The End of the Line, page 7
Jezza, keeping in character, was looking straight at the Big Boss as she said, 'This is me mate, Sonja,' pronouncing the J.
There was silence again for a long moment, then Big Jim spoke again.
'All right, DC Vine, I admit it. I wouldn't have known either of you if I'd passed you in the street. Well done. But, and this is a big but, this does not give you the instant green light to go off on your own, the two of you, without a very detailed risk assessment in place, agreed by DI Rodriguez and signed off by me. Clear?'
'Clear, sir,' she said, then gave him a cheeky smile as she added, 'I should have had a bet with you. The drinks would have been on you tonight.'
Even Big Jim managed a smile at her nerve as he told her, 'Once we've finished updating here, you two ladies - I use the term loosely in the circumstances - will sit down with me and Jo and we'll thrash out how best to put you to good use, if you will forgive the phrase.'
'Right, who's got anything new?' Jo asked, as Jezza and Gina found seats next to each other, exchanging a smile and a high five at their success.
'I think I might have a clue as to why the gang made such a clear warning of killing Noah, from talking to my contacts,' DC 'Virgil' Tibbs told them.
Virgil was a popular and respected officer with the black community. They knew he would always listen to any grievances, but that at the same time he showed no favour to anyone and would arrest those who crossed the line too far. It was rare for him not to get any inkling of what was going on on the street.
'We've heard that Noah was a bright lad. He'd also appointed himself head of the family, with no dad there to support them all. He was always trying to find ways to help out his mum, because no matter how many hours she worked, there never seemed to be enough money to go round, to pay rent and utilities, never mind feed them all properly. And by all accounts she did everything she could to make sure those kids were well fed and looked after.
'From what I've been told, Noah was trying to play it clever. Keeping back a small quantity from each delivery he was supposed to be making and selling it for himself on the quiet. Sometimes even dipping carefully into the takings.
'Most of the kids who get sucked into this sort of thing do it because they're being threatened or harmed in some way. Beatings and stabbings are not uncommon as a way to teach them a lesson.
'Another thing these same gangs traffic, as well as the drugs, is young girls, for prostitution. Often very young girls. Noah had a younger sister and the family were a close unit. It doesn't take much to imagine the leverage over him if he was constantly threatened with what might happen to his younger sister if he didn't cooperate.
'So he was siphoning off as much as he dared, which won't have been a lot because these kids get watched all the time, and checked up on. But it seems he liked to boast a bit. Big himself up. Claimed he was actually getting paid to do the runs, which none of the others are, rather than being threatened into it.
'The bosses couldn't afford word of anything like that to be flying about, even if it wasn't true. It would make them look weak and if other kids heard of it, they might start trying the same thing.
'I reckon that's why they took him out, and did it in such a brutal way. Like Rob said, this had "don't mess with us" written all over it and must have put the wind up any of the other kids who got to hear about it. And let's face it, those poor kids are probably running on neat adrenaline as it is.'
'All of that fits in with what I've found out today, talking at length to the boy's mother,' DS Mike Hallam told them.
'She also said that Noah was always trying to play the head of the household. He did anything he could to bring home a little bit of cash. She was struggling so much she never questioned where it came from but she swears she'd no idea he was up to his neck in the serious drugs scene. I'm inclined to believe her.
'She's devastated by his loss, that much is clear, and it also seems she had no reason at all to suspect something like this would happen to him one day. She would surely have done if she'd known he was involved with drugs gangs. You can't turn on the telly these days without seeing something similar.
'So she's either as good an actor as Jezza is, or she genuinely believed he was doing just a bit of petty thieving or something to bring back the few quid he did.
'Whoever killed him and for whatever reason, I think we can be fairly sure that it was related to the drugs gangs. In a sense, we'd better hope it's the same gang we've been looking for. If yet another one has turned up and established themselves on our patch as well as the existing one ... well that really doesn't bear thinking about.'
Chapter Eight
Trev had his arms wrapped round Annie to say his farewells. Cariad was in her customary position, sitting on Ted's feet, gazing up at him with adoring brown eyes.
'I'll phone you, often, and you can always phone me any time you need to. Fingers crossed for the house purchase. If it goes through I'll take some time off and come and help you move in. You know we'll never get Mr Grumpy to come again so soon.'
Once Trev let go of her, Ted leaned in for the briefest touch of cheek against cheek, telling her, 'Sorry to rush off, but we really do need to get going. And I won't be able to get away again for a while, I don't suppose, but I'll sort out getting the furniture moved down here from storage, and anything like that I can help you with.'
'Diolch. I better take Cariad inside now, bach, she looks as if she might try to follow the car. She's going to miss you.'
Annie didn't tell Ted how much she would miss him, too. That would risk reopening old wounds for both of them, about all the years they'd spent apart. Instead she took the little dog into the house and shut the door firmly behind them.
Trev drove the first leg. They'd stop for a bite and a drink on the way, wine for Trev, so Ted would take over the driving afterwards. They opted for the cross-country route, which was quiet enough on a Sunday.
Even though Ted said nothing, Trev knew his head was already back on the job, wondering what had been going on in his absence.
