CHAPTER TWELVE

  Jack had been held up in traffic due to an accident. An ambulance had crashed through a barrier as a cyclist had veered out of the bike lane into the main road, and Jack had witnessed it, so had to stop at the scene to give his details.

  When he finally got to the station, eager to talk to DCI Clarke about the warrant, he found out from the CRIS Centre that Clarke and Anik were both in court that morning and would not be back until lunch time. Swearing under his breath, he sat down at his desk and wrote up his meeting with Amanda Dunn at Euston Station. He had already placed the bracelet in an evidence bag and wanted to show it to Sara before it went into the lockup. Laura walked in, carrying a takeaway coffee. She leaned against the side of his desk.

  ‘Did you read the memo that came in for the DCI yesterday morning? Apparently, he was really pissed off and was going to have a go at the know-it-all legal aid who’s in court this morning.’

  Jack frowned. ‘What are you talking about?’

  ‘Rodney Middleton is going to get bail, and . . .’

  Jack pushed his chair back angrily. ‘You are bloody joking?’

  ‘No, that’s why Anik is in court; he’s got a similar situation with his case. There’s a massive backlog and they’re putting trials back weeks.’

  ‘Has he got bail or is it under review?’

  ‘I don’t know. I’ve only just read the memo myself.’

  ‘Shit! Which court are they in?’

  ‘Kingston, I think, but double-check on CRIS.’

  Jack spotted Sara and called out to her to join him.

  ‘Morning, sarge, hope you had a nice restful Sunday off.’

  ‘I need you to do something for me urgently.,’ Jack said, ‘I met up with Amanda Dunn yesterday.’

  Sara followed Jack back to his desk as he quickly explained what Amanda had told him, and then held up the plastic evidence bag.

  ‘I need you to contact Jamail’s family and check if she ever owned this bracelet. Then I want you to look into the other two girls she identified to see if they were using the Christian names Trudie, Nadine or Naomi. You’ll need to go back to the missing persons reports.’

  Sara took the evidence bag and the three photographs, then hurried to her desk whilst Jack grabbed his leather jacket and briefcase, before leaving the incident room together.

  Kingston Crown Court was in the new annex. The old courthouse was rarely used so Jack parked up there. The old car park had been used for Covid testing and there were still lots of old signs indicating where cars and pedestrians needed to wait. Jack showed his ID to the parking attendant, saying he was due to give evidence.

  Jack went in through the court’s side entrance and made his way along one corridor after another before he came out into the large reception area. There were numerous lawyers, clerics, probation officers and uniformed officers standing around in different groups, as the court was not yet in session. Any defendant being brought to trial would not have been brought up to the court yet. He looked around, searching for his DCI, but could not see him anywhere. He spotted Anik having a heated discussion with a female barrister and made his way towards them. He tapped Anik on the shoulder.

  ‘Where’s DCI Clarke? I need to talk to him urgently.’

  Anik looked at Jack, then back to the woman he’d been talking to. ‘This is Detective Sergeant Jack Warr, Miss Georgina Bamford. I think the DCI is in one of the consultation rooms, but I don’t know which one.’

  ‘Is he with Rodney Middleton’s lawyer? I really need to speak to him. That fucker cannot make bail.’

  ‘Detective Sergeant Warr, please mind your language,’ Miss Bamford said in an offended tone. ‘I am representing Mr Middleton, as his lawyer isn’t available. Mr Middleton isn’t appearing here today and is still at Brixton. His trial will not take place for another month, perhaps even longer.’

  Jack ignored her and went off to try and track down Clarke. He headed towards the area where there were small interview rooms for lawyers and their clients, knocking and then peering into one room after another.

  He was just turning back when Anik came down the corridor towards him.

  ‘That was well out of order, Jack. You were very rude to Miss Bamford, not to mention the fact that you interrupted our conversation. If you’d had the manners to wait until she had finished speaking, she would have told you that Middleton has been granted bail, pending a court appearance and probationary appointments. He’ll be released either later today or tomorrow morning’.

