Death on Account (The Lakeland Murders) (21 page)

Ian Mann felt no nostalgia as he stood at the front desk, waiting to give his statement. He just wanted to get it all over with. The building looked old, tired and run-down, and that was how he felt too.

‘Come on in, Ian’ said Ray Dixon, when he buzzed Mann through, ‘can I make you a brew?’

‘First time for everything’ said Mann, ‘but no, I’m all right. I’d like to get this done and get off. And could you say to Andy that I need a word after?’

‘He’s really busy mate, why not text him and meet up for a drink? I know he’s up for it.’

‘It’s official. I need to do it here.’

‘OK, mate. Make yourself comfortable in Room 2, and I’ll just pop up and see him.’

Two minutes later Dixon was back.

‘Not a problem, Ian. He’ll pop down as soon as we’re through. And actually there was something I wanted to have an informal chat about too.’

‘Oh aye. What’s that then?’ Mann looked slightly suspicious, and that surprised Dixon.

‘I wondered if the Super and Gory Gorham have said any more to you about Williams’ identity getting leaked?’

‘No, it’s all gone quiet. The Federation lawyer says that they were just trying to put extra pressure on me to quit, that’s all. The suggestion that my being suspended might be enough to get me to grass up Williams to Cafferty is bollocks and they know it, although I think the lawyer actually said ‘baseless’.’

‘All adds up to bollocks though.’

‘Aye, it does. Anyway, shall we get this statement done?’

‘Yes, of course. How long have you known Eleanor Barrow for?’

‘A lot of years. I think I remember her from school, and I’ve seen her on and off since. My dad knows the family, but then he knows everyone down on that estate. But I must have known her twenty five plus years, easy.’

‘And had you seen her recently?’

‘Aye, Nobby Styles told me that he had his concerns about her, and asked if I’d look in on her.’

‘An informal request?’

‘Aye, just as a mate like.’

‘Were you surprised that he asked you?’

‘In a way, yes I was.’

‘Why was that?’

‘Because Nobby knows I’m suspended, so I couldn’t arrest Terry or his kids or his mates, even if they were behaving like twats right in front of me.’

‘And did they?’

‘Aye, when I was round there. Terry came out of the house, pissed up, and chucked a beer bottle at the house.’

‘And what did you do?’

‘I cleared it up.’

‘And that’s all? You didn’t have a word with Terry, give him a little something to remember you by as well, mebbe? No one would blame you if you had.’

‘I didn’t. I didn’t so much as touch him.’

Dixon nodded slowly. ‘Ian, if you don’t mind me saying, that’s a bit out of character for you, isn’t it?’

‘You don’t see it, do you, Ray? If I’d still had my Warrant Card that stupid bastard would have been biting the pavement with his arm right up his back five seconds after he chucked that bottle. And I’d have been more than happy if his lads came out to try to help their old man out. But I didn’t do a thing, because I was trying to keep my nose clean, trying to keep my job. If I’d stood up for Eleanor, like a man, like I should have, then she’d still be here. I’m fucking ashamed of myself, and that’s the truth.’

Ray Dixon couldn’t remember the last time he’d heard Ian Mann say so much all at once.

‘Don’t beat yourself up, mate, you did your best. It’s a shame that we didn’t do the same. They’re going to hang Charlie Coward out to dry for this one, poor bastard.’

‘I know how he feels. Now, can you write that up and I’ll sign it, unless there’s anything else?’

‘No, nowt. You may get called at the inquest, but you’ll be back on the job by then. So it’ll be on company time, I expect.’

When Mann had signed his statement Dixon phoned Hall, and offered Mann a brew again.

‘Blimey, Ray, are you feeling all right? You’ve spent the last twenty odd years avoiding the brew run.’

‘I’m making up for lost time.’

‘You’ll never be out of the bloody kitchen then. It’s not long until you retire now, is it?’

‘Don’t remind me, mate. I’ve been trying to hang on, but Robinson was really getting on my wick earlier, so I went out of my way to piss the bastard off.’

