Three Steps to Hell (13 page)

“Possibly nicked, dumped and torched then,” replied Tom.

“I matched the engine and chassis numbers to a bike with a registered owner in Glasgow. It’s not shown on PNC (Police National Computer) as stolen. Uniform are getting some checks done, I’ll let you know the outcome.”

“Thanks Dave”

“Have we had any positive responses or sightings of Colin Peterson after all the circulations you did Sarge?”

“No Dave, nothing of any relevance, I can’t believe his car hasn’t been sighted. I phoned Maria Peterson this morning and she hasn’t any update at all. Very strange.”

“And how was your fantasy woman today Sarge?”

“Very funny, go and get on with some work, I’ll see you in the pub later.”

“Do you want me to call and see Wayne Evans to see if he would be willing to help us a little with the identity of these two bikers Sarge?”

“By all means Dave, but all you’ll get will be a torrent of abuse off that arsehole.”

“I’ll use my best Detective skills.”

“God help us, don’t bother going then.”

“But I learnt everything I know from you Sarge.”

Tom shouted, “Bugger off Sweetface and shut the door after you.”

Dave Sweeting left Tom to his paperwork.

In the middle of the afternoon Tom received an interesting call from London’s Metropolitan Police. NCP car parks had reported an Aston Martin motor car left in one of their Heathrow short term car parks for several days now. Six hours was the maximum allowed in this car park. Despite the now abundant parking tickets on it, it had not moved which had seemed odd to one of the parking attendants bearing in mind the value of such a special motor car, although it was apparently locked up and fully secure. A check by the local police had brought up Tom’s circulation on it. He asked them to leave it where it was until he could ascertain whether there were any spare keys but to clamp it so it couldn’t go anywhere. He also discovered that there was CCTV within the car park and asked that the relevant film footage be retained.

Tom considered phoning Maria Peterson about the spare key but then thought he would take a drive over and surprise her to see her reaction to the news. He booked out in the duty book, picked a set of CID car keys off the key rack and left for East Point. He had a leisurely drive there fantasising about the gorgeous Maria Peterson. If only Jenny Ryan had the same stunning classical beauty and immense sex appeal of Maria, Tom thought. How come it’s always plain Janes who take an interest in me? Just looking at Maria makes me go weak inside. Why can’t I find a woman like her to spend the rest of my life with?

On arriving at Colmar Grounds he pressed the intercom.

“Is that you Jackie?”

“Yes”

“It’s Detective Sergeant Lancaster.”

“Come in, I’ll open the front door and tell Mrs Peterson you’re here.”

“Thank you Jackie.”

Tom drove through the electric gates, down the drive and parked on the gravel near the front door. Once at the door Tom was again shown into the kitchen.

“What no Jasper today?” quipped Tom.

“No, you’re safe today, he’s out in the garden somewhere, Mrs Peterson will be over from her office in a few minutes.”

“Shall I go over there?”

“No, she was most adamant that I should make you a coffee here and she would be over in a minute.”

Tom and Jackie passed the time of day. Tom heard the handle of the back door and in walked Maria Peterson.

“Sergeant Lancaster what a pleasant surprise, I hope you have good news for me about Colin.”

“Please call me Tom.”

As she walked towards the kitchen table Tom was once again totally knocked out by her staggering beauty and immense style. She was wearing a pencil skirt, stilettos and dark stockings or tights. Tom liked to imagine that they were stockings. She had the most amazingly beautiful slim ankles, the walk of a goddess and her hair! Well, this time she was wearing her hair down. It was incredible, so long, dark, shiny and full of body with gentle curls. Another elegantly tailored blouse, once again showing her very ample cleavage proudly to all who cared to look. To kiss this woman would be more exciting than winning eight million on the lottery, Tom mused.

“The Metropolitan Police have found his car Mrs Peterson.”

“Great, is he okay, where is he?” she excitedly replied.

“No, no, sorry Mrs Peterson, just the car not Colin.”

Maria sank down into one of the chairs at the kitchen table, put her head in her hands and said,

“Oh no Tom, is it bad news you’re trying to tell me?”

