Cruel Justice (DI Lorne Simpkins (Book one)) (24 page)

The clock on the nearby church struck one as they arrived back at the station. Lorne noticed a note lying on her desk when she walked into her office. It was from the psychic, Carol Lorde, it read:
Inspector, forgive me. Ring me if I can be of any further help with the case?
The women ended the note with her phone number.

"What's that?" Pete entered the room with two cups of coffee. He kicked the door shut behind him.

"A note from Carol Lorde. I must give her a ring after lunch to see how she is."

"It galls me to admit it, but she was bang on with what she told us, a rabbit and a hat come to mind."

"Actually, I reckon she pulled the whole cast of W
atership Down
out of it. She was amazing. Don't tell me you've changed your mind about Mediums?"

"Small,
medium
or large, it would take a darn sight more than that to alter my views entirely."

"Ever the cynic, Pete. I think we should continue hunting down the rest of the drivers this afternoon."

"Fine by me. I'll pull the file after lunch."

There was a knock at the door.

"Sorry to disturb your lunch, ma'am. The chief would like to see you ASAP," Tracy said.

"Thanks, Tracy, how far did you get with the list of sex offenders?"

"About a third of the way through the list. Looks like the word has got around though. Every time we knock on a door, the bloke seems to be expecting us. We're checking through some alibis, but so far they're coming up smelling of summer blooms rather than shit. We'll keep on the trail until it goes cold."

"Keep me informed. By the way, tell Molly we've questioned the Halls and I'm satisfied we can scrub them off the list, too."

Lorne took a bite out of her éclair as she rang Carol Lorde. "Hi, Carol, sorry we had to run off the way we did. How are you feeling?"

"Inspector, how nice of you to call. Please tell me what you found?"

"I have some bad news. We found the woman we were after. Unfortunately, we couldn't save her. Carol, I was wondering if you've ever helped the police out on an investigation before?"

"No, never. I haven't had my skills for that long, you see. I was involved in a near fatal car crash about three years ago. That's when I got the calling from God. When I was lying in my hospital bed I saw a bright light, at one point I was levitating over my body. Obviously it wasn't my time to go because I was sent back. After that I discovered my gift."

"Were you religious before the accident?" The psychic's tale fascinated Lorne.

"Not in the slightest." She laughed softly. "Never stepped foot in a church, apart from the odd wedding and funeral that is. They give me the creeps. It would mean a great deal for me to help on the investigation, especially as I'm having these visions. It would be good to make sense of them, Inspector."

"I'll have to find out what the correct procedures are, obviously there's the matter of confidentiality to consider. The last thing we want or need is the media knowing details about the cases. It would be far too upsetting for the families of the victims. Give me a couple of days to do some digging and I'll get back to you. Saying that, if you have another vision in the meantime please contact me or a member of my team straight away."

"I will. Please pass on my condolences to the family of the victim. And sorry I wasn't able to help sooner."

"I'll be in touch."

"Christ, I hope the new chief is okay with that." Pete shoved the last mouthful of cake in his mouth and swilled it down with a swig of strong coffee.

"That reminds me, I've been summoned by the old one." She brushed the crumbs off her face and lap, tided her hair then set off.

She heard the mumble of voices coming from the chief's office as she approached. His secretary opened the door to announce her.

"Ah, here she is. Lorne come in, join us. I'd like you to meet your new Chief Inspector…"

The chief continued talking but his words drifted past her. Lorne's mouth fell open. The man rose from his seat, his athletic frame blocking out the light filtering through the chief's window. His jet-black hair had wisps of grey running through it. His suit was obviously designer, proof if any were needed how far he had climbed up the police ladder.

As he stretched out his hand to shake hers she caught a glimpse of his immaculate white cuffs, fastened with gold cuff-links that glinted in the glare from the overhead light.

She felt anchored to the spot. Her reaction amused him, evident in the twinkle of his smoky-grey eyes. He cleared his throat and she glanced down at his outstretched hand. Lorne wiped her sweaty palm down the front of her skirt before slotting her hand into his. He squeezed it, crushing her fingers so they overlapped. He smirked, but she was determined not to wince or cry out in pain.

