Joint Enterprise (The Romney and Marsh Files Book 3) (13 page)

‘Fortunately for us I think the spotlight might be trained on the NHS for leaving him slain and unnoticed in his hospital bed for over three hours. The tabloids are going to have a field day. But we need to have followed procedure to the letter in our dealing with his original assault. I don’t want any of the shit that the fan’s going to throw around sticking to us. And you are the one who spoke to him.’

‘Ah.’

‘Yes, ah. So what happened? What did you do? Talk me through it. Please, don’t leave anything out, don’t get creative and don’t think that I want to know anything outside of what is relevant.’

‘You got
any biscuits, gov, or some cake? This sugar isn’t doing it for me.’

Romney rolled his eyes and rooted around his cupboards for a minute. He re
turned with a box of chocolate Swiss rolls. The sell-by date was well past, but he didn’t feel the need to tell Grimes. It was only a placebo for the big man. He doubted that out-of-date confectionary would present a problem for Grimes’ constitution. This was, after all, a man who was known to enjoy spicy Thai food and Turkish kebabs with extra chilli sauce as part of the same meal – at lunchtime.

*

Superintendent Falkner was back at his morning vigil and his office window gazing out over the Dover rooftops with the melancholy air of a character from a Fowles’ novel. With what was going on in the town at the moment his behaviour became more understandable.

Romney parked, stuffed his pillow behind his seat, wandered into his leader’s line of sight and looked up. He knew what was coming
, and he really didn’t wish to be knocked at again. It was embarrassing. After a brief exchange of body language, Romney traipsed up.

‘Morning, Tom.’

‘Morning, sir.’

‘Things are getting busy, I understand?’

‘Yes, sir. I’ll be happy if we’re not stretched any thinner for a while.’

‘You need help, Tom. I can easily summon some extra bodies from the area pool.’

Romney had worked with officers from the area pool before. The experience left him feeling he’d rather work with people from the local swimming pool. ‘No thank you, sir. Everything is under control. I have confidence in my officers.’

‘Mmm. Who’s on what?’

‘I’m looking at the latest – the Vitriol death in the hospital.’

‘Yes. Now, he was interviewed by Grimes shortly before being slain, wasn’t he? In connection with the reason he was in there. Being stabbed on his doorstep, I understand?’

‘That’s right, sir. I’ve spoken with Grimes. He had been his usual thorough self with his initial input.’ The words threatened to stick in Romney’s throat and even Falkner, who had to know something of Grime’s reputation in the station, raised his eyebrows. ‘According to Vitriol’s statement that Grimes took in the hospital, he had no idea regarding the identity of his attacker or the motive for the attack. He couldn’t even tell Grimes whether his assailant was male or female.’ Romney was careful to be laying it on thick by remembering every detail that would excuse the police from having gone out making random arrests. If they had no idea of where to start how could they?

‘So this Vitriol hadn’t suggested his life might come under threat again?’

‘If you mean should we have offered him police protection, sir? No. I’m assured by Grimes that Vitriol gave no such indication and did not ask for protection. He was as mystified by the attack as anyone, apparently. And it’s not as though he is a visiting dignitary. And we can’t possibly be held responsible or culpable in any way for the fate that befell him at the hospital.’

Falkner looked thoughtful. ‘I suppose you’re right, Tom. We don’t have crystal balls do we? And I’m sure that if knives are going to be drawn looking for backs to stab the hospital and those responsible for his care and security are way ahead of us in the line. What about the death at the castle? I gather you have suspects.’

‘Yes, sir. I got distracted yesterday from the interviews with the Vitriol business. I’m sure one of them will turn out to be our man, or all of them.’

‘
DS Marsh is running that is she?’ Falkner didn’t sound too happy about that.

‘Only yesterday, sir, when I was called away. She’s acting under my specific instructions and we have liaised fully.’

‘So it was your decision to let them go?’

‘All except one, sir. He was too drunk to be interviewed and a night in the cells wasn’t going to hurt him. Besides, none of them were under arrest. I had hoped that a little informal chat with each might reveal something.’

‘Were you hoping for a confession?’ Falkner made it sound as unlikely as it probably was.

‘Not exactly, sir. In any case, we’re still waiting on forensic assessment for any actual evidence of their involvement. Once we’ve got that we can start charging them.’

‘And what if the guilty party decides to flee?’

‘Then we’ll know who the guilty party is, sir.’

‘You rode your luck with Carl Park, Tom. In retrospect we sailed very close to the operational wind with that one. Area weren’t watching our every move then. Remember what I said yesterday, Tom – by the book.’

‘Yes, sir. It would be a great help, I think, if the missing film were to be recovered.’

‘Yes. Bearing in mind the importance of that, not just to the victim of that crime, but also to further our own investigations into a suspicious death, I find your choice of officers investigating the theft, shall we say interesting?’

‘Actually, it’s more like Hobson’s choice, sir. Like I said
, we’re spread thin and I must prioritise. Two murders take precedence over a theft.’

‘Of course they do, Tom, but still, Grimes and Spicer? You know what they call them don’t you?’

‘No, sir,’ lied Romney, surprised that Falkner did and feeling uncomfortable for it.

‘Never mind. I’ll say again, I can arrange reinforcements.’

‘If I think it’s necessary, sir, I’ll ask. I have faith in my team.’

‘Then on your head be it, Tom.’ Falkner said it with a half-smile, but Romney detected something deeper in the comment. ‘However, there is one other you’ll have to make room and a welcome for, I’m afraid.’ Romney waited. ‘The French authorities are sending a man over.’

‘Why?’

‘Same reason
we would if a British national died on French soil, probably. Reports have to be made, people have to be accounted to. His family, at least, are going to want to know what happened to the poor man. Who’s going to do it if they don’t send someone?’

