Doors Without Numbers (45 page)

The wait for Dunn’s call was too long. He suggested they drive the car through the village and look for evidence of building work. Satisfied with the distraction, Galvin drove through the village, they found nothing to encourage them. Hammond decided he was thirsty, the village shop was still open. He left the car and entered the shop, selected a bottle of mineral water from the chiller cabinet, paid for it and left the shop just in time to see Galvin’s car headlights flashing intermittently for his attention. Presuming it was to tell him Galvin’s wife had gone into labour, Hammond gestured for Galvin to leave but Galvin didn’t. Instead he continued to flash the car lights. Hammond stood at the entrance of the shop for several seconds before he realised what Galvin was trying to communicate. Kelsey was on the other side of the road exiting the Butchers. He was walking casually, swinging a red and white striped carrier bag in his hand as if he hadn’t a care in the world. Hammond glanced quickly at Galvin in the car and weighed up his options. He could run after Kelsey and take him there and then or he could follow him and see where Kelsey would lead him. He decided on the latter and gestured to Galvin to pull the car up. He got in the car.

“Follow him, but stay back as much as you dare, if necessary I will get out and walk.”

The car crept forward . Kelsey turned right at a bus stop and crossed a stile leading into a field of darkness. Hammond made a move to open the passenger door. Galvin looked across at him nervously.

“You’re not following him in there! What if it is trick?”

Hammond shook his head. “I doubt he knows we are here. I will keep in contact with you, only start to panic if you don’t hear from me in ten minutes.”

He left the car and shuffled across the road towards the foot-stile. The grass was long and wet, the dampness sucked at his trousers as soon as his foot trod down on the soft earth on the other side of the stile. The field stretched downwards away from the pavement he had just left. Despite the urge to stay close to the reassurance of the street lights, Hammond trod further into the field. He couldn’t see Kelsey. There was silence apart from the faint drone of traffic that was audible even though the main road was a distance away.

Hammond inched his way further, his eyes slowly became accustomed to the darkness and he could make out a faint line where grass had been trodden down to make a path. He followed the trail. The path went around a sharp corner towards the left. As Hammond made his way round, he saw a glimmer of light beckoning to him through the cluster of trees. A small gate was visible, obviously disused, the shadow of overgrown vegetation was woven around it. Light seeped from underneath a boarded window reflecting off scaffolding poles that had been left lying in a heap against the cottage walls. Hammond moved closer, he was beginning to question himself as to what he intended to do next but whilst deliberating he continued to move forward, leaving him less choice but to continue edging towards the wall of the building. He pressed his ear against the cold wall, hoping to get a better idea of how much activity there was inside the house but he could only hear the sound of his own blood being pumped around his head, the sound he had once believed had been the sound of the sea when he pressed a sea-shell against his ear. His eyes were now fully accustomed to the dark and he could see there was too much vegetation to allow him to get any closer to the boarded window without stepping on twigs and alerting his presence. He stood still whilst he debated what to do, conscious that the longer he stood there, the more his feet sank into the ploughed earth. He thought about what he was doing, how yet again he was acting alone, rebelling against the most fundamental rule of police work; to never go into a potentially dangerous situation alone. Swiftly he made a decision and turned around to head back towards Galvin and the car. His feet were caked in mud. As he placed his foot down to walk forward, the soul of the rubber sandal slipped under the added weight of his plastered ankle and slid forward causing his back leg to bend and throw his weight forward. He landed on his hands with both legs stuck behind him and he remained in the pose of a wheelbarrow whilst he attempted to pull his other leg out of the mud. As he eased his body upwards, he felt the rush of air on his upturned face as the pole came crashing down towards the back of his neck. Everything went dark.

