Deadly Intent

America. The other three had also been repossessed, as recently as a year ago, due to the properties being heavily remortgaged, their leases held by a bank in Germany that had collapsed with massive debts.Langton was keen to get more information, now privy to the fact that Fitzpatrick had lost millions when the BCCI bank had collapsed. He wondered if the man had switched to laundering money via the German bank, which like BCCI had gone belly upward. This could be a reason for his possible return to the UK: their kingpin might be needing cash. This would coincide with Julia Brandon's release of the four million. It was possible. But they still needed confirmation that they were hunting for the right man.Anna was in her office, preparing her reports, when she got the call from Pete. He wanted her to be the first to know. 'The part palmprint— the one from the Mitsubishi—is no go, but the small section from one left-handed index finger is a match with the ones sent to us from Oxford. You've been right all along, Anna: that bloody guy is back in London.'Anna wanted to yell, she was so thrilled. She banged her desk with the flat of her hand. 'Fabulous.''Come over later, will you?'She doubted she could. With this new information, none of them would be released until late. She was just replacing the phone when Langton banged in and leaned over to grip her by the arms and kiss her.'Fucking brilliant—we just had verification that a print matches Alexander Fitzpatrick!' She sat back in her chair as he made a big expansive gesture, grinning like a schoolboy. 'You've never let this go, have you? And you've been on the ball from day one!'She was flushed, not just from the kiss; she was so chuffed about being proved correct.Next to congratulate her was Phil. 'I guess I owe you an apology.' She smiled as he came to her desk and held out his hand. 'Sorry!''That's okay. It's certainly making this a really big case.'He leaned closer. 'That's why Langton's hovering around. I think Cunningham could cheerfully wring his neck, but with this new development, he's going to want a slice of the kudos. They've been after this son of a bitch for over twenty years.''We have to find him first.''Yeah, Langton's arranging a dawn swoop.'She frowned. 'What?''On both Julia's and Honour's homes. I'm off now. Back at the crack of dawn, so I want some sleep.' Phil walked out, hands stuffed into his pockets, whistling.The news of this step forward had given everyone a buzz, but it irritated Anna that she had not even been told the dawn raid was going down. She was about to call Cunningham when she, like Phil, appeared in the doorway. 'Langton is over everything like a bloody rash. We have instructions to go into both women's homes at dawn.''That's good,' Anna said quietly.'So which one do you want to head up?'Anna smiled. She wanted the Oxfordshire farmhouse.'That means you are going to have only a few hours' sleep.''I don't mind.'Cunningham tapped the edge of the door with her foot. 'Good work, Travis.You've had this bee in your bonnet about Fitzpatrick from the start.'Anna gave a rueful smile. Cunningham was about to walk out, when Anna asked if Langton was taking part in the raids. 'No. I know it looks like he's running this inquiry, but he's just overseeing it and on my back like the proverbial monkey. At least he's not poking his nose in tomorrow, so go get some sleep and I'll see you there.''Good night.' Anna was disappointed. She would have liked him there. She had liked him being around; he somehow spearheaded the team, and gave it the thrust and energy that Cunningham could not.She had just packed up her briefcase when he walked in. 'You up for a drink?'She hesitated, and then nodded.'Good. The Huntsman—it's a pub in Hampstead by the Heath, far enough away from this mob. Do you know it?'Anna nodded, not really certain of the address but she'd check it out.'I'll see you there.''Okay, see you there.' She knew it was stupid—she knew she shouldn't have agreed—but she had been unable to stop herself. It would be just one drink, then she would have to leave; tomorrow was going to be quite a day.The first person Anna saw as she entered the bar was Langton; he was leaning against the counter with a pint in his hand. He turned toward her and smiled. Standing beside him was Pete. Anna could have kicked herself; of course this would be his local pub! He only lived a few minutes away.'Do you know Pete Jenkins from forensic?''Yes, of course.'Pete leaned forward to kiss her cheek. 'Hello, there. Many congratulations.''On the print?''What else? It's proof that you've been right all along. I hope the rest of the team make apologies, especially Phil,' Pete said. She felt herself blush as he slipped his arm around her shoulders. 'Let me buy you a glass of champagne,' he continued, and signaled to the barman.'It's only a partial print, maybe not good enough to stand up in court, but it was a match.' He held up his hand to indicate the small section the match had been made from.Langton looked from her reddening face to Pete, who still had his arm casually around her shoulders.'Did you go over to my place?' Pete asked.'No, I just needed to talk over a few things here with Detective Superintendent Langton.' Her face was even hotter.'Oh, right!' Pete released his arm and asked the barman for a glass of champagne. He leaned against the bar, looking at the pair of them.'Anna and I have worked on a few cases together,' Langton said.'I should leave you to it, then.' Pete took out his wallet as if to pay, but Langton rested his hand over it.'This is on me. You want another, Pete?''No, no, I'll be getting off.' He gave Anna a strange look and then leaned forward to kiss her neck. 