A Normal November: The Freeman Files Series: Book 15 Read online

  A Normal November

  (The fifteenth case from ‘The Freeman Files’ series)

  By

  Ted Tayler

  Copyright © 2021 by Ted Tayler

  This ebook is licensed for your enjoyment only. If you would like to share this book with another person, please buy an additional copy for each recipient.

  All rights are reserved. You may not reproduce this work, in part or its entirety, without the author's express written permission.

  All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real people, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Cover design: - www.thecovercollection.com

  A Harmsworth House publication 2021

  Other books by Ted Tayler

  We’d Like To Do A Number Now (2011)

  The Final Straw (2013)

  A Sting In The Tale (2013)

  Unfinished Business (2014)

  The Olympus Project (2014)

  Gold, Silver, and Bombs (2015)

  Conception (2015)

  Nothing Is Ever Forever (2015)

  In The Lap of The Gods (2016)

  The Price of Treachery (2016)

  A New Dawn (2017)

  Something Wicked Draws Near (2017)

  Evil Always Finds A Way (2017)

  Revenge Comes in Many Colours (2017)

  Three Weeks in September (2018)

  A Frequent Peal Of Bells (2018)

  Larcombe Manor (2018)

  Fatal Decision (2019)

  Last Orders (2020)

  Pressure Point (2020)

  Deadly Formula (2020)

  Final Deal (2020)

  Barking Mad (2020)

  Creature Discomforts (2020)

  Silent Terror (2020)

  Night Train (2020)

  All Things Bright (2021)

  Buried Secrets (2021)

  A Genuine Mistake (2021)

  The Long Hard Road – Collection (2021)

  Strange Beginnings (2021)

  Dead Reckoning (2021)

  Where to find him

  Website & Blog: – http://tedtayler.co.uk

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  Table Of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  About The Author

  CHAPTER 1

  Thursday, 30th August 2018

  Gus Freeman arrived at the Old Police Station office first thing. He had a list of things he needed to deal with after the excitement of last night.

  John Ferris had delivered Blessing Umeh to the safety of his Worton farm once he’d persuaded her that Jamie Banks-Trewick and his men had work to do. His wife, Jackie, was waiting patiently in the kitchen to shower Blessing with a lengthy cuddle, a hot drink, and the offer of food despite the lateness of the hour.

  “We were so worried,” said Jackie. “Thank goodness you’re safe.”

  “I was stupid,” said Blessing. “I thought I could prove how someone had done what seemed impossible. How would I know the killer would drive past the main road and spot my Micra on the skyline? Perhaps, I was unlucky, but I should never have gone onto the Plain alone.”

  “Where are Gus and Suzie?” asked Jackie.

  “They should get here in a few minutes,” said John. “Gus is bringing Blessing’s car back. Although, you won’t need it for a day or two, young lady. Do what your boss said and rest up before returning to work on Monday.”

  Blessing sighed.

  “I’ll miss out on the fun,” said Blessing. “A good night’s sleep, and I’ll be raring to go.”

  “You’ve had a shock, Blessing,” said Jackie. “That’s bound to catch up with you when the adrenaline rush fades. Gus is right. Take your time, enjoy a long weekend, and you’ll be firing on four cylinders again.”

  “That sounds like Suzie’s VW racing up the drive,” said John. “Will she never learn?”

  Jackie coughed a warning. Gus and Suzie had told them about the baby, but there was over a week before Suzie’s twelve-week scan and any official announcement. John sat down and waited for Gus and Suzie to come indoors. He knew his place.

  Jackie didn’t let her daughter and partner escape her kitchen without questions and refreshments. Gus had groaned as he realised it was two o’clock when he and Suzie reached the bungalow in Urchfont.

  Suzie seemed content to write it off as good training for next year.

  Gus hadn’t been surprised to be the first to arrive in the office today. Sleep hadn’t come easily last night. He knew they could so easily have lost a valued team member. One by one, the rest of his Crime Review Team rode in the lift to the first floor.

  “No sign of Blessing yet, guv?” asked Neil Davis, who was last to put in an appearance for a change.

  “Now everyone’s here, Neil. I’ll explain what happened to her last night,” said Gus.

  Neil, Luke, Lydia, and Alex sat quietly and listened as Gus told the tale.

  “Blessing’s okay; that’s the key thing,” said Lydia.

  “We no longer have a case to solve,” said Neil. “I didn’t expect to hear that this morning.”

  “No,” said Luke. “Every lead we followed went nowhere. So I wonder what prompted Blessing to go it alone?”

  “It’s not something I recommend,” said Gus. “Blessing knows now it was an unnecessary risk. She won’t do it again. There’s no point getting our files updated before Blessing can offer her invaluable contribution,” he said. “We deserve a break. Make the most of it. Who knows what our next case will bring? I suggest you clear the decks to prepare for next week and then get off home. I don’t want to see any of you until Monday morning. I need to make a couple of phone calls, and then I’ll follow you.”

