“Ruth, as soon as Rocco has finished, get round there. In the meantime, have Erskine’s office sealed off.”
DCI Birch strode into the room. “Calladine! I hear you’ve arrested Miles Erskine.”
“Not yet, ma’am. That’ll come later this morning, with luck. For the time being he’s helping with enquiries.”
“Don’t bandy words with me. I’ve also just learned that he is Ford’s partner. Ford has been on the phone. He’s livid.”
“We have testimony from a witness who’s told us that Erskine hired him to break into the Duggan. What am I supposed to do? Ignore it because he lives with the chief super?” Calladine could see she wasn’t happy, but he was right. There was nothing she could do. She gave him a filthy look and stormed off.
Rocco stuck his head round the door. “Newton wants to make a statement. Better than that, he’s told us where Erskine stores the drugs. He uses one of his own buildings at the industrial estate.”
“You and Ruth get down there. Ask CSI to meet you. I think it’s time I had a word with Miles Erskine.”
* * *
Erskine was sitting with his lawyer, drinking tea. “I’ve been here all night,” he said. “You really do need to beef up the accommodation. The mattresses aren’t up to much.”
Calladine ignored the comment. “Danny Newton has finally spoken to us. He’s told us all about your shady little enterprise.”
Erskine turned pale. “He knows nothing.”
“He knows enough to enable me to charge you. We’re currently searching your premises. We know where you keep the drugs. We’ll find them very soon. We’ll also be taking a look at your office phone records. Let’s hope you didn’t slip up and use it for your nasty little sideline.”
Erskine seemed to deflate. “I employ a lot of people, they take liberties, use my premises for their own ends. The drugs you say you’re looking for could have been put there by anyone. That villain you’ve got in custody would say anything to save his skin. Even go as far as blackening my name. You’re clutching at straws, Calladine.”
“I don’t think so. The evidence is building. Later today we will have enough to charge you.”
This appeared to upset him. Erskine was nervous, his face pale.
“You should come clean while you can. Given the evidence I’m sure your solicitor would agree.”
“I still think you’re bluffing. You have very little solid evidence against me.”
“We have DNA from one of the murder victims. We will test that against the sample taken from you this morning. We expect the sample to match.”
Erskine said simply, “It won’t.” Erskine’s eyes met Calladine’s. “I didn’t kill anyone. Not now and not in the past.”
“You’re lying.” Calladine was adamant.
“I’m telling you the truth.”
Calladine shook his head. He didn’t believe him.
Erskine fell silent, seeming to wrestle with something. Something about Ford.
“Over the years I’ve done everything I can to help that man. I can’t continue, this is the end. Part of me always knew it would come to this. I have warned Angus often enough.” He looked at Calladine across the table. “Alright. I hold my hands up. You are going to find the evidence anyway, the drugs, the phone records. I did organise the manufacture of the drugs. I had you kidnapped. I also admit that you might not have been allowed to return. For a number of reasons, we had to get you out of the way. Your relationship with Eve Buckley, the fact that you are a detective . . . plus, Angus wanted it that way.”
Calladine looked at him. “The murders? Ford can’t help you now.”
“Angus? What makes you think he would help me?”
“Because he’s been cleaning up after you for years. Stealing evidence, bullying and coaching suspects. In short, all this time he’s been making sure that you’ve been kept out of trouble. If it weren’t for him you’d have been put away a whole lot sooner.”
Erskine gave a hollow laugh. “You’ve got this totally wrong.”
Calladine stared at him. Erskine sounded so confident, like a man telling the truth. “In that case, explain it to me.”
“I am the one who has done the ‘cleaning up,’ as you put it. For years I’ve been protecting Angus.” Erskine looked down at his hands, and then at his solicitor. He took a breath. “Angus is your killer.”
Angus Ford, a murderer? Calladine stared at Erskine. The look on the man’s face said it all. He wasn’t lying. It seemed so obvious now. Yet it was hard to believe that a top police officer had carried out such horrific crimes. “The Norbury killing?” Calladine asked.
Erskine nodded. “That too.”
“Why the gap? The first was twenty years ago, and now two more?”
The look Erskine gave him made Calladine’s blood run cold. “There was no gap. I clean up after this man, remember. I’ve been hiding his dirty little secrets for years.”
Calladine almost whispered, “How many?”
“Last time I counted, there were six. You can see for yourselves. Angus always films each kill. You’ll find all the tapes at our house.”
“What did you do with the bodies? Give us names if you can recall them.”
“If I can’t, Angus will. He talks about them in his sleep.”
Epilogue
Calladine gathered the team together in the incident room and gave them the whole story.
“Ford? But he’s one of us!” Rocco said. “Has he been arrested?”
“Too true, he has. CSI are going through their house now. As Erskine said, Ford made videos and we have them,” Calladine said. “With Erskine’s collusion, Ford has been killing women for years. No one suspected either of them. One was the respected business man, the other a detective with his sights set on a top job. Soon we’ll have the results from Ford’s DNA test. I expect it to match that of our second victim.”