‘What’s the word that Andy always uses about him?’

‘Sanctimonious.’

‘That’s the one. I looked it up, what with all the free time I’ve had lately, and you know what it means?’

‘No.’

‘Twat. Ocean going, four masted, twat.’

Dixon laughed, but stopped when Hall knocked briefly and walked in. Hall shook hands warmly with Mann, and Dixon made for the door.

‘Any news, Ian? I can’t tell you how much we could do with getting you back here.’

‘That’s what I’ve come to tell you. I’m putting in my papers, Andy. The Federation lawyer has been talking to personnel, and they’ve offered me a deal. Quite generous, apparently.’

Hall shook his head slowly.

‘Are you sure you want to do that. Ian? I thought you were dead set on staying. And how about the Abbey thing? Are they saying that there’ll be no charges if you go quietly, as they say?’

‘Aye, CPS says a prosecution wouldn’t be in the public interest. But that’s not why I’m going. All this business with Eleanor made me realise that I’d never be able to do the job right if I came back. The likes of Robinson and Gorham and the rest of them would just be waiting for a chance to get me out, and I’d be thinking about that the whole time.’

‘I see that, Ian, but I wonder if you’re maybe getting things a bit out of proportion. I’ve been in the job all these years and I’ve hardly ever had to use any kind of force. I don’t think it’s reduced my effectiveness.’

‘But you rely on your brains, Andy. I’m more of a hands-on copper.’

‘Really? Is that all there is it to it? I think there’s something else going on here. Come on, out with it.’

‘Honestly, it’s lots of things. Having Robinson accusing me of giving Williams up to Cafferty, the fact that we won’t be able to touch Walker for what he did to Eleanor...’

‘Hang on, Ian, what makes you think we won’t be able to charge Walker with something?’

‘Come on, Andy, we all know how this works. There’ll be a lot of big talk, and when the fuss in the press has died down the CPS will tell you that’s there’s not enough evidence to secure a conviction, and that will be that. Walker will get away with it again, just like he has all these years. It’s just getting worse mate, can’t you see that?’

‘I think you’re drawing general conclusions based on one situation’ said Hall. ‘I agree that we’re under resourced, but you jacking it in won’t help us sort that out, will it? If you go I’ll probably get some wet behind the ears DC from HQ, who’ll be worse than useless for a year at least.’

‘Sorry to be an inconvenience, Andy.’

‘Come on, mate, that’s not fair. It’s you I’m thinking about here. What the hell will you do if you’re not a copper?’

‘I was thinking about setting myself up as a gardener. You know, little van, mower, strimmer, all that.’

‘Really? I’m sorry, but I don’t see it. Look, if you just hang tough for another week or two I’m sure that you’ll be back in the job, and we can all just get on with our work. You might even get the chance to feel Terry Walker’s collar. How good would it feel to get that bastard put away for a while? Stay in and you get the chance to do it, leave and you won’t. You’re a good copper, Ian, and I’m not saying that you wouldn’t be just as good at something else, of course I’m not. But I just don’t think you’d be a massive loss to the horticultural industry if you decided to stay on with us.’

For the first time in days Mann laughed.

‘So you think I should tell the Fed’s lawyer that I want the bosses to stuff their offer?’

‘More or less, yes. They’re never going to charge you with anything over the Abbey, and you can ride out a disciplinary, if they’re brave enough to try, which I doubt. It would be terrible for morale, not just here but right across the county, and the way things are with the redundancies and everything they just can’t afford it. You’ll have everyone who was there right behind you. And for what it’s worth you know where I stand as well. You’re one of us, Ian, and the likes of Robinson and all the bloody bureaucrats in uniform at HQ can get stuffed. We’ll not let you down.’

‘All right, Andy. Thanks. Look, I’ll think about it, but no promises. I’d made up my mind, and you know what I’m like.’

‘Stubborn.’

‘I know my own mind, aye.’

