searched tomorrow under an official warrant, they traded Chalky. They don’t seem to like him very much.’ ‘The woman who runs the squat doesn’t like people she can’t manage . . . and I imagine Chalky’s a bit of a nightmare when he’s drunk.’ She stooped for her medical case, which had only been released from the car after she threatened to sue the Metropolitan Police for depriving her of her livelihood. ‘Is Charles still at the Crown?’ ‘No. He was removed about an hour ago after agreeing to spend the night in a cell. You’re welcome to check on him back at the station. He’s not under arrest and I don’t have a problem with you talking to him.’
Jackson eyed the superintendent thoughtfully. ‘Why so generous suddenly? What if I repeat your suspicions to him?’
‘I wouldn’t advise it, Doctor. If he changes his story now, he’ll be digging an even bigger hole for himself.’
*
Chalky was already in the interview room when Jones and Beale returned with Jackson. They watched him on the monitor as he sat swearing at the uniformed constable who was in the room with him. ‘He’s not happy,’ said Khan. ‘He’s claiming wrongful identity . . . harassment . . . false imprisonment . . . and anything else you can imagine. I’ve offered him legal representation, but he doesn’t like solicitors either.’ Jones turned to Jackson. ‘Doctor?’ She nodded. ‘That’s the man I know as Chalky.’ ‘Is he drunk?’ Jones asked Khan. ‘Claims he isn’t. It’s one of his beefs as a matter of fact. He says the women keep hiding their bottles and cans, and he hasn’t had a decent bevvy in days.’ He paused. ‘Apart from a bottle of vodka that the lieutenant gave him yesterday.’ ‘So he admits meeting the lieutenant?’ ‘Not in so many words. He mentioned taking the word of an arrogant bastard officer . . . then a little bit later he said the arrogant bastard had bribed him with a bottle of vodka. I’m assuming he was referring to the lieutenant.’ ‘Mm. Well, I suggest we don’t make any assumptions at this stage . . . except that he’s sober. You’re not going to tell me different, are you, Doctor? He looks fit enough to answer questions to me.’ ‘If you want a professional opinion that you can use in court, then you’ll have to let me examine him.’ ‘That’s not a bad idea. It’ll be interesting to see how he reacts to you. I wouldn’t mind him knowing his card’s been marked by someone who can recognize him.’
*
The smell in the room was ferocious. ‘Don’t you know anything about hygiene, Chalky?’ asked Jackson amiably. ‘You’re stinking worse than the last time I saw you.’
He glared at her. ‘What you doing here? Where’s the lootenant? Fucking bastard conned me . . . gave me his word he wouldn’t let on where I was.’
‘He didn’t,’ she said. ‘It was me who suggested you might be at the squat.’
Chalky spat on the floor. ‘Bloody interfering women . . . Can’t let a man alone . . . Got to be at him all the time. How’s the kid?’
‘Still in hospital but doing all right.’
‘He’s the one they should be talking to. What the fuck do
‘Let’s hope you still can,’ said Jackson pleasantly. ‘As I understand it, you’re not under arrest.’
‘Amounts to the same bloody thing. Me and the cops don’t see eye to eye on much.’
‘Then the sooner you’re out of here the better. They’ve asked me to assess whether you’re sober enough to answer questions. What’s your opinion?’
He looked at her through narrowed lids, a calculating gleam in his eyes. ‘Wouldn’t know what it feels like . . . Haven’t been sober for twenty years. Can’t answer questions in the state I’m in.’
‘You might find the alternative worse,’ Jackson warned him. ‘You’ll suffer withdrawal symptoms if the police keep you on ice until the alcohol’s out of your bloodstream. You seem pretty alert to me and I’m willing to give them the go-ahead now, but I’m equally happy to test your blood for alcohol if you’d rather delay.’
Chalky held his palm parallel with the table. ‘Shaking like a fucking leaf. It’s alcohol I
*
Whether by design or accident, Jones allowed Jackson to watch the monitor while Chalky was interviewed by DC Khan and a second detective whom she hadn’t seen before. The door to the viewing room stood open and she stepped quietly inside after a visit to the cells, where she’d found Charles asleep. Two other members of the inquiry team were gathered around the screen, but there was no sign of Beale. If anyone noticed Jackson’s arrival they didn’t comment on it. Most of Chalky’s statements contained long, complaining monologues against the police, bossy dykes, lying officers, ungrateful teenagers and the inhuman brutality of ‘denying a bloke a bevvy’. But in essence his story corroborated Jackson’s and Acland’s in relation to the events in the alleyway and the subsequent drive to St Thomas’s. ‘Do you remember how many bags Ben brought in with him, Chalky?’ ‘Just the two . . . a black rucksack and a Londis carrier.’ ‘And how many did the lieutenant have?’ ‘Reckon he had two as well . . . a kitbag and a duffel.’ ‘Are you sure about that?’ ‘You calling me a liar?’ Khan shook his head. ‘Just getting a few facts straight. Is it true you took the Londis bag? We’ve been told it had cigarettes and alcohol in it.’ ‘What if I did? The kid can’t use it in the hospital. I’ll pay him back next time I see him.’ ‘What about the duffel? Did you take that as well?’ ‘Course not. It wasn’t mine.’ ‘So what happened to it?’ ‘The lootenant took it.’
Khan studied him for a moment. ‘Meaning what? That he never removed it from the doctor’s boot?’
Chalky looked as if he was about to spit on the floor again, then appeared to think better of it. ‘Don’t ask me, mate,’ he said indifferently. ‘I wasn’t looking . . . But the lootenant’s the one that’s got it. It sure as hell ain’t nothing to do with me.’
Khan nodded. ‘That’s pretty much what we thought.’
‘So what am I doing here?’ Chalky asked belligerently. ‘The likes of me have rights, too, you know.’
‘We’re aware of that and we’re grateful for your assistance. You’ve confirmed an important piece of evidence for us. Up until now, we only had the lieutenant’s word that the duffel bag was ever in the boot. The doctor never saw it and, for all we knew, the lieutenant had reasons of his own to invent a bag that didn’t exist.’
Chalky’s black eyebrows drew together in a ferocious frown. ‘I ain’t confirming nothing.’
Khan consulted some notes on the table in front of him. ‘Why did you hole up in Bread Street, Chalky?’
