Chapter 66
Sammy approached him as he was chatting to Arthur, the Office Manager. “We’re waiting for you in the quiet room, Boss.”
He nodded. “Two minutes.”
Sammy walked away but then turned. “Oh and Chewy says he’s put a statement on your desk. It’s from some bloke called Tom. He said you’d know about it.”
In the quiet room, Mike Patterson spoke first. “A busy few days, Boss, but we’ve got most of the stuff from the building societies we needed. There’s still a few bits of CCTV to come but I’ve got one of yours out there picking it up now. Forgotten his name. The bloke who’s always eating the mints?”
“Polo.” Lizzie chipped in then continued. “Mike’s given me all the details. We’re already working on them and we’re into Laura Brannan as well.”
Thurstan shook his head slowly as he rubbed his chin, “Yeah, the missing link. How’s the phone checks on McAvoy going?”
Sammy delved into a thin folder and slid several sheets across the table to him. They sat in silence as the DCI read them.
“Right, well, that confirms it. She’s up to her eyeballs in this.” He looked up. “Other than Sammy, have any of you seen this?” They shook their heads.
“Ok, well, even before we managed to find out his new number he was making calls and texts asking for more money. They were to an unregistered phone but it’s obvious from the replies it’s Sharon Fenton.”
He raised his eyebrows as he read the sheets. “She even states ‘I’ve got the money now, be patient sweetheart’ and that’s on the same day we trailed her out to Woollyback land and the building societies. How long have we still got the DSU, Michael?”
“They’re pulling the plug tomorrow, Boss. They’ve got to move on to another job for the Matrix but we can keep it going a bit longer with our own crew if we have to.”
The DCI reflected on the news then said, “Right, I need to know when Sharon’s gone back home. Once we’ve housed her, we’ll go out and lock her up. McAvoy the same. We’ll contact the custody suites and find one that can take them both. I want them to see each other in custody and we’ll relocate our surveillance onto Laura Brannan. Sammy, sort out the custody situation, Michael, take care of the surveillance. I’ve got some phone calls to make.”
He looked at Lizzie with an apologetic half-smile. “I need that information as quick as you can give it me, if not sooner.”
“I’ll phone the office, now, and ask Tim to start work on it right away,” she replied.
As they walked across Mickey Fenton’s drive, the front door opened. “I thought we were finished with, Thurstan?”
“We are, Mickey. I’ve not come for you. Where’s Sharon?” he replied.
Mickey was about to say she was out but a glance at her car on the drive made it pointless. “She’s in the kitchen. You got a warrant?”
The DCI pushed past him. “I don’t need one, Mickey.” Halfway along the corridor, he called, “The chaps at the back are from the Matrix. They’d like a word with you, Michael.”
Several minutes later Thurstan walked back, Sharon Fenton, arms handcuffed in front of her, escorted by Spud. Mickey stood, face against the wall, as the Matrix detectives slipped the speed cuffs on him.
“It’s alright, luv. Everything is going to be ok. Say fuck all, it’s just another fishing expedition,” he managed to squeeze out whilst being manoeuvred through the doorway.
On the drive, Thurstan approached as Mickey was searched before being placed in the unmarked police vehicle. “By the way, Mickey. I’m sorry but your mother-in-law’s died,” he said, solemnly.
Fenton looked stunned. “What happened?”
Thurstan leaned down to the window as the rear door was closed. “Heart attack, I was told.”
“When?”
“Fourteen months ago, now.”
Mickey’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water as he tried to grasp the situation and formulate a reply. As they drove him away, all he could manage was “SHARON!!!” before the electric window glided past his puce face.
At St. Anne Street, Darius McAvoy stood before the Custody Officer. The sound of the buzzer from the prisoner entrance door made him automatically swivel his head to see who was coming in. His face immediately went very pale, his legs weak. He grasped the charge desk to steady himself as Sharon Fenton was seated behind him on the plain wooden bench.
The sergeant behind the desk, without looking up from the computer said, “Don’t lean on the counter.”