Mother Be The Judge (21 page)

'Motherhood, a
ll love begins and ends there.'

Robert Browning.

25
th
May 2012

Detective Inspector Todd 'Todger' Turnbull had received the news at ten o'clock that morning. DNA evidence that had been collected by Jan at the scene of the crime in the form of a hair found on Tiffany's body, buried in the ragged bite mark on her stomach; confirmed that Adrian Brown was indeed guilty of committing the crimes against Tiffany.

Todd was not only pleased that his copper's instinct had been right all along, but he was pleased that there was a very real probability of getting the justice that the girls and their parents deserved.

When Todd heard the news over the telephone, he put the receiver down and hot footed it to the canteen, grabbing Detective Sergeant Mary Webb's 999 breakfast from under her nose and calling her to action.

They called the van to Adrian Brown's address so they could transport him back to the police station, then made their way in Todd's car to the Fern Bridge Estate. Todd felt this was the most gratifying part of his job; his hard work, persistence and excellent investigative skills mixed with his natural ability to sniff out a wrong 'un, meant he was able to bring in the bad guys. He was filled with a kind of joy at the prospect of delivering Adrian Brown to justice.

-x-

Todd and Mary arrived at the front door of Adrian Brown's flat and knocked hard on the door, the two uniformed police officers waiting patiently behind them.

"Adrian Brown, it's the police." Todd shouted through the door. He had already phoned Big Value to check Adrian was not at work and had been informed Adrian had been sick for the last few days and had not been there.

"Adrian Brown," Todd shouted again, receiving no response.

"Get it open." Todd said to the waiting uniforms. One of them went to the police van and returned with a large red metal tube. It was known as the enforcer and was a very effective battering ram. Todd and Mary took a few steps back and watched as two swift knocks from the enforcer caused the fragile door to almost fly off its hinges. The uniformed officer moved to the side, allowing Todd and Mary to enter the flat.

Todd walked slowly around the flat; he entered the kitchen followed by Mary, it was empty except for the remains of chocolate wrappers strewn across the kitchen table and a packet of tablets propped up near the sink. Todd picked up the packet and read the prescription for Temazepam in the name of Georgina Perkins, which was written across the front. He checked inside, fearing it may be empty but found there were only eight missing from the bubble pack inside.

Todd moved into the front room, again finding it empty. Finally he moved to the unopened door at the end of the hallway.

Todd opened the door to the bedroom and walked in to see two figures lying, apparently asleep in the single bed.

Closer inspection revealed to Todd that the male lying in the bed was dead, his skin was very white and purple blotches were present on his ears and the parts of the head which were touching the bed.

The rise and fall of the females' chest and her open eyes which silently watched Todd's progress across the room, told him that Jocasta Brown was very much alive.

"I killed him." Jocasta told Todd. "He can't hurt any more girls."

Todd sighed. He was filled with pity for the woman that lay in bed cradling her son. He now had to arrest her for the murder of Adrian Brown and take away her liberty. He couldn't decide if he was angry at Jocasta for robbing both him and the girls' parents of the chance to seek justice, or whether he was grateful that she had meted out the most desirable punishment for such an evil deed
and
had made the ultimate sacrifice in the quest for that justice.

"Jocasta Brown, I'm arresting you for the murder of Adrian Brown. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.'

Mary stepped forward and took Jocasta's hands away from Adrian; she gently helped Jocasta to her feet and put handcuffs on her, then began to lead her away from the bed.

"I had to do it." Jocasta looked back at Adrian.

"I had to do it." She turned and looked at Mary Webb.

"I had to do it." She looked to Todd.

"I know." Todd said sighing. "I know." He took Jocasta from Mary's hands and led her to the waiting police van.

Another murder solved. Another killer caught. Another statistic on a police bar chart. Todd's belly rumbled and his mind turned to the thoughts of a big fat breakfast as he walked back with Mary to his car, job done, crime solved, moving on.