DEAD BAD a gripping crime mystery full of twists Read online

  “Ruth, as soon as Rocco has finished, get round there. In the meantime, have Erskine’s office sealed off.”

  DCI Birch strode into the room. “Calladine! I hear you’ve arrested Miles Erskine.”

  “Not yet, ma’am. That’ll come later this morning, with luck. For the time being he’s helping with enquiries.”

  “Don’t bandy words with me. I’ve also just learned that he is Ford’s partner. Ford has been on the phone. He’s livid.”

  “We have testimony from a witness who’s told us that Erskine hired him to break into the Duggan. What am I supposed to do? Ignore it because he lives with the chief super?” Calladine could see she wasn’t happy, but he was right. There was nothing she could do. She gave him a filthy look and stormed off.

  Rocco stuck his head round the door. “Newton wants to make a statement. Better than that, he’s told us where Erskine stores the drugs. He uses one of his own buildings at the industrial estate.”

  “You and Ruth get down there. Ask CSI to meet you. I think it’s time I had a word with Miles Erskine.”

  * * *

  Erskine was sitting with his lawyer, drinking tea. “I’ve been here all night,” he said. “You really do need to beef up the accommodation. The mattresses aren’t up to much.”

  Calladine ignored the comment. “Danny Newton has finally spoken to us. He’s told us all about your shady little enterprise.”

  Erskine turned pale. “He knows nothing.”

  “He knows enough to enable me to charge you. We’re currently searching your premises. We know where you keep the drugs. We’ll find them very soon. We’ll also be taking a look at your office phone records. Let’s hope you didn’t slip up and use it for your nasty little sideline.”

  Erskine seemed to deflate. “I employ a lot of people, they take liberties, use my premises for their own ends. The drugs you say you’re looking for could have been put there by anyone. That villain you’ve got in custody would say anything to save his skin. Even go as far as blackening my name. You’re clutching at straws, Calladine.”

  “I don’t think so. The evidence is building. Later today we will have enough to charge you.”

  This appeared to upset him. Erskine was nervous, his face pale.

  “You should come clean while you can. Given the evidence I’m sure your solicitor would agree.”

  “I still think you’re bluffing. You have very little solid evidence against me.”

  “We have DNA from one of the murder victims. We will test that against the sample taken from you this morning. We expect the sample to match.”

  Erskine said simply, “It won’t.” Erskine’s eyes met Calladine’s. “I didn’t kill anyone. Not now and not in the past.”

  “You’re lying.” Calladine was adamant.

  “I’m telling you the truth.”

  Calladine shook his head. He didn’t believe him.

  Erskine fell silent, seeming to wrestle with something. Something about Ford.

  “Over the years I’ve done everything I can to help that man. I can’t continue, this is the end. Part of me always knew it would come to this. I have warned Angus often enough.” He looked at Calladine across the table. “Alright. I hold my hands up. You are going to find the evidence anyway, the drugs, the phone records. I did organise the manufacture of the drugs. I had you kidnapped. I also admit that you might not have been allowed to return. For a number of reasons, we had to get you out of the way. Your relationship with Eve Buckley, the fact that you are a detective . . . plus, Angus wanted it that way.”

  Calladine looked at him. “The murders? Ford can’t help you now.”

  “Angus? What makes you think he would help me?”

  “Because he’s been cleaning up after you for years. Stealing evidence, bullying and coaching suspects. In short, all this time he’s been making sure that you’ve been kept out of trouble. If it weren’t for him you’d have been put away a whole lot sooner.”

  Erskine gave a hollow laugh. “You’ve got this totally wrong.”

  Calladine stared at him. Erskine sounded so confident, like a man telling the truth. “In that case, explain it to me.”

  “I am the one who has done the ‘cleaning up,’ as you put it. For years I’ve been protecting Angus.” Erskine looked down at his hands, and then at his solicitor. He took a breath. “Angus is your killer.”

  Angus Ford, a murderer? Calladine stared at Erskine. The look on the man’s face said it all. He wasn’t lying. It seemed so obvious now. Yet it was hard to believe that a top police officer had carried out such horrific crimes. “The Norbury killing?” Calladine asked.

  Erskine nodded. “That too.”

  “Why the gap? The first was twenty years ago, and now two more?”

  The look Erskine gave him made Calladine’s blood run cold. “There was no gap. I clean up after this man, remember. I’ve been hiding his dirty little secrets for years.”

  Calladine almost whispered, “How many?”

  “Last time I counted, there were six. You can see for yourselves. Angus always films each kill. You’ll find all the tapes at our house.”

  “What did you do with the bodies? Give us names if you can recall them.”

  “If I can’t, Angus will. He talks about them in his sleep.”

  Epilogue

  Calladine gathered the team together in the incident room and gave them the whole story.

  “Ford? But he’s one of us!” Rocco said. “Has he been arrested?”

  “Too true, he has. CSI are going through their house now. As Erskine said, Ford made videos and we have them,” Calladine said. “With Erskine’s collusion, Ford has been killing women for years. No one suspected either of them. One was the respected business man, the other a detective with his sights set on a top job. Soon we’ll have the results from Ford’s DNA test. I expect it to match that of our second victim.”

