Offender Of The Faith

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Book excerpt

Chapter 1

The gloved hand was steady, confident and sure. Controlling a razor-sharp blade, it smoothly sliced through skin and flesh. Barely a drop of blood spilled as deft fingers carefully probed and peeled back surface tissue to expose vital organs.

As if watching a road crash, Alex squirmed, with his eyes locked on the unfolding scene.

“I really enjoyed the lasagne and I’d like to keep it down. This isn’t really the most appropriate after dinner viewing,” he complained, his tone unable to disguise his distaste.

“Alex you’re a six- foot- four, fifteen stones brute of a man not a six stone weakling. I didn’t have you down as being squeamish. It’s not as if you don’t see plenty of blood and guts at work.” Sandra shook her head. “Change the station if you have to.”

“Precisely my point. We need to deal with more than enough death and mutilation on a daily basis; it hardly makes the most entertaining recreational viewing. I’d much rather see a good drama or even a mediocre sit-com.”

With care, Sandra lowered herself onto the couch next to him, leaned across for the remote and scrolled through several channels before settling on a repeat showing of a Big Bang Theory episode. “Is this more to your liking, oh great master?” she asked while cosying in close, smiling contentedly.

“Perfect,” Alex replied, circling his right arm around her shoulder while tenderly stroking the distended bump of her formerly trim abdomen. He then added, “First class comedy; we want to ensure this young lady is given the best start in life.”

Sandra laughed for only a second before a frown darkened her face, “Will you be really disappointed if we have a boy?”

“Of course not. I just meant…..” Alex started to reply but any reassurance he was planning was interrupted by the shrill ring from his mobile.

It was now Alex’s turn to frown when he glanced at the screen before swiping to accept the call. “Yes Phil, What’s up?”

“Evening Boss. Sorry to break into your free time.”

“I guess it must be something serious. Okay, forget the pleasantries and let me know what’s happened.”

“Yes, Sir. Unexplained death, almost certainly murder. Not far from you, Waverley Gardens, just off Minard Road.”

“You’re right. It’s only a five-minute walk from my flat. Just as well I don’t need to drive as I’ve had a glass of Rioja with dinner.”

“I’m sure it beats the drivel they call coffee from the office vending machine and I suspect it’s not too safe to drive after drinking that stuff either,” said Phil.

“Too bloody true, but that’s hardly the point. What more can you tell me?”

“Yes, Sir. Young Asian girl, late teens maybe early twenties, battered and strangled or so it seems. We’ve still to get the doc’s opinion to confirm the cause of death. Boyfriend came home from work and found her lying there. So he says. He called it in.”

“Any sign of sexual assault?”

“Can’t say for sure yet. She wasn’t naked or anything like that, but her clothes look badly crumpled. We didn’t want to disturb anything until Scene of Crime have checked everything out. They’re on the job now.

“What about the boyfriend? Where is he now?

“Sanjay’s talking to him. From what I could tell, the boy seemed really distraught, so either he’s innocent or a bloody good actor.” He looks to be a similar age and he’s white. This could be a delicate one because of the multiracial aspect so we thought we’d better let you know A.S,A,P. Sanjay’s taken charge so far. He asked me to fill you in.”

“Thanks Phil; you’ve done the right thing. Give me the flat position and number and I’ll be with you in a few minutes.”

Alex noted the information then disengaged the call. Turning to Sandra he asked, “I take it you picked up on that?”

“I caught enough to know Phil called, there’s been a major incident and it’s put the knackers on our carefully planned, nice, cosy evening,” Sandra answered.

“Sorry, Love, you know what it’s like?”

“Yes, I think I’ve been in the job long enough to understand how duty calls.” Then glancing at her bump, Sandra added, “If it wasn’t for this little one confining me to six months’ desk work, and now maternity leave, you’d have had to tie me down to stop me being involved.”

Alex nodded gravely, “You can’t be too careful, particularly after the miscarriage last year. I know being restricted must be really tough for you, but it won’t be long now, only a couple of weeks hopefully, and it will be worth it.”

“I know, I know. We’ve talked it through a thousand times, but it doesn’t make it any easier. There’s nothing I want more than to have a healthy baby, our baby. I know I have to be careful, but it’s hard having to sit around doing nothing.”

“You’re not doing nothing,” Alex said but seeing the look on Sandra face, he knew better than to offer more platitudes. “Listen, I’d better get going.”

