Beautiful Death (32 page)

‘What time was that, Professor?’

‘It was exactly six-forty-one. We were discussing
a troublesome dog belonging to another neighbour across the way. It keeps barking because it’s lonely. We both checked the time as we spoke.’

‘And then?’

‘Then I came indoors, checked my messages, rang my mother in Hong Kong, and spoke to her for a while before heating up some leftovers from last night’s meal. Would you like any more detail, DC. Hawksworth? I will gladly give you my mother’s number if you’re happy to speak Cantonese to her.’

It was superbly concealed, because his voice hadn’t changed in tempo or volume, but Chan was angry. Jack felt the bite of the surgeon’s sarcasm. ‘That won’t be necessary, Professor Chan.’

‘Instead of the underlying accusation that I hear in your voice each time we speak, DCI Hawksworth, why don’t you tell me how I can help? I might remind you that it is my fiancée who is a victim in this case. One would think she was yours.’

Jack felt bile rise from his belly and a sour taste hit his mouth. ‘Professor Chan, your fiancée or not, it’s my role to find the killer of Ms Wu and the other victims who fell prey to the same killer. My interest is just as vested.’

‘Although presumably not as emotionally invested. At night you can go home and escape the nightmare. I meanwhile live with the knowledge that the woman I loved is dead in the drawers of the hospital morgue and that she has no face — and we are none the wiser as to who her killer might be … though you continue to pursue the insulting notion that I am the murderer.’

‘It’s not an unusual position for the police to take. Professor. Something in the region of ninety per cent of murders in Britain are domestically related.’

‘Not this one, DCI Hawksworth. I did not kil. Lily and I certainly had nothing to do with removing her face, despite my profession. Has it ever occurred to you that someone is trying to frame me?’

‘Why would anyone want to frame you?’

Chan sighed. ‘Status, wealth, power … pick a reason that suits you. And those are just the obvious ones. Any man in my position is going to make enemies — including many he will never be aware of. Everyone has enemies without knowing it … even you. As far as I’m concerned someone could have a grudge against me simply because I inadvertently cut them off in traffic one day, or the car I drive looks like the one that killed their wife. You must know better than most, DCI Hawksworth, that the brain is capable of great and twisted leaps and connections. To my knowledge I have offended no one in recent or even distant memory, but I suspect someone is enjoying making me appear a logical target for your interest.’

Jack had to agree that the man was making sense, and his alibi was presumably watertight. Still, he wasn’t going to admit that to Chan just yet — because if he was responsible for murder he was probably an adept liar as well.

Chan continued. ‘Perhaps I’m not being framed. Possibly this is all just a nasty coincidence. Either way, you should be asking for my help, not threatening to arrest me.’

‘Have you ever heard of a man called Sarju?’

‘No, where should I know him from?’

‘The hospital.’

‘In what capacity?’

‘Translator, I imagine.’

Chan thought about this. ‘Mmm, there are dozens of translators in and around the corridors of the hospital all day long. Our unit has made use of them from time to time, but they’re always arranged through the admin staff.’

‘But they might be present when you’re consulting?’

‘Oh absolutely. There are occasions when I’m explaining in detail to parents what I will need to do over several procedures. To ensure they properly understand — if English or Cantonese is not their first language — we always have a translator present.’

‘So you might recognise the face even if you didn’t recall a name.’

‘I never forget either, DCI Hawksworth. I can assure you I have never been introduced to a translator by the name of Sarju.’

Arrogant, smartarsed bastard
, Jack thought. ‘There’s always the chance that he goes by another name.’

‘This man may be connected with Lily’s death. I’m guessing?’

‘We have reason now to believe so,’ Jack grudgingly admitted.

‘And you think he might have known her? From around the hospital, I mean?’

‘Yes, Professor, that’s the inference I’m drawing.’

‘I see. Well, I know that Lily was popular around the hospital — she was here almost daily, although I rarely saw her. Isn’t that ironic?’ He sounded suddenly maudlin, Jack was pleased to note. ‘The nurses saw more of the woman I’d asked to marry me than I did. It never occurred to me to ask them about whom she might have been seeing outside our relationship. She obviously has friends in the hospital she might have confided in.’

