would have been known to Morley. If her initial request was for his taxi service, he was unlikely to refuse her.
Her second victim, Martin Britton, was described by everyone who knew him as ‘courteous’. Britton’s brother believes Martin would have invited Morley in because of the connection with his partner. From her previous visits to the house, Morley may have known that the two men kept cash on the premises.
Morley’s third victim, Kevin Atkins, may be the only one who responded to an offer of sex. His ex-wife says, ‘He hated being on his own, particularly at weekends. We used to do things as a family and he missed that terribly.’ Atkins preferred to be paid in cash for ‘VAT and tax reasons’ and kept it in a ‘roll’ until he could get to a bank.
Despite inviting Morley on to their premises, Steele believes all three men reacted negatively afterwards. Either by questioning the value she put on herself or by refusing requests for money.
Lt Acland’s evidence offers a pattern of how Morley uses a stun gun to exercise control. He was told he’d be allowed to recover as long as he followed her orders – ‘crawling naked round the floor pretending to be a dog’ – but any show of disobedience would result in another hit.
Lt Acland refused to comply, but it’s doubtful that less fit, older men would have been willing to do the same. They may also have believed that being instructed to dress in bathrobes and lie on their beds was merely a device to prevent them following her when she left.
Because her victims lived alone, there was no bar to Morley’s behaviour. She did what she did because she could.
Conclusion
My team and I have come to know Harry Peel, Martin Britton and Kevin Atkins during the months we’ve worked on their cases. These were good, decent men who deserve better than to allow their killer to plead self-defence or diminished responsibility.
All efforts are now being directed at proving that Morley’s motive was financial gain, and that she was prepared to murder her victims because they knew her and could identify her.
I trust this deals with your concerns.
Best wishes,
Thirty-one
DAISY APPEARED QUIETLY in the open bedroom doorway and watched Acland pack his kitbag. Everything he owned was laid out neatly on the bed and, like others before her, she was struck by how little he had. To her, the most poignant articles were the single mess tin and mug which spoke of a life that wouldn’t be shared with anyone else.
She shifted her position slightly to draw attention to herself. ‘Jackson doesn’t want you to go,’ she murmured quietly to avoid her voice carrying downstairs, ‘but I don’t think she’ll tell you herself.’
‘Has she actually said that?’ Acland asked, folding a T-shirt.
‘Not in so many words . . . but I’m sure I’m right.’
He glanced at her with genuine warmth in his expression. ‘I don’t think you are, Daisy. Jackson’s a realist. She knows there’s no way I can suddenly redefine myself as an anonymous paying guest . . . not if she keeps watching me for migraines and you keep trying to feed me.’ He tucked the T-shirt into his kitbag. ‘Thanks for saying it, though.’
‘Will you keep in touch?’
‘Sure.’
Daisy didn’t believe him. ‘I know you think Jacks is strong-minded and tough, but most of that’s a front. She worries about everything underneath. She’ll worry about
Acland pushed the T-shirt to the bottom of his kitbag. ‘She can always find out where I am from the police. I have to report in on a weekly basis in case I’m needed for further questioning.’
‘I can’t see you doing that either,’ said Daisy with sudden conviction. ‘You’ll disappear and leave everyone wondering where you went and what happened to you.’
Acland eyed her for a moment. ‘It worked for Chalky,’ he said.
*
Jones had expressed the same doubts as Daisy when Acland sought him out on Monday morning to tell him he was planning to leave the Bell the next day. With his bail conditions lifted, he was free to travel again. ‘Are you about to do a runner on me, Lieutenant?’ ‘No.’ ‘How good is your word?’ ‘As good as it’s ever been.’ The superintendent nodded. ‘But I’d like to be sure you really understand what’s at stake here. We’ll get a conviction of some kind without you . . . but I doubt we’ll have justice. Any accusation Jen chooses to fling at you will go unchallenged if you’re not in court to defend yourself.’ ‘I won’t be the one on trial.’ ‘But your good name will, along with the reputations of Jen’s three victims . . . and dead men don’t have voices. The blacker she paints you the better her chances.’ Acland hesitated. ‘You might do better without me,’ he said. ‘In a contest between Quasimodo and Uma Thurman, I can’t see the jury believing Quasimodo.’ Jones looked amused. ‘You’re the wrong body shape for Quasimodo, Charles. Dracula, possibly.’ ‘Same problem – Beauty versus the Beast – and I’m not sure my name matters that much to me, Superintendent. It hasn’t done me any favours so far.’ ‘Then here’s where we part company,’ said Jones, ‘because I have a lot of respect for Lieutenant Acland.’ He looked for a response in the younger man’s expression and shook his head when he didn’t find it. ‘The doctor’s right. You’re far too keen on
martyrdom, my friend . . . and it’s your least attractive quality.
Your forte is fighting.’
‘I’m not allowed to do that any more.’
‘There’s more than one way of skinning a cat. Pick a legal fight. Become a champion.’
