‘It’s a possibility. He’s laying claim to something in that bag that he thought would worry you . . . and the first thing you nominated was the stun gun. You said you’d be very suspicious of a man who used an electric pulse to subdue a woman in order to rape her.’
Jackson shifted her attention back to the superintendent. ‘Are you suggesting Charles would do that?’
Jones shrugged. ‘You tell me, Doctor. All I know is, he has a real problem talking about the last time he saw Ms Morley . . . and that was shortly after he returned from a training exercise in the Middle East. It wouldn’t be hard to hide a stun gun in a kitbag.’
*
Jackson wasn’t amused to be informed by DI Beale a few minutes later that her car would have to be towed to a laboratory for examination under controlled conditions. He talked apologetically about contamination. ‘Two of the people who might have handled the bag have travelled in your car – Chalky and the lieutenant – so we need to be very precise about the location of DNA evidence. We also need to look for fibres in the boot. If we find a match with the bag, it will go some way to substantiating Charles’s claim that Chalky took it.’ ‘Only some way?’ ‘He could have put it there himself when you came into the pub.’ ‘And taken it out again?’ she asked sarcastically. ‘It’s a possibility.’ Jackson gave an impatient sigh. ‘You seem very set on Charles’s guilt. I don’t give much for his chances with you and the superintendent against him. Are you even looking for anyone else?’
*
Chalky opened a bloodshot eye and blinked into the beam of the torch that was shining in his face. ‘You’d better not be who I think you are. I hate cops!’ DC Khan turned the torch to illuminate the two uniformed constables beside him. ‘I’m afraid you’re out of luck, Chalky. We’ve been searching all over for you. Are you willing to cooperate or are we going to have to arrest you? Either way, you’ll be coming with us.’ ‘Who let you in?’ ‘Your lady friends.’
‘Two-timing bitches!’ The corporal raised his voice. ‘You hear me, you fuckers! This is the last time I do favours for dykes.’
Avril spoke from the doorway. ‘Seems to me it’s us who’s done you the favour. A bit of shoplifting, you said . . . no harm done. So how come we get served with a search warrant, eh? And how come there’s four more of these bozos downstairs guarding the exits. What you been up to, Chalky?’
He covered his face with his arm to block out the light. ‘Took the word of a bloody officer,’ he said. ‘Arrogant bastard! Should have known he couldn’t be trusted.’
*
‘I’m afraid we need to impose on your time a little longer,’ said the superintendent as he and Jackson stood side by side, watching her BMW disappear down the road on the back of a recovery vehicle. ‘Chalky – or a man we believe to be Chalky – was picked up ten minutes ago from a squat in Bread Street. It would be helpful if you could identify him for us.’ ‘The ladies’ squat? How come they let you in?’ ‘They didn’t fancy the alternative,’ Jones told her with a small laugh. ‘Given the choice between handing over the man tonight or having every inch of their property searched tomorrow under an official warrant, they traded Chalky. They don’t seem to like him very much.’ ‘The woman who runs the squat doesn’t like people she can’t manage . . . and I imagine Chalky’s a bit of a nightmare when he’s drunk.’ She stooped for her medical case, which had only been released from the car after she threatened to sue the Metropolitan Police for depriving her of her livelihood. ‘Is Charles still at the Crown?’ ‘No. He was removed about an hour ago after agreeing to spend the night in a cell. You’re welcome to check on him back at the station. He’s not under arrest and I don’t have a problem with you talking to him.’
Jackson eyed the superintendent thoughtfully. ‘Why so generous suddenly? What if I repeat your suspicions to him?’
‘I wouldn’t advise it, Doctor. If he changes his story now, he’ll be digging an even bigger hole for himself.’
