Costa Crew 2: They Walk Among Us

Chapter 21 - I Trusted Him

"AC-9 interview with Detective Chief Inspector Raymond Drake in the presence of his legal counsel regarding Operation Godfather," Ben recited after the long BEEP sound made by the tape had finished. "Interview led by Detective Superintendent Houston, assisted by Detective Sergeant Foster and Detective Constable Davis."

"I'm still confused as to why you're questioning me about a case that was closed four years ago," Drake said.

"We've come across new evidence that points towards corrupt police involvement," Samantha replied. "Everyone on DSU Houston's old team is being interviewed."

"Thank you, DS Foster," Paul said. "DC Davis."

Ben opened up an image on his tablet, which was broadcast to a television screen. "Statement given by DCI Drake regarding the events of 29th of October 2034. Document 1 in your folders."

"Can you confirm that this is the statement you gave regarding the kidnapping of Rebecca Hidgens?" asked Paul.

Drake read through the document then nodded. "As far as I can remember, yes."

"What sort of checks did you perform when you entered the flat?" Paul continued.

Drake hesitated. "I...looked over the living room."

Paul frowned. "That's it? You didn't search the whole flat?"

Drake shook his head. "I didn't, sir."

"Why not?" asked Paul, his temper rising.

"There were no signs of forced entry," Drake said cooly.

"And yet Anthony Andrews and Hannah Perkins were able to enter the flat prior to your arrival," Samantha pointed out. "You were unable to locate them?"

Drake smirked and remained silent. "DCI Drake has the right to be questioned by an officer at least one rank superior," his legal council said.

Paul sighed. "You were unable to locate them?"

Drake scowled. "As I said, there were no signs of forced entry, which to me meant that nobody had entered the flat earlier that day."

"See, you could have just said that the first time when DS Foster asked you," Paul muttered. "Moving on to the matter of Miss Hidgens' address. DS Foster."

"At the time of her kidnapping Hidgens worked for MI5," Samantha said. "Therefore she lived in MI5 accommodation, and the only place where a record of her address was stored was on their database. Until we were told that she was the target, then our team was given access to the address. DC Davis."

"Document 2 in your folders is a statement from Michael Arnott in a voluntary interview with AC-9 officers DSU Houston, DS Foster and DC Davis," Ben continued. "He claimed that Anthony Andrews ordered him to tell you that Rebecca Hidgens was the target. Any idea why?"

Drake rolled his eyes. "So that a member of my team had grounds to access the address, which Murphy was presumably unable to locate."

Paul smirked. "Don't you mean, you had grounds?"

"This is a very serious accusation, DSU Houston," Drake's legal counsel interrupted. "Your proof?"

"A pattern of events," Paul nodded. "DC Davis, the tape."

"For the tape, I am now playing a recording of the bug planted on Rebecca Hidgens on 29th October 2034," Ben said, pressing play on the laptop.

"I've put a lot of hard work and careful planning into making this business secure. If there's anyone who can and will interfere, it's you. So you have to die. Although I won't object to a spot of revenge," Amelia's voice said. Ben stopped the tape and Paul turned back to Drake.

"We know Amelia Murphy had been the Godfather for years prior to her arrest," Paul said. "She considers Hidgens a threat. But she can't kill her straight away because she's an MI5 agent and her address is practically untraceable. Then we become aware of the existence of the Godfather and she decides to act. So Michael Arnott tells you about the plan to kill Rebecca Hidgens and you have grounds to access the address. It was then you, DCI Drake, who was trusted with the protection of Rebecca Hidgens, who failed to properly search the flat, and failed to prevent the kidnapping and near murder of Rebecca Hidgens. DCI Drake, do you have anything more to say or shall we terminate the interview?"

Drake closed his eyes as he took a deep breath, then opened them as he exhaled. "I'm clearly not as good a detective as you think," he said, going red. "I didn't search the flat properly because I didn't think to. It didn't cross my mind that Arnott knowing about the plan to kill Hidgens was all too convenient, and I may have enabled a member of my team to pass the address onto Amelia Murphy. But I catch criminals, I don't aid them. So I won't stand to listen to you accuse me of being corrupt."

"Interview terminated," said Paul, his eyes narrowed. "I trusted you, Raymond."

"Yeah, right," Drake snorted. "You didn't trust me further than you could throw me. Otherwise I'd have been on that mission with you."

"You were needed at the station," Paul replied coldly. "I know you sold Becky out, Drake. I'll prove it, clear her name, and send you down. I thought you were a good detective. Far too self absorbed for anyone's good, but on the right side of the law. Seems I was wrong."

***

"You really don't have to do this," Lisa kept saying. "I can check into a hotel."

"It's the least we can do," Paul said, shaking his head. "How's Becky getting on?"

Lisa sighed. "They still won't let us in, but word is she's going to make it. So, Becky thought Amelia killed her brother and went to see her in prison?"

Paul nodded. "Then went back again on the day of the murder, drunk. She said they wouldn't let her in, and Charlotte picked her up from Connelly's office. But according to the visiting records Drake sent me, Becky was allowed in right before the time of death."

"And you think Drake forged the records," Lisa noted.

Paul nodded. "I know all the evidence says that Becky did it, but…"

"Your instincts tell you otherwise," finished Lisa. "You've known Becky your whole life, Paul. If your instincts say she didn't do it, I'll do everything I can to prove that to the jury... actually, who's the prosecutor?"

Paul shrugged. "Drake didn't mention, probably Beck or Lestrade."

Lisa groaned. "Great. The high school best friend of Amelia and I, or one of the city's best prosecutors who essentially disgraced me."

"You can beat Lisa Beck," Paul said confidently. "And Lestrade's fairly detached from all this, he'll present all the evidence against Becky but he won't forge anything."

"You might be right," said Lisa. "But there's not much we can do until Becky wakes up."