Imposture (DI Gardener 6)

“Sorry,” said Gardener. “When you get there I want his clothes.”

“His clothes?”

“Yes, his clothes and his body are a crime scene. I need them removing carefully and bagging up.”

“Right,” said the older medic, “can we go now?”

“Yes,” said Gardener, “I’ll have two of my men at the hospital as soon as possible.”

Gardener glanced at Reilly who had now collected the three items from underneath the victim. Gardener doubted he would like what he was going to see, but he knew he’d been right to persuade Briggs to let him have the job.

In his right hand, Reilly held two passports, and an A4 sheet of scrolled paper inside a plastic wallet.

Gardener glanced at both passports, aware that the first of his team had arrived in the distance, drawing their car up to the crime scene tape, further blocking entry to the street. A crowd had gathered, as usual.

He showed them to Reilly. “Jack Heaton and James Henshaw. No surprise there, boss.”

“Certainly proves he isn’t in Brussels.”

“No, but the passports suggest he might have had every intention of going somewhere,” replied Reilly.

“Unlike the others,” replied Gardener, “I doubt he got there.” He held up the A4 wallet, reading the quote on the paper:

When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard something like a voice in the centre of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; but do not damage the oil and the wine.” Revelation 6:5-6

Reilly finished reading and raised his head. “That’s just brilliant. We’ve got a fecking religious nut on our hands.”

“Where’s the quote from?

“The Book of Revelation.”

“What do you think it means?”

“I’m not sure. This stuff can be quite deep; might have more than one meaning. I’d have to think about it.”

Gardener folded his arms and stared at the sky. “Someone’s well ahead of us here, Sean.”

“Who?”

“I had four in mind yesterday but Rosie Henshaw was one of them.”

More of the team started to arrive, lining up at the end of Butts Court, waiting to be called.

Gardener continued, “We’ve now found two members of this so called DPA outfit who were involved in the hit and run which killed David Hunter: Michael Foreman and James Henshaw.”

“Leaving Zoe Harrison, and Anthony Palmer,” said Reilly, “so who’s your third possibility?”

Gardener turned to face Reilly. “It’s a long shot but I can’t rule out Rosie Henshaw.”

“First rule of thumb – always look at family.”

“Her husband disappears after he’s been involved in a hit and run in which two people die. His business partners also disappear; suddenly, one returns, and dies.”

“She claims to know nothing about the hit and run. The damaged car is not where she believes it to be.”

“Nor are the business premises,” added Gardener.

Reilly glanced at the ambulance as it pulled away. “Now we find the husband in a critical condition.”