“Well I don’t know Maria all we have found is the car, it was at Heathrow Airport in a short term NCP car park. A parking attendant brought it to the attention of the police after it had been there for several days contrary to parking regulations. I’ve asked them to clamp it so it can’t go anywhere and they’re retrieving CCTV footage for me for when it was parked. I came over to see if you have spare keys for it because it’s all locked up.”

“Where do you think he’s gone Tom, does this mean he caught a plane?”

“I’ve no idea what it means yet Maria, but I intend to find out.”

“I’ll see if I can find his spare keys, has Jackie offered you a coffee?”

“No, but I’d love one.”

Maria Peterson told Jackie to make coffee and disappeared further into the house. She re-appeared about 10 minutes later with a spare set of keys for the Aston Martin.

“Sorry for the delay Tom, they were in our key cabinet over in my office, so what do we do next?”

“I will get the Met Scenes of Crime Officers to examine the car and get one of my men to drive it back to Brampton Police Station. If Mr Peterson returns for his car he may well think it’s been stolen and then hopefully contact the police so that we can determine that he is okay.”

“Oh, I do hope everything’s all right with him, but why would he go away like this and not tell me where nor contact me or any of his business associates Tom?”

“I’ve no idea.”

“Did he use his mobile much Mrs Peterson?”

“Tom, please please call me Maria, there’s no need to be so formal.”

“Okay Maria, thank you.”

“In answer to your question Tom, yes he was always talking on the damn thing why?”

“I’ve had all his personal financial arrangements flagged including his credit cards, mobile phone etc. There has been no activity on anything not even his mobile which frankly doesn’t look good Maria.”

“Oh Tom, I’m so worried about him, none of this makes any sense, something awful must have happened to him.”

Maria was finding it difficult to muster a tear in her eye but she managed it and luckily Tom hadn’t noticed her acting difficulties.

Tom put his hand across the table and placed it on top of one of hers.

“Please Maria, I promise I will do everything I can to find him, yes it is very worrying, but let’s hope he’s okay and there is some logical explanation at the end of the day.”

Wow, thought Tom, her hand felt so good, warm and so soft. She had the most beautiful slender fingers and elegantly manicured hands. Was there any part of this woman that wasn’t perfect he thought to himself.

He reluctantly removed his hand.

“I know you’ll do your best Tom, but I am so worried and I do miss him so. It’s the not knowing that’s so awful.”

“Now, how about letting me check the other office, you were reluctant to let me do so on my last visit.”

“Tom, there is no need and it would be too disruptive. It’s a busy day today. I assure you nothing there could help you at all as it’s my office really. Colin had little to do with that area of our business. He was predominately interested in properties and antiques. The shipping, transport and house clearance business is run by myself and my manager.”

“Well could I speak to your manager?”

“I have already quizzed him Tom. He has no idea where Colin was going. Colin rarely shared much with him as they didn’t always see eye to eye. Today is not a good day, next time you visit I will bring him up to the house so you can meet and talk to him.”

“Okay Maria, I won’t trouble you any more today. Anyway I need to get these keys back so that I can make the arrangements for your husband’s car to be collected. Can I just ask what your manager’s name is?”

“Rashid Pavrek.”

“And his address?”

“He lives here Tom. We have two cottages half way up the drive.”

“Oh yes, I saw them. Looks like they are being renovated.”

“Yes they are, it’s a bit of a mess up there at the moment but it’s free accommodation for Rashid and it helps me if he’s nearby so that he can keep his finger on the pulse and keep the business running efficiently. Transport is a difficult business, there are always problems with road and shipping delays so the hours can be long for him. He’s a good loyal employee though and I pay him well.”

Maria started walking out into the hall towards the front door to show Tom out.

“Right Tom, thanks for coming over, let me know as soon as there is any more news please.”

“Will do Maria, you have my mobile number. If you hear anything at all let me know won’t you.”

“Of course Tom.”

Tom walked to his car and drove up the drive past the two cottages towards the main gates. He wanted to drive directly alongside the cottages but access to them was not via the same drive. They were separated from the drive by green areas and a hedgerow and had their own gated access which was exclusively via the old farm track that passed directly in front of the barns and old farm buildings where Maria had her offices. He didn’t want to upset Maria by snooping unnecessarily.

