Doors Without Numbers (40 page)

“Dammit! Kelsey is the name of the guy who found Mark Callum’s body! That explains the missing pen and paper!”

Dunn and Galvin looked at one another perplexed. They had no idea what Hammond was talking about. They watched as Hammond struggled to his feet from the chair and made a hasty exit towards Galvin’s car.

“
The sun, the moon and the stars would have disappeared long ago, had they happened to be within reach of predatory human hands.”
Henry Havelock Ellis. The Dance of Life. 1923

Bradley Kelsey’s details had been on the database since ten years previously when he had been arrested and charged for assaulting a police officer during a drugs raid at a party he had attended. Galvin was happy to give these details to Hammond but Hammond was not so keen to receive them, he kept interrupting with a barrage of self abuse. He was angry at his own stupidity not to check out a witness. Dunn offered the reassurance that the officers investigating Mark Callum’s death hadn’t either, and even if they had, there would be no reason to have investigated him as a potential murderer but Hammond wasn’t listening. He knew that he had accepted Harris’ challenge half-heartedly. Had he been more willing to believe Harris had reason to be suspicious of the suicides he would have been more thorough.

The car swerved sharply as Galvin miscalculated a corner and Hammond swore loudly. He felt the nervous tension in his body increasing as he anticipated his meeting with Morris. Hammond’s contribution had been refused already but this time, he wasn’t going to sit back and let the investigation continue without him. If the team were going to busy themselves investigating his finances and his relationship with Jenny, then their time would be wasted. There was a sense of urgency that stirred within him, He wanted Bradley Kelsey to be found quickly.

Morris looked at Hammond obligingly which was better than Hammond had hoped for.

“This is the best lead we’ve got so far.” Hammond said.

“But you haven’t given me anything, we are no further along in the investigation than we were the last time we met, all the material we’ve got and still we have reached no conclusions. Even if you bring in Kelsey for questioning, we are going to have a snowball’s chance in hell of proving he was directly or indirectly involved with Cheryl’s murder ,the arson attack on your home or the body found inside. We’ve got a distorted photo image of him parked behind your car, video footage of him outside your house after the fire and on a bus the same time as yourself. It’s odd, it’s coincidence, but all it gives us is a link to scenes of crimes. It doesn’t count as concrete evidence of his involvement in criminal activity.”

“He found Mark Callum’s body. I became a target as soon as I started looking into Callum’s death, there has to be a connection! Let’s question him. See how he copes under stress, he can’t be sure that he didn’t leave any trace evidence at my house or on the car and then see where it takes us. We can arrange an i.d line up, if the kids recognise him as the man who asked them to eavesdrop on my conversation with Cheryl Bailey, it will be enough to keep him a little while. I’m sure we are on the right track. If we show we have reason to suspect him, it may be enough to convince him that we know more than we are letting on.”

Morris studied Hammond for a minute then shrugged with resignation. “I think we should stick with splitting the team and look from different angles. I don’t even know for sure which incident should take precedence. Cheryl Bailey’s murder has to be treated as an unrelated crime to the body found in your house, we have a link but it isn’t strong enough to treat it as a related case.”

Hammond tried to keep his impatience under wraps. “There isn’t enough time or resources. If they are connected, and Kelsey’s involvement suggests there is, we don’t know who else may be a possible victim here, there has already been two attempted murders as well as the death of three innocents, it is now looking as if Kelsey is more involved in the suicide of Mark Callum, there could be more deaths to come. What other angle is there? We have some evidence that Kelsey is linked between all incidents.”

Morris was quick to correct Hammond. “He’s not the only link.”

Hammond ignored the implication, instead he waited for Morris to see sense. Eventually Morris sighed heavily. “Fine. I want a background search on Kelsey, and I want to see what the others can give me tonight. We’ll question him in the morning. Against my better judgement I will allow you to stick around, if he sees you alive and well despite his attempts to harm you, he may react strongly enough to implicate himself.”

The unmarked car with Morris and Edwards inside was parked on the other side of the street from Kelsey’s apartment block. Hammond settled into the back passenger seat, breathing in the welcoming smell of bacon and coffee that lingered from their takeaway breakfast. He thought of all the hours he had spent in cars like this one, surviving the monotony of surveillance through the relief of takeaways and chewing gum. They exchanged greetings before Edwards turned to face him from the front passenger seat.

