The Domino Killer (24 page)

Sam had been walking towards the station when he’d got the call from Gina. He’d been unable to focus on his driving, almost went through a red light. His shirt collar felt too tight. Mark Proctor. Joe. They were both swirling around in his mind. As soon as he heard Gina’s voice, he knew he needed to see her. He told her about a café a few streets away and headed for it.

It was a small boutique café that wouldn’t have long left as a business. It aped the chain coffee houses but made a big play of being Fairtrade, the coffee varieties made trendy by being chalked onto a blackboard. The front of the café was made up of small tables in front of shelves filled with Italian food, like overpriced olive oil and pickled peppers, but there was a long conservatory at the back. Sam guessed the owners had been hoping to catch the lawyers and accountants and business leaders who wanted brunch on their way into the city. It wasn’t that kind of town. The smart money kept on driving.

He had to wait almost an hour before Gina showed, the assistant behind the counter giving him long glances as he stretched out two coffees. He wondered whether Gina had changed her mind, but when she came in the determination in her eyes told Sam that whatever she wanted to say, she had few doubts about it. Gone was the usual suit, and in its place a long blue summery dress, her hair tied back in a clasp.

Gina came to his table with a large latte, and a black coffee for Sam. The caffeine wasn’t helping him; it just made him edgier. He’d seated himself next to the toilets. It wasn’t a pleasant place to be, even though the café was nearly empty, but there was less chance of someone sitting nearby.

Stale booze wafted across as Gina sat down. Her eyes looked tired and red. Sam hoped she’d been okay to drive.

‘This isn’t a social call, I take it,’ Sam said. ‘I’m having a busy day.’

‘Anything but,’ Gina said.

‘So talk.’ Sam wasn’t in the mood for the usual pleasantries. He cared for Gina, his memories of how she’d been when still the cop in charge of Ellie’s case inspired him, but the news about Mark Proctor had left him confused.

‘Who’s the man in the park?’ Gina said.

‘I can’t tell you that,’ Sam said, clenching his jaw.

‘It’s not Mark Proctor.’

Sam had been about to take a drink, but that made him pause. ‘How sure are you?’

‘Very sure.’

‘What do you know about it?’

‘Who do you think called the police in the first place?’

‘That was you?’ Sam said, confused, and then, ‘How did you know?’

‘Joe told me.’

The cup clattered as he put it down. He groaned and put his head in his hands for a moment, his fingers clutching at his hair.

‘What’s he done?’ he asked.

Gina lowered her head to get Sam’s attention. ‘He told me he hasn’t done anything.’ As Sam looked up, she relayed the events of the night before. About how Joe had been following Proctor, and ended up following him all the way to the park, except he lost him. He went into the park and discovered the body, panicked and ran.

‘Do you believe him?’ Sam asked, but he sounded as if he didn’t really want to hear the answer.

‘Honestly?’ Gina said, and then sighed. ‘I don’t know, which is the best I can do. I thought I knew Joe, but what I found out yesterday changed things. All I can say is that if he did kill someone thinking it was Mark Proctor, he knows he killed an innocent man, and Joe didn’t look like a man who’d committed the ultimate sin. Just a man who knew things were looking bad for him and needed to work out how to sort it.’

‘I’m going to have to come off the case,’ Sam said. ‘I don’t know what help you want me to give, but Joe is going to be a suspect, the number-one suspect. I can’t be seen to be helping him.’

‘But you can if you’re off the case?’

‘I told you, I can’t be seen to be involved. I know that sounds bad, that he’s my brother and all, but I really don’t know what to do. If he’s killed someone, I can’t lose my job over him. I’m not even sure I could speak to him again. Ellie was innocent. If that man in the park isn’t Mark Proctor, then he was innocent too. Even Proctor might be innocent. What is the chance that Joe has got it wrong?’

‘I know you can’t be involved from within the case,’ Gina said. ‘Go to your inspector, tell him about Joe. Be upfront and look after yourself. Then let’s find out the truth. About Joe, and about Mark Proctor.’

‘And sell out my brother?’

Gina took a drink and looked deep in thought. ‘What would you do if you found out Joe had done it, that he’d killed a man who had nothing to do with Ellie’s murder?’

Sam thought about that. His first thought was that he’d turn Joe in, because catching killers was central to who he was; the horror of the crime outweighed brotherly loyalty.

But did it? Joe was still his brother. Being in prison wouldn’t get the life back, and he’d seen enough killers escape justice through some technicality to know that the world still turns, lives still go on, that even the killer being behind bars goes just a short way to helping the family of a victim get over a death. Was seeing his brother locked up for life worth the small benefit it would achieve?

‘I don’t know,’ he said finally, his voice quiet. ‘I thought I did, but faced with it, I have no idea.’

