White is the coldest colour: A dark psychological suspense thriller (27 page)

‘Look Grav, the ring investigation's making surprisingly good progress. Things have moved on a lot quicker than I could have hoped for. I talked to the CPS this afternoon as it happens. We've got enough to arrest five of the suspects as of now: four men and one woman. Fisher isn't on the list at the moment, and he isn't likely to be unless additional evidence surfaces, but Galbraith is. There are still a few outstanding video interviews with child witnesses arranged for tomorrow, which with a bit of luck may give us enough for more arrests. It’s a game in progress, Grav. I'm only going to know the situation for certain when I review the joint investigation tapes and see what we've got. There's a planning meeting arranged at the social services resource centre at two on Tuesday to agree the timing of arrests etcetera. Can you hold off any action on Fisher until after that? In the unlikely event he’s involved, I wouldn't want any of the suspects getting the idea we’re on to them any sooner than they need to know.’

‘Oh, for fucks sake. I don't like it to be honest, Trevor. I know it's a long shot, but if Fisher played any part in abducting the boy and I do fuck all for a couple of days, it's not going to look too good is it? That's a rhetorical question by the way; the mother’s in one hell of a state.’

‘All right, Grav, point taken, but we're not going to agree on this one. Look, how about we talk to the chief super in the morning? He's always in by about half-eight. He can make the decision, privilege of rank and all that. It's what he's paid for after all.’

‘I've got a fucking briefing arranged for five in the morning, Trevor. I was planning on giving our Mr Fisher an early morning wake-up call straight after that.’

‘I'm afraid it's going to have to wait, Grav, tempting as it is. Let's see what the super thinks and take it from there. Is that all right with you?’

DI Gravel shook his head. ‘I suppose it's going to have to be, Trevor. You owe me a fucking pint.’

DI Simpson chuckled to himself. ‘Fair enough, Grav.’ He paused momentarily. ‘Your language hasn't got any better over the years has it. Didn't your mother ever wash your mouth out with soap and water?’

‘Fuck off, Trevor. I'll see you in the morning.’

DI Gravel slammed the phone down and kicked his waste paper bin across the room with such force that it crashed into the opposite wall almost six-feet from the floor. He sat back in his swivel chair, sighed despondently, and picked up a pile of papers from his desk, full of good intentions. But he put them back in the orange plastic in-tray almost immediately… He needed a shower. He needed sleep. The papers could wait.

He stood up to head for home, but then decided to make one last call before leaving. The hospital switchboard answered after a surprisingly short wait and a chirpy female voice said, ‘Hello, South Wales General.’

‘Evening, intensive care please.’ This time the phone rang and rang before finally being answered. ‘Staff speaking?’

‘Good evening, this is Detective Inspector Gravel, local police. You've got one of my uniform officers there somewhere. Can I speak to her please?’

‘The last time I saw her she was in the day-room. Shall I ask her to give you a ring?’

‘I'll hold on ta.’

After approximately five-minutes he heard WPC Williams’ familiar voice saying, ‘Hello, sir.’

‘Hi, Bethan, any news for me?’

‘It’s good news I suppose, sir. I was about to ring you. Mrs Mailer came around very briefly about fifteen-minutes ago, the doctors seem more optimistic than they were earlier, but what with the drugs and her injuries she was drifting in and out of consciousness.’

‘Did you get the chance to talk to her?’

‘Very briefly, sir, before the sister stopped me. It wasn't easy to understand her, but I think she may have asked about Anthony. To be honest I couldn't bring myself to tell her the truth. She's got enough to deal with at the moment.’

‘She's going to have to know at some point, Constable, but I guess it can wait for the moment. Did she say anything useful?’

He’d used her rank rather than her name. He wasn't happy. It was a no win situation. ‘There is something else, sir, but it doesn't make a lot of sense.’

‘Spit it out, Bethan. It’s been a long day.’

‘Mrs Mailer wasn't making a lot of sense, sir. I don't know if it's even worth telling you this, but here goes. Her words were garbled and disjointed, but she seemed to be trying to tell me that she woke up for a fraction of a second just before the attack. She thinks she looked directly into her attacker’s face before passing out.’

The inspectors heart was racing. ‘Could she describe him?’

