Zilhouette Murders, page 24
“He asked me about ankle tags and whether I could do anything with them. I told him there was nothing anyone could do but he didn’t believe me. He asked me about my family and how he envied me, but detective, believe me that was a threat. As soon as he mentioned my family I knew I was possibly in trouble.”
“Why didn’t you come to us?”
“Oh, and tell you what? I have this feeling I’m in trouble?”
Peter Wicker cleared his throat and continued, “So, you didn’t meet with him?”
“Yes,.. I had to see him otherwise he would have got angry and no one wants to deal with an angry Monarch!”
“Where and when do you meet?”
“He came to my shop a week after he was released. He walked in and turned the Open sign to show Closed and flicked the lock on the door and closed it which made me very nervous.”
“Then what happened?”
“He pulled up his trouser leg to reveal the tag fitted over his ankle and said he wanted this taken off without raising an alarm and done in a way which allowed him to replace it. I told him I could take it off but couldn’t guarantee it wouldn’t be damaged or be put back on without altering the monitoring station.”
“What did you do?” asked DS Wicker.
“I have a family detective and I promised the missus I was finished with all this but Monarch, he is very dangerous and I genuinely believed he would harm them if I didn’t help him. I swear to you, I only thought he wanted to have a few nights out after his curfew.”
“So you removed the tag?”
Willows was getting upset and he was wringing his hands on the desk.
Peter Wicker pushed the glass of water in front of him. “Take a drink Mr. Willows.”
Michael Willows looked back at DS Wicker and wiped his face with his sleeve.
“What happened Mr. Willows?” DS Wicker asked again.
“I took him into the back room of the shop and removed the tag and made some adjustments to the electronics. For ten seconds it flashed red but after the adjustment it turned back to green meaning it was working properly even though it wasn’t attached to his leg. I showed him how to reattach it and take it off again before he left.”
“Did he contact you again?”
“He asked me out for a drink but I made an excuse and didn’t meet with him.”
“Right. Thank you for coming in Mr. Willows and making your statement. I need you to remain seated for a little while longer. I need to check on a couple of things including the stationing of a car outside your home. Sit tight and I’ll be back. Cup of tea?” Michael Willows nodded and DS Wicker left the room.
Once outside he punched the air “Yes, Got him!” he whispered to himself.
He walked upstairs to find DI Cunningham and gave him the news. He arrived at David’s office but could see someone else was already in with him so he sat outside and waited. He called his DC to tell him about the success of the interview and to confirm the car was positioned outside Michael Willows home.
“Yes, I can confirm the car is outside Mr. Willows home. Great news about his confession, what happens now?”
“I’m waiting to go in and see DI Cunningham about getting a warrant to pick up Monarch.”
“Is Willows still in the Interview room?”
“Yes. Thought I had better speak with DI Cunningham before proceeding with processing him.”
“What do you think will happen to him?”
“Well, it’s a serious offence but his statement might get Monarch off the streets – hard to say Steven but fortunately that’s not a decision for us. By the way, would you arrange for a tea for Willows please.”
“No problem. I’ll wait for your call.”
Peter Wicker sat outside his boss’s office for another ten minutes before he heard the door open and he saw DCI Frank Adams walk out looking very red-faced and angry. He remained seated knowing DCI Adams wouldn’t see him and as soon as he had left the area Peter got out from his chair and knocked on his boss’s door.
“Come in.” came the response.
He walked in smiling and feeling very proud but he could see DI Cunningham was less than calm and happy.
“Yes Peter, what is it? I’m very busy at the moment, This fucking case is driving me mad!”
“Excuse me Sir but I thought you should know Michael Willows has made a statement in which he admits to tampering with the tag attached to Steven Monarch allowing him to leave his house unmonitored.”
“What! - he confessed to this?”
“Yes Sir. He started the ‘no comment’ answering until I told him I was investigating a possible murder after which he said he would cooperate. I also agreed to put a car outside his house until Monarch was brought in because he was very frightened of Monarch and without this I doubt he would have talked.”
“That’s fantastic Peter, well done.”
“Thank you, Sir, do you think we have enough to pick up Monarch?”
“Let me see the statement Peter.”
Peter Wicker handed him his notes which he read looking up at Peter as he made his way through the writing.
“You have all this on tape?”
“Yes Sir.”
“You asked him if he wanted a solicitor?”
“Yes Sir, you can see in the notes. At first he did but then, after I told him what the investigation was about and my offer to arrange for a car outside his house, he said he didn’t need any representation and wanted to proceed with his statement.” explained Peter.
“Right, get one of the uniforms to take his formal statement and let Michael Willows go. I will arrange for Harry Jones to be sent home and cancel his brief. Just try to make sure neither knows the other was here. This is damn fine work Peter. I think this is enough to go and pick Monarch up again. I don’t think we need SWAT this time but if you are OK with this I would like DC’s Menton and Black to go and pick him up.”
“I’m fine with that Sir, as long as you think they won’t need back-up.”
