Deadly Secrets (Detective Erika Foster #6)(83)

‘I know, and please, stay. Everything is in hand here. Williams is a man of means and he has already hired a top-notch solicitor, so we’re going to have to move very carefully and make sure we do everything by the book.’

‘Moss should have called in where she was going; she put herself in danger,’ said Erika.

‘Are you kidding me? How many times have you put yourself in danger? You’ve been beaten up more times than Jackie Chan. You’re like the bionic woman!’

‘Very funny.’

‘Sorry. I’m just delighted we could have this case sewn up so quickly.’

‘Pending DNA tests,’ said Erika.

‘Of course… Now, take as long as you need with your father-in-law.’

Erika went to say something else, but Melanie had hung up.

Erika sat up for a long time, watching the fire burn down through the window of the stove, feeling a long way away from it all.





Sixty-Four





It was three o’clock in the morning, but the atmosphere at Lewisham Row station was one of intense excitement. Peterson, McGorry, Crane, and Superintendent Hudson had all been called back to work when the news had come in about Moss. After calling Celia, she’d phoned for police backup, and then, finally, about to lose consciousness, she had phoned Peterson.

Uniformed officers had sped round to Camera Obscura, where they found Taro Williams in the basement. He had regained consciousness, and after being checked over by a paramedic, he had been arrested and brought to Lewisham Row. His fingerprints and a sample of his DNA had been taken, and rushed over to the lab.

McGorry and Crane were with Superintendent Hudson in the observation suite at Lewisham Row. They watched as Taro Williams was being questioned by Peterson.

‘He’s not saying a word,’ said McGorry, as they stared at the screen showing the live feed.

‘He’s a big bastard, isn’t he?’ said Crane.

‘A big hairy bastard. His eyes creeped me out,’ said McGorry. ‘When they brought him in and booked him, took his fingerprints and DNA, he was completely impassive. Like none of it bothered him.’

On the screen, Peterson asked Taro to confirm that he was the owner of Camera Obscura and the building, and if he worked full-time as a photographer.

Taro leaned forward amiably. ‘Yes. I inherited the business from my father when he died twelve years ago,’ he said. His voice was soft and he was well-spoken.

Superintendent Hudson’s phone rang.

‘This is forensics,’ she said. The guys watched as she answered the phone, and McGorry crossed his fingers.

‘It’s a match! The DNA sample taken from blood on the broken glass at the office block doors in West Norwood matches the sample we took from him in the custody suite. We’ve got him!’ cried Melanie. They punched the air with their fists.

‘What a sicko,’ said McGorry.

‘It’s enough to charge him for all six of the sexual assaults, and the murder of Marissa Lewis?’ asked Crane.

‘Yes, especially the murder of Marissa. I don’t want him back out on the streets. He has no record, and I don’t want to give his slimy solicitor the opportunity to wangle him bail by not making a murder charge,’ said Melanie. She leaned over to the microphone. ‘Peterson, I need you to suspend the interview for a sec. We have the DNA results back.’

Peterson came out. Melanie gave him the results and the go-ahead to charge Taro Williams.

They watched from the observation suite as Peterson went back in and formally arrested Williams for the sexual assault of Rachel Elder, Kelvin Price, Jenny Thorndike, Diana Crow and Jason Bates, and the murder of Marissa Lewis.

Taro remained impassive, going so far as to pick a speck of lint from his jacket as the charges were read out. He then looked up at the camera, and the officers in the observation suite felt a chill run through them. It was as if he could see them. He smiled. It was a broad toothy grin, but it didn’t reach his eyes.





Sixty-Five





Erika stayed up north for two weeks. In between visiting Edward every day, she had had a stair lift put into his cottage. She’d also done some decorating, and registered all his utilities online so that she could check that his bills were being paid.

During one of the last hospital visits, before he was due to be discharged, Edward had been enthusiastic about these ideas and changes. That is until she told him she had hired a carer to come in and visit him three times a week.

‘I’m not having some stranger let themselves in to wipe my backside!’ he’d said. By now he was sitting up in bed, and well on the road to recovery.

‘Edward. It won’t be like that. She’ll be there to help with whatever you need doing.’

‘She?’ he’d said, narrowing his eyes.

‘Do you want a bloke?’

‘Good Lord, no.’

‘She’ll help with the washing, cleaning, making a meal, or she can ring up about something, like a doctor’s appointment. She’ll be company. I promise you there will be no backsides being wiped.’

‘I’m too young for a carer!’

‘Okay. How about we call her your PA?’

He’d laughed. ‘Who is she? I can’t have a Tory in the house. And I don’t want some youngster, glued to their mobile phone the whole time.’