White Lilies (11 page)

Danny stopped the car in the car park of the dam. Billy tore a can of lager from the four pack and handed it to Danny.

‘So what did you get Billy?’

‘A ring, a couple of watches and fifty quid,’ he said, emptying his coat pockets onto his lap.

‘That all?’ exclaimed Danny, holding his hand out, palm up. Billy hit it with his before reaching into his breast pocket. Danny frowned.

‘Ah, but there’s more,’ Billy said, as he pulled out a bunch of keys. To his friend’s delight he read the tags. ‘House, Shop and Surgery,’ he read, beaming.

‘You’re a fucking star, you are,’ Danny whooped with delight. ‘Times are good.’

‘How did you get on with her, get a feel did ya?’ Billy asked with a sullen face as he pulled the ring-pull on his can. ‘I would rather have been snogging her than thieving.’ He took a long swig.

‘Woh, she’s really up for it. No doubt about that. She’s hot.’ Danny said, laughing. ‘You’ll get a go,’ he said. ‘Don’t fret. Let’s go for a drive, eh? Give the car a spin and see if we can sell that jewellery on over in Lancashire,’ Danny said, pointing to the ring Billy had placed on his finger. Danny turned the key in the ignition and revved the engine. Music blared out, disrupting the quiet tranquillity of Dean Reservoir as he reversed back at speed, skidded and pulled the steering wheel to do a ninety-degree spin.

It was the morning that Dylan was due to meet with Graham Tate and Bridey’s parents Ronnie and Rose Carter. He sat at his desk and tapped his teeth with his pen as he pondered over the meeting. He wished he had something positive to tell them, but all he could do was enlighten them as to what the investigation team knew so far, and assure them of their commitment to finding those responsible for the deaths of their daughter and grandson. He scratched his head and rubbed his eyes. A knock came at his office door and without preamble, in walked John Benjamin. ‘I’ve offered to collect the Carters but they’re gonna make their own way here. ‘They should be with us in about ten minutes boss, you still okay?’

‘Yeah, arrange some coffee will you and put the
Do Not Disturb
sign on the door. I was just sat here thinking about them.’

‘It’s difficult knowing what to say isn’t it? Apart from the shock of the two deaths they’ve had to deal with their son-in-law agreeing to the organ donation.’

‘Mm,’ Dylan said, nodding his head.

The first to arrive was Graham Tate and John introduced him to Dylan. They shook hands. Graham had a fierce grip. His face was blotchy, his eyes puffy and he looked fatigued which was understandable under the circumstances, but he definitely hadn’t lost his strength, Dylan noticed.

‘Please take a seat,’ Dylan said. ‘We’ll just wait for Bridey’s parents to arrive before we begin. How did they take the news about the organ-donations?’

Graham put his hand to his brow before running his fingers through his hair. ‘Not good,’ he said taking a deep diaphragmatic breath. ‘But it was Bridey’s wish, not mine. What was I supposed to do?’

‘I’ve got to tell you I’ve nothing but admiration for you,’ said Dylan with feeling. ‘It was not only a courageous decision but an unselfish one too, that’ll no doubt save, or definitely dramatically improve the quality of a number of lives. Bridey would be very proud of you, I’m sure,’ he smiled, reassuringly.

‘So people keep saying,’ Graham said with a wan smile back at him.

The sight of Ronnie and Rose Carter at his door stopped Dylan from saying more. John escorted them in. Graham and Dylan stood and John introduced Bridey’s parents to Dylan.’

It was apparent the atmosphere between the relatives was cool as they nodded briefly in acknowledgment of each other’s presence, but sat avoiding eye contact. Vicky brought in warm drinks on a tray and they sat with the mugs cupped tightly in their hands. Dylan started by telling them how sorry he was for their loss in such horrific and tragic circumstances. He outlined slowly and gently to them what had happened according to what the investigation had uncovered and what witnesses had told them.

‘I want to reassure you that the paramedics did all they could at the scene but unfortunately they couldn’t save Bridey, or Toby,’ Dylan said, watching the numbed expression on their faces. ‘I don’t know if you were aware but your daughter carried an organ donor card and authority was given for her wishes to be carried very bravely by Graham at the hospital which must have caused him the most unimaginable grief,’ he said with a sigh.