“
When the Gods, to ruin a man, first make him mad, they do it, almost invariably, by making him an optimist.”
Henry Havelock Ellis. The Dance of Life. 1923

When Hammond came to, he did not know where he was. He was lying on his stomach, his arms were outstretched above his head. The ground beneath him was cold and hard. His shoulders and neck ached. He moved his head stiffly trying to see where he was but it was pitch black, he couldn’t see his own hands as he drew them closer to his body. The air was heavy and warm which told him he was no longer outside. He groped the floor in the dark with the tips of his fingers, feeling the smoothness of ground that was interrupted by occasional gritty furrows. He detected he was lying on ceramic tiles. He must be in a bathroom. There was a lingering smell of disinfectant. He managed to sit up and strained his ears to pick up any sound but it was quiet. Slowly he willed his body to move and he got to his feet, shuffling to the side until his progress was hindered by a wall. He allowed his hands to explore the wall searching for a light switch. He continued this activity for a while before he heard sounds of someone approaching. The sound of a door opening was heard before light blinded him.

The person by the door was quiet, and made no movement towards him. Hammond blinked to restore his vision and recognised Kelsey standing a few meters away from him. The two men stared at one another, neither spoke. Automatically Hammond looked to see if Kelsey had a weapon but the man’s hands hang limply by his sides with the assurance that Hammond wasn’t going anywhere. With the light now on, Hammond could see he was in an empty room. The floor was tiled, the walls bare apart from occasional hooks that poked out intermittently. The pain in his neck caused him to refrain from moving his head unless it was necessary. Then he heard the sound of heels tapping an approach before a voice he did not recognise addressed him.

“I must confess, I didn’t expect to meet you like this.” She spoke clearly, articulating every vowel.

Hammond studied the woman who now stood before him. He recognised her immediately. She was even more beautiful than her daughter, she walked with a confidence that Kathleen lacked. Her tall, lean figure was complimented by a fitted woollen skirt and matching jacket that she wore. It looked expensive, the kind of suit that his mother would have dreamed to have owned in her lifetime but never had.

“I knew we would meet eventually” He said.

She inclined her head with a graceful movement as if to acknowledge his words before handing him his mobile phone. “A few minutes ago, someone tried to call you. I assume there is a person or people waiting for you to reassure them you are well. I would appreciate it if you call them and tell them that you do not need assistance. I am sure you will agree that enough people have been hurt already.”

He took the phone from her silently. He knew Galvin would be worried, that he would have raised the alarm after ten minutes of Hammond leaving him. He had no idea what the time was, how long he had been unconscious, he hoped that Galvin hadn’t followed him here. He pressed call back. Galvin answered immediately.

“I’m OK.” Hammond said. “I just lost my footing and dropped the phone in the mud.”

“Have you found Kelsey?”

Hammond hesitated. He was tempted to give an indication of his predicament but couldn’t afford Galvin to get involved.

“No, not yet, But I think I am going to hang around a little longer. Why don’t you go home, I will make my own way back.”

Goodchild nodded at him encouragingly.

There was a pause as if Galvin was thinking about the possibility. Hammond could feel his hesitation on the other end so he repeated the suggestion. “I will you call you later, let you know of any progress. Just get back home, there’s nothing to do here.” Goodchild took the phone from him and disconnected the call before removing the battery from the casing.

“I am guessing your colleague is in the vicinity, I hope that he takes your advice, Inspector, but I will send Bradley out to have a look, just in case.” She motioned with a hand towards the man who stood silent in the doorway, he nodded and left the room. Hammond prayed that Galvin had left.

“I won’t ask you how you knew I was here, Inspector. It seems I underestimated your investigative skills, but it doesn’t matter. I have no intention of staying here for very long. However, I must admit I am intrigued as to why you are here.”

Hammond tensed his jaw and he stretched himself to his full height. He debated whether to throw himself at her, to throw her to the floor and make an escape. She must be half his weight, it would be possible. As if reading his thoughts she stepped back and smiled again. “You wouldn’t be able to get past the security door, Inspector, it requires a password with every entry and exit. I think you should allow yourself to relax rather than fantasise about overpowering me.”

