Separated at Death (The Lakeland Murders) Read online

  ‘What about you?’

  ‘I’m riding in the front son.’

  ‘How come?’

  ‘Lots of reasons. Firstly because I’m not a weedy little low-life who’s frightened to death of a couple of Mancs, and secondly because I’m a sergeant in Cumbria Constabulary, and don’t you forget it. But mainly because I’ve just beaten you at cards.’

  Ryan smiled. ‘There is that.’

  ‘Right let’s go. Just walk normally, but don’t look around, just get straight in.’

  Hall phoned John Hamilton’s mobile, and asked if they could meet.

  ‘Do I need my lawyer?’

  ‘Definitely not. I have a couple of things to discuss with you, so can we meet up? It’s not stuff we can talk about on the phone.’

  ‘It’s about Simon, isn’t it?’

  ‘What makes you say that?’

  ‘Because you think he planted Amy’s phone here.’

  ‘Let’s meet up properly and have a talk. Where are you?’

  ‘I’m at our Kirkby Lonsdale shop. Do you want to come here?’

  ‘No, let’s meet somewhere else. Tell you what, I’ll buy you a bacon roll and a cuppa from the caravan at Devil’s Bridge, where all the bikers go. Best butties for miles.’

  ‘And here’s me thinking that the police were having their budgets cut. OK, see you in half an hour?’

  Hall and Jane Francis carried the shopping and body armour to his car.

  ‘It’s like we’re going to a picnic hosted by Quentin Tarantino’ said Hall. Jane laughed.

  They loaded the car, and got in. ‘What kind of music would you like?’

  ‘Something peaceful’ said Jane. Hall was in the mood for something upbeat, but found a CD and pushed it in to the slot. They drove off, and by the time they were on the one way system the music was audible.

  ‘Vaughn Williams, lovely’ said Jane.

  ‘Nothing makes me feel as English asThe Lark Ascending’ said Hall. ‘Did you know that he wrote it while watching troop ships cross the channel in 1914?’

  ‘No, I didn’t.’

  ‘Makes it seem all the more poignant I think, although I think I’m right in saying that while he was writing the piece a kid grassed him up to the local cops, thinking he was writing in code, and they arrested him as a spy.’

  Jane laughed. ‘And who says the Brits are frightened of culture? But isn’t in one of the most popular bits of music in the country?’

  ‘I didn’t know’ said Hall. ‘I always assumed it wasAngels by Robbie Williams.’

  ‘I think that’s just for funerals.’

  Hall gunned the throttle as they drove onto the by-pass, and was surprised at how fast the old 5-series got going. Normally he drove for economy. He always enjoyed the few miles on the A65 to Kirkby Lonsdale, so he slowed down and turned the music up. Neither of them spoke, and Hall found himself wondering what Jane was thinking about.

  As they drove into the almost empty car park at Devil’s Bridge Hall asked if Jane had been there before. She hadn’t.

  ‘You’re in for a treat then. Bikers come from far and wide for the bacon butties that you get here.’

  ‘But didn’t you know I’m a vegetarian Andy?’

  Hall was flustered. ‘Sorry. Are you really?’

  ‘Got you there.’

  Jane was still laughing as they left the car and walked over the bridge. The light was starting to go, and it looked a long way down to the river below.

  ‘Have whatever you fancy from the menu’ said Hall, smiling.

  He bought them both a bacon buttie and a tea each, and they sat on the wall waiting for Hamilton to arrive. A few bikers were still around, but the parking area was almost deserted.

  ‘Donors’ said Jane Francis.

  ‘You what?’

  ‘My brother is a doctor, used to work in A&E, and they called bikers donors. Put me right off.’

  ‘I suppose some people like the risk.’

  ‘I don’t like the odds’ said Jane, ‘but I do see the attraction. The open road, the freedom....’

  ‘What about the cold and the wet?’

  Hall heard ‘Inspector’, and turned to see Hamilton walking towards them. He’d already bought a cup of tea.