  “Poor George Norbury,” Ruth said. “Such a shame he had to spend his last years inside.”

  “Ford admitted to beating him, and to the coaching. He promised Norbury that the sentence wouldn’t be a long one.”

  “And Norbury never complained,” Ruth said.

  “Once he was inside, Erskine’s lot were threatening him.”

  “What a case,” Ruth said. “It’s worn me out. Why did they kidnap you?”

  “They needed an out-of-the-way spot and a ready supply of chemicals to manufacture the drugs. The rambling outbuildings at Buckley’s provided that. Buckley’s was chosen because of Eve and her relationship to me. Ford needed to get me out of the way. He knew I’d compare the first killing of Ingrid Plesec to the Norbury one and become suspicious.”

  “Except it wasn’t Norbury at all, poor man. We should stop calling it that,” Ruth said.

  Calladine nodded. “The so-called tipoff was set up, and the rest you know.”

  Ruth yawned. “This is one case I’m more than happy to put to bed.”

  Calladine checked the time. It was mid-afternoon. “Let’s call it a day and go across to the Wheatsheaf.”

  That was a universally popular idea. The team collected their things and made their way out.

  Calladine joined Ruth on the stairs. “It’s Friday. D-Day for Jake’s job. What have you decided?”

  “I’m not going.” Her voice was firm.

  “You can’t let him go on his own. That’ll be the end. You two belong together, Ruth.”

  “Give over, Calladine. I’ll do what I bloody well want. Jake has a choice to make. He’ll phone me later with his decision.”

  “Rocco was telling me you met another nice young man a couple of days ago — that forensic artist the Duggan sent round.”

  Ruth nodded. “Michael, yes. He seems okay. We’ll use him again, I’m sure.”

  “Rocco told me there was a spark between the two of you.”

  Ruth laughed. “Rocco has a vivid imagination. Even if Jake does bugger off, that doesn’t mean I’m in the market for another man.” />
  “Don’t mess up like me, Ruth. I don’t seem capable of keeping up a solid, long-term relationship, but you’re different.”

  “You really are a worrier, aren’t you? We’re here. Come on, happy face now.” Ruth nudged him. “And get your hand in your pocket. The team deserve it.”

  Ruth’s mobile rang. “Get me a large red. I’ll join you when I’ve taken this.”

  Calladine bought the drinks and ushered the others to a table. He looked through the window at Ruth pacing up and down the pavement outside. He didn’t need telling. This was it. It had to be Jake.

  Then she was back. “Bloody fool.” She picked up her drink and took a big swallow.

  The team had their eyes glued on her. Like Calladine, they knew she was waiting for Jake’s call.

  “Stop it you lot, you’re making me nervous.” She grinned. “All that fuss, all those arguments, and look what happens.”

  “What?” Calladine asked. “They don’t want him to start sooner, do they? Come on, you can’t keep us in suspense.”

  Ruth gave him a broad smile. “They don’t want him at all. It’s a private school. Turns out it has dire financial problems. As of today, it’s closing its doors for the foreseeable future.”

  “What does that mean for Jake?” Rocco asked.

  “Don’t you get it, dozy?” Ruth ruffled his hair. “No school, no job, and therefore no move. Problem sorted. Good, eh?”

  THE END

  ALSO BY HELEN H. DURRANT

  THE DCI GRECO BOOKS

  Book 1: DARK MURDER

  Book 2: DARK HOUSES

  Book 3: DARK TRADE

  THE CALLADINE & BAYLISS MYSTERY SERIES

  Book 1: DEAD WRONG

  Book 2: DEAD SILENT

  Book 3: DEAD LIST

  Book 4: DEAD LOST

  Book 5: DEAD & BURIED

  Book 6: DEAD NASTY

  Book 7: DEAD JEALOUS

  Book 8: DEAD BAD

  TALBOT DYSON

  HIS THIRD VICTIM

  Join our mailing list now to get bargain book offers from your favourite authors and news on the next Helen H. Durrant mystery:

  http://www.joffebooks.com/contact/

  THE CALLADINE & BAYLISS MYSTERIES (book 3 features DI GRECO)

  BOOK 1 DEAD WRONG:

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/WRONG-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B010Y7641M/

  http://www.amazon.com/WRONG-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B010Y7641M/

  First a shooting, then a grisly discovery on the common . . .

  Police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss race against time to track down a killer before the whole area erupts in violence. Their boss thinks it’s all down to drug lord Ray Fallon, but Calladine’s instincts say something far nastier is happening on the Hobfield housing estate.

  Can this duo track down the murderer before anyone else dies and before the press publicize the gruesome crimes? Detectives Calladine and Bayliss are led on a trail which gets dangerously close to home. In a thrilling finale they race against time to rescue someone very close to Calladine’s heart.

  BOOK 2: DEAD SILENT

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/SILENT-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B01185U8NE/

  http://www.amazon.com/SILENT-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B01185U8NE/

  A body is found in a car crash, but the victim was already dead . . .

