Signal Red Part 41

Slipper took a look at the map, peering at the dense lines and tiny writing. Billy waited for a commendation, but nothing came. He was used to that with Butler, whose idea of praise was two grunts instead of one, but Slipper normally indulged his detectives.

'OK, Billy. You and Len get some Ordnance Survey maps of the area. Then get down there and poke around.'

'There's only those two exits, guv. A couple of cars each end'll bottle him up.'

Slipper shook his head. 'You've read his docket?'

'Of course.'

'He used to be a first-floor man, didn't he?'

Billy knew what was coming.

'Then if we come knocking at the front door, what is he likely to do?'

'Out through a skylight?'

'If there is one. We should find out. Go and look it over, on the QT, let me know what you find. Take Patricia Waring with you.'

'Why?' Waring was one of the small number of WPCs that the Squad called upon when a woman was the best, or only, option. She had posed as barmaids, toms, landladies and even a fruit-picker living in a caravan in Kent. For the Train Squad she had shared a Derry & Toms changing room with Charmian Biggs to monitor her spending behaviour. They got on so well they had moved on to c.o.c.ktails at the Roof Garden. Billy had no problem with Waring; she just seemed an unnecessary enc.u.mbrance.

'Because a couple sniffing around an area for a house to buy or rent is a lot less suspicious than a lone bloke who looks like he's casing the joint. Think of her as Arm Meat,' he said, using the slang for West End escort girls who didn't go the whole way with clients. Or, at least, claimed not to. 'Spend a day or two on it, come back, and we'll make sure we get the b.a.s.t.a.r.d.'

Billy turned to leave, but he sensed Slipper wasn't done and paused. Slipper looked up at him and spoke slowly and softly.

'I just got off the blower with Butler. The DPP has been leaned on from on high. We don't wait until we've got James, Reynolds, Edwards and White, we go with who and what we have. Which means pulling everything together, p.r.o.nto. All hands to the pumps on evidence prep, which means we let Reynolds and the others slide for now.' Billy could tell this didn't please him. They had almost caught Jimmy White after his missus went on a spending spree in Reigate. They tracked him to a caravan where they found 30,000 hidden in the walls, and White's fingerprints. But no Jimmy. 'Trial will be early next year at Aylesbury. I'm going to claim the call came after I sent you after our laddie in St John's Wood. So, Billy, come January, make sure Roy James is in the dock as well, won't you?'

The estate agents on Blenheim Terrace was a holdover from the 1940s, with a heavily wooded front and thick frosted gla.s.s designed to keep natural light out of the place. What little managed to enter simply highlighted the volume of dust floating in the air, thrown up whenever a doc.u.ment was inadvertently disturbed. At the rear, under spluttering fluorescent lights, two elderly men were writing in ledgers, and they sent their apprentice forward to deal with the inconvenient interlopers.

The young clerk listened to Billy and WPC Waring as they explained they were looking to move into the area and how much they could afford. Apparently two thousand pounds was not enough to get them anything other than a garage in need of decoration, so they upped it to three and were rewarded with a thin folder of possibilities, mostly one-bedroom flats. One of them, however, was a tiny cottage in Ryder's Terrace. They took the single sheet description and left the gloom of the office before they developed rickets.

Holding the paper before them, they walked around the corner into the mews. WPC Waring slid her arm through Billy's as if snuggling for warmth. It was a cold, bright day, the sky blue and diamond-hard, the sun low enough to hurt the eyes.

'Relax,' she said, as she felt him stiffen when she pulled him closer. 'Newly engaged couple looking for a house for marital bliss. What could be more natural?'

'What's GCH?' he asked.

'Gas Central Heating.'

'Right. T and G?'

'Don't know.'

He glanced down at her. Under an A-line topcoat she was wearing a grey woollen dress, sleeveless, with a cream chiffon blouse underneath. She had on knee-high boots, white tights or stockings, and a small beret on the back of her hair. It was certainly a change from the unflattering uniform and clunky shoes she was forced to wear most days. 'What made you join the Force, Patricia?'

'My dad.'

'Really?' It was hard to imagine any father wanting to put his daughter into the rough and tumble of the all-male, unforgiving world of the Met.

'He was a DS in Brighton for twenty years. Didn't want me to go in, but it's his own fault for telling so many good stories. And yes, he was right, you do get treated either like a d.y.k.e or a wh.o.r.e. It's Patti, by the way.'

'What?'

'My name. Patricia in uniform, Patti at all other times, William.'

'Billy.'

She rolled her eyes. 'I know. I was teasing. Shouldn't detectives be a bit quicker on the uptake?'

They had reached Ryder's Terrace and looked along the row of houses. There were two rows of cottages. Number 14 was on their left, on the plainer side of the street, flat- fronted and painted white. The ones opposite had fancier doorways and bowed windows.

The apparently happy couple stopped outside number 18, which contained the flat for sale, and looked up at it.

'Windows need painting,' he said. 'And look at that guttering.'

