CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
Graham Ellis attended Blake's Glastonbury operation, two bodies had been found identified as Wilfred and Grant Barton. They were found in a van registered to a female that once worked at Blake's Glastonbury stables, the van was abandoned with the bodies in the back near the town of Wick in North Scotland near a farm property owned by the Barton's. The van was atop the rough cliff line at Sinclair Castle, a difficult spot to access.
Prior to Ellis making enquiries at Glastonbury he had a discussion with Winston, they struggled to keep the conversation on a business level, the conflict of interest continued to dog their relationship. Blake initially believed the incidents were unrelated to the fact he was rocking the establishment of the steeplechase industry, but he now had his suspicions that parallel corporate intervention was present. Regardless of any facts relationships with between Winston and Ellis continued to fray.
Although Ellis knew the name of the registered owner, the name was nowhere to be found among records of any kind and appeared to be a bogus alias. He questioned Lindy Cumberland same time as he questioned Winston but this merely antagonised the situation further, Lindy had could not recall the van when shown a picture. For the first time Kalika scorned Ellis over his line of questioning, she became protective of her close family. Ellis changed tactics.
Since Roger Palmer had passed and Lindy Cumberland and her mount Taunton Barr had been moved to Flax Burton, the groundsman was the only person that had worked at the property for more than six months as operations there were seasonal. Palmer and Blake had shifted racing operations elsewhere when Flaxmead was brought to train there over three years ago, only local agistment of mainly horses used for recreational activities were housed in the main complex away from Flaxmead that was within a stable that was part of the properties dwelling.
When Ellis pulled up at the striking wrought iron gates they opened, he was puzzled, he had been given a keypad code by Winston. He drove down the long drive between grand oaks, he noticed another strange coincidence, the property was near a place east of Glastonbury called Wick. What looked like a golf course of to his left had horse's and rider's galloping around amongst the odd golfer, the fairways and fields separated by thick hedgerows and tall trees. He used a sketch given to him by Winston to access the building used by the groundsman, it was well north of the house at the edge of the golf course along a well maintained dirt track. At the end an iron clad building several bays wide full of farm machinery, in front of the far end bay a man worked on a ride on lawn mower, a wide one. He looked in his sixties, wore a herringbone cap, rough looking tweed jacket that came down to his knees, and a bib and brace blue overhauls beneath the jacket. His working boots were that worn the steel toe caps were exposed the leather had worn away. He had glasses and looked up as Ellis pulled up along side him and got out of his vehicle. 'Excuse me I'm looking for a one Angus McBride.'
A strong Scottish accent replied. 'Well up to now you've done a grand job, for I be he.'
Ellis held out his ID. 'Graham Ellis, inspector, Scotland Yard.'
Angus rubbed his mouth and put his spanners down. 'Mmm, been thinking you would be coming by.'
'Why do you think I may come by.'
'I'm no over keen on smart arses laddie.'
'You've seen the news then.'
'I was aware the Barton's had gone long before the headline.'
'So you knew they disappeared.'
'Everyone did was on the news.'
'You knew them.'
'Everyone knew them.'
He handed a picture of a van to Angus. 'Have you seen this vehicle before.'
'Ay.'
He waited for more information but Angus was silent, he sat down on the edge of the mower. 'When was the last time you saw it.'
'Not really sure of the date or time, means not much to me, days here are the same every day.'
'About how long ago.'
'Mmmm, I'd say about three month.'
'A woman drove it.'
'Ay.'
'You knew her.'
'I did.'
'She worked here.'
'Ay, she helped out in the agistment stables, never came here.'
'It's a big place.'
'It is, Mr Blake keeps buying the surrounding properties as they become available.'
'We have reason to believe this woman you speak of can help us with our enquiries into the death of Wilfred and Grant Barton.'
'I see.'
'You remember the name of this woman.'
'Ay.' There was silence.
'What was her name.'
'Her name was Ella Barton.'
'Ella Barton she was related.'
'No, she just had the same surname.'
'Rather odd.'
'She was an odd woman, died her hair red to keep away the evil spirits.'
'Come again.'
'She was an odd woman, believed in a parallel universe, a place along side what happens here happens elsewhere as well.'