“Poor George Norbury,” Ruth said. “Such a shame he had to spend his last years inside.”
“Ford admitted to beating him, and to the coaching. He promised Norbury that the sentence wouldn’t be a long one.”
“And Norbury never complained,” Ruth said.
“Once he was inside, Erskine’s lot were threatening him.”
“What a case,” Ruth said. “It’s worn me out. Why did they kidnap you?”
“They needed an out-of-the-way spot and a ready supply of chemicals to manufacture the drugs. The rambling outbuildings at Buckley’s provided that. Buckley’s was chosen because of Eve and her relationship to me. Ford needed to get me out of the way. He knew I’d compare the first killing of Ingrid Plesec to the Norbury one and become suspicious.”
“Except it wasn’t Norbury at all, poor man. We should stop calling it that,” Ruth said.
Calladine nodded. “The so-called tipoff was set up, and the rest you know.”
Calladine checked the time. It was mid-afternoon. “Let’s call it a day and go across to the Wheatsheaf.”
That was a universally popular idea. The team collected their things and made their way out.
Calladine joined Ruth on the stairs. “It’s Friday. D-Day for Jake’s job. What have you decided?”
“I’m not going.” Her voice was firm.
“You can’t let him go on his own. That’ll be the end. You two belong together, Ruth.”
“Give over, Calladine. I’ll do what I bloody well want. Jake has a choice to make. He’ll phone me later with his decision.”
“Rocco was telling me you met another nice young man a couple of days ago — that forensic artist the Duggan sent round.”
Ruth nodded. “Michael, yes. He seems okay. We’ll use him again, I’m sure.”
“Rocco told me there was a spark between the two of you.”
Ruth laughed. “Rocco has a vivid imagination. Even if Jake does bugger off, that doesn’t mean I’m in the market for another man.”
“Don’t mess up like me, Ruth. I don’t seem capable of keeping up a solid, long-term relationship, but you’re different.”
“You really are a worrier, aren’t you? We’re here. Come on, happy face now.” Ruth nudged him. “And get your hand in your pocket. The team deserve it.”
Ruth’s mobile rang. “Get me a large red. I’ll join you when I’ve taken this.”
Calladine bought the drinks and ushered the others to a table. He looked through the window at Ruth pacing up and down the pavement outside. He didn’t need telling. This was it. It had to be Jake.
Then she was back. “Bloody fool.” She picked up her drink and took a big swallow.
The team had their eyes glued on her. Like Calladine, they knew she was waiting for Jake’s call.
“Stop it you lot, you’re making me nervous.” She grinned. “All that fuss, all those arguments, and look what happens.”
“What?” Calladine asked. “They don’t want him to start sooner, do they? Come on, you can’t keep us in suspense.”
Ruth gave him a broad smile. “They don’t want him at all. It’s a private school. Turns out it has dire financial problems. As of today, it’s closing its doors for the foreseeable future.”
“What does that mean for Jake?” Rocco asked.
“Don’t you get it, dozy?” Ruth ruffled his hair. “No school, no job, and therefore no move. Problem sorted. Good, eh?”
THE END
ALSO BY HELEN H. DURRANT
THE DCI GRECO BOOKS
Book 1: DARK MURDER
Book 2: DARK HOUSES
Book 3: DARK TRADE
THE CALLADINE & BAYLISS MYSTERY SERIES
Book 1: DEAD WRONG
Book 2: DEAD SILENT
Book 3: DEAD LIST
Book 4: DEAD LOST
Book 5: DEAD & BURIED
Book 6: DEAD NASTY
Book 7: DEAD JEALOUS
Book 8: DEAD BAD
TALBOT DYSON
HIS THIRD VICTIM
Join our mailing list now to get bargain book offers from your favourite authors and news on the next Helen H. Durrant mystery:
http://www.joffebooks.com/contact/
THE CALLADINE & BAYLISS MYSTERIES (book 3 features DI GRECO)
BOOK 1 DEAD WRONG:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/WRONG-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B010Y7641M/
http://www.amazon.com/WRONG-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B010Y7641M/
First a shooting, then a grisly discovery on the common . . .
Police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss race against time to track down a killer before the whole area erupts in violence. Their boss thinks it’s all down to drug lord Ray Fallon, but Calladine’s instincts say something far nastier is happening on the Hobfield housing estate.
Can this duo track down the murderer before anyone else dies and before the press publicize the gruesome crimes? Detectives Calladine and Bayliss are led on a trail which gets dangerously close to home. In a thrilling finale they race against time to rescue someone very close to Calladine’s heart.
BOOK 2: DEAD SILENT
http://www.amazon.co.uk/SILENT-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B01185U8NE/
http://www.amazon.com/SILENT-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B01185U8NE/
A body is found in a car crash, but the victim was already dead . . .
