Dead Lucky (17 page)

‘I’m out of it now, aren’t I?’

‘I mean, actually left it. Went for a walk, or to the shops?’

‘I do all his shopping for him,’ said the woman, still standing in a defensive pose.

‘Yes, Sally does all my shopping. I don’t like going out much.’

‘When was the last time, Noel?’

‘Don’t know, three, four years ago.’

They drove back to the station in silence. Matilda imagined that Walker had been as shocked as she was when Lambert had put them together. He’d eased off with the macho bullshit since the posting but Matilda sensed a tension in the man every time she was with him. She’d sensed it before in other people. Walker was a time bomb. It was eating him up holding his tongue, and she knew he would eventually snap. He rubbed his manicured beard. ‘What a waste of time and effort.’

‘At least we can take one suspect off the list.’

‘Yeah, right. If it wasn’t such a ridiculous idea, I would say Lambert sent us on this wild goose chase on purpose.’

‘Lambert?’

‘Yes, Lambert.’

‘Why would he do that?’

‘Maybe he wants you out the way. It’s his first big case since he returned. He could be onto something, and wants to take the glory himself.’

She thought back to last night, the way Lambert had been with Sackville. ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘Oh yeah, look at the shit storm he caused on the Souljacker case. Going offline like that.’

Kennedy knew he was trying to get her onside. It was so obvious as to be painful. ‘I would keep your opinions to yourself, Walker.’

‘Sorry for having an opinion.’

‘Opinions are okay, but you’re being disloyal.’

Walker smirked. ‘Can’t be disloyal to the team, can we?’

‘What the hell does that mean?’

‘Same rules apply to everyone,’ said Walker. He wound down the passenger side window and gazed out, signalling he’d finished talking.

Matilda shook her head and switched on the radio.

The incident room was full by the time they returned. Even Tillman was there, effortlessly ignoring her. He was deep in conversation with Lambert, who’d at least looked up once she’d arrived. They were talking to another officer whom she didn’t recognise. There was a buzz to the room but also a palpable tension. She’d been in this position in a case before. Everyone realised they were close to something but it was intangible at the moment. Matilda knew there was a danger they could lose focus at this stage. There were too many possibilities, too many different avenues they could take. Now was the time to focus on one or two lines of enquiry but such a decision was beyond her pay scale at present. Lambert stopped talking to Tillman, and nodded over to her.

‘This is DS Harrogate from Organised Crime.’

Harrogate nodded.

‘You’re investigating Blake?’ said Matilda.

‘That’s right.’

‘We’ll go into more details during the briefing,’ said Lambert. He gently pressed his hand against her back and led her away from Harrogate. ‘How did it go with Whitfield?’

‘Dead end. He’s been holed up in his flat the last few years. Nothing but skin and bones. What’s he doing here?’

‘Politics as normal. Someone’s been on to Tillman. They’re warning us off pursuing Blake for the time being.’

‘So what Sackville said was true?’ said Matilda.

‘Looks that way.’

‘But this is a murder enquiry.’

‘They don’t think it supersedes what he’s working on. You know how things work, Kennedy. According to Harrogate this is just the tip of the iceberg. If they get what they want, hundreds of unsolved murders will be resolved.’

‘It’s bullshit,’ said Matilda.

‘Listen it’s only guidelines. Let him have his say but I promise you nothing’s going to stop us getting the person we want.’

Lambert looked around the room and the silence gradually descended. ‘Thank you for all coming, I know you’ve a lot of work on. I wanted to call an untimed debrief to update you on a few new strands. As you know, DS Kennedy and I met with Eustace Sackville again last evening. We discussed his recent reports on Blake. It seems that Blake is already under investigation by Organised Crime. This is DS Harrogate. He’ll explain more.’

Matilda smirked. Without even trying, Lambert had made evident his distaste for Harrogate.

Harrogate’s explanation was less than brief. He told them that he was running a classified operation involving people trafficking. ‘Nothing about this can leave this room,’ he warned everyone.

Matilda looked around the room, noticing the man’s tone had not gone down very well with the rest of the team.

As Harrogate sat down, Lambert looked at him puzzled.

‘You heard it boys and girls. We’ve to ease back on Blake for the time being. Thank you DS Harrogate, that will be all.’

