Chapter 19: Chapter 19

‘I like the sound of it.’ Her friend scrunched up the sandwich packet. ‘I hate it here.’

‘It’s all your fault.’ The blonde-haired girl said to Miley as she threw her sandwich packet at her. ‘She would never have agreed to this before you came along. Go on then. Go with your new but stupid best friend.’ She stomped off. They watched her as she disappeared around a corner. It didn’t matter, there were only two jobs going anyway. Miley shivered as it began to rain. A warm bed and a job were all that she dreamed of and the man seemed so nice.

‘We’ll have a look. If we don’t like what you’re offering, we don’t have to take the job. Right?’ Miley asked. Her red- haired friend began to shiver and cramp up. She’d need a fix soon.

‘I can help you with that too. You’ll soon feel better. This will be a new start. If you don’t like it, I’ll bring you back here, I promise.’ Miley took in his warm smile as he placed a firm arm on her shoulders, leading her back towards New Street. She soaked up his warmth, almost wishing they were in another life and he was her dad. ‘My car is just down here. Let’s get you both warm.’

She smiled as she urged her friend on. ‘We’ll be okay soon, nice and warm, I promise.’

She opened her eyes, almost biting her tongue with her chattering teeth. She wiped the trail of spit from the side of her face. ‘Can I have my medicine, please?’ she whispered.

Her memories had been so vivid, it was almost like they were back on the streets of Birmingham. She felt the cold, she could smell the food that was being sold on the streets, and she

could feel her red-haired friend leaning against her for support as they headed to his car. She’d promised her that they would be fine as she’d helped her into his warm car.

A tear escaped from her eye. Miley had broken her promise, now her friend was no longer there and she was all alone, trapped.

FORTY-THREE

Heading through the main entrance, with O’Connor in tow, Gina hurried to the incident room. Jacob was sitting at the head of the table. Wyre removed her headset and joined them. Smith entered, carrying a pot of coffee and a few cups on a tray. ‘I took the initiative, guv.’ Smith let out a small laugh as he placed the tray down and began pouring the drinks. It had been a long, hot day for all of them but the weather was about to break, just like she hoped their case would. In the distance Gina heard a gentle rumble of thunder. A storm was brewing.

They grabbed a drink and huddled around. Jacob leaned in. ‘What a discovery. In the depths of her pocket they found a small piece of cellophane packaging.’ Jacob held up a photo. It was small, about the size of a baby’s fingernail. ‘Tests showed that minute traces of heroin were found on the packaging, which ties into van girl’s blood results. Here’s the good bit, a partial print was left on this packaging. It is currently being run through the database, no match as yet. It may belong to her, before her prints were seared off, or it may belong to the dealer or even to someone else she’d been in contact with.’

Gina smiled. ‘Great find, let’s hope for a match. Just to update you, O’Connor and I have been to see the Smiths and we have a clearer picture of how life was at home for Simone. I’ll be updating the system with my notes as soon as I get into

my office. I suggest you read them immediately. I also want to speak with Simone’s biological mother, there’s a slim chance she may have gone back to her old home. Any light that Miss Duxford can shed on the case would be good. What do we know about her?’

Wyre opened her notebook. ‘Cassandra Duxford, aged thirty-five. She’s spent the last two years on a methadone and drug rehabilitation programme after being threatened with permanently losing her other two children, twins, aged three. From looking at her record, all the petty crimes she had been involved in before seemed to have stopped. No more shoplifting, no more anti-social behaviour and no more charges of soliciting. She has been off our records for a few years now. It looks on the surface that Miss Duxford is a changed woman.’

‘I’d like to see for myself. Did you have any luck contacting her?’

‘No. I tried calling a few times but her number keeps going to voicemail. I will keep trying. It’s been hard for her too, knowing what has happened to her daughter.’

‘Let’s hope she hasn’t slipped. Inform social services what has happened. She may need further support. We have two other children in her household to consider here.’

Wyre nodded. ‘Will do, guv.’

Gina took a swig of coffee as another roll of thunder built up to a clash. She took a few deep breaths to calm down her galloping heart rate. Thunder was always a trigger for her anxiety, taking her straight back to the night when she helped Terry to fall to his death. The thunder that night had been deafening. A flash of lightning filled the room.

