Cold Killers (36 page)

Carter went to see Robbo.

‘Did you manage to get hold of the Spanish detectives?’

‘They’ll be on Skype in a minute. How’s Eb?’ asked Robbo.

‘I think she’ll be okay later. She’s working whatever it is out of her system. I’ve organised a blood test but I think it’s unlikely we’ll find a trace of
anything this long after she remembers having anything to drink. Tina saw her on Skype, talked to her at just after eleven when she said Willis seemed very drunk.’

‘Here we are; they’re coming online,’ said Robbo.

‘Okay, I’ll come over,’ said Carter.

‘Hello, Inspector Ramirez,’ said Robbo as the webcam came to life and they were looking at the face of the world-weary detective. ‘I’ll pass you across to Detective
Inspector Carter,’ he said as he turned the screen towards Carter. Carter leaned on the desk as he talked. He was agitated, worried.

‘Morning, Inspector. I hope Detective Sergeant Willis got home all right. The police car that gave her a lift said she seemed a bit ill. I was worried they might not let her on the plane.
Very strange. Is she okay?’

‘She made it back, at least, that’s more than can be said for Inspector Ross. Where is he? Can you explain to me, please? I want to understand how one of my detectives comes back
apparently having been drugged, and the other doesn’t come back at all.’

‘I know nothing about why Detective Willis is ill. She is not used to drinking, perhaps. I am sure she was not drugged. She had a few drinks before she left us yesterday evening. As for
Inspector Ross, I think he always had his own agenda when he came out here. I think he’s working for a different boss, if you know what I mean.’

‘No, I don’t. Please explain where he is right now.’

‘Right now? I have no idea. We spent the evening with him until two in the morning and then he told us he intended to stay in Marbella and continue his investigations alone. He
didn’t need our help, he said. It was a big shock to us too.’

‘He’s not answering his phone. Can you put out a search for him, please?’

‘I wish I could help, Inspector, but, if Ross has decided he can do better on his own, what can we do about it?’

‘You can find him. Has he got a hire car?’

‘No. Detective Willis abandoned the hire car and left it here at the hotel. We will deal with that for you. I’m sorry there’s not more we can help with.’

‘What else did Ross say last night?’

‘He didn’t say a lot but we had intelligence reports that it wasn’t the first time Ross has been to Spain, making investigations, and he is known to act against orders.
We’re thinking that maybe there is some other motive here. Perhaps he is better connected here than you think.’

‘You better be able to back up what you’re accusing him of.’

‘Please, I’m not accusing. This is just a chat between two officers trying to look after their colleagues. The last I saw of Ross was at just after two in the morning. We dropped him
back to his hotel and he said he was going to pack, to leave a note for Willis, then we saw him come out really quickly, maybe within fifteen minutes, and we saw a car pull up near the hotel and
pick him up.’

‘Did you trace the number plate?’

‘We tried but it wasn’t on the system. That is all I can tell you, I’m sorry. If you want, we can put out an alert for the patrol officers to look for Ross, but somehow I
don’t think they’re going to find him, and maybe he doesn’t want to be found. He already had plenty of friends here, I think.’

Carter’s face had become stony as he listened to Ramirez. He thanked him curtly.

‘We’ll be in touch. Thank you for your time,’ said Carter.

‘No problem.’

He watched Robbo switch off Skype.

‘Jeezus!’ Carter shook his head, his eyes still fixed on the blank screen as if he couldn’t believe it.

‘We better get hold of Ross’s superiors and find out how much of that is bullshit. We better hope that Ross had some masterplan, and he isn’t lying in a ditch somewhere with
his throat cut.’

‘Can he just have disappeared?’

‘I don’t think so. It all sounded much too matter-of-fact from Ramirez. Run a check on him and his buddy, Garcia. Are they bent? Have they had Ross killed? Handed him over for
interrogation? If they have, then we are done for. Everyone working on this investigation will be at risk. Plus, we’ll walk away with nothing again.’

‘I’ve already contacted Ross’s boss at the OCC and they’re not willing to deny or confirm anything,’ said Robbo. ‘They won’t even tell us whether Ross
was given permission to remain in Spain or even if he is still in Spain.’

‘So much for different departments cooperating.’

Billy Manson was resting.

His wife Jo knocked gently on the bedroom door and came in with a cup of tea.

