‘Bloody hell!’ Jack didn’t try to disguise his shock.
‘I can only assume I was drugged at the pub, but I have no idea by whom. I also have to assume that Sandra set me up, or someone else used her to get to me, and then killed her. They have been trying to discover her real identity, and meanwhile I am the prime suspect; not only is my career about to go down the toilet, but I could be charged with murder.’
Jack swallowed, not knowing what to say.
‘I am not allowed access to any of my files, or to even enter the station. I am virtually under house arrest, and they have been searching my home for weeks. But as far as finding out who she really was and who might have killed her, they’ve got nowhere.’
He sighed and plucked at the fingers of his gloves. ‘I’m not that impressed with them, to be honest. They’re very slow — my car has been with their forensic team since her body was found in it, for instance. We have to assume it must be connected to something in my past, but I can’t think what it could be or who would want to do this to me.’
He opened his coat, taking out a plastic bag. ‘I had a short time to gather as much evidence about the whole nightmare before they took everything. I’ve also made some notes. The main problem will be the fact that the Essex team will be monitoring everything, so you cannot on any account use the computers at the station, as they’ll uncover the link to you. You need to use a new laptop and burner phone that can’t be traced. There is one person I trust that can help you, and his contact details are in here, but I obviously can’t reach out to him; just getting out of the house with this bag was difficult enough.’
Ridley hesitated before passing the bag to Jack; then Jack took it from him. ‘I really don’t want you taking any risks, so be careful. The last thing I want is for you to jeopardise your career.’
Jack nodded. ‘Just tell me what you want me to do.’
Ridley bowed his head, his voice barely audible. ‘Help me, Jack.’
Chapter Six
Jack did not get to the station until after eleven that morning. He was still in a state of complete shock about what Ridley had told him, but he had given his word that he would not repeat anything to anyone. It was a heavy burden, but Jack was determined to do whatever he could. He just had to determine how he could do that, and where to start.
Laura had left a note on his desk to remind him that Penny was out that evening and he was supposed to look after Hannah. Maggie had also called to tell him that she might be late home that night. He had just sat down at his desk when Clarke appeared at his office door signalling that he wanted a word. Jack hurried into his office, expecting to be reprimanded for being late into the station.
‘We are not psychic, Sergeant Warr; if it’s not in the CRIS, no one knows where you are. In future, please make sure the teams are able to track you down if they need to. Now, I have been informed today that Rodney Middleton’s trial has been put back several weeks due to the backlog of cases. His lawyer has been on to me to ask for a bail hearing. I denied the request, this being a second violent attack, and because of concerns for his state of mind, but he didn’t like it and will no doubt be pestering me again. I’m aware you’ve been putting our probationary officers to good use and I want you to continue to do so. The sooner we get this cleared up, the better. I’ve given a lot of thought to your request for a search warrant for Middleton’s flat, but we still have no evidence of any crime other than the one he was arrested for. I need something solid, Jack, and I’ll need it sharpish.’
‘Yes, sir.’
Jack returned to his desk, where Sara was waiting to talk to him.
‘You said to focus on young runaways who may have travelled to London from the North.’
‘Yes, you got anything?’
Sara passed him a neatly typed report.
‘I ran a mispers search through the National Crime Agency Missing Persons Unit. There is one that’s a strong possible: Jamail Brown, aged fourteen. She disappeared from her home in the Wirral over eighteen months ago. There has been no sighting of her since, and I’m waiting on photographs and further details. The other girl is from Solihulclass="underline" Diandra Fuller, aged fifteen. She was in foster care but disappeared a year ago. She seemed to have been in trouble with the police and was sent to a young offender institute. Again, I’m waiting to get more details and a photograph sent through.’
Jack nodded as he skimmed through the report. ‘OK, thanks, Sara. Can you ask the others to see me in the boardroom in fifteen minutes? I need to know how they’re doing on the probation lists, and everything else. I’ll be assigning some new work that I need done.’
‘Yes, sir. Shall I bring you a coffee in there?’
‘That would be greatly appreciated, thank you.’
Jack opened his briefcase, took out the large plastic bag Ridley had given him and put it in the top drawer of his desk, which he then locked. Next, he checked his notes on the Middleton case and sorted out what leg work he would assign to the probationary officers so that he would have more time to work on the Ridley situation.
Anik looked over at Jack as he rocked back in his chair.
‘You seem to be monopolising all the young probationers, Jack. You know there’s a suspicious death that’s just been called in, and...’
Jack collected his papers and pushed back his chair.
‘Anik, do I have to use this ruddy CRIS to say I’m going into the boardroom?’ he asked, paying no attention to what Anik had been saying.
‘You do. DCI Clarke likes to know exactly where everyone is.’
‘Shit. It was so easy just marking it up on the bloody board.’ Jack returned to his desk and logged in to show that he was due in the boardroom at 3.30 p.m.
‘You heard any update on Ridley?’ Anik asked as Jack headed to the boardroom.
‘No. See you later.’
Jack was in the boardroom sifting through his notes when Sara carried in a tray of coffee and sandwiches. She handed the coffee around and put the plate and some paper napkins in the centre of the table, so they could be easily reached if anyone wanted one.
‘OK, let’s start by seeing what you’ve got for me.’ Jack reached for a sandwich. ‘Who’s on the fire brigade situation?’
‘I am, sarge.’
Jack nodded, speaking with his mouth full.
‘You are Hendricks... James, right?’
The officer nodded. He looked very young, with a short haircut and ruddy cheeks. He had a wide gap between his front teeth.
‘I tracked down one of the firefighters at the scene, Brian Hookam, and he said that if I wanted further information, I needed to talk to a senior fire investigating officer called Vernon Glover, who retired a year ago.
James handed over his typed report, as Jack ate another sandwich. ‘So, did you talk to Hookam?’
‘Yes. He was certain that they had found no evidence of accelerants being used but recalled that the fire started in the young girls’ bedroom due to something being placed over the Calor gas heater. That’s when he suggested contacting Mr Glover who was a senior firefighter at the time.’
‘Have you traced Glover?’
‘Yes, but I haven’t had the opportunity to talk to him yet.’
‘OK, anything else from Mr Hookam?’
James had his notebook open and thumbed through pages. ‘He said that as far as he could recall, Mr Middleton senior was drunk and hysterical. He had arrived when the blaze was already out of control, and by then the firefighters were using the pumps and hoses. He had tried to go inside, but they had to hold him back; that’s when his wife turned up in a taxi—’
Jack held up his hand to interrupt. ‘Did Hookam say anything about Rodney Middleton?’
‘He said that, as far as he remembered, Rodney Middleton was treated in an ambulance after he had attempted to get into the house.’