  Jack wanted to hurl his briefcase at him he was so angry, but Anik stepped aside as DCI Clarke approached.

  ‘Morning, sir,’ Anik said. ‘I’m due in Court any minute. I did have words with Miss Bamford who’s a barrister in the same chambers as Colin Marshall. He’s a junior legal aid lawyer and she’s acting for him whilst he’s off sick.’

  Jack was leaning against the wall gripping his briefcase with both hands. DCI Clarke listened, tight lipped, and glanced at his watch. He then looked at Jack.

  ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘I really need to talk to you. It’s urgent.’

  Clarke turned as two people walked out of one of the interview rooms. He gestured to Jack.

  ‘Right, we have ten minutes before I have to go into court.’

  Clarke shut the door behind them, as Jack stood by the small interview table. He took a deep breath and outlined, as briefly as he could, his suspicions regarding Rodney Middleton. He explained about his meeting with Amanda Dunn and her identification of three missing girls. Clarke remained expressionless, glancing at his watch. He waited until Jack had finished telling him about his meetings with the firefighter and probation officer, then he pinched his nose and frowned.

  ‘You have been very diligent, Jack. I agree that this new development, alongside your misgivings about Middleton being granted bail, is serious. However, that is now out of our hands. The harsh reality is that you have found no real evidence to back up your theory that something criminal happened in Middleton’s flat.’ He held his hand up before Jack could protest. ‘But before you interrupt, I agree to a search warrant relating to the missing girls. Get over to the magistrates’ court and they’ll sign it this morning for you.’

  ‘Thank you, sir.’

  Clarke turned to the door, then paused. ‘In future, detective, please dress appropriately when you attend court, whether or not you’re making an appearance. Your tie is halfway round your neck. And you need a shave and a haircut!’

  Jack sighed as Clarke walked out. He had been so eager to make an early start that he had not shaved or combed his hair. He adjusted his tie and hurried out to the car park.

  By the time he returned to the station, having been granted a search warrant at the magistrates’ court, Sara had contacted Jamail’s family. She hadn’t been able to speak to Mrs Brown, and Mr Brown was in prison, but his brother had finally agreed to talk to her.

  ‘All he could recall was that Jamail’s father used to bring her gifts from abroad. A beaded necklace and some earrings, but he could not recall any silver bracelet. On the off chance, I looked into one of the other missing girls, Trudie, possible surname Hudson, and managed to get through to her mother. Trudie has been reported missing for over two years. I described the bracelet in detail and wanted to send her an email with a picture of it, but she said she had no laptop, computer or mobile, just a landline.

  ‘But she did recall that her daughter had a silver charm bracelet. This is where it gets to be really interesting . . .’

  Jack swore and told her to get to the point.

  ‘She could only remember one charm in particular – a small silver St Christopher. I asked the size and she said it was no bigger than her little fingernail, and. . .’

  Sara held up the plastic evidence bag containing the bracelet.

  ‘There it is, it’s a small St Christopher just by the broken clasp.’

  Jack clapped his hands. It was a major breakthrough. Jack told her they needed to double-check with missing persons regarding Trudie, but they now had a surname, as well as more detail on Jamail Brown.

  ‘I think I did a thorough check already,’ Sara said.

  ‘Do it again. I want a DNA swab taken on the bracelet. We have a search warrant, but I need as much evidence as possible.’

  Jack went off to the gents to use his electric shaver. He could also have done with some deodorant but didn’t have any, so he settled for a basin wash, using paper towels under his armpits.

  When he returned to his office, Jack updated his report, ready for DCI Clarke, then went to the canteen to get some lunch before returning to his desk. Laura approached and stood in front of him.

  ‘Do you think I should accompany you with the search warrant,’ she said. ‘After all, Sara is just a probationary officer. As I told you earlier, I’ve cleared the case I was working on.’