‘So don’t tell them,’ Gina said. ‘Not yet. Tell them you know Mark Proctor, you can even mention Ellie, and people will understand. You can’t have a biased investigation or else it gets torn apart at the trial. Work with me, for my benefit.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I owe it to Joe to give him the benefit of the doubt, just for now. I don’t know where I’m going to start, but I’m going to see what I can find out.’

Sam reached across and put his hand over hers.

Gina looked down at their hands and then up at Sam again.

‘It’s not just for Joe though, is it?’ Sam said. ‘It’s for you, because I know Ellie’s case still hurts you.’

Gina managed a smile, even though she didn’t feel like smiling. ‘There’s more truth in that than you think.’

Sam took his hand away and drained his coffee. ‘So where are you starting?’

‘Ellie’s case,’ she said. ‘I’m going to speak to an old friend on the squad, to see whether there’s any chance of some new forensics.’

Sam shook his head. ‘I spoke to someone yesterday. The case is dormant. It gets dusted down now and again, but nothing for a long time.’

‘But if you called yesterday, you can bet someone is looking at it now,’ she said. ‘That’s how it works with the cold cases: you look again whenever something new comes in.’ She took another drink, the coffee making her more alert. ‘Who’s your boss?’

‘Ray Brabham.’

‘God, they rise so quickly,’ she said. ‘I remember him as a keen young detective. Fond of himself, so I remember, but he’s smart. Why is your squad involved, though? The green at Worsley is on the other side of the city.’

‘He thinks there might be a connection to our case.’

‘I saw the paper. Domino Killer. What the hell?’

‘That was Brabham’s idea. A teacher was stabbed a month ago. The knife was found nearby, with a bloody fingerprint on it, but there was no match on our system. A first-timer. We got the match this week, though, when a man called Henry Mason was found bludgeoned in a park. It was his fingerprint. Both murders were on our patch.’

‘And that’s the domino effect? One falls into another?’

‘Yeah, it’s a stretch, but now there’s this new murder. Another man in a park, Brabham couldn’t keep away.’

‘Except now it’s dragged Proctor into it,’ Gina said. ‘Joe found the body after following Mark Proctor. Or, at least, who he thought was Mark Proctor.’

‘And a car hired out to Proctor was found parked nearby. The keys were with the victim.’

They both sat in silence for a few minutes. The café was getting busier, the pre-lunch crowd coming in to pass the hours and stare at wicker baskets filled with artisan breads and organic fruit.

‘What if the domino thing is right?’ Gina said eventually. ‘If it was supposed to be Mark Proctor last night, and that’s who Joe thought he was following, wouldn’t that make Proctor the man who killed Henry Mason? Each tumbles into the other. And Proctor was arrested the night Henry Mason was killed, if I’ve got the timeline right. Why this week? He’s never been in trouble before but he gets arrested and then linked to a dead body, all in one week. And Joe was his lawyer. It’s what brought them face to face. It’s another coincidence, and when coincidences start to mount up, it usually means they are anything but coincidences.’

‘What did Proctor say about what he was doing when he was arrested?’ Sam said.

‘Nothing. He kept quiet in the interview and told Joe virtually nothing.’

‘He broke into the police compound to steal his own car back,’ Sam said. ‘Did I read that right?’

‘And set it alight,’ Gina said. ‘But why would he do that?’

‘Because he’s got something to hide?’

‘What else can it be?’ Gina said. ‘There was something about that car that he didn’t want the police to see. So here’s the plan. You find out more about Proctor’s burglary and what he was up to on the night. I’ll speak to someone on my old team, see what I can find out about Ellie’s case. We’ll meet as soon as I can set something up.’

‘No, I’ve a better idea,’ he said. ‘I want to go back to the scene of Henry Mason’s murder. Meet me there, with someone from your old team.’

Gina thought about that, before saying, ‘Give me some time. I’ll call you when I’m ready.’

‘It’s a plan,’ Sam said, and scraped his chair as he stood up. His day suddenly had a purpose.

Joe sank back into a shop doorway as Sam left the café. The shop was closed, one of many shuttered up on the street; those still in business were mainly charity and bargain shops, the rows of despair broken only by payday lenders and bookmakers.

Joe didn’t watch Sam, he didn’t want to risk a stray glance back alerting his brother; instead, he listened out for the sound of an engine. It seemed to be a long time coming, and he wondered whether Sam would suddenly appear in front of him, but eventually an engine turned over. He sighed in relief. He didn’t know what Sam would do if he saw him but Joe didn’t want the argument. He peered around the corner and watched Sam’s car pull away, then stepped out and went into the café.

Gina was sitting with her hands round her cup. She looked up and smiled as he sat down, although it was filled with sadness.

‘Thank you,’ Joe said.

‘I’m still angry with you,’ Gina said.

‘I know, and I’m sorry, I can’t say it enough, but it’s something I’ve lived with for a long time.’ He sighed. ‘What did you tell Sam?’

‘Just what you told me to say.’

‘And what’s he going to do?’