Hammond decided to play for time. “I came to question you about your involvement with a number of serious crimes including the exploitation of children. I believe that you took over the guardianship of Salima Abitboul for the intention of encouraging her into prostitution and that you enlisted the help of your former lover Lloyd Harris to cover up her murder in 1991.”

“You seem very confident. I assume that you have proof to back up your suspicions?”

“You took over the care of Mark Callum, Theresa Davenport, Fiona Nwasu, Lucas Dean and Claire Bennet illegally. You were not registered as a legal guardian to any of these children. You are suspected of harbouring them under false pretences and encouraging them to partake in criminal activities. Furthermore, I suspect you of being an accessory to the murders of Cheryl Bailey and Lloyd Harris as well as the attempted murder of myself.”

“You haven’t answered my question, Inspector. What proof do you have?”

“Your daughter’s witness statement.”

Goodchild laughed with rich amusement. “You are very humorous. I am beginning to enjoy your company, but forgive me for saying that you appear to be deluded. You do not have any such witness statement. I know you have nothing on me that acts as evidence that I have any involvement with the crimes you suspect me of.”

Hammond knew he was floundering, he wanted to give the impression of confidence behind what he was saying but she was right, he couldn’t prove anything.

“You are keeping me here against my will, that is enough for the time being.”

Her laugh echoed around the room, she clapped her hands with childish delight at his words before stepping closer to him. “You are welcome to try to leave, I cannot physically stop you.” She stepped away from him again and watched him as he deliberated what to do.

She had mentioned the security door. “You will need to give me the password.” He said.

She shook her head. “No, I won’t do that. I have no intention of helping you walk out of here. You have caused me too much of an inconvenience already. I did not invite you here so technically, you are trespassing. Look at it from my point of view; A vulnerable woman is at home alone on a dark winter’s evening when an intruder breaks into her home. In her panic, she shuts the man in her basement and leaves to get help...what happens next?”

She walked back over to him and laid her finger under his chin, moving his head so that their eyes met. “Like I said, I do not intend to stay here for very long. You however..well, let’s just see what happens shall we?”

She winked at him and opened the door. Hammond took his chance, he threw his whole weight towards the opening. Goodchild, startled by the sudden movement, skidded to the side but Hammond wasn’t prepared for Kelsey standing on the other side of the door. As Hammond slammed into him, Kelsey grunted and toppled backward but was able to correct himself in time and stop himself from falling backward. He gripped Hammond in a bear hug and pushed him back into the room before kicking him in the ribs. The pain shot through Hammond like a hot spear and he fell onto the floor gasping. Goodchild followed Kelsey back into the room and looked down at Hammond.

“I realise what it is that I like about you. You are an optimist like me. Even though I have already explained to you that you will not be able to get away, you still try. However, after a while your stubborn behaviour will become tedious so please do not continue with your efforts.”

“Is that what you said to Mark and the others?”

Hammond stayed on the floor, the fall had knocked all air out of his body. He knew he had been defeated. Goodchild watched him attentively and Hammond knew she was trying to decipher how much he knew. He decided to continue bluffing, it would give Dunn time to get there. She must have found the address by now and would start wondering why he hadn’t called.

“There was no need. Mark was very compliant from the start. He understood that I was simply trying to show him that the world outside was not meant for the likes of him. The others saw this too. Their parents had abandoned them in their hours of need, and then society had shunned them. Their voices were ignored. I simply showed them how to take back control.”

“You controlled them with your sick games and twisted logic. They were vulnerable and you exploited them.”

Hammond heard the faint note of irritation in Goodchild’s voice when she answered him. “On the contrary, I showed them that it was the world outside that should be exploited. Society provides for those who play by the rules dictated by a Christian religion that was founded on hearsay and manipulated to suit those in power. And you Inspector have been exploited and brainwashed into believing that by forcing others to abide by those rules, you are doing the greater good. Your moral intelligence is no more superior to mine. The only difference is that I do not wish to be a part of the community to which you belong. I created my own with its own rules; to take what is rightfully ours.”