Dylan saw the tears well up in Rose’s eyes and she turned to Graham, took his hand in hers, and smiled weakly at him. Dylan noted the gesture and decided to go on. ‘That unselfish act in these terrible circumstances needs to be made instantly. The poor lad was put into a situation that, let’s face it, no one would ever want to be in. Like I said to you earlier Graham, your courage at that time will no doubt have saved lives. And, you not only had to make that decision once, but twice.’ I’m sure Mr and Mrs Carter you understand what a terrible predicament he was put in.’

Rose Carter sobbed into her handkerchief and looked across at her husband for support.

‘We can’t bear to think about it,’ he said downhearted.

‘That’s understandable. And, I’m sure it was just the same for Graham when he had to make the decision to respect Bridey’s wishes,’ Dylan said.

Detective Sergeant John Benjamin watched and listened in silence with great admiration for Dylan as he carefully created the opportunity for them to discuss the situation with each other.

‘It was Bridey’s wish, not mine; I could never have…’ Graham managed to blurt out as he struggled with the lump rising in his throat. ‘It’s what she… she said she wanted me to do if anything… I agreed at the time. I never thought anything would, and at first I said no to the doctor, quite categorically, no. I couldn’t bear to think… But then I remembered why she had signed that donor card and I had to allow it to happen, for Bridey.’

‘I’m sure she’d want you all to be together on this. It was her wish, like Graham said, no one else’s,’ Dylan added, gently. ‘And I don’t know if you’re aware but no one has a legal right to veto Bridey’s wish.’

‘Thank you Inspector, we agree with Graham,’ Rose Carter said with a stronger voice. ‘Aren’t we Ronnie? We’re just in shock,’ she sighed, looking at Graham who sat with disbelief written all over his face. ‘Graham’s like our own,’ she said, turning back to Dylan as she reached out and squeezed Graham’s hand.

‘You did what you have to do lad. I can see that now. Let’s concentrate on finding out who did this to her and Toby,’ said Ronnie, nodding at Graham.

‘I think you need to leave that to us, Mr Carter. When we know who did it we’ll let you know,’ said Dylan.

‘Oh, don’t you fret Ron. I’ll find out who did it,’ Graham said through gritted teeth, ‘and when I do…’ his face screwed up and he gulped back the tears.

‘Look, at this moment in time you can’t put the blame on the lad who owned the car because he had reported it stolen. I’ve explained that to you. Him and his friend are telling us the same story. We did find the car ablaze on the moors with a screwdriver stuck in the ignition and they still had the car keys in their possession, which at this moment in time convinced our officer of their innocence and he had to bail them. There may be some truth in their story,’ said John. ‘And until we can prove otherwise…’

‘Never assume Mr Tate. That’s one of the first rules of investigation,’ Dylan said.

‘Can you tell us who the owners of the car are then?’ asked Ronnie.

John looked at Dylan.

‘I don’t think that would help, do you?’

‘Come on, Inspector. We’re upset and it’d be a comfort to us to know something, anything.’

‘Okay,’ Dylan said. ‘It’s a couple of lads from the Greenaway Estate called Danny Denton and Billy Greenwood. But let me warn you we’ll know if you go anywhere near them. Look, let us do our job. If it was one of them driving the car we’ll find out, I promise you,’ said Dylan.

‘The Inspector’s right, Graham our Bridey would have been the first to tell you to let the police sort it out – you know, she would. Don’t you go doing anything stupid now,’ said Rose.

‘I just feel so bloody helpless.’ Graham said, flaying his arms. ‘I’ve let them both down so badly,’ he said breaking down once more.

Rose reached out to comfort him. She laid an arm protectively around his shoulders. ‘Why, our Bridey and Toby? Why?’ she said, shaking her head.

‘I didn’t think you’d name them boss,’ John said, walking back into Dylan’s office when he’d shown the visitors out of the building.

‘I wasn’t going to. Then I decided that some information, however small, would be a lifeline for them to clutch to, like Ronnie said.’

‘You wouldn’t want Graham as an enemy would you, boss?’ John said, grimacing. ‘I’m glad the doc didn’t tell him he couldn’t stop him taking their organs before Graham had come to his decision that would have been horrendous.’

‘No,’ Dylan smiled as he shook his head. ‘I wouldn’t like to think he had a grudge against me.’

Outside school gates at 3? Danny texted.

