Death on High (The Lakeland Murders) (9 page)

Hall had no idea why Robinson felt the need to be oblique. They were alone.

‘Yes. We had a chat with Ed Willis, Tony’s partner.’

‘We?’

‘Yes, me and Jane Francis.’

‘Was that wise?’

‘You know the rules as well as I do sir. We’d have nothing admissable otherwise.’

‘So you think there’s something in it?’

‘I think there’s a very small chance that a very serious offence has been committed. But until I’m absolutely certain that there hasn’t been then I would prefer to proceed as normal.’

‘And Jane Francis is trustworthy? Not a gossip?’

‘Ian Mann gossips more than Jane does. She didn’t even know that those two PCSOs had got together, the ones who had that civil partnership last year.’

Robinson looked uncomfortable. ‘I didn’t know about it either.’

‘They put a notice up sir, inviting everyone to a party. I think there was an email too.’

Robinson smiled weakly. ‘OK Andy, point taken. So what next? Is there even a next?’

Hall took his time before answering. ‘I’m not sure. The only two things that Willis said that are even remotely indicative of anything at all are first that Tony didn’t like heights, and second that Willis had Tony well insured.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes, you know, key man stuff. I’m sure it’s common enough in small professional services firms, because if one senior person goes under a bus then the rest are,’ Hall hesitated for a moment, searching for a suitably unsweary term, ‘in trouble.’

‘I see that. So what about this issue with heights? If he didn’t like them then what was he doing right out on the edge?’

‘Vicky says he insisted they follow that path, but of course it’s always possible that it was her idea.’

‘So you’ll talk to her again?’

‘Yes, sir, I will. There are a couple of things I’d like to chat to her about actually.’

‘Fine.’ Robinson seemed distracted. ‘And Willis didn’t say anything else of interest?’ Hall shook his head. ‘OK Andy, go and talk to Vicky again by all means. But will you do me a favour and go on your own this time?’

Back in his office Hall made a note to call Vicky Harrison, but something didn’t feel right. He called Jane in and told her what Robinson had said.

‘So do you want me to come along when you talk to her again?’

‘No, I’ll do as he asks, but I wanted you to know. Would you do me a favour and note this conversation in your notebook, and ask Ray to sign it for you? And when you’ve done that, would you ask him to pop in?’

Jane was curious, but Hall didn’t seem to want to discuss it further.

Ray Dixon came in, bringing a couple of case files, and he and Hall went through them together. One, an aggravated burglary, was just about to go to trial, and Hall said he thought they’d got a good chance. ‘But it was Ian I really wanted to talk about Ray, see if you’ve got any bright ideas. He’s really struggling to get close to Spedding and his mates. They’re on nodding terms, but that’s about it apparently.’

‘Maybe Spedding just isn’t the friendly type’ said Dixon.

‘Or maybe he’s already got all the manpower he needs, and isn’t recruiting.’

‘That’d be favourite, I agree. Spedding is a working criminal, so he must have no end of brain-dead muscle available.’

Hall smiled. ‘I hope you’re not putting Ian in that category.’

‘You know what I mean, boss. We need to show Spedding that Ian can offer him something useful. Something he can’t get any other way.’

Hall thought about what Ray had said. ‘I agree. We’d need it to be relevant, whatever it is, and motivating with it. We’d also need to think of a way to let Spedding know about it that was subtle enough to look accidental, but obvious enough to be unmistakable.’

‘So we need to work out the ‘what’ and the ‘how’.’

‘Exactly, so let’s it break it down into those two aspects. Maybe the ‘what’ is some kind of knocked-off equipment that would be useful to Spedding.’

‘But what? We don’t know what he already has access to, or what he might need. I can’t see that working.’ They both sat quietly, thinking about the problem. ‘I know boss, how about this. You need paperwork when you move sheep, right? There’s a DEFRA form that ties back to the tags in the sheep’s ears, and the same for cows. Now when Spedding and his crew have lifted someone’s stock they must have to move it for slaughter, because they can’t do it locally, so those documents would be useful. They wouldn’t stand up to very close scrutiny, but they’d probably be useful at a stop and check. Just so long as no-one went back and looked at the database.’

Hall banged the flat of his hand down on the table. ‘Ray, you are a genius.’

‘Can I have that in writing boss?’

‘Tell you what, if we can develop this idea properly you can take the whole weekend off.’

‘But I’m off this weekend anyway.’

‘I didn’t make the rules, Ray. Now, assuming that we can persuade our local DEFRA bods to hand over some forms, how do we make Spedding aware that Ian has got them?’