As Gina went to place the cup on the table, she spilled the contents everywhere, soaking Wyre’s paperwork. ‘For heaven’s sake, I’m so clumsy.’

‘No worries, guv. I can print the notes out again,’ she replied as she grabbed a couple of serviettes and began mopping up the mess. ‘No harm done.’

Gina stared out of the window, waiting for lightning to strike. Another rumble filled the air. She shook her hands, willing the tremble to go away. Closing her eyes, she counted to ten and breathed in and out. Terry was gone. He could never hurt her again. ‘Shall I get you some water, guv?’

‘No, I’m fine, thanks. I just felt a bit nauseous,’ she lied. ‘Right, I’m fine now. Where was I? That’s it, the shallow grave. Are we done collecting there yet?’

Jacob put his cup down. ‘Yes, I think Bernard has taken all he needed, sample wise. Thankfully, no more bones belonging to anyone else were found in the vicinity. The announcement came at the right time this afternoon as I’ve had the Norths calling non-stop, saying that we are holding up their development and that time was money in their business. Apparently, they have some new members of staff starting soon. They want them in the property cleaning, ready for viewings. At least they will be able to do that and Mr North won’t keep calling all the time. We’ve maintained the cordon so Mr Tilly won’t be building his summerhouse anytime soon.’

‘Great. No more results to share as yet?’ Gina thought back to their chat with the Norths earlier that day. Mr North had something to hide, she was sure of it.

‘That’s it for now, guv. As always Bernard and Keith said they’d give us any information they had as they found it,

before the official report is written. Bernard seemed very excited about the larvae cases providing the match between the two girls. Could we be looking at a serial killer?’

‘We have two dead girls at the moment. I really don’t want another to turn up. I don’t think Cleevesford could take much more. It’s turning into an unsafe place to live. “Help her” – I want to know who Simone was referring to on her deathbed. We’re still no further with that line of enquiry. How bad have the press been?’

Smith finished his drink and placed the empty cup on the tray. ‘They’ve apparently come in a couple of times, hoping to speak to one of us. Nick on the front desk gave them Corporate Communications’ number. Briggs also said not to tell them anything so we’ve just been fobbing them off really.’

‘Good advice. On to another strand of this investigation, I want to be kept in the loop with the drug problems in Cleevesford. If you get a tip-off, I want to be a part of it. I know it’s not my territory but given the drug link I feel we need to stay close on this one, pool intelligence, information, details of arrests. I want to know whose prints are on the cellophane wrapper and we could do worse than pulling in any potential dealers.’ The lights flickered as another rumble of thunder filled the room.

‘This is going to clear the air. I’m sick of this heatwave,’ O’Connor said as he began to doodle on his pad.

‘Me too. I’ll let you know of anything that comes in with regards to any potential drug busts. I have been in contact with the man who owns the chippy on the High Street. We’re on alert, waiting for his call. He said it happens regularly so I’m thinking it could be anytime.’

Gina smiled. ‘Great, as soon as you hear, let me know. I’m coming with you. Call me anytime. Wyre, could you dig a little deeper on Mr North? I don’t trust the man.’

Wyre nodded and returned her smile. Smith’s radio came to life as the operator read the incident out, calling for Smith and his team to attend. ‘They’re outside the chippy now. We’ve got to go.’

‘That was quick,’ Gina replied as she grabbed her phone. ‘Let’s go.’

FORTY-FOUR

‘This girl is useless,’ the voice boomed from Jackie’s room. ‘I can’t have her here, looking after Jackie any longer. Have you seen the bruises on her?’ He was on the phone.

‘I didn’t hurt Jackie, I love Jackie. Please, I need my medicine. Help me,’ Miley cried, knowing that the boss would never believe her as he spoke on the phone to the very person who had been hurting Jackie.

Jackie began to shout and cry out, louder and louder. Miley flinched as she heard a slap through the thin wall. He was now hurting her.

‘Stop yelling,’ he called out. ‘I’m sorry, sorry, my love. I didn’t mean to hurt you.’

‘I can look after her. I just need my medicine.’ Miley writhed on the floor of her room as another wave of stomach cramps travelled through her, this time stronger. She screamed as her body flushed with heat and sweat dribbled down the side of her face, making the carpet she was lying on, even stickier.

Jackie’s yells filled the house again. ‘Oh shut up! Shut up, both of you!’ the boss shouted.

