Back in the car, Gardner contacted O’Brien first. ‘Lucy, I’m going to give you a list of names. I want you to contact all of them and find out when they last saw Richard Hill…’
After O’Brien, she phoned Rice. Rice had proven himself by bringing them to this point. He’d be a good fit for what came next. ‘Phil?’
‘Boss, what did the parents say?’
She explained. ‘So Richard is a potential victim.’ She gave him the details of the route to the park. ‘He left his house at six. He was expected back around nine. You have a three-hour window.’
‘I’m on it.’
She left her car, walked over to Riddick’s and tapped on the window. He wound it down. ‘I’m going to drive the route to the park—’
Her phone rang again. It was Barnett.
‘Ray?’
‘Boss. I finally heard back from Tom Winters’ company. He’s not there.’
‘Come again?’
‘He quit over a month ago. He phoned up HR and told them he was done, and he was not returning to the rig. They’ve not heard from him since.’
‘Jesus.’
‘I also checked with the Home Office. He’s in the country. He flew into Leeds from work over two months back and hasn’t taken another flight out.’
Tom Winters – the broken father.
‘We need to find him now. If he’s killing these boys, he could have Richard.’
‘Already on it. APW out. I stopped by his bungalow the other day in Harrogate – I assumed he was away, but what if he was in there?’
‘Precisely why I’m getting a warrant to go in. Tom Winters is now a significant person of interest.’ She said this on purpose, so Riddick could catch the revelation.
Riddick nodded as if it all suddenly made sense.
‘I’m heading to the bungalow now with DI Riddick. Text me the address.’
‘Will do, boss.’
Gardner felt a cold chill at the bottom of the spine as she ended the call to Barnett. Had the killer been this obvious the whole time? Had the belief that Tom Winters had been out of the country delayed the resolution of the case?
She put a hand to her mouth. Could they have prevented Dan’s death if they’d been more thorough with this angle?
‘Boss?’ Riddick said. ‘Are you okay?’
‘Change of plan.’ She told Riddick what she’d learned. ‘En route, I’ll contact Marsh to get us that warrant organised.’
‘It won’t be that quick.’
‘No, it won’t, but if I even suspect someone is in that bungalow when I get there – we’re going in. We’ve reason to believe someone’s life is in danger.’
She looked up. Framed by a black sky, Joanne Hill was looking out the window at them.
* * *
Gardner and Riddick stood in front of Tom Winters’ bungalow. Marsh had already told them the warrant would happen, but late afternoon was the best they could hope for.
If Richard was still alive, did he have until late afternoon?
Gardner surveyed the property, over its dormer, up to its gable roof.
The answer to everything could be within these walls, but if she went in without a warrant, then the CPS would have a fit, and Tom Winters’ defence lawyer, a field day.
They tried the front door, achieving the same lack of success that Barnett had done the previous day.
Riddick prowled the front garden from one high hedge to the other, looking over at the adjacent bungalows – then he returned to Gardner. ‘Let’s try the neighbours… find out about any comings and goings.’
‘Yes… one moment,’ Gardner said, peering in through the front window. ‘Come here, Paul. Do you see that?’
Riddick peered into the lounge. ‘See what?’
‘The open kitchen door, behind the sofa; you see it?’
Riddick squinted. ‘Yes… Smashed glass?’
‘Does it look like there’s been a struggle to you?’
‘Well, it’s possible – more likely someone just dropped a glass…’
‘And didn’t sweep it up? I think it warrants further investigation.’
Riddick nodded. ‘Agree, boss.’
They went through the side gate and down a stone path. The back garden was tiny and had very little going for it in the way of floral decoration.
Gardner went straight for the kitchen window, and her heart almost leapt from her chest. ‘Bloody hell! Paul!’
Paul joined her and looked through the window. ‘Christ on a bike.’
A man was curled up to the side of the open kitchen door. He was unmoving and faced towards the rear kitchen wall rather than the window, so Gardner had no idea who this was, or if he was alive. There was also a small pool of blood around the upper half of the victim.
‘Phone an ambulance,’ Riddick said, looking around the ground. Ornamental rocks lined the small patch of grass that made up the garden and she watched Riddick swoop for the biggest rock he could find.
