Dark as Night (22 page)

              Dan stopped what he was doing. ‘The boss wouldn’t like it.’

              ‘Why not?’

              ‘Because it’s entrapment, or close enough. She’s always said that’s the last chance saloon for teams that have reached a total dead end. Even if the suspect gets caught out, which there’s no guarantee of, it’s incredibly difficult to build a case against them in court.’

              ‘But imagine if we could get a
name -
a suspect other than Tony Lomond who we could actually put in the frame for
all
the murders. Then we would be able to throw ourselves into the spade work with a bit more enthusiasm.’

              Dan pursed his lips. He did feel as if their investigation was treading water. This man could strike again at any time. Wasn’t it better that
he
was the target, rather than an innocent member of the public?

              Sensing he might be swayed, Caitlin added, ‘I don’t see what’s wrong with you, me and Alice having a few evenings out on the town together. My dad never wears his wedding ring. To be honest, his finger’s got too flabby to fit it on since he retired from the force. I can easily borrow it from the box and let you have it for the night.’

              Dan was about to reply when DCI Bevan emerged from her office, gazing about the half empty floor. Noticing the two detectives at the nearby workstation she strode over. ‘DC Clifton, DC Hendry, I’m catching a flight down to Stansted Airport this afternoon. DS Boag will be in charge whilst I’m gone.’

              ‘Do you know how long you’ll be away?’ Dan asked.

              ‘Not more than a couple of days. Keep Phil updated on any developments. I’m on the other end of my phone if you need me.’

              When Bevan had disappeared behind the closing doors of the lift Caitlin pronounced, ‘there you have it. Nothing to stop us from taking the initiative now.’

*

As Dani’s taxi took her out of the parched, rolling corn fields of north Essex and into the built up hinterlands of the London commuter belt, she noted how much warmer it was down here than in Glasgow.

              The sun was glowing within a hazy, cloudless sky and the air was thick with afternoon heat. It didn’t take long before the cab was pulling up outside a semi-detached property on a leafy street in the town of Romford, a place which appeared to nestle within a criss-cross of busy roads and railways lines. Dani was immediately struck by how different this habitat must be to where the Kyles had lived in New Zealand.

              Harry Kyle opened the door. He was still a big man. His muscles bulged within a sleeveless shirt, his upper arms displaying a mesmerizing array of intricate tattoos. His hair was almost gone, making him look intimidating. ‘Come inside,’ he said flatly.

              The house was nicely decorated. Harry led Bevan into a newly fitted kitchen.

              ‘I’ll make some coffee, Ma’am.’

              Dani was surprised at his formality, but then she knew that old habits were hard to break for cops, no matter how long they’d been away from the force. ‘I apologise for descending on you at such short notice.’

              Kyle shook his head, a rather sad smile on his lips. ‘Actually, I’ve been expecting you to come for about ten years. Or someone like you.’

              Bevan tipped her head to one side inquisitively.

              ‘Well, this
is
about the west London murders isn’t it? Cummings
must
be due for release pretty soon.’

              ‘The psychiatrists want him to stay in Broadmoor indefinitely. They believe he feels no remorse for his crimes.’

              A dark shadow passed across the man’s face. ‘I think they’re right about that. Cummings is a monster.’ He handed the DCI a mug. ‘Then why are you here?’

              ‘I’ve been reviewing the case. There are certain similarities to a spate of recent murders in Glasgow. I’ve got a few questions about the day you caught Cummings. Would you be willing to answer them?’

              Kyle’s response surprised her.

              ‘I get a small pension from the Met. It isn’t much, but it makes a big difference to me and Sam. I work as a bouncer down at the Kings and Queens nightclub in town. Sam is a nurse. We don’t make much money. I’ve just started the repayments on this kitchen. Can it be taken away from me?’

              ‘No, of course not. I give you my word. If you cooperate with me now, your pension is safe.’

              Kyle slipped onto the chair opposite. ‘Okay then, ask away.’