‘Don’t hurt her,’ Miley cried as she doubled over. Jackie was all she had. She wanted so badly to hug and feel the warmth of the woman who never responded to her need for affection. She wanted to feel what it was like to be hugged by her mother again. She began sobbing loudly as a wave of nausea shot through her. Closing her eyes, she tried to face the carpet. The light was making her head throb and the room sway. She needed to be in darkness.

Jackie’s door slammed and the boss stomped down the stairs, locking the bottom door after him. ‘I need my medicine,’ she croaked. It was the first time she’d been without since arriving. The boss was punishing her now he believed that she’d beaten Jackie.

Miley hadn’t been out of the room all day. The urine in the bucket filled the warm room with an unbearable stench. Rain fell, pattering on the roof above. At least the thunder had stopped. Listening to Jackie’s animalistic cries during that time had been torture for Miley.

Her skin began to crawl as she watched the beetle emerge from the skirting board.

She rolled on the floor. ‘Leave me alone,’ she cried as she scratched. Her worst nightmare was happening. It felt like the insects were all over her, gnawing away until there was nothing left but bone. ‘Help me.’ She wanted it all to stop. It had to stop. She couldn’t live like this any more.

Jackie began calling as the rain outside fell.

She listened as the flapping of moth wings surrounded her. She couldn’t open her eyes and be confronted with the creepy crawlies. She scratched and scratched until blood seeped from the tears in her skin.

She awoke to the sound of the downstairs door being unlocked. A heavy foot led the way. Jackie began to call out. He murmured words that she couldn’t make out until he reached the landing. ‘Jackie, please, my love, stop shouting.’ It was the man again.

Back then, he’d promised her everything, a wonderful job, a lovely safe place to live and help with the work. He told her that she’d been just the type of person he’d been looking for. He had made her feel safe and warm.

‘Help me. I need my medicine,’ she mumbled, as he passed her room. She couldn’t shout any more. She turned and forced her eyes open, knowing she had to face whatever was surrounding her. The insect wings flapped louder and the rain sounded like knives on the roof, no longer were they little droplets. Darkness had fallen and the room filled with shadows. Afternoon felt like it was night or was it night? The crawling sensation receded, leaving her with a moment’s respite.

Her heart began to pound as she fought to lift her arms up. She could just about see that they were still smooth, except for the occasional spot. Nothing was crawling out of her skin, it never had been. The itching had come from the large spots that she’d been picking. Her limbs were plagued with them. She gazed at the black scabs that had formed on her fingertips.

Her stomach contracted. It was coming again. ‘Please stop it.’ Her cries were so gentle, no one would be able to hear. Why hadn’t Miley realised? She’d become so dependent on them and there was no way out. She’d do anything for a fix. Medicine! It wasn’t medicine. There had been nothing wrong

with her in the first place. She needed to get out. ‘Mum.’ Her mum wouldn’t hear her calling, but she could hope. She wondered if her mum actually missed her. ‘Mum,’ Miley called as the man paced behind the door.

‘It’s me,’ he said abruptly.

Her heart misfired, beating irregularly until she realised he was talking on his phone again.

‘That stupid bitch has been going mad. I can’t deal with her any more. I’ve had to lock her in her room, just hurry back.’ He paused and paced up and down, behind the door. ‘Oh shut up. How can you accuse me of that? I’ve never touched a hair on her head or any of the others. Sometimes you disgust me, I will always love Simone.’

‘Jackie loves me,’ Miley called, whimpering as she lay there.

‘Shut up.’ He banged on the door. ‘Not you, okay I’m sorry. Just hurry back with the stuff.’

‘Who’s Simone?’ she shouted.

‘Got to go,’ he said into the phone as he unlocked her door. ‘Please, I didn’t mean it. Please, I just need my medicine.

I’m happy. I never hurt Jackie.’

The man stood before her. He looked so smart and clean. What she’d do to feel clean again. She reached out. ‘Please help me.’

‘You stupid junkie. Why would I help you? Who’s Simone? You really want to know?’

Miley wept as she nodded. The crawling was starting again. The insects were back. ‘Simone was the most beautiful girl ever. Kind, gentle, loving. Jackie loved her so much.’

‘Jackie loves me—’ Her stomach clenched as she screamed.