"…Sean will be taking over from me on Monday. Sorry, do you two know each other?" the chief asked, watching the sparks fly between them.

"Let's just say our paths have crossed once or twice before, haven't they, Lorne?" He winked and an ominous shiver shot up her spine.

She was relieved when he didn't let on to the chief just how
well
acquainted
they'd been in the past. "It's been a while, Sean," she said.

"Ah, times have certainly moved on, I'm afraid you'll have to call me boss, or Chief Inspector now, Lorne. It's a little less familiar, don't you agree?" His smirk deepened as her cheeks turned pink.

"Of course. I won't make the same mistake twice."

 "We've just been discussing you, Lorne," the chief said, as they all sat down.

Lorne focused on her current chief and raised an eyebrow. "You have?"

"Yes, I've been filling Sean in on your latest case. Told him how the killer has been contacting you and that you believe he's watching you. We've decided it'd be best if you took the weekend off. Have some 'R&R' and then start afresh on Monday. Let's be fair, it's been a while since you had any time off, you'd certainly benefit from it. What do you think?"

"With respect, sir, I think I'd rather stay on the case over the weekend. Try and catch the killer before he targets someone else. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that'd be extremely difficult to achieve if I'm sat on my backside at home."

Roberts broke in before his counterpart could speak. "I'm afraid it isn't open to discussion, Lorne. I need my best DI in
top
form
when I take over on Monday. I heard on the grapevine that you did an excellent job on the Gripper Jones case. When did you last have a day off?"

"I can't remember." Lorne's heart raced in annoyance.

"I'm sure, Tom, is it? Would be happy to spend a weekend with you for a change." His eyes challenged and Lorne's gaze dropped to the floor.
How dare he mention Tom's name!

A forgotten hatred she'd successfully kept buried for the last thirteen years bubbled to the surface. Was this Sean's chance to get revenge? Was he about to make her life a misery, the way she and Tom had once made his? She could feel the thumbscrews turning already. Maybe she should throw in the towel now, before she gave Sean the opportunity of sacking her?

 "When you know me better,
chief,
you'll realise I'm a workaholic. I tend to do my best police work when I'm under pressure. Tom accepts my career comes first," she said, trying to disguise her temper.

"I've heard all I need to hear about you, Lorne. I've followed your career closely over the years. I
insist
you take the weekend off to replenish your resources, then we can tackle the case on Monday, together."

Lorne backed down, realising it would be pointless to argue further.

"I know when I'm outnumbered. You win. I'll knock off at five tomorrow and return for duty at eight on Monday morning." She exhaled a deep, irritated, breath and got to her feet.

Roberts' voice followed her to the door. "Have a long weekend, Inspector. Finish at five tonight and report back at nine on Monday, not eight. I look forward to working with you,
Inspector
."

She was seething but determined not to show it. Turning, she smiled at the man who'd been her mentor over the years. "Are you having a farewell drink, sir?"

"I'll come back after you've solved the case I know that won't be long. Take care, Lorne, regards to Tom and Charlie." His smile was full of regret.
Is he sad he's going or guilty about leaving me in Sean's tyrannical hands?
It was an absurd thought because he didn't have a clue what Sean was like, but she did. She knew Sean Roberts very well, unfortunately.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Lorne slammed the door to her office behind her. Pete entered moments later and found her sitting at the desk, her head buried in her hands.

"What's up?" he asked, dropping into the chair opposite.

"I need time to cool down, Pete, if you don't mind." She picked up some files, stomped over to the filing-cabinet, thrust the files away and closed the drawer with a force that made the cabinet rock.

"I take it all this aggression is because you just met the new chief?"

"How do you know that? Have you been spying on me, too?"

"Don't take it out on me, boss. Hey, Molly and Tracy are in a right dither over him. Told me he's really good-looking. I can see Mitch's nose being put out of joint."

Her frustration grew. "You know what they say — never judge a book … I've got to get out of this place. Come on, grab the taxi drivers file. I'll just nip to the ladies' and meet you at the car."

