Lily Lawson's Blog: Lily's log, page 14

Con job

Aaron opened the boxes and showed Steve his latest stash of Memorabilia lifted from James.

‘Good work, how did you pull it off?’

Aaron folded his arms. ‘These convention guys like to brag, show off what they’ve got, rich pickings, just got to charm them, show I’m the geekiest of geeks, they invite me over, few moves, and I’ve got the swag. There'll be plenty more before this is over.’

Steve pulled notes from his pocket. ‘Keep this up and we’ll be rolling in it, some of this is pricey stuff.’

‘Thanks, I better go make sympathetic.’

‘

Memorabilia

They'd had a lot of freedom back then. When James started building his collection. They would go anywhere and everywhere at the drop of a hat. Before kids. Before responsibility.

Holding onto everything meant he still had a link to those days, a hope he could return. He knew it was useless really and his never go back rule was in place for a reason.

Now his collection had gone and with it the ties of the past, he had mixed feelings.

If it was found, would he keep it? Or sell it and do something with the funds? Was the past best left where it was? Or was there some nugget of gold that he could use to build something new? Or resurrect the old? Would they even find it all?

Gone

His hiding place had been discovered. His stash had gone. His collection of varied memorabilia started off as sentimental but now they were worth a small fortune. What the thieves didn't know was that some of the items were unique and all of them were marked with a code only known to the owner.

Case Closed

‘Are you afraid of intimacy? Is that why you need to do this stuff’

Tom Carpenter sat on his stool eating his cheese sandwich ignoring Gillian’s questions. She was determined to make him talk, scream, shout, anything.

‘Why did you kill Julie Miller?’

‘I didn’t’

‘Well, someone did and if it wasn’t you, I think you know who it was.’

Gillan was struggling to stay in her seat, she wanted to slap him.

‘A woman’s dead because she didn’t agree to being the sex toy for a game of pass the parcel. How does it work? Who goes first? ‘

‘She chucked me. Nobody chucks Tom Carpenter she needed to be taught a lesson. Guess someone had a stash. When she hit the deck, I scarpered. That Joy slag got me banged up, she was no fun either, bitch. She’ll get hers.’

‘I got my farewell in, they let me go first her being mine, then I left them to it, she was up for it, nothing bad.’

‘Nothing bad? She’s dead.’

‘Well, she should have played nicely.’

‘Who was it?’

‘Told you, I wasn’t there; I’d turned her over.’

‘Then I’m charging you.’

‘No evidence. She was my girl; my DNA proves nowt.’

‘Well, it’s too messed up to get anyone else’s. Names or I’m charging you with murder’.

Tom leant against the wall.

‘Jeez, chill will ya, think you need me to show you how to have fun, I’d be up for it, you’re a bit of alright for a copper.’

‘No thanks.’

‘Please yourself, I keep my girls happy, never had no complaints.’

‘Tom Carpenter I am charging you with…’

‘Arrghhh Stevie Jones.’

‘What?’

‘It was Stevie Jones, I saw him.’

‘Thought you’d scarpered.’

‘Hid and watched didn’t I? Get my kicks out of watching sometimes, don’t judge.’

‘You’re sure?’

‘It’s on my phone if you don’t believe me. I’m no grass but I ain’t doing someone’s bird for murder, no way.’

‘You recorded it?’

‘Sometimes I need a bit of stimulation.’

‘Ok I’ll check it out.’

‘I’ll be out in a few months if you fancy a bit of Carpenter magic.’

‘Do you ever give up?’

‘Nah never had a copper.’

‘Well, you’re not having this one.’

‘Its ok. There’s a screw I’ve got my eye on, I’d rather have had you but she’ll do I suppose.’

***

Stevie Jones confessed. He’s in Flintmore with Tom Carpenter.

Connections

Gillian reached for her sixth coffee of the day, the chocolate and crisps from her desk drawer long gone.

‘Arnie go and get burgers see if food helps us crack this.’

‘Yes boss’

***

Arnie arrived laden with food accompanied by a young woman.

‘This is Joy, she wanted to talk to you boss. I met her on the way in.’

Arnie gave out the food.

‘I’m sorry Joy, I’m starving; hope you don’t mind me eating.’

Gillian ripped open the packages.

‘No of course not.’ Arnie’s hand came between them with a burger and chips.

‘Sam always gives us one extra, yours if you want it.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘I would take it if I was you.’ Joy pushed ketchup across her desk.

‘Arnie...’

‘Coffee coming boss.’

‘When we’ve eaten this you can tell me what this is about.’ Gillian took a gulp of coffee.