‘She doesn’t love you. She has no idea who you are. You’re nothing. Look at you. You’re useless. Jackie is always filthy. It was your job to keep her clean and safe. Clean, all you had to do was clean. The house had to be kept tidy, your room, Jackie’s room or any other room that needed cleaning. Smell this room.’

Miley continued to weep as pain tore through her body, wave after wave.

‘It smells filthy, like you.’ ‘I didn’t hurt her.’

‘I saw what you did.’ He drew his foot back and a kick landed in her gut, taking her breath away. The man jangled his keys and laughed as she writhed around on the floor, gasping for air as he walked over to the door.

‘Please don’t lock it. I won’t leave, I can’t leave – look at me,’ she whispered.

He grinned as he pulled the door to and locked it. ‘Sleep well.’

‘No, don’t leave me.’ She didn’t want him to go even though he’d hurt her. His being cruel was better than her lying alone in pain, in the stormy darkness. The flapping wings were back. She scratched her arms and dug her nails under her skin. She’d dig out the intruders, every last one of them. ‘Mum! Get them out of me.’

FORTY-FIVE

PC Smith sat in front of the undercover police car next to Gina. Jacob was with another officer on the other side of the road, watching. Another two cars had been prepped and were waiting on side streets. ‘Okay, our young man was seen about forty minutes ago, when we got the call. He was loitering by the bus stop.’

Gina watched as Smith spoke. ‘I hope he comes back soon.’

‘I hope he comes back full stop. There have been so many false alarms.’

Gina smiled. ‘I used to love my uniform days. It’s like being back. I don’t miss Broad Street, Birmingham, on a Saturday night though.’

‘I know what you mean. Did it for a long time before being transferred here. Cleevesford sees far less action. We get the occasional bout of trouble, the odd fight at the Angel but nothing too taxing.’

‘You’re a good copper, Smith. Have you ever thought about becoming a detective? You’re always an asset when we have a big case on.’ Gina grabbed a chocolate biscuit from the bag in the footwell.

‘I did think about it. Unlike you, I love a rowdy Saturday night. I love uniform and front-line policing. I love days like this. Does it sound wrong to love being here to bust a drug dealer?’

‘Not at all. It’s exciting. Much better than sitting at home watching TV.’ Gina crunched on the biscuit and offered the packet to Smith.

He patted his belly. ‘Best not. The wife says I’m getting fat. She said I’m not allowed any more of O’Connor’s offerings.’

Gina laughed and placed the biscuits back in the bag. ‘I best move them out of your way then.’ They had been sitting in the car for over half an hour now and no activity had occurred. People waited at the bus stop, ordinary folk going home late from work. People went to the chip shop and left with wrapped up fried food. The drifting smell of chips wafted through the slightly open window. Nothing out of the ordinary stood out. Gina began fanning herself with her hands, trying to battle the suffocating heat.

The radio cracked into action. ‘Anything your end?’ said PC Kapoor with a high-pitched Brummie accent.

‘Not as yet.’ Smith paused and stared out of the window. A young man was checking his surroundings as he took large strides towards the bus stop. ‘It looks like our guy. Young male, white, looks to be about five ten, shoulder-length, wavy dark hair, twenties. Remember, he doesn’t do just one deal then leave. Pick up anyone he’s dealt to when they’re out of sight. Continue watching him. I want him and all the punters.’

‘Understood,’ Kapoor said.

Another young male began walking towards the bus stop. Black, greasy hair. It glistened as the light from the chip shop sign caught the top of his head. She recognised the well-built man. ‘That’s Darren Mason.’

‘Darren Mason?’

‘The kid we brought in. He was the one who was driving the van in which our girl came from. We found a packet of weed in his van. That must be his dealer. It didn’t take him five minutes to break his bail conditions.’ Gina grabbed the radio. ‘We have our first customer. It’s only Darren Mason.’

Jacob answered. ‘Bloody hell.’

‘When he’s made his purchase, get one of the officers on foot to follow him. As soon as he’s out of the dealer’s sight, arrest him.’

‘I’m on it, guv.’

‘You’re taking over my bust, guv.’ Smith held out his hand. Gina passed him the radio.

She laughed and continued watching as the speedy transaction took place. The dealer bent down as if pulling up a sock. Darren Mason bumped into him and it was over. Mason continued walking away. ‘I wonder if our dealer has finished for the evening or if there will be others.’

