‘I’ll take it from here,’ he said.
‘How long ago did the fire start?’ asked Shirley.
‘Not long. You got here fast,’ said the woman.
Shirley looked over to see an elderly lady being seen to by paramedics. Another person was still in the cage.
Forensics were gathering round. Shirley felt a shot of empathy run through her. That must be the elderly man. He must have died. She looked over at his wife.
The paramedics were concerned she could see. One of them shook his head at the other as they lifted her onto a stretcher. Great, that meant more deaths. A bigger body count and still no sign of the killer.
Shirley went in search of the Chief. He was on the phone.
‘Yes, sir,’ he was saying. ‘No, we haven’t found him. No.’
‘He left not long before us,’ said Shirley. ‘Are we looking for him?’
The Chief looked cross.
‘Get back to the station, Sergeant. We need leads.’
Shirley was fuming. She didn’t know how they could have lost him. She saw a van setting off and ran after it. It stopped.
‘Lift to the police station please,’ she said to the open window.
‘In you pop,’ said an officer.
As she went to get in, he drove the car forward a little.
‘Not funny,’ she said.
‘Where’s your sense of humour?’ he asked.
Shirley got in the car. Maybe she should laugh at the situation but she was too annoyed.
Shirley was up all night in the end. They searched all ports. They searched the M25. They searched every CCTV camera on every street in London. It was time consuming and it was wasted time. Richard Henders was not found.
Shirley decided to visit Dave again. He might have picked up some clue. She drove to St George’s.
In his room sat a woman. Dave looked sound asleep.
‘Hello,’ said Shirley.
‘Hello,’ she said. ‘I’m David’s mother.’
‘Nice to meet you,’ said Shirley. ‘I wanted to talk to you. I’m his partner.’
‘I didn’t know,’ said his mother.
‘I mean his work partner. At the police,’ said Shirley.
‘Oh right,’ said his mother.
‘Can I ask some sensitive questions?’
‘Go ahead,’ said Dave’s mother.
‘Dave had a brother who died,’ said Shirley.
‘Yes, that was Stephen. He got into drugs, poor lad. We lost him.’
‘To an overdose?’
‘Yes. He owed money to a drug dealer. We think he gave him a wrong dose on purpose. David was away in the army at the time. He didn’t come home for the funeral. I think he was a bit ashamed of his brother. I’m sorry for that because they got on so well as children.’
‘This is an awful question I know, but did you identify the body?’
Mrs McDonald’s face fell.
‘I don’t want to go through that again. There’s nothing worse than seeing your son like that. On a slab.’
Shirley apologised for bringing it up. It seemed Dave really was concussed.
‘Well Dave is doing alright,’ she said. ‘I don’t think we’ll lose him.’
‘The nurse said he’ll come through. They want to do tests on his brain to check. It’s a very sensitive area they said. But he managed to drive and they say that shows he has motor skills. I think he’ll pull through. He’s likely been through worse in the army.’
Shirley nodded. She hadn’t known Dave had been a soldier. She remembered being at the shooting range with him. He was a good shot. She never bothered to ask where he picked up those skills.
‘I’m going to get a coffee,’ said Shirley. ‘Can I get you anything?’
‘I’d love a tea,’ said Mrs McDonald.
As Shirley went out, she saw another police officer guarding the room next door.
‘What are you here for?’ she asked.
‘In case he comes to the hospital. His other victim is in there.’
‘Can I go in?’ asked Shirley.
‘I suppose so,’ said the officer.
Shirley went in. Betty was sat up in bed. She had bruises but she smiled.
‘Are you a nurse?’
‘No, a police officer. I’m Dave’s sergeant, Shirley Palmer. I’m visiting him.’
‘He’s a good man. I wouldn’t be alive without him.’
‘I know you’ve given statements, but can I ask a few questions?’ said Shirley.
‘Yes, well, I’ve gone through it a few times now. I just keep thinking, you can’t trust anyone. Which is very sad. I thought he was a preacher. He seemed ever so nice. Just shows.’
‘Yes. You must have been very scared.’
‘It was terrible. I thought I had died. When I came to and woke up in that nasty place I thought, well I will die now. I’ll either die when he checks my body or I’ll die of cold. I found strength I never knew I had and I thank the Lord for that.’
‘You’re very lucky,’ said Shirley.
‘Indeed. If your inspector hadn’t been there, well... He is alright isn’t he?’
‘Yes, we think so. I need to ask though, was anyone else there?’
‘Stephen you mean?’
‘Yes. Did you see him?’
‘I didn’t see him and I didn’t hear him. I’m afraid your inspector was in a very bad way. He couldn’t remember his name for a long time. He’s been hurt quite badly.’
‘So you think he imagined Stephen?’
‘I wouldn’t like to say, but yes, I think he did. Is he OK now?’