Gardner phoned an ambulance, and gave the details while Riddick ploughed through the glass in the centre of the back door. He reached in. ‘Key’s in the lock!’ He proclaimed excitedly.
She watched him fumble around through the broken glass. ‘Careful!’ she called, holding the mic on her phone so as not to deafen the person on the other end.
Riddick went through the door, knelt and put a finger to the man’s neck, while she confirmed the emergency services were coming.
She rang off and started to jog to where Riddick knelt. ‘Ambulance is coming!’
Riddick looked back at her. ‘Too late for that. He’s ice cold.’
* * *
Tom Winters’ left eye remained open, but his right eye was glued shut with blood. His forehead and cheek on that side of his face were also badly damaged, while his jaw was clearly offset.
Gardner stood alongside Riddick. Both looked down as Dr Hugo Sands inspected the body, holding back on questions as he formulated his preliminary findings.
Gardner looked around the kitchen as the SOCOs worked. Apart from the smashed glass that had alerted their suspicions initially, there was very little sign of a struggle. Whoever had killed Tom had done so quickly, and without warning. More than likely, Tom would have known the killer and let him into his bungalow with him; although, the possibility that an intruder had been waiting here to ambush him could not be ruled out at this stage.
Sands stood up, sighed and looked down at the body a moment longer, before looking at Gardner. ‘The deceased is a man in his early to mid-forties—’
‘Yes. We know. It’s Tom Winters,’ Riddick said. ‘Even with half his face caved in, I can see that. Look at the photographs in his lounge.’
Sands looked long and hard at Riddick.
‘Let Dr Sands talk, Paul,’ Gardner said.
‘I suspect the cause of death is the trauma to the forehead, but confirmation will come when he’s on my slab.’
‘Time of death?’
‘I’m suspecting a couple of days but, again, there are tests that I can do back at the hospital to confirm and then narrow down.’
‘Was he struck from the front?’ Gardner asked. ‘It looks that way.’
‘Correct,’ Sands said. ‘He’d have seen it coming.’
‘Why did he not put up more of a fight?’ Riddick said.
Sands looked at the broken glass. ‘Again, this is just theory. I suspect he was having a drink with his killer. The killer surprised him with the first strike from some kind of blunt object. The victim dropped the glass, and then fell. Then, when he hit the floor, the assailant made sure he wasn’t getting up again.’ Sands pointed over to the kitchen table where a SOCO was dusting a glass. ‘The killer’s drink?’
Gardner called over to the SOCO. ‘Fingerprints?’
The SOCO nodded. ‘Yes, ma’am.’
‘Great.’ She tried not to get too excited. In the past, she’d been involved in an investigation in which a victim had shared a drink with their killer. The victim’s fingerprints were on the glass because they’d provided the drink; the killer, however, had worn gloves.
Gardner looked up at Riddick. He had a glazed look in his eyes. It wasn’t the first time she’d noticed this. Sometimes, he looked alert, other times, like now, he looked as if he was off in his own world. More than likely this was grief, but the possibility of substance abuse suddenly darkened her mind.
‘Stay here and help, Paul; I’m going to make a few calls.’
‘Yes, boss.’
Outside, Gardner looked up into the bruised sky. She was surprised by how long it was holding out.
Tom Winters had looked a dead cert. The victims were all connected to the bullying of his deceased daughter, the opportunity due to his presence in the country had been there, the letters on the victim’s backs, potentially spelling her name…
And yet, it hadn’t been Tom Winters.
It couldn’t have been him because he’d been dead for two days.
So, if not Tom Winters, did that put them straight back in camp Neil?
She sighed.
Considering the glazed look again, she made her way straight to Riddick’s car. She looked over her shoulder and checked that no one was watching. Riding a sudden wave of adrenaline, she tried his door. He’d left it unlocked.
Quickly, before she was sighted by one of the forensic team, or worse still, Riddick himself, she scurried over the seats and popped open the glove compartment.
She pulled out the bottle of Sprite.
There was about a third left.
She unscrewed the lid and smelled it.
‘Shit.’
A large drop of rain smashed into the window screen.
* * *
Not wanting to confront Riddick about this just yet, Gardner simply informed him that she was going to notify Hannah Winters of Tom’s death.
‘You fancy her for it now?’ Riddick said. He looked nervous. ‘She’s been through enough, you know.’