Tom left Colmar Grounds and travelled back to the office. He used his personal radio to contact Dave Sweeting to meet him back at the office.

Tom still couldn’t help having lustful thoughts about Maria. When she had started to shed a tear he had wanted to put an arm around her and comfort her but knew that would have been totally inappropriate.

Once back in the office he sat with Dave Sweeting and explained about the discovery of Colin Peterson’s car. He handed him the keys and told him he wanted him to go to Heathrow the following morning to meet a Met Officer and their Scenes of Crime Officer, to supervise a full examination of the vehicle and contents and to liaise with NCP to get hold of the CCTV footage for the day it was parked.

“Then Sweetface….”

Dave Sweeting’s eyes lit up because he knew what Tom was about to say.

“….Yes, you can drive it back here and put it in the compound until he’s been found.”

“Hey, thanks Sargie, a nice long drive in an Aston Martin, brilliant. I will take the longest route back from Heathrow possible, probably via Scotland,” he said jokingly.

“Yeah, I bet you will but no picking up any blondes on the way back, the car could be essential evidence depending how this turns out.”

“As if I would Sarge.”

“Right, I’ve just got a couple of things to do then I think it will be time for that beer.”

“See you over there Sarge.”

“Carlos, I need to see you.”

Maria was speaking to Carlos from her office phone.

“Okay, is tonight okay?”

“Yes about 8.30, usual place please.”

“No problem, see you there Maria.”

Maria Peterson had done some thinking after Tom’s visit. She had determined that Tom was indeed a very professional and probably very thorough and intuitive Detective and that she needed to make his job of finding her husband a little more complex and move his attention away from Colmar Grounds.

That evening both met at Pierros restaurant about 30 miles away from Brampton. This was Carlos’s favourite restaurant partly because he owned it and partly because the Chef he employed there had become a good friend who always ensured his meals were of the very best quality and cooked exactly to his liking. He made the best Valencian paella outside Spain.

Carlos had reserved his usual table in a very private and quiet corner of the restaurant. Having ordered their meals and a bottle of the restaurant’s finest red wine both relaxed and discussed important business.

“So Maria what did you need to speak to me about so urgently?”

“I need a favour Carlos, it will involve a couple of days away if you can spare the time.”

“No problem, I have the time, if you can handle everything here on your own.”

“Yes I feel a lot more comfortable since our shipment went, I’m pleased it’s all over, you and I can run things now. You’re absolutely certain that the two fishermen will have handled it properly?”

“Yes Maria, gone forever, don’t worry. Anyway, I trust them implicitly and pay them handsomely. Those crates will never open or surface, they are welded closed and being steel will take many many years to deteriorate. Everything will be fine. The police are fools you have nothing to worry about.”

“That brings me to my point Carlos. The enquiry is being handled by a Detective Sergeant Tom Lancaster. I think he is going to prove to be very persistent and a bit too thorough. We need to lead the enquiry away from Colmar Grounds.”

“Why has he suddenly become so involved?”

“Partly my fault I think. In my desire to appear to be a genuinely distraught loving wife who is beyond reproach, I spoke to a Superintendent that we met through the Golf Club. I asked him for the best help he could provide in finding Colin and along came Detective Sergeant Lancaster, very highly recommended.”

Carlos grinned, “That will teach you, always trying to be too devious for your own good.”

Maria handed Carlos a mobile phone.

“This is Colin’s, the police are monitoring any use. I would like you to fly to Spain then Italy over the next couple of days and make a couple of calls using this phone in each country. Just phone a couple of good quality hotels to enquire about room costs and availability or something like that but obviously don’t make a booking. Only turn the phone on just prior to making the call, then after the call turn it off again so that its location can’t be traced whilst you are travelling and carrying it. Then before you return to the UK leave it somewhere so that it will be stolen and then hopefully used by someone else. It should send them on a lovely wild goose chase for a while. I have removed the security pin number so whoever picks it up will be able to easily use it and it’s on a contract payment on the business account which I will ensure continues to be paid for the time being.”