All you had to do was ask her sister
, Jack thought uncharitably. ‘Professor Chan, I imagine that is all academic now and would only serve to upset you even more.’

‘More? Do you honestly believe I could be more deeply broken than I am right now? Let’s not forget — as you informed me, DCI Hawksworth — that my fiancée was not only seeing another man but was pregnant to him. I really thought learning that would make it easier to cope with her death … but it hasn’t.’

‘I’m sorry, I simply meant —’

‘I know what you meant, DCI Hawksworth. But as I explained on the occasion we met, I don’t wear my heart on my sleeve. But that doesn’t mean I don’t hurt like everyone else.’

‘Again, I’m sorry.’

‘Lily did once mention she occasionally had a coffee with one of the translators she’d got to know. I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t pay much attention, so I can’t tell you who it was. I know it was a man, because I recall telling her to beware of leading anyone on. I’m not sure Lily was ever fully aware of her effect on people, especially men.’

Jack knew exactly what Chan meant. ‘I had met her, as you may recall,’ he said.

‘Then you know what I’m talking about.’

‘She was charming … captivating.’

‘Indeed. And that was why I suggested to her that she consider it carefully when men asked her to join them for coffee and the like.’

‘Ms Wu was twenty-nine, Professor, and I suspect, as a modern woman, was perfectly capable of sorting those things out.’

‘Except I’m an old-fashioned man, DCI Hawksworth, and it seems I was right to warn her.’

‘You never saw Ms Wu with this interpreter; you couldn’t recognise him from a photo?’

‘Never and no.’

‘All right, Professor, I think —’

‘However, Lily was always in hot water with one of the sisters in charge of one of the general wards on the day shift. Nan Beckitt, I think her name is. I heard Lily complain about her often enough. Perhaps she would be worth contacting. She would know of the translators regularly used in the wards.’

Jack’s hopes flared. ‘Thank you, Professor, we’ll keep you posted.’

‘And your friends?’ Jack frowned at the man’s query. ‘The police cars?’ Chan prompted.

‘Oh right, I’ll phone them. Are you going out again tonight, Professor Chan?’

‘No. I’m home all evening.’

‘Someone will be outside.’

‘Goodnight, DCI Hawksworth.’

Jack rang off, feeling drained. His reliable gut told him he’d been barking up the wrong tree with Chan. In his mind now, the professor was as likely to be the killer as Geoff Benson was.

‘Sarah . . .’

‘Sir?’

‘We need the number of a senior nurse at RLH. Her name is Nan Beckitt, or something like that. Pass any information on to Cam. Any news from him or Mal?’

‘Nothing yet,’ Sarah admitted, ‘although I’ve checked out our translator — he uses the full name of Sarju Rahman.’ She shrugged. ‘It may help get us
closer to the killer and hopefully Kate. Another thing occurs to me, sir.’ She bit her lip.

‘Now’s not the moment to go coy on me, Sarah. I’m reaching at anything. I want this bastard, and all of those who link up to him to make his killing become reality.’

She nodded. Jack shrugged deeper into his coat. It was freezing and a storm felt as though it were brewing. ‘Malik mentioned Brick Lane ... he thought Sarju lived there or close by, right?’

‘He said that, yes.’

Her expression of pain deepened. ‘It’s just that today when I was interviewing Claudia Lenkas, who gave us the details of Mr Gluck and his possible association with Schlimey Katz, she also gave me an address in Brick Lane that one of the girls — who’s now gone missing — went to with a client.’

Jack stepped closer until he towered over Sarah.

‘Tell me what she said.’

‘Claudia’s friend, Aniela, is just a kid — she broke the cardinal rule and took off in a taxi to meet a guy at his place in Brick Lane. She’d been with him on the platform of Amhurst station. According to Claudia — who, I might add, heard this from someone else — this bloke didn’t want to do it publicly. He wanted to be with her alone at his home. Apparently, he was dark-skinned and smallish — with an address in Brick Lane. It could be Sarju!’

