White is the coldest colour: A dark psychological suspense thriller (30 page)

‘As ready as I'll ever be, Trevor.’

‘I can pick you up on the way, if that helps, mate. It might be an idea for us to have a chat about the case en-route.’

‘Yeah, I can't see why not, Trevor, but I need to be there about ten-minutes early if that's all right with you.’

‘No problem.’

‘How are the interviews going?’

‘Better than expected, as it happens, Mel. We’ll talk later. I'll pick you up at about twenty-past-one.’

‘Thanks, Trevor, I’ll see you then.’

Nicholson placed the phone back on its receiver and sat back in his chair with his eyes tight shut, trying to relax. He pictured a warm sun drenched Barbadian beach with clear blue translucent water lapping on its green and sandy shore. But it didn't last. Nicholson sighed, resigned to the inevitable, as his brief fantasy faded and reality dawned once more… Maybe after the case was over he could take his family there for a couple of weeks? He’d always wanted to.

He smiled… Why not make the fantasy reality?

But the smile evaporated from his face as quickly as it appeared… Money, that was why not. His salary just didn't suffice. It would be camping in Northern France again. Like it or lump it.

Nicholson chuckled to himself, and retrieved a file from the grey steel cabinet in a corner of his office… Back to work. The afternoons meeting was almost certainly the most important of his career. A lot rested on its outcome. The futures of a great many children would be shaped by the success or failure of the actions agreed. He had to cope with the pressure. He had to get it right.

Nicholson scratched his nose and attempted to re-focus on his paperwork with wavering enthusiasm… Why did additional piles of files and forms appear on his desk almost every time he left the room?

He decided to give it another half-hour before leaving to chair a child protection case conference at South Wales General… Ideally, it would have been nice to spend the morning preparing for the afternoons meeting, but his work load just didn't allow him that luxury.

He put his head down and got on with it.

Chapter 41

D
I Simpson shook his warrant card in the face of the excessively officious attendant at the entrance to the social services headquarters car park, and drove in without waiting to be asked. He was about to get out of the CID car when he saw Nicholson parking his ancient racing-green Volkswagen Golf diesel hatchback in his reserved space nearby. The social work manager had been hoping he had five-minutes or so to grab a quick cup of coffee and a sandwich before his lift arrived, but he accepted defeat when he saw Trevor Simpson's head poking through the driver’s side front window, and heard his gruff voice calling his name. ‘Mel! Get a move on, mate. You're going to have to get in the back. You know Grav, don't you?’

Nicholson opened the door and got into the rear seat. ‘All right, Grav, how's life with you’

‘Not bad thanks, Mel, keeping busy.’

DI Simpson restarted the engine on the first turn of the key, reversed out of the tight parking space, and swung the car expertly into the road.

‘I appreciate the lift, Trevor. What’s the news on the joint interviews? I tried to get hold of Phil for an update, but he was tied up with a case.’

‘Like I said to Grav earlier, it’s looking pretty good overall. There’s a couple more interviews going on at the moment, and I’ll need to review the tapes before coming to any final conclusions, but it seems we’re making good progress. Our Dr Galbraith may well be locked up for some time by the sound of things.’

‘Anything specific?’

‘We already had enough to charge him, but it looks as if he's even more involved in the ring than we realised.’ He paused for a second. ‘The man's a cunt! Some of the children were still in nappies, for fucks sake. Two kids described him killing animals in front of them: puppies, kittens, lambs and the like. Apparently he holds them up by the scruff and cut's them open with what sounds like a surgeons scalpel. The bastard told the kids he'd do the same to them if they ever said anything to anyone. It’s surprising any of them ever spoke again, when you think about it. They call the ring’s gatherings, pet club. Can you believe it? Fucking pet club! Apparently Galbraith came up with the name. Like I said, the man's a cunt.’

Neither Nicholson nor Grav responded… What could you say in the light of such depravity?