Pam’s phone beeped. ‘Mum?’ she mouthed, with a turn up of her nose and a frown.

Aunt Mona’s ill. Off to France. Pick you up straight from school. Tell your teacher you’ll be away till next Tuesday.
‘Bummer.’ she cried, stamping her foot.

As planned, Danny pulled up outside the school at three o’clock. Pam looked around cautiously for her dad’s vehicle before she ran over to his car. She leaned in. ‘What’s up?’ he said.

‘Aunt bloody drama queen Mona is ill,’ she said, kicking the toe of her shoe on the tarmac. ‘We’re off to France till Tuesday.

‘Ah, never mind kid. Nought’s spoiling, we’ll arrange another time when you get back,’ Danny said patting her hand. She took another look up and down the road.

‘Dad’ll be here any minute and if he sees me talking to you I’m dead meat,’ she said with a grimace. ‘I’d better go,’ she said with a tut and a raise of her eyebrows.

‘Hey, before you do, tell us, do you know a Sara Whitworth?’ Danny said.

‘Yeah. Why?’ she asked with more than a hint of sulking in her protruding bottom lip.

‘Is her dad a copper?’ Danny went on.

‘Yeah, I used to go round with her when I was a kid but she’s a bit of a geek now to be honest,’ she said pulling a face. Pam saw her dad’s Audi creeping slowly past the stationary cars not fifty yards away.

‘Text me, won’t you,’ she called as she ran holding her hand high in the air to catch her dad’s attention.

Danny watched her go. ‘I think we might need to visit the dentist this weekend Billy,’ he said out of the corner of his mouth.

‘And the flower shop,’ Billy mumbled. Danny turned and sniggered at his friend.

Miss you already, hun
. Danny texted Pam.

Pam snuggled down into the luxurious seats of her dad’s car. As they cruised past Danny and Billy, Pam blew Danny a kiss and smiled to herself as she sighed with contentment, like
the cat that had got the cream,
as Aunt Mona would have said.

There was no sign of an alarm on the wall of the dentist surgery. Danny turned the key and pushed the door open with trepidation. It opened easily enough. He stood still, silencing his friend with a finger to his lips and listened. No bells, nothing. Billy followed Danny silently into a small, neat kitchenette.

Walking around the building, it became apparent that the pickings weren’t that great from a dentist apart from a small amount of petty cash left in the open till.

‘Danny, sit in the chair and let me look in y’gob,’ Billy said, putting his arms into a white gown from an old coat stand in the corner of the surgery and picking up a face mask from the work units.

‘Piss off. Grab the computers and stop arsing around.’

‘We off to the flower shop next?’ Billy said, grumpily.

‘We’ll go to the house first and see what they’ve got in the fridge, then I’ll think about it if I can be bothered.’

‘Boss, Grace Harvey’s fatal. Forensics just rang. The scientist, off the record, is certain some plastic from a light casing found at the scene of the accident is a match to an item taken from Denton and Greenwood’s garage. She wants to do a further test before committing herself to paper but wanted us to know ASAP in case it fitted in with any ongoing enquiries,’ Dennis said, with a glint in his eye.

‘Wouldn’t that be a great result? If it comes back a hundred per cent we’ll have Denton and his mate in for one death by dangerous and they’d be on site to charge if we get the evidence for Bridey and Toby’s murder. Do we know if Grace knew either scrote, or have we any intelligence as to why they might be in Merton on the day Grace died?’

‘No, unfortunately we’ve no links between them and Mrs Harvey. They were probably just bombing through the village like bloody idiots.’

‘If it turns out that the glass from the headlight that was seized with the car parts from their garage is a positive match, then we’ll be able to drop it on Denton and Greenwood’s toes in an interview and hopefully nail the little bastards there and then.’

‘And on the Mildred Sykes murder boss, the only visitor seen going to the house recently is a man that matches the description of our Mr Stevenson. However, he doesn’t deny going there and he’s connected to her and Grace Harvey because of their financial affairs so that doesn’t help us much, does it?’ said Taylor.

‘Are you happy with him? Have you got anything back from the financial investigation side?’

‘No, is the answer to both your questions. It feels like there’s a rabbit off there somewhere, but I just can’t put my finger on it at the moment. Anyway, once I hear back from the Forensic Intelligence Unit I’ll be having further words with him.’