'Not sure I understand.'
He chuckled under his breath. 'Well, nor do I.'
'The bodies were found in the vehicle I showed you, that was the vehicle she had when she was here.'
'Ay, I recognise the number.'
'She worked anywhere else around here.'
'Here and there.'
'Where.'
'Oh, here and there Mr Ellis.'
'That's what she told you.'
'Ay.'
'Whom else would know about her.'
'Roger Palmer.'
'Unfortunately he's deceased.'
'Well at least we agree on that. Roger banned the woman from here, would be a year ago.'
'So was other places she worked around here.'
'You could nah believe anything she said, waste of time listening to her.'
'Would Lindy Cumberland know this woman.'
'Who's Lindy Cumberland.'
'You do the garden at the homestead.'
'Just of late ay, Roger did it himself before that. I did it before he spent more time here about three plus year ago.'
'How long have you worked here.'
'Thirty five year, I was the gardener when Winston Blake bought the place, he kept me on bless his heart.'
'You find him a good employer.'
'You'll have nothing more than praise for that man in these parts.'
Based on the character valuation Winston had given him about Angus he decided to move on. 'The van was purchased from a car yard in Taunton, do you know if it's still there.'
'No, it's gone.'
'The person that ran it still around.'
'Ay, you'll find him in the Stonegallows Inn, he's a terrible alcoholic, Brent Olin.'
'Thank you, been most helpful, you knew the Barton's.
'Ay.'
'Well.'
'Wilfred I knew, from the pub, Grant I hardly ever saw.'
'Did they have any enemies.'
'Huh, everyone.'
'Why.'
'Like I said, I knew them, would stop short of calling them friends.'
'Well I'll go and look for Mr Olin, try and find out what happened to them.'
'Good luck.'
Ellis went to walk away but asked a final question. 'Is there anyone round here you think would want to harm them.'
'Everyone would want to harm them, just that nobody would, we're god fearing people here Mr Ellis.'
'Mmm, thank you Angus, good day.'
Angus watched him drive away and went back to work on the mower.
The Stonegallows Inn was the closest public house to Barr, Ellis was going to Barr for further enquires and dropped off at the pub on the off chance he would catch a one Brent Olin in the place. He parked near the entrance, the site where the pubs stands was a popular hanging site, with pleasant views over Taunton, this site was frequently used during the Bloody Assizes of 1685. Where 144 captured rebels were put to death after the English Civil War. In April 1770 Stephen Scadding was hung on this site a
t Stone Gallows when nine other men were executed for bread stealing and rioting. Ellis approached the barman, the place was busy, he showed his ID. 'Looking for a Brent Olin.'
The barman a middle well built man hesitated, he studied the ID and looked at Ellis's face. 'He's over in the corner there by the window where he is every day, em, not good for business should there be......'
'Thank you for identifying this gentleman excuse me.' He walked up to Olin and presented his ID, Olin attempted to look at it but was highly inebriated. He spoke well with a slight tint of aristocracy, but slurred his words. His face riddled with read lines and his eyes bloodshot and yellowing, he had long grey scruffy hair and looked rather uncouth.
'Police a, good lord.'
'Would you be Brent Olin.'
He occasionally stuttered. 'I I I would sir yes.'
Ellis showed him the picture of the van. 'Recognise this vehicle.'
Olin held it out from his face to focus and squinted his eyes. 'Oh god, the woman.'
'So a female bought it from you, may I sit down.'
'Pfft, Expect me to be able to stop you man.'
Ellis sat down next to him, he stunk of alcohol and held a neat whisky in his hand. 'We have information on the vehicle and it's owner but they appear to be false, can you describe her.'
'Saw her twice, red hair, real looker, paid cash.'
'You remember it well for a reason.'
'Ruined my business.'
'How.'
'She called claiming the vehicle was faulty, leaking radiator had overheated and motor failed. Was no warranty on the van, she bought it because it was cheap.'
Ellis shrugged his shoulders. 'How did this ruin your business.'
'She kept calling, threatening me with extinction, I thought she was quite excentric, had that silver spoon accent.'
'How did this end your business, I just don't see it from what you say.'