Trev had been known to compare him to a supposedly retired gun dog who'd suddenly heard the sound of a firearm being cocked. Even on holiday, Ted found it hard to switch off.
'Whatever they've been working on, you'll find out soon enough tomorrow,' Trev told him with a fond smile. 'Stop wishing what remains of your holiday away, especially when it's not really been all that much of a break for you. And you're going to have some serious explaining to do to the cats when you get home, with your clothes, and especially your shoes, smelling of dog.
'Mind you, Mrs Skinner will probably have looked after them so well they will hardly have noticed we've been gone. Not to mention polished the kitchen to within an inch of its life.'
They'd tried to make the most of the week, even with DS Morgan phoning Ted with frequent updates, for which he was grateful. They'd taken Annie out every day to visit her favourite places, including the village where she was born.
As anticipated, DS Morgan had told Ted that it would take some time for all the analysis results to come through after the post-mortem examination, but the pathologist had found evidence of a catastrophic heart attack, which was what had killed Aldwyth.
'Lot of big words, Ted, you know how these things go. The drug she was on has a long half life so should theoretically show up on analysis. But if you're right and it's been withheld for some time, there'll be nothing left, of course.'
The pathologist had commented at the time, and had put in his report, that he had been surprised by the extent of the damage from someone on a high dose of medication. It would be extremely unusual, though not impossible, to suffer such an attack when taking the medication as prescribed.
'It basically all boils down to microscopic changes seen at autopsy which were unexpected in the circumstances. Then there were clots found in the left atrium which, again, were unexpected, given her medication history.'
That had been all the additional evidence which the coroner, who was present for the autopsy, needed to decide that a full inquest would have to be held to establish all the facts surrounding the death. It was the breakthrough Ted had been hoping to hear about.
DS Morgan was also planning to visit the solicitor who had drawn up the original will, leaving the house to Bryn and with a written clause that Annie could stay there as long as she wished. He'd take the new will with him for advice. For the moment, there was nothing to stop Annie from staying on in the house, with Bryn's permission. In the same way, there was nothing yet to allow Gemma to enter the property. Since encountering Ted, she hadn't even tried to.
Ted had taken his mother and Trev back for a second viewing on the house she liked the day before they left. Annie was even more enthusiastic than the first time, so Ted had tried a cheeky offer and been both surprised and pleased when it had been accepted on the spot. With no chain involved, the sale could go through quite quickly. Annie insisted she would be fine staying alone in Aldwyth's house until it did, and Bryn had promised Ted faithfully that he would check on her every day on his way home from work.
Trev was still studying Ted as he drove. Then he said, 'You've enjoyed all this, in a strange sort of way, haven't you? Well, perhaps not enjoyed,' he went on as Ted made to speak, 'but it's what you do best, isn't it? Solving crime. I know you're good at all the paperwork and the admin, not to mention the people management. But this is what you like best, isn't it?'
Ted gave him a small smile.
'I have to admit it makes me feel more of a proper copper and slightly more useful. But tomorrow it'll be back to the desk job and the spreadsheets once more.'
* * *
Ted had arranged to meet Jo half an hour before morning briefing on the Monday, his first day back, to bring himself up to speed with what had been going on in his absence. When he walked into his office before the appointed hour, he was surprised to get an early morning summons from Superintendent Caldwell.
'I thought I'd sit in on things this morning, so if you would like to come downstairs to my office, DI Rodriguez should be here at any moment.'
Ted wondered what had prompted the move. There was nothing, as he walked through the main office heading for the stairs, to explain why the Super would be involving herself in Jo's return to work briefing with Ted. No signs of anything pinned up or written on white boards to hint at an ongoing enquiry, unless it was big enough to warrant a transfer down to one of the rooms on the ground floor. Had that been the case, he would have expected a quick courtesy call from Jo at some point to keep him in the loop.
Jo arrived moments after Ted had sat down and been offered coffee. Whatever it was all about, he was clearly in on it as he came straight to the Super's office without going upstairs first. The Ice Queen put coffee in front of him then sat down and addressed Ted.
'I'm afraid we've been discussing you in your absence, Chief Inspector,' she told him. 'I hope you won't have heard anything of the reasons why, as we have all been trying to ensure that your well-deserved leave went as uninterrupted as it could.'
Ted smiled at that. 'Thank you for the thought, but I've actually spent a few days working with West Wales Police on a suspicious death, which was not the plan.'
'And you've arrived back to a major incident here, I'm afraid.'
She briefly filled him in on the details they had so far - the killing of Noah Brooks and the likelihood of links to organised drugs gangs, leading to the possibility of it being connected to their earlier, unsolved case.
'Superintendent Baker has been overseeing in your absence, but clearly we need an experienced Senior Investigating Officer to run this. For that reason, I've discussed it with higher authorities and we think that it would be in keeping with your role of Head of Serious Crime for you to take over that position. You already know all the history of the previous cases and linked events. But that would mean you having to abandon the paperwork part of your current role. You won't have time for both.
