The Trophy Taker Read online

  ‘Do you know her husband, Mickey well?’ Hunter came straight to the point.

  ‘I knew Susan better.’ He smiled fondly at the memory. ‘Mickey came to the services occasionally, but I don’t think he was interested in fully joining our community. He did run the scout group that is attached to our church though. I know he enjoyed that. He helped coaching the boys in football and other sports and would go to summer camps with them.’

  ‘Do you know much about the breakdown of their relationship?’

  ‘I know that Susan had tried for many years to reconcile herself to the differences between them but she had found it hard. In the last few months I am aware they had separated, but she and Mickey were receiving counselling for their marriage problems. I know Mickey certainly was hoping that they would get back together.’

  ‘And Susan?’

  The priest paused, frowning slightly. ‘She had a strong faith so I’m sure she would have tried to keep true to her wedding vows.’

  ‘Are you aware of either of them starting a relationship with any other person?’

  ‘As much as I would like to tell you all I know, officer, I am afraid I am bound by my vows of confidentiality. What is said in the confessional, stays within the confessional. All I can say is that I was trying to help them both.’

  ‘Is that a yes then?’ Hunter stared at him irritably. Be it, legal, diplomatic, medical or religious privilege; anything that hampered an investigation he was running was a source of acute frustration. The priest clearly knew more than he was letting on.

  ‘Is there anyone you can think of that might have wanted to harm Susan?’ Charlie took over before Hunter said something they’d regret. She’d seen it before when he was cross.

  Father Antonio shook his head. ‘I’m sorry, officers. I am honestly trying to help.’ Hunter stood and walked to the window. ‘Susan was a lovely lady. She helped me an awful lot and I know she helped my predecessors too. I honestly can’t think of anyone who would want to see her harmed in any way, but if I think of anyone I’ll be sure to let you know.’

  ‘Have you ever heard of someone called Jason Jennings, better known as JJ?’

  ‘Should I have?’

  ‘We don’t know. That’s what we’re trying to establish. Jennings was a forty-two-year-old homosexual man. He lived in this area for most of his childhood and teenage years, before moving away about sixteen years ago. Do you think he could have been known to Susan or Mickey, or anyone else at the church?’

  ‘I’m sure if we had a homosexual man in our midst someone would have known. While I have no problem with his association with the Catholic faith, there are some amongst our congregation that might not have felt the same way.’

  ‘So if he did attend, some people might have had issues with him?’

  ‘Officer, I have only been here for just over four years, although I think I may have heard talk of a man known as JJ. What I’m trying to say is that some members might find his sexuality incompatible with their faith. The Bible clearly says that homosexuality is a sin.’

  Now it was Charlie’s turn to be annoyed. Father Antonio was not exactly subtle. ‘Well it’s a shame the church could not be more inclusive and welcoming, then maybe the likes of Jason Jennings would not have had so many problems as an adolescent.’

  ‘This church does try officer. For years we have worked with youths from all backgrounds. We have close links with the local social services and several of the nearby schools. We have welcomed many disadvantaged children regardless of their ethnicity, faith or sexuality. We have many people within the church, Susan Barton included, who care nothing for the social norms and try their best. At the end of the day everyone here would have tried to provide support and help him to repent.’

  He was making things worse, not better. She felt herself repelled by his words the more he spoke. There was something inherently troubling beneath the skin of the outwardly friendly priest. She took a deep breath and composed herself.

  ‘Father Antonio, I think I understand what you are trying to say, though I have to say I don’t agree with you. Your attitude encourages hate towards those who may be different and could be seen as the motivation for someone wanting to cause harm. Jason Jennings is dead and for all we know he could have been killed by someone who believes, as you do, that he is a sinner. The next step surely, is to judge that he should be exterminated. Now, is there someone here that might confirm your somewhat vague memory that JJ may have attended and be able to help us?’

  Father Antonio nodded. ‘I’ll get the church secretary, Joan Whitmore, if you’d like. She has a record of everyone who has been in the congregation pretty much over the last century. She’s been here almost that long herself, so she might even remember him if he did attend.’

  He stood up and went to the door, before turning towards her.

  ‘DC Stafford, just because I have told you what the Scriptures say, it doesn’t mean that this man wouldn’t have been loved. The Bible says that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. John chapter 3, verse 16. I would have loved this man, whatever his persuasions, and I, like many other Catholic priests and bishops, would encourage all the members of our congregation to do the same.’

  *

  ‘Jason Jennings, date of birth 24th August 1974 was a member of this church and the 8th West Norwood scout group affiliated to our parish for about ten years prior to the year 2000. I remember him myself.’

  Charlie was immediately excited.

  She watched as the old lady folded the large, leather-bound book shut, almost reverently. Had she not done it so carefully Charlie would have expected a cloud of dust to have jettisoned up into the air; so old did it look.

  ‘I’ve been responsible for the upkeep of records since I was a young girl. There’re not many people who have come and gone over the years that I don’t remember.’

  The secretary pushed her wiry, grey hair behind her ears and adjusted her spectacles. She was a petite lady, with a slightly hunched back and reminded Charlie of everybody’s favourite granny; she must have been ninety years of age at least, judging by the deep wrinkles in her skin, but she had a kindly disposition and the inquisitive look of a woman half her age.

