‘I presume DI Fairfield’s success didn’t escape your notice? We finally got the Mobile Muggers off the streets …’
‘Quite literally, too.’
‘Yes, quite.’ Denkhaus allowed himself a smile. ‘It was pure good fortune that DS Sorbie happened to be there on his day off. And he reacted professionally and bravely. Even saved the life of one of them. Jumped after him into the river and dragged him to safety. The other one either drowned or got away. And practically at the same time Fairfield got an anonymous tip-off and was able to catch Mitchell, a notorious fence, red-handed as he was bringing the rest of the gang to his lock-up. We were there ready and waiting. Intelligence-led policing, McLusky. The man was actually running the gang, even supplying them with the scooters. So you can see, persistence and hard work pay off. It certainly didn’t do Fairfield and Sorbie’s clear-up rates any harm. You on the other hand appear to be — ’ There was a loud knock. ‘Yes, what is it?’
Lynn Tiery appeared in the door, frowning at a piece of paper in her hand. ‘Sorry to interrupt. There’s an urgent message for DI McLusky, concerning his car.’
Denkhaus insisted on driving them there, despite McLusky’s protests. The superintendent’s lecture continued on the tortuous drive across town but drifted at last into reminiscences, how he himself had risen through the ranks, starting as a beat officer in a small West Country town, grasping every opportunity, applying himself, not bucking the system. And here he was, ambitions fulfilled. He had no desire to rise any higher, not wanting to lose touch with real, frontline policing.
The street was blocked with police, fire engines and a fire investigator’s car. They abandoned the Land Rover in the middle of the road and walked up without speaking. Accident, vandalism or the bomber, all depended on the verdict of the fire investigators.
They showed their IDs and approached what was left of the Polo, a blackened evil-smelling shell. A sulking Rebecca was there, being shadowed by a PC. She pounced on McLusky. ‘You took your time getting here, they’re treating me as though I set fire to the damn thing. It just caught fire, I swear, I just slammed the door and whoosh, up it went. I was just looking for my camera.’
McLusky calmed her down and sent the PC on her way. Almost immediately a fire investigator confirmed their suspicions. ‘A small device wired into the springs of the driver’s seat. Nasty. Had you sat in it you’d have been in trouble. There was no explosion, it was an incendiary device, probably a mixture of accelerant like petrol, some flammable adhesive perhaps, magnesium, some kind of trigger.’
‘Shit, I nearly sat in it! Ouch!’ Rebecca’s hand made an involuntary move to her behind.
Ignoring her, Denkhaus raised an impatient eyebrow at McLusky. ‘Who’s the young lady? How did she come to search your car?’
‘Ehm, she’s staying at my — ’
‘I’m his girlfriend.’ Was his girlfriend. Definitely was. He had the same problem she did, obviously, he had practically disowned her there and then. ‘And the coach to the airport goes in less than an hour from college. Can I go now?’
Denkhaus turned away to talk to the leading fire officer about the safe removal of the car.
‘I gotta go, Liam. Oh, here, nearly forgot.’ She pulled the letter from her pocket. ‘Sorry, bit crumpled. Found it on the driver’s seat.’
Same typeface, same envelope. McLusky folded it nonchalantly into a jacket pocket. ‘When are you back?’
‘Seven days.’ It was only five but she gave herself a couple of days in hand, time to think, make a final decision. ‘Can’t remember what time the plane lands, I’ll call your mobile.’ She kissed him hard on the mouth but disengaged herself almost immediately. ‘Don’t want to embarrass you any further. Really gotta go now. Buenos dias.’
‘Ciao bella.’ Or was that Italian? He’d never been much good at languages. He watched Rebecca walk away. She was a kid, really, and she could have been seriously hurt. He would never have forgiven himself. As she reached the street corner he got ready to wave if she looked back but Rebecca walked on without turning.
He slid the letter open and read. Perhaps This will Shut you Up. I have Warned You. Now I will employ My Armies everywhere. Homes and Churches will be safe but Silence will settle on the Parks and Streets of this City. This one he couldn’t possibly keep to himself. ‘Superintendent? Rebecca found this in the car before it went up.’
Denkhaus read. ‘I wonder if he intended you to read this before or after you were incinerated. I’m sorry this investigation has got a bit close to home for you. The man knows where you live, what car you drive. All, no doubt, a result of you talking to Phil Warren. You weren’t all that hard to find once the bomber knew your name. Is there somewhere else you can stay until he is apprehended?’
‘I’ll have a think.’
‘Think fast, McLusky, this guy wants to hurt you.’ He returned his attention to the letter. ‘Mm … I have warned you, what does that mean, I wonder. We hardly need any more warning.’
‘I think what’s significant about the letter is the mention of parks.’
‘He exploded his first device in Brandon Hill …’
‘I think he’s going to target parks again. This kite festival, where is that held?’
‘That’s at Ashton Court.’
‘Well, I think it should be cancelled.’
‘Bit late for that, McLusky, it’s today.’ He checked his watch. ‘Started an hour ago. Do you have any particular reason for thinking the festival could be a target?’
McLusky hesitated. If only he knew why the words ‘kite festival’ reverberated in his mind. ‘No, just … a feeling. The place will be full of children, sir, they’ll pick up anything, no matter what they’ve been told. It’s a golden opportunity for the bomber to spread panic.’
‘And you think on the strength of your … feeling I should order the festival interrupted? Send everyone home and have the whole bloody park searched?’
McLusky held the superintendent’s critical stare for a few seconds before answering. ‘Yes. Yes, I do, sir.’
‘I thought you might say that.’ Denkhaus was already walking away shouting instructions at uniformed police. ‘Constable! Get yourself across to Ashton Court at the double, it needs to be evacuated. You may be the first there but back-up won’t be long.’ The constable made a tentative move towards his car, then stopped and opened his mouth to ask how on earth he was going to evacuate a huge place like Ashton Court but Denkhaus cut across him. ‘Use your initiative, go.’ In his car he gave orders over his airwave radio for several units to converge on the park and to use loudhailers to clear the area. ‘Don’t create a panic, I want an orderly evacuation.’ He turned to McLusky. ‘Let’s go and watch your drama unfold, shall we?’
By the time Denkhaus had threaded the Land Rover through the traffic, across the river and into Ashton Court a thin stream of people were moving towards car parks and the nearest exit. Many were adults with children. Practically all carried one or more kites, large box kites, Chinese dragons, kimono girls, birds, stunt kites. The bright colours of kites and children’s clothing were enhanced by rays of sunshine piercing the grey, threatening cloud that had rolled in again from the west. Many more people were still on the slope where the main event took place, packing up. There were refreshment marquees and trading stands selling everything from kites to crystals. A patrol car drove slowly up the gently curving lane beside the hill using a public address system, telling people to leave the park by the nearest entrance, not to run, not to pick up anything that did not belong to them.
They stood by the Land Rover and watched. McLusky was shocked at the extent of it. ‘I had no idea it was that big.’