Broken Silence (32 page)

‘No!’ Ellison yelled. ‘No!’ He stared at Brady with wild desperation.

‘Why would I do that terrible thing to her face? She meant nothing to me. I wanted to end the relationship for fuck’s sake!’ Ellison retaliated.

‘Exactly,’ Brady answered evenly. ‘The attack on her face was such an act of fury that it could only have been committed by someone emotionally involved with the victim. Someone who had a motive to want her dead.’

Ellison shook his head, his bright, blue eyes fiercely rejecting what Brady had said.

‘You see, a stranger would have just murdered Sophie and then left,’ Brady quietly explained, shaking his head. ‘But you were still filled with anger and hatred at what she had threatened to do to you. After all, she had threatened to take everything you’d worked so hard for from you, sir,’ Brady stated. ‘Your band is all you’re interested in. Being a teacher pays the bills, but what you really want to do is make it big in the music business. What would have
happened to your music career if word got out that you were having a sexual relationship with your fifteen-year-old student? One that you had tired of. Wouldn’t exactly be a great PR stunt, now would it?’

Brady turned and nodded at Conrad to signal the close of the interview.

‘You bastard! This has got nothing to do with Sophie!’ Ellison shouted as he stood up. ‘You’re trying to set me up. Don’t think I don’t know what’s going on. This has more to do with me spending the night with your girlfriend!’ Ellison asserted as he aggressively shoved the table at Brady.

Brady didn’t react. He was too aware of the fact that Claudia was taking note.

Not to mention Conrad.

‘I saw the way you looked at her when she was talking to me. Couldn’t handle the fact that she moved on to me? She told me all about the other night. Fuck! You’re old enough to be her dad, you sick bastard!’

Brady instinctively clenched his fists.

‘It’s not my private life that’s under scrutiny here,’ Brady stated.

‘Yeah? Well it bloody should be!’

He saw Conrad motion to the officer by the door to get help to remove Ellison.

The officer did as he was instructed and left.

‘What’s wrong? You don’t want your colleagues knowing that their boss likes to shag seventeen-year-old girls? Is that it?’ Ellison demanded of Conrad.

‘You know something? You’re not that different from me! You can pretend you’re better than me. But you and I, we’re very alike!’ Ellison stated with bitter satisfaction. ‘And just
for the record, your girlfriend was a really good shag. But then, you’d know that, wouldn’t you?’

Brady felt as if he had been punched in the abdomen. He could feel the nausea rising to the back of his throat. He couldn’t look at Ellison, let alone Conrad. And he certainly couldn’t bring himself to look at Claudia. He could feel her burning green eyes weighing him up for the low-life he had become. He couldn’t even face himself without a Scotch.

‘I’m sorry you heard that,’ he muttered in Claudia’s direction as he turned and walked out.

‘Call yourself a copper? You’re a fucking hypocrite, that’s what you are!’ Ellison shouted after him. ‘You’re the one who needs locking up! Not me!’

Brady heard Conrad use some choice words directed at Ellison. He couldn’t look at the two officers who had returned to handle Ellison. He just kept his head down and headed back to his office. Sure, he’d nailed him, but at what price? If there had been any chance of Claudia taking him back Ellison had ruined it. Or if he was honest, he had ruined it. No one else. He swallowed back the pain as he thought of what he’d lost, again.

Brady looked up from his desk distractedly.

‘Good job, Jack,’ Gates congratulated as he stood in the doorway.

‘Thank you, sir,’ replied Brady, accepting that there was a first time for everything.

‘I’m surprised that you’re not with the others,’ Gates said, frowning.

Brady shrugged. ‘Six months of paperwork,’ he lamely offered.

That and he wanted to make sure he kept out of the way of Claudia. He hadn’t seen her since Ellison’s arrest and decided it was best left that way; at least until things had cooled down.

Gates accepted his excuse. Brady knew he had other things on his mind. He had a press conference to attend at headquarters. An arrest had been made and the public had to be told. Conrad had been invited to accompany Gates. Brady was pleased for him. He deserved it. And he looked the part, more than Brady ever would.

‘Make sure you join them. You should be there. It’s just after nine, so I reckon you should be calling it a day, don’t you?’ Gates added firmly before closing the door.

Brady presumed it was Gates’ guilty conscience kicking in. That was, if he had one. It should have been Brady sat with Gates during the press conference; he was after all Gates’ next-in-command, not Conrad.

