‘That arsehole was playing with us, Ridpath.’
They were in his car, driving to Stretford nick. Emily had taken the tram into Strangeways that morning rather than drive.
‘He knows far more than he’s telling us.’
‘What did he say just before we left? “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better you lose one of your members than your whole body go into hell”. Was he telling us he committed the killings and put the hands in the backpack?’
‘But both Joseph Rowlands and Gerald Duffy were killed after he was jailed.’ Ridpath tapped the steering wheel. ‘Can you find out more about his arrest? Who was the female victim, and how was he caught?’
‘Already did it. Her name was Sian Carter, she ran away from home six months earlier. She’d been imprisoned on the farm but escaped one day, begging for help from a passer-by who called the police. Jones admitted doing it, pleading guilty to all charges.’
‘None of the other residents were involved?’
‘According to Jones, they knew nothing about it, but get this…’
‘What?’
‘Sian Carter withdrew her complaint, didn’t want to press charges.’
‘But CPS went ahead to charge him anyway?’
‘It was felt the offence was so serious they had to charge him. Plus, they had a full confession witnessed by the man’s solicitor.’
‘He could have retracted, claiming undue pressure.’
‘That’s the weird bit. He didn’t retract. He pled guilty and was sentenced.’
‘Strange. See if you can find out more.’ Ridpath stopped at a red light. ‘Why do I keep feeling we’re missing something? Every time we make an advance in this case, it seems to reveal more things we don’t know, like one of those bloody Russian dolls.’
‘Matryoshkas.’
‘What?’
‘Matryoshkas. It’s what the dolls are called. My foster mum used to collect them. For her, they represented the idea of a long line of women, each one giving birth to the next generation.’
‘Whatever. For me, it’s a long line of secrets, each one helping to hide the truth from us.’
‘Eventually we’ll get to the first doll.’
‘Eventually may be too late.’
They pulled up outside Stretford station. ‘How are you going to handle this?’
The newspaper with its article written by Molly Wright was lying between them, its headline shouting like a drunk on a Saturday night. THE HANDS CASE. MORE MISTAKES BY GMP? Ridpath had noticed a copy on the guard’s table as they were leaving Strangeways. The guard had been happy to get rid of it.
‘Like I always do. With a six-foot pole, wearing a hazmat suit and three pairs of gloves.’
‘It might not be enough.’ She picked up the paper. ‘You realise we are being thrown under the bus. What does it say here… “A source within Greater Manchester Police has revealed that due to the inefficiencies in the initial investigation by some officers, GMP will need more senior involvement in the case moving forward. The discovery of the hands in the backpack may indicate a much larger and more detailed investigation is needed than had previously been planned. There may even be the possible involvement of an unknown serial killer in Manchester. It is believed the recent disappearance of a social worker, Ms Patricia Patterson, could also be linked to the case. ‘We may have a serial killer on the loose,’ said the source, ‘one that is preying on vulnerable woman linked to the Daisy House Children’s Home’.”’
Ridpath frowned. ‘Holloway will be furious. He was hoping this would go away quietly. Looks like somebody planted this story.’
‘Who? Claire Trent, Turnbull, or was it Holloway himself? A great way to get more resource if it was him.’
‘Listen, Em, we’ll let the higher-ups play their games. We need to concentrate on solving this case. Nothing else matters. Clear?’
‘As mud, Ridpath.’
‘Come on. Let’s go and find out what the others have dug up. We’re close, Em, I know we’re close.’