Outside, I took huge gulps of the fresh air, and then rang Steve Harrison on the mobile. Connie wasn’t due out of college for another hour or so and I wanted to ensure she didn’t have to witness yet another horror scene. I heard him gasp when I broke the news about Sheila. Then he asked me what they should do and how long I wanted them to stay away. The truth was I was damned if I knew, except it didn’t seem right that anyone should be asked to stay in that house for even one more night. So I told him to stay where he was with Connie, and said I would come and collect them presently – my car was still in the street from almost a week ago.
Next I rang Paul Simmons. He remained silent as I relayed the details of the tragedy to him. Like all of us, I don’t think he knew what to say. What can you say when you hear that someone you’re very close to has just been murdered?
Finally, Paul said, “I’m sorry, Angie; I’m too stunned to take it in. All I can think of right now is that her family’s got to be told. I once met her mother… and I believe she has a younger brother.”
“I’ll tell them, if you like, Paul.”
“No. Thanks. It’s better coming from me. I was the closest to her.” He was quiet for a moment; then he continued: “Where will Connie go now? She can’t possibly stay in that house again. I’ll have to give it some thought, won’t I?”
“I thought I’d take her home with me, Paul – if that’s alright with you?”
“Yes; of course. Good idea - if you’re sure you don’t mind. At least till I can sort out some alternative arrangements for her.” He paused again. “I’m sorry, Angie, I’m too distraught to deal with anything just now. It’s such a shock. Is it okay if I ring you later?”
I assured him it would be and then broke the connection.
I was numb. I felt I had suffered a week of successive shocks, each one impacting with greater ferocity than the previous one. I wasn’t sure I could take any further traumas. And yet, I told myself, here was I being totally selfish, having departed from a burial site containing the bodies of 11 little girls and having seen the results of the same monster at work on my friend. It was not a time for self-pity. There were debts to be repaid. Justice was essential if I was to wipe out the memory of these atrocities, and find any kind of peace for the poor victims.
I shook myself out of it and went to find Jim to let him know what I was planning to do about Connie’s accommodation. He was following the paramedics out from the house; they were carrying Sheila’s body on a stretcher.
“How did he gain entry?” I asked.
“She let him in. Whether she knew him, or whether he was wearing some convincing disguise, as he did that day at the playground, we’ll probably never know. One thing I am sure of, he didn’t have to break-in; Sheila opened the door for him. My guess is she was taken in by his disguise; otherwise she wouldn’t even have opened the door, much less let him in. And he must have got rid of whatever outfit he was wearing before leaving the house, otherwise his clothing would be covered in blood.”
I couldn’t believe it. “You’re saying she invited him in to murder her?”
He shrugged angrily. “Yes. You could put it that way. Let’s hope forensics can tell us more.”
I went on to put him in the picture about Connie, but he was short with me and insisted on interrupting.
“Ange; listen to me. Your flat won’t be any safer than this place – less so, if you think about it seriously for a moment. Look what we did here. We installed a state-of-the-art alarm unit, coupled to a 24-hour personal protection arrangement for Connie, as well as through the night regular patrols. And it was all useless. He still gained access and murdered Sheila.
“You don’t even have a functional alarm system at your place, and the security in the building is nothing short of woeful. No, I’m sorry. I’m not having you expose yourselves any further.”
“So what do you suggest, Jim? A cosy cell for us both?” I said sarcastically. Then I quickly rethought what he had said: and of course he was right. Any petty burglar could gain entry to my flat with probably just a piece of wire. What I was suggesting was unacceptably risky. “Sorry,” I added quickly. “That was uncalled for. So, you must a better idea, yeah? Want to tell me about it?”
He glared at me initially and then softened at my apology. He let out one of his deep sighs that seemed to start in his stomach. “As a matter of fact I do. We have two alternatives. One, we have a couple of safe houses; they’re secure and very well protected – they have to be. The only problem is that they’re outside our immediate jurisdiction; they come under the National Crime Squad, so we’d lose any personal involvement in Connie’s future situation. I don’t know whether we are prepared to accept that – aside from which, they’re quite a distance away.”
“What’s the second alternative, Jim?” I asked cryptically.
He looked at me, pure innocence shining from his hazel eyes. “My apartment.” He quickly held out a hand before I could say anything. “Just listen to my reasoning, will you? For a start, I have got an alarm system that’s way better than the one at yours. The flat’s on the third floor, making access extremely difficult, and the building already has 24-hour security, with CCTV and a direct link to the station. Anyone who comes near the building is immediately caught on camera. We didn’t have that here remember? ...The Super said we couldn’t afford it.
“Also, it’s a large apartment; as you know, I’ve got three bedrooms – well, two and a half anyway. My idea is that we install the young WPC – the one who’s on duty here – for night supervision; she can share one of the bedrooms with Connie. Then, you can take the master bedroom while I move into the box room.” He grinned. “There; how does that sound?”
“I’m not altogether sure just who we need protection from: the psychopath or you! Anyway, I can’t think of a better alternative, and you’re right about my flat; even I could break into that. So,” (I held my hands out in surrender) “I agree. But, of course, I’ll have to ask Connie; I can’t make the decision for her. And Jim – thank you.”
And I meant it. He might well have some personal and ulterior motive, but he would be giving up his privacy, and I was grateful. I knew also that Connie would agree, providing I was with her; she would, in addition, be comforted by Steve Harrison’s presence during daylight hours. I did remember one thing, though, that I had overlooked.
“What about Connie’s college arrangements, Jim? It’s a hell of a way from your place.”
He studied the problem for a few moments, scratching his chin for inspiration. “No,” he said finally. “Definitely no college. Connie’s effectively under ‘house arrest’ for the duration – a kind of protective custody, if you like. That means all present routines are cancelled until this business is over. Not just college – everything you and she usually do on a day-to-day basis: shopping – change your supermarket; hairdressers –do your own; paper shop –change your habit. Anything – and I do mean anything – you would do regularly, think before you do it.”
“That’s a bit harsh, isn’t it? And, surely, you’re not suggesting I’m under house arrest too, are you?”
He laughed at that. “No, but it wouldn’t half give me a lot of pleasure. And it’s only harsh if you want to carry on underestimating this arsehole. After today” (he pointed towards the house) “we do not give him another opportunity to establish a consistent pattern of behaviour for either of you. Whenever you’re outdoors you both become unpredictable. We have to frustrate him into committing an impulsive act – a serious mistake. And it has to be something he can’t plan. I still believe that’s how we’re going to catch him. Understood, Ange?”
I nodded, still sick to my stomach at what had happened. “Yes. Acknowledged. Now, if it’s okay with you, Jim, I have to contact young Harrison; he’ll be at the college waiting to hear from me. What do I tell Connie about… you know... Sheila?”
“As little as possible for now Does Harrison know where my apartment is?”
“Well, if he doesn’t I can soon tell him.”
“Good.” He handed me some keys. “Arrange for a copy of these to be made on your way back. And tell Harrison he’s to meet you at the flat with Connie. Tell him to suggest it’s because I want to talk to her. I’ve got one or two things to clear up here first, but I’m putting Frank in charge of the local enquires, so I’ll join you shortly.”
Frank was doing his best to persuade a TV company to leave the scene as I departed. I wondered just how the hell they had got onto it so quickly, until I realised they were obviously monitoring the police wavebands. That was another little nugget that I stored at the back of my mind.