  ‘I do remember Jason. He wanted to be called JJ; hated his actual name because he said it reminded him of his father. He was a naughty boy, about fifteen or sixteen years old when he first came to us, always getting into trouble. Gradually though, as he got more involved with our scout group and the church, he settled down; in fact he became almost too quiet. I always thought he looked sad but he would never say why. It was a shame when he disappeared. Several people tried to find him, to make sure he was OK. The last thing I heard was that he had moved to the coast and settled down… with a man.’

  She slipped the book under her arm and gave Charlie a wink.

  ‘I had a quick chat with Father Antonio before I came in. I gather you’ve had the lecture! Can I just say, we don’t all think the same as our priests. Some women even take the contraceptive pill these days!’

  Charlie smiled back at the ageing, Catholic lady. It was right what her mother said; you should never judge a book by the cover. Sometimes the most unlikely people were the ones to offer the biggest surprises and Joan Whitmore’s attitude was uplifting.

  ‘Oh Joan, before you go. In the next few days could you make us up a list of the other priests who have served here over the years, permanent or temporary and also anyone connected to the scouting movement that might have helped JJ. Do you think he would have known Mickey Barton?’

  ‘There’s absolutely no way he would not have known Mickey Barton. Mickey ran that scout group almost single-handedly for twenty years with a rod of iron. JJ was part of the squad during some of that time and after he turned eighteen I believe he helped Mickey to run it. They would have worked together weekly and gone camping together with the other boys most summers.�
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  Charlie watched as the old lady shuffled away. Her earlier frustration with the priest was waning slightly, replaced instead with relief. They now had the first evidence to link both victims together.

  *

  ‘It’s lucky Paul wasn’t with you speaking to that priest, instead of me.’ Charlie commented as they let themselves out.

  ‘Or Sabira. I wouldn’t like to say out of the pair of them who would pack the better punch.’

  ‘True. Thankfully most people are a little more enlightened these days, though with that sort of attitude it’s no wonder our unit is still so busy.’

  She smiled to herself at the thought of her two colleagues squaring up to Father Antonio, breathing a sigh of relief at leaving the oppressive environment.

  ‘I didn’t like that man.’ Hunter wound down the window, subconsciously mirroring her sentiment. ‘But I can’t put my finger on quite what it was about him, aside from his blatant prejudices. Maybe Sophie Pasqual was right about men of the cloth after all. I get the impression he knows more about both JJ and Susan than he’s letting on; and not just stuff he’s heard about in the confessional.’ He gave a little shiver and blew on his hands before winding the window back up. Although the sky was bright, it was deceptively cold.

  ‘Me too. He clearly held Susan in high regard but at the same time totally disagreed with JJ’s way of life. He gave me the creeps.’ Charlie felt a tingle run through her spine.

  ‘Is that your professional opinion?’ Hunter laughed.

  ‘Maybe it’s more of a gut feeling. One thing I know for sure is that we need to speak to Mickey Barton again, now that we have a positive link between him and both Susan and JJ.’

  Hunter nodded, just as his phone rang. He picked it up and Charlie watched his face become more animated as he spoke. When at last he clicked the call off, she could hardly wait for the news he had.

  ‘Well! You may or may not be correct about Father Antonio, but you’re quite right about needing to speak to Mickey Barton again. That was the skipper from the Polsa search team that have been going through Barton’s flat. They’d decided to do the bathroom last as it appeared quite spartan and clean.’ He paused and rubbed his hands up over his face.

  ‘And…’

  ‘Well let’s just say, Barton’s going to have to come up with a good story for this one. They found Susan’s missing engagement ring hidden in the water in the cistern of the toilet.’

  Chapter 25

  ‘We’ve got the toxicology report back on Susan.’

  They’d returned to Lambeth HQ to update the others on their findings.

  Hunter perched on a desk and scanned through the report, reading out the relevant points. ‘Time of death; estimated to be at around 00.30 to 01.30. Rigor mortis had set in. Liver and rectal temperature checks were carried out and confirmed her death to be within that timeframe’ He stopped and raised his eyebrows. ‘So that would put Abrahams’ car firmly in the right place at the right time. ‘Her last meal was eaten around 18.30 and consisted of pork, potatoes, carrots and broccoli, followed by apple pie. She was drinking orange juice. ‘This bits interesting now.’ Hunter continued reading, ‘Traces of Gamma-Butyrolactone were found in her bloodstream. The lab is unable to give the exact amount she ingested initially, as it disappears from the body fairly rapidly; but there is no legitimate reason for it to be there. It is unlikely Susan would have had this sort of substance in her body naturally and it’s not present in any known proteins, fats or carbohydrates. Apparently it should never be taken orally.’