‘This is where things get strange, sir. She appeared to repeat the same name several times before drifting back into unconsciousness. I think she must have been confused or dreaming?’

‘For fucks sake, Bethan. What was the name?’

‘Dr David Galbraith! You know, sir, it’s a Scottish name.’

‘Yes, I do know that, Bethan. I'm not a complete ignoramus despite the rumours.’

‘Sorry, sir, I didn't mean to imply…’

‘I'd stop digging if I were you, Constable. Right, you stay where you are tonight. I'll send someone over to relieve you in the morning, so you can get a bite to eat and a change of clothes before going back. If Mrs Mailer says anything else, anything at all, ring me at home whatever the time is. Have you got my number?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Keep what Mrs Mailer said to you to yourself for now, Bethan. It may not be as crazy as it sounds.’

Chapter 36

‘G
ood morning to you all; nice to see that everyone's on time, even if most of you do look like shit.’ DI Gravel waited for a response, but it was limited to a few half-hearted groans… It was too early in the morning for banter, however well intentioned and senior the source.

The inspector smiled nonetheless, and continued. ‘You will no doubt be pleased to hear that there have been a number of potentially positive developments in the case. That said, Anthony Mailer is still missing. Finding him, hopefully finding him alive, remains our first priority. This is very important work, people. A child's life is at stake. We haven't got time to piss about, so listen carefully. You all need to be crystal clear what your duties are.’

The DI pointed to a map of the area he’d prepared in advance of the meeting. He tapped his forefinger repeatedly on a large black X marked close to the centre of the map in bold indelible felt pen. ‘This is the exact location of the Mailer’s cottage. The crime scene, if you like.’ He tapped the map again. ‘This first circle, the red one, indicates the area we searched yesterday. I'm sure that you are all very well aware that nothing of significance was found. That makes it all the more important that we search again today. We will keep looking until we find something. This work is not glamorous or exciting, but it is essential. We are going through a well-established methodical process that gets results. Remember that.’

He turned his attention back to the map on the wall behind him. ‘This bigger circle, the blue one, marks the boundary of the additional area that those of you allocated the task will search today. To be clear, we are going to search the area we searched yesterday again, and then extend the search to the area within the blue line. Familiarise yourselves with the map before you leave. Sergeant Thomas here will be responsible for supervising the search officers on the ground. If we don't find anything today, we will do the same thing again tomorrow and the day after that, and the day after that until we do. You will be glad to know that I have arranged transport for you lucky people.’ He grinned in response to the sarcastic cheer and waited impatiently for the search officers to peruse the map and leave. The process was taking too long, however, and he gestured to the uniform sergeant.

‘Yes, sir?’

‘Take that fucking map, Sergeant, and piss off somewhere else to look at it. I need to get on.’

‘Yes, sir!’

‘Right, you lot will be making further house to house enquiries. DS Rankin here will give you your specific orders once I’ve concluded the briefing. Young PC Harris obtained some useful evidence yesterday, let's hope we can do the same today. If a probationer can do it anyone can.’ He paused for the inevitable laughter. ‘Clive, if you do what needs to be done here, I'll speak to you later in the day. Remember everybody, if you discover anything potentially significant, anything at all, report it to DS Rankin who will in turn talk to me. Right, that's me done. Any questions? No, then piss off and find Anthony Mailer.’

DS Rankin looked at him with a perplexed expression on his face. ‘Can I speak to you in private, boss?’

DI Gravel nodded. ‘Let's go to my office, Clive. The rest of you get yourselves a quick coffee in the canteen. It's going to be a long day.’

‘Don’t bother sitting down, Clive. This’ll only take a minute.’

‘What about Fisher, boss? I've sorted the warrant.’

As the DI outlined the previous evening's events, Rankin shook his head incredulously… He’d been in the job long enough to know that investigations could change directions quickly, but this seemed to be a case of one investigation getting in the way of another with potentially serious consequences. ‘I know it’s a long shot, Grav, but what if Fisher's got the boy? If we delay and it goes pear shaped, where the hell does that leave us?’

‘I'm not happy with the situation either, to be honest, Clive. But, there’s fuck all I can do about it. I'll know more when I've seen the chief super. Now piss off and get on with those house to house enquiries.’

‘Okay, boss, I’ll give you a shout if we come up with anything useful.’