'Billy.'

He turned to look at her and she pushed onto her tiptoes and planted a kiss on his lips. 'Try and look pleased,' she whispered. 'Someone's just come out of number fourteen.'

He gave a smile.

'You look like you've got constipation. Show me the property details.'

He was aware of someone pa.s.sing behind them as he looked from page to house, reading out some of the features.

'He's gone,' Patti said.

'Was it him?' Billy asked, stepping back from her and looking down the pa.s.sage that led back to Blenheim Terrace.

'Right height. Beard, though. And hat. Hard to be sure. Sorry about the kiss.'

'All in the line of duty.'

'Well, I'd wipe off the lippie before you get back, for both our sakes.'

Billy took out his handkerchief and dabbed away the pink lipstick from the corner of his mouth. 'Nice shade.'

'Pale Fire,' she said. 'Come on, let's take a look.'

They strolled past number 14. It was a two-storey house, with large windows on the first floor, protected by railings, like a small, impractical balcony. Two doorbells showed it was also split into flats, although judging by the exterior dimension they must be exceedingly compact.

'The bottom one says Mrs King,' said Patti, squinting. 'I doubt if he's gone that far to disguise himself.'

'What good eyes you have,' Billy said, unable to read the names for himself. 'Let's take a stroll around the back.'

They walked the neighbouring streets, alert for a likely escape route. Number 14 b.u.t.ted against the walled yards of Blenheim Terrace. Jumping into one of those would trap you. One end of the row meant a drop into the access alley directly onto the pavement. You'd break a leg or ankle. At the western end of the cottages, the terrace gave onto rough waste, its ground level higher than that of the street. The distance from the roof to earth was still daunting.

'He'd need a parachute,' said Billy, turning away.

'Hold on.'

Patti picked her way gingerly across the rubble and broken gla.s.s, careful not to snap her spike heels. She hesitated at the foot of the wall and crouched down.

'What is it?'

She stood up and retraced her steps just as carefully. Then held up a hand blackened with dark soil. 'An allotment, apparently.'

'DC Naughton. A word.'

It was George Hatherill, looking terribly drawn, his usually immaculate tie askew. Billy guessed the Train Squad weren't the only ones working all the hours G.o.d and the devil sent.

'Sir.'

'In here.' He shuffled Billy into an unused interview room. 'You've heard, I suppose? About the DPP?'

'Yes. Trial to go ahead.'

Hatherill took out a cigarette and offered Billy one. They lit up. 'Well, the PM, Home Secretary and Postmaster General all had a hand in it. I want to know whether things are watertight this end.'

'Sir?'

'You know what I mean. Has anyone been unduly enthusiastic? I don't want any nasty surprises in court.'

Billy thought about Gordon Goody and the paint. Len had certainly been 'enthusiastic', but he wasn't going to reveal that to Hatherill, just as he hadn't to Slipper. 'Not that I know of, sir.'

'Because these blokes have the cash to hire some of the best briefs in town. Speed, Finch and Salmon, among others. One of them has that b.a.s.t.a.r.d Miles c.o.kely who would get Hitler off if the money was right.'

'There's one thing worrying me, sir.'

Hatherill smoked furiously. 'What's that - Frank Williams?'

'No. We've got the robbers at the farm, right?'

'Yes. Conclusively.'

Billy didn't think so. 'Many of the prints are on items that could be moved. Monopoly, for instance.'

'I am aware of that. They'll claim they played elsewhere. We'll be prepared for it.'

'And we have nothing at all to place anyone at the robbery. n.o.body at Bridego Bridge or Sears Crossing. Not a single print, fibre or hair. Everything depends on that farm and the jury believing that if you were at the farm you were part of the team.'

Hatherill dismissed that with a wave of his Senior Service. 'Well, it's commonsense.'

'Will that b.a.s.t.a.r.d c.o.kely think so? Or will he sow some seeds of doubt? You might have been at the farm, you might even have money, but does that mean you were at the train? He could go for accessory after the fact or receiving.'

'That's true,' the Commander conceded. 'But we've got Arthur James and Neil MacDermot for the prosecution. They are no pushovers. Receiving might do for some of them, but the main blaggers I want done for conspiracy to rob the mail and armed robbery. Which brings me back to my main point. I know time is running out, but I don't want to see anyone in the dock who will embarra.s.s us. Is that clear? If you have any doubts about how anyone is proceeding, the veracity of the evidence, dates, times, forensics, anything at all, then come straight to me. Not Slipper or Butler or Williams. Me. You understand?

Oh yes, sir. You want your Last Big Case to go off without a hitch. And you want me as you own little snout.

'Perfectly.'

'Good.' He clapped him on the shoulder and left, puffing smoke behind him like a corpulent steam engine.

Billy stubbed out his own cigarette and followed, his feet dragging a little more than when he entered the room.