'One morning I had inland revenue, customs, the police all on my doorstep at once.' He coughed a few times and hunted for breath. 'Took me to the cleaners, the van was used as a catalyst for destruction, they traced it's background was apparently stolen in Ireland. My tax was not in order although I had a chartered accountant do it for me. Breaches of acts and laws I had never heard of. Beaten to a pulp at times when I complained to the Police. You are probably breaking some kind of law now, if someone wished to ruin you with the right contacts can be done, I can bear witness of such a thing. Hounded me to the point of lonely depressive alcoholism, and here I am.'
'Did the police do anything about these beatings.'
He chuckled and coughed under his breath. 'It was the police.'
Ellis hunted his mind. 'Where did this woman live.'
'Grant Barton's wife, I'm sure you know where he lives, or used to live.'
He handed Olin a card. 'If you can think of anything more, call me if you could please.'
Brent studied the card holding away from his face to focus. 'Scotland Yard, that won't save you man.'
'Thanks for your cooperation, I have to go, don't forget, should you feel you remember something, call.' He left Olin coughing and spluttering but noticed he put the card in his coat pocket. Ellis approached the barman, he attempted to look busy at the other end of the bar, Ellis cornered him. 'Mr Olin come in here often.'
'No comment.'
'You just got yourself onto persons of interest list.' He went to walk away.'
'Hang on.' The barman looked around, he was a cockney, huge man with big hands. 'Coming round here asking questions could get you more trouble than it's worth mate.'
'Not answering them will raise suspicion.'
'I'm sure Brent answered enough for you, not wise to come round here asking questions.'
'Really, I'll be sure and remember that, I didn't get your name.'
'I don't have to give you my name and you know that, the walls have ears like.'
Ellis walked out, he studied the road either direction, there was a police Range Rover parked in a Hedgerow about by the corner of the pub car park, he got in his car and drove toward it, he went slowly past, it shot out with its lights on, it blipped its siren and Ellis pulled over in a bus stop pull off some fifty metres down the road toward Taunton. He sat in his car and waited opening the window. A sergeant looked down at him with intimidation. 'Been drinking sir.'
'No, I don't drink.'
'Just a routine check sir, we like to make sure people don't come here and abuse our road laws, could you blow into this please.'
The sergeant thrust a tube toward his mouth mounted on a hand alcoholiser, he blew into it until it made a faint ping. The sergeant studied it. 'Could you step out of your vehicle sir would appear you've been drinking, and some ID please.' Ellis climbed from his vehicle and walked onto the footpath, he got his ID from his top suit pocket and showed it to the sergeant, he studied it.
'An inspector Ellis, oh been some kind of mistake, sorry, you vehicle doesn't come up as a police vehicle.'
'And there is good reasons for that.'
'I'll just be off and you can be on your way.'
'Stay where you are.' Ellis punched some keys on his phone. 'Braddock, get onto Scotland Yard and have send an internal affairs investigation team to Taunton immediately, inform the CO.' He hung up. 'You can stop making hand signals to your friend, take your friend and go back to the station, wait there until internal affairs arrives.'
'You're a fool, dress warm you'll be writing parking tickets in North Scotland tomorrow.'
'So you think I'm from Scotland Yard, I know everything about you, and I know where your family is. Your friend in the vehicle, I know who he is, where he lives, where he shits, who he's bonking that just happens to be your wife. Go back to the station for alternatives are looking rather grave.'
'Who the hell are you.'
'Someone that's not stupid enough to go any further than a sentence with you before informing my peers we were right.'
The sergeant looked pale. 'You said CO on the phone instead of CI.'
'Your friend has drawn his weapon, I can shot you both now and find the information we need elsewhere, or you can go back to the station and wait.'
The sergeant looked around and made a hand signal to his partner. 'I just need talk to my off sider.' Ellis indicated agreance with his hand, the sergeant walked to the window of the Range Rover, he talked for half a minute then returned to Ellis. 'This vehicle is registered to a hire company in Bristol, how do I know you are who you say you are, you haven't even mentioned my name but claim to know all about us.'
