Devil in the Detail by A.J. Cross (love letters to the dead .TXT) 📗

‘Traynor, these are two ordinary people we’re talking about,’ protested Watts. ‘What could they have done that attracted the attention of a hitman?’

‘I don’t know. It’s also possibly the work of an antisocial, highly aggressive individual with zero empathy who came upon them at the right time for him but the wrong time for them.’

‘That’s more like it. I’ve met a lot over the years who would fit that description, who’d sell their own mothers if the price was right.’

‘Both require consideration,’ said Traynor.

Watts shook his head. ‘Not the executioner. My job is to be evidence-led not theory-driven. What else can you say about this other type?’

‘Despite what I’ve suggested about his personality and attitudes to others, it’s also very likely that even the Lawrences themselves were unaware of the threat he represented to them.’ Seeing Watts’ face, he said, ‘It doesn’t necessarily have to be a motive which is understandable to other people. Once I start working with Mrs Lawrence, I’ll indirectly raise the possibility with her.’

Watts reached for an envelope lying on the table, opened it, read its contents, then passed the single sheet towards them. ‘Have a look at this.’

Judd sat up as Traynor took it, read it aloud: ‘Forensic examination of the Lawrences’ car engine: a loose electrical connection which could have resulted in a minor, intermittent problem.’

‘That,’ said Watts, ‘could explain why they came to a stop in Forge Street. To get away from the roadworks and heavy traffic.’

Traynor handed it to Judd, who quickly read it.

‘Hey-hey, we’re on the right track, Sarge. That whole attack was planned, start to finish. I think they were followed by somebody who knew them. Somebody who knew them well enough to be angry with them about something or be holding some kind of grudge. Someone who tampered with their car, say, in the hospital car park.’

‘Those are suppositions,’ said Traynor, ‘but a gunman with a personal grudge better fits my thinking than an opportunist who shoots two people for a handful of jewellery.’

Watts eyed him. ‘What I’ve learned from thirty years on this job is that antisocial types who don’t give a damn for anybody will do all manner of violence to get their paws on stuff we wouldn’t consider worth the effort, let alone killing for. Open a newspaper any day of the week. You’ll see reports of muggings, hold-ups by types like that, grabbing people’s stuff, injuring them, even stabbing them and ending up with a phone, a few quid, for which they’ve created victims and traumatized families because they don’t give a damn about anybody or anything.’

Traynor was at the door. ‘What I don’t see is how an intermittent fault affecting the Lawrences’ car would serve this gunman’s plan or purpose. I’m going to the incident room to look at what I think is hampering our understanding of and progress on the shootings.’

TWELVE

Tuesday 11 December. 11.38 a.m.

Traynor came into Watts’ office. Without speaking he placed the six carjacking files on the table in front of Watts. Watts looked at them, then up at Traynor, who pointed at them.

‘My view at the outset was that these six carjackings have no relevance to the Lawrence shootings. That remains my view. They were quick attacks with zero contact between attacker and unknown victim. Whoever attacked Mike and Molly Lawrence got access to the inside of their car. He spent time in close proximity to them. He may even have talked to them. His attack is of a different order entirely. This investigation needs to focus solely on the Lawrence shootings.’

Watts looked at him, then down at the files. ‘You’re wrong about zero contact by the carjacker. Ask the woman who had her hand smashed. She’ll tell you exactly how she felt about his “proximity”.’

Traynor went to the Smartboard, pulled up a screen of details and began adding to them. ‘Anybody intent on stopping the Lawrences’ vehicle wouldn’t have been helped by an intermittent fault. “Intermittent” means that the car could have stopped anywhere on its journey to Forge Street. It could even have restarted, enabling them to drive on.’

Judd’s head dropped back. ‘Every time we get what looks like a potential lead, there’s an “Ah, but”.’ She raked her hair. ‘The Lawrences didn’t choose to stop in that godawful place. How about this: if whatever was done to the Toyota caused it to merely slow down at times, is it possible that somebody was waiting at Forge Street, blocking the road with his own vehicle, waiting for them? We might not have any evidence, but you can’t say that’s not possible.’ She looked from Watts to Traynor. ‘It had to be something like that. His only alternative would have been to force them to stop, which would have been chancy. Even more to the point, it would probably have left damage to their car, but there isn’t any.’

‘The flaw in what you’ve said, Judd, is that whoever he was, he could have been left waiting, because, like Will suggested, the intermittent fault might not have occurred and they would have continued home as normal. He also couldn’t have assumed they’d get lost.’

Watts looked down at files and papers covering the table. ‘He shot both of them. Guns give a shooter distance. Whatever the antecedents, once that Toyota was stationary, he could have threatened them through the window, reached inside, grabbed whatever he wanted. What makes no sense to me is that by getting inside he increased his personal risk by putting himself in close proximity to two frightened people.’

Judd’s brows slid together. ‘What if he didn’t know they were both in the car? The Toyota’s windows are tinted.’

‘He would know if he followed them to and from the hospital or wherever else he first saw them.’

Traynor paced, eyes focused on the floor, his voice low. ‘I’m also bothered by his placing himself inside that car in such close proximity to both victims. If he harboured an extreme resentment to one or both of