‘And the Satanic stuff?’
‘To throw the cops off the trail. If they thought it was the work of a lone madman then they wouldn’t be looking for anyone else. It was sexual abuse, pure and simple. But organised and on a scale you can only imagine.’
‘And tell me again why you’re giving this to me?’
‘Insurance, I guess. Just in case the paedophile unit drops the ball.’
‘Why do you think that might happen?’
‘Because this is big, Robbie. It’s bloody huge. There are some bloody big names on that thumb drive. And some of them are in the photographs and video. I don’t know who else is involved. There’s already at least one cop in on it, but for all I know there could be senior officers in the Met involved. I need you to keep your ear to the ground and if nothing happens over the next few days then at least you’ve got the information there. You’ve got all the pictures, videos and the list of email addresses that were getting the doctored pictures.’
‘Doctored? What do you mean?’
‘The guy who had them on his hard drive was taking the pictures and blurring the faces of the men involved and then emailing them. I’ve got the before and after pictures. Those pictures alone will send dozens of men to prison for a long, long time.’
‘And how did you get them?’
‘Best you don’t know, mate. But they’re one hundred per cent kosher.’
‘Well, I hope you covered your tracks.’
‘I’m pretty sure I did.’ Nightingale tried to blow a smoke ring but the wind ripped it apart. ‘Can you sniff around, see if you can confirm that the Met was about to investigate the Berwick paedophile ring?’
‘I’ll give it a go.’
‘And I need you to do me a favour, Robbie.’
‘That’s a first,’ said his friend sarcastically. He sipped his red wine.
‘Have you heard of a lawyer by the name of Marcus Fairchild?’
‘The QC?’
‘Yeah. He’s Jenny’s godfather.’
‘Is he now? He’s a big swinging dick, that much I know.’
‘I need you to check him out.’
‘In what way?’
‘I need to know if there’s anything known. That’s all.’
‘Of course he’s known. He’s a multi-millionaire lawyer. He works for the CPS from time to time. What specifically are you looking for?’
Nightingale sighed. ‘You’ll think I’m crazy.’
‘That horse bolted a long time ago,’ said Robbie. ‘Spit it out.’
‘He’s a child molester. A paedophile.’
Robbie was drinking his wine when Nightingale spoke and he almost choked. ‘What?’
‘I want to know if he’s ever been implicated in anything like that.’
‘Bloody hell, Jack. If he had, he’d hardly be working with the CPS, would he?’
‘If it was hushed up, maybe.’
‘If it was hushed up, it won’t be in the system.’
‘It might.’
‘What’s going on, Jack? Is Fairchild on the thumb drive? Is he one of the guys in the photographs?’
‘Not that I can see. And I don’t see his name on the email list either. Could be a disguised email address of course, but no, I’ve no evidence that he’s involved in the Berwick abuse. But he did tell me that he worked on a paedophile case a while back.’
‘So this is separate? Something else?’
‘I think so, yes.’
‘And what exactly do you think he’s been doing?
‘Okay, what I’m going to tell you is going to sound crazy. Hell, it is crazy. But it’s the absolute truth and you have to believe me.’
‘You’re starting to worry me now, mate.’
‘Marcus Fairchild has been abusing Jenny since she was a kid. And he still is.’
Robbie stared at him in amazement. ‘By abusing you mean what, exactly?’
‘Sexual abuse.’
‘Jenny told you this?’
Nightingale shook his head. ‘She doesn’t know.’
‘But you do?’
‘Yes. I know it for an absolute fact.’
‘So report him.’
‘I can’t prove it.’
‘You know it’s a fact but you don’t have any proof?’
‘That’s pretty much it, yes.’
‘You’re right.’
‘I’m right?’
‘You’re right. It sounds crazy.’
Nightingale drew smoke into his lungs and held it there.
‘What’s going on, Jack?’ asked Robbie.
‘I’m trying to protect Jenny.’
‘From abuse that she doesn’t know about?’
‘He’s been doing it for years,’ said Nightingale.
‘And she doesn’t know? That’s ridiculous.’
‘He uses hypnotism or suggestion or some drug or other. And he’s part of a group called the Order of Nine Angles that carries out human sacrifice. They kill children.’
‘Now you’re really starting to worry me, Jack. You’re talking about one of the most respected lawyers in the country.’
‘It’s true, Robbie. When Jenny told him that I was working the Berwick case he came rushing to my office to find out what I knew. There was stuff about the Order of Nine Angles in McBride’s barn and Fairchild was desperate to pour scorn on it. Said it was an urban myth.’
‘He didn’t want you looking at it?’
‘That’s what I figured. Look, I know he’s got powerful connections. But there’s a good chance that some of those connections are in it with him.’
‘And you think that a quick look at the Police National Computer is going to blow the whole thing wide open?’
‘Of course not.’
‘So what do you expect me to do?’
‘When you put it like that, I’m not sure.’ He took a final drag on his cigarette and flicked the butt away.
Robbie glared at him. ‘What are you doing?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘What’s Anna going to say if she finds your old cigarette butts on the lawn? You pick it up, you soft bastard.’
Nightingale laughed and went to retrieve the butt. He slipped it into his pocket.
‘And even if by some miracle I do find something out, what then?’ said Robbie. ‘Who do you go to with something like that? He’s Establishment, through and through. It’ll have to be at Commissioner level to stand any chance of moving forward.’
‘I can’t just leave it, Robbie. I have to do something.’
‘And you can’t tell me why you’re so sure he’s a paedophile and child-killer?’
Nightingale shook his head.
‘It’s something to do with all that spooky stuff you’re always getting involved in?’