  It did not surprise Gus there were no objections to a brief holiday. Everyone was as shocked as he was at the sudden turn of events and naturally concerned about their absent colleague. As he searched for the contact details for Corinne Wallington, his phone rang. Geoff Mercer had heard from the security people at Bournemouth Airport.

  Oscar Wallington was queuing to board an EasyJet flight to Belfast International when a vigilant officer spotted the fugitive and arrested him. Security personnel later searched his Land Rover Defender in the Long Stay car park and found a twelve-inch long iron bar hidden in a compartment under the driver’s seat.

  “Many thanks, Geoff,” said Gus. “I’ll pass the good news onto the team.”

  “The killer didn’t make his escape then, guv?” asked Luke.

  “No,” said Gus. “If he’d reached the countryside near Portadown, his chances of evading capture would have improved markedly. Wallington knew the area well after serving there as a soldier and spending holidays with the family at the property owned by Corinne’s parents. That brings me to my next task. I must put his long-suffering wife in the picture.” />
  Gus called Corinne and relayed the details of Oscar’s capture, but he didn’t mention the discovery of the murder weapon. Life had changed dramatically for Oscar’s wife and two sons in the past twenty-four hours. He didn’t need to rub their noses in it.

  “Thank you for calling, Mr Freeman,” said Corinne. “No doubt, the police would have sent someone to inform me, officially, in time.”

  “I thought you deserved to hear it from me. What will you do now?” asked Gus.

  “We’ll get out from under Patrick’s feet,” said Corinne. “I’ll take his younger brother, Charles, back to the Lodge now the danger has passed. Oscar’s employers need to know what’s happened. That’s not a conversation I expected to have. I’ve rather enjoyed our time there and hoped we’d stay for many years.”

  Gus tried to think of something positive that might come of the sorry affair but failed. The manor house needed a new farm manager, and the accommodation at the Lodge went with the job. Her husband was in custody, about to be charged with the murder of Kendal Guthrie. With other possible charges to follow.

  Corinne Wallington thanked him again and ended the call. Gus imagined her first call would be to her parents. She and Charles would need a roof over their heads before too long. At least some of the family would make it to Ireland.

  Neil was first to leave the office.

  “I changed the filters in the Gaggia, guv,” he said. “Alex and Lydia wanted to work on the maps we had on the walls. More than my life’s worth to get between those two.”

  “We’ll see you on Monday, Neil,” said Gus. “Give our best wishes to Melody.”

  “Fingers crossed the temperature drops, and she can get a good night’s sleep, guv,”

  Neil was soon in the lift and heading for the car park. Gus looked around the room. The others wouldn’t be far behind him.

  “Shall I hang onto these maps, guv?” asked Lydia. “Divya went to a lot of trouble producing them. They might come in handy if we have another murder from the Plain to solve.”

  “Remove the items we added,” said Gus. “Clean one up as best you can and store it in the stationery cabinet with the rest we’ve gathered over the months. The rest can go into the recycling bins in the corner of the car park downstairs. It won’t hurt our image if the locals see we’re doing our bit.”

  Alex and Lydia left together ten minutes later. Luke Sherman wandered across to join Gus.

  “Something on your mind, Luke?” asked Gus.

  “I had a phone call last night from a former colleague. He transferred to West Mercia Police eighteen months ago. We attended the same weapons training course. They’ve got a vacancy for a training officer, and he wondered if I was interested.”

  “Salary-wise, it wouldn’t attract you, surely?” asked Gus.

  “No, but the hours would be more predictable, which solves Nicky’s problems,” said Luke. “He wouldn’t have any trouble finding employment if we re-located, and there’s more of a night-life in the Midlands.”

  “Have you spoken to anyone at London Road?”

  Luke shook his head.

  “I’ll use the extra free time this weekend to think things through,” said Luke. “If I decide to put my name forward, I’ll tell DS Mercer.”

  “I don’t want to see you leave,” said Gus. “You’re three years younger than Suzie Ferris. With the breadth of experience you’ve gained since becoming a sergeant, I’m sure Geoff Mercer has a career path in mind. But don’t make a hasty decision. We’ve all suffered relationship issues because of the unsocial hours we work, but something usually turns up that offers a solution.”

  “Let’s be honest, guv,” said Luke. “If a DI role popped up from London Road, Alex would be first in line. Either that or they would bring someone in from another region, as they did with Geraldine Packenham. I’ll see you on Monday.”

  As the lift doors closed behind Luke, Gus sat in the office alone and wondered what had possessed him to return to work. He’d left this angst behind him four years ago. Gus thought back to his first evening in the Bear Hotel with Geoff Mercer when the Detective Superintendent outlined his hopes and dreams for the Crime Review Team and urged Gus to come and work for him.

  Gus had decided to give it a whirl. Retirement wasn’t all it was cracked up to be, especially after Tess had died. So when he’d met with Alex, Neil, and Lydia, he imagined the first to fly the nest would be the fiery red-haired female.