Sandra stood to see Alex out. Moving down the hall, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror sitting above a photograph of her and Alex when they’d started dating. The contrast was startling. Over recent months, she’d let her hair grow out of the page-boy style she’d previously favoured and added highlights detracted from the severe jet black. Having a naturally slim, slight stature, the large baby- bulge made her look misshapen. Sandra frowned and ran her fingers through her hair. “I'm not surprised you can’t wait to get away from me. I’m fat and ugly.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I think you’re gorgeous and you’re not fat. You’ll get your figure back in no time after the baby’s born. Alex pulled Sandra into a brief hug, his arms straining to fully encircle her.

“I thought you promised never to let anyone come between us,” she joked before adding, “I’m really okay. I was only feeling a bit sorry for myself because I’m bored and frustrated waiting to get past this stage, but I’m really happy too, if that makes any sense.”

Alex smiled, pecked her cheek then slipped on his jacket, “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he said, then he sidled out of the door.

*

Skipping down the stairs, Alex barged through the security door and was outside in the street before he registered the inclement conditions. A chill in the air, together with a blustery wind, carried cold penetrating rain in a near horizontal direction. Alex shuddered, pulled his jacket close, before starting to jog, his long legs covering the distance to the crime scene in little time, without breaking sweat.

Taking the steps two at a time, Alex entered the close. The door was already propped ajar. T he uniformed officer who’d been left as sentry was standing further inside, protecting himself from the elements. Recognising Alex, he snapped to attention, “Sorry, I didn’t see you approach, Sir. I’d been checking out back.”

"And you are?"

""I'm PC Black, Sir, Stuart Black."

Alex removed his jacket and shook off the excess moisture. “Well PC Stuart Black, precisely what did you find in the back court?”

“Nothing, Sir.”

“Nothing? Can you not tell me when the bins were last emptied? Were there any footprints? Could the back door have been used as an escape route?” Alex quizzed.

“No, Sir,” I didn’t see anything.

“Right, Constable. I don’t believe you were out back, not unless it was for a sly smoke. I think it far more likely you’ve been skulking about in here, saving yourself from the cold and the wet.”

Tall, skinny and gawky, he gave the appearance of an overgrown schoolboy, and didn’t seem too much older. Stuart Black was unable to meet Alex’s gaze. He stood, dejected, his head slouched forward, staring at his own shoes,”

“Well?” Alex pursued.

“I’m sorry, Sir.”

“Too bloody right you're sorry. Sorry you got caught out, more like. Now listen to me and listen good. I don’t have a problem with officers taking care of themselves, not as long as they're still doing their duty. But one thing I won’t stand for is being lied to. If I catch you at that game again I’ll have your balls on a plate. Is that understood?”

“Yes, Sir. Sorry, Sir. It won’t happen again,” the boy stammered.

“Okay, now tell me what’s happening?” Alex demanded.

“Yes, Sir. The body was found in flat 2/2, that’s at the right-hand side on the second floor. Sergeant Guptar is up there talking to the husband. The techies got here some time ago, and Doctor Duffie’s arrived not long before you. DC Morrison is there too.”

“Fine, I’ll go and check for myself.” Alex made his way up the stairs, confident that the constable had learned an important lesson.

*

Alex bounded up the two flights and recognised the shape of Phil, swathed in crime scene coveralls, waiting at the front entrance. Seeing his attire, Alex chuckled inwardly. Although, at thirty-five, Phil was only a few years younger than himself, Alex considered he gave the impression of being an overgrown schoolboy. It wasn't only his adolescent sense of humour, his chubby face looked younger than its years and he appeared to handle everything with an exaggerated enthusiasm.

"Any more to report?" Alex enquired.

"Not much, Sir. We've not been given clearance to poke about yet. Do you want to come in? I've a suit here for you."

While Alex covered up, Phil informed him of what they'd learned so far. "No sign of forced entry. The flat's owned by George Radford, a private landlord, he’s registered and seems to be reputable. The tenancy started more than three months ago and Kevin McGowan, the boyfriend, is the only tenant on the lease. Since moving in, he's shared it with the victim, Keiran Sharma. It's a big flat for just the two of them, particularly as they're fresh out of university; both are aged twenty-one. I'll give you the layout. Through the entrance, there's a large square shaped hall, with all rooms off. Running clockwise, first there's a bathroom and then a sitting room, open-plan to a fitted kitchen with a scullery off to the side. There's a couple of cupboards and then there's two bedrooms off to the right. The first is enormous and was where they slept; it has a large double bed and various other items of furniture. Then last, a small double used as a study with a convertible sofa."