‘And this Aniela went there and hasn’t been seen since.’

‘That’s exactly right.’ Sarah’s pleasant freckled face wore a look of intense worry.

Jack closed his eyes.
Another victim
? ‘Right, Sarah, get on to Angela. I want Mr Gluck picked up for
questioning and taken over to Bethnal Green. Sling anything you want at him. Get Claudia down there as well and this second witness you mentioned who told her about Aniela’s movements.’

‘Claudia’s probably still at the station,’ Sarah said.

‘Whatever. Just make sure she’s available for questioning. I’m going there now. You stay here in case Kate turns up.’

‘Right, sir.’

‘Geoff, let’s go. I need to talk to this Claudia and Gluck.’

‘Hawk.’ He looked at his watch. ‘It’s already nearing eight-thirty.’

‘Don’t think like that,’ Jack growled. ‘We’re going to find her. He will
not
have Kate.’

Jack’s phone rang. He stared at the screen hopefully then felt his heart sink deeper into his chest. There was no avoiding this. He had to answer it. ‘Yes, sir.’

Sharpe sighed at the other end. ‘No way to tell you kindly, Jack. You know it’s been coming. I’ll just say it. You’re off Panther.’

Jack felt instantly sick. Sharpe had obviously found out about his connection to Lily. ‘Sir, wait, please, I can explain.’

Sharpe ignored his pleas. ‘You know the drill. I can’t bend the rules that far.’

‘You need to understand that I had to, sir. It was the only way that we could —’

‘Jack, listen to me,’ Sharpe growled. ‘I’ve just put the phone down on my counterpart in Athens and I —’

‘Athens! What’s Athens got to do with this?’

Sharpe paused. The silence was awful. ‘Have you bumped your head, Jack?’

‘I’m sorry, Chief, but what are you talking about?’

‘I could ask you the same. I thought you already knew. I’m the one that’s been in meetings all day. Chief Inspector Klimentou said he’d left a message for you.’

‘Sir,’ Jack said through his daze. ‘I haven’t got a clue what we’re discussing.’

‘Wake up, Jack! I’m talking about Anne McEvoy. She’s been found. And what’s more Interpol has moved fast and she’s in custody at Rhodes, of all places. She was found working in a tiny art gallery at Ixia in the Greek islands. Anyway, she’s being escorted to Athens now and tomorrow morning you’ll be boarding a flight at Heathrow to go and fetch her, returning tomorrow evening.’ Jack’s heart was pounding.
Why now
? Sharpe was still talking. ‘I can’t let you remain in charge of Panther. I’m looking into who can take over. Perhaps Geoff Benson, who’s on leave, and therefore available … you have a lot of time for him. What do you think?’

A notion exploded in Jack’s mind. He shoved his mobile at Geoff. ‘Here, the super wants to talk to you.’

Geoff looked at him aghast. ‘What?’

‘Don’t keep him waiting,’ he urged. ‘Sarah, can I have your phone?’

‘I’m just onto Andy now, sir. The girls are still being processed.’

‘Listen, tell him to put Claudia on the line.’

‘What?’

‘Humour me. Kate’s life might depend on something I think she might know.’

25.

When Kate regained her wits her mouth felt like a desert and her eyelids remained heavy. She struggled to focus.

‘Welcome back,’ a friendly voice said.

She remembered. ‘Charles,’ she groaned from the seat she was tied to. ‘What’s happening?’

‘Don’t worry, you haven’t missed anything. I just needed to settle you down.’

She noticed immediately that she was in a hospital gown and sensed herself naked beneath it. But that was instantly forgotten when Kate saw the body on the gurney. It wasn’t naked, however, and looked intact.

‘Who’s that?’ she asked, terrified.

Maartens shrugged. ‘I have no idea. She was pretty though. Actually I lie, I do know something about her. She’s a prostitute. Illegal, of course.’ He shrugged. ‘From somewhere in Eastern Europe, no doubt. No one cares about her. Just another unwelcome visitor taken off the English streets.’

