The Escape (Detective Jane Sparrow Book 2) (20 page)

              “Ok well if anything some of these photos were taken in new locations for Thaddeus so we could try adding the locations to the map. It may help with the geographical profile.”

“Yeah the geographical profile is a good idea Amy. At the moment it’s giving us a clear picture of what Thaddeus comfort zone and hunting ground is. But I’m not sure where to look for him to be staying. He seems to have had all bridges burned with old associates so our only hope at the moment is that the Superintendent and Perry find something at the prison. Because at the moment I cant see much else in that map.”

              “Have you heard back form them at all yet?”

“No but I’ll go try again.”

Jane stepped outside the house. She hated being back in there and she needed the fresh air to be able to breathe and think. She felt like she was clutching at straws trying to find a way to catch Thaddeus and they all kept falling apart when she reached for them. What Jane needed more than most was to hear from Perry. Jane rang through to his mobile and prayed to god that he answered this time. Thankfully god must have heard her prayers because he did.

              “Jane is everything ok? Are you safe? Is everything alright?”

“Perry calm down it’s me that should be in a panic. Everything is fine here. I have just been worried about you. I have tried your mobile a couple of times and got no answer. Is everything ok there?”

              “Yeah I’m sorry I had put my phone on silent while we were in talking with the charming Kyle McManus and the dickhead James York. I didn’t mean to worry you. We have literally only just come out of the prison. We are heading back to the station now. Are you back there yet?”

“No not yet we are just finishing packing up at the scene and then we will be heading back. Did you get any useful information there?”

              “Yeah the trip was definitely worth it. But we will fill you in when we get back to the station. How has your day gone have you gained anything useful from the new victim and crime scene?”

“Yeah some things but we will share all information back at the station it will probably be easier.”

              “Ok well were probably make the drive in about an hour say.”

“Ok Perry sees you soon drive safe.”

              “Will do babe and you be safe ok love you.”

“Love you to.”

With that Jane stepped off the phone and instantly felt safer and had a sense of calm about her. Perry was fine and had some information for her that would hopefully aid a break through in the case, as they were desperate for one. With the sense that it was all about to go tits up with the Superintendent possibly helping Thaddeus Jane felt like she needed some good news. Jane looked up from her mobile phone and across the field to where the crime scene was. The coroner Dave Berry had finished collecting the remains and had already left. Jane hoped that he would be in contact soon with some useful information. 

“Ok guys where are we with boxing up the rest of the photos? I have just spoken to Perry they got some information from the inmates at the prison that they went to talk to and they are now on their way back to the station now.”

              “Ok well were nearly done with the photos, say another fifteen minutes and were be ready to rock and roll. What did they say for the information that they got?”

“Not a problem it will probably take them about an hour before they make it back to the station. As for the information they didn’t share on the phone. Perry said they would fill us in when we all meet back at the station. The coroner has also finished collecting the body so we should hopefully get his initial analysis soon with confirmation of ID.”

              “Well that’s some good news. Did they ask for any details or updates on the case from our end?”

“Yeah but I chose not to share any of this information over the phone either. I told them it would probably be easier back at the station. I was unsure what to say until I can talk with the Superintendent on our own. Plus Perry is going to freak when I tell him about all these stalking photos so that will be better done in person.”

              “That’s true. Ok I think we have got all the photos. What do we do about the rest of the crime scene?”

“That’s for the crime scene technicians to look through. I’ll go relinquish the scene to them and I’ll get them to keep us updated with any new information. Then we should be ready to make a move back to the station. Where we can then start working through all the rest of the photos.”

Jane went over to speak to the lead crime scene technician who promised to keep Jane very much in the loop with all information as fast as they could process it. They still had quite a lot of the grounds to check over but they had planned to start ferrying the already collected information back to the lab to start the processing quicker. It was also to help prevent the over flooding of work on the lab technicians.

“Ok guys lets get back to the station we have still got loads to do and so much information to look at and collaborate.”

Jane and her team made it back to the station where they were greeted with a scene of grand pandemonium. There were ambulances, fire engines and a flurry of people crying and running. Jane was uncertain to what had happened but whatever it was it couldn’t be good. Jane went over to enter the station and find somebody with details when a waiting police officer and fireman at the door stopped her.

              “I’m sorry Detective but you can’t re-enter the station yet it’s not safe to go in.”

“What the hell has happened here?”

              “I’m sorry you haven’t been informed it’s all been a bit of a flurry. A package was sent to the station it didn’t have a specific name on it just the address. So Alan opened it like normal and well the package it exploded. It’s quite bad Alan is, Alan is…”

“It’s ok you don’t need to continue with that I understand. Has anyone else been hurt?”

              “A few minor burns, some small cuts and abrasions from the shrapnel inside the explosive device but nothing as major as the loss of Alan. The bomb unit has been informed they are going to come and collect the fragments of the device for analysis.”