‘Didn’t you sleep?’ She looked at her husband lying on the bed, his eyes wide. He looked like he was hanging on to the duvet for dear life.

‘Billy, you have to rest.’

‘I can’t, Jo. I’ve been going over things. I know we can’t fly out of here but you and the kids can go away; go and stay with your relatives in Plymouth.’

‘What, two weeks before Christmas? Why would we do that?’

‘Yes, two weeks before fucking Christmas.’

‘Don’t swear.’

‘I am sorry.’ Jo closed the door; she came to sit on the bed and hold his hand. ‘It’ll be okay, Billy. It will all blow over.’

He gave her hand a squeeze and then dropped it.

‘Just get out with the kids while I try and sort it, please – just do it. I am sorry for everything. It’s all a big mess.’

‘What are you talking about, Billy? You don’t need to be sorry about anything. Look at the lovely home we have. The kids go to good schools. We have a great life.’

‘But it’s going to have to change. I messed things up.’

‘Are we still in danger? What did Laurence Butcher say when you talked to him?’

‘He’s coming in with lots of bullshit ideas, but he has no idea what he’s walking into. It’s not going to work out with Laurence. Everything is finished here. I
can’t do business with any of the Butchers. The business is effectively gone.’

‘We can start again.’

‘Not here, not now. You can’t make this better, Jo. All you can do is help me by giving me less to worry about. I need to fix it, on my own. You’re just giving me more stress
by staying here.’

‘Why don’t you talk to the police if you’re that worried?’

‘Why? You’re kidding me.’ The panic trapped in his lungs came out in a wheezy sound as he tried to laugh. ‘Just do as I ask, please.’

‘I’ll do whatever you want, Billy, you know I will. I’d face anything in the future with you. Just don’t block me out.’

He looked at her. ‘Please go so at least I don’t have to worry about protecting you and the kids. Let me try to sort this out. Just take the kids and go. The police want me in
Archway in an hour. Please, Jo, just do what I ask. Do it now.’

‘Will you please talk to the police?’

He nodded.

An hour later Jo Manson had packed the suitcases in the boot and loaded the kids. She stood and hugged Manson.

‘Remember, we love you.’

‘I know. I’ll make it all right, I promise,’ he said and drew back from her. He smiled. She frowned.

‘I don’t think I should leave you.’

‘Just go. I’ll be able to think straight if I know you’re safe.’

‘But what about you?’

‘I can make the right choices then. You’re right, I’ll talk to the police. We’ll make a fresh start.’

‘You’ll call me later?’

‘Yes. Now drive safely.’ He waved at the children and turned back into the house. He went out to the garage and found himself a length of rope and a ladder and then he went into the
drawing room and climbed the ladder to loop the rope around the beam and tie it around his neck. When he was ready he kicked the ladder away.

Carter texted Della to see if she was there and then he walked to the flat. It took him twenty minutes and he took a tour of the back roads behind Holloway, to make sure he
wasn’t being followed. The whole thing with Melvin had made him feel irresponsible. It made him question whether he’d underestimated Marco. In the back of his mind, he was also
wondering about Della. That diamond she had hanging around was worth a million, according to Maxi. She obviously still had full access to a world that she said had nothing to do with her. Was his
judgement compromised? Was he putting others at risk? Why did he still get excited about seeing her?

Della was unpacking shopping. She’d bought coffee and cakes.

‘You still have your sweet tooth, then?’ Carter said as he watched her lay the coloured macaroons on a plate. She poured him a black coffee.

‘Still the same, yes. You still love your expensive wines?’

‘Absolutely.’ He smiled mechanically. She frowned.

‘What is it?’

‘I have some sad news, I’m sorry. Billy Manson killed himself earlier today.’

‘Billy? But why? Why would he do that?’ She looked at Carter with horror. Her eyes filled. ‘Christ Almighty! What has been going on here, Dan? Is this all about
Eddie?’

He shook his head. ‘We don’t have answers yet, but we’re getting there. Manson had secrets.’

‘I don’t understand. You’re saying that Eddie could have been killed because of something Manson was involved in?’

‘I’m coming to that way of thinking.’ Carter hesitated. He shook his head, as if he’d changed his mind.

‘Tell me, Dan, tell me what’s on your mind.’