Alex nodded, "Yes, a lot of these flats are this shape."

"The body was found lying on the bed. There's bruising to arms and face and particularly to the neck; I reckon the windpipe's crushed.

"Has she been moved?" Alex asked.

"Not as far as we know. McGowan says he came home and found her like that. He claims he didn't touch her. He saw her, realised she was dead and came straight back out to call for help. Uniforms arrived within ten minutes and called us in, maybe an hour ago now."

"Anything else?"

"Yes, before we arrived. he'd knocked on the neighbour's door, through there," Phil pointed to the first door on the landing. "A single lady lives there, elderly. When she saw the state he was in, she asked him in. Sanjay's talking to him now, in there. He has Mary with him taking notes. Donny's got uniforms checking all the other doors in the close and next door as well, to see if anyone saw or heard anything or had anything else to tell us."

"Did the boy speak to anyone else before you got here?"

"Not that we know of; he said he hadn't when we asked."

"Right, I'll see how Sanjay's doing first. By then Duffie might be finished with the body and the techies may be a bit happier for us to wander around. You come with me."

Chapter 2

A blast of heat hit him, and Alex stepped back in surprise when the door was yanked open by Edna Gallacher. It was clear she’d been standing waiting at the door because he'd barely had the chance to lower his hand from pressing the doorbell.

Small and rake thin, a shock of pure white curls crested the lady's wizened old face. She peered at Alex's warrant card before pointing to a closed door. "They're in there, sitting at the kitchen table. They said they wanted me to give them some privacy. You'd better go on in."

"Not just yet," Alex replied. "I'd like to ask you some questions first, if I may. Is there somewhere we can sit? Tall and muscular, Alex was a big man in any circumstances, but by contrast, standing next to the old lady, he appeared to be a giant.

Mrs Gallacher shuffled forward and led them through to her formal lounge. The room could have been taken straight out of the nineteen-fifties. It was adorned with a fuss of heavy, dark brown furniture and covered in a profusion of ornaments. Everything looked old and worn but there was a pronounced and pleasant odour of beeswax polish and not a speck of dust to be seen anywhere.

Accepting her invitation, Alex and Phil sat down on a heavily-stuffed, deep buttoned sofa and were surprised by the comfort.

"Would you like me to make you a cup of tea?" she asked. Although appalled by the circumstances of their meeting, Mrs Gallacher was hospitable and appeared pleased to have company.

"Thank you, but no," Alex replied. "We won't keep you long and we have a lot of other things to take care of.

She nodded slowly then lowered herself into a matching armchair, before looking up expectantly.

Trying his best to put her at ease, Alex noted her personal details and asked about her circumstances, confirming his suspicions that Edna had lived in this flat for most of her life. A widow and now aged eighty-eight, this had been her first and only home after she'd married, some sixty-five years ago. She'd raised her children here, although both boys had grown and married, before emigrating to New Zealand. Besides Christmas and birthday cards and an ever-rarer phone call, she'd had no contact with them for decades.

"Now how well did you know your neighbours, Kevin and Keiran?"

"Och, they were a lovely couple, much nicer than the last tenants who stayed there. They were so much in love. They put me in mind of me and my Charlie when we started out. Full of the joys. They were very good to me, too. They had me in for tea every week and they were always checking if I needed shopping or anything" A darkness fell over Edna's expression and tears started to flow. "Kevin was so upset when he came in. He said she was dead. Is that true? What could have happened? Was there an accident?"

"We don't have any answers yet. We're trying to put the pieces together. Now, can you tell me if you saw or heard anything unusual this evening?" Alex probed.

"No, nothing, not until Kevin came to my door. Of course, my hearing's not what it used to be. Unless the telly's up really loud, I can't make out a thing. I always worry that it might be disturbing my neighbours, but nobody's said anything. Anyway, I rarely hear anything from outside. That nice 'Care and Repair' man from the Council even attached a light thing to my entry-phone so I'll know if anyone comes to door."

"I see," Alex replied. “Can you tell me if you ever saw or heard any arguments between Kevin and Keiran, or by them with anyone else for that matter."