DI Gravel eventually broke the pervasive silence. ‘The investigative teams have done fucking brilliantly convincing these kids it’s safe to talk. In the circumstances, you know what I'm saying. Now, it's our turn. We've got get this exactly right: everything by the book, dot the i’s cross the t’s, no mistakes.’

Both men indicated their wholehearted agreement, following which conversation turned to rugby union, a comfortable, familiar subject close to each of their hearts. For the remainder of the journey they debated the selection of the Welsh team. It was a tried and tested means of staying sane, a reminder that normal everyday life carried on while, each and every day they dealt with the things society would prefer to deny. Each knew from painful experience that humanity had a seemingly unlimited capacity for evil. For a time they chose to forget.

The journey passed relatively quickly, and they arrived at their destination a few minutes earlier than anticipated. The car park was already busy, full of other keen early arrivals, and it took Trevor Simpson some time to find an adequate parking space on an area of muddy grass near to the entrance of the large Victorian building. The three men got out of the car, treading carefully to avoid the many puddles. As they reached the entrance they were met by Phillip Beringer, who Grav loudly observed, ‘Looked like shit.’ Beringer had spent the morning monitoring two traumatic joint investigative interviews, and such things were never easy. Other similar interviews were ongoing at a second interview suite in another part of the county. Beringer had considered asking for the afternoons meeting to be postponed, but ultimately decided that protective action couldn't be delayed any longer… It was always useful to have more evidence, but on each and every day that passed children were in grave danger. It was a situation that was impossible to justify for a second longer than necessary, and it was time to act.

Nicholson opened the meeting by welcoming the attendees and facilitating introductions, despite the meeting being a virtual mirror image of the previous gathering just nineteen days before… It was a familiar, comforting ritual that played a small but important part in alleviating the inevitable anxieties the role entailed.

‘Trevor, I think it would be helpful if you outline exactly what we’re dealing with here. I don't want anyone to be in any doubt as to the enormity of the task at hand.’

‘I can do that for you, Mel.’ He took a notebook from his black plastic Sampsonite briefcase and glanced at it briefly before continuing. ‘A large group of predatory men and a small number of women under their influence are operating a paedophile ring in the South West Wales area. Children have described being taken at night to a remote rural location, which is so far unknown to us, in the back of a white Transit van or what sounds like a cattle truck. Approximately twenty to thirty children make the journey at any one time, crammed into the back of one vehicle or another. They’ve talked of being sexually and physically assaulted by their own parents; by members of their extended family, by family friends, and by strangers. Some of the adults brought other children by car, some of whom the witnesses knew, and some whom they didn’t. From what we can tell it’s been going on for years. Over that time we suspect hundreds of children have been victimised. For now we’re focussing on the children who are currently at risk, but we will cast the net wider in due course. I’m sure you’ll all agree that makes absolute sense. We’ve made extensive background enquiries based on information provided by various victims who are already in the care of the local authority, or who were already working with social workers. The adults come from all walks of life, ranging from unemployed and poorly educated manual workers, to professional people in positions of influence. Intelligence suggests that local sex offender’s have joined the ring as a result of knowing existing members. Other’s have joined from all over the United Kingdom as a result of alliances developed while serving prison sentences, or paradoxically at sex offender therapy programs run by the Probation Service. Some offenders have moved to the area, and others travel to facilitate their crimes. Members of the ring abuse their own children, each other's children, and other vulnerable children in the community. They offend as individuals and in groups, sharing their victims when it suits them. The children range from toddlers, to pre-pubescent boys and girls of ten and eleven-years. They are manipulated into silence by misinformation, emotional pressure, threats of violence and actual violence. Some of that violence is extreme. Some of these people have been investigated previously. Some of these kids are already on the child protection register. But, none of the past investigations identified those cases as being the tip of a very large iceberg. Very few perpetrators have been successfully prosecuted for relevant offences up to this point. With your help, that’s about to change.’ He met Nicholson’s eyes. ‘The scale and nature of this is new to all of us all. There are going to be inevitable tensions. But, if we keep the children's interests at the forefront of our minds, we won’t go far wrong. There’s been some major cock-ups in other parts of the country. Let's ensure we learn from their mistakes, and get this right. A lot of children are depending on us. Any questions?’