***

‘I had a stalker, bit back followed me all over, I didn’t say at the time because well, we’d been together like, a few times so I thought well, I should have been more careful, gentle as a lamb he was a first, I finished it when he got a bit rough. I’m open minded but the stuff he did well he hurt me.’

‘I see, you should have told us sooner, but we could have a word make sure he doesn’t bother you again.’

‘He kept turning up, knocking on the windows, ringing the bell, shouting abuse, gave his mates my number told them I was ‘up for it’ so they started hassling too, sold some pictures of me down the pub. Last month they got in and … My neighbour heard the racket, called you lot, they had their hands everywhere, they were ready to go if you know what I mean, holding me down when your lot arrived most of them scarpered, but they got the one who was going to … I read the story of that Julie in the paper; I think it’s them. I’m so scared now I moved in with me sister I don't think I could live alone again.’ Joy threw a heap of sodden tissues in the bin.

‘This man you were with what’s his name?’

‘Tom Carpenter.’

‘Ah yes, he’s in Flintmore.’

‘He told me that he had a girl who didn’t like being passed round, said she got what was coming. I didn’t think he meant they killed her. I had to see you in case they do it again.’

Questions

Gillian went back to the scene of the crime. The team combed the rat infested lobby at the back of the Amusement arcade where the body had been found. Whoever had done this had better skills in hiding things than she had.

Enemies of Julie Miller were hard to find. In all the leads and door knocking no-one had a bad word to say about her.

‘Lovely girl’

‘Friendly’

‘Happy soul’

Doctors reported her to be of good health. They had to check she was their patient her visits were so infrequent. So how did she end up dead? How did she die? And most importantly who killed her?

oops

She had made a poor job of hiding the damage. Driving around on so little sleep was always going to be a bad idea. Gillian had hit the chief constable’s car. She got it fixed at the garage but the mechanic left the receipt in the vehicle.

This case was giving her sleepless nights. The team didn’t have any good ideas either.

Stuck

There had been many theories about how she had been murdered but none had really stuck. Gillian had a dead body on her hands, and people wanting answers she didn’t have.

The evidence was confusing and there were no eyewitnesses. Suspects littered the board, but none stood out.

Another Monday had rolled around. Another team briefing. Being the boss meant she was dishing the jobs out. She’d ran out of jobs; her ideas pool was barren. Gillian looked from one face to another and hoped that maybe one of them would think of something she had overlooked.

The Letters

Dear Sir

I would like to book a table at your restaurant for 200 people please let me know availability, menu, prices etc

Yours Tom

***

Dear Tom

Thanks for your enquiry.

I would like to direct you to our website where you may find menus and pricing. Please be aware that although we are able to accommodate such a large party we would have to close for the evening so we could host you as a private event. Please note that although we have 200 seats, we cannot seat everyone at one table, we would suggest smaller groupings of twelve or fewer.

We would require a deposit of approximately half the bill up front and all menu choices a week in advance.

Yours The Manager Mosley Eatery

***

Dear Manager

I do not have the internet.

Yours Tom

***

Dear Tom

Please call in to the restaurant, or call us and we will happy to help you.

The Manager

Mosley Eatery

***

Dear Manager

I do not know when I will be available to come to you. I do not have a phone.

Tom

***

Dear Tom

I enclose menus and pricing. If you can give suitable dates, we can look into availability.

The Manager

Mosley Eatery

***

Dear Manager

This weekend. Sorry I cannot give a time. Arrangements are in hand. My friends are not fussy we will be happy with anything you can arrange. The cash will be put through the door in a brown envelope.

Tom

***

LOCAL NEWS 200 prisoners were arrested trying to escape from Flintmore Jail this morning. The jailbreak appears to be a protest over prison catering. They were heading for Mosley Eatery. The Manager was unavailable for comment.

Dear Manager

I’m sorry we were unable to make it. Keep the money for your trouble. This is my last letter as I am going into solitary and have been banned from all communication with you.

Tom

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

Being apart for uni took its toll on the tight gang. In the beginning when they got together it was like they had only seen each other yesterday. Over time people would have other commitments and eventually the combination of new friendships and distance eventually diluted things between them.

Patty and Elly were as strong as ever, being at the same uni and sharing a flat. They would meet up with Stella for long dog walks at the weekend followed by their famous lunches.

Stella enrolled in her English degree and followed with a PGCE so she could teach at the local college and do supply work in schools.

Patty and Elly finally became lawyers and started their own firm doing some of their work pro bono.

Patty got back in touch with everyone she had stolen from and used her position to help them, drawing up wills, buying and selling houses whatever they needed a lawyer for she did for free so she could make amends for her past misdemeanours.

Stella, Elly, and Patty knew whatever life through at them the three amigo bond was unbreakable.