Dead Lucky (33 page)

‘They love you,’ said Matilda.

‘It’s not my operation, and I’m not wasting my time on it.’

‘Fair enough. Have you located Neil Barnes?’ Matilda had only agreed to go undercover because of the possibility that Blake was somehow involved, and that the operation would draw out the killer.

‘No, he’s a ghost. Disappeared.’ Lambert picked up the files. ‘You’ve studied all this?’

‘Yes?’

‘What are they expecting is going to happen? Gang warfare in Hampstead?’

‘I’m not sure even they know. I think it’s more hope than anything.’

‘I take it he hasn’t called you again?’

Matilda shook her head. The Watcher had only called her the once. ‘You?’

Lambert took a deep breath. ‘No. You’ve had gun training?’

‘Of course.’ Kennedy had been in The Group before it was dissolved, where everyone received fire arms training.

‘You need to be armed tonight.’

‘Tyler hasn’t suggested anything?’

‘He doesn’t have the clearance. I’ll confirm with Tillman, make it official, but I think the Watcher has something planned for tonight.’

Matilda wasn’t sure. Being armed brought with it its own dangers, being discovered for one. ‘What if they search me?’

Lambert rubbed a day’s worth of stubble on his face. It was the most stressed she’d seen him since the case began. His eyes narrowed as he considered the situation. ‘You’re probably right, I was frisked when I went there. You’ll be in radio contact?’

‘If I didn’t know you better, sir, I’d say you were worried.’ She’d never seen Lambert like this, he wasn’t thinking clearly.

‘Just use your head. Keep in contact, and get out if you smell trouble.’

‘I better be going, need to change into my outfit.’

Lambert nodded and she left the office, an uneasy silence between them.

An hour later, she was inside the gated area of Curtis Blake’s home. It was even more grandiose than she’d been led to believe. She tried to befriend some of the other waiting staff on the way in. The majority of them knew each other but she’d met a couple of girls who were on their first job for the agency.

At present, they were at the back of the house standing on a pebbled area next to the entrance to the kitchens. Two of Blake’s security details were guarding the door, dressed in identical suits and sunglasses like clichéd CIA agents.

‘What is this?’ said one of the agency staff, a stocky young woman who looked woefully out of her comfort zone wearing a tight fitting black dress. Her arms were decorated in tattoos, her hair shaved except for a shock of black hair which spiked out on the right side of her scalp.

The guards ignored her, the staff beginning to get restless. Seconds later, the taller of the two guards lifted his hand. ‘I need two lines,’ he said.

‘What the hell?’ said the tattooed woman.

‘One more word from you, and you’re out,’ said the guard.

The woman looked as if she’d been slapped in the face. She glanced at her colleagues for support, but the rest of the staff refused to meet her eye, the promise of the inflated hourly rate too much to risk.

Every member of staff was frisked by the guards before being allowed to enter. Two of the staff were turned away, both men in their early twenties, the guards refusing to give a reason. The taller of the guards stopped Matilda and made her hold her arms out and spread her legs. His hands were rough as he checked practically every part of her. He took off his sunglasses and made a show of looking at her. It was a cheap and obvious way of showing dominance but the tactic had worked on the rest of the staff, who were waiting in the kitchen area subdued.

‘I’m on,’ she whispered, hoping the minute recorders stitched into her clothing were still working.

Chapter 54

Rain battered against the windscreen as Lambert sat in the car reflecting on what Sackville had told him. He was now convinced Neil Barnes was the Watcher.

Lambert realised he’d been looking at Elaine Jacobson’s death all wrong. She had committed suicide. She’d committed suicide because no one would listen to Neil Barnes’ complaints.

Barnes had gone to DI Lennox and complained about what was happening at the home, only to be ignored.

He’d gone to Eustace Sackville who had been writing a story on the home and the prostitution ring Curtis Blake was running out of the place, but Sackville had let him down. Out of pure cowardice he’d refused to print the story.

And lastly Laura Dempsey, the home’s nurse, who had known what was happening to Elaine and the other girls. Neil Barnes had gone to her and she too had turned a blind eye.

And because of the inactivity of those three people, Elaine Jacobson had committed suicide.