No one said a word.

For the next hour or more Simpson and Beringer summarised the specific details of the same investigation from different but complementary perspectives. Beringer focussed on the civil child protection aspects of the case, while DI Simpson concentrated primarily on criminal matters.

Nicholson was inclined to applaud when they finally concluded their well-honed presentation, but resisted the temptation. ‘Thank you both. Unless anyone want’s to add anything or ask any questions, I think we can move on and agree the way forward. I know Trevor and Phil have had some preliminary discussions prior to today’s meeting, and have liaised with senior management as appropriate. Which one of you wants to start?’

The two men glanced at each other as DI Simpson put his notebook back in his briefcase. ‘Do you want to take the lead on this one, Phil?’

Beringer nodded… Why not? ‘The CPS have already sanctioned five arrests: four men and one woman. It looks as if the subsequent interviews have strengthened those cases, and elicited further credible evidence that should lead to two further arrests, both men.’

DI Simpson interrupted. ‘That’ll be confirmed by tonight at the latest.’

‘Thanks, Trevor. The suspects will be simultaneously arrested by teams of two detectives, who will in turn be accompanied by uniform officers with specialist training in searching for physical evidence. The arrests will take place early in the morning, ensuring an element of surprise before those who work leave their homes. The suspects own children will be interviewed at one of the counties video interview facilities by child protection police officers and social workers, following which they’ll be medically examined at South Wales General by two experienced consultant paediatricians: Doctor’s Sue Chandra and Nick Dali. All the children will be screened for sexually transmitted diseases including HIV infection. At least one of the adults involved: a male with a long history of intravenous drug use, is known to be HIV positive. A team of social services resource centre workers will transport the children from their homes to the interview suites and for medicals as required. A number of suitable foster placements have already been identified.’

Nicholson smiled warmly. ‘Thanks, Phil, succinct as always.’ He looked around the room. ‘Any questions anybody? No? Then we’ll bring things to a close. Thank you all for your time. I know you're busy people. I’ll be here all day on Thursday if any of you need to get hold of me. Don’t hesitate to pick up the phone. That's what I’m here for. Whatever way you look at it, Thursday’s going to be a momentous day.’

Chapter 42

D
etective Inspector Gravel’s phone sounded at 12:53 p.m. on Wednesday 12, February, just as he was about to leave his office for a much anticipated bacon and fried egg role in the notoriously terrible police headquarters canteen. He considered ignoring the demanding ringtone for a second or two, but reluctantly capitulated and picked up the receiver on the fifth ring.

‘Hello, sir, it’s June on the reception desk.’

‘What can I do for you, Constable? ’

‘Sir, I’ve got a young man here who want’s to talk to a detective about child abuse.’

‘Young man? How old?’

‘How old are you, Rhodri?’

‘Nineteen.’

‘He’s nineteen, sir.’

‘Tell him to take a seat, and keep an eye on him. I’ll be with him in two-minutes.’

DI Gravel smiled and held out a hand in greeting as he approached the thin alabaster pale teenager nervously awaiting his arrival. ‘Detective Inspector Gravel, please call me Grav. Good to meet you.’

The young man stood, smiled tentatively, and accepted the handshake with a surprisingly firm grip.

‘Is the interview room free, June?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘If you follow me, Rhodri, we can talk privately.’

‘Okay thanks.’

‘Take a seat.’

‘Thanks.’

‘Right, let’s get the basics done. What’s your full name, son?’

‘Rhodri Griffiths.’

‘No middle names?’

‘No.’

‘And you're nineteen?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Are you local, Rhodri?’

‘I’m living in Florida these days, but I grew up in this part of the world.’

‘So what took you to America?’

‘My father’s an economics professor at Florida State University; we moved to the States when I was ten.’

‘Nice place?’

‘Yeah, it’s all right.’

DI Gravel pushed a note pad and pen across the table. ‘If you write down your home address and current contact details, Rhodri, that’ll speed things up a bit.’