Jack sat in his car for a second, preparing for the impending praise he was about to get from Ridley. He checked the small rucksack by his side — the notebook was on the top, in pride of place. Jack took it out and put it into his glovebox. He then checked his mobile. In his photo album was a picture of every page in Dougie’s notebook... just in case he ever needed it in the future. He didn’t know quite what he might need it for, but he was certain that it was something Harry would have done.
The battleship-grey corridor looked oddly bright and cheerful this morning. Jack entered the squad room to a chorus of friendly ‘well done’s and, less cordially, the odd ‘jammy wanker’. Then, as they took a closer look at him: ‘What the hell have you done to your face?’
From behind his desk, Ridley stood to meet Jack and, for the first time since his interview, he offered Jack his hand to shake. Jack took it with pride — his broad smile was making his nose ache.
‘Was that in the line of duty?’ Ridley asked.
‘No, sir. Just a fall. It’s not as bad as it looks.’
‘Well... you were bang on the money.’
Jack’s smile dropped. What did Ridley mean, he was bang on the money?
Ridley reached into his out-tray and dropped £5,000 in an evidence bag onto his desk.
‘Anik argued a case for moving the raid to seven, so we went with that. He said he’d called you to let you know. That’ll teach you to start picking up your bloody voicemails, won’t it?’
Jack was furious. What the hell was he going to do now? He could hardly claim to have found the notebook in the raid, if he wasn’t on the fucking raid! He daren’t turn round in case seeing Anik’s stupid face made him snap and rip the little shit’s throat out. All of his plans were ruined in a split second of selfish, petulant jealousy.
‘We’ve got Gareth downstairs,’ said Ridley. ‘He’s waiting on his solicitor, so we can’t interview him yet.’
‘What about Dougie?’ Jack asked.
‘Dead.’ Jack couldn’t hide his shock. ‘According to Gareth, someone saying they were a policeman barged into his dad’s office yesterday, and scared the crap out of him. He had a massive angina attack later that night and... Well, he wasn’t strong enough to come back from it. There’s no CCTV, but Gareth says he’d recognise the man if he saw him again. But we’ve got them, Jack! We found passport sleeves, driving licences, and £5 k from the train robbery. Gareth will talk. And then we’ve got them!’
Chapter 37
Jack leant heavily on the edge of the sink in the men’s loo, water dripping from his face. He stared at his reflection; his eyebrows were down, the furrow between his eyes was deep, his cheek muscles flinched. Who was this angry man? Jack tried to change his expression, but he couldn’t. Anik’s betrayal was impossible to forget. Ridley’s pathetic, thoughtless, disrespectful decision to leave an immature prick like Anik to contact Jack with such vitally important information as a change of time to the raid was unforgivable. Jack didn’t know how to feel about this side of the law any more. Were they really worth his time, his skills, his dedication?
Behind Jack, a stall door opened and Anik emerged. He knew enough to freeze as Jack’s eyes stared him down in the mirror. Jack said nothing. Anik said nothing. Jack stood statue-still, his prey in his sights, toying with the poor defenceless weasel. Anik sidestepped out of his stall and left without washing his hands.
Jack’s demeanour on entering the interview room had not yet improved. Gareth sat alone, back from the table, legs crossed, sipping a cup of coffee. He was still waiting for his solicitor, so there was no camera or tape on yet. Gareth scowled at the sight of Jack.
‘You! You got a whole heap of shit coming down on you, copper,’ Gareth growled.
Jack was unfazed.
‘Your old man’s dead, meaning you’re suddenly very rich. You want to stay free to spend your money? Or am I gonna put you away for aiding and abetting four of the UK’s most wanted, and for nicking the other £45 k that I know was in that chair? Your choice. ’Cos this is all just a game, Gareth — you run with your gang, I run with mine, and every now and then we cross paths. Sometimes there has to be a winner and a loser, but not today. Today, you get to go home if you do the smart thing.’
As the blood drained from Gareth’s face, he swore blind that he didn’t know what his dad had been up to.
‘Doesn’t matter,’ Jack said. ‘All that matters is what my boss believes.’
And, right now, Jack could tell Ridley that the sky was green and he’d believe it.
Jack’s mobile rang. He left the room to answer it.
The warden from the secure children’s home, which was the temporary stopgap for Darren, said that Darren had just received a call from abroad and he’d thought Jack might like to know. Even if the phone was a burner, they’d still be able to trace the country of origin. So now, Jack not only knew the aliases of the women, he could also find out exactly which country Julia was in right now. He thanked the warden for his vigilance and hung up.
Once again, Jack was in possession of information vital to Ridley’s tracking of the women, especially as he knew they were about to get nothing of use out of Gareth. But he felt so betrayed by those who should be on the side of justice that he just couldn’t bring himself to hand over more key information for no reward, no appreciation and no acknowledgement. Ridley shaking his hand meant nothing! He’d been kept out of the raid, and he was being treated like a dog that you pat on the head every now and then, placate and keep in line. He still wasn’t being taken seriously. And he wasn’t going to stand for it any longer.
Jack left the station and headed home, leaving his car in the car park. He’d jump on the Underground eventually, but right now, he needed to walk. He needed fresh air. And he needed to think.
Chapter 38
Gareth spoke freely and confidently, making Anik feel like he was racing down the final straight of their lengthy investigation. But, for Ridley, nothing felt right. Why wasn’t he just ‘no comment’? The answer to that was because Gareth was streetwise enough to give them plenty so he could be noted as co-operating, but nothing of importance. For now, Ridley allowed the interview to continue in the hope that Gareth might slip up.
‘Dad drank with some of his buddies from the bad old days, but they was even more past it than he was. I mean, as in, “doolally”. Dad was all there in the head — it was his body that let him down. I never knew anything about him still forging, on my life I didn’t. I thought he was up there, sticking labels on flyers!’ Gareth smirked. ‘Makes me kinda proud of the old bastard.’
‘Tell me about Angela Dunn.’
Anik’s tone was serious and to the point. Ridley would have been impressed if he hadn’t already decided that this interview was going to be a waste of everyone’s time.
‘She used to clean for my parents. When Mum died and Dad went into the care home, Ange still popped round every now and then — had a cuppa with him, chatted about Mum. Ange knew Mum better than me in truth, so I liked her visiting. She made curtains. Cushions, that sort of thing. I don’t know what else I can say about her.’ Then, Gareth very cleverly turned the tables. ‘You can’t really think that little girl had anything to do with that train robbery?’