‘I’ll come with you when you go and see him. So far he’s the only person we’ve got with a connection to Ms Sykes, so we need to get his fingerprints and DNA to connect or eliminate him from the enquiry.

'Keep me posted Taylor, I’m going to call a meeting for everyone involved with Grace Harvey’s death, Mildred Sykes’s murder and Bridey and Toby Tate’s murder to see if there’s anything drops out by having all the teams together and also, to bring everyone up to speed. Let everyone have the chance to share their thoughts and information. Can you arrange, Dennis?’

Dennis nodded.

Taylor left the office and Dylan picked up the ringing phone. ‘What are you eating?’ he asked, with a smile.

‘A strawberry cream tart,’ Jen replied, giggling.’ PC Whitworth just brought them in.’

‘Very nice … What’s he after?’

‘Why do you always think people have an ulterior motive?’ she said, laughing.

‘I’m a suspicious kinda guy.’

‘What’s new at your end?’

‘Not a lot, I’m waiting for forensics to come back to us and keeping my fingers crossed for their findings. Tell Brenda in your office she needs to reach for her prayer mat, again.’

‘As bad as that is it?’ Jen said.

‘Yep, I’m afraid it is. It’s good to hear your voice. I seem to have got myself so immersed in work again lately that I don’t feel as if I’ve seen you much.’

‘It won’t be forever, will it? But, if you get your finger out in the meantime and solve a few crimes you can spend more time with me and other people won’t have to keep treating me to cream cakes,’ she said.

‘You might well laugh. How does he know strawberries are your weakness anyway?’

‘He doesn’t. Now go solve some crimes and who knows, the next strawberries I have might even be with my fella.’

‘Love you lots,’ he sighed. ‘I’ve had my fix now so I’d better get on with some work.’

‘Let me know what time you’re gonna be home and I’ll have tea ready.’

‘Okay love, bye for now,’ Dylan said with a smile in his voice as he put the phone down. DS John Benjamin knocked at his office door and walked in carrying his coat.

‘Boss, just to let you know I’m off to see a snout who’s telling me someone is asking a lot of questions on the estate about Denton and Greenwood. ’

‘Graham Tate?’

‘Don’t know. I haven’t used this snout before so I don’t know how good he is. Do you need me to sign the forms for his money?’

‘Yes, please and then I’ll go up to admin. Looks like we might have to go and have a word with Mr Tate,’ Dylan said, frowning as he scribed his name on the given supervisors place on the form.

‘Get back to you as soon as,’ John said, strutting out of Dylan’s office with a purpose in his steps.

Lisa brought in a fax for Dylan’s attention. The scenes of crime officers had lifted a number of fingerprints from Mildred Sykes’ house. Of these; a duplicate was causing some interest as it appeared on her bedside cabinet and other drawers in her home.

They were satisfied that they were not Mildred’s because they had checked them against the limited fingerprint impressions, that they had taken from the body at the mortuary. They were checking the marks found through the automated fingerprint identification system but they hadn’t had any hits so far, meaning that the person who the fingerprints belonged to didn’t have a criminal record. However, the information confirmed that someone had been searching the house, which would connect that person to the scene. What it wouldn’t be able to tell him was if this occurred, during, or after her murder.

Impatient, Dylan picked up the phone to ring the forensic department. As he listened to their dialling tone he wondered if an update from them would continue in the same positive vain but the office manager told him they’d no results for him, as yet.

He sat doodling on his blotting paper pad, drawing lines down its brown leatherette corners. What could he tell the personnel at the meeting?

‘Vicky, can you call a meeting for tomorrow morning in the incident room please?’ Dylan called out.

‘Yeah, and I’ll stick a brush up my arse and sweep the floor while I’m at it if you like, sir,’ she mumbled to herself.

Dylan sniggered to himself. ‘Can you make a coffee at the same time, do you think?’

A pen flew through the air and landed in front of him.

‘Missed.’ he called out to her with a chortle.

Two hit and run fatalities in such close proximity. Could it just be coincidence? There could soon be a shout for a review team to look at on-going enquiries. What was he missing? The last thing he wanted was for this team to find fault with the investigation.

Got them strawberries in? I’m on my way home,
he texted Jen.

Yep, but
e
aten them. Think I’ve found a craving
, came her reply.

‘What an excuse. Now I’ve heard everything,’ he muttered.