Dixon had a nasty feeling that this was a strictly rhetorical question, and he was right. Hall looked at Dixon, smiled, and pointed at him.

‘Oh no boss, you’re not going to make me go up there are you? My mum doesn’t like me going into pubs, especially in Carlisle.’

‘She’s a wise woman Ray, but that’s exactly what you’re going to do. The local DEFRA lot were very keen to support us when we set this unit up, so let’s see them get behind it now. You can be our man from DEFRA. We’ll need a name badge with your name on it, a DEFRA email address, and their switchboard will need to put any calls for you through to someone. If I was Spedding I’d check you out. But basically the plan is that you meet Ian in the pub, when Spedding is there, and hand over the forms.’

‘Hang on a minute boss, let’s think this through. What does Ian want with movement paperwork for sheep? We’re not pretending he’s a freelance sheep rustler now, are we? I know he’s been down on the farm with Brockbank, but Ian’s a right townie really.’

Hall thought about what Dixon had said.

‘You’re right, Ray, and I agree we mustn’t stretch Ian’s acting skills too far. OK, how about this then? You hand over the forms as planned, and if Spedding doesn’t approach Ian then he’ll have to go to Spedding. He’ll have to say that he’s heard that Spedding might have a use for what he’s got.’

‘Risky, but I could see that. So what does Ian want in return?’

‘A chance to join Spedding’s team. He doesn’t want money. He wants to work.’

Dixon didn’t look convinced. ‘Would Spedding buy that old bollocks?’

‘Maybe not, and if he’s got half a brain he’ll contact DEFRA to check if you’re real. But we’ll have that covered, like I said. He won’t walk in to the office, so he’ll probably just phone and ask for you. They’ll take a message, and if he leaves a number you’ll phone back and say that your arrangement is with Mann, and that if Spedding calls again it’s all off. How does that sound?’

‘Passable, boss. But why should I help a scum-bag like Gary, if I’m a DEFRA pen-pusher?’

‘I don’t know. Maybe Ian has something on you.’

‘Blackmail? Spedding might buy it I suppose.’ Dixon didn’t look convinced himself. ‘You want me to start setting it up?’

‘No, take a ride up to Carlisle today, talk it through with Ian at the house, then go for a drink in the pub. Maybe Spedding and his boys will clock you. And if Ian goes for it, then get it set up for next week if you can. But run all the details past me, I need to be sure that DEFRA understand that we’ll have an officer in harm’s way, so we can’t afford any cock-ups.’

‘So you’re saying that you want me to drive up to Carlisle, go for a drink with my old mate Ian, and it’s all on expenses?’ Dixon looked a lot more cheerful.

‘It really is your lucky day Ray. Now get on your way. I’ve got a call to make and I’m not looking forward to it.’

Hall had arranged to meet Vicky Hamilton in a wine bar in town at seven. ‘I usually take my team out for a glass of wine after work on a Friday, and they’ll all be away by about then’ she’d said. That gave Hall time to spend an hour at home after work, and make some food for the children. He ate with them, and he asked them to clear up after him.

‘I have to go out for an hour. I’m meeting someone at the wine bar, but my mobile will be on if you need me.’

‘A hot date is it dad?’ asked Alice.

‘Hardly, it’s work. Something I need to follow up.’

‘If you say so’ said Alice, laughing. ‘We wouldn’t mind you know dad, would we Lizzie?’

‘Wouldn’t mind what?’

‘If you had a girlfriend.’

‘I’m a bit old for a girlfriend, don’t you think?’

‘No way.’

‘Yes, way. Anyway, can I leave you two to it? I’d better go and put on my cravat and smoking jacket.’

‘What’s a cravat?’ asked Lizzie.

‘And what’s a smoking jacket?’ said Alice.

Hall was early, as usual, so he went to the ATM and took out some cash. He was on foot, and fully intended to have a glass of wine. It was Friday night after all. As he walked down the paved yard he could smell the faint scent of the snuff factory a hundred yards ahead, and beyond the wine bar. Hall had never smoked, and the thought of taking snuff turned his stomach, but there was something warm and reassuring about that smell. He realised, for the first time, that it smelled of home.

Hall came in to the wine bar from the back entrance, and had a look to see if he could see Vicky and her colleagues. There was a kind of mezzanine level with a few candlelit tables, and he could just see Vicky, sitting chatting with a man and a woman.

He walked to the bar, and said hello to the owner. They’d met a few times at official events.

‘Can I have a bottle of whatever Mrs. Harrison and her party are drinking? And a couple of glasses please?’