  Kenneth Truelove had already warned him that the university graduate was on a fast-track programme because of her qualifications and background. The modern police service pushed for a more diverse image, and Lydia had plenty to offer on that score.

  Perhaps it was inevitable following the team’s early run of successful investigations that the pressures would grow. Both internal and external pressure, as teams around the county and beyond spotted talent they could use. Any team member might want to spread their wings, and who was he to stand in their way if that was their decision?

  A second phone call interrupted his gloomy vision of the future.

  Geoff Mercer had another update.

  Engineers working under Jamie Banks-Trewick had recovered human remains from a gully near the boundary of land belonging to the farm on Durrington Down. Subject to official confirmation, the Military Police believed the remains were those of Private John Winslow. He died from blunt force trauma to the skull.

  Gus listened to Geoff Mercer’s upbeat report in silence.

  “Everything okay, Gus?” he asked. “I thought the second piece of good news in one day would be a matter to celebrate.”

  “What do you make of Luke Sherman?” asked Gus.

  “An excellent young officer with a bright future,” said Geoff. “Why do you ask?”

  “Are you planning to move him to a more senior role soon?”

  “I don’t know what you’ve heard, Gus, but no, Kenneth and I are delighted with where Luke is at present. We’re in no rush to change a winning team.”

  “Luke’s partner would prefer they spent more time together. Nicky works nine to five. You know how it goes.”

  “We’ve been there, Gus. Christine had the same reaction to the long hours and sullen moods when I was younger. It’s something Luke, Neil, and the others have to go through at certain stages in their careers.”

  “Luke heard of a vacancy in West Mercia,” said Gus. “It would be a step sideways at best, and at worst, it could harm his progress for good. So I’d prefer for him to stay with us for the foreseeable future.”

  “Look, you know Kenneth’s role as Chief Constable is a stop-gap measure to calm the storm after the rapid turnover Wiltshire Police experienced in that role. Who knows what will happen when he retires? In eighteen months or two years, what will you feel like? Maybe you will be ready to hand in that consultant’s ID card and get back to your allotment full-time. If the new boss wants to keep the Crime Review Team, it will need a DI at the helm. That’s a carrot to dangle in front of Luke Sherman.”

  “Luke thinks Alex Hardy will be more likely to get a promotion before him, Geoff,” said Gus. “Or you might opt to bring someone in from outside, as you did with Ms Packenham.”

  “You needn’t fret about Geraldine getting the lead job with CRT, Gus,” laughed Geoff. “She’s good, but not that good. Alex always expressed a wish to return to his old job as a motorcycle pursuit rider. That may be too big an ask, but Alex is a good number two. He’s more of a plodder, like Neil Davis. I won’t write the two of them off as having got as far as they’re going to get, but Luke and Lydia are much better prospects.”

  “Despite having done something reckless last night,” said Gus, “DC Umeh is one to watch. At twenty-two, I reckon Blessing has star quality for what it’s worth.”

  “If you rate her highly, Gus, then Kenneth and I will listen. Keep me in the picture with Luke Sherman. We need to help him decide to stay with you for at least eighteen months. I guess the next time I’ll see you will be Monday lun
chtime?”

  “That’s the plan, Geoff,” said Gus.

  “Have an enjoyable weekend then, and well done again this week. Another rotten apple removed, and another case that won’t haunt the original detectives until they reach the Pearly Gates.”

  Gus decided there was nothing to keep him in the office today. As for what he might say in eighteen months, that was a different matter. Gus took one last look around and headed for the lift. He had the entire afternoon to himself. The weather was fine, and the allotment was as good a place to spend it as any.

  Friday 31st August–Sunday, 2nd September

  Blessing Umeh had spent two lazy days on the farm at Worton. Jackie had been right about delayed shock. Blessing stayed in bed most of Thursday morning, and when she wasn’t sleeping, she sat in the kitchen with her landlady, drinking coffee and watching Jackie baking.

  Jackie had asked Blessing if she was going to call her parents.

  “They won’t have heard what happened on the Plain,” said Blessing. “My father would drive here and insist I quit my job at once. So no, it has to be our secret.”

  When Blessing received a text on her mobile phone late on Thursday afternoon, she had hoped it was Gus relenting, saying she could return to work on Friday. The text wasn’t from Gus.

  Jackie heard the delighted squeal and turned to see Blessing punching the air.

  “That was good news, I take it?” she said with a smile.

  “Jamie wants to know if it’s okay to visit me tomorrow afternoon,” said Blessing. “Do you mind?”

  “Not at all,” said Jackie. “I can’t wait to meet him. John told me what a charming young man he was, and even Suzie had to admit he was handsome.”

  “Jamie’s just what I was looking for,” said Blessing. “My knight in shining armour.”

  “What about the young man your family wanted you to meet on Sunday?” asked Jackie.

  “Ekene Kanu? He needs a woman who will look after him day and night, bear him children, and never speak out of turn. It wouldn’t work between us; we’re from different worlds.”