  ‘They’re just closing up for the evening, so I missed out on a bacon roll. What did you want to talk about?’

  Hall got up and shook hands with Hamilton.

  ‘I wanted to bring you up to speed, informally, and also ask you about a couple of things.’

  Hamilton nodded agreement.

  ‘So you finally accept that I didn’t kill my own daughter? Well, that’s something anyway.’

  ‘You’ll have formal confirmation of that shortly, and there’ll be a press release too. But I wanted to talk about Simon.’

  ‘About why he planted Amy’s phone in my house?’

  ‘Do you think he did?’

  ‘I suppose he must have.’ Hamilton still didn’t look convinced.

  ‘Would it surprise you if I said that we have reason to believe that your brother is involved in serious criminality?’

  ‘Yes. Yes, it would. You mean some kind of tax fiddle, or fraud?’

  ‘You think that’s likely?’

  ‘Possible, certainly. Like I told you he’s never been the best businessman, and he and Sarah have always had a pretty expensive lifestyle. And he was so angry and hostile when I bought him out that I thought at the time that he had to be in pretty bad financial trouble. I offered to help, but he said he was fine. We’ve always been pretty close, or at least we were, so I believed him.’

  ‘What if I said that we think he’s involved in drugs?’

  John Hamilton sipped at his tea. ‘I know that he uses a bit, always has. I was never interested. but my ex-wife used to dabble. That was before we had children of course.’

  ‘So you’re not surprised?’

  ‘Oh yes, very surprised actually. I can’t really seem him moving in those kinds of circles. Although I don’t really have any idea what a drug dealer is actually like to be honest.’

  ‘We don’t think he’s dealing himself. We think that he might be financing drug deals, so managing the business end of things if you like.’

  ‘I see. Well anything’s possible I suppose.’

  ‘But you’ve seen no evidence, nothing that leads you to believe it might be the case?’

  ‘No, I honestly can’t say that I have. Mind you, I haven’t seen any signs that his property business has been failing either, which would be the only explanation for him getting mixed up in anything criminal.’

  ‘OK, thanks. That’s helpful.’

  ‘But what has all this got to do with Amy’s murder? She wasn’t involved in any sort of drug dealing was she? That’s about as likely as me having been responsible for what happened.’

  ‘No, no, we don’t think that at all. We can’t see what the connection might be as yet, and that’s where we hoped you could help. Can you think of anything?’

  ‘Sorry, no, I can’t.’

  ‘OK, that’s fine. It was good of you to talk to us, especially after everything that’s happened in the last few days.’

  ‘That’s OK. And I suppose you want me to keep this conversation to myself?’

  ‘Yes, absolutely. It’s absolutely vital that your brother doesn’t find out that we’ve spoken.’

  ‘I wouldn’t have met you if I wasn’t willing to keep quiet. I hope to God you’re wrong about all this, but I want justice for Amy, and I don’t much care how you get there, so long as you do. I know that I didn’t kill my daughter and I’m sure my brother didn’t either, but being sure about something isn’t the same as having proof, is it?’

  ‘No John, it certainly isn’t.’

  It was dark by the time Hall and Jane Francis got back to the car. As they drove out of Kirkby Lonsdale, along the back roads that would take them round the north side of Kendal, the mood had shifted. Neither said much as they drove, and Hall turned on t
he news.

  ‘Maybe John’s ex-wife knows something’ said Jane eventually.

  ‘Something about Simon’s drug connections? It’s possible I suppose. John did say that she’d ‘dabbled’ in the past, whatever that means.’

  ‘Have we got time to talk to her, before we meet up with Ian?’

  ‘Yes, why not? Do you want to phone ahead and see if she’s in? We’d be there in about twenty five minutes.’

  They’d only been outside Amanda Hamilton’s house for five minutes when her car drew up.

  ‘So much for the cash flow problems of this lot, look at that car’ said Hall.

  ‘But it’s the same model as this, isn’t it sir?’

  Hall laughed.

  ‘Yes, alright Jane, but that’s ten years younger and is probably worth ten times what this is. I don’t know how they do it.’