Hall thought that the manager smiled as he turned away to get the bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc that they’d been drinking. Hall was just paying for the wine when he saw Vicky’s two colleagues leaving by the front entrance, so he headed straight upstairs.

‘That’s good timing’ she said, ‘I thought the last couple would never leave tonight. But it was my first night out since it happened, and I pay for the wine, so...’ she tailed off. ‘But it looks as if you’ve come equipped.’ She pointed at the cooler that Hall had cradled under his arm. ‘You can tell a lot about a man from the wine he chooses.’

Hall put the cooler and the glasses down on the table, and pulled the bottle half way out, showing Vicky the label. ‘So what conclusions do you draw from this?’

She laughed. ‘You asked the barman what we were drinking?’

‘Correct.’ He poured two glasses of wine.  They clinked glasses and both took a sip. The wine was good. Since his wife had moved out Hall had cut right back, from a glass or two most nights to a glass or two a week, so he told himself to be careful.

They chatted for a while about Vicky’s work, and about Hall’s. With every minute that passed he became more comfortable in his original judgement of her. She wasn’t remotely nervous being around a policeman. And he was pleased about that.

‘So to what do I owe the pleasure, Andy?’

‘I just wanted to bring you up to date, and to ask you about a couple of things.’

‘Fire away. Another couple of glasses of this and you’ll get no sense out of me at all.’

Hall put his glass down. He knew what she meant, and he wasn’t even drinking on an empty stomach.

‘We had a chat with Ed, Tony’s partner.’

‘Oh yes, what did he have to say?’

‘He said that he was surprised Tony suffered a fall. He reckoned that he didn’t like heights.’

‘He didn’t’ said Vicky immediately. ‘He wasn’t phobic or anything like that, and at work he sometimes had to go up scaffolding and stuff, but he certainly tried to keep away from that sort of thing.’

‘So doesn’t it strike you as out of character that he wanted to follow the path that’s so close to the edge? There’s another one that’s a few yards further away, and which would still get the views down the valley.’

‘Not really. Like I say, he wasn’t phobic, and it was man-made structures that made him feel a bit strange. He was OK on hills and mountains.’

‘So have you walked the Lakeland routes like Striding Edge and Sharp Edge?’

‘Years ago, yes, I think we’ve done both. And before our son was born we often used to go walking in the Alps, and some of those routes are very high.’

‘So you weren’t surprised that he wanted to walk along the edge that day?’

‘Surprised? Perhaps a bit. But it wasn’t something that struck me at the time.’ She took a sip from her drink, then looked back across the top of the half-burned candle at Hall. ‘You’re not wondering if he killed himself, are you?’

‘What makes you say that?’

‘Well, because you keep asking about why he wanted to walk on the edge. Maybe you think that he wanted to claim on their key man insurance, if he was injured.’

‘Are there money problems in his business?’

‘We do the books for his partnership, and things weren’t great. Both Tony and Ed were hardly taking anything out of the business, and hadn’t done for three or four years. We’re OK, because my firm is doing quite well, but Ed’s the sole breadwinner in his house, so he must have been struggling.’

‘Did Tony ever say that?’

‘Hinted maybe, that’s all.’

Hall thought about what she’d said.

‘Do you really think that Tony could have deliberately fallen, and taken that huge risk, in order to get an insurance payout that only his partner would really benefit from?’

‘No, of course not. But I thought you might though.’

Hall shook his head. ‘While we’re on the subject of insurance, will you benefit from any policies yourself?’

‘Yes. The mortgage will be paid off, what’s left of it, and there’s another policy as well.’

‘Do you know the total sum insured?’

‘Yes, it’s quite modest. A hundred thousand pounds. We took it out when our son was born, in case one of us had to bring him up alone. It only had about three months to run in fact. I can get you the details if you want them.’

Hall said that wouldn’t be necessary. She hadn’t tensed up while talking about the cash, or looked in any way embarrassed. And from her perspective maybe a hundred grand wasn’t really that much.

‘That’s pretty much it’ he said, ‘but before we kill this bottle there was something else I wanted to run past you.’

‘Whatever you want.’

‘Were you aware that Tony had been talking to a colleague of mine, Eric Robinson, about a project of some kind?’

For the first time Vicky looked surprised. ‘That sanctimonious old fart? Sorry, that’s the wine talking. He’s your boss isn’t he?’

‘Yes, but don’t worry about it. Did Tony talk about it at all?’

‘No, it’s the first I’ve heard of it. But it doesn’t surprise me. At that church they all stick together. I expect it’s like the Masons?’

Hall smiled. ‘I wouldn’t know.’

