Page 86
Story: The Curator (Washington Poe)
‘DI Flynn is getting our director to put pressure on Her Majesty’s Court and Tribunals Service to release the names of jurors but I’ll talk you through it.’
He held up a finger.
‘One: crown court’s in Carlisle and jury service lasts for two weeks.’
He held up a second finger. ‘Two: Tilly’s checked with the MoD and they don’t require employees to take leave for jury service, which explains why Rebecca had nothing on her leave card. Howard was self-employed and Amanda did have to take leave.’
‘And when court’s in session you have to have your mobile switched off,’ Nightingale said.
‘You do, ma’am,’ Poe said. ‘It also explains the irregular times their phones were switched back on. In a crown court trial the jury are often dismissed while a point of law is being discussed. If it’s going to be a while, the usher will allow mobiles to be used while they’re in the jury room.’
‘And because you have to hand them in while you’re deliberating,’ Nightingale added, ‘it explains the longer period they were all off at the end.’
Poe hadn’t considered that. He nodded as another piece of the puzzle fell into place. ‘And finally, although you can’t serve on a jury with a criminal conviction, the trial period predated Howard Teasdale’s sex offence.’
‘All trials are public record,’ Nightingale said. ‘I assume you’ve formed a theory on which one they were on?’
‘There were a few during that two-week period but one in particular stands out. I think you’ll remember it, ma’am.’
‘Why’s that?’ she asked. ‘Who was on trial, Sergeant Poe?’
‘It was Edward Atkinson.’
Nightingale gasped.
‘Oh my God. The man …’
‘The man in the mask,’ Poe confirmed.
And then the room went quiet.
Chapter 54
‘The Curator exists then,’ Flynn said.
‘Seems that way,’ Poe said. ‘Too many similarities for it to be a coincidence.’
‘And who the hell is Edward Atkinson? Why’s he called the man in the mask?’
After Director of Intelligence Edward van Zyl had confirmed that Howard Teasdale, Rebecca Pridmore
and Amanda Simpson had been on the jury for the Edward Atkinson trial, it had been organised chaos. People had phone calls to make. The rest of the jury had to be identified, located and made safe.
They’d assembled in a corner of the incident room. Nightingale had only just returned. She looked exhausted. Coughlan put a steaming mug of coffee in front of her. She sipped at it gratefully.
‘Ma’am, do you want to tell DI Flynn who Atkinson is?’ Poe asked.
‘You do it,’ she replied, her mobile pressed against her ear. ‘I’m trying to get your lot to tell me what his new name is.’
‘You weren’t informed at the time?’ Poe asked, surprised.
She shook her head. ‘You know what happened. Can you blame him? If it had been me, I know I wouldn’t have wanted … hello, this is Detective Superintendent Nightingale from Cumbria Constabulary; I’d like to speak to your operations manager, please … yes, I’ll hold.’ She turned to Flynn and said, ‘I’d better take this in my office.’
After she’d left, Flynn asked again, ‘Who the hell is Edward Atkinson?’
‘I was working for SCAS when it happened but for a while Edward Atkinson was the most hated man in Cumbria,’ Poe said. ‘He worked for a waste management and recycling business. One of those companies who securely dispose of the hazardous materials some industries create.’
As he spoke, Bradshaw was typing furiously. ‘J. Baldwin Limited? Based in Workington?’
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86 (Reading here)
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134
- Page 135
- Page 136
- Page 137
- Page 138