I put down the phone and send a reply to the email confirming my instructions.
The migraine seems to be getting worse and I decide I can’t face doing anything more today. I go through to the general office and tell everyone I don’t feel very well and I’m going home. Stevie asks if I would like him to drive me home and I say that would be good.
Fifteen minutes later, we arrive at Meadowcroft.
That evening everyone goes home from the offices looking worried. They are concerned for me as they look upon me as the man who is the engine of the operation but they can see I’m not myself. Susan Heffer, in particular, is worried about me.
Chapter Forty-Three
DAVE
Today is the day. Dave has arranged a job for two Algerian thugs he uses from time to time. The last occasion was nearly two years ago when he needed them to make something look like a hit and run accident and now he has use of their services once more. For the sum of £10,000 each, they will dispose of James Sheldon and make it look like suicide. The authorities will find a typed note in his pocket saying he confesses to have stolen the Lotto ticket and Dave’s files, and since he has been discovered, he doesn’t want to live with the guilt.
One of the porters at the Grand Hotel has been making at least £200 a week from Dave by finding clients for his girls; businessmen in the area for a night or two and wanting some female company. Easy money. Just a phone call and once a week he gets a cash payment. Today the porter can make a quick £500. All he has to do is make sure the alarm on the door to the roof of the hotel is not working and also ensure the camera in the basement car park has something obscuring its view. As an incentive, yesterday Dave sent one of his girls to give the hotel employee a little extra ‘thank you’.
Yes, by tomorrow, James Sheldon will be dead and his ‘suicide confession’ will ensure Dave gains control of the Lotto winnings.
Game set and match.
Chapter Forty-Four
SUICIDE
There’s a knock on the door of the office marked MJA Housing Foundation and a man and a woman walk in. The man is around forty years old; he’s dressed in a smart suit and has an air of authority about him. The woman is around thirty and has shoulder length dark brown hair. She is wearing a mid-blue trouser suit and has a plain black bag over her left shoulder.
“I’m looking for Susan Heffer,” says the man.
“I’m Susan Heffer.”
“Hello, I’m Detective Chief Inspector Howard Neave, and this is my colleague, Detective Sergeant Carla Parsons.”
They produce warrant cards and show them to Susan.
“Do you know a Mr James Sheldon?”
“Yes. He’s the founder of the charity. Is there a problem?”
“I’m afraid you need to prepare yourself for some bad news. At around eight pm last night we received a call from the Grand Hotel. A man we believe to be Mr James Sheldon went up to the roof of the hotel and jumped. His body was discovered a few minutes later. He would have died instantly. We’re trying to trace any relatives.”
“No! Can’t be. Are you sure it’s James?”
“We believe so. There was a suicide note in his pocket, which is how we found you. It said he was sorry for all the mess and for lying to everyone. As we understand it, he had no immediate family so we are wondering if someone who knew him would come and identify the body. He fell from a great height and has sustained major facial injuries. It won’t be an easy task. He’s a former police officer and we’re currently checking his fingerprints, so we’ll have confirmation at some point this afternoon. Perhaps in the meantime you can help us in another way. As I said, he left a suicide note. The last line says, ‘Now I’ve been caught I don’t want to face everyone and this is the best way out.’ Can you tell us what he meant by that remark?”
Chapter Forty-Five
STEVIE
The previous evening
Stevie has arranged to go out with a girl he met recently and had already been on one date with, Jackie Houston. She works in the Mayflower coffee shop in the centre of town. He arranges to meet her at Henry’s Bar at eight o’clock.
At seven thirty, having had a shower and changed into clean clothes, Stevie looks out of the window of the apartment. The weather certainly hasn’t improved. It looks even colder and the rain doesn’t help. It isn’t heavy rain but it doesn’t look like it’s going to stop anytime soon.
That’s not a problem since he knows he can borrow James’ car any time he likes. He knows James certainly won’t be going anywhere in his current state.
However, the nearest car park to Henry’s is the Arcade car park and from there it is at least a three-minute walk to the bar. Stevie curses as he realises he has left his thick winter overcoat at the office. James’ coat is in the hall and after a moment’s thought he picks it up and throws it on.
He walks down to the building entrance, pulling up the collar of the coat to shield himself from the wind and rain. He quickly walks across to the car with his head down inside the coat. He has barely shut the driver’s door and put the key in the ignition when a big figure jumps into the passenger seat beside him. For a moment, he thinks it might be James recovered from his migraine and ready for a night out. However, when he sees the gun being pointed at his side he almost freezes.
“What do you want? I’ve only got about twenty pounds in cash. It’s yours.”
“I don’t vant your money.