‘I care,’ Kate said, unable to mask the fury that had suddenly exploded into her body. Terror was not gone, but the paralysis that fear seemed to bring to mind and body was — and she could hear that even her voice was different now: darker, deeper.

‘No you don’t, Kate. You care about ambition, working big cases, climbing the ladder. This woman’s death is so inconsequential it will hardly even register at the local police station — not that I intend for her to be found. I should never have allowed the Jew to take care of things. He’s been lazy, got others to do his dirty work. You’ve had a case to follow simply because the sloppiness of others has permitted my waste to be found.’

‘Waste? You mean the victims of your barbarism?’

‘This is not barbarism, Kate. This is progress. It’s the beautiful people like you who push for these advances in medicine. Yes, my work is going to benefit loads of damaged, deformed, worthy people who genuinely could live new, happy lives with a face transplant. But it’s the stupid, vacant, once-beautiful people of the world who fund the black market — and that will never stop.’

‘So you just took people off the streets because you wanted their skin?’

‘That’s about the size of it. Although I took no one. The two Jews arranged all that through some third party I have nothing to do with.’

‘And you just order a kill because someone’s ordered a face transplant?’ she asked, aghast.

‘Not quite. The first three were practise runs. I knew I could do it. I just needed to prove it that I could reconnect a face from one person to another.

I am changing medical history, Kate.’

‘But Lily Wu’s face was for a real patient.’

‘I was very proud of it,’ he said, wiping his hands.

‘But you knew her!’

He shrugged. ‘Not really. I’d never met her. And I didn’t actually order her if that’s what you’re getting at.’

Kate’s fury returned. ‘Please don’t try and tell me this was coincidence.’

He smiled. ‘Well, yes … and no. No, because I knew the spotter the Jews used was a little Bangladeshi man who worked the Whitechapel area and trawled the corridors of the Royal London Hospital for appropriate, um “product”, shall we say.’ He flung the towel into a black rubbish bag. ‘And while I knew Jimmy’s intended bride had a floristry run in the hospital, I didn’t specifically send a message that ordered Ms Lily Wu.’

‘But you made it so possible that she would be chosen.’

He shrugged. ‘She was Chinese, young, good complexion, healthy … And she was sleeping with your boss.’ He laughed. ‘Oh, was that supposed to be a big secret?’ He put his hand to his lips and twisted a pretend key in a make-believe lock. ‘Forgive me. Jimmy was so cagey about his girlfriend, I had to learn more. It started out as a bit of fun actually. I was going to tease Chan that I knew Lily — where she lived, who her friends were and so on. I used a friend of a friend who is a private investigator. Then I found out that not only was Lily cheating on Jimmy,’ he feigned horror, ‘but that she was cheating with a very senior detective in Scotland Yard.’

‘And you couldn’t have that, could you?’ she sneered.

‘Absolutely not. Suddenly Lily became a liability. I didn’t need a policeman that close to me. Fate stepped in and presented me with a first client from Hong Kong who needed a partial face transplant. Lily’s skin was ideal from what I could tell and I must admit I hoped the spotter would choose her because she was convenient. And he did.’ He smiled smugly. ‘Unfortunately, I still managed to win DCI Hawksworth’s attention.’

‘Did you think he’d just ignore her death?’

‘Well,’ he said, taking a moment to ponder her question. ‘I rather hoped he’d run scared once the inevitable investigation began and distance himself from Lily. I assumed they were simply lovers, not
in
love, and that he would melt away.’

‘You clearly don’t know him.’

‘But who would have thought the planets would align and he would be given supervision of the case? That really was bad luck on my part.’

‘Your arrogance makes me sick.’

He made a tutting sound. ‘Shame. And I thought we were getting on so well this afternoon. I even imagined us as lovers.’

She pulled a face of disgust at his suggestion. ‘You can’t truly believe there’s a future in this.’

‘Kate, my dear, although your time has run out, this is just the beginning for me,’ he said. He looked charged with unnatural energy.

‘No, this is the end for you, Dr Maartens.’

‘I don’t think so,’ he said conversationally. ‘I’ve covered my tracks, Kate. There’s no proof, no clues, no tracks to follow.’

