Blazing Obsession (15 page)

RP offered words of sympathy to Alisha, before getting straight to the point. He looked pleased with himself.

“We've been working overtime on this and we haven't totally completed our search into all of Greenland's contacts but there's one name on the list that needs further investigation. I don't believe it could be another coincidence.”

RP sat back in his chair and pointed his hands together, prayer-like. The tips of his fingers met his chin.

“If I remember correctly, Greenland said on the last tape that he'd done time in Belmarsh, but didn't admit to knowing Burrows. Well I've come up with another person who'd done time in Belmarsh at the same time as Greenland. In fact, according to my contact, they shared a cell together whilst they were on remand.”

Before I could ask who it was, RP raised his palm to me and continued.

“Also, there's a note indicating that this person happened to be visited several times by Greenland after his release in December 1997.”

“Go, on,” I said, eager to get to the point.

“The most important thing I discovered is that this person began his sentence on 10th February 1996 and was released on parole on 3rd July 1998, a month before the arson attack.”

RP looked at Alisha and then me.

“His name is Hartley, John Hartley.”

Before I could react, Alisha put her hand to her mouth and said, “Oh my God!”

“What do you mean?” I asked her. “Do you know Hartley?”

“Oh, James! Yes, I do know him. Maybe it's best if I talk to you privately.”

I looked her straight in the eyes and said, “Alisha, if we're going to sort this out, we'll need to know everything, otherwise we can't fill in the gaps. What do you know about him that I don't?”

Looking nervous, her eyes darted between RP and me.

“Well… if you're sure you want me to. Lynne made me promise I'd never tell anyone… ever. It was her secret.”

I yelled at her, “What bloody secret? What the hell has Lynne got to do with Hartley?”

Alisha avoided eye contact with me and said, “I don't know where to start… it's all so… complicated.”

Looking up and facing me, she said, “How can I put this…? Before you came on the scene, James, Lynne and John Hartley had an affair.”

“What? Are you sure? I'd never put them together.”

“It's true, James. I hate having to tell you this. It started in October/November 1994, I think. They met at the Mercedes dealership you bought. At first, despite being worried that Nick might find out, she became excited. He treated her well. He always had loads of money and spoilt her rotten. But as time wore on, he showed his true colours.”

“I had no idea. She never mentioned him,” I said.

Alisha continued. “He was married. Their meetings were clandestine affairs. As far as I could tell, no one else knew about it apart from me.”

Inspecting his notes, RP interrupted. “Yes, married three times, the last time in 1989.” He waved a hand towards Alisha, signalling her to carry on.

“I first met him at Lynne's flat. She wanted my approval. But something about him, I don't know… I didn't like.” She shook her head.

“I had to admit he came across as charismatic and charming. He'd hooked her. But to me, he appeared over-confident, a bit smarmy, thought he was God's gift to women.”

She brushed an imaginary piece of cotton from her leggings before adding, “Believe me, I've met a few of those types in my time.

“Actually, later, I hated him. Lynne told me that he didn't like her going out with make-up on or dressing provocatively. She told me that, on many occasions, he completely lost it if she didn't agree with him and sometimes he hit her. Then he'd be full of remorse. Talk about out of the frying pan and into the fire.”

“Just like Nick,” I said.

“I know. She'd swapped him for Hartley, except Hartley controlled her more psychologically. He really messed up her mind.”

I said, “But why did Lynne put up with it? Surely she'd learnt her lesson?”

“My sentiments exactly. She was hopeless with men… a sucker for anyone showing her attention. And useless at getting herself out of these situations.”

“Did Hartley know what you thought of him?” RP asked.

“You know me. I couldn't stand by and watch Hartley mess her up. I called him once. Told him to back off and not treat Lynne so badly. He tried to turn his charm on me. Made me feel sick.”

“Did he respond?” I asked.

“You're joking. He completely ignored me. I begged her to end the relationship.”

“Are you saying he was seeing her at the same time as me?”

“Yes, but only for a short time, a couple of months at the most. She tried hard to extricate herself, but he wouldn't have it. He's a clever bastard.”

“I can't believe Lynne had been cheating on me!”

“No, it wasn't like that. Lynne tried desperately to get Hartley out of her life, especially after meeting you. But she fell under his spell. Even more so than Nick, and we know he's bad news. He's thuggish. Hartley's in another league. He's a smooth, manipulative charmer.”