‘He’s asleep. Hopefully he’ll sleep it off,’ said Shirley.
‘Yes. I expect so,’ said Betty.
Shirley’s phone went off. She answered.
‘AWOL again?’ asked Geoff.
‘No I’m not AWOL. I’m at the hospital checking the statement of one of the victims.’
‘Oh. That’s weird. That’s what I was asked to ask you to do,’ said Geoff.
‘Really?’
‘Yes. Apparently the mother is ready to give her statement and they think the elderly lady will wake up soon.’
‘Oh those victims. Which hospital are they at?’ said Shirley.
‘St Thomas.’
Shirley sighed. She’d had enough. This man would be like Jack the Ripper at this rate. They did at least know who he was. Why was he so hard to find? She left Betty’s room and asked the officer outside to get Mrs McDonald a cup of tea. Then she set off to St Thomas’s. She needed a clue.
As she got out of the car at the hospital, she saw a man with a hoody up. There was something about the way he was walking. He seemed suspicious. She walked in his direction. He saw her coming. He set off running. Shirley followed, zigzagging round the cars in the car park. He was running towards the river. She ran down the steps and saw him jump over and into a boat. She radioed in.
‘It’s him. He was at St Thomas’s. He’s jumped on a boat. Need helicopters and men here fast.’
She tried to get down to the boat. The steps were slippery. She needed to go slowly. She got down to the last step and the boat set off.
‘Speed boat, named Flora, heading up the river. Quick. Can we inform the river police?’ she called down the radio.
She watched as it sped along fast. She tried to think where he could moor. The helicopter came. She pointed the direction he had gone in but he was round the corner now.
Her phone rang. She answered curtly.
‘You got him?’
‘He wasn’t in the boat,’ said the officer.
‘Then who was?’
‘No one,’ said the officer.
Shirley nearly flung her phone in the river. These people were idiots. Where was Dave when she needed him.
‘He likes hospitals,’ she said. ‘Try every hospital, have men on the doors.’
‘Have to clear it with Chief first,’ said the officer.
‘Tell him if he doesn’t listen to me, I’m quitting.’
‘OK,’ said the officer.
Shirley was sick of this. She went in to the hospital to ask if anyone had died unexpectedly.
‘Not at all,’ she was told.
‘What about the two victims of the fire?’ asked Shirley.
‘Well, yes, one of them died in the last hour.’
‘Why didn’t you say that?’
‘It wasn’t unexpected. She was very old and very weak.’
‘And there was a murderer on the loose.’
Shirley went up to the floor where they were staying. There was no police on the door of the mother.
‘Is there no police officer with you?’ Shirley asked, hiding her anger.
‘I think he went to get lunch,’ said the mother.
‘Shit,’ said Shirley.
She had asked the police officer outside Betty’s room to get a cup of tea for Dave’s mother. She called the hospital.
‘Do not let the police move from outside their doors,’ she said. ‘And no visitors.’
Dave woke up feeling woozy. They must have given him some strong painkillers. He could hear a voice.
‘Tell Mum I love her,’ it said.
That was Stephen’s voice. They must have found him. He must be here. Dave opened his eyes and sat up in bed. He looked around him. His mother was sitting by his bed.
‘Where’s Stephen?’ he asked.
‘I’m sorry, love,’ she said. ‘He’s dead isn’t he. He died a long time ago.’
Dave pulled off all the wires attached to his chest. He pulled the drip out of his hand. It didn’t even hurt so he must be on heavy stuff. He got out of bed.
‘Where are you going?’ asked his mother.
Dave didn’t reply. He wandered all around the room, checking under the bed, in all the corners, then he opened the door to see where the voice was coming from.
‘Alright Inspector?’ asked the police officer outside. He scratched his chin embarrassed.
Dave looked down to see his hospital gown wasn’t very discreet.
‘Thanks for your hard work,’ said Dave.
He shut the door again.
‘Where are you Stephen?’ he thought to himself.
‘I’m in your head,’ he said.
Dave sat back down on the bed. Stephen was a voice in his head. He must be. No wonder he couldn’t find him. He felt panic run through him. He knew about voices in the head. That was for mad people.
‘Stephen,’ he thought. ‘Don’t ever tell me to kill someone because I won’t do it.’
‘Why would I? I’m just here to see Mum.’
Dave looked at his mother. He could see new worry lines on her face.
‘I’m OK,’ he said to her. ‘But I think I’ve gone mad.’
‘Is this to do with Stephen,’ she said.
‘I can hear his voice in my head,’ said Dave. ‘Don’t tell anyone will you?’
‘I would love to hear his voice again,’ she said.
‘I’m sorry,’ said Dave. ‘I could hear him in the garage, when I was tied up. I only just realised it was me being mad. I thought he was alive.’
‘We need to get your head seen to. Maybe a psychiatrist could help.’