‘No tracks? How about your ginger-haired mate for starters? Do you think he’s not going to give you up the minute we nab him?’

‘No, because Schlimey Katz will be dead in about …’ He glanced at his watch. ‘Oh dear, about now actually.’

‘What?’

‘Mugged and stabbed — but long before he reaches the CCTV cameras of London. I’ve decided to clean up my own mess, Kate. As for his boss, he’ll say nothing. He likes his diamonds too much. And that leaves one final person … the lowest of the low. The Bangla. He, too, will go to his maker this night and pfft,’ he made the sound of a soft explosion, ‘all traces to me are destroyed.’

‘We’ll pursue you to the ends of the earth,’ she threatened.

‘You and which posse? You’re all there is, Kate, and unfortunately you’ll be dead soon too. I just haven’t got around to you yet.’

‘And you think Scotland Yard isn’t going to follow through on that?’ she scoffed, desperately trying to keep a quaver from her voice.

‘Oh, I’m sure it will. But it will find you dead in a ditch a long way from here — on the lonely, treacherous country roads of somewhere like Berkshire or Hampshire, even. It’s why you’re naked — or near enough. We’ve cleaned you up completely and that’s why your hands, your feet, even your hair are encased in surgical gear. I want no forensic clues being taken out of here with you. Don’t worry, we’ll let you dress again once you get to your final destination. I’ve even had your clothes vacuumed and your own car is being driven here for the express purpose of keeping everything neat and tidy.’ He sounded pleased with himself. ‘You may want to look away now Kate, I’m going to disfigure this young lady’s fingers in case she’s already been
fingerprinted by the police. I don’t think we need to worry about her dental records from Lithuania or Serbia or wherever the hell she comes from, do you?’

Kate shuddered and looked down in horror as the charming surgeon, the one she had considered might be pleasant company for a night out, began pulping the corpse’s fingertips with a vicious-looking hammer.

‘Is that Claudia?’ Jack asked.

‘What if it is?’ said the bored, accented voice on the other end of Sarah’s mobile.

‘Claudia, I’m DCI Jack Hawksworth and —’

‘Blah, blah, blah,’ she said over his words.

He stopped talking immediately. Then sighed.

‘Look, I get it.’

‘No you don’t. You’re just another man who wants a different part of my body. You want my brain, the next one wants my arse, another craves my mouth.’

Jack understood her anger, but right now his took precedence. ‘So if I paid you for your help, you’d talk to me — is that it?’

It was her turn to pause. He wondered if she was about to electronically spit in his face. She surprised him. ‘Why not? I have a daughter to feed and no doubt some legal battles to fight. A thousand should do it.’

‘One thousand
pounds
?’ he asked, aghast.

‘I don’t mean pence,’ she drawled. He thought he heard her mutter ‘cheapskate’ after it.

‘Will that buy me information on a man who may or may not be a surgeon?’

She was quiet.

‘Claudia, there’s a man — we think it’s a man — who is out there expertly hacking off the faces of vulnerable people.’

‘I know it. Your little soldier told me all of this.’

‘Did she tell you that we think he may also have my colleague, DI Kate Carter? She’s probably around your age. If I don’t find her — and I mean soon — she’ll never know what it is to even be a mother like you. She acts tough but she’s not really, although she’s brave and feisty and works hard. Help me, Claudia. Please.’

‘You have a nice voice, DCI Hawksworth.’

‘I wouldn’t know,’ he said, disappointed as precious time ticked away.

‘When I spoke to Sarah just a moment ago I agreed to talk to you only if you were handsome. Sarah tells me you’re like a film star.’

That was the last thing Jack would have guessed might be said to him by Claudia. ‘She said that?’ he queried, buying himself time because he didn’t know what else to say.

‘As I stand here,’ she confirmed. ‘Is she lying?’

She was toying with him, but he needed to keep her on the line just in case she could give him something. ‘Definitely exaggerating.’

‘Why would she exaggerate? She struck me as someone who is deadly honest, very straight with people. I liked her; it’s why I agreed to even speak on this phone to you.’