Anger grew in her voice as she said, “He kept putting her down all the time, telling her she was useless, didn't know what he saw in her, that kind of thing, to the point where she'd burst into tears. Then he'd treat her like a Goddess before knocking her down again. This became the pattern. That way, he had total control of her emotions. She thought she was going mad.”

“Bastard!” I muttered. Alisha looked at me sympathetically and continued.

“I felt so sorry for her. After she met you, she tried even harder to get rid of Hartley. Then, around the same time, she had to deal with all that stuff with Nick abducting Georgie to Florida. She'd replaced one problem with another.”

I asked, “Did she finally end the affair?”

“Well, suddenly, I think about the beginning of February ‘96, a few months after you and Lynne got together, he disappeared and she never saw him again, at least, not to my knowledge. Lynne thought that, at last, Hartley had given up, that you being on the scene had got in the way of his plans.”

She turned to RP. “You said he went to prison about then.”

Inspecting his notes, he said, “That's right, 10th February 1996.”

“I'm so sorry, James.” She reached for my hand.

After a moment's silence, RP asked me what I knew about Hartley.

I told them about his job with us and the embezzlement.

“He left us after giving us a cock and bull story about his wife having cancer before we'd discovered it. Later, we traced him to Belmarsh prison.

“I didn't realise he'd been released. He was due out in 1999, at the earliest. I planned to visit him then, try to get what was left of the money back.”

RP checked his notes to confirm the dates.

“Looks like he appealed against his sentence. Got a year knocked off.”

I shook my head and said, “This is unbelievable.”

RP nodded and studied his notes again. “I think I've got an accurate time frame for the Lynne/Hartley relationship which appears to fit. What we don't know is what happened after Hartley's release on parole from Belmarsh in July 1998.”

I turned to Alisha and asked, “Did Nick know about Hartley?”

“I don't know.”

“Well, if he did, that would have inflamed his hatred of Lynne even more, wouldn't it? Make him more determined to take revenge.”

RP stopped scribbling and said, “There are still a few gaps here. To be sure whether Hartley's our man we have to find a link between Hartley and Johnson. ”

“How can we do that?” I asked.

RP, stroking his chin yet again, said, “It looks like Hartley's been using Greenland as the go-between. Hartley's not unintelligent. If he did use Johnson as a hit man he wouldn't want any evidence like text messages or calls from him on Johnson's mobile. One possibility is that Hartley texts Greenland and he tells Johnson where to meet up for the monthly ‘insurance' payment.”

RP placed his pen on the desk and sat back in his chair.

“Why don't we take a time-out now? I'll give this more thought. Let's meet again tomorrow morning. Are you happy with that, James?”

“Er… yes… sorry… bit shell-shocked, that's all. I wasn't prepared for this.”

Alisha said, “I'm so sorry, James. Lynne swore me to secrecy.”

I couldn't help but feel sorry for Lynne. She'd got herself into an intolerable situation. Perhaps she thought that adding the complications of an affair with Hartley to her problem with Nick would drive me away.

*

Next morning, a cloudless autumn day, we met at RP's office again.

He went straight to the point after pouring the ubiquitous coffees.

“Any more thoughts?”

Alisha, who'd taken a few days' sick leave, still wore her sunglasses. She shook her head. I think she thought she'd already said too much.

I shook my head, too. I felt numb.

RP, looking at us both in turn, said, “OK. Alisha, what's the situation with Johnson? Is he still texting you, begging forgiveness?”

“Er… yes. I got another one yesterday.” She fumbled inside her handbag and produced her mobile, lifted her sunglasses onto her forehead, scrolled though the texts for a few seconds and read out, “‘
get in touch alisha. miss u. really sorry 4 what I done. wanna make up Ill do anything. Call me. Leroy.'”

“That's about the fifteenth one he's either sent or left as a message.”

“Excellent. Obviously, he's still interested. We can use him to flush out Hartley.”

I spluttered, “How? Are you still suggesting Alisha gets in touch?”

“I think it's the only way.”

Before I could respond, he turned to Alisha and said, “You remember you put in Johnson's mind that the £500 per month insurance money is peanuts? And you implied Hartley took him for a fool settling for so little?” Alisha nodded.

“I've got an idea. It'll need you to get back with Johnson, but only for a short time, I promise.”

I slammed my hand on RP's desk. “No, I'm sorry Roger. You weren't there when I picked Alisha up after Johnson had beaten her and tried to rape her. It wasn't a pretty sight. It's not fair she should run that risk again.”

“It's OK James,” Alisha said, putting her hand on my arm. “I acted stupidly. I asked for it. Let's hear Roger out.”

