“How are the two of them?”
“The motorcyclist has a chipped bone in his left knee joint and contusions all down that side, but he will be fine. He may be discharged tomorrow. The other chap fared better in terms of physical injury, having dislocated a collar bone, but he seems to have suffered more emotional trauma, including accepting that it was entirely his fault.”
“I can imagine that Doctor, he’s apparently been through a lot of trauma already in his young life. Can I see him?”
“Of course, I think he needs someone familiar to him right now. He claims to have no family at all.” When Jack Renton entered the ward Friend’s facial expression turned from vacant to decidedly sheepish.
“Hello again, I hope you don’t think this accident was completely your fault. You should remember that you were upset before you met Man at the house, and I didn’t help by coming to see you there. The chap on the motor bike is going to be fine and I’ll help you in the event of an insurance claim. I came to see if you’d like to stay with me for a few days instead of returning to the Mission. I can’t look after you during the day but you’ll be safe there. You won’t have to worry about Man or Best Friend while you’re there. Would you like that?” An infectious grin spread across his face and he got up to leave. “Not just yet,” urged Renton, “we have to see the doctor first.” It was another hour before he was discharged.
Frank was livid with Man over his handling of the situation, losing two individuals. They had checked the Mission and been told that Friend had been acting strangely recently.
“He didn’t return last night and even the police couldn’t find him.”
“You called the police, why?” said Frank.
“Isn’t that rather obvious? I was concerned over his wellbeing. However that was after the police had been here asking about him anyway.”
“What did you tell them?”
“I don’t see that it’s any of your business.” The manager turned to address Man. “I know you brought him here as his colleague, but when we take someone into our care we have to respect their needs first and foremost. He was nervous every time you came to visit him; perhaps that’s what you should be more concerned about.”
Frank didn’t like the way the conversation was going and indicated to Man that they should leave.
*
Sir Nigel had been uncharacteristically quiet for the last week or so, but all good things come to an end. Bernard Cousins called Renton with the bad news
“Jack, we are both under the microscope again. His gurus in the Capital have effectively said they can’t detect how Frank gets in and out of our Intranet without leaving any trail whatsoever. He has already dismissed Middleton and the severance package is apparently being contested. He wants to pull Charles Welling back to London and have Kyle Jennings report to him. This has caused a minor revolution in I.T. because they consider Welling to be a pompous, self-serving anal orifice – their words. He’s basically a consultant and his track record is being scrutinised. This is a big call for Bradstock, as he hasn’t a clue about the technicalities involved, but seems to have fallen for the promises of Welling that he can fix the problem. He is therefore spitting bullets at everyone else who isn’t giving him good news right now. We fall into that category because we haven’t made much progress with Frank. He questions your decision to let Eva Roberts go back to Holland. I have been told in no uncertain terms that I am in the results business and he wants you to call him immediately.”
“I hope he realises that Frank has backed off all communication with us, including the Intranet. I’m no computer nerd, and I understand why we have to make it secure again, but this is surely not the time for panic measures. It doesn’t take a genius to know blocking our own access to the Intranet for a few days is not the end of the world. Wouldn’t that give the guys a better chance to find the loophole? It would also send a message to Frank. Anyway, I’ll call Bradstock to see what he would do in my place, and then I’ll get back to you.”
*
Adams and Gibson had settled for a good pub meal rather than an Indian. The beer went down well and managed to produce the productive mental lubrication they’d hoped it would. Mulling over various aspects of their individual sessions with Clyde Hendricks they agreed that he was so shifty that he would not have given a house key to anyone. Gibson was intrigued by Hendricks’ association with a casino.
“Can you remember that he told me that his sister would have nothing of interest to him in her legacy? He also said she had debt all over the city”
“Yes I do, and neither of us believed that he wouldn’t want something to mark his sister’s passing. Death often brings forth regrets over what could have been done, and he must have wondered about that, if only they’d abandoned their stubbornness and self-righteousness.”
“Well what if that legacy was debt? The kind he’d helped her with, but hadn’t been repaid. Now that I think back, he was far too evasive about his recent relationship with Martha, and particularly whether she was as destitute as he claimed. Did you say that this guy you’re going to see in Salford was the only one on Hendricks’ list who had any occupation or other information alongside their name?”
“Yes.”
“In that case, maybe I should detour to come with you. This kind of racket is often a front for money-laundering operations amongst other things. I can listen while you talk.”
“That makes sense, as we’re so close to the place. Let’s do it now.”
Chapter 13
“It’s Jack Renton Sir, you wanted me to call you.”