‘Claudia, I don’t know —’

‘All right,
Handsome Jack
. I’ll tell you what. You don’t have to pay me anything. I promise no results but I’ll answer your questions as best I can.’

Jack’s hopes flared. He was sure Claudia was the link. ‘And in return?’

‘Take me on a date. Since coming to this country I have never put on a pretty dress and been taken out for dinner by a polite man with no expectations. I want no money to exhange hands, I want no touching. I want to be spoken to with good manners and treated like a proper lady by a handsome man for just one night, someone who splurges on great food, great wine, limo —’

‘Done!’ Jack spluttered down the phone. ‘I’ll be your prince, Claudia, just help me.’

‘I haven’t finished,
Handsome Jack
.’

He gritted his teeth and waited.

‘And then I want you to get me some legal aid and help me find a way to stay with my daughter.’

Smart Claudia
, he thought. ‘I’ll do my utmost to help you … that’s a promise.’

‘I’ll take you at your word. Sarah said I could trust you.’

‘She said that too, did she?’

‘Ask your questions. Better still, let me talk, it’s quicker. I’ve been looking after the needs of a man for a couple of years. He has special requirements, you could say. He has never hurt me, but certainly his tastes are … er, how you say, strange? Individual?’

‘Perverse?’

‘Yes, perverse. I’ve never known his name. He calls himself Zeus.’

‘Zeus? As in the Greek myths?’

‘Yes — as in king of the gods. That’s how he acts as well. Here’s an address, got a pen?’

‘I don’t need one, just tell me.’ He waved a hand and got Sarah’s attention silently, then began repeating what Claudia said. ‘Ford Cottage, Camlet Way, Hadley Wood, got it. Just a sec,’ he said to Claudia and then spoke to Sarah. ‘Get a squad car out
to that address. In the meantime, find out who lives there.’ He turned back to the phone. ‘What else?’

‘He talks like a doctor. I mean, he doesn’t ever discuss his work but once or twice he’s mentioned that he could get me into a clinic — you know, some work could be done on my face. I have a mole high on my cheekbone. He calls it my imperfection and has offered to have it removed. He also once said something about preserving my youth and that he could do it. I didn’t pay much attention. I’ve never been interested in what my clients do for a living, only that it can afford them my services.’

‘What’s he like?’

‘He’s like every very rich man. Arrogant.’

‘Has he ever hurt you?’

‘No, never. But he’s creepy. He likes to take polaroids of our faces, you know, when we orgasm. Once he drew over a boy’s face with this strange black pen. He said he could make him even prettier.’

Jack’s felt sure this was the man they were hunting; the one who might now be slicing into Kate’s face. He closed his eyes to block the thought. ‘Claudia, tell me, how did you meet him?’

‘He came cruising around like they all do. He was in a car, asked me how much. I told him, he asked me to go with him and I refused. I have a rule. Well, I did then … I still do although he’s the only one I break it for — he pays me plenty and I trust him.’ She gave an ironic laugh. ‘I trust him.’

‘So what happened at that first meeting?’

‘I didn’t do him that night because I was meeting Mr Gluck and he buys my whole night. We sit and talk, eat salt beef sandwiches at Milo’s. But Moshe was late that night and so Zeus offered to buy me a coffee while I waited for him. It was midwinter you
know, really icy. We went to Milo’s and chatted. He was nice, what can I say? Very charming, very easy, very rich. He refused to fuck me in the station but he agreed that I could bring along some others to the motel he’d found not far away. That’s how it began. He liked several — I’ve never done him alone, in fact. And then because there were a few of us we agreed to go to his house and it’s been like that ever since. He has booze, food, drugs, music, movies, whatever we want.’

‘Did you ever introduce him to Gluck?’

She didn’t answer immediately. Finally she spoke. ‘I think I did.’ She sounded suddenly unnerved. ‘I can’t really remember clearly, but I seem to recall Moshe wanted to swap our regular evening but I couldn’t … he got upset, and came looking for me. It was one of those moments of … how you say it … when the planets align perhaps?’