If I Should Die (Joseph Stark) by Matthew Frank Read Free Book Online Page A

way would they have gone?’
    Dixon got out his phone and opened a maps app to show him a number of routes they might have taken up to Blackheath, where they could cut across towards Kidbrooke.
    ‘But the most direct route must be across Greenwich Park,’ suggested Stark.
    ‘It’s surrounded by walls, and the gates close around nine thirty this time of year.’
    ‘If they were willing to climb into St Alfege Park why not Greenwich Park? The darkness would shield them from sight.’ The huge park would save them time and cover their escape.
    Dixon shrugged. ‘Some of the gates have CCTV, I think. The Royal Parks Police are stationed up the top end. We can go and ask them.’ He phoned the office to say they were running down a theory and drove up to the main gate off Blackheath. Inside an RPP sergeantsat them down at the CCTV bank and showed them how to work it. Shortly before midnight a group could be seen climbing in at the gates nearest the town centre. They had hoods, caps or both and the camera was on a high pole. It was possible to guess at some of the clothing but little more. All of the gates had cameras but none showed the group egress.
    ‘They wouldn’t use this gate because we’re right next door, and the Vanbrugh Gate on to Maze Hill has a high wall arched over, with no room to squeeze over the gate. But we’ve had problems in the past with vandals in the nursery at the top. They might have cut through there,’ said the sergeant. ‘I’ll show you, if you like.’
    The Flower Garden in the south-east corner, separated from the main park by low railings, boasted manicured grass, a picturesque duck pond, paths edged with deep thickets of flowering shrubs and beds alive with colour. The gate from it into the nursery was not spiked. Neither was the gate from the nursery on to Maze Hill. There was no evidence anyone had passed through but it fitted the theory. Stark suggested they walk the short distance up to the heath.
    At the road junction a curved bite had been taken from the park wall to accommodate a large stone war memorial. The left panel was carved with a large 1914, and the right with 1918. The central panel read ‘IN GLORIOUS AND GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS BOROUGH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR’. Below, the horizontal stone had later been carved with the words ‘ALSO IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE RESIDENTS OF THIS BOROUGH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES TO THE COUNTRY DURING THE WAR 1939–1945’.
    The remains of a vodka bottle lay smashed against the foot of the monument, and a giant pack of cheese puffs had burst its contents across the ground among a number of lager cans – Tennent’s Super, like those at the crime scene. Over all hung the acrid stench of urine. Stark’s hands curled into fists.
    ‘I think I’d better call DS Millhaven,’ said Dixon.
    Fran found Dixon and Stark guarding the memorial with an RPP sergeant. She set a couple of uniforms to take over and phoned forSOCO. Aside from fingerprints, the lager cans and the neck of the bottle would probably have DNA, and several of the gang were on the database for previous infractions. There probably wasn’t any money for testing, but if the old boy died that would change. Better to have the evidence in the bag just in case. Dixon talked her, again, through the rationale that had led them there. He was a good copper, thorough and honest; too honest to take credit for uncharacteristic initiative. She looked at Stark but he said nothing, which, it seemed,
was
characteristic. Fran was mildly impressed but if he wanted to remain reserved she would reserve praise. ‘Reserved’ was just another word for ‘aloof’.
    She let him stay while the SOCOs came and did their work. SOCOs were civilians rather than CID officers but Fran didn’t hold that against them. They were a good crowd, professional, dedicated and, most importantly, content with the tedious task of gathering forensic evidence so she didn’t have to. Stark paid