‘No, you don’t look like the type.’ She paused. ‘Sorry I couldn’t be of any more help. But are you off duty now?’

‘Absolutely. You ask the questions if you like.’

‘Are you married?’

Hall was slightly taken aback.

‘Yes, well sort of. I’m getting divorced. My wife left a couple of months back.’

‘At Christmas time? That must have been rough.’

‘It was, especially for my kids.’

‘Are they living with her?’

‘No, with me.’

‘Really? Well that means you’re only one step down from a widower.’

‘Pardon me?’

Vicky laughed. ‘A friend of mine said that after a widower, the next most attractive man of a certain age is one who’s bringing up the kids on his own. It’s kind of heroic.’

Hall laughed. ‘It certainly doesn’t feel it. But I’m still getting used to my new situation, I’ll be honest.’

Vicky Harrison took a sip of her drink. ‘I can see that Andy. Let’s try an easier one then. Why did you become a policeman? I’m no expert, but you seem a bit posh, to be honest.’

‘I’m not posh, my dad worked in a bank for forty years. I sometimes wonder why I joined myself. But while I was at college I became a Special, like a volunteer, and when it was time to apply for jobs, towards the end of my last year, I found myself wanting to join the Police. My parents hated the idea, so I told them that I’d applied for all the usual graduate stuff that was around in those days and that the only thing I’d been offered was the Police.’

‘Was that true?’

‘I’m ashamed to say it wasn’t. I just couldn’t face the thought of joining ICI or Ford, so I never sent in the application forms.’

‘You rebel.’

‘Hardly, I became a copper remember. Believe me, it’s no place for a free spirit. And I’ll admit, for the first couple of years I wondered if I’d made a mistake, but when I got into CID, and especially when we came up here, then I knew I’d made a good decision. I really liked the work. As it turns out I probably liked it a bit too much.’

‘You think that’s why your marriage broke down?’

‘A contributory factor, certainly. I get consumed by cases, absorbed by them. I honestly can’t remember very much about my younger daughter growing up at all. I really regret that.’

Hall realised he’d been talking too much. ‘So how about you then Vicky? How’s your work-life balance?’

She smiled. ‘Well, better now.’

‘How so?’ Hall regretted the words as soon as he said them.

‘Well my husband is dead, and my son is away at uni, so I can work as much as I want. I know I sound like a broken record, but women of our generation had it tough. They were expected to hold down jobs, good jobs, and be the kind of domestic goddesses that their mothers were. It was exhausting, let me tell you.’

Hall nodded. He’d been thinking much the same about his own wife. He didn’t know what to say next, but Vicky did. ‘Anyway Andy, how about another bottle?’

Monday, 25th February

At nine in the morning Ian Mann was reading up on the livestock movement regulations when an email dropped into his inbox from Ben Brockbank. ‘You on for a job tonight? Pick me up in the square at Brampton at eleven if so. Let me know.’

Mann phoned Andy Hall immediately. ‘Ben has bitten. We’re on for tonight.’

‘That was quick. What did he say?’

‘Not much. I’m to pick him up in the square in Brampton at eleven.’

‘How do you want to play it? Do you want us to have eyes on?’

‘I’m sure there’s CCTV, so that should do. I’m not at any risk.’

‘So you want to go ahead, and just do what he tells you?’

‘As long as it’s within the permitted range, then yes. My guess is that he’s trying me out on something small tonight. He’s not stupid, isn’t Ben.’

‘So you keep saying. All right I’ll alert Robinson and Val Gorham, but unless you hear from me again assume that you’re on. You’re looking forward to this Ian, aren’t you?’

Mann laughed. ‘Come on Andy, don’t tell me you haven’t fantasised about being one of the bad guys?’

‘No I bloody well haven’t. And Ian, do be careful.’

‘Yes mum.’

Usually Hall didn’t put off things that he didn’t want to do. It just extended the mental torture. But today was different, and he pushed paper around until half ten. And then there was nothing for it, he’d have to talk to Robinson about Vicky Harrison. He phoned Robinson’s PA, and was told that he had ten minutes available there and then. Hall said that would be plenty.

Robinson was busy, so the pleasantries were brief.

‘Any progress with Vicky Harrison?’

‘I saw her on Friday evening, alone as you requested. She says that her husband’s fear of heights was confined to man-made objects, not natural ones.’

‘And you believed her?’

‘Yes, I think so. They certainly seem to have walked in some pretty high and exposed places in the past.’

‘Have you checked that’s true?’

Hall was becoming exasperated, but his tone was as measured as always.