“Thank you, Alisha. Well, my plan is this; call Johnson, say you'll continue the relationship but you won't stand for any more violence. And tell him that you're fed up spending time with him holed up in his flat. You want him to take you to fancy restaurants, travel a bit, and have a good time.”

“Then what?” Alisha said.

“Well, we have Greenland's mobile with Hartley's contact number, don't we? You can tell him that you've found out from Greenland who the mystery man is and his mobile number. He may not believe you, but the way I see it, he'll be gagging to impress you. I doubt he'd worry about where the info came from.

“Get him to text Hartley saying the ‘insurance' money needs to be greatly increased − suggest he wants a big lump sum upfront, say twenty-five grand. Get him to imply that he's written a statement involving Hartley and if he doesn't play ball, he'll pass it over to the police.”

“And then?” I said.

“Well, first Hartley'll be beside himself with the fact that Johnson knows his mobile number. Remember? I'm certain the contacts between them were via Greenland.” RP waved Greenland's mobile at us.

“Hartley would want to ensure there's no evidence linking him directly to Johnson. If Hartley bites, his response could be the evidence we need.”

“Is that it?” I said.

“It's the first stage. I've got an idea where this'll lead. Ultimately, we'll need to deal with Johnson
and
Hartley if he's the one, won't we?”

Alisha and I both nodded. “What do you think, Alisha?” I said. “Are you sure you want to carry on?”

“Too right, I do! We've come this far, haven't we? I'll get in touch with Leroy. I'll try to persuade him to get more money out of Hartley. Be interesting to see Johnson's reaction.”

“Well, I'm still not happy. It's far too risky,” I said.

RP responded, “It is. However, there is one other point Alisha can make to Johnson. Remind him he's immune from prosecution for the arson attack, but Hartley's not. If he's banged up, he can't hurt him. That may strengthen your hand.” Alisha nodded again.

I said, “Roger, there's one thing I couldn't get out of my mind last night. Do you think Hartley ever saw Lynne again, you know, after his release from jail?”

RP turned to Alisha and said, “Did Lynne ever mention it to you?”

“No, of course not, I'd have said so.” She sounded affronted.

RP said, “I think I should visit Greenland with one of my guys. Put a bit of pressure on him. Get him to tell us more about Hartley.”

“No, Roger. I want to be involved. I'll go. I can handle myself.”

“Are you sure that's wise?”

“Positive.” I needed something to feed my hatred of the low-life scum we were dealing with.

“OK. Here, take Greenland's mobile. You'll need it to prove the connection with Hartley and Johnson.”

RP, in his usual meticulous way, then gave me a master-class in how to approach the situation. I felt like a sleuth's apprentice.

Alisha called me at home the next day. “I've done it. I called Leroy and we met up last night. He's swallowed the bait. I told him there were two conditions if I went back to him. The first, no more physical stuff. I told him if he so much as slapped my arse, I'd be off!”

Typical Alisha.

“And the second, I told him I wanted to be better off. He totally bought the blackmail line. I think he'd been thinking about it since I pointed it out a couple of weeks ago. He's a greedy bugger. Wants to prove to me how tough he is. I told him straight; I want to wear expensive jewellery, go travelling to nice places and all that. Whether he believed Greenland had given me Hartley's number or not, he couldn't wait to send the text. The power of love, eh?”

“Yeah, right. Power of lust, more like. Did you mention he can't be tried again?”

“Yes I did. He said his solicitor had already told him after his acquittal.”

“Be careful, Alisha. I don't want you to get beaten up again… or worse.”

“I will, I promise. We're getting close to knowing what happened, aren't we? I can back off soon. Then it'll be up to you and RP.”

*

Greenland's mobile buzzed in my jacket pocket immediately after Alisha had called. I didn't answer it, hoping the caller would leave a message. He did.

I couldn't mistake the bass timbre of Hartley's newsreader's voice.

‘Colin, it's me. What the fuck's going on? Just got a text from Johnson. I'm not happy about it. How the bloody hell did he get my number? I hope that for your sake you didn't give it to him. Call me, pronto.'

I called RP immediately and read the message to him. Then I said, “Hartley sounds rattled.”

“Good. Tell Alisha to persuade Johnson to send another text. Keep the pressure on. This time give Hartley an ultimatum; either come up with the readies in twenty-four hours or he'll hand over to the police the written statement confirming Hartley's involvement in the arson attack. See what that brings.”

