‘Three were murdered some years previously when DI Marshall was running the investigation of the crimes down in Twickenham.’
‘Hardly a defence for your ineptitude, and besides, she was relatively inexperienced, her first murder case. You’re a DCI with an exceptional track record; plenty of convictions under your belt. What can I say? What can I do?’
‘Have you explained this to the commissioner?’
‘The man’s an arrogant fool,’ Goddard said.
‘First time you’ve said that.’
‘First time I’ve not cared if he hears or not. Isaac, I can’t defend you on this one.’
‘I know that. Protect yourself if you can.’
‘It doesn’t work like that, and you know it. If one goes, we both go. Anyway, enough complaining and criticising. What do we have? And make us both a cup of tea.’
For a few minutes, the conversation turned away from Charlotte Hamilton, and the two men spoke as friends and colleagues. The commissioner phoned Goddard, who answered in an obsequious manner.
‘Your replacement will be here within the hour,’ Goddard said.
‘What do you want me to do?’ Isaac asked.
‘Play it by the book. Give him all the assistance he needs, although he may bring his own people, start from scratch.’
‘That would be sheer madness. Charlotte Hamilton’s out there, probably not far from here, and she failed with Gladys Lake. There’s no way of knowing when she’ll strike next.’
‘Agreed. Your team is still with you, although the new SIO may purloin them.’
‘They’ll be reluctant to afford him the support they gave me.’
‘That’s understood, but they’re professionals. They’ll do their duty. You’d better tell them that. Now, what can you tell me about Charlotte Hamilton?’
‘Since the attack on Sara Marshall, nothing.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘She vanished.’
‘But how did she get out? You had the venue surrounded.’
‘We did, but she slipped through a door at the rear of the building.’
‘She’s not Harry Houdini. Didn’t your people cover all possible points of entry?’
‘They missed that one. We’ve put out an APW on her; she can’t have gone far. All the bus and train stations are being monitored.’
‘In the rush hour!’
‘She blends in well.’
‘Okay. What’s the situation with Gladys Lake?’
‘She’s returning to Newcastle earlier than planned.’
‘Is she safe there?’
‘She intends to secure herself at her hospital. It’s safer than here, and we believe Charlotte Hamilton to be close to London.’
‘But she could return to Newcastle.’
‘We realise that possibility, but regardless, the mental hospital she works at does have good security. Also, DI Rory Hewitt, up in Newcastle, knows Charlotte Hamilton by sight.’
‘Very well. Outline the plan.’
‘Gladys Lake will be taken to King’s Cross by a police car at two in the afternoon. That’s the earliest we could arrange adequate protection. She will board the train. There will be six police officers in plain clothes on the train, as well.’
‘Are you expecting the Hamilton woman to reappear?’
‘It’s a possibility.’
‘And where will you be?’
‘I’ll be travelling with Dr Lake, as will some of my team. Assuming that my team is not occupied with the new SIO.’
‘If they are, make sure they are out of the office in time. Make up a ruse if you must.’
‘That’s what I planned.’
‘Is Gladys Lake the bait?’
‘Not really, but if Charlotte Hamilton makes an appearance, we’ll be there to nab her.’
‘Good plan, as long as no one else is killed. And if the new SIO starts causing trouble, act professionally. If you catch this woman, the accolades go to you.’
‘And you, sir.’
‘Correct. But if she’s caught on the new SIO’s watch...’
‘He’s the hero of the hour, and you and I are dead meat,’ Isaac said as he left his DCS’s office.
Goddard shrugged his shoulders in agreement.
***
Charlotte continued to move away from where she would be recognised. She had considered her life expendable, if only it would ensure the death of her torturer, but now…
If only that woman had not got in my way, she thought.
She reflected on the events at the conference centre: the Ladies toilet, the knife in her hand, Sara Marshall separating her from her target, the knife entering her body, Dr Lake in the cubicle, inches from her. If only those two women had not come in, she would have completed her task. Now the plan was in shreds again, and she had nowhere to hide. She knew that she needed sanctuary. She needed her friend, where she had spent three years; she needed Beaty. But Beaty was dead; dead as a result of the shock of seeing her dead cat.
Charlotte realised that she had been the only person who had really cared for her, and if she wasn’t there, at least the area would be.
She walked towards Southwark, careful to avoid being too visible. A discount clothing store on the way gave her the opportunity to buy a thick coat; she had dispensed with the previous one in Windsor. Although it was not the coldest day of the year, it did not look out of place to the people scurrying along the street.
Taking stock of her appearance, she realised that she was still too recognisable. She bought a hat, which under normal circumstances she would not be seen dead in.
She chuckled at her appearance, but she knew she would not be recognised, at least by a patrolling police car; not even by a police officer on the street.
Slowing her pace, Charlotte reviewed the situation. She knew she still had a task to complete, but when and how? Gladys Lake, she knew, would be protected. As for Sara Marshall, she did not care whether she lived or died. The knife which she had used was at the conference centre, discarded as she
