Clean Cut (40 page)

Langton shook his head. ‘But Idris held back information; he held up our entire enquiry into Carly Ann’s murder. If he’d given us Rashid Burry and Camorra’s names at the start…He lied: he had information and yet kept his mouth shut. Not until he was trying to save his brother, did he give up what he knew. Now, if you want to play runaround with his defence to get a retrial, go ahead; to me, the scum can serve out his sentence.’

‘But he didn’t kill Carly Ann.’

Langton snapped, ‘My point is, for Chrissakes, that he knew who did!’

‘So are you now saying that Rashid Burry and Camorra were at the hostel when you went there?’

‘Yeah. If Idris had given up their names, look at the trail of death we might have stopped. Gail’s kid was twenty-four months old, for God’s sake–fed to the pigs! Does that sit all right with you?’

‘No, of course not.’

‘Then let Idris Krasiniqe rot in hell.’

The waitress called their spoon number again and brought over the steak and chips. She removed the dirty cutlery and crockery, and laid out two sets of steak knives and clean forks.

‘Thank you, and the wine?’

She said it was just coming.

Langton picked up some ketchup and proffered it to Anna, who shook her head.

‘Rashid Burry was murdered,’ Anna said quietly.

‘Yes, neatly wrapped in the trunk of the Range Rover that Camorra, because he couldn’t drive an automatic–ha ha–never used.’ Langton cut into his steak, and ate a large mouthful.

‘So, Rashid–you recognized him, didn’t you? The gold teeth?’

Langton nodded. ‘That’s pretty obvious; yes, I did.’

‘Did you also recognize Eugene Camorra as being the man who attacked you on the stairs?’

He didn’t look at her, but sliced another piece of steak. ‘No.’

‘You didn’t recognize him at Emmerick Orso’s house in Redhill?’

‘No.’

‘At what point did you…’

‘Did I what?’

‘Recognize him?’

‘I didn’t.’

Anna picked up the salt and sprayed a little over her chips. ‘So Eugene Camorra was not the man who attacked you?’

Langton said steadily, ‘Let me tell you: if, after what I have been put through, I came face to face with the man who had done it, I’d react. You can bet your sweet arse I’d react; I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off him.’ He gestured with his knife. ‘Your steak okay?’

‘Yes, it’s fine, thanks.’

Langton smiled at the waitress as she brought two fresh glasses of red wine and took their two dirty glasses away. He watched Anna as she picked at the steak. ‘There’s a rumour I’m earmarked for the corporate ladder. I’ll have to do the friggin’ homework, but Chief Superintendent sounds like it’s about time. What do you think?’

Anna shrugged. ‘Sounds good.’

He mimicked her. ‘Sounds good.’

‘Well, it does. I hope you do get promotion.’

He lifted the bottle of water to ask if she wanted some, then he poured another glass for himself and slowly screwed the cap back on. All the while he looked at her; until eventually she was forced to turn away. He was still the rakish, handsome man she had loved; she still loved his lanky body, his hands, the way he laughed. Tanned and fit, he was even more attractive than ever, but he was now, as he had often been, someone she didn’t know. It was like dining with a stranger.

‘I’m sorry, but I have a headache,’ she said. ‘I’d like to go home.’

Whilst Langton paid the bill, she walked to the car and sat waiting. She watched him strolling towards her and leaned over to open the passenger door.

‘You go ahead; I think I’ll just walk for a while.’ He tapped the roof with the flat of his hand and walked past her, crossing in front of the car to head along the riverbank.

She saw him limp just a fraction. He seemed unconcerned, looking at the ducks, until she couldn’t stand it a moment longer. She got out of her car and slammed the door shut.

She hurried across to him. ‘I know how you did it!’

He turned to face her, frowning as if confused.

‘I know Camorra attacked you. I know it was him. I don’t know how you had the self-control not to want to get him by the throat and strangle him, but I do know, James. I know!’

Langton picked up a stick and hurled it into the water, then walked on a fraction to lean against a tree.

She followed. ‘It was in his dinner trays. It was in the water you passed to him in the incident room.’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘You know what I am talking about, for Chrissakes: that poison, the Jimson weed. You used it on Camorra. He showed all the symptoms.’