I called Alisha and relayed RP's idea. “OK. I'm seeing Johnson tonight. I'll let you know how it goes.”

She called the next morning. “He didn't need much persuading. He sent the second text last night. Johnson's liking being in charge of the situation. He's convinced Hartley'll cough up. He's promised me a huge diamond ring when he gets the money.”

“Yeah, right,” I said.

I decided to visit Greenland that afternoon. RP had already given me his address, which was a first floor flat above a shopping precinct in Abbey Street, Bermondsey. He thought afternoons would be a good time to find him home.

I loitered outside the shops for a good hour, checking that he didn't have visitors.

Greenland's mobile bleeped several times, indicating messages, which were all from Hartley.

The last highlighted his level of frustration.

‘Colin. I'm getting really pissed off. Why the fuck aren't you returning my calls? I need you to call me back urgently.'

The entrance to Greenland's flat was via a stairway at the rear of the precinct where all the wheelie bins from the shops laid strewn about haphazardly. I rang the bell, aware of the pungent smell from the decaying fruit dumped by the greengrocer, combined with the spicy odour of an Indian restaurant.

Greenland opened the door only wide enough to see my face. Before he had time to register what was happening, I thrust my shoulder hard at the door, taking him completely by surprise. Despite being over six feet tall, he almost lost his balance. I stepped inside the cramped, cluttered room. A barely audible ancient flickering telly in the corner lit up the gloom. The drab curtains were fully drawn. Peeling wallpaper and threadbare carpets completed the sense of decay.

He wore a pair of grey sweat pants, trainers and a grubby white T-shirt with a picture of Che Guevara on it. I flashed my open wallet at him containing something, which appeared surprisingly like a police warrant but was my health club membership card. He only had time to snatch a glance at it before I returned it to my pocket. I said, “I'm investigating an arson attack which we believe John Hartley instigated. You know him, don't you?”

“No. Never 'eard of 'im. Now piss off!”

I held up Greenland's mobile close to his face, pointed at Hartley's name in the list of contacts and played his latest message.

“Where the fuck did you get 'old of that?”

“It doesn't matter. I also have a record of your prison visits to Hartley. So don't fuck me about. Let's sit down and discuss, shall we?”

He did. I expected him to be violent. If it got rough, I hoped my martial arts training would literally kick in.

RP had explained to me how powerful initial aggressive behaviour could be. “It disorients the victim,” he'd said. “Gives you a head start.”

In truth, Greenland turned out to be a pussycat.

“Who are you? What d'ya want from me?” His eyes revealed panic.

We sat down on opposite sides of a low coffee table covered with a jumble of crumpled newspapers, magazines and empty beer bottles. The remains of a takeaway lay perilously on top of the heap.

“I'll tell you what I want soon enough. Listen to this first.”

On my Dictaphone, I played him a copy of the conversation Alisha had recorded when Johnson admitted Greenland had set up the meeting with Hartley, resulting in the arson attack. His jaw dropped open.

“Unless you tell me everything you know about Hartley's involvement, I'll hand your mobile and this tape to the police. I'm sure you'd agree they'd have a strong case for charging you with being an accessory to murder.”

He trembled at the word murder.

“So you're not the filth?”

“Let's say I'm helping them with their enquiries. Once I'm satisfied with your answers you can have your mobile back.” He sighed with relief.

“OK. How do you know Hartley?”

“We became mates after being banged up on remand. 'E kept going on and on about 'is affair with someone from work called Lynne. 'E couldn't stop talking about 'er. 'E learnt about 'er having a baby and got 'imself wound up about being sent to prison four or five months before she was due. 'E was convinced it was 'is. 'E said she'd met another geezer and the thought of them bringing up 'is kid drove 'im nuts.”

Certain I hadn't heard correctly, I asked him to repeat what he'd said. He did. I wanted to yell at him, ‘That's fucking ridiculous!'

“Let's get this absolutely clear. You're telling me Hartley believed he was the baby's father?”

“Yeah, that's what 'e told me. 'Artley went mental every time 'e thought she was going to marry this prick. An' he couldn't do nuffin' about it.”

“Don't lie to me!”

“I'm not. That's the truth. 'E told me that before being banged up, 'e wanted to go abroad with 'em, start a new life together. Said 'e 'ad plenty of dosh stashed away.”

I wanted to smash my fist in his face, but I needed more information.

I recovered enough composure to ask, “Why did you visit him in Belmarsh after you were released?”

