The Cop Killer (17 page)

Large hesitated, realising what Jack had said was the truth but a little taken back by its saying.

 Large hesitated and said “Oh I am interested in this enquiry in to these deaths, some think it is a waste of time and money, a senior officer’s bloody fad for a good night out. Still money is money better to get paid for that than having to do real police work”.

Jack smiled and replied, “Well I must get on", he turned and walked away then after a few steps he stopped, looked back and said.

“Oh, by the way, I am not getting paid I am just looking into the case for old times sake. You know what they say, once a copper always a copper”.

PART EIGHT

LOOK OUT, JACK’S ABOUT

The next day in Tarporley, Anne had just finished baking and preparing a host of cakes to take with them to her sisters for a family party in the offing, her sister Megan’s grandson was having his third birthday and as normal Anne was the mainstay to provide refreshments.

Jack meanwhile had spent the whole day contemplating in his study.

“Are you alright in here Jack?”

“I haven’t heard a murmur from you since breakfast.”

She put down a drink on the table together with a piece of carrot cake, one of his favourites. He was sitting staring through the window.

“A penny for your thoughts Jack?”

“I was just contemplating” he replied

“What is that hun?” She said

“My” he thought, “She hasn’t called me that since we were courting”.

 He always thought but dared not ask if the phrase was short for honey or if she thought he was German, he certainly wouldn’t dare ask her now”.

“Give me a clue Jack what is on your mind?”

He looked then replied, “I have been thinking over the many possible issues in this case I have been lumbered with.”

“There does seem some strange elements but not a smell of a crime”

 “All the medical evidence says it is a nothing, but like Woodcock I am suspicious that it all stinks but why I have not a clue. I may well have egg on my face here I fear”. 

“Not egg on your face Jack not after all these years, I can’t see Woodcock setting you up or throwing the old banana skin down whilst you are carrying a tray of glasses.”

“So I thought but as you came in I digressed, can you believe this, Inspector Scott-Ling who has been allocated to assist me and lives nearby.”

 “She admits she signed the petition against my glass house going up.”

“She qualified it of course by saying she signed it blind not knowing anything of who or what, but she added she saw Woodcock’s name on the sheet as having signed”.

“Really Jack that does surprise me and he never mentioned a word”

“Exactly, well neither will I, not yet anyway but it does seem like a friend in need is not a friend in deed, the bloody green house was only a small lean to on the house measuring 8 feet by four feet”.

The next day at 8. 30am there came a knock on the door, Anne answered it to find a uniformed policewoman Inspector standing there.

“Good morning, Mrs Richards.”

“Yes, Miss Scott-Ling, I take it?”

“Yes, I thought I would give Mr Richards a lift in to work, it may be difficult to park today. There are some demonstrations going on so a lot of the city is closed.” 

“There will not be much parking space at the museum due to the additional parking required for police vehicles so I thought we could travel in together”

“A very good idea. Please step inside, if you wouldn’t mind waiting in Jack’s study, I will tell him you have arrived”.

They went through and once inside Doris was standing alone in the study come office. She looked around; it was a modern with a desk, chairs, some filing cupboards, a computer and printer.

There was a hat stand in the corner it appeared to be old and constructed of oak and yes it was years old, there was a variety of hats and coats hanging on it, all appeared well used nothing new and posh.

The rear wall had a large French window leading to a small patio and garden with a very bright green lawn beyond.  There was a really over bearing sight of a conservatory from the house behind.

The fixture was so tall as to reach nearly to the bedroom room window of the house and it was an ugly white plastic.

Presumably built at the same time as the house no planning permission had been required but she could clearly see why Jack had been so miffed when the campaign against his green house was launched

On the side dresser, she saw several photograph frames and on looking closer, she was taken by two in particular.

 She read the items then stopped, but could not believe she was reading of the man she had met so, read them both again. They were exactly the same on the second read; she had not made a mistake.

She heard the sound of footsteps so walked away and stood by the door.

“Ah thank you for the lift Inspector, we had better get on our way, may I ask if you have a mileage allowance?”

“Why yes, Mr Richards. In fact I was told only yesterday, it seems in view of the financial cuts the allowance has been authorised by the Home Office, I am also to receive the essential user rate which will help”.

“Right, in that case its good news. I anticipate we will be doing quite a few miles but the first stop will be Wrexham nick as from what you say they will be too busy in Chester to bother with either of us”.