David Cunningham thought for a moment and then added “Perhaps you and DC Warrington should go with them... and take some uniforms, just in case.”
“Yes Sir, we’ll get straight over there now.”
“Good. Let me know when you have him downstairs.”
Peter Wicker contacted his fellow detectives and Steve Warrington and they made their way down to the car park after Stuart called Sgt. Joe South and asked for a van and support to bring back Steven Monarch. They all met up in the car park to agree their plan.
“Joe, can you and your men hang back at the entrance to the cul-de-sac and Stuart and Alison will go into the house first and make the arrest, Steven and I will wait two steps behind them and call you as soon as Monarch is cuffed.”
All was agreed and all four detectives got into one unmarked car. The van, with five uniformed constables and Joe South followed them. They were heading to collect Steven Monarch from his home.
CHAPTER 47
Steven Monarch had ordered a Chinese take-away. When the door bell rang he assumed this was his meal. He had planned a quiet night in watching TV and had already consumed a number of cans of strong lager.
When he opened the door he immediately realised the man and women standing before him were not from the food delivery company.
“What the fuck do you two want?” was his opening line.
“Mr. Monarch, I’m Detective Menton and this is my colleague Detective Black, can we come in?”
“What do you want?”
“Let us in and we will explain why we are here.”
“Have you got a warrant?”
“Just stand aside and let us in.” shouted Alison Black.
Steven Monarch wasn’t going to do that. He tried to close the door but DC Menton was a big man and held it open. Seeing what was happening DC Warrington headed for the back door and DS Wicker joined his colleagues and helped push against the door. Eventually the door swung open again and Monarch, seeing DS Wicker made a dash for the kitchen and back door. Peter Wicker radioed Sgt. South for help and followed the two detectives into the house and towards the kitchen where they found Monarch lying on the floor face down and Steven Warrington on top of him with his knee in his back and attaching hand cuffs.
“You bunch of jokers have nothing on me and you know it.” shouted Monarch.
Alison Black took a step forward to looked at Monarch directly.
“Steven Monarch, you are under arrest for the murder of Paula Monarch. Anything you say will be written down and may be used in evidence against you. You have the right to a solicitor. If you do not have a solicitor one will be appointed. Do you understand the charge?”
Monarch looked down at DC Black and blew her a kiss.
“When I get out I will pay you a visit.”
Alison Black turned to walk away then paused and looked back at Monarch and smiled. “If you ever get out you won’t pose a threat to me or any other woman because you’ll be an old pathetic man.” Monarch just smiled.
“Take him away sergeant.” Stuart Menton said.
The uniformed officers led their prisoner back through the lounge and out of the front door followed by the four detectives who were smiling. As they walked through the lounge a flashing green light caught Alison Blacks eye. She turned to Peter Wicker.
“Is that what I think it is?”
Peter turned to see the ankle tag sitting on the arm of the sofa, the flashing green light supposedly confirming it was fitted and functioning correctly.
“Get a photograph Alison and then bag it.”
“Yes.”
Steven Monarch sat in the back of the police van realising he had removed the tag because it was uncomfortable but also now knew his previous alibi he had used to exclude him from the investigation into his ex-wife’s murder could now be challenged.
He looked out the back of the van as it pulled away from his home, then the cul-de-sac and realised he had not been happy since his release. Life was so much simpler for him inside prison. He decided there and then not to fight and admit he had murdered Paula because she had taunted him about her relationship with Charlie Potts and how he was ‘much better in bed than you’. Going back to prison offered him order and calm in his life instead of the constant anger he felt outside.
The van arrived at the station and two uniformed officers helped him out of the van, then walked across the car park into the station followed shortly afterwards by the detectives.
Inside the station Monarch was led to the Duty Sergeant who asked him to confirm his name and address.
“Now Steven, you know why you are here?”
“Yes”
“Before we take you down to the cells do you have anything to say?” Monarch took a deep breath. “I am guilty. I did murder Paula and I did lie about this the last time I was here.”
This confession stunned all present and Alison Black pushed her way forward. “Mr. Monarch, just to confirm you are advising us you did murder your ex-wife Paula Monarch?”
“Yes, I murdered her on the golf course and then cut her up,” Monarch was now shouting.
“Alright Steven, calm down.” said the desk sergeant, “Do you want your solicitor?”
“Why not.” he replied
“Do you need anything else?”
“I’m very hungry. You lot prevented me from getting my Chinese take-away.”
“OK Steven, I will organise you some food.”
The sergeant nodded to his officers indicating they should take him down to the cells, but before putting him inside the cell they asked him for his shoes and his belt which he gave up willingly.
Once he had left the area Peter Wicker turned to his three colleagues, “Great job guys and well done Alison.”
There was a great deal of back-slapping and hugging as all four detectives headed back upstairs.
“We need to go to see DCI Cunningham and let him know we have him and his confession,” DS Wicker said.
“Shall we come with you?” Alison Black asked.
“Of course, it’s your collar so you and Stuart should be the ones telling the Gov’ner.”
Everyone smiled and headed for DCI Cunningham’s office.