  They got out of the car, and Hall had to press the plipper a few times before his car locked. Jane pretended not to notice.

  ‘I was at the undertakers’ said Amanda when they were inside. Her eyes were very red. ’The funeral is the day after tomorrow. I take it you’ll be there?’

  Hall nodded. ‘We wanted to give you an update on the enquiry. You probably already know, but all charges against your husband have been dropped. A public announcement to that effect will be made shortly, and we’ll make it clear that he plays no part in our ongoing investigation.’

  ‘Yes, that’s good, but hardly a surprise. There was never even the remotest chance that John had killed our daughter. He would have died rather than harm her. So does this mean that you’re going to arrest someone else? That little chav she was seeing perhaps?’

  ‘Our enquiries are progressing Mrs Hamilton’ said Hall.

  ‘So why did you want to talk to me?’

  ‘I wanted to ask you a couple of questions about Simon Hamilton.’

  ‘Simon? What about him?’

  Something about her reaction told Hall to be cautious.

  ‘Do you know him well?’

  ‘Not really. I’ve never liked him that much to be honest with you. He and John are very different. I suppose John always knew that he’d have to run the business, so he’s always been the sensible one, but Simon never had that focus somehow, so he’s just moved from one thing to another.’

  ‘What kind of things?’

  ‘Well, in the eighties he tried selling boats on Windermere, then it was classic cars, and more recently it’s been property. Somehow he manages to get his timing wrong every time.’

  ‘So he’s in financial trouble now?’

  ‘You’d have to ask him about that.’

  ‘But aren’t you involved in the same business?’ asked Jane.

  ‘We have an interest in property too.’

  ‘That’s not what I meant. You, your husband and Simon Hamilton are all named as directors of a couple of companies.’

  Amanda looked surprised.

  ‘They’re dormant I think. You’d have to ask my husband about them. Now, if there’s nothing else.’

  ‘There’s always something else I’m afraid’ said Hall cheerfully. ‘Do you buy your drugs from Simon?’

  ‘Drugs? Who told you that?’

  ‘Do you?’

  ‘Of course not. Now, are you going to leave me to grieve for my daughter in peace?’

  ‘Of course. But do get in touch if there’s anything you’d like to talk about. If you know anything that you think could help us then this is the time, it really is.’

  ‘I haven’t got anything else to say. Now please, I need to sort out some tea for my daughter.’

  Hall drove along the back roads, skirted round Kendal, and drove north for a mile or two. ‘What did you make of her Jane?’

  ‘Hard to tell. I thought we touched a nerve with the business connection with Simon more than the drugs, but she was certainly in a hurry to see the back of us.’

  ‘I do have that effect on people.’

  ‘Don’t be so hard on yourself Andy.’

  They drove on, and then he turned down a steep, narrow metaled track towards a small group of buildings. A couple of unmarked cars were parked in the yard, and Hall parked next to them.

  ‘Did you bring your wellies?’ he asked Jane.

  ‘No, do I need them?’

  ‘We may have a walk round in a bit. But first you can have the pleasure of getting to know Ryan Wilson. Chat to him about Vaughn Williams maybe.’

  Ian Mann came to the door when Hall knocked. Ryan was in the living room, watching TV, and another man, who Hall vaguely recognised, was sitting in the kitchen.

  ‘This is Inspector Tony Sharples from tactical support at HQ’ said Mann. ‘We were just talking about the suitability of this location.’

  ‘Is it alright?’ asked Hall.

  ‘Yes, it’s a rather good spot for an ambush’ said Sharples. He was the kind of ex-army type who Hall usually couldn’t stand, because they were really still soldiers in police uniform, but Hall recognised that this time his skills would be useful. ‘How professional do you think your targets are?’ asked Sharples.

  ‘Probably not very. But we’ve got no idea who else they might bring along. So we should be cautious.’