              Dani leaned in closer. ‘Did you ever sense another presence in that flat when you were attacked by Cummings? You are a strong man, Mr Kyle and Cummings was thin and malnourished back then. I don’t believe he can have committed all those murders by himself.’

              ‘The other DCs and I thought the same, but our SIO was convinced there was only one perp.’

              ‘It was an incredible risk for you to take part in that sting operation to lure out the killer. I would never sanction such a thing for any of my officers.’

              Kyle sighed deeply. ‘I was a young man then, ambitious and gung-ho. I didn’t think twice about it. I’d joined the force for a bit of excitement.’

              ‘Tell me what happened when you got back to the flat in White City?’

              ‘The guys in the surveillance car out front hadn’t given me the nod, so I thought there was no one inside. We’d been at it for days by then with no action so we’d all become complacent, I suppose. I changed my clothes in the bedroom and decided I needed to call Sam. She was getting pretty pissed off with the whole thing. As I lifted the receiver, I noticed a movement out of the corner of my eye. I’d just managed to shift slightly before a huge weight barged me to the ground.’

              ‘Was that Cummings?’ Bevan interrupted, in obvious disbelief.

              Kyle ignored the query. ‘This big bloke was pinning me down, with my face pressed to the ground and there were heavy blows falling repeatedly on my head. That’s when I knew there must be two of them, because the one restraining me was using both hands to keep me still.’ He was avoiding Bevan’s eye. ‘I was completely at their mercy. The blows finally stopped. That’s when the man on top of me started to grab at my trousers, as if he was trying to pull them down. I shouted out then that I was a police officer and there were others outside. That made him stop. Then, he whispered something in my ear.’

              ‘What did he say, Harry?’ Dani could see how hard this was for him.

              ‘He told me that he was a very important man. He knew my boss and that if I ever breathed a word to anyone that he’d been there in that flat with Cummings he’d make sure I was driven out of the Met with no pension.’ Kyle’s voice became a whisper. ‘He said he knew how to make sure I never spoke about what happened.’

              ‘Did the man rape you?’

              Harry shook his head, his eyes wet with tears. ‘No, I thought he was going to. I was terrified. But what he did instead was to spare me. I was totally in his power for those few moments and I sensed that it gave him an enormous buzz. I was waiting for the worst, but then he released me and backed away. He must have taken off before Cummings did because I felt the blows raining down once more. This time, I was able crawl away towards the bedroom. That’s when I pulled the radio off the bed and switched it on. Cummings scarpered after that and the guys caught up with him on the fire escape.’

              ‘Did you recognise the other man’s voice?’

              ‘Yes, but I didn’t know from where. I was absolutely certain then, as I am now, that he had the authority to do exactly what he’d said.’

              ‘Could he have been a policeman?’

              ‘I considered that possibility, but decided not. If he’d been on the force, he’d have known about the sting operation and I’m sure he didn’t. I always imagined he was some high-up official in the Home Office, a faceless pen-pusher who held all the cards.’

              ‘Why did you never say anything?’ Bevan’s words were devoid of recrimination.

              ‘Because I believed his threat and because at the time it felt like he’d bought my silence. He could have subjected me to what would have been a fate worse than death for a macho young lad like me back then, but he didn’t. I knew I needed to accept that reprieve and start again with Sam. If I spoke out, he’d come back for me and next time, he’d finish the job.’

              ‘But you’re speaking out now?’

              ‘When we came back from New Zealand things had changed here in Britain. The news was full of reports of important people being prosecuted for abusing kids in children’s homes and that. I thought it was the right moment to tell the truth, that I might even be believed. I knew that Cummings would be due for parole. I swore that if anyone came asking, I’d tell them what really happened this time. In all these years DCI Bevan, you’re the only one who ever has.’

Chapter 47

T
he atmosphere that day had been close and humid. The forecast predicted heavy rainstorms for the night. Carol had opened all the windows in the flat to their furthest extent. The skies hanging over the nearby housing estate were a dark, murky blue.