Brady had left the rest of the team congratulating one another in the Incident Room. Soon they would be moving on to The Fat Ox where they would no doubt get hammered. Brady wasn’t sure if he was in the mood for joining them; he still felt uneasy about Matthews. And then there was Claudia.

He picked up the note Harvey had left on his desk. Harvey’s barely legible scribble gave the name of the taxi driver and the cab company that had picked Sophie up from The Beacon. Brady fingered the yellow square of paper. Harvey had already talked to the driver. All he remembered was dropping Sophie off in the centre of Whitley Bay. From there she could have wandered into any number of the crass pubs that lined the seaside resort’s streets. The Bedroom pub in the middle of the small town might have been the first stop; aptly named for the scum that drank there. Ironically, once legless, they would end up shagging whatever came their way, but it wouldn’t be in the comfort of a bedroom. A back lane or the beach would do; regardless of the freezing North East conditions.

Brady had already flagged up with Gates that they didn’t know what Sophie had gotten up to in Whitley Bay before she had met up again with Ellison. But Gates wasn’t that bothered, he was more interested in how she had ended the night in Ellison’s hands; literally. Gates had reminded Brady that the investigation was officially closed. Ellison had been arrested; end of story. Again, it was about meeting targets for Gates and an arrest was money in the bank. His performance-related pay guaranteed that.

But it didn’t rest easy with Brady. Ellison’s insistence that he hadn’t murdered her disturbed him. Then again, Brady mused, how often did criminals insist they were innocent, even when caught with blood on their hands?

Brady contemplated what his next move should be. There was still a piece missing from the jigsaw, whether or not it mattered any more was irrelevant. Brady presumed it was the copper in him. He didn’t like loose ends. If he was honest, what he really wanted was to get rid of the niggling doubt he had about Matthews. He still couldn’t get hold of him. He had left God knows how many phone messages on his mobile. He had at least expected him to return his last call. But Matthews hadn’t, despite the news that Ellison had been charged with Sophie Washington’s murder.

Brady sighed wearily as he scrunched the paper up and threw it into the wastepaper bin.

Gates was right; it was over.

He pulled out his phone and before he had a chance to think about it, he made the call.

‘It’s me,’ he said.

‘I’ve got nothing to say,’ Claudia answered.

Brady could hear glasses clinking in the background.

‘Where are you?’ he asked.

‘That’s not your concern, not any more,’ she coldly answered.

Brady heard a man’s voice talking to her. He realised it was Michael Travers. Bastard, thought Brady.

‘Claudia?’ he attempted again.

‘Not now, Jack. This isn’t a good time,’ she replied, cutting him off.

‘I bet it’s not.’

‘Meaning?’ asked Claudia.

‘Nothing … Look, forget I rang, OK?’ Brady said.

‘Bye Jack.’

He heard Michael Travers’ distinctive laugh before she disconnected the call.

Brady stood alone at the bar and looked on as the team got hammered. He still couldn’t place all the faces; not that it mattered. After today everyone who had been called in to help with the investigation would be returning to their own Area Commands, including DS Adamson.

‘Not joining us?’ Harvey asked as he came up to the bar.

‘No. Don’t really feel up to it,’ Brady answered.

‘Matthews still bothering you?’ Harvey asked as he placed his empty glass down. He signalled to the barmaid. ‘Same again, pet. And one for Jack.’

She nodded and began pouring the pints.

Brady turned and faced Harvey.

‘I need to find him, Tom.’

‘All I know is what I’ve already told you,’ Harvey answered. He shrugged apologetically. ‘I’m not certain, but she might have said she lived in North Shields, if that’s any help.’

Brady shrugged. It didn’t help; North Shields was a big place.

‘What?’ Harvey questioned.

‘I just want to make sure Jimmy’s all right. I heard some talk that Madley’s after him. So … you understand,’ Brady replied.

‘Shit! Why didn’t you say before?’

‘Because Jimmy didn’t want anyone to know. He thought he could handle it himself,’ Brady answered.

Harvey shook his head.

‘Fuck, I had no idea that Jimmy had pissed Madley off. What’s the stupid sod done?’

‘I wish I knew,’ replied Brady.

