Peter Lovesey - The Secret Hangman

‘No, someone else.’

Jerry frowned. He didn’t want to leave this. ‘How would he have heard of me?’

‘I’d rather not get into that.’

‘Be mysterious, then.’

Paloma said, ‘Peter’s got to be discreet, Jerry. He’s doing a sensitive job.’

Diamond gave her a grateful smile. Her loyalty had been under severe strain. It was remarkable that she was seeing things from his point of view. ‘And I’d better get back to that sensitive job, much as I’d like to stay on.’

Paloma said she was leaving, too.

Alone with Diamond, waiting for the lift, she said, ‘I was falling apart in there. For a bit I believed my son was about to be arrested.’

‘I know,’ he said. ‘Perhaps I should have talked to him alone.’

‘He’s my own flesh and blood, and I know robbing shops would be against all his Christian principles so I shouldn’t have had any doubts. It’s hard to describe, being a mum. I’m so relieved that’s over.’

‘If it’s any help, I didn’t think he was mixed up in this. But I had to make sure.’

‘Of course. And Jerry — being Jerry — doesn’t make things easy. I love him as only a mother can, but even I can see he’s his own worst enemy.’

‘In what way?’

‘Self-righteous.’

‘It’s called the courage of his convictions.’

In the lift, she reached out to Diamond and kissed him. ‘I could tell how difficult that was for you. You’re a sweet man.’ As the doors opened, she squeezed his arm. ‘Spend the night with me.’

He felt a surge of happiness he hadn’t known for a long time. ‘It could be late, I mean really late.’

‘Doesn’t matter.’

O nly now would Diamond admit to himself what pressure he’d been under. The relief was like the passing of a migraine attack, the moment it was safe to draw back the curtains. Jerry was in the clear. For a time common sense had been suspended. Suspicion had seeped through Diamond’s veins, creating pain and confusion. It hadn’t counted that Jerry had proved his good intentions day after day as a hospital volunteer, that he was a committed Christian who would baulk at breaking one of God’s clearest commandments. Bringing the young man in and exposing him as a criminal had become a real prospect. Paloma would have been devastated; the fragile relationship between them shattered.

He had just found out how much he valued that relationship.

Back at Manvers Street, he sought out Keith Halliwell and told him Jerry was not involved in the ram raid and explained why. ‘A church meeting, and I defy anyone to find a more wholesome alibi than that.’

‘At one in the morning?’

‘Young people are just waking up when you and I are ready for bed.’

‘Clubbers, maybe, but this was a church meeting, you say? What time did it start?’

‘Late. They went for a fish-and-chip supper first. I’ve seen the minutes and I know when it broke up.’

‘So it was minuted?’

‘All typed up nicely, praise the Lord, as they say.’

‘Gary Jackman lied to me, then. Scumbag,’ Halliwell said, angry he’d been strung along. ‘He’s messed up big time. We’ll nail him now.’

‘Later will do,’ Diamond said. ‘He’s a minnow. Where is he now? In the cells? Let him cool his heels for a bit.’

‘Guv, this is personal.’

‘I said leave it, Keith. Get your priorities right. Find out what’s going on at the hospital. If Harry Lang is able to talk, go up there and take a statement. The clever money’s on him.’

For all his strengths, Keith Halliwell sometimes got his focus wrong. He was capable of sorting out the ram raids now he was back on track.

But the bloody ram raids were a minor issue.

Diamond went looking for Leaman and found him in the incident room chatting earnestly with Ingeborg. ‘You’re back, guv,’ Leaman said, raising his voice for her benefit. Ingeborg hadn’t seen who had come in and could have said something she regretted. It was obvious they were discussing Diamond and he had a fair idea that it was about the bullying of a witness.

‘How’s Monnington?’

‘I left him with the doctor. He seemed to be recovering.’ Leaman signalled something problematic by clearing his throat. ‘He was complaining about the treatment.’

‘Oh? What did she do to him?’

Ingeborg stifled a giggle.

‘Not the doctor’s treatment,’ Leaman said.

A halo would not have looked out of place over Diamond’s head. ‘I barely touched him. There isn’t a mark on him.’

They knew better than to challenge him.

But Leaman had his own agenda. He said as if floating a theory, ‘No disrespect, guv, but do you think it would be an idea if I took over the questioning when we go back?’

Diamond could have erupted and almost did. Instead he reined back his annoyance, realising it would have confirmed that he was out of control. ‘And what would you ask him?’

‘Where he’s got Martin Steel.’

‘He’s stonewalling. You heard me try.’

‘Yes, but he has to understand he can’t bluff his way out of this. I can get through to him. I’m sure I can.’

‘With sweet reason?’

Leaman shrugged. ‘Something of the sort.’

‘Nice cop replaces nasty one, is that it?’

Now he turned crimson. ‘Nothing so crude as that.’

‘Give it to me straight, John. How will you handle this?’

In effect, he’d already conceded Leaman would take over the questioning. Something might be gained from sitting in as the observer.

Encouraged, Leaman said, ‘We’ve got a trump card now.’

‘And what’s that?’

‘Like you suggested, I went to the evidence room and collected the plastic cord used to hang Jocelyn Steel. It’s identical to the pieces you found in Monnington’s car. Same colour, same diameter.’

The nasty cop felt a flutter of excitement.

‘Did you look at the ends to see if it was cut from the same piece?’

‘You can’t tell with the naked eye. That’s a job for forensics. But I’ve measured them, and what we have are two lengths of cord, one at twenty-two feet, the other twenty-eight foot three, just about right to haul a body over a beam. The cord used on Mrs Steel was just over twenty-three.’

He rested a hand on Leaman’s shoulder. ‘OK, John. Give it your best.’

Monnington’s jaw dropped and his brown eyes opened wide when the two detectives returned to interview room one carrying evidence bags. What was he anticipating? Torture?

Leaman asked if he was feeling better. Monnington gave a shrug. Diamond checked the clock and spoke the preamble for the tape. Then nodded, and Leaman took over.

‘The reason we’re doing this is that a man’s life depends on it. No one has seen Martin Steel for three days. We think you can tell us where he is.’

The predictable shake of the head.

Leaman said in a measured voice, ‘The killing has to stop, Dalton. It’s over now. Time for you to think about your situation.’

He said, ‘I’ve thought. I want my solicitor.’

‘That can be arranged, and will. Cooperate now and we’ll all feel more agreeable.’

Silence.

‘I don’t think you appreciate how much we’ve got on you. Your laptop is being examined at this minute.’

This got the response. He sounded panicky. ‘You’d better not damage the files. I need them for business.’

‘You may not be in business much longer. We expect to find some names we recognise, like Martin and Jocelyn Steel.’

He tried to appear indifferent. ‘I don’t suppose they’re on file any more. I haven’t spoken to them for two years.’

‘But you got to know them quite well?’

‘I wouldn’t say so.’