They were soon driving out of Tarporley, “Wrexham here we come,” she thought.

“Are you not required as they are so busy, Inspector"? He asked.

“On the contrary, when anything is happening they never want me and if it’s likely to be physical they certainly don’t want me, Striker needs bullies and the like, not weak women”.

“I can quite see that, not weak, women but rather Striker wanting bullies”, qualified Jack not wishing to say the wrong thing.

“Broxton”, she said “where the first two officers were found, in the lay-by ahead”.

“Right, a slight change. Stop in the lay-by”, he came into the conversation.

She pulled in and came to a stop, he unfastened his seat belt, looked and said

“Come on, you have started the music stopping here, let the dancing commence”.

They left the car and strode to and fro she noted, to quote a phrase of her mother, “he was all eyes”.

He took out a small digital camera and took several shots, then closely scrutinised the hedgerow and the view in all directions.

“I see this then is where the first tragedy occurred”.

“Yes” she replied, “it all started here”.

He looked at her, and then smiled and said, “I wouldn’t go that far. We have no evidence it all started here. As yet the tragedy here may well be only one possible ending in a train of events, time will tell, that’s it for now on our way Inspector”.

They were soon mobile again, no words passed between them though she did realise her error, she had fallen foul of his dictum, attention to detail.

She had assumed as the first deaths were discovered in that very spot it was the beginning; she could now see he was quite right. There may well be antecedents to the incidents, on the other hand of course if there was nothing more to the matters than natural causes, it was the start and finish of the incident but to assume that at this initial stage may well have been an assumption too far.

A road sign announcing, Welcome to Wales indicated they had arrived within the Welsh county.

Arriving at Wrexham police station, it was nothing like their office in Chester; it was a high modern multi storey building

She parked up and they walked inside the building. There was a man on the front counter he was sporting a name badge
Llewelyn
Jones
counter
clerk.

“Good morning”, she announced “I am Inpsector Scott-Ling this is my associate Mr Jack Richards”

She produced her warrant card of identification just to add to her uniform in case here in Wales they may have thought she was in fancy dress or in masquerade. Llewelyn looked at it, then wrote down the details on the visitors log.

“How can I be of help?”

“We have come to see the Chief-Constable, Mr Winston Myers”.

“Do you have an apppointment?”

“Regretfully not”, replied Jack “but if you would be gracious enough to say that it is Mr Jack Richards, here on behalf of Mr Christian Woodcock, Her Majesty`s Inspector of Constabulary, he will know the nature of our business.”

The man hesitated, then went into the office and spoke in welsh

A lady appeared looked, but said nothing just returned inside. It was only a moment or so when a Chief Superintendent arrived, his name badge indicated it was Morris Jones.

“Ah yes the Chief will see you, would you please follow me”.

They did so and arrived in a lift and eventually arrived at floor ten. The lift stopped and Jones alighted the two visitors followed closely eventually arriving at the door marked Chief Constable, Winston Myers, QPM.

 A knock brought a reply “Please come in.”

Once inside they saw a lady in her mid forties wearing the name badge Bronwen Watson, Secretary, Chief Constable.

She smiled and pleasantly said, “Good day to you”

“Ah Bronwen, the Chief is expecting these two visitors” said Jones, “I will leave them with you, I need to bring something which I am pretty sure will be required”.

“Thank you Morris, please if you would both be seated I will go and tell the Chief, he is just momentarily engaged on a call to the Welsh Office”.

After a moment or so her telephone buzzed she answered and replied, “Yes sir”.

Looking up she turned to the visitors and announced, “The Chief will see you now”.

     She went to the door, opened it and permitted them to walk past her as she held the door open allowing them to enter, though she herself did not do so, but closed the door.

Arriving inside the room it was large with a panoramic view of the town but beyond, the wonderous scenery of the hills of North Wales.

The room contained various pictures including those of Her Majesty the Queen, one in full ceremonial dress including crown, there were others of a visit she had made to the Police Headquarters for Jack clearly recalled the scenes around the building from when he had arrived.

“I am pleased to meet you Mr Richards and Inspector Scott-Ling though the circumstances are at least very unusual.  How can the North Wales Police assist you then”?

Jack Richards spoke, “I assume you are aware as to the nature of our enquiry in this sad affair”?