Lambert wondered if Barnes had found the girl the morning after. If he’d known what she’d planned to do. Either way, the effect on the boy’s life had been dramatic. Lambert believed he’d spent the rest of his life avenging Elaine’s demise. He killed Lennox as a test run, using the same method to murder him as Elaine had used to kill herself.

Once he’d got that out of his system he moved onto Eustace Sackville. He killed Sackville’s wife and made Eustace watch. He’d then done the same to Laura Dempsey. He’d killed all her family and again she’d been forced to watch his handiwork. Eustace and Laura were now like the killer, perfectly alone.

The killer had told Lambert that he was like him, now he understood why. With no daughter and a soon to be ex-wife, Lambert was effectively alone in the world. But the killer meant more. Lambert still had Sophie and her child, he still had Sarah May. The comparison was meant as a warning. Curtis Blake’s party was only hours away. Lambert knew he had to find Neil Barnes’ real identity before then.

He logged onto The System and tried every search imaginable. It was obvious Barnes wasn’t using his real name. He would have probably changed it aged eighteen and the deed poll records for name changes back then were non-existent. It was easier than people imagined to change identity, to rid yourself of the past. And it would be impossible to track Barnes that way.

Lambert strummed his fingers on the leather coating of the steering wheel, the rain still battering the car’s windscreen in a constant rhythm. He needed to think, to clear his mind. The Watcher must have access to surveillance equipment. It was possible he was a member of a team, as Lambert had previously thought. He tried to dispel the idea that the Watcher was a member of the police, though it would go some way to explain how he was always one step ahead. Lambert called a colleague in the tech department, Lee Chamberlain, who owed him a favour.

‘I’m going to send you some voice files,’ he told the man. ‘There can be no official blueprint on this.’

‘And what would you like me to do with them?’ asked Chamberlain.

‘I know it’s a huge long shot but try to trace them on the voice database.’

‘That database you speak of is almost non-existent. I can analyse the voice for you. Give you an idea of age, dialect, any peculiarities in speech pattern. That’s the best I can offer.’

‘Can you do it within the next hour?’

‘As a favour I’ll start working on it now but it’s not a simple job.’

‘Just have a listen through, see if you can spot anything unusual.’

‘Okay, I’ll do my best.’

Lambert sent the files and was about to make a second call when his phone rang. Lambert waited for three rings, controlling his breathing and preparing for the conversation. He answered the phone but didn't speak.

‘Moody silences,’ said the Watcher. ‘Let me guess. Sackville finally told you his full story. You think you know who I am.’

‘I know who you are, Neil,’ said Lambert.

The Watcher chuckled, a sound not without genuine mirth.

‘I have to confess that I admire you, Lambert. I’m surprised you’ve pieced it together so quickly. What was it? The files at St Matthew’s?’

‘This can end now, Neil. You’ve got back at those people who hurt you. Let’s just end it here before anyone else gets hurt.’

‘Perhaps you don’t quite understand after all,’ said the Watcher, raising his voice.

‘You were friends with Elaine Jacobson. Eustace and Laura failed you. I understand that, even if I don’t understand what you did to them.’

‘It won’t end until everyone responsible has paid the price.’

‘You mean Curtis Blake?’ said Lambert

‘Who else?’

‘And you think you’re going to get to his family? Now I know what you want Neil, I’ll do anything in my power to stop it. Eustace and Laura didn’t kill Elaine, Neil. They failed you and I understand that but I’m not going to let any more innocent people die.’

Lambert realised there was little point trying to reason with the man. His life had been tainted by what had happened to Elaine Jacobson and a few well-chosen phrases on the phone were never going to undo that damage. But he wanted him to think twice before attacking Blake’s family. He hoped that slight indecision would lead him to make mistakes.

‘I think we’ve come to understand each other, Lambert. You listen to what I have to say and you’ll fully understand.’

Lambert pulled the car over and waited. He tried to control his breathing, his heart hammering in his chest.

‘I know you’ve sent over those voice recordings but I know you haven’t gone official yet with our conversations. But there are contingency plans in place, Lambert. Contingency plans that will affect you directly. If anything happens to me then I’ll be unable to stop them. Do we have an understanding?’