He picked up his pint and drained it as he thought it over. He was tired. Too tired to think straight. What he needed was a good few drinks and then at least twelve hours’ sleep. After that everything would seem clearer.

‘Listen, keep it quiet, yeah? I’m sure Jimmy’s fine. He can handle himself, even against the likes of Madley. Anyway, what’s Madley going to do to him, eh? He’s a copper for fuck’s sake!’

Harvey nodded.

‘Yeah, you’re right. Bloody Jimmy though. Silly bugger. Knowing him he’s shagged Madley’s girlfriend or something. You know what a daft sod he is where women are concerned!’

Brady smiled and shook his head. ‘Can’t disagree with you there, Tom.’

‘You sure you don’t want to join us?’ asked Harvey.

‘Maybe later? I just need some time on my own.’

Brady watched as Harvey joined the rest of the team. He knew he had done the right thing by keeping away. Especially since Adamson was sat with them. But he wasn’t just sat with them, he had his arm around Fielding, the young SOCO he’d met the other day at the crime scene. He’d seen her when he’d walked in earlier, and since then, like the rest of them she had got more and more drunk. She had somehow ended up with Adamson draped over her.

He looked up to see why Harvey and the rest were shouting and cheering as Fielding slapped Adamson. Brady was certain Adamson had it coming, but he knew the type
of guy he was, and he wouldn’t take that kind of humiliation from a woman lying down. The cheering and whooping continued as Fielding moved away from Adamson and sat down with some other female colleagues. If the bar staff hadn’t known they were coppers, Brady was sure they would have been told to get out.

Brady just wanted to keep his head down and just finish the day. He remained hunched over a couple more pints. It was only when he saw Adamson making his way to the toilets that he decided he’d order his fourth pint after he’d had a few private words with the sleaze ball.

He pushed his way into the toilets and saw Adamson with his back to him, relieving himself at the urinal. Brady leaned against the door, blocking anyone from coming in.

Finished, Adamson zipped up his trousers and turned around.

‘What the fuck do you want?’ he snapped irritably when he saw Brady.

Brady gave him a relaxed smile.

‘That’s no way to talk to a senior officer,’ he answered.

‘Yeah? Well the investigation’s closed and as of Monday I’m back at North Shields. So you can go fuck yourself!’

‘She really got to you, didn’t she?’ laughed Brady.

‘Fielding’s just a fucking tease. The bitch better be careful because one day she’ll go too far,’ threatened Adamson.

Brady resisted the urge to floor him there and then, realising it wouldn’t be a great way to end the investigation.

‘And that would be you who would teach her a lesson I take it?’ asked Brady.

‘Did I say that?’ answered Adamson.

‘You didn’t have to,’ replied Brady.

‘Fuck you!’ cursed Adamson as he tried to push past Brady.

Brady shoved him back.

‘What the fuck’s got into you? I just want to finish having a drink with the lads, all right?’

Brady realised he had Adamson worried.

‘Word of warning, watch your back!’

‘What? Are you threatening me?’

Brady shook his head.

‘No, that’s a threat from Trina McGuire. Remember the stripper from the Hole whose mouth you tried to shove round your cock?’ Brady stated.

Adamson looked surprised, but quickly composed himself.

‘She was gagging for it, the bitch. If it hadn’t been for Jenkins then no one would have been the wiser,’ Adamson replied, clearly pissed off that Jenkins had told Brady.

‘Anyway, what’s your problem? Wanted some of her yourself?’

Brady slowly smiled at him.

‘Just watch your back, Adamson. If you ever go near her again, it’ll be me you’re dealing with. Same applies to Fielding. I hear of anything happening to her and you’ll find that you’ll never be able to play with that limp dick of yours again,’ Brady warned.

‘Fuck you!’ swore Adamson as Brady moved out of the way to let him pass.

Brady headed back to the bar to order that fourth pint. But when he saw Conrad coming through the pub’s doors with Jenkins, he decided he’d had enough. It was time to leave. He wasn’t in the mood for talking, especially to a shrink. And one that he found too damned attractive for
his own good. He couldn’t trust himself to continue drinking with her, not after what had nearly happened in his office. It was better to leave and avoid the awkward small talk.

He looked over at Harvey and the rest of the team and considered going over and letting them know he was off, but then decided the better of it. They wouldn’t notice either way; too busy swapping complaints and anecdotes about their seniors – Brady included.