‘Nobody raised any concerns when we discussed it.’
Beth shook her head. ‘Maybe they should have. I wish someone had now. Maybe then I wouldn’t be so scared. I’m still crapping myself. I don’t think I could stand prison. I couldn’t cope with the isolation.’
‘I’ve been in touch with Kim’s abuser online. You know, dodgy dating sites, doggers, swingers, that sort of thing. I’ve created several false profiles, just tit, leg and arse photos, nothing that shows my face. Nothing that risks revealing my identity or location to anyone who happens to be looking.’
‘I had no idea you could do that stuff. I wouldn’t know where to start.’
‘I studied computer science at college.’
‘You’ve never mentioned it.’
‘Garvey’s into some weird shit. That’s his name, Timothy Garvey. He gave me his mobile number without hesitation. I’ve bought a cheap pay-as-you-go for cash. It’s all coming together. The twat thinks he’s been talking to three different women, all of whom can’t wait to get their hands on his cock. He thinks he’s God’s frigging gift. I’ve been feeding his ego. Making the prat think he’s winning. When I’m ready, I can reel him in.’
‘Garvey’s dangerous, Sue, don’t ever forget that. He’ll hurt you if he gets even the slightest chance. And he’d enjoy doing it too. Kim has told me some truly horrendous stories. She opens up after a few glasses of wine. The more pain he inflicts, the harder his dick gets. It’s what turns him on. It’s the only thing that turns him on.’
‘Yes, I know, the man’s a freak. But maybe I can use that against him. The bastard’s staying in Cardiff for a couple of weeks, fitting new shops out ready for opening. His sister told Kim all about it when she bumped into her in town a few days back. It’s big money, apparently, over a grand a week. Not that Kim or the kids will see any of it. He’s one selfish sod. They never do.’
Beth began drying her back, relieved to focus on Sue’s future plans, anything but herself. ‘Just be careful, Sue. That’s all I’m saying. Think everything through very carefully before reaching any final conclusions. If any of us screw up, everything could come crashing down. You know that as well as I do.’
Sue moved her young child from one shoulder to the other. ‘I could buy a train ticket for cash and wear a disguise. You know, a wig, make-up, dark glasses, that sort of thing. There’s plenty available online. Or there’s that new fancy dress place in town near the market. I could make myself unrecognisable. And Cardiff’s a big place, it’s anonymous. I could meet Garvey at his hotel. No-one sees what happens behind closed doors. I could kill him there.’
5
‘Morning, ma’am, you look like shit.’
Detective Inspector Laura Kesey pushed a pile of crime files aside before looking up at her sergeant and grinning. His use of the term ‘ma’am’ never failed to make her feel a lot older than her thirty-six years. ‘Thanks, Ray, you always say the nicest things.’
Lewis laughed, amused as intended. ‘Fancy a coffee?’
Kesey ran a hand through her short brown hair, pushing the fringe away from her eyes and nodding. ‘You know where the kettle is. I may even treat myself to a biscuit.’
Lewis made a deep sound in his throat as he bent down to retrieve the plastic kettle from the floor to the left side of Kesey’s desk, next to the wall. He patted his overhanging beer belly with his free hand. ‘Well, that’s my exercise done for the day.’
‘You need to keep your back straight. Use those stomach muscles. They must be in there somewhere.’
‘Yeah, very funny, hilarious as always.’
‘Take it on the chin, Ray. I can give as good as I get.’
Lewis chuckled to himself as his overburdened knees stiffened and complained. ‘Late night?’
Kesey took a packet of individually wrapped chocolate biscuits from a cluttered desk drawer, sighing theatrically as she pushed one across her desk towards him. ‘I was called out about 9.45pm and didn’t get home again until past midnight. I couldn’t get to sleep after that. You know what it’s like when your mind starts racing. I was tossing and turning for most of the night. Jan was less than impressed. It’s become a regular event since the force stopped paying officer ranks overtime. My hours have got ridiculous. I get called out for just about anything these days.’
‘So, what happened last night? Anything I need to know about?’
‘Hit and run.’
Lewis spooned instant coffee into two mugs, followed by powdered milk and boiling water, a splash of which spilt onto the office carpet. ‘Why the hell did they bother you with that? Hit ’n’ run’s not usually a CID matter. Surely uniform could have dealt with it without you holding their hand.’
Kesey accepted her hot drink gratefully, cradling the mug with both hands. She shook her head incredulously as Lewis added three heaped spoonfuls of sugar to his coffee, before vigorously stirring. He left the spoon in his mug.
‘It was a fatal on the road out of Ferryside. You know, on the steep hill in the direction of town a mile or so past the garage on the left. It was reported as a tragic accident at first. A man found collapsed on the road. Hit by a car maybe, or a van. But the traffic boys who were first on the scene thought there might be more to it.’
‘Were they right?’
‘Yeah, I think they very probably were. It looked as if the vehicle had hit the victim twice, once in a forward gear and then again in reverse. It seemed the victim might have been dragged back along the road for at least twenty feet if the various bloodstains are anything to go by. And it looked as if he may have tried to scramble up the hedge at one point, to try to escape the initial impact. The body was in one hell of a state, particularly his head and his face. It took me a while to recognise him. I can tell you one thing: whoever hit him wanted him dead.’
Lewis gobbled almost the entire biscuit in one greedy mouthful, washing it down with a generous slurp of overly sweet coffee as he allowed the wall to support his weight. ‘Was it anyone I know?’
‘Yeah, it was, as it happens, Aled Harper, the scrote with a penchant for assaulting women and children. You must remember him. He’s not an easy man to forget.’
Lewis nodded his recognition. ‘Oh, I knew Harper, all right. Not a nice man, and that’s putting it mildly. It looks like someone dished out some of his own medicine for a change. He’s ruined a lot of lives. It’s about time he was on the receiving end.’
‘He was only released from Swansea Prison a couple of weeks back after serving half of a nine-month stretch for breaking his wife’s arm.’
‘Yeah, Louise, I remember the case. Wasn’t there an indecent assault allegation involving her daughter?’
‘I watched the video interview. It seemed genuine enough to me, but we couldn’t make it stick. It was the girl’s word against his, no forensics.’
Lewis devoured what was left of his biscuit, licking the melted chocolate from his fingers as a final treat. ‘Oh, for fuck’s sake! Couldn’t we get anything out of Harper on interview?’