‘It’ll be him. If I don’t answer, he’ll get suspicious.’
Henry relented. ‘Short and sweet.’
‘Hello. . Hi, Ray,’ Burrows said. ‘Yeah, I’m coming round. . Ooh, that sounds great. . Can’t wait. . See you. Bye.’ She sneered at the phone. ‘He said he wants to suck my tits,’ she said with disgust. ‘The bastard.’
The words were music to his ears because it meant her resolve to drop shit all over Ray from a very great height was still there. ‘Come on,’ Henry said, ‘let’s make a move.’
She went out ahead of him. He carried out the bags and made sure the door was closed and locked, unable to stop thinking that he himself would not mind doing what Ray had said, though he might have found a way to say it in a more diplomatic fashion. He would probably have used the word ‘breasts’ rather than ‘tits.’
At the last moment, Henry had a deliberate change of plan. He stopped at a telephone kiosk outside the town of Kirkham and called Jane Roscoe’s mobile. He fed a pound coin into the phone as she answered and saw it reduce immediately to 80p, then 70p. This urged him to get a message across as succinctly as possible.
‘Sorry — total change,’ he said. ‘You’ll see the reason why, so bear with me.’
‘I am waiting at Kirkham police station.’
‘Well done. Now I want you to go to Ormskirk police station. There’s a police hostel above the nick and we’re going to need two rooms for the night. Can you arrange that via a land line? Make sure we can get into the station, too, because I think it shuts to the general public at midnight. And make sure there are rooms to be had. Okay?’
‘Right, will do.’
With one penny to spare, Henry hung up and returned to the car. He explained what was happening and Burrows accepted things without a qualm, apparently.
‘You can’t be too careful,’ he said.
He headed back towards Preston and picked up the A59 southbound, which ran directly past police headquarters at Hutton, south of Preston. He turned in through the main gate, now properly guarded and controlled since a baddie had been bold enough to walk on to the site and toss a grenade at the force helicopter parked up on the rugby pitch. Henry was recognized immediately by the security guard and the barrier was raised for him. He turned right and pulled up near the single-storey social club situated behind the main HQ building. It was 11.30 p.m. and business was over for the evening, but he found Donaldson clutching the remains of a pint of lager at the bar, chatting to a starry-eyed barmaid who was definitely under his spell.
Jack Burrows saw her chance as Henry disappeared around the corner of the club. She got her phone out and called Ray Cragg.
‘And just where the hell have you got to?’ he demanded instantly.
‘Can’t tell you that, Ray, other than to say it’s all over between you and me. I hate you and don’t want to see you. I’ve had enough. It’s true, Marty and me were lovers. He treated me right, didn’t hit me like you’ve done.’
‘You were one of the lucky ones, then, you bitch.’
‘Yeah, I am, and there’s more, much more. I’m going to tell the cops everything I know about you. I’m in protective custody now and I’m going to destroy you for the way you treated me and Marty.’
‘I don’t think so,’ Ray said confidently. ‘You’ll be dead before you know it.’
‘Naah, Henry Christie will look after me. He fancies me and I fancy him. He can suck my tits, you bastard. You are going down, you complete and utter evil bastard! DOWN!’
Henry knew the barmaid. He said, ‘This man is happily married.’ He saw her face crease. ‘Sorry.’
‘Just my luck.’ She shrugged philosophically, pulling herself together. ‘It was nice talking to you, though.’
‘You too,’ said Donaldson. He drank the last of his lager and stood upright.
‘Maybe another time when you’re passing through,’ she said hopefully.
‘Maybe, ma’am.’ Donaldson tipped his head and winked. Henry thought she looked as though she had orgasmed on the spot.
‘Come on, you big lug,’ he intervened before full sex across the bar became a very real possibility. He herded Donaldson away from her.
‘She was cute.’
‘Sure — and so is your wife.’
‘And I cannot believe how cheap the beer is up here.’
‘Lancashire prices.’ He pushed Donaldson out of the bar to the car. ‘You still okay?’ he asked Burrows as he got back in.
‘Fine,’ she said and smiled wickedly. ‘Do you know what “Fine” means? Fucked up, insecure, neurotic and emotional, so yeah, I’m fine.’
Henry sensed a change in her. He started the engine and looked questioningly at her, a horrible feeling in his guts.
They were at Ormskirk police station fifteen minutes later, the traffic being light at that time of day, making the journey fast. Henry parked in the rear yard and pulled up at the back entrance.
Already he was beginning to feel jittery about things and it all emanated from the smile that Burrows had given him. There was something behind it and he thought he knew what it was. He decided he would broach the subject later.
He rang the intercom by the door and asked the voice which answered to send the inspector to the door to let them in. The voice obviously belonged to a public enquiry assistant working on the front desk. She chuckled when Henry mentioned an inspector.
‘There isn’t one here at this time of day,’ she told him. ‘Nearest one is at Chorley, I think.’
‘How about a sergeant?’
‘Nope — covering from Skelmersdale.’
‘A PC?’
‘The two who are on duty are out. I suppose I’ll have to do.’
‘Guess so,’ said Henry wryly
The lady appeared at the door a minute later and demanded to see Henry’s ID, which he gladly showed.
She led them into the station, then up to the hostel used mainly as accommodation for single police officers, though other waifs, strays and divorcees were often found to be lodged there. The rooms consisted of a bed, wash basin, wardrobe, dressing table and desk, all quite nice and modern. Showers and toilets were separate. There was a kitchen/dining area and a TV lounge.
The PEA showed them an empty room. ‘This one should be okay. Next door is free, too.’
‘I’ll have the keys for both, if you can put your hands on them,’ Henry said. He smiled and she softened.
‘See what I can do.’ She scurried away back down to the front desk. It was not far off midnight and she would be locking up soon.
A bloody PEA in charge of a police station, Henry thought and wished briefly for the good old days when every job was taken by a policeman. ‘You’ll be staying here for the night,’ he said to Burrows, ‘but I guess you’ve already sussed that. If you need a take-away or something to drink — which I do — we’ll arrange it, okay?’
She went into the room and sat on the edge of the bed. ‘Home from home,’ she said, bouncing up and down on what looked to be a hard mattress.
‘Can I have your mobile phone?’ he asked, holding out his hand.
‘Yeah, sure, why?’ She handed it over.
Henry checked the last number rang. ‘Is this Ray’s number?’ Burrows nodded and closed her eyes. ‘You must never contact him again,’ he told her firmly. ‘It’s too dangerous.’
‘I know, I know. It’s just. . I had to.’
‘Fine, but no more, Jack. You can’t do it, okay? You must trust us with your welfare and safety, but you have to play the game with us.’ He pocketed the phone. ‘Right. Food and drink. Karl, sorry about this, but can you bear with us?’
Donaldson was fine about things. After all, this was the girlfriend of the man who had been killed alongside Zeke. He had much to learn from her, he was sure.
Henry heard footsteps on the stairs. Jane Roscoe emerged, trailed by Rik Dean. He went to meet them down the hallway.
‘This better be very good,’ she warned Henry.
‘Better than good,’ he whispered. ‘Someone who is going to give us Ray Cragg on a plate. I want you in on it, because it’s your job, but I also think there’s much more than just a shooting.’