             
They’d shared a meal of salad and cold meats, but no one had much of an appetite. Carol was helping Amy to get ready for bed in the nursery as Andy stood by the kitchen window with a glass of cold beer in his hand.

              Suddenly, he heard a distant door slam and a rush of tepid air gushed past his face. The wind was beginning to get up and it had become as dark as night. He pulled the latch closed, padding into the living room, planning to do the same to the windows in there.

             
The lights were off in this room. A flash of lightning outside abruptly illuminated the space. For a moment, Andy could have sworn he saw a figure seated on the sofa. When the flash came for a second time, he identified the dark shape as simply a haphazard pile of clothes Carol had brought out of the drier and left there before tea.

              Andy smiled to himself, closing the windows and sliding open the vents, knowing that a downpour was imminent but that the temperature would remain very warm. As Calder made his way back to the kitchen, something caused him to pause and put his eye up to the spy hole in the front door. He leapt backwards, as if he’d been electrocuted.

              There was a man standing directly outside their flat. A black cap pulled forward to obscure his face. Andy glanced down the corridor, to make sure that Carol and Amy were still in her room. He peered out again, for longer this time. Calder slipped into the main bedroom for his baton. Then he slowly and deliberately opened up.

              ‘John?’

              The boy raised his gaze. ‘Uncle Andy. I’m sorry to bother you. Can I come in?’

              Calder stood back, allowing the lad to walk through to the lounge. ‘Amy’s just going to bed. We’ll have to be quiet.’

              ‘Yeah, sorry to come at this time. I know it isn’t great.’

              ‘Not at all. Like I told your mum, you’re welcome here whenever you feel as if you need to talk. Do you want a beer?’

              John shook his head. ‘No thanks. I’ve been stood outside for ages. I didn’t have the courage to knock.’

              Andy indicated he should sit down. He slid the baton down beside the sofa and joined him. ‘What’s on your mind, son?’

              Carol popped her head around the door, crinkling her forehead in puzzlement.

              ‘Could you put the kettle on for us, love?’

              ‘Of course,’ she replied kindly, making herself scarce.

              John sat absolutely still. He seemed to be cradling something in his hands.

              Calder’s investigative antennae started to kick into life. ‘What have you got there? Is it for me?’

              The boy nodded. ‘I wanted to give it to you straight away, when you started asking about it, but I’ve had it for so long I’ve become very attached to it. It’s been my little piece of Dad – nothing to do with mum or Lizzie. He wanted me to have it. Dad said that if anything ever happened to him, he wanted me to have his book. For years I thought it might have been a dream, him whispering those words into my ear as I dropped off to sleep. But I knew in my heart it was actually real.’

              ‘I think Don would want me to have it now.’

              John glanced sideways at Calder. ‘Aye, I think you’re right.’ He unfurled his fist. In the centre of the boy’s sweaty palm lay a small, rectangular memory stick.

*

Dan, Alice and Caitlin rushed into the pub, their coats pulled over their heads to shield them from the torrential rain which was bouncing off the pavements of Sauchiehall Street.

              ‘So, which one of yous lovely lassies am I supposed to be married to?’ Dan asked with a grin, heading purposefully towards the shiny chrome bar.

              ‘Neither of us, you numpty,’ Caitlin shouted over the music. ‘You’d hardly bring your wife along when you were cruising for men.’

              ‘Oh aye, I see your point.’ Dan got the drinks and brought them to a small table in the corner. He spotted a couple of people he knew and gave them an acknowledging nod, hoping they wouldn’t come over for a chat. He didn’t want to have to explain the wedding ring on his finger.

              Alice had kept her jacket on, downing half her vodka and coke in one gulp. ‘I really can’t see the purpose of this. What are the chances of our man happening to be in the same places as us tonight?’

              ‘That’s why we’re moving from one bar to another,’ Caitlin explained impatiently. ‘At least we’re doing something pro-active.’