“Did I? Oh yes, let me see. I have a note of the questions for which I want answers.” The sound of Bradstock shuffling papers convinced Renton that this was going to be even worse than he had anticipated. “Right, here we are. Cousins couldn’t give me any coherent summary of where we are on this damned Frankenstein case, and nothing other than excuses for failing to come up with any concrete direction. I began to feel he was merely covering for you and I therefore want you to tell me exactly what I need to know – not what you think I do not need to know. It had better be good Jack, or we will have to consider reorganising our resource. It isn’t only a question of the actual killings involved with this particular case; it’s the knock-on effect of the flak we are getting from Whitehall about the copycat stuff. Because of their inability, and other world governments, to exercise any real control over the internet conduit, they want to see this Frank extinguished. They believe he is still seen as some kind of bizarre role model for all the disturbed people out there. I could question the figures which have been thrown my way, but there is no doubt that the emergence of the trend can be traced back to him as the fountain head. We are also part of the momentum as long as we can’t secure our Intranet. I know that this is not part of your task. However, it is linked, as he can still hurt us as long as we have this vulnerability. I suppose Cousins has briefed you on the changes I have made in order to get the breach fixed. I must admit that I have yet to see any progress, so it is fortunate that Frank is inactive at the moment, but we can’t just sit on our hands and hope for the best. I need up to date detail of your investigation – not simply where you are now, but what you have planned in the coming days. I’m flying up to Newcastle tonight. Pick me up at the airport, Cousins has the flight information, but I want a session with just the two of us first.”
“Yes Sir, I’ll see you then.” He contemplated the scenario. He had Adams and Gibson checking on a tenuous lead in a Salford casino, Stephanie was in truth marking time on the analysis of obscure internet comments, and currently distracted by a suitor who’d given her a desire to embrace and improve her dress sense. This was not what was needed in the mind of a previously focussed evidence junkie. Eva Roberts had jumped ship, and worst of all, he’d taken in a tenant who had been, and still could be a material witness. He had told nobody of his altruistic harbouring of Friend. While frantically thinking of how he could resolve this situation and admittin
g to himself it was a ridiculously unprofessional gesture, he received a call.
“Inspector, I see you have maintained your curiosity in Friend.” Renton recognised Frank’s distorted voice immediately. “I was touched by your initial kindness to him, but things have changed. Your people have been checking on him at the Mission. Is there anything you need to tell me?”
Renton was finding it difficult to process this, in view of the general predicament he anticipated with the imminent arrival of Sir Nigel.
“Yes, we checked on him at the Mission after he was released because he’d asked to stay with us. That wasn’t possible and it was difficult to explain to him. He’d already told us that he wouldn’t see you anymore, so we were concerned about his welfare. Once we knew he was being looked after at the Mission we relaxed our watch over him. I hope you aren’t calling to say something has happened to him.” He nervously waited for any sign that Frank knew more.
“I can’t tell you anything Inspector. One of my assistants has lost track of him, so he also checked the Mission, but he isn’t there. He was told of your enquiries and I thought you may be able to help. As you say, I won’t be seeing him again, but I still want to know he is safe.”
“Ok, I’ll have one of my officers begin a search. You’ll have to check with me from time to time as I have no way of contacting you.”
“That is very helpful, but I won’t call you unless he doesn’t return to the Mission. If he continues to elude both of us we will need to talk again, as I may have to rescind my agreement to suspend my internet posts, desist from intruding into your internal police database, and punish more people for their wrongdoing. I have invested considerable effort in Friend and many others like him; it will not be tolerated if he regresses to the tortured soul he used to be. The Mission is his home, and I do appreciate your help in trying to restore that status for him. I will have someone check regularly as to whether he has returned.” The call ended and Jack Renton knew that time was of the essence. Any delay could be disastrous, but he was worried about how Friend would take the change of plan.
*
When Adams and Gibson finally tracked down Carl Kennedy he was furious that they had gone to his place of work. This was an encouraging start.
“What have you got to fear? You don’t even know why we came to see you yet.”
“No I don’t but the people who run this business get very nervous when police officers show up unannounced. Now they’ll want to know why you’re interested in talking to me. They believe there’s never smoke without fire. Anyway, what do you want?”
Sam’s steely gaze picked up beads of sweat while Adams continued.
“We’d like to know why Clyde Hendricks comes to see you.”
“Once - he only came to see me once, past tense. He won’t be coming again.”
“Well then, let’s hear why he came to see you once upon a time.”
“It’s not something I want to talk about. I’m under instructions to forget he ever came here.”
“Ok, can you accompany us to the station, we’re investigating his suspicious death and we know he wanted to see you again. The appointment is in the notes he left. So you are a material witness as to his recent and planned future movements.”
“Now hold on a minute, I don’t know how he got my name in the first place, but he gave me a contact which I checked with my Boss, and he agreed to see Hendricks. I wasn’t at that meeting, I was given subsequent instructions to personally take a letter to his home and make sure he read it and then destroyed it. My next instruction was to forget I’d ever seen him.”
Adams nodded his head and Kennedy seemed to relax, only to be jolted by being asked if he recognised any of the other names on Hendricks’ list.
“Look, I can’t say any more. The people I work for don’t approve of cosy chats with cops, especially C.I.D. officers. You know what I mean, don’t pretend otherwise.”
“I’m sorry to hear that because it means you’ll have to come with me to the station in London, and I mean now.” Adams told Sam to rearrange his schedule and check out his candidates by starting in the Capital. “You need to drive while I keep an eye on chummy here.”