“He returned from work about ninety minutes ago. He went inside for a while but then re-emerged and walked around the block, before heading down London Road.”

“When did he return?”

Morris replied from the driver’s seat, his face still turned upwards towards the windows of the flat they were surveying.

“Just before you turned up. There’s been no movement since, it’s probably best to go in soon before he makes a move again.”

“Did you learn anything useful last night?” Hammond asked with an air of innocence. Inwardly he doubted whether the wait had been fruitful. If the man had been confident enough to break into the home of a police officer twice in daylight, it was likely he believed there was nothing on him to raise suspicion.

Edwards looked at Morris as if waiting for permission to speak but turned back to Hammond when no response had been granted. “Nothing dodgy. Not married, no kids. He has lived here for the last twelve years. No criminal record other than hitting a uniformed officer at a party. The party’s host was growing Cannabis plants in his loft. Kelsey wasn’t part of it, just took offence to the police interrupting a good time.”

“So, he’s aggressive, we know that at least. Do you think he knows you’re here?”

“He slowed down when he passed us on his way back the first time in his car, but he didn’t stop, it’s hard to tell.”

Hammond sighed. “It’s possible he was suspicious of having two men seated in a car observing the area, especially when he recognised the GN prefix to your car registration, in most cases it indicates a Kent Police vehicle.”

Morris snorted. “I doubt he would even consider that Hammond. You’re giving him credit for being more intelligent than he probably is.”

Morris’ tone was devoid of inflection. He evidently believed he was wasting his time being there. His comment irritated Hammond.

“Yet he walked around the apartment block afterwards, it could be he was checking you out.”

Morris interrupted Hammond by turning around to face him abruptly, The car wobbled slightly with the sudden movement.

“You and your theories Hammond, it’s a pity you don’t spend as much time exercising your body as you do your brain. What the hell are we doing here anyway? This whole case is a bloody waste of time! If you hadn’t poked your nose into suicides that were not even suspicious, we wouldn’t be here twiddling our thumbs for no good reason. Instead I would be at home, playing Mario Kart with my son like I promised.”

Hammond was about to reply, even though he was unsure how to, before Edwards pointed a finger up at the window on the third floor of the building.”He looked out the window! You think he is checking us out after all?”

Hammond moved his body closer to the back exit as Morris opened the driver’s door. He got out, then bent down sticking his head into the car and faced Hammond for the first time since he had arrived.

“You can come, just stay out of the way. Let him see you, but that’s all. Edwards, stay with the car for the meantime but get ready to join us. We don’t know how he will react.”

The ride in the elevator to the third floor of the building was stifling and awkward. The stench of stale urine contaminated the small enclosure. As soon as the doors closed, Hammond felt he was suffocating. He refused to open his mouth for fear of tasting the air. Pressed against the steel walls, Morris was making no effort to hide his displeasure in being there. He sighed loudly and tapped his foot until the doors opened and Hammond allowed himself to breathe. They found Kelsey’s door at the end of a long quiet corridor. The silence was interrupted by Morris’ knock on Kelsey’s door which echoed around them. From somewhere above them, Hammond heard a baby crying and then the sound died as quickly as it had begun. It was quiet again. There was no sound emerging from behind the door. Morris knocked again, harder this time and motioned for Hammond to stand to the other side of the door. They braced themselves expecting sudden movement but nothing happened. Hammond moved towards the window at the end of the corridor and looked down, he could see the back of Morris’ car but it was impossible to see if Edwards was still there. He wondered what Kelsey could see from the window in his flat, it was unlikely he was prepared for their visit so why didn’t he answer the door? He frowned at Morris and found himself becoming increasingly irritated.

“For God’s sake! Give it a kick!”

Morris scowled back at Hammond. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.. We need to bait him somehow.”

Hammond groaned inwardly. He motioned silently to Morris pretending he could hear movement, he ushered Morris back a step and then leant his head towards the door as if trying to get his ear closer to the imagined sound.