“I’m sorry to interrupt I am the chief Fireman on duty at the scene. The structural integrity of the station seems to all be intact. There is some damage to your reception area, the blast of the device was quite localised. Once we have finished clearing the scene we can let everyone back in.”

              “Yeah the whole station for now has been evacuated.”

“Ok I can’t believe this. I should have foreseen this. There should have been protocols put in place from when we knew Thaddeus was capable of building devices but I never dreamed he would send one to the station. I take it no one has managed to tell the Superintendent either?”

              “Not that I know of mam.”

“Ok well I should try calling through to him to let him know before he arrives back to this scene of mayhem. Excuse me.”

Jane stepped away from the immediate scene of the carnage. There were police officers and station workers all standing in the street in a state of shock and upset. There were several police employees in the back of open ambulances receiving treatment for their wounds. Amy and Ian were checking on as many of them as they could. Jane tried to call the Superintendent but could not get through. All Jane could think on was having to walk past the reception area of the station everyday and never seeing Alan again. The thought was beyond unbearable Alan had worked on the stations front desk for as long as Jane could remember. He was part of the furniture. It was also unbearable because Jane had the knowledge that something should have and could have been put in place to prevent such an outcome. When Jane tried her Superintendents phone again he still did not answer but Jane realised it was because he was driving. Jane quickly thought of trying him on his car radio.

“Superintendent Andrew Walden?”

              “Speaking.”

“It’s Detective Jane Sparrow speaking Sir how far away from the station are you?”

              “Why what’s the emergency Jane?”
 

“I’m sorry Sir but there has been an explosion at the station.”

             
“Were make it back to you in five minutes.”

Jane was anxious for the re-arrival of her Superintendent she knew there were so many things she wanted to say to him and so many questions she wanted to ask. But her overwhelming anger had spiked a bit more since learning of the loss of Alan. The Superintendent and Perry pulled up back at the station within the five minutes. They must have blued and twos it all the way from where ever they were.

              “What has happened here? Someone give me the update please?”

“A package arrived at the station no name just the address
. So Alan opened it like he does all the mail but it contained a device. We lost Alan. Some other minor injuries and there was a small amount of damage to the station. It was quite a localized blast.”

              “I can’t believe this. We should have had protocols in place to protect the staff of outcomes like this. I feel so stupid for never thinking of it.”

“I know sir I feel the same. I need to speak to you in private as well at some point before we exchange any new or more information.”

              “Ok Detective is there something wrong?”

“Let’s wait to discuss anything until we can get back inside the station. Were probably going to have to do a press conference about this explosion.”

             
“Yeah I suppose we are.”

The Superintendent carried on eyeing Jane suspiciously as she walked away. He was obviously concerned by the fact that she wanted to talk to him on his own but Jane couldn’t deal with that now. She had developed more of an armed following that trailed after her every move just in case Thaddeus was lurking in a corner somewhere watching his handiwork unfold. Getting off on watching all the scared people in the crazed scene that he had created. Jane was in search of Perry who had gone off to check in with Ian, Amy and Eric. Perry had obviously picked up on the tension that was flowing of Jane aimed at her Superintendent.

“Hey Perry there you are. Are all the guys ok? Are you ok?”

              “Yeah they are all a bit shaken up by the situation. It has been such an unusual day and to come back to this scene was quite scary. How was your day?”

“Interesting and unusual.”

              “What’s going on? I was picking up on a lot of tension between you and the Superintendent. That’s why I came to check on the others. Give you two some space in case you wanted to hash it out.”

“I don’t think this is going to be something that we can just hash out I’m afraid. But that can all wait until we can get inside the station. This day has been exceptionally strained for all of us. I’m going to go check in with some other members of station staff and then I’ll get a quick update from the fire department as to when we can get back into the station.”

              “Ok I’ll follow if that’s ok?”

“Sure I can always do with a Perry shaped shadow.”

Jane tried to muster a smile for him, trying to offer a sign of encouragement that she was going to be ok but Jane didn’t have it in her. Luckily Perry must have understood how disheartening this situation feels for her. After having her home desecrated by Thaddeus, leaving his victim’s body on her doorstep, the station had become her safe haven from him. The one place that Jane felt like she was safe and home. But seeing the carnage that Thaddeus had caused here on another one of her doorsteps that again had cost her a life of a colleague, a man that had worked at the station for what felt like a lifetime, was all too much. Jane could no longer feel safe anywhere.

Chapter 16

Jane checked in with all the members of staff that she could. Everyone was in such a state of shock. The explosion and the loss of PC Alan Henchman had caused a momentous scene of panic. Jane found the chief fireman and what appeared to be once again for that day the chief of the bomb disposal unit talking.