BOOK 3: DEAD LIST
This book is the first to feature D.I Greco
http://www.amazon.co.uk/DEAD-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B013J9BUAW
http://www.amazon.com/DEAD-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B013J9BUAW
An unlikely serial killer with a bucket list of victims . . .
BOOK 4: DEAD LOST
http://www.amazon.co.uk/DEAD-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B018W6EANQ/
http://www.amazon.com/DEAD-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B018W6EANQ/
An abandoned cotton mill holds horrific secrets
Police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss face one of their toughest challenges yet. A group of homeless people have set up camp in the grounds of a disused cotton mill belonging to local businessman Damien Chase.
BOOK 5: DEAD & BURIED
https://www.amazon.co.uk/BURIED-gripping-crime-thriller-twists-ebook/dp/B01HXXTWKA/
https://www.amazon.com/BURIED-gripping-crime-thriller-twists-ebook/dp/B01HXXTWKA/
Annie Naden and her husband buy a remote country cottage at auction. It’s the home of their own that they always wanted, but as they begin renovations, Annie discovers a satchel in a dusty old hidden cupboard. Inside are the usual schoolbooks, now over 40 years old, and a girl’s diary. Among the record of day-to-day crushes and pop concerts, is a secret whose terrible consequences are still resonating to this day
THE DI GRECO MYSTERIES
DI GRECO BOOK 1: DARK MURDER
http://www.amazon.co.uk/MURDER-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B0163DVHC2/
http://www.amazon.com/MURDER-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B0163DVHC2/
A woman is found dead by a canal . . . why have her eyes have been viciously poked out?
Detective Stephen Greco has just started a new job at Oldston CID and now he faces a series of murders with seemingly no connection but the brutal disfigurement of the victims. Greco’s team is falling apart under the pressure and he doesn't know who he can trust. Then they discover a link to a local drug dealer, but maybe it’s not all that it seems.
Can Greco get control of his chaotic team and stop the murders?
DI GRECO BOOK 2: DARK HOUSES
http://www.amazon.co.uk/HOUSES-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B01CGR9KEQ
http://www.amazon.com/HOUSES-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B01CGR9KEQ
A young woman is found brutally murdered in an empty house
Detective Stephen Greco and his team must piece together her life as quickly as possible. Within twenty-four hours there is another killing using the same method. The detectives realise that the victims are random but the locations are not. The killer is more concerned with finding the right house – somewhere he won’t be disturbed.
Glossary of English Slang for US readers
A & E: accident and emergency department in a hospital
Aggro: violent behaviour, aggression
A level: exams taken between 16 and 18
Allotment: a plot of land rented from the council, used to grow vegetables or flowers
Barm: bread roll
Beaker: glass or cup for holding liquids
Benefits: social security
Bent: corrupt
Betting shop: a place where you can place bets on horses and other sports
Bin: wastebasket (noun), or throw in rubbish (verb)
Bloke: guy
Blow: cocaine
Bob: money
Bookies: a place where you can place bets on horses and other sports
Burger bar: hamburger fast-food restaurant
Buy-to-let: Buying a house/apartment to rent it out for profit
Charity Shop: thrift store
Carrier bag: plastic bag from supermarket
Care Home: an institution where old people are cared for
Car park: parking lot
Chat-up: flirt, trying to pick up someone with witty banter or compliments
Chemist: pharmacy
Chinwag: conversation
CID: Criminal Investigation Department
Clock: punch
Cock up: mess up, make a mistake
Common: an area of park land/ or lower class
Common or garden: ordinary
Comprehensive School (Comp.): High school
Cop hold of: grab
Copper: police officer
Coverall: coveralls, or boiler suit
CPS: Crown Prosecution Service, decide whether police cases go forward
Childminder: someone who looks after children for money
Council: local government
Crown Jewels: the Queen’s jewels and crown worn on state occasions (can also be an expression for anything valuable)
DCI: Detective Chief Inspector
Deck: one of the floors of a tower block
DI: Detective Inspector
DS: Detective Sergeant
Do a bunk: disappear
Do a runner: disappear
Do one: go away
Doc Martens: Heavy boots with an air-cushioned sole
DS: detective sergeant
ED: accident and emergency department of hospital
Early dart: to leave work early
Estate: public/social housing estate (similar to housing projects)
Estate agent: realtor (US)
Fag: cigarette
Garden Centre: a business where plants and gardening equipment are sold
Get rid: dispose of
GP: general practitioner, a doctor based in the community
Graft: hard work
Hairslide: barrette
Hard nut: tough person
HOLMES: UK police computer system used during investigation of major incidents
Home: care home for elderly or sick people
Inne: isn’t he
Into care: a child taken away from their family by the social services
Kark: die
Kneecapping: punish by shooting in the kneecap
Lad: young man
Lass: young woman
Lecky: electricity
Lift: elevator
Lippy: lipstick — can also mean loquacious
Lorry: a truck
Mare: derogatory term for woman, or can mean having a bad day (nightmare)