  From her desk at the back of the room Sara was clearly listening in, but then became distracted by her phone. Jack shrugged his shoulders, not wanting to get into any pecking order issues, but agreed that Laura could accompany him, asking her to check when Rodney Middleton was being released. Sara finished her call and approached his desk.

  ‘I’m on my third call and not having much success, I’m afraid. In Jamail’s case this is due to the length of time she’s been missing. Trudie’s files are more recent, but the person dealing with her report in Liverpool isn’t in the office. I’ve reprinted everything off for you, anyway, as well as the photographs.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  ‘You haven’t actually met Rodney Middleton, have you?’

  ‘No, not yet.’

  ‘Did you get the time he would be released on bail from Brixton?’

  ‘I’m waiting on it . . . and Laura will be accompanying me.’

  ‘Oh, I would have liked to be there, considering I was with you at his aunt’s house.’

  Jack did not have time to reply as Clarke had walked into the incident room, gesturing for Jack to join him in his office. He left the door ajar. ‘Did you get the search warrant for Rodney Middleton’s flat?’

  ‘Yes, sir, I’ve only just got back.’

  Clarke asked if Jack wanted any back up uniforms to accompany him. Jack told him that Laura was going to be with him and he felt they could do a thorough search between them.

  ‘Well, you got what you wanted, so let’s see what you come up with.’

  *

  Laura had confirmation that Rodney Middleton’s bail had been granted. His aunt had agreed to act as surety, which meant that she would be responsible for ensuring that he followed his bail conditions and attended court for the trial. If he didn’t, she’d be liable for a substantial sum of money or risk having her property forfeited.

  ‘When’s he due to be released?’ Jack asked.

  ‘Probably late afternoon or early evening.’

  ‘Let’s get on our way then.’

  Jack and Laura left the incident room, whilst Sara sat with her arms folded, feeling thoroughly pissed off. She had found Laura quite friendly at first, but she never failed to pull rank.

  Leon gave her an understanding raise of an eyebrow, before returning to his pursuit of Sandra Raynor.

  ‘I’m still not having much luck either,’ he said.

  ‘Actually, as it happens, I’ve got a good result on the bracelet,’ she told him. ‘What are you working on?’

  ‘Trying to track down this woman called Sandra Raynor for the sarge.’

  ‘Is she a missing person?’

  ‘No, well, I’ve not had any bites from them. I’ve been through births marriages and criminal records and not got anything, or from the Holmes database’

  ‘Jack’s never mentioned her name to me,’ she said. ‘Do you want me to have a go? Could be in deaths?’

  ‘No, it’s OK. I’m going back a few more years next and maybe I’ll get lucky.’

  *

  Jack spoke briefly about his suspicions whilst Laura listened, silently. They had not worked together for a while, and she had missed being with him. She no longer fancied him, though, and had concluded that dating fellow officers was not a good idea anyway.

  ‘Do you ever hear from that guy with the DEA in New York?’ Jack asked.

  ‘No, we e-mailed and had a couple of calls but then I moved on. I don’t seem to be able to find Mr Right. I’ve been thinking about joining a dating agency or going to one of those speed-dating sessions, you know, where you sit opposite a guy and talk to them and a bell rings, and you move on to the next one. But it costs a hundred quid, so I think I’ll try online dating first.’

  Jack laughed but told her that she had to be careful, especially being a Met officer.

  ‘Well, I know that! I’d use an assumed name. As soon as you mention you’re a policewoman you get the same old jokes about wearing your uniform and your police hat.’

  ‘Ah, so you’ve tried it?’

  Laura laughed. ‘Yeah, did a phone-in date app, bloody boring. What can you tell from a voice at the other end of the phone? They could be any age, really fat, or even a criminal.’

  ‘I’m sure you’ll find someone when you least expect it; you’re very attractive. And the best thing about you, Laura, you make me laugh.’

  ‘Thanks for the compliment.’

  ‘OK, Laura, we’re here. It’s the basement flat. I’ll call Mrs Delaney, the caretaker, to give me the keys. No one has been occupying it for quite a while, and I’d like to have a good nose around before Middleton’s released.’