DI Gravel got on with some paperwork and kept his eye on the clock. At 8:15 a.m. precisely he picked up the phone. ‘Trevor, it’s Grav. Have you given any further though to last night’s discussion?’

‘I haven’t revised my position, Grav.’

‘I’ll see you outside the super’s office in ten-minutes.’

The two experienced detective inspectors stood outside their head of department's door like apprehensive school boys awaiting their head teacher. DI Gravel knocked reticently, and waited respectfully for the chief super's response.

Detective Chief Superintendent Graham Chapman had arrived in work unusually early. He had his in-law's staying for a week's holiday from Devon, and had used work as a transparent excuse to escape the house. He knew his wife would make him pay at some later date, but he told himself it was probably worth it. He smiled when he heard the knock on the door… It was a good day to be in work. ‘Come in and take a seat, boys. I'm assuming this has got to be important or you'd have made an appointment. No worries, what can I do for you both?’

The two men glanced in each others direction, waiting for the other to reveal his cards.

‘Come on, boys, for Pete's sake. What’s the delay? Trevor, you make a start.’

DI Simpson began outlining the salient facts and the potentially conflicting priorities of the two overlapping investigations. But, before he had the chance to say very much at all, the chief super intervened, as he often did. It was uncanny. His efficiency and total dedication to his role meant that almost nothing that happened in the division was ever a surprise to him. ‘Trevor, let me stop you there. I'm already fully conversant with the facts. I've read the relevant paper work and seen the computer records. Let me summarise. Interrupt me if I get anything wrong.’ All three men knew that wasn't going to happen. ‘Firstly, the paedophile ring is a top priority investigation that's going to be high profile: in the papers, on TV, that sort of thing. There’s inevitably going to be a great deal of unwelcome media interest from the gutter press. You know what the parasites are like. If there’s a potential criticism to make, they’ll make it. We have to get it right, and be seen to get it right. We have enough solid evidence to arrest and charge five suspects as of now. I believe that’s how the CPS put it, Trevor?’

‘That’s correct, sir.’

‘The situation may well improve as thing's progress. Or at least, let’s hope so. You seem to be well on top of it. We can't jeopardise the enquiry, there's far too much to lose. The chief constable would not be a happy man. All arrests need to be carefully co-ordinated so as not to give any potential for the destruction of evidence or interference with witnesses. I shouldn't need to tell you that. It's bloody obvious.’

‘Yes, sir!’

‘Secondly, we have the missing seven-year old lad and the attempted murder of his mother. It goes without saying, another high priority case. A child’s life may well be on the line. I see your dilemma, Grav. But, this business with Fisher, it's speculative at best. The witness is old with poor eyesight, it was dark, and she’d taken a sleeping tablet. Not exactly the most reliable witness, I’m sure you'd agree. Any half decent defence barrister would tear it apart. You know that. On the other hand, we know that Fisher's van was seen in Eden Road the same night. Fisher has been named by one child as part of the ring investigation, all be it her description was less than accurate, and there's nothing to corroborate her allegations. It’s far from certain. As of now there isn't enough to arrest him as part of the first wave. That situation could change, of course, as the investigation progresses. But we can’t base our plans on possibilities.’

DI Gravel shook his head discontentedly, but the chief super wasn't finished.

‘Don't lose the will to live just yet, Grav. There may be a way around this if we use some imagination. I realise Galbraith lives in Eden Road and that both men are implicated to varying degrees in the ring. Could be significant, but probably not. As of now there’s nothing to suggest either man has, or ever had, Anthony Mailer. At this stage we don't know the identity of the second man in Fisher’s van, but I’m sure you’ll both agree that Fisher and Galbraith seem highly unlikely bed-fellows. That said, it's a remote possibility we can’t afford to ignore. What I suggest is this: Dr Galbraith will be arrested along with the other primary suspects at a time to be agreed by tomorrow's planning meeting. I propose that the time will be early on Thursday morning.’ He checked his desk diary. ‘That’ll be the thirteenth. Each arrest team will be accompanied by trained search offices, with dogs where available. We'll go through each house with a fine tooth comb. That takes care of Galbraith. Now for Fisher! As I've already made clear, there isn't enough on Fisher to justify arresting him as part of the first wave. I don't want the bastard arrested and then released without charge. That doesn't help anyone. Agreed?’