At five in the afternoon Terry Walker woke up from a nap on the sofa. Kylie had the TV on with the sound turned down, but his lads were making a racket upstairs. That must have been what had woken him up.

‘I was asleep there, Kylie. Why didn’t you shut them up?’

She smiled apologetically. ‘Fancy a Chinese for tea?’

‘Aye, that would be good. Nothing like home cooking, eh?’ He smiled at his little joke, but Kylie didn’t. It wasn’t the first time she’d heard it. ‘And I thought I’d go out later like. I could do with cheering myself up like.’

Kylie pretended to be watching the television for a few seconds. ‘That’s good’ she said, and hoped that Terry wouldn’t pick anything up on her hesitancy. He didn’t. But she’d been shopping that day and a few people had turned their backs on her, and one or two had made comments about Terry. She wasn’t really surprised, but he seemed unaware for some reason. Terry closed his eyes again, and Kylie started to think about what might happen down the pub later. She smiled slightly, turned off the TV, and went to look for the menu.

When the food was delivered Terry’s lads took theirs back to their rooms, and Kylie was pleased that they did. Her two were still small, and they sat next to her on the sofa as they ate.

‘My compliments to the delivery boy’ said Terry, when he’d finished, just like he always did. And Kylie laughed, just like she always did. ‘There’ll be a few in by now. I might head down there in a bit.’

Kylie cleared up the empty trays, called up to the boys for theirs, and got no reply as usual. She heard the front door close while she was outside, putting the rubbish into the bin. She tried not to look at Eleanor’s house, about what her husband and step-sons had done, and about what she’d failed to do. But most of all she tried not to think about Gemma. When Kylie turned to go back inside her cheeks were wet.

Terry hadn’t been expecting a hero’s welcome in the pub, but it was still quiet when he walked in, so he wasn’t particularly surprised that no-one came over to chat. That meant he’d have to buy his own pint too. Half an hour later the football started, and the place was pretty busy. A couple of the lads had nodded to him, but no-one had been interested in a bit of banter. Then, at half-time, he took an elbow in the ribs on the way back to his table, and he turned quickly to face whoever did it. But it was Alan Frostick, and Terry knew much better than to mess with him.

He wasn’t sure whether it was the Chinese food or the beer, but Terry could taste the acid in his mouth. The pub felt really hot. ‘They’ll soon forget about it’ said Barry, the only mate who’d come and sat with him.

‘If they knew what they put us through’ said Terry, reaching for his pint and then putting it back unsipped. ‘It was like living next door to a freak show. Depressing is what it was.’

‘I think people know how it was’ said Barry, and Terry looked up to see if he was taking the piss. Barry wasn’t the brightest, but he was still a good lad.

‘Another?’ asked Barry, gesturing to Terry’s almost empty glass.

‘No, you’re all right. I better get off.’

‘Busy day tomorrow?’ asked Barry, looking surprised.

‘Aye, I’m due at the fucking United Nations at ten.’

‘Oh aye. Look mate, it’ll all calm down. People are just a bit upset, you know?’

‘About what? It’s not my fucking fault that she fucking topped herself. What kind of mum tries to kill her kid as well? It’s not natural that, is it?’

Barry didn’t answer. He knew enough to realise that there was no point.

Terry left the pub and set off or home. He found himself walking a bit faster than usual. He told himself it was because of the gassy lager. It was a warm evening, and he was starting to feel hot, so he slowed down. He said hello to a couple of people on his way through town, but they both blanked him.

‘Wanker’ he said out loud, both times. But only when the blokes were well past him. He found himself walking more quickly again.

As he got nearer to his own house Terry started to relax, and he slowed down. He didn’t even notice the car pull up just ahead of him, but when the back door opened and Alan Frostick jumped out he tensed up fast. But not fast enough, because the first blow fell before he was ready. There was no point running, and anyway he was only fifty yards away from his own house, so neighbours might be watching. So he needed to fight back. But Terry didn’t land a blow properly, and when he went down he curled up and waited for the kicking that he knew was coming.