“I think I can hear a cry for help.” He said seriously before suddenly flicking his good leg up and threw muscle behind a kick at the door lock. The wooden frame splintered as the door swung open immediately. Hammond couldn’t resist a grin, he expected it to be more difficult, the door looked as if it had needed three good kicks at least.

Morris’ face inflamed with fury but he had no chance to reprimand Hammond for his stupidity before the full weight of Kelsey came flying towards him through the doorway. Morris’ legs buckled as his body was caught up and thrown towards the opposite wall of the corridor. From his position beside Kelsey’s exit, Hammond registered a blur that was Morris and his attacker joined together in a ball of motion before Morris’ head slammed against the wall. His limp body slid down to the floor, his eyes glazed and open in surprise. Kelsey righted himself but Hammond reacted quickly and leaped forward, delivering a blow to the man’s right kidney. Kelsey whirled around, his left arm flying in an arc directed towards Hammond’s chest. Without thinking, Hammond lifted his right knee and made contact with Kelsey’s genitals. There was a loud gasp as Kelsey lost his breath but he recovered quickly and managed to grab Hammond’s leg, twisting it and causing Hammond to lose his balance. The two men fell, Kelsey on top of Hammond, the full force of his weight lay on Hammond’s chest. The pain from the impact on his injured rib shot through Hammond’s body, circles of light danced before his eyes before nausea welled up within him. Choking, Hammond pulled himself to the side as Kelsey tried to stand. Hammond used his free hand to clasp Kelsey’s foot, holding him down with the full strength of his arm but it wasn’t enough. It took a microsecond for Kelsey to free his foot and kick at Hammond’s arm, before wriggling out of his grasp. He sprung with surprising agility to his feet and turned as if to leave but then stopped as he registered Hammond on the floor. At that moment Hammond realised that he had been recognised, but instead of the fury he would have expected. Kelsey grinned, looking down at him. Lying on his back on the floor at his attacker’s feet made him more vulnerable than he had ever been. Hammond’s eyes turned towards the wall where Morris had laid but saw nothing. Kelsey’s foot stamped down towards his chest, but he missed his aim as Hammond rolled sideways, The force of Kelsey’s foot slammed down onto the hard floor, impacting his heel before he raised his leg again, this time his foot aimed for Hammond’s head. Hammond dared himself to look up, he tensed his stomach and neck muscles ready to shoot his upper body towards the man’s groin, but instead he saw Kelsey suddenly teeter to the side as Morris’ arms enclosed Kelsey in a bear hug from behind. Kelsey’s leg faltered in mid-air for a second. It gave Hammond the opportunity he needed to wriggle towards the wall and heave himself onto his feet. By now Morris was shouting, his arms pinned Kelsey’s to his sides but he wasn’t able to hold the man for long. With a burst of energy, Kelsey threw his head backwards and connected with Morris’ chin. Morris grunted and tumbled backwards, his back slammed against the wall. Seizing his chance, Kelsey pushed himself away and managed to get himself free. He ran towards the fire exit. Morris stunned by the sudden impact against the wall, didn’t recover in time to halt Kelsey’s progress but by now, Hammond was on his feet and ready to pursue. He was oblivious to pain in his ankle as he propelled his body after Kelsey. Behind him, he could hear Morris shouting in his radio at Edwards.

Neither Edwards nor Hammond reacted in time to prevent Kelsey’s escape, by the time Hammond had made his way down the stairs of the fire exit, Kelsey had got to his car and roared off in a dramatic display of screeching tyres and blowing exhaust. Hammond reached Edwards whom had attempted to block Kelsey’s exit from the car park. His eyes were widened in partial disbelief.

“I didn’t expect that.”

All of Hammond’s energy was concentrated on breathing. His lungs were on fire, he felt shaky from the adrenaline that was coursing through him. There was no sensation or pain but he knew it was only a matter of time before his body reminded him it was still in the process of recovering from a car crash. It couldn’t cope with the extra demands of fighting with a man heavier than himself. He bent over coughing as his lungs attempted to correct their intake of oxygen and he waved a hand at Edwards gesturing to rejoin Morris at the apartment where Hammond had left him moments before.