'Sergeant Len Grimmer, twelve years on the civil police force at Taunton. Previously a corporal in the British Armed Forces stationed in the Middle East. On return you took a position in the armed forces careers office at the University of London. There you had contact with members of parliament and other persons outside the UK now deemed a threat to national security. You are wanted for questioning in connection with the disappearance and murder of civilians, you have information that is of interest or you can be shot, I prefer the later as a sanction, and inform you I wasn't stupid enough to come here alone.'
'Who the hell told you all this.'
'A horse.'
'I'm going to call your bluff.' His partner climbed from the police vehicle and ran up to him.
'We've been called back to the station immediately.'
Grimmer looked at him. 'And this bloke.'
'Don't know who he is, called the office, a load of information just landed on the CI's desk, if we don't go back they'll call SO19.'
Grimmer's partner spoke in haste to Ellis. 'I couldn't do anything, they watch your family, threaten you, please my family is in danger.'
'They tell you that but have done nothing of the kind. Using fear is common and when you're in a position like you. Hardly the thing you would expect to be confronted with. Not us you need fear now but your associates, we're you're only hope.'
Grimmer looked out the corner of his eye at his p
artner, he blinked allot then turned and walked toward the vehicle followed by his partner.
Ellis watched them drive off toward Taunton, not far down the road they were tagged by a black Jaguar.
Ellis pushed on toward Oldbury Lodge in Barr, he checked Blake's property at the end of the lane next to the river, as he pulled up on the roadway he was surprised to find the gates open by themselves. He alighted from his vehicle and walked up the short drive, the ornate three story dwelling was clearly visible from the road, he walked to a front window and looked inside, the lace curtains fouled his view. He walked to the front door and rang the bell, he waited, no one came, he walked back out to the road and the gates closed behind him.
He drove the short distance down the lane to Grant Barton's house, he noticed the curtains on Oldbury Lodge move as he went past. He pulled up outside and walked down the dirt drive, the house was only metres from the lane, he noticed recent tyre marks going into the driveway, overnight rain left clear markings on the dirt drive. He stepped onto the open veranda at the front of the house and knocked on the door, he waited, no one came. He walked to the garage door, he looked through a gap where the doors joined but it was to dark to see, other than a vehicle was parked inside. He suddenly turned to a voice behind him, a clear Scottish accent. 'Looking for something here laddie.'
He turned to look down the muzzle of a double barrelled shotgun. He went to retrieve his ID from his jacket pocket and the elderly man in bib and brace overhauls cooked the weapon. 'You the caretaker.'
'No mind of your's laddie, best you just go away.'
'If you'd allow me to get my ID I can assure you it is my mind.'
The elderly gent gestured with the end of the gun barrel toward his chest, he slowly retrieved ID and held it up toward the elderly gents face, he squinted to read it. 'Graham Ellis, Inspector, Scotland Yard.' He lowered the gun and uncocked the mechanism. 'Is it about the Barton's.'
'You have a permit for that thing.'
'I do.'
'Some ID please.'
'I carry no identification, never need it, been here for years, you're the first to ask.'
'You're name.'
'Is my business.'
'You say you have a permit for the weapon, to get one you must have ID.'
'Weapons no mine, belonged to Grant Barton.'
'Put it down, on the ground and step back away.'
He did so. 'Look I just work here, been quite a few people coming and going with the Barton's being found dead and all, people are a bit scatty.'
A white Range Rover pulled up in the drive, the driver stayed with the vehicle, the passenger a middle aged black haired man with a tweed suit got out and took the elderly Scott by the arm. Ellis spoke to him. 'Take him to Taunton police station and question him there, make it quite obvious he's being questioned, there's rats around here and we need to have them come out of their holes.'
The elderly Scot looked pale and wore a face of fear. 'The police are no liked around here laddie.'
'I could understand that.'
'I didn'y expect this, I'm sorry about the gun.'
'You'll be asked some questions and have an opportunity to answer them, If you need a gun to deal with some of the people around here we need find them or they may find you, choice is yours.'
'Hang on I don't even know if you're who you say you are.'
'You won't even tell us who you are, and we have no time to spend on formalities, two people from here are dead and you or I could be the next.' He looked at his associate. 'If he comes up with anything that could be of interest in the immediate time let me know.' The man nodded, he man handled the elderly man into the back of the Range Rover, he got in next to him and it sped off up the lane.