“I told you. We became mates. 'E wanted to know everything about 'er. 'E paid me well enough. 'E asked me to tell 'im, you know, where she moved to, where she went at weekends, that sorta stuff.”

“What happened on Hartley's release from prison?”

“'E told me 'e'd stalked 'er in Blackheath and ‘accidentally' bumped into to 'er when she was walking with the kid in the buggy.”

I bit my lip. I wasn't sure I could take any more revelations.

“'E said they 'ad a slanging match in the street. Apparently, she made it clear she didn't want nuffin' to do wiv 'im. She really wound 'im up by saying the baby wasn't 'is and 'e should get lost.”

“Then what?”

“'Told me 'e'd followed 'er and ‘loverboy' down to Lymington on the souf coast. I'd found out the address. They went down most weekends in the summer. So did 'e. 'E was so wrapped wiv 'er. ”

I recalled, on the weekend before the arson attack, seeing movement in the cottage garden when I locked up at night. I shivered at the thought that Hartley had been yards away from my family.

“How come you got hooked up with Leroy Johnson?”

“I don't wanna say any more. I dunno who you are, but if 'Artley knows I‘ve told anyone about 'is love life, 'e'll go bloody bananas.”

I stood, reached over and grabbed his T-shirt, pulling him out of his chair. I drew his face as close to mine as I could. Putting on my most aggressive expression, I snarled, “
I'll
go bloody bananas if you don't tell me
everything
!”

His eyes gave away his fear again. “OK. OK.” I released him and he slumped back down into the chair.

“'Artley asked if I wanted to earn a big ‘wedge'. 'E wanted me to set fire to the cottage. Wipe 'em all out. I told 'im, it wasn't my bag, but I knew a geezer who'd do it if the price were right.”

“And who's that?”

“It's no secret. It was splashed all over the papers. Leroy Johnson.”

More questions filled my head. But one thing became clear; Nick Burrows wasn't responsible for the arson attack.

I gave Greenland back his mobile after deleting Hartley's messages and texts, as advised by RP. He'd already taken copies. I told Greenland I had no use for it anymore. I didn't tell him one of RP's techies had installed a clever piece of software on it which would hack into his calls and messages. Every time he used the mobile from now on, RP's team would get a text or could listen in and record the conversation. The wonders of digital telephony.

“It's very new, not perfect, and possibly illegal, but bloody useful,” he said. Was there anything RP couldn't fix?

I left Greenland's flat with my mind in a whirl. I urgently wanted to speak to RP and Alisha. I called them and arranged to meet later that evening. Alisha said she could get away from Johnson for a few hours. He went out most evenings peddling dope, but after the scene with her and Greenland, he'd become much more inquisitive about her movements.

*

RP's office appeared even more striking at night. The lighting provided by the multi-coloured glass chandeliers and exotic wall lights were more in keeping with a London club; he had an aversion to the fluorescent strip lights found in most of London's offices. He'd organised a Chinese meal, which arrived shortly after we did.

I'd lost my appetite and picked at the food, but as RP and Alisha chomped their way through chop suey and crispy duck, and drank chilled bottled beer from the fridge behind RP's large desk, I explained what happened at my meeting with Greenland.

When I'd finished, a stunned silence ensued, before Alisha said, “I had no idea John Hartley believed the baby to be his. If Lynne knew, she kept that to herself.”

“Good work, James. Welcome to the detectives' club. So now we know.” RP stared at both of us in turn.

I slumped back in my chair and said, “I still can't believe any of this.”

Alisha gazed down at the ground and, shaking her head, said, “I had absolutely no idea Hartley would go that far. He's a lunatic!”

Slamming my fist down of the desk, I said, “I can't get out of my head that it appears that whilst Lynne carried
my
child she was still seeing Hartley?”

Alisha put her hand on my arm and said, “It wasn't what you think, James. She tried everything she could think of to get out of the relationship. He terrified her. She grew afraid of what he'd do if she ended it. He threatened to tell Nick.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, Alisha continued.

“It brought matters to a head when you appeared on the scene. You made all the difference to her. But it took her a long time to accept that you loved her so much; she doubted her ability to ever be happy with a man. I know that in the end she truly loved you.”

I wanted to believe her, but Hartley's claim had rocked me. I couldn't think straight.

RP broke the silence.

“There's something else you both need to know. The spyware on Greenland's mobile worked a treat.”

He retrieved his mobile from his jacket pocket, laid it on the desk, and stabbed a couple of keys. “Listen to this conversation between Greenland and Hartley after you'd left him.”