Mark Pearson - Death Row

‘I don’t know, darling. Is everyone okay?’

Emma Halliday and Sally Cartwright had both dived for cover as soon as Delaney had shouted and they’d seen what was happening. They stood up, dusting their clothes.

‘What the hell was that, sir?’ asked Sally. ‘A warning? Or was he trying to kill you?’

‘God knows. Maybe it wasn’t me he was after.’

‘We thought someone might have been taking a shot at you in Mad Bess Woods on Saturday morning, didn’t we?’

‘You did. I didn’t.’

‘There’s not a lot of doubt about this one, Jack,’ said Emma Halliday. ‘Who’s got a grudge against you?’

Behind the counter Roy snorted, continuing to cook as though nothing had happened.

Delaney shrugged ruefully. ‘How long have you got?’

But Emma wasn’t listening. She was looking at Kate, a concerned look on her face. Delaney turned round to look at Kate, who was still deathly pale and holding a hand to her stomach. ‘Are you okay? What’s wrong?’

Kate smiled and took her hand away. ‘I’m fine, just a little bit winded.’ She took a couple of deep breaths, the colour returning to her cheeks.

‘There’s nothing wrong with the baby?’

Kate smiled again and shook her head. ‘I’m fine, really. It was just a bit of a shock. Not every day a girl gets shot at.’

‘Are you sure you’re all right?’

Kate smiled again and rubbed his arm reassuringly. ‘Of course I’m sure. I’m a doctor, Jack. I’d know if something was wrong.’

Delaney looked across at the fence that had been peppered with shot. ‘Maybe it was me. Everybody connected with Peter Garnier. They’re all being targeted — they’re all being killed or someone’s trying to kill them. Graham Harper. Tim Radnor. Me.’

Sally nodded. ‘You could be right, sir.’

‘What about the church cleaner, then — Maureen Gallagher? How does she fit into all this?’ asked Emma Halliday, brushing some more dirt from her knees.

‘I don’t know,’ said Delaney. ‘But she was the only person ever to visit him in prison, so there is a definite connection with the man.’

He took out a copy of the photo of Peter Garnier and the others from his pocket. The child killer, almost unrecognisable in his moustache, beard and ridiculously quiffed hair. ‘The men here, I think they’re connected with those other photos. One of these two men, the fisherman or the man in the black suit … they’re cleaning up the evidence and it’s Peter Garnier calling the shots.’ Delaney stared at the picture, trying to make sense of it all. ‘Damn!’ he said suddenly. He pulled out his mobile phone and started punching in some numbers.

‘What is it, Jack?’ asked Kate.

‘There’s someone else connected too, isn’t there? One of his victims.’ Delaney listened as the phone rang. ‘Come on, Gloria,’ he said. ‘Answer the damn phone.’

But Gloria didn’t.

*

Sally pulled her car to a screeching stop and turned off the flashing lights and siren. ‘Wait here,’ said Delaney to her as he got out of the car, slamming the door shut behind him and sprinting across the road, weaving through the slowly moving traffic and racing up the steps that led to the first-floor flats. He ran along the balcony that overlooked the road below until he reached the last door on the right. The lights were off in the flat. He rang the doorbell for a few seconds and then rang it again. There was no answer. He pulled out his phone again and punched in the numbers. Again it went straight to Gloria’s answerphone. He clicked the phone shut and pressed his finger against the doorbell again, keeping it there for five seconds this time. He waited a while longer and then headed back to the stairwell.

He was just about to descend the steps when the door opened behind him and he turned around to see Gloria standing in the doorway, dressed in a bathrobe with a towel curled around her head.

‘Jack, what on earth do you want?’

Delaney turned round, the breath exploding from his body with relief. ‘Gloria, for God’s sake — you’re all right! You had me worried half to death.’

‘What are you on about?’

‘You weren’t answering the door and the phone I bought you has been going straight to answerphone!’

‘I was in the shower, the phone was on charge and I don’t get a good signal in the flat anyway.’

‘Can I come in?’

‘No. Like I said, I was in the shower.’

‘It won’t take long.’ Delaney stepped forward

But Gloria held her hand against the door jamb. ‘I mean it. I’m busy.’

‘Yeah, with a shower,’ said Delaney, annoyed. ‘This is important, Gloria!’

Gloria sighed, spelling it out for him. ‘I wasn’t alone in the shower.’

‘Oh.’

‘For a detective, Jack, sometimes you’re not very bright.’

‘I didn’t know you were even seeing anyone.’

‘Well, I am.’

‘Have you known him long?’

‘What is this? An interrogation?’

‘No. I just wanted to know.’

‘Is it important?’

Delaney nodded, serious. ‘It could be, yes.’

Gloria shook her head, amused. ‘Well then, for your information I’ve known her for over two years. Lizzie was always a good friend at university. Recently we have become close.’

Delaney shuffled awkwardly. ‘Right. Mary never mentioned …’

‘That I’m gay?’

‘Well … yes.’

‘To be honest with you, Jack, I’m not sure what I am. But I am with Lizzie at the moment,’ she smiled again, ‘and she makes me happy.’

‘Good. I’m pleased for you,’ said Delaney. ‘Really I am.’

‘So, then, if you don’t mind …?’ Gloria arched her eyebrows and moved to close the door.

‘It’s Peter Garnier,’ said Delaney, slipping the name bluntly into the conversation.

‘What about him?’ Gloria froze, all amusement in her eyes dying. ‘What about him, Jack?’

‘People who were close to him or connected to him in some way are being killed. We think he had an accomplice. We think that person is taking out anybody who had a link to him.’

‘What’s that got to do with me? I was his victim, not an accomplice.’

‘I know, Gloria. Somebody shot at me earlier today. We don’t know why or how it all ties in to Garnier.’

Gloria slumped against the door frame. ‘Okay. What should I do?’

‘Have you got somewhere you could go? Somewhere you’d be safe for a few days?’

‘He doesn’t know where I live, does he? This accomplice?’

‘We don’t know what he knows or who he is. So do you have anywhere you can go?’

‘Yes.’

‘Just for a few days, Gloria. We’ll get him, I promise you.’

‘Just like you promised you’d find that little boy.’

Delaney put his hand on her shoulder. ‘I don’t break my promises. Not any more.’

‘Okay, then.’

‘And don’t answer the door to any strange men.’

‘Yeah! Thanks, Dad.’ Gloria was trying to smile but was not quite making it.

*

Sally Cartwright was leaning against the car when Delaney returned.

‘She’s all right, then?’

‘Yeah, her phone was on charge, is all. Not a good signal in the flat.’

‘I told you that you had nothing to worry about. Nobody knows where she is. Nobody knows who she is, Jack! Least of all Peter Garnier.’

‘Come on then, constable. Get in the car and let’s go.’

*

Gloria stood by the window, looking through a small gap in the curtains as Sally nosed her car out into the traffic and moved off. She continued to lean against the cool glass, feeling it on her forehead. Then she stood back and took the towel off her head, running her delicate fingers through the smooth dry hair.