They left without Kennedy having a chance to explain anything to the casino people, and he seemed genuinely relieved that they were heading out of the Manchester area. Adams had the impression that he would take any opportunity to disappear, and made a mental note to ensure Gilbert would use every angle to keep him in custody as long as possible. As they were joining the M-25 Adams received a call from Stephanie.
“Where are you?” He responded and told her the traffic noise was exceptionally loud. She shouted instructions passed on by Renton.
“You and Sam have to return immediately.”
“We have to drop off a suspect in London to be questioned by D.C.I. Gilbert, I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“No Sir, you have to come back now. The Boss is going mental because Bradstock is on his way here with a hatchet, aiming at anyone down the order from Cousins. Apparently he’s under pressure from the Justice Secretary, on the instruction of the P.M. to kick the Three Rivers Force into shape. The failure of Sunderland to find out anything about the severed arm left in Penshaw Monument, the heads which have already rolled in I.T. for not fixing the Intranet black hole, and our blank sheet of credible suspects, have conspired to convince Sir Nigel that a shake-up is needed. I’ve been told to make sure you are here tomorrow morning even if you have to drive all night. Renton knows it will be a bullshit meeting with Bradstock, but says that’s preferable to losing someone who doesn’t attend because they’re chasing rainbows.”
“Jesus, I want to speak to him myself, put him on Steph.”
“He’s not here, that’s why I was given the pleasure of telling you.”
“Where is he?”
“I don’t know but he said you shouldn’t try to contact him on his mobile. He had an urgent task to complete before picking up Bradstock. It must be pretty serious Sir; I’ve never seen him act like this before.”
“Bloody hell, this is a good lead we have. I can smell it. Ok Steph, we’ll drop this guy off with Gilbert and then head north immediately.” He filled in the other side of the conversation for Sam, who was as philosophical as ever. Gilbert was delighted to get the opportunity to grill Kennedy, and promised to explore any backlink to the Frankenstein case. Adams thanked him and apologised for their orders to head back to Newcastle without delay.
*
Friend was heartbroken and for the first time since Renton had met him, he displayed signs of being betrayed.
“Are you so unhappy because I have had to break my promise to let you stay here?”
“I don’t like the Mission.”
“I thought they were taking good care of you.”
“They ask questions. Man asks questions. Best Friend knows everything.”
“You don’t like questions do you?”
“No. They can make trouble. I like the police station. Everybody is too busy to ask questions all of the time.”
“Would you like to tell Man that you want to help the police again?”
“Yes, but I am a keeper now.”
“A keeper, yes but what does that really mean?”
“I have to help new friends.”
“I know that’s what you said to me, and you don’t like that very much, but tell me the real reason why this frightens you.”
“I should like it. I should help them but they make me afraid.”
“I think you should tell Man that you want to help us again, and I’m sure Best Friend will speak to me about it. I might be able to persuade him to change his mind about you staying at the Mission. Can you do that?”
“I will try.” The smile returned when Friend knew he wasn’t being abandoned yet again. That was what had caused his problems in the first place.
Chapter 14
The short journey from the airport to the station was tense. Bradstock wouldn’t be
drawn on specifics until he had heard a complete presentation of the status on all aspects of the case. He was however, happy to talk up a potential breakthrough with the Intranet security.
“Charles Welling has the right approach to situations like this. He doesn’t pretend he knows all of the answers, but gets people who do. We have managed to secure a chap who corrected a loophole in the Pentagon system a few years back. He is on secondment to us for a month and has already identified things which could have allowed our breach. You see Jack this is what we need on a regular basis – a review of procedures and personnel. If we don’t have the right people, how the hell can we do the right job?” Renton was now blitzed with conflicting thoughts. He thought he should ring Cousins before Bradstock began his assessment of the case.
He excused himself to inspect the porcelain while Stephanie settled Sir Nigel with coffee and biscuits. He had some difficulty getting through to Cousins, but prevailed at last.
“I have the Chief here now and he seems to be in a ‘root and branch’ enquiry mode. It makes me nervous. What time will you be here?” The reply was not what he wanted to hear.
“I’m not invited Jack, he insisted on hearing accounts by people in the front line without them being intimidated by higher management. I think you’ll find that he will adopt the same order with you, starting at the bottom to get detail before hearing what the senior management proposals are. He will have read it in some text book. I share your concern but I was told not to explain this to you before the event. I’ll be in trouble if he finds out you know. Good luck.” Renton was a bit light-headed as he walked back through the main office. He asked Stephanie where Adams and Gibson were.
“They’ll be here in a couple of minutes. They had a horrendous journey back last night because of a pile-up just south of Ferrybridge.” Bradstock was waving him to the privacy of the office.
“I want to follow a certain sequence of appraisal of the case. It will help me to understand the facts and the leanings on how to proceed if I hear the evidence in this way. The young lady is your analyst, I’ll begin with her. I forget her name - you need to remind me.”