There’s that hidden sensitive side making a rare appearance again.
‘Right now, with Richard missing, I fancy everyone. Best way. We can’t afford to miss anything.’
‘Let me come with you… I’m ready to see her again.’
Ready! You’re not ready for anything, Paul. Pissed is what you are!
‘No, I want you to stay here. One of us has to liaise with Marsh. I also need to ensure this forensic team swells – we need this house scoured top to bottom. Even if it means taking SOCOs off Neil’s house. There’s something here in Tom’s bungalow – I just know it.’
Gardner drove quickly to the Winters’ residence. The raindrops were getting bigger, and heavier, but were still sporadic. There was an almighty downpour on the horizon. Her mobile rang. It was Rice. She answered on the handsfree.
‘Phil, go on.’
‘Boss. We’ve got footage outside the primary school near the community centre. At quarter past six, Richard met with another boy. They did not head into the park. We’ve been unable to determine where they went next, but we do have an identification on the other boy. His name is Andrew Langsdale. He’s two years younger than Richard, and still attending school.
‘Address?’
Rice gave her the address. ‘And you may want to tread lightly with this one boss. He’s in care.’
‘I always tread lightly,’ Gardner said. ‘Once again, good work, Phil.’
‘Thanks, boss. And…’
‘Go on?’
‘Actually, it doesn’t matter.’
‘No, seriously, go on Phil!’
‘Sorry for being a prick that always speaks his mind.’
Gardner smiled. Seems I was wrong about you, and Marsh was right.
‘Sometimes, it’s best to speak your mind.’ And sorry for ever thinking you were the leak.
‘Thanks boss.’
‘Only sometimes, mind.’
‘Heard loud and clear.’
After ending the call to Rice, she contacted Barnett. ‘I need you to break the news to Hannah Winters about Tom.’
‘Okay, boss.’
‘Press for her movements over the last couple of days. We’re running out of people with motive, and we’ve no idea where Neil is. If she raises your eyebrow even a fraction, call me immediately.’
‘Will do, boss.’
Gardner hung up.
The situation felt desperate. The bodies were piling up, and they seemed to be bouncing from one suspect to another with no real joy.
She reached into her pocket for her tic tacs.
* * *
Expecting Andrew Langsdale to be in school, Gardner was taken aback when a young man answered the door.
She showed her badge. ‘Andrew Langsdale?’
‘Yes… Andy please.’ He pushed his lank hair back over one ear.
‘I’m DCI Emma Gardner; are either of your carers in?’
‘No,’ he said. ‘They’re both at work.’
She inwardly sighed. She had to be careful here.
She couldn’t go interviewing a minor without an adult or solicitor present. ‘That’s a shame, I really need to talk to them. No school today?’
‘Stomach’s off.’
Gardner nodded. ‘Know how that feels. Got a young daughter; she’s forever bringing home stomach bugs.’
Andy nodded.
‘Are you able to give me one of your carer’s numbers – save me time?’
‘Sure,’ Andy said, reaching into his pocket for his phone. ‘What’s this about anyway?’
‘Just need to talk to them. They’re not in trouble or anything.’
Andy held out his phone, so Gardner could see the number of Helen Tibbot. She wrote it down in her notebook.
She looked up at Andy; he had a pale face, a dusting of acne and an athletic look about him.
‘Is this about the Viaduct Killer?’ Andy asked.
Gardner slipped her notebook in her pocket. ‘Why do you ask?’
‘It’s all anyone ever talks about round here, and now the police are on my doorstep.’
‘There are a million and one other reasons I could be on your doorstep, Andy – I wouldn’t sweat it. What do you think about’ – Gardner made quotation marks with her fingers – ‘the Viaduct Killer?’
‘Well, my boyfriend reckons it’s all a lie.’
Gay, too, then. Could this boyfriend be Richard?
Gardner nodded.
‘He reckons that kids from different gangs are just clocking each other.’
Gardner nodded.
‘Is that true?’ Andy asked.
Gardner shrugged. ‘I can’t possibly comment.’ And I’ve been talking to a minor alone for far too long, here. ‘Look, I’m just going to make a phone call. Was nice talking to you Andy.’
Andy regarded her for a minute with a confused look and then closed the door.