Death on High (The Lakeland Murders) (26 page)

‘Is that really necessary?’

‘That’s the wrong question to be asking mate.’

‘How d’you mean?’

‘Shouldn’t you be checking that our lads know what you look like, just in case they shoot the bloke who looks most like a con?’

Mann was too tired to even raise a laugh.

‘Good night Andy.’

Hall didn’t bother trying to sleep, but showered and went straight in to work. Ray Dixon arrived just as he did.

‘I’m really sorry about this boss.’

‘Don’t be Ray. You couldn’t possibly have covered off all the unknown unknowns. We got caught out. It happens, and we’ll just have to chalk one up to the other side. You get off home for a kip in a bit, but before you go I wanted to ask you a couple of things.’

‘You want to know if we were rumbled?’

‘Exactly.’

‘I couldn’t swear to it boss, but I’d say not. There were no signs of panic or hurry when they left the job, and I don’t see how Wilson could have been spotted, even on those lanes. It was pissing down, the driver’s mirrors must have been streaming, and Wilson is very, very good.’

‘What about the farmer? Did he reckon they’d done it before?’

‘He didn’t know. The old boy was bloody livid. But he said that his padlock wasn’t the best, and when we looked at it there was some scratching that looked fairly recent. But he couldn’t shed any light on any of it.’

‘So you think they might have used the place before?’

‘I can’t be certain boss, but aye, I do.’

‘OK Ray, thanks. Just write that up for me would you, literally just a couple of paragraphs?’

‘You thinking of carrying it all on then boss? Even after this foul-up?’

‘Yes, it’s what Ian wants to do, and I think he’s right. And that brings me to the other thing I wanted to ask you. Do you think you could get a tracker on to the back of the truck next time without being spotted?’

‘Oh aye, I was thinking exactly that last night. The driver only got out of the cab for a piss and a stretch the whole time they were there, and the lads on the roof and doing the unloading on the ground couldn’t see me, if I timed it right. Maybe just as they were hauling the bucket back up. That bucket swings around, so they’re all concentrating on it.’

‘And you’d be willing to do that?’

‘100% boss.’

When Hall walked into Robinson’s office he was pretty sure that the Super and Val Gorham had settled their differences. The two of them were sitting side-by-side at the table, and neither smiled when Hall walked in. Robinson asked for an update.

‘No sign of the lorry or the lead I’m afraid sir. We haven’t picked up the registration number on any camera.’

‘Your conclusion?’

‘Either a plate change, quite possibly at the yard where it stopped, or possibly they loaded the lead onto another lorry soon after. For what it’s worth I think that the former is most likely.’

‘And you feel that the operation was properly planned and executed?’ asked Val Gorham.

‘I do, and it was fully signed off by the management team at tactical.’

Hall thought that this would probably be enough to stop that line of questioning, since the Chief was known to be a supporter of the tactical team, and was expanding it modestly, even in the face of cuts. Sure enough, Gorham changed tack.

‘So you will be making the arrests today?’

‘My recommendation is that we run with it for another couple of days.’

‘Impossible’ said Gorham firmly. ‘The Chief won’t hear of any delay.’

‘Why not?’ asked Hall.

Gorham looked surprised, and Robinson didn’t jump in to support her. Hall was no politician, but he’d expected him to sit on his hands. Robinson would be happy enough to see either Hall or Gorham lose face. Gorham glanced across at Robinson, saw that she couldn’t expect any support, and carried on.

‘You lost the truck last time. It would just happen again.’

‘We will use an electronic tracker next time, supported by vehicles. Tactical are fully behind it.’

‘You can’t seriously think that we can allow further damage to a Scheduled Ancient Monument, can you Inspector?’

Hall smiled. ‘One of the advantages of the fact that we’ve involved all the heritage people is that we now know more about the damage that Spedding and company are doing.’

‘It’s incalculable’ said Gorham firmly.

Hall slid a piece of paper across the table. Gorham didn’t look at it, but Robinson did.

‘I asked the English Heritage case officer for his view, and here it is. Would you like me to summarise it for you?’ Gorham didn’t reply, and she still wasn’t looking at the paper. ‘It says that all that lead and some of the copper on the roof was going to be coming off this spring anyway. It was a bad job apparently, because the flashing and other lead work is much too heavy for the roof, and has been damaging it for years. In his final sentence he says that while he is losing the scrap value of the lead, unless it’s recovered, the saving on labour and so on is actually more. He says, in terms, that he’s relaxed about losing the lot, and that the building is not at risk as a result.’

‘I see. But we have an agreement that arrests would be made immediately after last night’s events, irrespective of outcome. I think I’m right in saying that’s your stated position Superintendent.’ She looked across at Robinson, but more in hope than expectation.

‘But Superintendent Robinson is a man who changes his mind when the facts change’ said Hall. ‘He’s a bit like Keynes that way. Anyway, the facts have changed, and I’ve just spoken to the CPS and they’re supporting a further extension of the operation. In the light of the absence of evidence of damage to the fabric of the Abbey their view is that the risks of continuing the operation for another few days are far outweighed by the benefits that would accrue from arresting whoever is processing these stolen metals.’

Gorham didn’t look as if she had anything else to say, and Robinson stepped in.

‘You say a few more days Andy, how can you be so sure?’

‘We can’t be absolutely certain sir’ said Hall, noting that he was Andy again, ‘but Spedding made several remarks to Ian, both during the job and after, as they were driving back to Carlisle, which indicated that they’d be back very soon. Ian got the impression that Spedding was under pressure from his buyer to deliver as soon as he possibly could.’