‘Della, every time I open my mouth I put you more at risk. People are dying because of loose talk. I don’t want to give you any information that hasn’t come from the right
source. If you accidentally blurt it out in conversation . . .’

‘What conversation? Do you think I’m bonding with Harold and Marco? Or even weirdo Laurence, who picks now to tell me he’s always had the hots for me?’ She laughed.

Carter smiled. ‘You’ve almost got to admire his spirit of opportunism, hit ’em straight out of mourning.’

‘It’s not funny.’ She smiled. ‘It’s not even flattering. Do you remember what a little oddball he used to be? I think it’s been suppressed by Sandra over the
years but he’s a mini-Tony in the making. The way he talks to me, it’s like he thinks of me as the Butcher family property.’

‘It’s nice to see you smiling, Della.’ She looked at Carter, whose eyes were melting a little as he listened to her talking.

‘How is life with you, Dan? I can see you’ve achieved the rank you always wanted. You’re an inspector in the Met, that’s impressive. Are you happy?’

He nodded. ‘Yeah, I wonder sometimes. I’m getting old fast with the stress of the job. I’m getting jaded.’

‘But you have a partner, a child. That must be enough to keep you young.’

‘My son Archie is great. He’s a real character.’

‘And you love her.’

‘I love her, yes. She’s not easy, she’s feisty and opinionated and so messy, it’s a nightmare, and funny. She’s very funny.’

‘She sounds perfect for you. Much better than I would ever have been.’

He nodded, stared at his coffee.

‘It took me five years to get over you and, even then, maybe, I never really did.’

‘Don’t say it, Dan.’ Della took a step closer to him. ‘I hold my hands up, Dan. I loved you more than I’ll ever love anyone else. But I saw something else in Eddie
that I hungered after just as much. The ordinary life of a hard-up copper, hardly seeing one another, always knackered, wasn’t for me. I wanted more, and Eddie could deliver. I wanted the
luxury home, the nice cars. I wanted it all. I was just twenty-six at the time. I didn’t understand the value of real love.’

Carter’s eyes stayed on Della as she said, ‘I know you’re not going to, Dan, but if you asked me if there’d been times when I regretted it, if I missed you, I’d
have said truthfully there were many. I never felt the passion with Eddie that we had. When I left you I knew I’d lost my soulmate. But that’s life. You make choices . . .’

‘You threw it all away.’

‘Yes, I did. It was just in me, that hunger for
things
over people, and it still is. It was wonderful, what we felt for one another, but I chose something else. We were like two
kids in the flush of love. It wouldn’t have lasted and we’d have worn each other down by now.’

Carter was nodding silently and looking out of the window. The brightness outside hurt his eyes, making them water.

He put his cup down. ‘You’re right. I must go, I have a ton of work to get through. We’re thinking of bringing Marco in. I need you to get some DNA from him for me, a cup,
cigarette, you know the kind of thing, and a fingerprint, on a glass would be ideal.’

‘Should be easy, if he comes back tonight. What’s it for?’

‘I want to try and link him to the murder of an informant of mine. I think Marco killed him. I don’t know why, maybe just because he’s trying to warn me off. He knows that
I’m a detective asking questions about him. Whoever did it wanted me to find him.’ ‘Was he killed like Eddie?’

Carter nodded. ‘We have also had an inspector go missing after going across to Spain to talk to Tony. I’m interested in two detectives out there: Ramirez and Garcia. Do you know the
names?’

‘Yes, very much so. They are like Tony’s private personnel.’

‘Are you positive?’

‘Yes, I’ve seen them a few times over the years. I’m sure if they wanted to have got Tony they could have by now.’

Harold was standing in the Shoreditch flat and looking at the screen, at Tony’s face.

‘I think Marco put pressure on him, Manson cracked.’

Tony was clenching and unclenching his fists as he stood before the screen.

‘You shouldn’t have let him do that. We needed Manson, for fuck’s sake. He knows how it all fits together. It’s coming in under his company.’

‘It had nothing to do with me. I’m not Marco’s keeper. You chose him, Tony. I can’t help it if he turns out to be a loose cannon, fucking nutcase. I can’t be
responsible if this plan doesn’t come off. Now the East End is jittery with all the talk of death squads and mad Colombians who torture for the fun of it.’