Yeah, but we only need him to have made one mistake, just one mistake, and well be able to put him in the flat, and then Ill have him.
Youre sure its him, arent you?
I dont know. The more I see him, the more Im next to him, the more sure I am hes hiding something. But its almost as if this is a game to him-as if hes somehow enjoying it. I dont know, but theres something. . Sean didnt finish his thought.
Maybe you just really want it to be him? Donnelly argued. Maybe you just dont like the smug bastard with his expensive attorney?
No, Sean answered quietly, without looking at Donnelly. I can feel his guilt.
Guilt, aye, Donnelly agreed. But guilt for the death of Daniel Graydon?
I dont know, Sean admitted, but Ive got a very strong feeling James Hellier and I are going to cross swords again, and soon.
CHAPTER 9
James Hellier left the Belgravia police station two hours later, only slightly annoyed at being kept longer than necessary. Feeling pleased with himself, he indulged in a little smile. He hoped his attorney hadnt noticed.
They walked along the road a short way. Hellier felt certain he was being followed by the police. No matter. No need to tell Templeman. No need to tell anyone.
So the police had samples from his body. The detective constable had made sure the doctor was thorough: blood, saliva, semen, hair of various types. All for elimination purposes. All given voluntarily. The detective had had a strange name. Paulo Zukov. Hellier had been tempted to ask him if he was more wop than Slav, or the other way around. He had managed not to.
Hellier and Templeman shook hands and went their separate ways. Templeman clearly had no notion that Hellier might be anything other than an innocent man dragged into somebody elses mess. God bless lawyers. They pump them full of some serious self-importance bullshit in law school. They all think theyre in a John Grisham novel, protecting the innocent from their oppressors.
Theyd taken his fingerprints too. Hed known Corrigan was lying about finding prints on the victims money, even if his lawyer had not. It was unfortunate he had to give them, but he had foreseen it. It wouldnt be a problem. It mustnt be a problem. It wasnt.
Sean and Donnelly watched Hellier leave the same way theyd watched him arrive. They watched him shake hands with Templeman and move off. Hellier looked over his shoulder, back toward them, and walked on.
Donnelly broke the silence. He thinks were following him.
Not yet, were not, Sean replied. I just got a message from Featherstone-surveillance starts tomorrow. What about the other men the victim had sex with? Have we spoken to all of them now?
We have. They came forward of their own accord. Theyre not happy about admitting to paying for sex, but not exactly ashamed either.
Not like Hellier, Sean stated rather than asked.
No. The others seem straightforward. Theyve provided statements, prints, and samples, no problem. None of the lads who interviewed them gets any sort of feeling. Well run them all through the system anyway, but no one looks interesting.
Not like Hellier, Sean stated rather than asked.
No. The others seem straightforward. Theyve provided statements, prints, and samples, no problem. None of the lads who interviewed them gets any sort of feeling. Well run them all through the system anyway, but no one looks interesting.
Any sign of a boyfriend? Sean asked. No matter what I think of Hellier, I still have to consider that possibility.
According to his friends, there was no boyfriend, now or in the recent past, other than the possibility he was seeing our missing barman, Jonnie Dempsey.
And further back? No jilted john with an ax to grind?
Apparently not. It appears Daniel was more careful with his private life than he was with his business one.
Anything else? Sean asked.
I took the liberty of sending out a national circular, asking if other forces have come across any murders similar to ours.
And?
And nothing. Our little shop of horrors appears to be unique.
So, Sean said, Helliers still our main man. Until I say different. Donnelly opened the car door unexpectedly. Going somewhere nice?
I just want to check on Paulo. Make sure everything went okay.
Dont worry about Paulo. He knows what hes doing. Sean trusted Paulo. He trusted all his team.
All the same. Ill not sleep tonight if I dont check.
Sean wasnt used to seeing Donnelly so concerned. Okay, check. Ill wait here. And ask him if he needs a lift.
Donnelly was gone. Sean watched him running across the road, dodging the traffic. He moved pretty well for a big man.
DC Zukov waited for Donnelly in the basement toilet of the Belgravia police station. He was relieved to finally see Donnellys considerable frame enter, shrinking the room. Donnelly stopped in front of the large mirror and began to comb his scruffy salt-and-pepper hair with his hands.
Theres no one else in here. Were fine, Zukov assured him.
Then why are you fucking whispering?
Zukov spoke normally. I dont know. Its just that Im not used to talking to strange men in public toilets.
