Chapter 56
Pellacia groaned in pain as he exited the police car that had escorted him from King’s College Hospital to the SCU.
No one trusted him not to go to Don Hernandez’s cell at Croydon police station and finish what he started.
He groaned for a second time when he saw Ramouter cross the car park on his way to the SCU entrance.
‘Ramouter,’ Pellacia called.
Ramouter ignored him and kept walking.
‘For fuck’s sake,’ Pellacia muttered. He jogged and stopped in front of Ramouter. ‘Did you not hear me?’ he asked.
‘What can I do for you, guv?’ Ramouter asked with clear disdain.
‘I just … last night or this morning. Neither of us were ourselves,’ said Pellacia, fighting to keep his tone conciliatory. ‘We both said things that we—’
‘No,’ Ramouter said firmly. ‘I meant everything I said.’
Pellacia tutted. ‘I didn’t realise you were so hardheaded.’
‘You’re a fine one to talk,’ said Ramouter, inching closer to Pellacia. ‘If your priorities were in order Ezra wouldn’t—’
Ramouter paused as the door creaked open behind him.
Pellacia turned around to see Henley staring intently at the pair of them.
‘Ramouter, you’re needed upstairs,’ Henley commanded. ‘Now,’ she said more forcefully as Ramouter showed no signs of moving.
‘Yes, boss,’ Ramouter said bitterly.
Pellacia silently watched as Ramouter made his way into the building.
‘Was it your plan to end up in a hospital bed next to Ezra?’ Henley asked Pellacia. ‘And then have to explain yourself in a misconduct hearing?’
‘Please don’t start,’ said Pellacia, placing an arm on the safety railing. ‘I’ve already had an earful from Eastwood.’
‘An earful wasn’t enough,’ Henley replied as she stepped down. ‘I saw the body worn camera.’
Pellacia’s face fell. ‘Whose?’ he asked.
‘Does it matter?’
‘I’m going to lose everything,’ Pellacia said. He sat down on the step. ‘I can’t even say that I saw red. I saw Hernandez and then Ezra and that … It’s like I blacked out.’
‘You’re going to need to come up with something better than that,’ said Henley, joining him on the step. ‘Hernandez was screaming about police brutality all the way to the station.’
‘The man is facing life in prison for multiple murders, and he nearly killed Ezra.’
‘We’ve got no evidence that Donovan Hernandez was involved in the assault on Ezra,’ Henley said regretfully.
‘Of course, he’s fucking involved and me kicking the shit out of him is the least of his problems,’ Pellacia said as he gingerly pressed his fingers against his red and swollen cheek.
‘How many stitches?’ she asked.
‘Three. I need a drink. This fucking day, Anj.’
‘I know, but I’m going to tell you the same thing that I told Ramouter. We need to focus; this isn’t about us.’
‘Try telling Ramouter that. He blames me. You saw the look on his face.’
‘He’s angry and you know what it’s like when we’re hurt. It’s easier to take it out on each other, but we have to move on.’
‘You make it sound so easy.’
‘That’s because I know you’re one of the good ones,’ said Henley. She put her arm around Pellacia, and he buried his head into her neck.
‘I’m not feeling that right now,’ he said.
Henley felt her neck become damp with Pellacia’s tears as she held him a little bit tighter.
She could feel it in her own body the overwhelming feeling of exhaustion, hopelessness and anger.
Henley heard the sound of squeaking door hinges.
She turned around to see Copeland standing in the doorway with a quizzical expression on her face.
‘What is it, Copeland?’ Henley asked as Pellacia quickly moved away from her, picked up his stab vest, which had been at his feet, and stood up.
‘We’ve got a bank alert on Mika Fonseka,’ said Copeland.
‘It’s four alerts actually,’ said Copeland, back upstairs ‘She made a cash withdrawal from a Post Office in Bruce Grove. A purchase at a chemist in Lower Clapton and another purchase in Marks and Spencer in London Bridge.’
‘Does anyone else get the impression that she’s heading south?’ asked Ramouter.
‘It certainly looks that way,’ said Henley. ‘What was the fourth purchase?’
‘She hired a car,’ said Copeland. ‘But not with a physical business. They’re called Whiz Cars. You go online, enter your postcode, find an available car closest to you, pick it up and go.’
‘How can you just go? What about the keys?’
‘You open the car with an app and the key is usually in the glove box,’ Copeland explained. ‘The problem we have right now though, is that even though we know she’s hired a car we’ve got no other information. We don’t know what type of car she’s hired or even where she picked it up.’
‘We need to get hold of someone at Whiz Cars,’ said Pellacia. ‘I don’t know how easy that’s going to be with a purely online business.’
‘Ezra would have found a way,’ Ramouter said mournfully as he turned his back to Pellacia.
‘Have there been any updates?’ Copeland asked.
‘His sister, Natalie, called a little while ago. He’s no longer critical but they’re keeping him in a medically-induced coma for the next twenty-four hours to help reduce the swelling on his brain,’ said Henley.
‘Poor kid,’ said Copeland.
‘He’ll get through it,’ Henley said resolutely, trying to lift the air of dejection that emanated from Pellacia.
‘I also got an update from Eastwood. Hernandez is refusing to talk. He’s lawyered up and has gone no comment to everything.
Eastwood said he wouldn’t even confirm his name.
They’ve taken a break, but they don’t expect him to deviate from no comment once they resume the interview. ’
‘I’m about to head down to Southwark to do a viper ID with Laurance Durant,’ said Ramouter. ‘A positive identification from Durant and the fact that we’ve got a fingerprint match for Hernandez will be enough for the CPS to authorise a charge.’
‘Before you go, what happened with Gardner and the Joneses?’ asked Pellacia.
‘Gardner turned into a quivering wreck when I told him he was a target,’ said Copeland. ‘He’s been staying at the Hilton hotel next to the court and has his own security. I can’t see Mika trying to make a move somewhere so public.’
‘And the Joneses, Ramouter?’ Pellacia asked pointedly, forcing Ramouter to look at him.
‘Mason Jones was found guilty and remanded into custody awaiting sentence,’ Ramouter replied flatly. He picked up his coat and case file. ‘Paige Jones was acquitted. The boss tried to convince her that she should request protection, but she wasn’t having it.’
‘I’m going to have another word with her,’ said Henley.
‘She doesn’t live far. I’m going to pass by her house on my way home.
If Mika is nearby and she’s watching, then maybe the sight of police presence will scare her off.
I’ll also get on the radio and see if any cars in the area can do a drive-by. ’
‘You’re going home?’ Copeland asked with surprise.
‘Only for a shower and a change of clothes. But make sure you call me the minute you get confirmation of Mika; do you understand?’
‘Of course,’ Copeland replied.