'All of which fits quite well. You might know Detective Superintendent Sampson, I imagine? Following recent surgery, she's in need of a somewhat more sedentary role than her usual one, on a temporary basis. It's felt that she, with all her experience, could at least maintain the administrative and supervisory side of your usual work for you while you concentrate on this case, which is currently being called Operation Flood.
'We want to deal with these drugs gangs on our patch once and for all. We've been bringing in other officers so you have the resources you need. I've already seconded DC Shaw for you and she has begun some covert operations with DC Vine to see what they can uncover, without putting themselves at risk.
'DI Rodriguez will, of course, continue to assist you, but unfortunately for Superintendent Baker, it means he will have to go back to visiting stately homes. This seems to be the ideal solution all round, especially from a budgetary point of view.
'I can assure you that you can hand over your role to Superintendent Sampson in complete confidence. Her work is, and always has been, exemplary.'
Ted had met the superintendent on a few occasions but never worked closely with her. Her name was Moira but almost everyone called her Sammy. She was short and with a tendency to overweight which would no doubt not be helped by a need to be desk-bound and sedentary. She had a reputation for being able to drink many of her male colleagues under the table and out the other side. She looked the perfect stereotype of everyone's favourite auntie, but Ted knew the image hid a determination to succeed and a razor-sharp mind to ensure she achieved her aim.
Jo saw Ted's gaze on him and help up both hands in mock surrender.
'I know, boss, I know. I should have kept you in the loop. I was under orders not to. And not just from your Trev.'
The Ice Queen added her most frosty look as she said, 'Those orders came directly from me, Chief Inspector. There was absolutely no point in disturbing your leave with anything which was going on here. It sounds as if you had enough on your plate.
'So what do you feel about stepping in as SIO on this case and leaving the admin side of your role in the capable hands of Superintendent Sampson? She's ready to come on board as soon as she receives word, but you'll clearly need some time with her to brief her on what you currently have on your hands.'
Ted was trying to play it cool with his response. He wasn't fooling either of them as he said, 'Sounds all right to me.'
* * *
Ted wasn't remotely surprised to hear that Superintendent Sampson was primed to join him first thing that afternoon for a handover. He'd been presented with a done deal. Fortunately, one he was more than happy with.
He sat in on Jo's morning briefing to bring himself up to speed on the basics. Jim Baker had been stood down now that Ted was back, no doubt grumbling at the loss of his excuse to avoid the sort of trips out his wife Bella enjoyed, which he tolerated at best. Ted's agreement with the new arrangements had clearly been taken for granted.
Jezza Vine and Gina Shaw didn't join them in person, but Jezza gave her input via conference call to update everyone on their progress. They'd be avoiding the station as much as possible for the time being. Anyone spotting them anywhere near it risked blowing their cover out of the water.
'The teens we've spoken to so far are scared,' she told them. 'I'm talking seriously scared. They've all heard about what happened to Noah and it's put the fear of selected deity up them, to put it mildly. They're not saying much to anyone so we're having to tread more than carefully.
'Once again we're hearing mention of a mysterious "Big Man" behind all of this. But like before, whether that is simply an expression, or it's the same person we were tracking before - our vertically-challenged friend with the dark glasses and the white stick - it's far too soon to tell.'
'Be careful, Jezza,' Ted told her. 'You and Gina, both of you, avoid doing anything at all to put yourselves at risk. Watch, listen and feed back, but don't put yourselves in any danger. Either of you.'
'Yes, boss. Nice to see you back, boss. Did you bring me a stick of rock?'
Even on a serious case Jezza could never resist teasing him. Almost immediately, though, she switched back to professional mode as she gave the details they had so far.
'The strongest hint up to now that there might be a connection is from one young lad we talked to who says he saw Noah getting into a black 4x4 a time or two, and being driven off in it. We know our gang suspects have used a black 4x4 before. It's not exactly an unusual vehicle these days and he couldn't give us any more detail, but it's a start. We're working on getting more.'
Mike Hallam was sorting actions for the day, allocating team members to where their skills were best suited. There would be the usual hours of CCTV footage to be trawled through for any sighting of Noah Brooks in his last hours. He made a note of the possible significance of a black four-wheel-drive to their enquiries.
Ted left them to it and headed back to his office. Once he'd handed over to Superintendent Sampson, he'd be free to be back with them, in the thick of the enquiry. The anticipation he felt at the prospect proved Trev's point - he couldn't wait to get back to the front line.
He took the rest of the morning, plus a working lunchtime at his desk with a sandwich, to get things to the point where he was happy to hand over to the new Acting Head of Serious Crime. Superintendent Sampson arrived on the dot of the appointed hour and strode into his office.
Ted rose automatically to his feet to greet her with an, 'Afternoon, ma'am,' as she entered.
She waved a hand at him as she pulled out the chair opposite his and sat down carefully. Ted noticed the slight wince of pain as she did so.
'For goodness sake don't bother with all that old bollocks, unless you want to show off in front of your team. Call me Sammy. Everyone does.
'Now, I'm just here to keep your seat warm, nothing more. And to stop your in tray running amok. Just give me the heads up on any teams I need to keep a closer eye on than usual.'
