The fixture was so tall as to reach nearly to the bedroom room window of the house and it was an ugly white plastic.
Presumably built at the same time as the house no planning permission had been required but she could clearly see why Jack had been so miffed when the campaign against his green house was launched
On the side dresser, she saw several photograph frames and on looking closer, she was taken by two in particular.
She read the items then stopped, but could not believe she was reading of the man she had met so, read them both again. They were exactly the same on the second read; she had not made a mistake.
She heard the sound of footsteps so walked away and stood by the door.
“Ah thank you for the lift Inspector, we had better get on our way, may I ask if you have a mileage allowance?”
“Why yes, Mr Richards. In fact I was told only yesterday, it seems in view of the financial cuts the allowance has been authorised by the Home Office, I am also to receive the essential user rate which will help”.
“Right, in that case its good news. I anticipate we will be doing quite a few miles but the first stop will be Wrexham nick as from what you say they will be too busy in Chester to bother with either of us”.
They were soon driving out of Tarporley, “Wrexham here we come,” she thought.
“Are you not required as they are so busy, Inspector"? He asked.
“On the contrary, when anything is happening they never want me and if it’s likely to be physical they certainly don’t want me, Striker needs bullies and the like, not weak women”.
“I can quite see that, not weak, women but rather Striker wanting bullies”, qualified Jack not wishing to say the wrong thing.
“Broxton”, she said “where the first two officers were found, in the lay-by ahead”.
“Right, a slight change. Stop in the lay-by”, he came into the conversation.
She pulled in and came to a stop, he unfastened his seat belt, looked and said
“Come on, you have started the music stopping here, let the dancing commence”.
They left the car and strode to and fro she noted, to quote a phrase of her mother, “he was all eyes”.
He took out a small digital camera and took several shots, then closely scrutinised the hedgerow and the view in all directions.
“I see this then is where the first tragedy occurred”.
“Yes” she replied, “it all started here”.
He looked at her, and then smiled and said, “I wouldn’t go that far. We have no evidence it all started here. As yet the tragedy here may well be only one possible ending in a train of events, time will tell, that’s it for now on our way Inspector”.
They were soon mobile again, no words passed between them though she did realise her error, she had fallen foul of his dictum, attention to detail.
She had assumed as the first deaths were discovered in that very spot it was the beginning; she could now see he was quite right. There may well be antecedents to the incidents, on the other hand of course if there was nothing more to the matters than natural causes, it was the start and finish of the incident but to assume that at this initial stage may well have been an assumption too far.
A road sign announcing, Welcome to Wales indicated they had arrived within the Welsh county.
Arriving at Wrexham police station, it was nothing like their office in Chester; it was a high modern multi storey building
She parked up and they walked inside the building. There was a man on the front counter he was sporting a name badge Llewelyn Jones counter clerk.
“Good morning”, she announced “I am Inpsector Scott-Ling this is my associate Mr Jack Richards”
She produced her warrant card of identification just to add to her uniform in case here in Wales they may have thought she was in fancy dress or in masquerade. Llewelyn looked at it, then wrote down the details on the visitors log.
“How can I be of help?”
“We have come to see the Chief-Constable, Mr Winston Myers”.
“Do you have an apppointment?”
“Regretfully not”, replied Jack “but if you would be gracious enough to say that it is Mr Jack Richards, here on behalf of Mr Christian Woodcock, Her Majesty`s Inspector of Constabulary, he will know the nature of our business.”
The man hesitated, then went into the office and spoke in welsh
A lady appeared looked, but said nothing just returned inside. It was only a moment or so when a Chief Superintendent arrived, his name badge indicated it was Morris Jones.
“Ah yes the Chief will see you, would you please follow me”.
They did so and arrived in a lift and eventually arrived at floor ten. The lift stopped and Jones alighted the two visitors followed closely eventually arriving at the door marked Chief Constable, Winston Myers, QPM.
A knock brought a reply “Please come in.”
Once inside they saw a lady in her mid forties wearing the name badge Bronwen Watson, Secretary, Chief Constable.
She smiled and pleasantly said, “Good day to you”
“Ah Bronwen, the Chief is expecting these two visitors” said Jones, “I will leave them with you, I need to bring something which I am pretty sure will be required”.
“Thank you Morris, please if you would both be seated I will go and tell the Chief, he is just momentarily engaged on a call to the Welsh Office”.
After a moment or so her telephone buzzed she answered and replied, “Yes sir”.
Looking up she turned to the visitors and announced, “The Chief will see you now”.
She went to the door, opened it and permitted them to walk past her as she held the door open allowing them to enter, though she herself did not do so, but closed the door.
Arriving inside the room it was large with a panoramic view of the town but beyond, the wonderous scenery of the hills of North Wales.
The room contained various pictures including those of Her Majesty the Queen, one in full ceremonial dress including crown, there were others of a visit she had made to the Police Headquarters for Jack clearly recalled the scenes around the building from when he had arrived.
“I am pleased to meet you Mr Richards and Inspector Scott-Ling though the circumstances are at least very unusual. How can the North Wales Police assist you then”?
Jack Richards spoke, “I assume you are aware as to the nature of our enquiry in this sad affair”?
“Yes indeed I am, how very sad it was and such a shock for poor Ceinwen and of course all of us.”
“That was something” thought Jack “at least he knows the name of the widow”.
“What can we do then Jack?, you don`t mind if I call you Jack, being an ex copper”.
Jack laughed and replied, “By all means Chief, Jackson is the name my mother lumbered me with, I prefer Jack”.
“I would if possible,” continued Richards, “ like to examine the deceased officer`s personnnel file and then speak with the widow”.
“Ah yes, I have actually just spoken with the Welsh Office and they in turn spoke with the Home Secretary. I am pleased to say authority has in fact been granted for you to have a copy of the file, you appreciate, although I know you are fully aware of this, but I have to say, you will be aware the contents will be for your eyes only”.
“Yes indeed sir”, said Richards “but you will realise that eventually my findings if any, which may include some of the contents of the file will have to be related to the office of Her Majesty`s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and to the Home Office, it will be for them to decide what if any information can be released and to whom”.
“Yes of course the system wouldn`t work without, ah just a moment I think I can hear Morris Jones coming”.
There was a knock on the door to which the Chief called, “Come on in Morris did you get the file?”