  Jack parked the car and took out his briefcase and mobile phone. Laura went to the railings of the basement.

  ‘Jack, there’s someone there. The lights are on.’

  ‘Shit, he couldn’t be out yet, surely?’

  Jack led the way down the steps, past the array of over-flowing bins. The same empty milk bottles were still there. He rang the doorbell, waited and then knocked. After a while he loudly said that it was the Police and please could the door be opened. He sighed, not wanting to have to carry out any theatrics by kicking open the door. Instead, he went back up the steps to the main entrance of the building. Laura remained waiting in the basement courtyard, wrinkling her nose at the foul smell of rotting food waste and rubbish spewing out of bins.

  Above her, Jack kept his finger on the front doorbell. Eventually he heard footsteps and the door was inched open.

  ‘Mrs Delaney, its Detective Sergeant Jack Warr. I spoke to you recently. I want access to the basement flat.’

  ‘He’s not there, and I can’t let you in,’ she said firmly.

  ‘Yes, you can. I have a warrant.’

  Jack showed her the warrant and she peered at it.

  ‘Well, ring the basement doorbell then.’

  ‘I have done, but no one answered. If Mr Middleton isn’t home, who’s living there?’

  Jack suddenly knew without her telling him. ‘Is it his girlfriend, Amanda?’

  ‘Yes, she’s expecting him home. He called me to say she could go in and wait for him. I need him here as my husband’s back is worse and I can’t get the bins up the steps. We missed the collection this week.’

  Jack had stopped listening and hurried back down to the basement courtyard to join Laura.

  ‘His bloody girlfriend is in there.’ He banged on the door.

  ‘Open the door, Amanda. OPEN THE DOOR!’

  He heard the chain lock being removed, and then the Yale lock clicked. Very slowly, the door opened and Amanda peered out. She was still dirty and was wearing the same old coat. Her face looked grey and the cold sore on her lip seemed to have spread almost to her nostril.

  Jack held the warrant out as he pushed his foot inside the door frame to wedge it open.

  ‘Stand away from the door, Amanda. This warrant gives me the right to enter and search the flat, so you need to move.’

  She inched back, and he pushed the door open wider. She was wearing socks, but no shoes, and the smell of damp was over-powering. It was also freezing cold.

  ‘It’s cold in here, Amanda. Is there no heating?’

  ‘I don’t know how to switch it on. It’s a meter thing with dials. I know it does the hot water but it’s not on.’

  ‘Right, let me put some more lights on. It’s very dark in here.’

  They were standing in a narrow hallway, with a rubber-backed strip of carpet over stone flooring. The walls were painted in a faded cream colour and there was a small wooden cabinet close to the door. There was no other furniture or pictures. It felt empty.

  Jack looked over to Laura, and then back to Amanda. He asked her to show him the bedrooms and the rest of the flat, suggesting that she should go and put on some more clothes as she was shivering. Amanda hesitated and then said that the first door was the main bedroom, but she was sleeping in the back room. Laura took her by the arm and asked her to show her where she was sleeping.

  Jack checked the drawers in the wooden cabinet. There was a directory, a lot of pizza delivery leaflets, Check-a-Trade advertising leaflets, and a central heating instruction book. There were also various warranties regarding a microwave, a cooker, and washing machine. The other drawers were empty.

  Jack went into the main bedroom. There was a large double bed with four pillows, and a stained duvet with a fake fur rug slung halfway across it. The wooden floor was bare, apart from a cheap rug on one side of the bed. There was a pine chest of drawers with one drawer partly open. Jack methodically searched each of the drawers, finding a neat stack of t-shirts, underpants, vests and socks, as well as old worn jeans, folded neatly but unwashed. He checked the pockets and felt around the base of the drawers, but there was nothing of interest.

  A narrow wardrobe had a lopsided door on one side. It contained a denim jacket, a raincoat and a duffle coat with plastic shoulder pads, as well as two pairs of black trousers folded over a wooden coat hanger.