Peter Wicker reached the office door and knocked. “Come in.”
All four walked in to find David Cunningham sitting behind his desk. “Well Detectives, you all look like the cat’s got the cream,” David Cunningham greeted his young detectives.
Alison was gently pushed forward by Peter Wicker.
“We’ve got him Sir and what’s even better, he confessed to the murder of Paula Monarch after the Duty Sergeant asked him to respond to the charge.”
David Cunningham rose to his feet and delivered a round of applause.
“Well done, all of you.” he said.“Has he got his solicitor with him?”
“On his way Sir but he was asked whether he wanted to wait for his solicitor and he declined.” Alison replied – still grinning.
“Right, well I am sure I speak for Chief Inspector Adams when I say we are both proud of the way you handled this and especially to Peter and Steven for the background work finding Anne Morris and getting the name of the man who has now confessed to removing the tag from Monarch’s leg, which meant his alibi was worthless.”
Again all four detectives grinned from ear to ear.
“Now, we need to get his statement and confession down on paper while his solicitor is present to get this completely wrapped up and then we need to concentrate all our efforts on the ‘Zilhouette’ murderer. Do we have any updates on this?” asked David Cunningham.
The smiles disappeared from the faces of the four detectives and it was Stuart Menton who answered the question.
“To be perfectly honest Sir, we have now identified all the victims using DNA, dentistry and historical medical records but we cannot find any common link which joins them together. Every time we think we are getting somewhere, adding another victim, the thread just breaks down. We have ten women who just have no recorded contact between each other or even common interests, jobs, hobbies, family and social media. None have police records; none have ever been found guilty of anything in a Court; none have the same partners – there is just nothing Sir.”
A hush descended in the room and the detectives waited for a response from the vastly-experienced Inspector Cunningham.
“You are obviously looking for the wrong thing.” he finally said. A lot of puzzled faces turned their attention back to their boss. “Where else can we look Sir. We have asked all the experienced officers in the building. We’ve talked to Fraud and Vice officers and they haven’t been able to help because none of these people are on their files. We’ve talked to senior officers in the surrounding districts and they say the same. We’ve created literally hundreds of dead end enquiries, Hell we’ve even spoken to all our contacts and informants and none of them have revealed any information which can help us,” Stuart Menton replied.
“Do you think whoever is murdering these people is picking them at random?” asked David Cunningham.
Everyone shook their head.
“So, if the killer is selecting them, there has to be a reason why he is killing them. Why does someone kill another person? Ignore robbery and I guess passion because he can’t have had relationships with all these women: we would know about that, so what’s left?” All the detectives looked down as they thought about what their boss had said.
“Revenge Sir. Maybe he is carrying out these murders for revenge,” said Steven Warrington.
“Exactly DC Warrington, revenge. These people have done something which has caused the killer great pain, enough to want them dead so, it’s nothing trivial.”
“But this brings us back to the same problem Sir, there is nothing which connects these people,” Alison Black added.
“What if these people are not the ones who caused the killer to seek revenge, what if these victims are just that, victims-who have no connection to their murderer but maybe they are connected to people who have the connection.” Peter Wicker spoke slowly, speaking his thoughts as they developed in his head.
The room went quiet as everyone considered Peter’s idea.
David Cunningham was the first to speak.
“When I spoke with the killer on the phone he told me Steven Monarch had killed his wife and this wasn’t justified. He also said killing the ten women he had killed was justified. so this just emphasizes Peter’s idea.
“Right, this is what we are going to do. I want each of you to partner up, get extra staff from uniformed and from Viv’s office and go through the families of the victims. Ignore any children because they couldn’t be involved in anything to do with this. Parents, siblings and close friends; see if there is anything which comes from this. A very good idea Peter and one I hadn’t considered. I will deal with Monarch but don’t even think there is going to be any watering down of the credit for this – it’s yours. Now, off you go and get started on this.”
They all thanked DI Cunningham and headed back to the detective area and Peter Wicker wrote out a message about an early morning meeting and attached it to the notice board..
DI Cunningham left his office in search of a coffee and as he walked back into his office his phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Inspector Cunningham this is Charge sergeant Sterling Sir, just to let you know Monarch’s brief has arrived and he is with his client in the Interview room.”
“Thank you, sergeant, I’ll be there in ten minutes. I just need to sort out someone to come in with me.”
“I have a WPC free Sir if it helps.” replied the Duty Sergeant.
“Thank you, that would be very helpful. See you in a few minutes.”
He finished his coffee and made his way down to the Duty sergeant’s area where he was introduced to WPC Susan Baker.
“Good evening Sir, I understand you need me to come into the interview room with you?”
“Yes please, just to take notes.”
They both walked down to the interview room, entered and found Steven Monarch sitting next to his solicitor who looked less than happy.
“Good evening gentlemen, I understand Mr. Monarch has confessed to the murder of his estranged wife and we just need to complete a signed statement.” said David Cunningham as he walked toward the table and pulled out a chair for himself and WPC Susan Baker.