  BOOK 3: DEAD LIST

  This book is the first to feature D.I Greco

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/DEAD-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B013J9BUAW

  http://www.amazon.com/DEAD-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B013J9BUAW

  An unlikely serial killer with a bucket list of victims . . .

  BOOK 4: DEAD LOST

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/DEAD-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B018W6EANQ/

  http://www.amazon.com/DEAD-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B018W6EANQ/

  An abandoned cotton mill holds horrific secrets

  Police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss face one of their toughest challenges yet. A group of homeless people have set up camp in the grounds of a disused cotton mill belonging to local businessman Damien Chase.

  BOOK 5: DEAD & BURIED

  https://www.amazon.co.uk/BURIED-gripping-crime-thriller-twists-ebook/dp/B01HXXTWKA/

  https://www.amazon.com/BURIED-gripping-crime-thriller-twists-ebook/dp/B01HXXTWKA/

  Annie Naden and her husband buy a remote country cottage at auction. It’s the home of their own that they always wanted, but as they begin renovations, Annie discovers a satchel in a dusty old hidden cupboard. Inside are the usual schoolbooks, now over 40 years old, and a girl’s diary. Among the record of day-to-day crushes and pop concerts, is a secret whose terrible consequences are still resonating to this day

  THE DI GRECO MYSTERIES

  DI GRECO BOOK 1: DARK MURDER

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/MURDER-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B0163DVHC2/

  http://www.amazon.com/MURDER-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B0163DVHC2/

  A woman is found dead by a canal . . . why have her eyes have been viciously poked out?

  Detective Stephen Greco has just started a new job at Oldston CID and now he faces a series of murders with seemingly no connection but the brutal disfigurement of the victims. Greco’s team is falling apart under the pressure and he doesn't know who he can trust. Then they discover a link to a local drug dealer, but maybe it’s not all that it seems.

  Can Greco get control of his chaotic team and stop the murders?

  DI GRECO BOOK 2: DARK HOUSES

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/HOUSES-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B01CGR9KEQ

  http://www.amazon.com/HOUSES-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B01CGR9KEQ

  A young woman is found brutally murdered in an empty house

  Detective Stephen Greco and his team must piece together her life as quickly as possible. Within twenty-four hours there is another killing using the same method. The detectives realise that the victims are random but the locations are not. The killer is more concerned with finding the right house – somewhere he won’t be disturbed.

  Glossary of English Slang for US readers

  A & E: accident and emergency department in a hospital

  Aggro: violent behaviour, aggression

  A level: exams taken between 16 and 18

  Allotment: a plot of land rented from the council, used to grow vegetables or flowers

  Barm: bread roll

  Beaker: glass or cup for holding liquids

  Benefits: social security

  Bent: corrupt

  Betting shop: a place where you can place bets on horses and other sports

  Bin: wastebasket (noun), or throw in rubbish (verb)

  Bloke: guy

  Blow: cocaine

  Bob: money

  Bookies: a place where you can place bets on horses and other sports

  Burger bar: hamburger fast-food restaurant

  Buy-to-let: Buying a house/apartment to rent it out for profit

  Charity Shop: thrift store

  Carrier bag: plastic bag from supermarket

  Care Home: an institution where old people are cared for

  Car park: parking lot

  Chat-up: flirt, trying to pick up someone with witty banter or compliments

  Chemist: pharmacy

  Chinwag: conversation

  CID: Criminal Investigation Department

  Clock: punch

  Cock up: mess up, make a mistake

  Common: an area of park land/ or lower class

  Common or garden: ordinary

  Comprehensive School (Comp.): High school

  Cop hold of: grab

  Copper: police officer

  Coverall: coveralls, or boiler suit

  CPS: Crown Prosecution Service, decide whether police cases go forward


  Childminder: someone who looks after children for money

  Council: local government

  Crown Jewels: the Queen’s jewels and crown worn on state occasions (can also be an expression for anything valuable)

  DCI: Detective Chief Inspector

  Deck: one of the floors of a tower block

  DI: Detective Inspector

  DS: Detective Sergeant

  Do a bunk: disappear

  Do a runner: disappear

  Do one: go away

  Doc Martens: Heavy boots with an air-cushioned sole

  DS: detective sergeant

  ED: accident and emergency department of hospital

  Early dart: to leave work early

  Estate: public/social housing estate (similar to housing projects)

  Estate agent: realtor (US)

  Fag: cigarette

  Garden Centre: a business where plants and gardening equipment are sold

  Get rid: dispose of

  GP: general practitioner, a doctor based in the community

  Graft: hard work

  Hairslide: barrette

  Hard nut: tough person

  HOLMES: UK police computer system used during investigation of major incidents

  Home: care home for elderly or sick people

  Inne: isn’t he

  Into care: a child taken away from their family by the social services

  Kark: die

  Kneecapping: punish by shooting in the kneecap

  Lad: young man

  Lass: young woman

  Lecky: electricity

  Lift: elevator

  Lippy: lipstick — can also mean loquacious

  Lorry: a truck

  Mare: derogatory term for woman, or can mean having a bad day (nightmare)