Dead Memories (D.I. Kim Stone #10)(41)

‘They’d met some kind of outreach worker who was trying to help get them off the street. Not sure they deserved it but it looked like they were on their way to getting what they wanted.’

Penn thought about the behaviour of the pair around the supermarket; the flowers.

‘Mr Jenks, in your opinion, what did Mark and Amy want more than anything?’

‘If I had to pin it down I’d say the one thing they wanted beyond all else was a home.’





Fifty-Four





‘Hang on,’ Kim said, frustrated, ‘did I kill your sister, or not?’

They had followed a grinning giant through a poky hallway to a white Formica kitchen at the back. A can of cider was already open sitting between a pizza box and a tube of Pringles.

And now, Kim wanted answers.

‘My sister wasn’t murdered. I ain’t even got no sister,’ he said, taking a swig of cider.

Kim waited for an explanation.

‘Look at me,’ he said. ‘Folks been wanting to fight me my whole life. School, pubs, clubs, chippy – always someone who wants to try it.’

‘You can look after yourself, surely?’ Bryant asked, voicing her thoughts.

‘Duh, yeah,’ he said. ‘But who the fuck always gets the blame, eh? It ain’t the fucking little squirt on a dare or the guy dumped by his missus with a point to prove. It’s the angry big guy. And prison is full of dicks just wanting to prove themselves.’

‘So, you joined the hate club?’ Kim asked, as the dog, an Irish setter entered the kitchen and jumped up on the worktop.

‘Down, Mofo,’ he barked, rubbing the dirty spot on the counter with his tee shirt.

Kim wasn’t sure of a man who named his dog Motherfucker but showed concern for dirty paws.

‘Cos of Symes,’ he continued. ‘He is one nasty, sick puppy and no one in there will cross him, so if you’re in his little hate club, you’re safe.’

‘Jesus,’ Kim said.

‘Oh yeah, and boy does he hate you,’ Duggar said, grinning as though it was all some kind of joke.

‘So, how’d it work?’ Bryant asked. ‘You put some kind of sign on your back to get picked?’

‘Nah, I’m guessing you ain’t never been inside, so I’ll spell it out for yer,’ he said, throwing away the empty can and reaching for another. ‘You get in there and suss out the hard man. Not hard to do in this case cos even most of the guards are frightened of him. You ask who to steer clear of, you get a name and you know that’s your guy. Then you watch for a bit to work out what you gotta do to get on his good side. Give ’em your dinner, batter a guard, rape a newbie.’

Kim was chilled by the cold, matter-of-fact way he reeled off the horrific acts needed to get protection.

‘And all I had to do to get in was pretend I hated you. Easy. And two months later, guess what. I really did.’

‘But we’ve never met,’ Kim said.

He shrugged and swigged. ‘Trust me, he’s got a real powerful argument.’

‘You got any names for me?’ Kim asked.

He laughed out loud and she would swear it rocked the house.

‘If you knew Symes, you wouldn’t even ask that. Look, what that guy does is take your anger and turn it into hate. He massages it, feeds it, strokes it and makes it the object of every negative emotion you have. I was ready to kill you and you ain’t even done anything to me.’

He paused and debated something for a second. ‘Listen, you gotta get this so I’m gonna share something. Guy you put away for two armed robberies in Gornal. Stain or something…’

‘Peter Staines,’ Kim corrected.

‘Yeah, him. He was recruited two days after he landed. Didn’t read the memo about keeping your trap shut. Admitted he’d never considered hurting you and that he was just pissed at you for catching him.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘Fucking idiot.’

‘And?’

‘Safe to say his butt crack opened up like the Grand Canyon once Symes and his—’

‘So, if I wanted to find out if he’s behind something I need to look at all his cronies inside who I’ve helped put away.’

He observed her for a minute. ‘You don’t get it, do you? It’s not only inside the prison. He gets quite the pile of fan mail, you know?’

‘You’re joking?’ Bryant asked.

He swigged and shook his head. ‘Even one-eyed monsters have their appeal. He gets plenty attention through the “email a prisoner” scheme.’

‘All genuine nutcases?’ she asked.

He shrugged.

Kim clicked. ‘You saying he keeps in touch with people who have left through this system?’

He shrugged again and sighed. ‘You gotta understand that his every waking thought is dedicated to you. He eats, sleeps and exercises to stay in shape for you. Everything is about aiming hatred towards you.’

‘Got it,’ Kim said, feeling that chill again despite the heat.

‘But surely not everyone is manipulated by Symes?’ she asked. ‘I know you won’t give me names but, say, someone like Dale Preece.’

Duggar hesitated before nodding. ‘Yeah, he’s in the club.’