Harrogate grimaced and looked about him, clearly unhappy to be dismissed in front of everyone. He looked at Tillman for support but the chief superintendent just shrugged his shoulders. ‘Be seeing you,’ said Lambert as Harrogate left the room to a chorus of whispered laughs.

Lambert exchanged a look with Tillman who stood up. ‘Unfortunately we’re to do as Harrogate suggested for the time being. But we’re definitely not ruling Blake out at this stage. If anything concrete comes in then I’m giving you permission to go in,’ said Tillman, ‘Right, I’ll leave you all to it.’

An audible gasp of relief shook the room once Tillman had left.

‘Devlin, what do we have on the Sackville files?’ said Lambert.

‘We started going through them last night, our focus on the files mentioning Blake. Sackville’s personal investigations back up what DS Harrogate just said, though to be fair they go into a little more detail.’

Everyone laughed at this and Devlin smiled, pleased with the solidarity in the room. ‘The trouble is there are over four hundred thousand words in the document. We’ve run all the cross-searches we can think of linking everyone so far involved in the case. But we’re just going to have to sit down and read them, old school.’

‘I’ll leave that with you,’ said Lambert. ‘Get as much help as you want. Divide it into small sections and get reading. Reconvene back here at seven p.m.’

‘Sir we’re supposed to attend the drinks with murder squad this evening. DS Sherwood is leaving,’ shouted out one of the constables from the tech team.

‘I think the six reported murders take precedence over a piss up,’ said Lambert, before adding: ‘That said, I’m not saying we’re not going, but we’re back here at seven first. There is a link between the Sackville and Dempsey families, I’m sure of it. Now we just have to find it. Back here at seven.’

The team dispersed. Matilda agreed with Lambert. She only wished she knew how to find the link.

Lambert moved to Kennedy’s desk. ‘We’re going to have to get Dempsey and Sackville together at some point.’

‘They’re not going to release her from the hospital any time soon.’

‘Then we might have to bring Sackville in. I want you to speak to Laura Dempsey. See if you can get any more from her, even if you have to tell her about Blake. About what Sackville’s been working on.’

‘What about DS Harrogate?’

‘Ignore Harrogate. I’m just paying lip service to Tillman and the others. Speak to her and tell her whatever you need to jolt her memory. The more I think about it, the more there’s no way this is coincidental. He’s choosing his victims and there’s a reason. Laura Dempsey and Eustace Sackville will have to tell us.’

Devlin stopped them as they left the incident room. ‘Sir, someone in reception wants to speak to you.’

Chapter 25

Charles Robinson was waiting in reception. ‘DCI Lambert, DS Kennedy. This is my colleague, Giles Lansdowne.’

‘What can I do for you, Mr Robinson?’ Lambert had put Robinson to the back of his mind since discovering the bodies of Laura Dempsey’s parents. The ensuing silence had obviously bothered the barrister.

‘I thought it prudent to clear up any questions you may have for me. The last I saw of you…’

‘Is there something you wish to tell us, Mr Robinson?’

Robinson looked at his colleague. ‘Nothing specific, but if you have anything to ask me?’

Lambert exchanged a glance with Kennedy, noticing the hint of amusement in her eyes. ‘We have nothing to ask you at present, but thanks for making the journey.’

Robinson grimaced. ‘I must say, I am finding this most inconvenient. I know how you work these things, and I would have really hoped for some better treatment.’

‘Work these things?’ asked Kennedy.

‘Better treatment?’ added Lambert.

‘You are trying to make me uncomfortable, for whatever reason. I know you want to ask me some more questions, why else did you approach me at the Bailey?’

‘Things move on, Mr Robinson. We’ll be in contact if necessary.’

‘May I suggest that you call me if you want to speak to my client any further?’ Giles Lansdowne handed Lambert a gold embossed business card.

‘You think you need legal representation, Mr Robinson?’

‘Let’s go, Giles. I’m not playing silly buggers any more.’

‘What was that all about?’ asked Kennedy, as the two lawyers left the building.

‘I was about to question Robinson at the Old Bailey when I thought about Laura’s parents. He’s just protecting himself, doesn’t want his name dragged through the mud.’

‘Why don’t we question him?’