Lambert went to respond but the Watcher continued talking.

‘Remember at the beginning – I said we were alike. That’s not fully true, is it Lambert? You’re still married despite that bastard child. You’re seeing that lovely police woman. You’re not totally alone in this world.’ The Watcher paused. ‘Are you?’ he said, before hanging up.

Lambert took a few minutes to compose himself, the warning from the Watcher specific this time. He didn’t have time to dwell on the conversation. He pulled away, dialling another number.

‘You’re alive then?’ said Sarah May, answering on the second ring.

‘You could say that,’ said Lambert, rubbing his head, trying to organise the million thoughts playing in his mind. ‘I know who the Watcher is.’

‘You don’t sound very pleased,’ said Sarah.

‘The last I know of him he was a ten-year-old boy.’

‘I see.’

‘Are you still in London?’

‘Yes. What is it, Michael? You don’t sound like you.’

‘Listen I need you to do me a favour. It’s probably nothing but I think Sophie might be in danger.’

‘Okay. Do you want me to go and see her?’

Lambert was momentarily taken aback by the easy way Sarah accepted what he said, without hesitation or question.

‘If you don’t mind. If you could just watch her, but don’t let her know you’re watching.’

‘Should I be looking out for anything in particular?’

‘Not really, just anything out of the ordinary. You know the drill. But be careful, Sarah.’

‘I will. Are you sure everything is okay.’

Lambert sighed, making a decision. ‘I’m probably being over-protective, but I think we should move her and everyone from the house. At least until this thing at Blake’s house is over.’

Again, May didn’t question him. ‘I’ll take her and the baby to my hotel. I know this isn’t the time but does she know about us?’

Sarah had met Sophie once. It had been during the Souljacker case. Sarah had been checking up on him and had visited Sophie at her place of work. He hadn’t told Sophie about the last few months with Sarah. Somehow it felt like he’d betrayed Sarah by not telling Sophie. As if she was some kind of dirty secret. ‘I’m sorry, Sarah, I haven’t told her.’

‘Don’t be silly, Michael, that doesn’t matter. Concentrate on the case and be safe.’

He hung up, wishing he could tell her more. With Sophie accounted for, he made his way to Hampstead where the team had set up ready for Blake’s party. He recognised one of the surveillance vans, a blanked out transit favoured by Tillman. He pulled over three streets down and called Tillman. The side door opened as he walked by and Lambert stepped into the van.

Tillman was in the confined space next to Harrogate and his Chief Super, Tyler. Lambert’s arrival had done little to alleviate the palpable tension within. None of the men greeted him as he sat down, only Tillman acknowledging his presence – with a glare brimming with accusation.

‘Kennedy is inside,’ said Harrogate, handing him a set of earphones. ‘She is currently receiving security instructions.’

The sound in the earphones was mainly white noise. Beyond the rattle of general chattering, Lambert made out the voice of a clear, singular voice giving instructions in the background.

‘Not exactly plain sailing. She was searched as she entered,’ said Tillman.

Lambert looked at Tillman whose eyes had narrowed. The microphones she’d been fitted with were small enough to be undetectable but Kennedy had no way of hearing them. ‘Phone?’ asked Lambert.

‘Confiscated.’

‘Shit.’

Lambert sat in the silence of the van listening to the white noise in his earphone, debating whether to share the information he had on Neil Barnes. Harrogate and Tyler were there for another reason altogether. He doubted anything he could tell them now would change their approach. They were hoping for some inroads into Blake’s trafficking operation, and whilst he couldn’t condemn them for that, he feared there was a more pressing concern.

‘I think we should evacuate the party,’ he said.

Chapter 55

Tyler pulled off his earphones. ‘Have you lost your fucking mind?’

Lambert didn’t respond, glancing at Tillman for support.

Tillman unbuttoned his top button. ‘Would you care to divulge why?’ he asked.

Lambert wasn’t sure how much he could tell them. The Watcher’s threat had been self-evident. Sophie was in danger if he didn’t get what he wanted. But he had Sarah May watching her, and he couldn’t justify not protecting the hundreds of lives inside.

‘Blake is due to arrive in thirty minutes,’ said Tyler. ‘I am not going to let you fuck up this operation.’