Langton shook his head, smiling.

‘I know you did it; I just don’t know how you got hold of it.’

‘Didn’t you check already with Doctor Salaam and his wife?’

‘Yes!’

‘At first, I just thought it was your obsession and your inability to be, as I have warned you about, a team player. I presumed you were still trying to prove that Emmerick Orso was somehow involved.’

‘He couldn’t have been!’ she snapped.

‘Jesus Christ.’ He shook his head and then stared at her. ‘So now you want to implicate me, is that right? Is that what you’ve been running around raking up dirt on? Is it because I walked out on you, is that your problem?’

‘No, it is not!’

‘Then why? What in God’s name are you trying to do to me? That I, shock horror, recognized Eugene Camorra as the man who almost killed me, then arrested him for Christ knows how many murders–and all I was interested in was taking my own revenge? What the fuck do you think I am?’

‘You could have tampered with his meal trays.’

He suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrists. ‘Listen to me: this is a crazy insinuation. You have not one jot of proof. I have been very patient with you, Anna, over three high-profile cases. You have made crass
mistakes before, and I have overlooked one after the other, but this accusation…’

‘It isn’t an accusation: it’s the truth!’

‘If you have one shred of proof, then take it to the Commissioner. But if you do, then God help you, because I am going to have to do something that I have really, really tried not to do.’

‘What?’

‘I do not think you are a suitable officer to be attached to the Murder Squad. You have fouled up too many times. I will also have to bring into the equation the fact that I foolishly had a sexual relationship with you. It was a big mistake on my part, and one I really regret, because ending it has obviously turned you against me.’

‘You can’t get away with it like that!’ she said angrily.

He drew her close, still gripping her wrists tightly. ‘I got away with nothing. I have a crippled knee joint and constant problems with my lungs and my chest. I have got away with nothing but a life of excruciating pain and medication. If Eugene Camorra was the man who did this to me, I would have brought charges. Now, you had better make up your mind, Anna.’ He released his hold. ‘If you want to press these farcical charges against me, go ahead, but you will need proof–and you don’t have it. But don’t let that stop you. Go ahead, and take the repercussions.’

‘Which would be what?’

He gave a soft laugh and then made a move with his hand, as if directing traffic, a smile on his lips; his gesture infuriated her.

‘Do you think that this has been easy for me?’ she cried. ‘I’ve had sleepless nights! But you
can’t
take the law into your own hands!’

She stepped back, almost afraid he was going to slap her, as he glared at her. ‘I never have. Your furtive imagination has put two and two together and come up with a load of shite! Even hinting at your suspicions makes me unable to ever trust you again.’

Anna could feel the tears pricking at her eyes.

‘One day, in the mound of illegal immigrants we are still attempting to trace, we’ll find the man who almost killed me. When I do, and I intend to not let this rest, then you’ll know about it. I did not, as you believe, find from God knows where this stuff to poison Camorra; in fact, by his dying, we lost valuable evidence we could have charged Orso with. I didn’t want the bastard dead.’

Anna was shaking. She recoiled when he put his arm out and drew her back closer to him.

‘Anna, I cared about you, but don’t make me out to be the villain–you know we’d never have worked. I doubt if I’ll ever be able to maintain a stable relationship but, without your care, I don’t think I would have pulled through, and for that I will always be eternally grateful. Don’t play these accusations out: the only person that will be hurt will be you. Do you understand what I am saying?’ Langton gently brushed a curl from her forehead. ‘It’s over. Come on now, say it.’

She heard her voice whispering that it was over, like a chastised child. She looked up into his face. She had loved him so much; even now, she felt her heart beating faster, being so close to him.

‘Forget it; that’s what this is all about, sweetheart. Just forget it–I will. The case, thank Christ, is over. Anna?’

She broke away from him and forced herself to smile.

‘Goodbye, Anna. You take care of yourself now.’

She nodded and turned her back on him, grateful he wouldn’t see that she was crying.

Langton remained leaning against the tree. He watched her drive past but did not acknowledge her; instead, he turned back to the river, staring into the murky water.

