard,’ answered Amelia as she searched his face. ‘Actually, I asked DCI Gates if I could be assigned to your case. Given what I know, it sounds like you could do with some help profiling the victim’s murderer.’

Brady looked at her, surprised. Then he swiftly composed himself, unsure of what game was being played.

‘Thanks,’ he replied. ‘But if I’m honest I’d rather you were working with Adamson. They need your kind of expertise to find whoever has done this to Simone. But I appreciate the offer.’

Before Amelia had a chance to answer he walked away.

He hated himself for the reaction his words had elicited. For a brief moment she had looked hurt. Then she had composed herself and nodded coolly with an air of professional detachment. A look that he recognised from his time with her as his shrink.

*

Brady slammed his office door shut and walked over to his desk. He was angry with himself. Angry that he had shut Amelia out. He’d already done that once before when the investigation they had worked on together had ended. He had promised her a drink with the rest of the team and found himself bailing. Unable to let anyone get close; especially someone like her. So he had left when she had turned up. He knew that she wouldn’t wait around for him to sort his act out. Why would she? Amelia had everything going for her. She was only in her early thirties, with a career that was going somewhere – and fast. Add to that, that she had that fatal combination of intelligence and uniqueness about her.

He sighed heavily as he sat down at his desk. He had to focus. He didn’t have the time or luxury to wonder about what ifs where Amelia was concerned. His life was already too complicated.

He needed to make a call.

‘It’s me,’ Brady said.

‘I’ve been expecting a call.’ The voice was controlled, with an air of menace.

‘We need to talk,’ stated Brady.

‘Usual place?’

‘Yeah, give me a couple of hours or so. There’s a few matters I need to sort out first.’

Brady hung up.

He needed questions answering about what exactly had happened in the Blue Lagoon last night and there was only one person who could tell him.

His phone began to buzz. He looked down at it.

Matthews.

‘Damn!’ he cursed. This was the last thing he needed. ‘What? Haven’t I already said I’m not interested?’ Brady answered, his voice heavy with a guttural Geordie inflection.

‘Jack? Come on, pal. This is ridiculous. What can I say to convince you that I just got caught up? And before I realised it, I was way in over my head. Don’t you think I wish I could change what’s happened? For fuck’s sake, my life is hell in here.’

‘Yeah? My heart bleeds,’ answered Brady.

‘Fuck you! Don’t you think I’ve suffered enough? I’ve lost everything … My wife, my daughter and … and my career.’

‘You lost your career as a copper the day you started taking backhanders, Jimmy.’

‘Come on, Jack. It’s not that simple and you know it,’ replied Matthews.

‘Isn’t it?’

‘Don’t start getting all moral with me. There’s a few things in here I’ve found out about you. Information that I’m sure the DSI would be interested in hearing.’

‘Yeah?’ questioned Brady, trying to sound calm despite feeling as if he’d been punched in the stomach.

‘Don’t mess with me,’ snapped Matthews. ‘You know exactly what and who I’m talking about!’

‘Like what?’ he pushed, not wanting to hear it but knowing he had no choice.

‘It concerns your old man. Let’s say he’s been saying some things that concern you and Madley.’

Brady slowly breathed in as he tried to figure out what the hell to do. He knew what Matthews was referring to and the last thing he wanted was Gates finding out. If he did, then it wouldn’t be the streets of Blyth he’d be working – he’d be banged up alongside Jimmy Matthews. Let alone if Adamson got wind of it. He didn’t like Adamson and he definitely didn’t trust him. Brady needed to make sure that his tracks were covered. Out of desperation he had asked Madley to help him out. He’d needed a problem from his past to disappear; for good. And it had. Whether Madley had sorted it, or it was coincidence, Brady had never asked. He was just relieved that the shabby old drunk claiming to be his old man had been taken care of, no questions asked.

‘Alright, I’ll come visit. But I can’t say exactly when,’ replied Brady, trying his best to keep the panic out of his voice. ‘All hell’s broken loose here. We’ve got two major investigations running concurrently.’

‘I know,’ interrupted Matthews. ‘Another reason why I need to talk to you.’

‘How the hell do you know?’

‘You shouldn’t concern yourself with that, Jack. You should be more concerned with how quickly you can get here. And when you come, bring me 200 grams of Golden Virginia.’

‘You don’t smoke,’ stated Brady.

‘I do now,’ replied Matthews with an edge of desperation.

Brady wasn’t sure whether Matthews wanted the tobacco for himself or as a trade with other inmates to keep himself in one piece. But that wasn’t his concern. Matthews had brought whatever hell he was living in on himself.

‘Come on, Jimmy, how am I meant to bring that through?’ asked Brady.

‘You’ll figure it out. Call it payment.’

‘You shit,’ muttered Brady.

‘Yeah? We’re the same you and I, Jack. Don’t forget it.’

Before Brady had a chance to respond the line had gone dead.

‘Damn it!’ he cursed as he looked up and stared up at the dusty grey slats of daylight stabbing through the off-white Venetian blinds.

He was wondering whether Matthews was bluffing or whether he actually had some information on the two investigations. Whatever it was, Brady had no choice but to make a visit. After all, Matthews had him firmly by the balls. Whatever he was holding over him regarding his old man could be enough to destroy him once and for all.

Brady breathed out.

A loud rap on the door broke him from his thoughts.

‘Yeah?’

The door swung open and Conrad walked in carrying a black coffee and a bacon stottie from the basement canteen.

‘Thought you might need some breakfast, sir.’

‘Thanks, Conrad,’ replied Brady, though he knew he wouldn’t be capable of keeping anything down right now.

Conrad carefully cleared a space on Brady’s cluttered desk. He then looked at his boss trying to gauge his mood.

‘I’m sorry, sir …’ he began uncomfortably.

Brady stopped him.

‘You tried to tell me. I should have listened, Conrad. I’m the one who should be apologising.’