'You can pop over later, if you like.''No, thanks. It's just one drink, then I need to get off home ready for the morning.'Pete downed the rest of his pint as the barman appeared with her glass of champagne. 'Keep me updated,' he said as he headed past them.Langton passed Anna her champagne. 'Congratulations.''Thank you.'Langton looked around for a place away from the noisy bar. Anna suggested they go outside, to the garden area with its chairs and tables.'Not too cold for you?''No, and it's more private.'They headed out and sat on one of the benches. It was cold, but it was also quiet.'Listen, Anna, I know you want to be on the Oxford stakeout, but I think you might get more of a result from Julia Brandon.You've been the one interviewing her, and probably have a better relationship with her.''I wouldn't say I have a relationship with her.''Just one with Pete, huh?'She sipped her champagne, looking away from him. 'That's my business.''I know; I was just curious. He seemed put out at my presence. He's a good guy, if he stays off the wacky tobacco.''What?''I've known him for a while; he's very good at his job, but I know he's a bit of a groover—nothing against it, unless it interferes with work. Sometimes the pressure gets to him.''Really?''Does to us all.''Can we talk about the case?'He nodded.'I don't think my having interviewed Julia is that beneficial. I would prefer to do the search of Honour and Damien Nolan's farmhouse.''I want you at the Wimbledon house.''Cunningham actually gave me the choice.''Well, I'm not.'She hesitated. 'The henhouse at Honey Farm: when I was there,Honour was very keen to point out why it was locked—foxes getting to the hens,she said—but maybe there's something else inside.''I'm sure the lads will cover everything.'She finished her glass of champagne.'You want another?''No, I should get as much sleep as possible.'Langton shrugged; he still had half of his pint left. 'Julia Brandon, from reports, seems very keen to get Frank's body released for burial.''Well, he was her husband,' Anna said.'Maybe it's the death certificate she wants. Something just sort of niggles if, as you believe, it was a marriage of convenience.''Well, she does come into half a million life insurance.''I know.' Langton drank his beer, then placed the glass down carefully on the table. 'She's also got quite a tidy sum, right? Even though she took out four million quid?''Yes.''I wonder if this is all down to money.''I don't quite follow. What is?''The reason Fitzpatrick is back. What if he's running out of cash? To stay on the run costs; he's lost houses all over the U.S., sold his boat a few years back. If he was the partner who left her all the dough—and it's looking as if this Anthony Collingwood could be Fitzpatrick—he could be putting pressure on Julia to release her cash back to him. Maybe she doesn't want to lose it.'Anna smiled. As always, Langton was putting his finger onto the motive that had not even been brought up by the investigation. She pulled her coat around herself to keep out the chill. 'You know, the house in Wimbledon might not reveal any evidence that Fitzpatrick was there. She only moved into it about eight months ago.' 'Which would coincide with her hiring Frank Brandon.' Langton pulled at his hair. 'I need you to get the bloody time frame ironed out. It's important we know the exact dates Frank started to work for her, and we need the date that Donny Petrozzo died. It has to have been after the murder of Frank, right?''Yes.''And Julius D'Anton died after Petrozzo?''Maybe. It's not been verified; they're not sure how long he was in the water. All we know is that both of them died from an overdose of Fentanyl.''Yes, I know that,' he said impatiently. He continued trying to coordinate the series of murders. If Donny had died first, then D'Anton, Stanley Leymore was shot when? They had found the Glock pistol used to kill Frank Brandon still in the possession of Delroy Planter! Therefore his statement, along with Silas Roach's, didn't add up.Anna closed her eyes, sighing. Yet again, Langton was coming up with queries that even she had overlooked.'Get me the coordination ironed out,' he said.Anna agreed. Both dealers were still being held by the Drug Squad, so it wasn't as if they could do a runner.Langton stood up, buttoning his jacket. 'I'm cold. We should either go back inside or ...''I should get moving,' Anna said.They walked in silence to the car park, Langton deep in thought, Anna equally so. She wasn't thinking about the case, but why he had wanted to see her alone. She got to her car and bleeped it open.'You've moved,' he said quietly.'Yes.''Where to?''Over by Tower Bridge.'Langton held the car door open for her. 'Thanks for coming to see me. Sorry if I chose the wrong pub, but I'm sure you'll iron it out with Pete.''There is nothing to iron out,' she said tetchily.He cocked his head to one side, stared at her, then looked at his watch. 'You'd better go. Good luck tomorrow.'She was about to close the door when he leaned in. 'This guy Fitzpatrick is a real nasty piece of meat. Christ knows how many people he's used and abused. He'd kill anyone who stands in his way, so I'm warning you, Anna, behave yourself. No going off if you get the scent of him. Work as a team, and make sure you have backup, understand me?''Yes, sir!''Good night.'Then he slammed her door and walked off toward his old