Roy James heard the doorbell downstairs ring and froze. He wasn't expecting anyone. n.o.body came round at night and he never went out. Who would come calling? The only people who knew where he was were his mum, who didn't do visits in the dead of winter, and Dennis, a friend who had the rest of his train money well hidden. Before that he had entrusted it to an 'a.s.sociate' of Charlie's and the Richardsons, but that b.a.s.t.a.r.d had started to spend it. When he'd tried to get it back he had been forced to drop the names of some of Charlie's even heavier friends who might a.s.sist in its recovery. Using mallets and nails. He'd got the lump back, minus seven grand 'expenses and minder's fee'.

Dennis, though, wasn't a gangster, and Roy was confident he wouldn't take advantage. He was equally certain that Dennis wouldn't come round unannounced, ringing his doorbell.

Roy was aware that whoever was at the door would know somebody was in the flat. He was playing Ray Charles loud enough to be heard outside and the lights were on in the first-floor living room and hallway From the bedroom he heard the tinkle of breaking gla.s.s and leaped to his feet. His 'cush' was stashed in the low cupboard next to the mantelpiece. He yanked the door open, grabbed the BEA vinyl bag and ran into the hallway. There was a key in the lock of the bedroom, which he turned, buying himself a few seconds. In a well-practised move, he then climbed onto the stair banister and pushed open the fanlight.

He tossed the bag onto the roof and hauled himself through. Below him came the sound of hammering and splintering as the bedroom door was shattered.

It was bitterly cold outside and he s.h.i.+vered as, jacketless, he clambered onto the low-pitched roof. The stars were out, with but a sliver of a moon, but even in that light he could see the roof was sparkling with frost. It was going to be slippy, getting over the tiles.

He picked up the bag and crept forward, bent almost double, walking like Max Wall, his feet slithering and the slates splitting underfoot with a series of loud cracks, until he reached the end of the terrace. Below him, he could hear raised voices in the street. Police and neighbours, bellowing at each other.

Roy peeked over into the blackness, a void not penetrated either by the feeble starlight or the distant street-lamps. He had to visualise the landing pad he had prepared - a six-inch deep strip of soft, yielding soil amid the broken bottles and sc.r.a.p metal. He dropped the bag over, wincing as it thudded to earth. It was quite some drop.

Counting to three, Roy followed it, launching himself into s.p.a.ce, his legs slightly bent, ready to absorb the impact, cold air streaking past him, flapping his s.h.i.+rt. His feet sank into the soft soil and he pitched forward, landing heavily on one shoulder and partially winding himself. He took a couple of deep breaths, waiting for the pain to subside, then sprang up. He swept to the left where he was sure the bag had fallen.

Nothing.

He moved to the right, hands scything low over the soil, until something sharp caught one of his fingers. 's.h.i.+t.' He sucked it and tasted coppery blood.

'Looking for this, Roy?'

The torch beam snapped on, illuminating a woman holding his BEA shoulder bag.

'That? That's not mine,' he said quickly, standing upright. 'Never seen it before.'

'Oh, Roy,' said Billy Naughton, his voice full of regret at such a feeble lie. 'The prints placed you at the farm - what do you think these will do?' The cylinder of light turned on him and Roy held up his arm to s.h.i.+eld his eyes from the glare. As he did so, someone grabbed his wrist and snapped a handcuff bracelet round it.

'Four months since you gave us the slip at Goodwood,' said Duke Haslam, as he squeezed the second steel circle shut on the left wrist and gave him a poke in the kidneys for good measure. 'Hope you enjoyed it. It's the last bit of freedom you'll have for a while.'

Billy looked over at a beaming Patti Waring. He hoped she got credit for working out that the bit of urban 'gardening' on the bombsite was, in fact, a soft landing pad for a quick, daring escape, dug by the wily racing driver. She probably wouldn't, though. Both Butler and Slipper were at the front of 14 Ryder's Terrace and one or both would doubtless scoop all the kudos.

As Len Haslam led a disconsolate Roy James around to one of the waiting Squad cars, Billy took the bag from Patti and tucked it under his arm. She deserved a drink if nothing else.

'And then there were twelve,' he said, having added up who was behind bars now.

'Best go for the round number then,' shouted Len over his shoulder. 'A nice fat baker's dozen.'

For the moment, Billy didn't appreciate what he meant. But he would soon enough.

Fifty seven Scotland Yard, December 1963 In the small room put aside for them, the two Bank of England officials examined the contents of Roy's holdall while Frank Williams and a bleary-eyed but happy Billy Naughton watched. After depositing Roy James and the money at Cannon Row, he and Patti had gone out for that drink, which became seven or eight. He had avoided the Dive Bar and the Phoenix, instead using one off Charlotte Street she knew. It had been a better-than-pleasant evening, and had ended with a kiss that was the genuine article, rather than a means of distraction. Or, at least, he hoped so.

The Senior Clerk examined the piles of cash before him and said, with evident satisfaction, 'Twelve thousand, five hundred pounds exactly.'