* * *

"Are you stupid? Why take unnecessary risks? You were an idiot to burn the body in daylight like that, do you
want
to get caught?" The woman shuffled her feet nervously.

"I wanted to show that Inspector I was angry with her. I'm sick of her not taking me seriously." The man rifled through the newspaper, agitated he couldn't find the story about him and his handiwork.

"She's just slow that's all. I'm sure she's taking you seriously, she'd be foolish not to."

"Maybe we'll help things speed up a bit then, what do you say?"

"How?" the woman asked.

"I'm gonna snatch that Sedark woman in broad daylight. Let's see what Simpkins thinks of that. And if that doesn't work, we'll
make
the Inspector take us seriously."

"She's bound to make the connection soon, take things easy."

"I like playing with the woman." The corner of the man's mouth lifted.

"And if she catches you, where will that leave me?"

"I'll never leave you, love. A few more days and it'll be over. Then we'll get our lives back. Time to start afresh."

The two hugged and the woman sighed contentedly as the man kissed her forehead.

* * *

"Who's first on the list?" Lorne's foul mood lingered.

"Do you want to continue with the ones who were sent down on sexual assault charges or do you wanna start at the top?"

"Sexual deviants
first
."

"Tommy Adams. Lives ten minutes from here on Dune Street, another rough area."

"Nice to see they stick to the same parts of town. Just like sewer rats, they seem to know their place."

"Forty-nine, here it is, boss."

The windows of the house were boarded-up and the front wall was crumbling. As they walked up the three steps to the door, Pete pointed to the drain-pipe coming away from the wall, probably because someone had climbed up it to reach the first-floor flat.

A man in his mid-fifties, wearing a stained vest and jogging pants opened the door.

"Yeah, what d'ya want?" He took a drag from his cigarette and spluttered as he inhaled.

"We'd like to ask you a few questions about Kim Charlton." Lorne and Pete flashed their warrant cards.

"Who? Don't know anyone by that name."

The man tried to shut the door but Pete thrust his foot in the way. "Listen, buster, it's your choice — either you answer our questions here, or we do it down the cop shop. What's it to be?" Pete sneered, pushed the door back and burst into the hallway.

"Hey, you can't come bursting in here like some maniac, I got rights."

"Boss, have you got your cuffs handy? Guess we'll have to take this prick in after all."

"What the … There's no need for that. I told ya I don't know any Kate Charlton."

"Kim Charlton. Her name's
Kim
Charlton, she's a regular punter with your firm," Lorne corrected him. She looked over her shoulder at the small crowd gathering in the street.

"I ain't never picked her up, I swear. Check with the friggin' firm, they'll tell ya."

"Last Thursday, one of your colleagues was supposed to pick her up, he couldn't make it. Did you pick her up?"

"What time last Thursday?"

"Sometime between eleven and half-past, at night."

"Nope, I was one of the drivers that was told to stay in town. We usually stay outside the
Rose and Crown
pub, they start kicking out early down there 'cos they've had a lot of problems with customers getting rowdy after hours."

"How many of you were down there? Who were the others with you?" Lorne asked.

"Let me see. Len was there and young Aiden," the man said, eyeing Pete warily.

Lorne consulted her list and verified the names in full with Adams. "Len Dixon and Aiden Cole?"

"That's them. I can vouch they were with me about that time."

"Did any of them pick up a fare from the pub around then?" Pete asked.

"Maybe, I can't be that definite."

"But they could've?" Lorne asked, and the man nodded. "If they had, maybe one of the fares wanted to go near the girl's address. They might've dropped by and picked the girl up, is that possible?"

"Not really. The boss tells us to drop off quick and get straight back to the pub."

"Okay, thanks for your help, Mr Adams. If you remember anything else will you give me a ring?" Lorne handed him a business card, and she and Pete left.

"Guess that just made the list smaller by three names." Pete grumbled to himself.

"Who's next?" Lorne checked her watch. Four o'clock, one more visit then they'd call it a day. She had no intention of working a single minute past five, as instructed by her new boss.