‘He’s going to look into the burglary some more, try to link it with Henry Mason’s murder. I said I would find out more about any other killings Proctor might have been involved with. That means Ellie’s too. I’m going to see someone from my old squad to get an update.’

Joe nodded and took a deep breath. ‘What about me? Am I a suspect yet?’

‘Sam didn’t let on if you are, but you’ll be on the list soon enough.’

A tetchy waiter came over and asked Joe for his order. He ordered an espresso – he needed the kick. ‘Will you keep me up to date with what’s going on?’

‘And not tell Sam?’

‘That’s right. For now.’

‘He’s your brother. And Ellie’s too.’

‘I know, but he’s a cop. If he thinks I’ve killed someone, he won’t let me walk away from it.’ Before Gina could say anything, he added, ‘And I wouldn’t walk away from it either. I know in my conscience that I didn’t do it.’

‘Good to hear.’

Joe’s espresso appeared in front of him, and he took a sip before saying, ‘And I know who did.’

Gina looked stunned. Her mouth opened as if she was about to say something, but she stopped herself, surprised. ‘How? I mean, who?’

‘I’ve been following Proctor again. He went to see someone this morning – Gerald King. He’s the man. I had a look inside his house.’

‘You broke in?’

‘Do you think breaking and entering is my biggest concern right now?’

‘So what happened?’

‘He caught me, then he confessed to the murder in Worsley. Proctor knew he’d done it too, and he’s got proof: photographs of Gerald running away. Proctor guessed he was being set up and sent someone along in his place. Just someone who needed a hundred quid more than he needed to know why he was waiting for someone. Now Proctor’s blackmailing Gerald King. Fifty grand.’

‘Wow!’

‘Yeah, that’s what I thought. Gerald has to buy Proctor’s silence or else he sends the pictures to the police.’

‘Proctor won’t. He won’t want the police anywhere near him.’

‘Why not? They’re going to speak to him because the victim used his car. What’s he got to fear? They haven’t got him for any other killings. In this, he plays the lucky victim, perhaps some remorse for the poor sap he sent along in his place.’

‘But why did this man do it?’

‘Simple: Proctor killed his daughter. On the same spot where the man was killed last night.’

Gina’s face betrayed her shock at that, her mouth open, eyes wide.

‘Proctor’s been at it for years,’ Joe said. ‘Gerald was sent what he thought was proof. Pictures of a notebook belonging to his daughter.’

‘But he got the wrong man.’

‘He didn’t know that. It was getting dark and he had to be quick, because Proctor is stronger than him; he couldn’t afford a fight. What he got was all of his pent-up anger spewing out. Now? He’s devastated. He just wanted revenge for his daughter. Her murder led his wife to kill herself. He was consumed by anger, hatred, but until he had the email, he had no focus, no target.’

‘What if he’d said no, or reported it to the police?’

‘The person behind the emails said he’d burgled Proctor and he had his daughter’s things, because he’d stolen Proctor’s box of souvenirs. If Gerald called the police, he’d get rid of everything. He had something Proctor wanted back, and there was a man who wanted his daughter’s killer. All he had to do was arrange the meet. Gerald had never seen Proctor before, but he was given the choice over where to do it. That was where he made his mistake, because he made it too symbolic. The place where his daughter died haunts him.’

‘But Proctor was suspicious, so he sent someone along in his place.’

‘It looks like it.’

‘What’s Gerald going to do now?’ Gina said. ‘And why are you helping him?’

‘Because he’s a link with Proctor. I’m just following the trail to see where it ends. Gerald tried foul means and it went wrong. I’m going to try to keep him going for fair. We want to prove that Proctor killed our loved ones. For me, it’s Ellie. For Gerald, it’s his daughter.’

‘And then what?’

‘Gerald will hand himself in, for the sake of the victim’s family. And I’ll defend him.’

‘Are you sure? How do you know he won’t try to blame you, or just skip the country?’

‘He’s a good man deep down, just tortured by Proctor,’ Joe said. ‘And now Proctor is making it worse by blackmailing him.’

‘What if Gerald kills him when they meet?’

‘It’s possible,’ Joe said. ‘But the look in his eyes told me that he’s done with murder. He’s not natural born, unlike Proctor.’

Gina frowned. ‘It’s a large amount to find. It would take some time to work out how to finance it.’

‘I’m guessing that Proctor is confident he can sit this one out and wait for his cash. I want to make sure he gets that part wrong. We need to find out more about him.’

‘There is one person I could ask,’ Gina said. ‘Mrs Proctor. Let’s see what she has to say for herself. She might just let something slip.’

‘Good idea.’

‘And you?’

‘I’ll wait to see what else turns up today. For the most part, I’m just trying to avoid the police.’

‘I’ll call you,’ Gina said, getting up.

She paused as she passed him, then bent down to kiss him on the cheek. ‘Stay safe, Joe,’ she said, and then she was gone.