Retribution - A Dish served Cold

Chapter Forty- Three

Walker pushed back his chair, stood, walked across to the window, and gazed out without saying a word. His thoughts were that the old man was delusional. "It was so long ago. I'll need to read the files?"

John nodded. "Another cuppa, please. The old throat's dry, too many Woodbines."

"Excuse me for a moment." He turned, strolled to the door and left. In the main office, Walker spoke to a female detective constable. "Get me every unsolved cold case file and another cup of tea. Check this man out. This is his name and rank. See what you can find."

"I can give you fifteen minutes, Guv," said Jackie Parks

"I don't care what you might be doing. This is a priority, and I need an answer like yesterday. Don't stand there. Go."

"Yes, Guv."

Jackie waited until he disappeared and turned to a colleague. "Why does he want cold case files. Anyone who was involved with these is more than likely dead and buried.

Walker returned to his office. "A cup of tea is on its way. Now, where were we?"

Jackie Parks entered. "Excuse me, sir. "One hot cup of tea." She switched on Walker's computer and pressed a few keys on the keyboard. "The records, sir, are computerised." Her heels clicked on the wood-covered floor as she walked away.

"Thank you. Jackie."

She smiled, closed the door and muttered, "Arsehole."

The Superintendent studied the first file on the brothers.

John glanced at the clock high on the wall. "I must hurry; I'm running out of time."

John, his eyes staring, sagged in the chair as if freed from a heavy load.

The Superintendent closed his eyes and thought of his next move. If the press discovered he had placed a ninety-year-old in a cell on suspicion of murder, it might be a poor decision, but the man confessed. "John, I need to take a leak."

"Guv," said Jackie Parks as he strolled past her desk. "The old man is the infamous DCI Jack Daniels. He received the George Cross from the Queen, but this can't be right."

"What's wrong?"

She gave a funny laugh. "Daniels died last week."

Confused, Walker looked at Jackie. "If you're taking the piss, you'll be on traffic duty for the rest of eternity."

She shook her head and handed him the local newspaper. "Read the obituary column."

"So, who's sitting in my office?"

Walker, followed by Jackie, raced to his office.

They opened the door and found an empty room. The steaming cup of tea remained untouched on the desk.

Walker lifted his telephone and rang reception. "Sergeant, has an old man just left the building?"

"No, sir." He ended the call.

"Jackie, have the building searched. The last thing we want is him collapsing in a toilet or tumbling down the stairs."

"Right, Guv."

Walker collapsed in his chair. "You were always a pain Daniels but where the fuck have you gone now?"

A breathless Jackie knocked and entered. "We've checked everywhere, Guv, including the ladies. Jack Daniels is not in this building."

He frowned. "Have we got an address?"

"It'll be an old one. I'll check his file."

She never heard him say. "You do that."

Jackie returned in less than a minute and placed the file on his desk. "Fifteen, Sinclair Road."

"I'm off to see his wife. Somehow, he left this building, and I want to know how. The old sod could hardly walk, let alone leave the building."

Jackie pulled a face. "Have you forgotten what I told you? He supposedly died last week."

"Really," said Walker, "Then who was that sat in my office? You saw him."

"You said it was Jack Daniels. Who am I to question what you tell me."

Walker stood and grabbed his jacket. "If you need me, you know where I am."