‘And check out Aberman’s office when he’s not there.’
‘Maybe there’s some of that.’
‘The night of Aberman’s disappearance, what can you tell us?’ Larry said.
‘It’s late, two in the morning. Ben in his office totalling up the money. I’m out front closing up.’
‘Anyone else in the building?’
‘The women have all left. Daisy’s gone off with one of the customers. Helen went home on her own.’
‘Aberman’s home?’
‘He had a flat not far from the club. She’d probably gone there, but I can’t be certain. There’s a knock on the door, I open it, and a gun is shoved in my face.’
‘What did you do?’
‘What anyone would do. I let the gun in.’
‘How many men?’
‘Three, and they’re all armed. They demand to see Ben. I take them to his office. We’ve had problems with men demanding protection money before.’
‘What has happened in the past?’
‘Ben pays those who come in, and then afterwards, he finds out who they are. After that, they never return. The three guns, they’re in Ben’s office. One of the men is after the money owing. Ben, a stubborn man, is refusing. In the end, the men come out of the office with Ben held firmly between two of them. One of the men points a gun at me.’
‘Did he speak?’
‘He said either I’m with them, or I’m dead on the spot. Now, I’m not too smart to figure out what’s going on most of the time, but this time, I know.’
‘You went with them.’
‘I figured Ben needed help, although I couldn’t do anything in the club.’
‘Ben was a friend?’
‘He treated me well. I wasn’t about to have my head blown off for him, but I owed him something.’
‘Did you drive to Aberman’s house in Bray?’
‘That’s it. Slater’s already there. He’s got some papers he wants Ben to sign.’
‘And Ben refuses?’
‘That’s Ben.’
‘Slater, what does he say?’
‘I’m not that close, and they’ve handcuffed me. What I can make out is that Slater’s trying to explain the situation.’
‘Aberman’s still not signing?’
‘No. They take Ben into another room and start working on him. I can hear them from where I am, but I can’t do anything.’
‘No one in the area heard them?’
‘These men, they’re professionals. Ben had a gag so he couldn’t scream, and the men, they’re not talking, just hitting. They tell me he’s going to sign or else they’ll kill me first, then him. I’m panicking.’
‘What did you do?’
‘They gave me the option. Either I help them, or I’m dead.’
‘You chose to help.’
‘Whatever happened, I figured that Ben would still be alive, so would I, if I helped.’
‘You trusted these men?’
‘What option did I have? Ben looks at me, I say sorry, but he either signs or we’re dead.’
‘Then what?’
‘They offered him the chance once again to sign, but he refused. They kept hitting him, and then one of them started on him with a lighted cigarette. Ben was in agony. I pleaded with him to sign, but he won’t. In the end, they hooked him up to a handheld generator. He signed then.’
‘Did they release him after he signed?’
‘No. I go into the other room to figure out what to do next. I wanted Ben and me out of there, but the men with Slater, they don’t look to be the forgiving kind. One of them came up to me.’
‘What did he say?’
‘He told me again, that I’m either with them or I’m not. I’m dragged into the other room, and there’s Ben, his head covered in blood. The gun must have had a silencer as I never heard any sound.’
‘You’re freaking out, you’re next. What do you do?’
‘I’ve no option.’
‘You were one of those who buried Ben in the back garden?’
‘I helped to dig the grave.’
‘And who was the other man?’
‘Pete, that’s all I know.’
‘Ugly Pete?’
‘Don’t say that to his face. He’s an angry man. He was the one who shot Ben.’
***
‘You’ve charged the man with accessory to murder, is that it?’ Superintendent Caddick said on his return from the course.
‘It won’t be long,’ Isaac said. ‘We’ve a lead on the murderer.’
‘It’s Holden that Commissioner Davies is interested in, not the owner of a strip club.’
‘Murder’s equal in the eyes of the law, the penalty is the same.’
‘You’ve been meeting with Goddard from what I hear.’
‘Is there a problem?’
‘Suit yourself, but I’m in charge of this place, not him.’
‘He’s a personal friend,’ Isaac said.
‘Soon to be out on his ear.’
‘Is he?’
‘Goddard, he's playing politics. One wins, another loses.’
‘Are you, Superintendent Caddick, intending to be one of the winners?’
‘That I am.’
‘For myself, I intend to succeed by good policing.’
‘That’s the problem, Cook. You’re an idealist. The world is not what you believe. You’ve seen into the gutter on enough occasions. You know that people such as yourself are doomed to lose.’
‘That’s your view, not mine.’
‘Very well. How long before you bring in Holden’s killer?’
‘Soon.’
‘We’ll see. You’re off the disciplinary for now after the shooting in the solicitor’s office. Made yourself some sort of hero, but how did they know you were there and what was being said?’
Several minutes after Caddick had left, Larry came into Isaac’s office. ‘He’s right,’ he said.
‘Caddick, I don’t think so.’
‘I’m not saying he came up with an original thought, but how did they know what we were talking about, and why shoot Slater when we’re in his office? They could have done that anytime.’
‘Ugly Pete, any success?’
‘I’ve got a lead on him and an address. I’ve got men keeping a watch on his house.
