‘Sorry,’ says Murphy, palms up -
‘No John, you’re right; we can’t assume anything. However,’ I continue: ‘When she was shown the photofit of the Morley man, Linda Clark said: “That’s him, Dave. The man who attacked me.” According to Oldman.’
‘Dave?’ says Helen Marshall.
‘That’s the name the man who picked her up had given her.’
‘Sorry,’ she says. ‘I didn’t know that.’
‘That car was a Cortina, yeah?’ asks Murphy.
‘Mark II, white or yellow,’ adds Hillman.
‘Anyway,’ I say. Other Morley motors that have yet to be eliminated are a dark-coloured Datsun saloon, parked by the park with its lights off, and a tan or orange-coloured Rover 2.5 or 2.6 litre that was also seen passing the park on two occasions just before midnight. Neither of the drivers of these two vehicles have ever come forward.’
They’re taking notes, getting ready to check their files, their lists -
Hillman looks up: ‘Going back a bit, the positioning of the shoe, that’s similar to Clare Strachan and the boot.’
‘Good point,’ I say. ‘And that’s obviously another thing keeping Strachan in the frame.’
Marshall: ‘It’s also similar to the piece of wood found on Joan Richards.’
‘Yes,’ I nod, then: ‘One other odd thing.’
They stop writing and look up.
‘A woman of Joanne’s age and description was seen walking close to the park in the direction of her home with a man described as being in his early twenties, five foot eight, with mousy-coloured greasy hair brushed right to left and a little wavy. He had stubble and prominent cheekbones, sunken cheeks, and was wearing a three-quarter- length dark-coloured coat and jeans.
‘If this wasn’t Joanne and the Ripper, then this couple have yet to come forward. If it was Ripper and victim, then the description is at odds with previous ones.’
‘Unless there were two of them,’ whispers Marshall.
‘That’s what I said,’ winks Murphy.
‘No, not two separate Rippers. Two of them together – doing the killings together.’
‘What? A bloody tag-team?’
‘Yes,’ she says. ‘A
No-one speaks, eyes moving from her to me and back again until -
Until there’s a knock on the door and a uniform says: ‘Mr Hunter, Detectives Prentice and Alderman are here.’
‘Thank you,’ I say, looking at my watch. ‘One last thing
Taking notes, getting ready to check their files, their lists -
Finished, I close my notebook and stand up.
‘John,’ I say to Murphy. ‘I’m going to have a chat with Jim Prentice and Dickie Alderman; would you mind sitting in?’
‘Not at all,’ he says, getting up.
‘OK, I’ll see the rest of you back at the hotel tonight, if not before. Tomorrow we’ll do Dawn Williams after the morning briefing and I’ll also update you on Laureen Bell.’
‘If there’s anything to update,’ says Hillman.
‘Yeah, if there is anything.’
Dick Alderman and Jim Prentice are waiting for us downstairs.
Dick doesn’t even say hello -
Jim says: ‘Where do you want to do this?’
‘It’s your Nick,’ I say -
‘But it’s your show,’ he says.
‘Interview room?’ offers Murphy -
‘The fucking Belly?’ laughs Alderman.
‘Lead on,’ I say.
Alderman’s grinning as we follow him and Prentice down the stairs to their interview rooms; to the Belly -
Alderman opens a heavy door and we step inside one of their well-scrubbed bright rooms -
‘Just get another chair,’ says Prentice and goes next door.
We sit around the empty table, me and John Murphy on one side, Alderman on the other, Prentice sitting down beside him when he comes back in -
We’ve got our notebooks out, me and Murphy.
‘All right if we smoke?’ asks Prentice.
‘Go ahead,’ I say, declining the open pack.
Murphy takes one and the three of them light up.
‘Got any sandwiches?’ laughs Alderman.
‘No,’ I say, flicking through my notes. ‘No beer either.’
‘Just pulling your leg,’ he says.
‘Right,’ I say, finding my place. ‘Let’s get started.’
‘All ears,’ winks Alderman.
‘First of all, many thanks for making yourselves available. As you know, we’ve been asked to review all aspects of the Ripper Inquiry and to make any recommendations we might find, based on what we see.’
‘And what do you see?’ asks Alderman.
‘Please,’ I smile. ‘We aren’t at that stage yet; that’s why we’re grateful that you’ve agreed to have this talk with us.’
‘Like we had a choice?’ he sniffs.
I ignore him: ‘Both of you have been involved with the inquiry from the off, and are still involved, so obviously you both have a tremendous amount of knowledge about the different investigations, the methods and procedures.’
I pause, glancing their way -
Prentice is stubbing out his cig, eyes on me; Alderman jumpy, not like him.
‘Let’s start at the beginning: Theresa Campbell.’
‘That’s not the beginning,’ says Alderman. ‘What about Joyce Jobson and Anita Bird?’
‘Sorry, I didn’t realise either of you were involved with those attacks.’
‘We weren’t,’ says Prentice, looking at Alderman.
‘Just saying that Campbell wasn’t the first, that’s all,’ says Alderman.
‘OK then,’ I nod. ‘The first murder.’
‘That’d be a bit more accurate,’ smiles Alderman.
‘Both Campbell and Richards were the same team?’
Prentice nods: ‘Chief Superintendent Jobson, out of here.’
‘And you two were the senior detectives?’
‘Yes,’ says Alderman. ‘Still are.’
‘Other detectives involved then were John Rudkin and Bob Craven?’
Jim Prentice nods.
‘I spoke with Maurice last Tuesday, he spoke very highly of this set-up.’
Prentice is still nodding, Alderman staring straight at me now -
I say: ‘Impression I got was that Maurice thinks that, had this team been kept together, you’d have caught the Ripper by now.’
Silence -
‘So,’ I continue. ‘I’m obviously interested in what you both think, given you’ve worked under both Maurice and