  ‘Gamma-Butyrolatone. She was given GBL?’ Sabira shook her head. ‘It’s dangerous stuff, colourless and odourless. It’s very similar to GHB, better known as the date rape drug, but it has the same effects. I dealt with a few rape cases where it was used, when I was working on the Sapphire Team. ‘The quantity has to be carefully measured with a pipette or it can kill. Experts are saying that it kills around six people a year but scores more are hospitalised. It’s lethal. I read recently that it’s being called ‘coma in a bottle’, works out at fifty pence a shot. It’s used a lot among gay men, isn’t it Paul?’

  Paul nodded. ‘It’s prolific in the gay community. I’m told it gives users a high which is next to none and aids relaxation, but you’re right, Sab, it’s got to be treated with care. I’ll Google it and read what it says.’

  He reached for his phone and began tapping in the name of the substance.

  ‘It would explain how the killer got Susan to the cemetery so easily!’ Sabira was animated. ‘Do we know how he got her out of the house yet, boss?’

  Hunter frowned. ‘Not exactly. We know she hadn’t planned to go out and we also know now from the download of her phone that after speaking to Emma she didn’t get any other calls or texts. House to house enquiries have been negative, but then her road is quiet and it would have been dark after 7 p.m. It was also cold and windy on Sunday evening so most people were probably indoors. If someone she knew had called and invited her out on the spur of the moment, the chances of anyone seeing them would be slim. She was dressed for the cold and had her bag and phone with her, which suggests she went voluntarily.’

  Sabira chipped in again. ‘So, once he’s got her out of the house, he offers her some orange juice which looks like a nice healthy drink, but unbeknown to her it’s spiked with GBL. She drinks it quite happily and within a short amount of time he’s got her exactly where he wants her, unconscious and under his control.’

  Hunter nodded his agreement. ‘It sounds extremely plausible. Paul, what does it say on the internet?’

  Paul held his phone up. ‘Here you go; Gamma-Butyrolactone, GBL, or G is a colourless liquid. It is soluble in water and can be used as a paint thinner, floor stripper or an industrial cleaning solvent. It is derived from GHB, like Sab said, which is illegal, but so far in the UK, because GBL has lawful uses, it hasn’t been classified as a Class A or B drug, so it’s not illegal to import, supply or possess unless knowingly to be used for human ingestion.’

  ‘Why would anyone want to ingest industrial cleaning solvent? People must be mad,’ Hunter addressed Paul.

  ‘Because people will take risks in the search of bigger and better highs. It’s only when it’s taken in higher doses that it can cause unconsciousness, coma and even death.’

  ‘My point exactly. We’ll have to wait for the tox report back on Jennings, but if GBL is linked to the gay community anyway, the chances are it will have been used in his case too?’

  ‘JJ would probably have been familiar with it, but he could easily have been given too much without realising. It really should be banned.’

  ‘There’ll always be something else that comes along to replace it,’ Bet joined in. ‘As soon as one substance is classified, another takes its place. You know as well as I do that legal highs are more popular than cocaine or heroin these days, but they’re just as dangerous, if not worse. Whoever thinks, I know, I’ll just pop into the local farm shop or garage and buy a few quid’s worth of plant fertiliser or metal cleaner to swallow and see what happens?’ Bet stopped mid flow and the office stayed silent, everyone taking in what she had just said and processing the information to the same conclusion.

  ‘Mickey Barton,’ Charlie said the words that they were all thinking. ‘He works in a garage. He’d have access to GBL every day. I’ve heard it’s very good if used to clean the alloy wheels of cars.’

  *

  ‘My brother’s not here. He’s gone away for a few days. Can’t you lot give him a break? His wife’s been murdered; he hasn’t got a home to call his own at the moment and his daughter doesn’t want to know him.’

  Mickey Barton’s sister was a female version of Mickey. Squat, solid and bad-tempered, she was obviously not going to be told what to do by any copper, never mind ones that had given her brother a hard time. Charlie knew immediately, from the set of the woman’s jaw, that anything she said would be ignored, countered and reported straight back to Mickey.

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bsp; ‘I’m sure you can understand, we have a job to do and we have the most serious crime to investigate.’

  ‘And I’m sure you lot understand that unless you have a warrant, you’re not getting in here. My brother needs protection and help, not harassment. He’s going through a hell of a time and he needs to be left alone with what family he’s got left.’

  ‘Do you know where he is?’

  ‘No I don’t. He just said he’d be back when he next needs to sign on bail. He’s doing everything you lot asked of him.’

  ‘Well do you have his phone number, so I can at least speak with him. I’m sure he wouldn’t disappear without leaving some way his children can contact him if they need to?’ That angle always worked well, the good father bit.

  ‘You’ll have to ask them then. As far as I know he doesn’t want anyone contacting him. He’ll phone me or them if he needs to know anything.’ She smiled as sweetly as her face would allow and started to close the door. ‘Now if that’s everything? I’ll tell him you called, when he next phones in.’

  Charlie stepped back, cursing to herself quietly. The sister was right, in as much as they couldn’t just go marching in to look for him without a warrant, unless they knew for certain he was there. Dammit! Maybe they should have sent someone along first to see if they could see him. They’d just presumed he’d be there because that was the address he’d been bailed to. They should have remembered his only real bail conditions were to report to the local police station twice a week and turn up on the date they’d set for bail; not to live and sleep at the address every night.