I hope not, young man. In an instant Donnellys tone became more serious. Did you get what I asked for?
Zukov smiled. He put his hand in his inside jacket pocket and pulled out a small plastic evidence bag containing two hairs that only minutes earlier had been plucked from Helliers scalp. He handed it to Donnelly, who snatched it away. I take it the official samples have been sealed accordingly? he asked.
As you requested, Zukov told him. Everythings been bagged and tagged properly. These are the little extras you wanted kept off the books.
Good. Donnelly opened an empty metal cigarette case and folded the bag carefully, making sure he didnt bend the contents. He put the bag in the case and snapped it shut. He tucked it into his blazer pocket and patted it. Just to be on the safe side. You never know when youre gonna need a helping hand.
You gonna leave them in Graydons place to be found by the forensics boys or you got some other idea how to use them? Zukov asked.
Im not going to do anything with them, said Donnelly. Not yet anyway.
Why? What are you waiting for?
Donnelly puffed out his chest and raised himself to his full height. Listen up, son. These are the three rules of life according to Dave Donnelly: Number one-never accept a bribe, no matter how skint you are. Number two-never fit up an innocent member of the public. Villains, fine, but never Joe Public. Number three-never, absolutely never, fit anyone up for murder unless youre absolutely positive they did it and its absolutely necessary to get them off the streets. Understand?
So youre not positive Helliers our man?
No. Not yet. Hes not our only suspect either, remember? Now drop this lot off at the lab before it closes, then run his fingerprints up to the Yard. The guvnor wants them compared to marks from the scene tout suite, so dont take no for an answer. Understand?
Not a problem, Zukov replied. And what will you be up to?
Donnelly looked him up and down before answering. Not that its any of your fucking business, but I thought Id head back to the nick with the guvnor, see if I cant find out whats going on in that head of his.
Problems? Zukov asked.
Im not sure yet. Lets just say I get the feeling the mans not telling me everything he knows.
At about 5 P.M. Sean was back at his desk plowing through e-mails and paperwork, oblivious to the chatter and ringing phones in the incident room. A detective constable whom everyone called Bruce knocked on his door frame, somewhat startling him.
Fingerprints returning your call, guvnor, he said without enthusiasm, but Sean felt his heart jump and his stomach sink. He crossed the office and took the phone.
DI Corrigan speaking. You can give the results to me.
I dont have the results yet, the anonymous voice replied. The marks from the scene are still being worked up. Identification Officer Collins is working that case. Hell run comparisons to your scene as soon as he can, starting with the various elimination prints youve sent us. If youre lucky, theyll be ready by Monday or Tuesday.
This is a murder investigation, Sean reminded him. I need them yesterday.
Sorry, said the voice. Monday or Tuesday is the absolute earliest theyll be ready. Listen, were snowed under here. Antiterrorist Unit just landed a rush job on us. Weve been told to make it a priority, no exceptions. Sorry.
Sean understood. It was an unavoidable sign of the times Okay. Thanks. You can get him to call me direct with the results. One more thing, Sean quickly added before the line went dead. Can you check for a set of conviction fingerprints for someone for me?
Sure, came the answer. Whats the name?
Sean was unaware that Donnelly had moved within earshot. James Hellier. Do you need a date of birth?
No. The names probably unusual enough. Give me a minute. Sean waited, the two or three minutes that passed feeling so much longer, before the voice finally spoke. No. No prints for that name here.
Sean felt the emptiness of disappointment. No problem, he managed to say, and hung up.
Donnelly cut through his state of melancholy. Interesting line of inquiry.
Meaning?
Asking Fingerprints if Hellier had a set of conviction prints on file, given that we already know he doesnt have any convictions. Remember, I checked.
I thought Id double-check, Sean said. I thought maybe his conviction never got sent from the court, or someone forgot to put it on the Police National Computer. Worth a try.
I see, belt and braces, eh. Any luck?
No, Sean answered. Helliers clean.
Hellier sat in his study watching for movements in the American money markets on his computer. His wife popped her head around the door without warning, but she wouldnt enter fully before asking. Elizabeth knew when to leave him alone; it was part of her role as the perfect wife, and she was paid well. She liked her life.
Are you okay in here, darling? she asked.
Im fine, sweetheart. Just catching up on a bit of work. I wont be long. Promise. He threw her a charming smile.
You work too hard. Its almost ten oclock.