‘Let him sweat for the time being. I’ll speak to him on my own terms. He hasn’t been forthcoming with us so I don’t think he deserves special treatment.’

‘I take it Giles Lansdowne won’t be present,’ said Kennedy, that look of amusement on her face again.

‘Highly unlikely. Right, I’ll see you at the debrief.’

‘Sir.’

‘Matilda, before you go.’

Kennedy raised her eyebrows at him using her first name.

‘If there is anything you need to tell me, at any time, you know where to find me.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘I mean it. If there is anything you need to tell me, related to the case, or not, then you can tell me in full confidence.’

‘Good to know. Thank you, sir.’

Back in his office, he logged on to The System. He searched through Eustace Sackville’s social media posting using the back end access. He did the same for Laura Dempsey, and cross-checked the searches. He added in Curtis Blake, and broadened the search to include internet searches, and news stories. If The System had a downside, it was its effectiveness. The searches on the individuals provided hundreds of results, too numerous to tackle without hours of manpower. Lambert tried limiting the search, but was hampered by not knowing exactly what he was looking for. In one of his folders, the searches on Kennedy’s father waited for him. He wasn’t convinced anything relevant was in the files, thought it was possible that the killer was trying to divert his attention.

He called the tech department to check if there was any way of tracking unknown calls on his phone. ‘If you bring the phone in we can see what we can do,’ said a female voice.

‘What are the chances of tracking it if the caller doesn’t want us to?’

‘If they are moderately competent then it could prove to be very difficult. They could call via Wi-Fi and bounce the IP addresses all over the place.’

Lambert hung up and drummed his fingers on the desk, frustrated at how close they were. He hoped Kennedy’s interview with Laura Dempsey would reap some reward. If that failed, then he would have to get Dempsey and Sackville together soon. He was adamant they were both withholding something.

He drove the short distance to Sackville’s safe house, and showed his warrant card to the two plain clothes officers.

‘How you liking your new surroundings, Eustace?’

‘Can’t complain, though we’re running low on single malt.’

‘It’s barely past noon,’ said Lambert, boiling the kettle.

‘Don’t I know it.’

‘It’s Blake’s sixtieth in a couple of days. You going?’

Sackville snorted, accepting the mug of instant coffee. ‘It’s officially a surprise party, from what I’ve heard. Blake is going to make a grand entrance once the guests arrive.’

‘Who’s going to be there?’

‘Apart from family, everyone. You should take all your outstanding arrest warrants, you’d have a field day.’

Lambert thought about DS Harrogate’s case, and wondered if he had plans for the day. Whatever Harrogate thought, and the orders he’d received from Tillman, the only reason he hadn’t visited Blake again was due to the phone calls he kept receiving. It was possible they were a diversion tactic set by Blake, but Lambert was happy to wait until he knew more.

‘So, we’ve started reading through your files.’

‘Right. Not sure I’ve given you permission, but anyway.’

‘A lot of prose, Eustace. Could you help by narrowing down our search?’

‘The files about Blake are all there. Not much more I can do, and by the sounds of it your boy Harrogate has all that business sorted out.’

‘What do you know about Blake’s staff?’

‘Staff? That is a very loose term. Why, what are you angling at?’

‘Anyone you could think of who would be disloyal?’

‘To Curtis Blake? Not if they have any sense. Some of the stories I’ve heard.’

Lambert had heard them all, had seen the fallout on occasions. Betraying people like Curtis Blake resulted in more than death. From what Lambert had seen, death was the last, merciful act.

‘Anyone new, anyone you’re not sure of?’

Sackville looked distastefully at his instant coffee.

‘Tell me what you know and I’ll order some supplies. This could be for your own benefit, Eustace.’

‘His team are pretty well established. Your buddy Harrogate knows all this, by the way. His inner sanctum are mainly family, even his accountant is a nephew. There are outsiders who work for him but they are accounted for. The only senior people not family would be the lawyer, and the security guy. In fact, all the security are outsiders. He prefers ex-military. Head guy is Atkinson, then Wallace and Richards. There are at least seven or eight or more ex-service personnel who work below Atkinson. The whole team were together in the Gulf. They’re all ex-special ops of one sort or another. Below that team, they have a subset who do some of the more unsavoury work.’