Dave sat back on the bed. As he did, a nurse came in.
‘Ah, that’s why we’ve got no reading,’ he said. ‘Don’t worry us like that.’
Dave waited as his blood pressure was taken. The nurse reattached the heart monitors and the drip.
‘What’s in the drip?’ Dave asked.
‘Pain relief,’ said the nurse.
‘I don’t want it,’ said Dave. ‘I need a clear head for the investigation.’
‘I don’t think you’ll be going back to work any time soon. We need to make sure you’re OK.’
Dave sighed. He tried to remember if he’d mentioned Stephen when he came in. It was best to pretend his voice wasn’t there.
When the nurse left, Dave looked over at his mother. He realised for the first time what she must have gone through when Stephen died.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I’ve worried you. And I’ve brought it all up about Stephen again. I’m sorry.’
‘Stephen is never far from my mind. I think you’re just grieving David. You haven’t grieved.’
‘Mum,’ said Dave. ‘Don’t tell anyone I can hear his voice.’
‘I think they might already know,’ said his mother.
‘As far as I’m concerned he’s gone. I don’t need psychiatrists. I need my job.’
‘Whatever you think,’ said his mother.
‘You see,’ said Stephen. ‘You slag her off as much as you like, but she’s a great mum.’
‘You’re a great mum,’ said Dave, feeling awkward.
‘Thanks dear,’ said his mother.
They sat in an embarrassed silence while they both stared straight ahead. Dave wondered if he’d ever hugged his mother. He must have at primary school. He closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep.
There was a knock on the door. Dave opened his eyes. There was Shirley’s big brown eyes at the door.
‘Hi Shirley, please tell me some good news,’ he said.
‘Do you want to the good news or the bad news?’
‘Both,’ said Dave.
‘Well, the good news is I brought some doughnuts,’ she said.
‘OK, that sounds like the bad news ain’t great,’ he said.
‘The bad news is that fucker is still on the streets. Which is why I’m here. He turned up at St Thomas’s hospital and we think – we’re waiting for autopsy tests – but we think he managed to get into the old lady’s room and poison her.’
‘No!’ said Dave. ‘Betty!’
‘Not Betty,’ said Shirley. ‘She’s in the room next to you here. This was his other victims that he was holding at the warehouse.’
‘Did I know all this?’
‘To be honest you were pretty out of it earlier.’
‘Tell me about it,’ said Dave. ‘These painkillers are making me drool with happiness when I should be on the job.’
‘You seem much better,’ said Shirley.
She looked at Dave’s mother who smiled and nodded with clenched teeth. Dave thought she might give the game away.
‘Doughnut?’ asked Shirley.
Dave’s mother took a doughnut.
‘Not had one of these for years,’ she said.
‘We have,’ said Shirley.
‘Yeah, bad news is doughnuts,’ said Dave. ‘We need the sugar to keep going.’
‘I hope it helps,’ said his mother.
Shirley smiled nervously at Dave’s mother. Dave could tell she wanted to talk alone.
‘Mum,’ he said. ‘Fancy getting me a tea to go with it?’
‘Oh,’ she said.
She put her doughnut down.
‘No, eat your doughnut,’ said Shirley.
‘I’ll eat it when I get back,’ said his mother. ‘It’ll go well with a cup of tea.’
She hurried out of the room.
‘I feel bad now,’ said Shirley.
‘Why? Mum won’t be offended. She knows police investigations are private.’
‘Well, it wasn’t the case really. I wanted to ask you about your brother,’ said Shirley.
‘Stephen?’
‘Yeah,’ said Shirley.
‘What about him?’ said Dave.
‘Tell her I’m here,’ said Stephen’s voice. ‘She’ll understand.’
‘You mentioned him before,’ said Shirley.
‘I think I might have been, well...’ said Dave.
‘Confused?’ said Shirley.
‘I did think he was near me. I think that blow to the head, along with being blindfolded and unable to move... Well, anyway, I’m fine now.’
‘We didn’t find anyone else in the garage.’
‘Of course not. Stephen died a long time ago.’
‘Good to have you back,’ said Shirley.
‘Yep,’ said Dave. ‘Here I am, fine and dandy, reporting for duty.’
‘I don’t know what the Chief will think of you turning up in that gown.’
‘I have a very nice bum I’ll have you know,’ said Dave.
‘Yeah,’ said Shirley. ‘The guy outside said it was a great bum. He thinks you should wear it out at all times.’
She laughed and Dave hid his face under the blanket.
‘I’ll never live it down,’ he said.
‘No, but you’ll never live down your great escape either.’
‘I just wish I’d killed him. If it wasn’t that I needed to get Betty out of there, I’d have gone for the self-defence routine.’
There was a knock. Shirley went to open the door but it opened and several medical people came in. Shirley asked them all for ID.