He would begin working on tests for his promotion. He knew his physical problems would always be with him, and the rise in rank would mean a less hands-on role. He had also suggested that Mike Lewis be upped in rank; he deserved it but, like himself, Mike would have to sit the obligatory paperwork. He then turned from the riverbank and started to walk down the lane, calling for a taxi on his mobile phone. He could still not walk too far without the pain in his knee joint. The pain, he had told Anna, that would forever be a memory of the attack.

He smiled: revenge is always sweet, even when taken cold.

Anna received a call from Idris Krasiniqe’s solicitor. They were still preparing for the retrial. They asked if she would be willing to assist with some of the documents that she had worked on. Anna agreed to drive to Wakefield prison to meet Idris and his solicitor.

She was shown into the interview room. Idris was being brought up from the cells, so she had a few moments alone with his solicitor, a Toby Freeman: a very pleasant and eager young man.

‘It is not going to be easy,’ Toby told her. ‘We would have been looking at a reduced sentence, but now without his brother, without Rashid Burry and with no Eugene Camorra, I have to admit we are not in a very strong position. I try to keep his hopes up, but with two trials dismissed, the CPS require a lot more evidence.’

Idris looked fit; he’d put on weight and he seemed pleased to see Anna. He gripped her hand tightly, thanking her. It was a slow process; they went over all the statements Idris had made. When asked why he had not given details of the other two men involved in Carly Ann’s murder when he had the opportunity, he shook his head.

‘I was terrified of what Camorra could do to me. I knew he’d got to my brother. I was scared to ever come out onto the wing. They’d pumped him so full of crack and heroin and, Christ knows, that Jimson weed, he was out of his head.’

Idris bowed his head, crying, but they ploughed on. He repeated how Camorra had strapped Carly Ann down on the stone altar, stripped naked. He made everyone in the house watch: he wanted everyone to know what would happen to them if they betrayed him. Idris sobbed as he said he was forced to have sex with her whilst his brother–hardly able to focus, he was so drugged–looked on. He had watched Camorra strangle Carly Ann, but could do nothing to stop it: he was too scared.

Rashid had driven the Range Rover with Camorra beside him and Idris in the back seat; behind the dog rail lay the dead Carly Ann. When they stopped, Idris was instructed to cut off her hands and decapitate her. Camorra did not want her identified; as she had been arrested for prostitution, he knew her fingerprints would be on file. Idris was in such a state that he had only half-heartedly attempted to do what he had been told. Camorra, in a rage, had got out of the Range Rover with Rashid to do the job properly.

‘He had picked her up by her hair, holding her body up to slice at her neck, when this cop runs up. He
dropped her and they both ran. I couldn’t get away: they picked me up, with blood all over me. I had the knife. I said I done it: I was too scared not to.’

Idris pleaded with Anna to help him; all she could say was that she would do her best. She told him that one of the charges for which Camorra was arrested was the murder of Carly Ann. Idris hit the table in anger: the man who could help him was dead. At this point, Anna turned to Toby Freeman and asked if she could have two minutes alone with Idris. He agreed; the guards opened the door and he walked out.

‘Two minutes, Idris, that is all I have. I need you to answer me truthfully.’

‘Yes, anything. You know me now, I’m telling you the truth.’

‘Whilst you were held in the police station, you claimed you had not been alone, but with two other men: you gave two names and an address where they could be found.’

‘Yes.’

‘Did you call anyone from the station?’

‘Yes. I called Rashid Burry to get me a solicitor, and I told him.’

‘You then, after this phone call, changed your statement–is that correct?’

‘Yes.’

‘You claimed that you had been alone with Carly Ann, and that you had just invented the fact that two other men were with you–is that correct?’

‘Yes.’

‘Why did you lie?’

Idris bowed his head. ‘I was told that Eamon was gonna die if I didn’t. I gave the names of some blokes that
had worked at the Peckham house; I just said the hostel, ’cos I knew it. They was really pushing me for answers; that guy Langton was hammering at me all night.’

‘So let’s just go back to the Range Rover: you said that you were driven there by Rashid Burry.’

‘Yes, I’ve said this.’

‘Who was the other man in the Range Rover?’

Idris shrugged. ‘I have told you: the other man was Eugene Camorra. I can say his name now he’s dead, ’cos he can’t do nothing to me any more. He held her by her hair, lifted her up so he could cut her throat…’