‘You would kill if it was necessary?’
‘I’m not answering that question,’ Walters said. ‘What’s your plan now?’
‘We’re transferring you to London.’
‘Not the same place as O’Shaughnessy.’
‘We’ll keep you apart. What about Lord Allerton?’
‘Who’s he?’
‘He’s the man in the Bentley who you pushed over the side of a quarry.’
‘I don’t know about that.’
‘Alex Hughenden, will you deny that you killed him as well?’
‘Yes.’
Steve Walters sat still. He may not have been as smart as O’Shaughnessy, but he knew he had said too much.
‘It doesn’t matter,’ Larry said. ‘We’ve enough to convict you. This interview will be admissible at your trial.’
‘You bastard,’ Walters said. He attempted to get up from his chair to come at Larry.
‘Don’t do it.’ Larry said.
Walters sat down again.
***
‘Commissioner Davies is delighted,’ DCS Goddard said on the phone.
‘You’ve told him?’ Isaac asked, knowing full well that Richard Goddard would be the first to claim credit for Challis Street’s Homicide team.
‘You’re off the hook. That’s five murders solved.’
‘Five convictions. We’ve got enough evidence now. We’ve still not found the people behind the scenes.’
‘Are they important?’ Goddard asked.
‘You know they are.’
‘I suppose I was naïve to think you’d let it rest. Okay, work with Serious and Organised Crime Command, but I can only give you forty-eight hours. Will that be sufficient?’
‘Yes, sir,’ Isaac replied.
‘And don’t forget the paperwork. I want O’Shaughnessy’s and Walter’s cases to be watertight.’
‘They will be.’
Later that day, the full team were back in Challis Street. Len Donaldson was holding the mug that Bridget had bought him. Larry and Wendy had arrived back from Manchester two hours earlier. The day was drawing to a close, but everyone was on a high.
‘Walters?’ Isaac asked.
‘They’ll hold him in a local prison up there; transfer him to London tomorrow.’
‘Great work getting his statement.’
‘We should thank the people at the airport. I saw the forged passport, it was good. I wouldn’t have picked it.’
‘Len, do you want to speak?’ Isaac asked.
‘Thanks. Our attempts to find Keith Codrington have drawn a blank so far. We believe he may have left the country. That’s the only likely explanation.’
‘Any idea where?’
‘Somewhere we can’t get him back. And he’s probably assumed another identity.’
‘We’ll focus on Griffiths and Fortescue,’ Larry said.
‘What do we have on Fortescue?’ Isaac asked.
‘We can prove that Allerton’s and Griffiths’ cars were parked in the vicinity of Fortescue’s house on the day in question,’ Larry said.
‘Circumstantial?’
‘It’s not likely.’
‘But can you prove it?’
‘No. We also know that Codrington was there.’
‘How?’
‘We conducted a few door knocks.’
‘And?’
‘A neighbour identified his photo.’
‘Do we have a recent photo of the man?’
‘Only a passport photo, but she bumped into him as she left her house. Supposedly her dog’s lead became entangled around his legs.’
‘What did she say about him?’
‘She said he was polite and gracious, not like Fortescue who was always complaining about the dog barking. She also said he often had one woman or another around.’
‘If you can prove Codrington was there, and there’s enough evidence to lay charges against him, then we’ve enough to pull Fortescue in.’
‘What proof do we have against Codrington?’ Wendy asked.
‘Phone records from Hughenden to him.’
‘We still don’t know if they are from Codrington,’ Donaldson said.
‘Fortescue doesn’t either.’
‘Are you planning to lie to Fortescue?’
‘Are you in agreement?’ Isaac asked.
‘Totally,’ Donaldson’s reply.
‘Larry, you know what to do.’
‘My pleasure. I can’t wait to see the face on that sanctimonious bastard who reported us when I visit him next.’
Chapter 25
Miles Fortescue did not expect to see the two police officers that he had reported on his doorstep in Ebury Street.
‘Mr Fortescue, we have some questions for you,’ Larry said with a sense of joy. He savoured the man’s expression when he had opened the door.
‘Detective Inspector Hill. I thought you would have had enough after the last time we met.’
‘My visit’s official. We have some questions for you,’ Larry said again. He had ensured a marked police car was parked outside. Wendy could see curtains twitching up and down the street.
‘Not today. I’m busy.’
‘It’s official. I could enforce your attendance at Challis Street Police Station.’
‘Very well. Give me five minutes.’ The door to the house slammed shut in Larry’s face. Not that he minded, as he knew the man was angry.
Inside the house, Fortescue picked up his phone. ‘Jacob, the police are here.’
‘What are you going to do?’
‘I’ve no option. I’ve got to go with them.’
‘But they’ve no proof.’
‘How would I know? I’m a politician. I can’t hide everything.’
‘What should I do?’ Griffiths asked.
‘Make a run for it. If I get free of them, I’m off.’
Ten minutes later, Miles Fortescue left by the front door of his house. ‘My lawyer will be at Challis Street. I’ll drive my own car,’ he said.
‘That’s fine. We’ll meet at the station.’
At Challis Street Police Station, Isaac and Len Donaldson sat discussing tactics.
‘We’re taking a risk with this man,’ Donaldson said.
‘We’re following the agreed procedures. He’s a material witness.’
‘This man has influential friends. If we fail to break him, he’ll make sure we’re dealt with.’
‘Are you saying we should go easy on him?’ Isaac asked. The fellow DCIs had achieved mutual admiration for each other. Isaac was testing the waters.
‘Not at all. I’m just reminding ourselves that with this man it’s break or bust.’
‘Either he breaks, or we’re bust.’