Ellis drove the short distance down the lane to Oldbury Lodge, he hoped the fuss just down the lane would avoid the use of further resources. He pulled up outside and walked to the front door only metres from the laneway, he knocked, the curtains, moved, there was no response. He pulled a document from his top pocket and put it through the letter box hole in the door. He waited. He shouted. 'Police, we have a warrant to search these premises, open the door!'
There was a muffled voice from inside the door. 'Who do you want to speak to.'
'Lord Mulberry.'
'I have no intention of speaking to you, go away or I'll call the local police.'
'Fine, you have two minutes.' Ellis stepped back from the door and looked at this watch, he waited.
Just over a minute and the door latch clicked and Mulberry stood in the doorway. Ellis held up his ID. 'Having trouble contacting your peers.'
'I don't know what's going on.'
'We're not overly sure ourselves, the more we find out the less we know. I could arrest you for corporate fraud and taxation violations but not today.'
'I need to talk to my lawyer.'
'You need to talk to us or it will be circulated you are an ear and have been for a long time.'
'No, no don't do that.'
'Have a look at the warrant.'
Mulberry studied it. 'It's not signed.'
'No, even the thickest walls have ears.'
'I see.' He looked around, squinting with concentration. 'Some nasty people will know you're here.'
'Good, can't find people we don't know about.'
'What do you want from me.'
'Information.'
'On what.'
'You go to the Vivary golf club in Taunton every Saturday afternoon without fail and play a round of golf alone. This Saturday you will play with a man driving a white Range Rover, he will have a poppy in his lapel, he has a cockney accent is six foot six, and weighs twenty stone. His golf putter is gold colour with a leather bound handle, bears an engraved shaft with the name William. He, I, and you are the only one's that know that, fail to show up and I can do nothing for you.'
'You expect me to trust you.'
'No I expect you to roll up and play golf, just one more thing, your passport has been cancelled.'
'I'm gong to contact some friends who can sort this out.'
'You make one contact other than the one I mentioned and we'll hit this place hard in an instant.' Ellis took the warrant from Mulberry's hand and began to put it in his top pocket. 'Just looks like a casual visit from someone selling insurance for now, I have to go, have a good day.'
Mulberry attempted further conversation but Ellis climbed in his vehicle and casually drove off.
Was not long before mechanic knocked on Winston's door, on entry he closed it softly behind him, he sat close to Winston and lent on his desk. 'Just had a call from Angus the gardener.'
Winston squinted with puzzlement, 'Worked at the place when I bought it, can't say I've ever known him to use a phone.'
'Ellis just hit Taunton, went through the place like a dose of salts like, arrested someone in the lane at Barton's place.'
Winston folded his arms and lent back. 'Are you sure, does the story check out.'
'He was in the Stonegallows, spoke to someone there, then went to the lane, I spoke to the publican.'
'And.'
'He had no comment.'
'Who did they arrest, Barton's place is empty far as we know.'
'Angus said it was his elder brother, he asked for help.'
'Brother,' he shook his head slowly looking into space. 'What an earth, more we find out the less we know. That's a bold move by someone like Ellis whom should not be in the limelight, more to this than meets the eye. Thanks mechanic keep me informed I'm pressed here with other matters.'
Winston often listened to community radio, he found it informative of local events and current affairs, he had it on in the background as he worked at his desk. A change of presenter every two hours, some not the sharpest knives on the block but none the less interesting. A range of music that covered a wide spans of genres and interviews of local people involved in the community, he enjoyed the classical music mixed in with The Beatles. He liked the presence that was not
contaminated with commercial bias or political interest. He remembered that only last week Ellis had been interviewed on a morning chat show, he had stoped work and turned the volume up to listen. He now found that between the lines of replies to the presenters questions were subtle hints of the fact a breakthrough on nearby investigations being carried out by Bristol police. Winston knew things that concerned him, the harmony and focus of family could be in jeopardy, although some of the things in question were relevant to success he was left with a moral and family obligation to the girls. Moral, commercial and family interests were about to collide and he felt he was ill equipped to handle it.