  Sharples opened up his laptop. The satellite picture of the landscape showed the road, the drive, the group of houses, and the river in the valley bottom beyond. ‘If they’re total idiots they’ll just drive a vehicle down the drive to the houses, the way you came in just now, and of course we’ll just block that exit as soon as they’re down. We can deploy a stinger at the top of the drive if they try to get out again, so that’s easy. I think we can also safely assume that they won’t try to come down the other side of the valley and over the river. It might get their trainers wet.’

  ‘Are you sure? As far as I recall it’s just a beck really.’

  ‘I’ve got a couple of my team down there now, but they’re reporting that it’s in spate, and is at least three feet deep all along this stretch. But if it makes you feel better we’ll tuck a vehicle and a couple of my troops in a farm building here. If they did decide to come in from the far side of the river then that’s the nearest place to get to by car.’

  ‘So which way would you come?’

  ‘Good question, exactly right. Which way would I come? Well I certainly wouldn’t go further north on the road, and try to come in from the north side on this side of the river. Your farmer friend tells me that the ground is really boggy. He doesn’t even let his sheep on it. But look here,’ Sharples tapped the laptop screen with his pencil, ‘see this little lane down to the farm to the south of this one, on this side of that stream? What I’d do is drive down there, leave my vehicle, and come in from the side. It just means crossing a field, and there’s even a convenient gate look. So we’ll have a couple of people over there, and we’ll stinger the top of that lane too if we need to.’

  ‘So we let them get right in here, do we?’

  ‘That’s up to you. We don’t know how they’ll be armed, but I’d have thought we let them get right in. Gas, a few flashes and me and a couple of my lads should have them on the deck in two seconds flat. Of course, they’re very welcome to put up a fight.’

  Hall let that pass. Sharples knew the rules of engagement well enough.

  ‘So it’s here then’ said Hall. Suddenly he felt tense. ‘You know you’ll have to get all your people in position before Ryan gives his location to them, because they’ll almost certainly get straight out here?’

  Sharples nodded.

  ‘OK then. What we’ll do is get Ryan to contact Simon Hamilton, probably via his mate Wayne, and look to set up a meeting for tomorrow. They’re bound to want to make it at night. But Ryan won’t give them the location until later tomorrow, maybe five or six o’clock, so we’ll need to have everyone in position before he does. You happy with that?’

  Sharples nodded.

  ‘Ian, anything to add?’

  ‘I assume that we’ll be here somewhere?’ />
  ‘Yes’ said Sharples ‘next door. Ian will be armed, and will be under my tactical command, if that’s OK with you Andy.’

  ‘Certainly is. I know when I’m out of my depth.’

  ‘Right’ said Sharples. ‘When my boys get back we’ll be off, and unless we hear from you I’ll brief them in Kendal at 15:00 tomorrow, and deploy at 16:00. What do we do if there’s a no show?’

  ‘How about we call it off at first light, get people down here and get Ryan out of here?’ said Mann. ‘We could re-assess then.’

  ‘Sounds good’ said Sharples. ‘Overtime has been a bit short lately. I assume you’ll clear it with your Super?’

  ‘You do the paperwork and I’ll pass it along’ said Hall. ‘Robinson already looks at me like I’m Fred the Shred, and I’ve bankrupted the whole force single handed. So another few grand won’t change his opinion. Come on, let’s talk to the star of the show.’

  In the living room Hall picked the remote up, and turned off the TV.

  ‘They haven’t even got Sky’ said Ryan.

  Mann introduced Hall and Jane Francis.

  ‘We’ve gone to a lot of trouble and expense for you Ryan’ said Hall. ‘Now it’s time for you to do your bit for us. We want you to set up a meeting with Simon, tell him you want to clear the air. And what we’d like you to do is contact him now, but tell him that you’ll give him the exact location tomorrow. Is that OK?’

  ‘Yes, and then you’ll nick him?’

  ‘If you’re telling the truth, and he turns up looking to do you harm then yes, we’ll nick him, and anyone else that he brings along. Now do you want to do it via Wayne, or direct with Simon?’

  ‘Have to be through Wayne. I don’t have a working number for Simon.’