*

Romney did go out for his coffee and didn’t much care if Superintendent Falkner was back at the window looking down and disappointed.

*

‘Sergeant Marsh.’

‘Morning, sir.’

‘I’ve been thinking about that common line they’ve all given us, the one about loving their history and that’s why they were there and all that crap. Must be something one of them dreamt up well in advance believing that if they got caught it would work for them. It’s actually not bad when the onus is on us to prove otherwise. They can then shrug off the violence as self-defence, or getting carried away with the spirit of the action. Difficult for us to prove too much, either way. And it might have worked if one of them hadn’t got a little too carried away. In fact, if there hadn’t been a death then no one would have been any the wiser about them and their little bit of fun would have remained just that.’

‘I agree, sir.’

‘And none of them could remember whose idea the whole thing was?’

‘That’s what they all said, sir. Very convenient for them, of course.’

‘Yes, well, they might start thinking a little more selfishly when we turn up at their doors and places of work with arrest warrants. Let’s just wait to see what forensics turn up. Chase them up would you. As soon as they know, I want to know. After we’ve interviewed the drunk we’ll go to visit the home of our late micro-celebrity. I’ll see you downstairs in fifteen minutes.’

Romney stopped by Grimes’ desk. ‘What time are you two going back up to the castle?’

‘Any minute, gov. You want me to give Mr Crawford a message?’

‘Don’t tempt me.’ Romney glanced around to see if he could be overheard. ‘I’ve spoken to our leader. He’s keeping a keen eye on things. Understand? Remember what I said to you this morning: thorough, effective, fair, cooperative and above all everything by the book. And if you can get a quick result
, I’ll buy you dinner.’ There was nothing like appealing to a man’s weakness. Grimes’ face lit up.

*

Romney took one look at the young man sitting opposite him and, despite his haggard appearance, said, ‘I know you, don’t I? Where have we met?’

Jez Ray looked like shit and he felt it. It was obvious. ‘
No idea.  Look, I don’t feel so good. Do we have to do this now?’

Romney made a show of exchanging a contrived look of utter astonishment with
Marsh. ‘Do we have to do this now? Do you know why we are here, Mr Ray?’

‘The gig at the castle
, I suppose.’

‘And why would you think that?’

‘Cos I phoned James at work yesterday and they said he’d been pulled. Then I phoned the others. Same story. I figured I must be on your list.’

‘So you went and got yourself drunk instead of turning yourself in to help us with our enquiries?’

Jez Ray managed a bit of a smile. ‘Seemed like a good idea at the time. Not so sure now, though. I feel like crap. Anyway, you know what they say – a condemned man, last requests and all that. Are you allowed to keep me here against my will? I mean I haven’t been arrested or charged with anything have I?’

‘At the present time, Mr Ray, you are here voluntarily. You are not under arrest and you have not been charged.’

‘Really?’ Then he laughed and stood up. ‘In that case, I’m leaving. Pubs’ll be open soon. Life is short and all that?’

‘You don’t want to help us voluntarily, Mr Ray?’

‘No. I don’t.’

‘Something to hide then.’

‘Oh fucking hell, don’t start with all your mind games. I’m not in the mood. How do I get out of here?’

‘Suit yourself. Jez Ray, I’m arresting you on suspicion of causing the death of Paul Henry at Dover Castle on the thirteenth of this month.
You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention, when questioned, something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.’

‘What, no pub?’ Romney shook his head. ‘Better get me a solicitor then.’ And he sat down again. ‘And a couple of aspirin would be good.’

*

‘He didn’t seem surprised when you detailed the charge, sir. No shock at all. He didn’t say anything about it.’

‘Odd, eh? Do you think he heard me?’

‘I did. Clear as a bell.’

‘Well, it would be nice to think that he is our man, but he still seems pissed to me. We’ll give him some time.’

‘Where do you know him from then, sir?’

‘I have no idea and it’s really annoying me. Please don’t mention it again. Well, he can wait a bit longer. Cock. Let’s you and I go pay a visit to the late Mr Vitriol’s home. Grimes tells me he still lived with his mum if you can believe it. See if we can find something to suggest who might have wanted him dead so desperately that they would follow up a failed attempt so soon and in such a public place.’

*

Edy Vitriol had shared a maisonette with his aging mother on Maison Dieu Road. She answered the door to them in her dressing-gown even though they had called ahead to announce their intention to visit. In her hand she clutched a crumpled piece of cloth. Her eyes were puffy and red. She shuffled ahead of them in her slippers leading them through to a comfortable little sitting room.

‘I’d like to offer you our condolences for your loss, Mrs Vitriol. And apologise for bothering you at what I can see is a very difficult time, but in order to catch whoever did this to your son we’re probably going to need your help.’

‘I know, Inspector. I know. I’m sorry. I’m empty. He wasn’t a bad lad. He’d had his difficulties, but he never deserved this.’

‘What sort of difficulties?’

‘Oh, a long time ago. Things that he never recovered from. Things that played on his mind.’ She waved her frail hand as if brushing away the importance of what she had mentioned.

‘He’d recently had a book published, I understand,’ said Romney, looking to find something that might cheer the woman a little. She burst into tears.

‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Three years he’d been pursuing that dream – getting published. His book hasn’t been printed for more than a week. He was so happy. A changed man. I thought that maybe he’d be able to finally bury his demons. And someone had to do this awful thing. He wasn’t a bad man.’

When she’d stemmed the flow somewhat
, Romney said, ‘I have to ask, Mrs Vitriol, did he have any enemies that you know of? Is there anyone you suspect might have been involved in what happened to your son?’