‘He hasn’t moved. He’s not going anywhere yet.’

‘We’ve got him,’ Kapoor said through the radio. ‘One of the officers is taking Mason in to be questioned now.’

‘One down, however many to go.’ Gina smiled and grabbed another biscuit. The sugary bakes were set to be her evening meal, she might as well eat as many as she could manage and fill herself up.

‘Look at him,’ Smith said, his gaze on the dealer. ‘Full of it, has no idea we’re on to him. I love it when it’s like this.’

Gina’s stomach began to flutter. She couldn’t wait to pounce, to get in there and arrest the man. She couldn’t wait to question him, see if he knew either of their girls. Both of them had been discovered locally. There can’t be too many dealers in Cleevesford. He could be their man. If not, it was certain that he’d know who his competition was. Whether he’d give that information up was another matter.

‘Come on.’ She began to annoyingly bounce her knee as she waited. ‘Sorry,’ she said as she stopped. It was a habit of O’Connor’s that annoyed her. She was going to try to not be as annoying as him. ‘Who’s that?’

A couple that looked to be in their forties were beginning to slow down by the bus stop. ‘Going home from work. He’s wearing a T-shirt with a logo on it. Maybe they catch the bus.’ Smith leaned back and observed.

The couple slowed down and again, they looked like they’d bumped into the young man and it was all over. The woman nudged the man and they laughed as they crossed the road and went into the chip shop. Gina could see the disapproving look on the chip shop manager’s face. He looked out of the large glass front towards the bus stop. ‘Please don’t give the game away.’ Gina tapped her fingernails on the dashboard as she leaned forward. ‘Stop looking out. He’s giving away that he knows we’re here.’

‘Here’s his number. You call him while I arrange for officers to be ready to pick the couple up.’

‘Hello, Cleevesford Fish Bar.’

‘Hello, this is DI Harte. Please stop looking out of the window. We have this under control, but you will make the dealer twitchy. We don’t want him to run. Don’t look, but the couple who are next in the queue have just bought something. Serve them, be your usual polite self and we will pick them up. Can you do that?’

‘Of course. We are open until eleven every night,’ he said as he hung up.

Gina smiled. Another woman approached wearing a rain mac with a hood covering her head. Her shiny heels clacked on the pavement. ‘Another customer?’

‘Nothing surprises me. Both sides of the street are covered by officers, ready to pick the couple up.’

‘Great.’ Gina watched the couple leaving the chip shop. They headed off to the left, back past the Angel Arms pub, towards the newer estate.

‘They’re heading towards King Street,’ Smith said.

Gina watched as the next woman pulled her plastic hood further over her forehead. It was too dark to see what she looked like. As she approached the dealer, she held out some cash and dropped one of the notes. She thrust what she had into the young man’s arms as she reached for the other note. He frantically looked around as he threw a package towards her, snatching the last note as she stood up from the pavement. His gaze rested on their car. They’d been spotted.

The man darted. ‘Dealer heading towards King Street. All units standing by head along the back road and cut him off. He’s on foot. The woman has just left in the opposite direction on foot. We’re heading towards King Street. Stop the woman.’

Smith set the siren off and pulled out of the car park, speeding onto the High Street. Gina held onto the seat as he took a right onto King Street. She watched as the dealer jumped over a fence, landing in a residential back garden.

Gina darted out of the car, leaving the door open. She heaved herself up over the fence. She was getting too unfit to give chase. She felt a splinter embed itself into the palm of her hand. She landed in a shrubbery on the other side of the fence, flinching as she reached out and grabbed a spiny bush. Rain pattered, bouncing off the wheelie bin next to the back door. The terraced house looked empty and left no way to get out unless he’d escaped over another fence. She got to her feet and stumbled into the overgrown garden. It was silent. Creeping around, she listened for signs of movement.

‘Guv?’ It was Jacob.

‘I’m here. Beware of the shrubs.’ She heard a thud as he joined her in the garden, swearing as he landed on the spines. She continued to creep around. She hadn’t heard the dealer climb another fence but the garden was empty. As she reached the house, she heard a shuffle. Turning, she caught sight of the young man, crouching behind the bin. ‘Here he is.’ They had caught their dealer and possibly the person who knew something about their two girls.