‘Sorry to ask but we need to check,’ she said. ‘I’ll wait outside.’
The doctors introduced themselves. One of them asked Dave to move his arms and legs, to watch his finger move about, to count his fingers. Dave happily passed their tests. This could be his discharge.
The next doctor asked him if he could hear voices.
‘No,’ said Dave. ‘I won’t deny I was very confused when I came in here but after a sleep I feel fine. It was most likely sleep deprivation.’
He hoped that was true. A good night’s sleep and Stephen’s voice would be gone.
‘Any thoughts about harming yourself or others?’ asked the doctor.
‘Not at all,’ said Dave.
He wasn’t on oath. It was fine.
‘Can I go home now?’ he asked. ‘I’m sure you’re needing this room for someone more ill than myself.’
‘You did have quite a blow to the head,’ said the first doctor. ‘You will need your dressing seen to. We would like to keep you in another day to monitor you.’
‘But I’m fine. I promise I’m fine. I’ll be much better off in my own bed.’
The doctors looked at each other. Dave knew they must need the hospital bed.
‘I’ll come in for dressing changes,’ he said.
He put on his most authoritarian policeman’s voice.
‘Discharging me is best for everyone all round,’ he said.
The doctors nodded.
‘We don’t want you to drive for at least three weeks. You’ll need someone to take you home.’
‘I’m sure the police will be happy to,’ said Dave.
They agreed and the nurse took off all his wires and his drip again. The nurse gave him a bag with his clothes in. Then he was alone in the room. He took off his hospital gown. There was another knock on the door.
‘Just a minute,’ called Dave. ‘I’m getting dressed.’
‘OK,’ shouted Shirley. ‘Are you a free man then?’
‘Free as I’ll ever be,’ he said.
He pulled his clothes on quickly. The trousers smelt of urine. He didn’t bother with his boxers. He left them in the bin. When he was dressed, he opened the door.
‘Ready,’ he said. ‘Let’s find this killer.’
‘Er, maybe not. I’m going to drive you home. You’re off for four weeks.’
Dave wasn’t so sure about that. His police guard joined them and they walked through the hospital to the car park.
‘Where’s Mum?’ he said.
‘We sent her home,’ said Shirley. ‘Why? Need looking after?’
‘Not at all. Thanks,’ said Dave.
They set off in the car and the motion made Dave fall asleep. He awoke outside his house. He didn’t have keys. He must have lost them somewhere.
‘I don’t have the keys,’ he said.
‘Does anyone have a spare set?’ asked Shirley.
‘No,’ said Dave.
They looked at each other. The killer might. They radioed the station.
Dave waited in the car as his house was searched. It felt a bit strange, like he was the criminal. He thought of the mess, of the people going through his house, room to room, eyeing his stuff.
‘All clear,’ came the cry.
‘Sorry to call you all out,’ he said.
‘No worries, we found your drug stash,’ said an officer.
‘Ha ha,’ said Dave.
He was tired. He went straight up to bed and climbed in. He should have stayed at the hospital, at least the sheets were clean. He curled up in a ball and fell asleep.
He awoke with a start. Someone was in the room. He heard a voice.
‘Stephen?’ he whispered.
‘No,’ said a voice. ‘Richie here. I’m going to kill you.’
Dave jumped up. There was no sign of him in the room. He had no weapon. He picked up a bottle of aftershave. It would have to do. He would squirt it in Richie’s eyes. He checked the wardrobe.
‘Can’t find me, can you?’ said Richie.
‘Be careful,’ said Stephen.
Dave looked out of the window. He could see the patrol car outside. He opened his bedroom door. There was a sound of hoovering.
He went slowly down the stairs. There was Shirley, hoovering his hallway.
‘Shirley,’ he said. ‘Have you seen anyone come in?’
‘No. I haven’t. Why?’
‘I thought I heard something that’s all,’ said Dave.
Shirley helped him look.
‘You’ll never find me,’ said Richie’s voice.
‘Did you hear that?’ asked Dave.
‘No. What did you hear?’
‘Just a car or something, outside,’ said Dave. ‘Sorry.’
Shirley looked worried.
‘It’s nothing, don’t worry. I think I’ll have a shower. We should go to the station and see where the investigation is at,’ said Dave.
Shirley let him go.
In the bathroom mirror he saw himself for the first time. The bruise was amazing, deep purple and violet colours. He tried to lift his bandage a little to see the wound but then thought better of it. Out of sight out of mind.
The shower was refreshing. It had been a long time since he’d been clean.
‘I’ll drown you,’ said Richie.
‘You are just in my head,’ said Dave. ‘You can’t do anything.’
Dave found his old army handgun in its locked case and put it in his pocket.
A little later Dave arrived at the station with Shirley. He felt wobbly on his feet but focussed on walking through to the office. When he walked in, everyone cheered.