‘So how long do you think?’

‘Not tonight I’d imagine sir, because they’ll all be tired and the forecast is poor, but it improves later in the week, so that seems the likely window.’

Robinson picked up his propelling pencil, then put it down again.

‘Very well Andy. In view of the facts concerning both the building’s condition and the CPS’s view I am going to agree to an extension of one week. As you say, the facts have changed, and it would be foolish of me not to take them into account.’

Hall wasn’t surprised at the outcome of the meeting, and it reminded him that despite the constant machinations of the senior officers the force somehow still managed to make decent operational decisions most of the time. It was just a shame that he couldn’t do anything to help Jane keep her job. If he’d played the political game all these years Hall knew that he’d probably be much further up the tree himself, and even if he wasn’t he might have some other kind of leverage over the likes of Robinson. Maybe a favour or two to call in for services rendered. Most of the time his complete lack of friends in high places didn’t bother him, in fact it hardly ever even crossed his mind, but he would have given a great deal to be able to be able to keep Jane Francis on his team. He told himself that it was entirely because her punishment was disproportionate and motivated by personal spite, but Andy Hall had been a copper a long time. And he didn’t believe what anyone told him these days.

As Hall walked in to CID’s open office area he saw Jane turn her head, then quickly get back to her work. He walked over to her desk.

‘Give me twenty minutes Jane. I just need to let Ian know that we’ve got a week’s extension on his operation, and email Ray Dixon to give him the good news.’

‘Is Ray really going to be coming over all James Bond?’

‘Yes, I’d say he’s going to be sticking his head over the parapet, but of course that will be Ian, literally.’

Jane laughed, and Hall was glad to hear it.

‘Actually Jane, while I think of it, would you order Ray up one of the vehicle tracking devices, and make sure it comes with instructions.’

‘Why, Andy? He’s a man, so we all know he won’t read them.’

Hall smiled. ‘See you in a bit.’

Jane came in carrying two coffees, and had to go back to her desk to fetch her files on the Harrison death. They were both thinking that this would be the last time that they’d do this, and they’d miss it, but neither said anything. What would be the point?

‘I’ve chatted to the CPS just now, and they say that we’re a million miles away from a charge of any kind, based on the files. ‘Absolutely without merit’ was their conclusion. So have you found anything to change anyone’s mind?’

‘Well, we can be sure that Lillian and Tony were having an affair, but they were discrete, or rather he was. She dropped pretty broad hints to a couple of her friends about him actually, and he was the only person who was a regular caller at her house. The neighbours confirm it. But nothing from his side, except from calls and texts, all made from his other phone. And yes, he did have one. I’ve checked the call history and he pretty much only used it to speak to Lillian.’

‘I wonder where it is now. Have you pinged it?’

‘Yes, and we’re getting nothing back. All we know is that its last location was here, in Kendal.’

‘Anything other than that?’ asked Hall. ‘Any connection between the two women?’

‘No, not a thing.’

‘Unless we can prove that they discussed what happened afterwards I think we’re pretty well sunk when it comes to conspiracy’ said Hall. ‘Any signs that Vicky was preparing for a life after Tony before it happened? That might help.’

‘No, nothing that I can find. Nothing financial, certainly. So what do you think Andy? I’m only around for a few more days, so do you want me to stay with it, or help Ray with his training regime.’

‘Training regime?’

‘He needs to lose two stone to fit into the black catsuit I’m getting him.’

Hall laughed.

‘Please don’t. But I think you should help Ray to be honest, Jane. Even if none of this shit with Robinson had happened I’d still be closing the file on this one now. It’s going nowhere.’

‘So you don’t think that one or both of them killed Tony?’

‘Honestly, I can only think of one scenario that even begins to fit the facts, and it’s so fanciful that I’ll keep it to myself I think, Jane. There’s no point starting hares running, and this whole case has amounted to nothing more than conjecture built on hypothesis, founded on I don’t know what.’

‘Instinct?’

Hall laughed. ‘Over-rated in the view of most modern Superintendents, and to be honest Jane, they might be right. I should probably nick myself for wasting Police time.’

‘So you think Tony’s death was an accident?’

‘I didn’t say that, but I certainly wouldn’t bet my pension on it being anything else.’

As soon as he’d said it Hall regretted it, but there was nothing to be done. ‘Are you still thinking of jacking it in?’ he said.

‘Yes, but I’ll wait and see what happens. All I know so far is that I’m to report to personnel at HQ in a fortnight, where they say they’ll do some assessments, whatever they are, before I’m re-assigned.’

‘All they’ll do is prove that you’re perfectly suited to detective work.’

Jane smiled. ‘Do you really mean that Andy? Honestly?’

‘Of course I do. You’re too good at this job. Too good for me anyway. They’ll be mad if they throw all that potential away.’

They drank their tea in silence for a minute. Hall had the strong urge to say more, but something made him stop. Maybe it was the same constraint that stopped him hugging his kids as often as he should, and telling them how much he loved them too.

Tuesday, 26th March

Ray Dixon was taking no chances, and he drove up to Carlisle with his DEFRA office ID hanging round his neck on a lanyard, and his case on the back seat. He’d even nipped round to the DEFRA office and had his
alter ego
Ray Turner copied on a few routine memos from the last few days, which he’d printed out and stuffed into the case.

He drove past Mann’s house, saw nothing unusual, turned round further down and drove back. Mann left him standing on the doorstep for what seemed like ages when he knocked.

‘Sorry Ray, I was on the bog’ said Mann cheerfully, when he opened the door.

‘Thanks for sharing.’