‘No, because this isn’t a murder inquiry, sir. One other thing that I should mention is that as well as key-man insurance, which Willis gets, Vicky and Tony did have each other’s lives insured. For a six figure sum.’

Robinson looked encouraged. ‘A possible motive then?’

‘Yes, in theory. But I’m pretty sure that most middle-class professional families carry this kind of cover.’

‘You’d know I suppose’. It was the first time that Hall had heard that edge in Robinson’s voice. ‘So what do you propose to do now, Inspector?’

‘On this matter, nothing. There is absolutely no evidence of any offence here.’ Hall paused. ‘Unless you know something that I don’t, sir.’

‘What do you mean by that?’ Robinson’s face was flushed. If he’d been a suspect Hall would have known that he was on to something.

‘Just that I wonder why you didn’t think to mention that you met with Tony Harrison very shortly before he died. And I find it interesting that no-one I’ve spoken to seems to know why.’

Robinson looked surprised. ‘Who told you that? Never mind, and despite your inference there was nothing secretive about it all. I just talked to him, in his office, about possibly designing a new hall for the church. We’re expanding so fast that we need the extra space.’

‘Thanks, but I’m afraid that doesn’t explain why you were so keen for me to look at the case. I just can’t work it out sir. I think there’s something else behind your interest.’

Robinson calmed down. He even managed a smile. ‘You’re borderline insubordinate Andy, but you are a good detective. Yes, there was something else, and since you’re not taking it any further it won’t do any harm to tell you. I think he was having an affair.’

‘With someone from church sir?’

Robinson looked appalled. ‘No, of course not. When I had that meeting with him he took a call and made some comment afterwards. I can’t remember his exact words, so don’t press me, but it was pretty crude. I decided on the spot that he wouldn’t be getting any work from us.’

‘You didn’t catch a name, did you?’

‘I didn’t. Now, shall we just call this whole matter closed? I wish I’d never even mentioned it now.’

On his way back to his office Hall checked that Ray Dixon was making progress with DEFRA and the movement documentation. Mann had gone for the idea when Dixon had put it to him, and Dixon seemed to regard it as a personal mission now. And it was a while since he’d had one of those. ‘I’m on with it boss. They’re being really co-operative, and I’m expecting the paperwork today or tomorrow. They’ve produced some with a special serial number range, just for us.’

‘I’m touched. That’s good Ray. As soon as you’re ready get it sorted with Ian. But leave it a day or so, will you? Let’s see how it goes with Brockbank tonight. I don’t want to overload him, OK?’

Jane was on the phone, so Hall just pointed to his office when he caught her eye, and made the internationally recognised symbol for tea with his hands. She nodded, and he picked up her mug, went back for Dixon’s, and then headed to the kitchen.

By the time he came back Jane was already in his office. He sat opposite her at the meeting table. ‘This is a bit awkward Jane’ he said, then got up to hunt about in his drawer for some biscuits. He couldn’t find any.

‘What is boss? Is it about Vicky Harrison?’

‘Yes, it is.’

Jane was sure that she could read the expression on Hall’s face. He could certainly read the expression on hers.

‘You didn’t?’

‘No, I didn’t. I had a drink with her, well quite a few in fact.’

‘And...’

‘And I did go back to her place, but nothing happened. I had a coffee and went home, that’s it.’

Jane looked at him in a way she never had before. She didn’t believe him. And that was the first time. When she spoke there was an edge to her voice too.

‘Why are you telling me this?’

‘Because we’re not proceeding with the case. Robinson’s orders. But I wanted you to have the full picture.’

‘That’s good of you boss.’ Sarcasm always came naturally to Jane, and usually Hall was amused by it. She reached for her tea, and started to get up.

‘Hang on a sec. There’s something else. I found out what Robinson’s real interest was, why he originally thought that this might be something other than an accident.’

Jane didn’t feel like guessing, and she didn’t feel like staying either.

‘The Super thinks that Tony Harrison was having an affair. He overhead a phone conversation. He still lives in 1963, so he probably thinks it’s still a common motive for murder.’

‘Rather than an event that barely even draws a comment?’

‘Exactly.’

Jane thought about it for a moment. She put her mug back down.

‘So you think Robinson’s right Andy? Is it time to let Vicky play the merry widow in peace?’

Hall smiled at that, but Jane didn’t.

‘I think Robinson was pretty clear. Of course, if someone else who knows either her or Tony was to corroborate what he told me, then we’d certainly be at liberty to investigate the matter more fully.’

‘So you’re saying that you want me to talk to Willis again, and see if he can stand up this affair business?’