*
Chalky was already in the interview room when Jones and Beale returned with Jackson. They watched him on the monitor as he sat swearing at the uniformed constable who was in the room with him. ‘He’s not happy,’ said Khan. ‘He’s claiming wrongful identity . . . harassment . . . false imprisonment . . . and anything else you can imagine. I’ve offered him legal representation, but he doesn’t like solicitors either.’ Jones turned to Jackson. ‘Doctor?’ She nodded. ‘That’s the man I know as Chalky.’ ‘Is he drunk?’ Jones asked Khan. ‘Claims he isn’t. It’s one of his beefs as a matter of fact. He says the women keep hiding their bottles and cans, and he hasn’t had a decent bevvy in days.’ He paused. ‘Apart from a bottle of vodka that the lieutenant gave him yesterday.’ ‘So he admits meeting the lieutenant?’ ‘Not in so many words. He mentioned taking the word of an arrogant bastard officer . . . then a little bit later he said the arrogant bastard had bribed him with a bottle of vodka. I’m assuming he was referring to the lieutenant.’ ‘Mm. Well, I suggest we don’t make any assumptions at this stage . . . except that he’s sober. You’re not going to tell me different, are you, Doctor? He looks fit enough to answer questions to me.’ ‘If you want a professional opinion that you can use in court, then you’ll have to let me examine him.’ ‘That’s not a bad idea. It’ll be interesting to see how he reacts to you. I wouldn’t mind him knowing his card’s been marked by someone who can recognize him.’
*
The smell in the room was ferocious. ‘Don’t you know anything about hygiene, Chalky?’ asked Jackson amiably. ‘You’re stinking worse than the last time I saw you.’
He glared at her. ‘What you doing here? Where’s the lootenant? Fucking bastard conned me . . . gave me his word he wouldn’t let on where I was.’
‘He didn’t,’ she said. ‘It was me who suggested you might be at the squat.’
Chalky spat on the floor. ‘Bloody interfering women . . . Can’t let a man alone . . . Got to be at him all the time. How’s the kid?’
‘Still in hospital but doing all right.’
‘He’s the one they should be talking to. What the fuck do I know? You do a favour for a little toerag and the next thing you’re banged up in the sodding nick. It ain’t fair. I was planning on hoofing it down to Brighton tomorrow...Get me some R&R by the sea.’
‘Let’s hope you still can,’ said Jackson pleasantly. ‘As I understand it, you’re not under arrest.’
‘Amounts to the same bloody thing. Me and the cops don’t see eye to eye on much.’
‘Then the sooner you’re out of here the better. They’ve asked me to assess whether you’re sober enough to answer questions. What’s your opinion?’
He looked at her through narrowed lids, a calculating gleam in his eyes. ‘Wouldn’t know what it feels like . . . Haven’t been sober for twenty years. Can’t answer questions in the state I’m in.’
‘You might find the alternative worse,’ Jackson warned him. ‘You’ll suffer withdrawal symptoms if the police keep you on ice until the alcohol’s out of your bloodstream. You seem pretty alert to me and I’m willing to give them the go-ahead now, but I’m equally happy to test your blood for alcohol if you’d rather delay.’
Chalky held his palm parallel with the table. ‘Shaking like a fucking leaf. It’s alcohol I need. Tell ’em that. I’ll be a damn sight keener to give the bastards what they want with a drop of liquor inside me . . . stands to reason.’
*
Whether by design or accident, Jones allowed Jackson to watch the monitor while Chalky was interviewed by DC Khan and a second detective whom she hadn’t seen before. The door to the viewing room stood open and she stepped quietly inside after a visit to the cells, where she’d found Charles asleep. Two other members of the inquiry team were gathered around the screen, but there was no sign of Beale. If anyone noticed Jackson’s arrival they didn’t comment on it. Most of Chalky’s statements contained long, complaining monologues against the police, bossy dykes, lying officers, ungrateful teenagers and the inhuman brutality of ‘denying a bloke a bevvy’. But in essence his story corroborated Jackson’s and Acland’s in relation to the events in the alleyway and the subsequent drive to St Thomas’s. ‘Do you remember how many bags Ben brought in with him, Chalky?’ ‘Just the two . . . a black rucksack and a Londis carrier.’ ‘And how many did the lieutenant have?’ ‘Reckon he had two as well . . . a kitbag and a duffel.’ ‘Are you sure about that?’ ‘You calling me a liar?’ Khan shook his head. ‘Just getting a few facts straight. Is it true you took the Londis bag? We’ve been told it had cigarettes and alcohol in it.’ ‘What if I did? The kid can’t use it in the hospital. I’ll pay him back next time I see him.’ ‘What about the duffel? Did you take that as well?’ ‘Course not. It wasn’t mine.’ ‘So what happened to it?’ ‘The lootenant took it.’