Zilhouette Murders, page 5
They shook hands and he and DC Warrington walked toward the road.
“Can you please arrange for a constable to be outside overnight and get uniforms to start a house-to-house, to get details on Monarch’s movements. I’m going back to start the interview with Monarch and I will see you later.” Peter gently patted DC Warrington on the back. “ Can you check whether there is any active CCTV on the main road please and thanks for all your help Steven.”
Peter walked back to his car and headed back to the station where he would have his first meeting with Steven Monarch.
CHAPTER 9
Steven Monarch was in the charging room listening to the Duty sergeant explain the charges against him. He had needed to be restrained by three officers when he was led into the station hurling abuse at the officers and trying very hard to escape his shackles.
“Now Mr. Monarch, do you understand the charges which I have just read out to you?”
“Why don’t you just fuck off. This is a frame up. You fucking bastards are all in it and I will make sure the Press gets hold of this. I’ve been framed!”
“Am I to understand that is a ‘Yes’ to you understanding the charges?” Asked the sergeant.
“What charges? I ain’t done nothin’: This is a stitch-up and I wanna see my brief.” Monarch replied.
“Well Mr. Monarch, your solicitor has been contacted and we are told he in on his way. Now, go with these nice officers and no more of this childish behaviour!”
“Fuck off. Why don’t you just go and fuck off!” Monarch was shouting as three officers frog marched him down to the cells. “Now come on Steven, this isn’t helping anyone. Just calm down and let’s get you settled.” one of the officers said to Monarch.
Monarch looked at him and without warning head-butted him. The officer fell with blood immediately showing from the cut on his forehead. Seeing this Monarch calmed down and looked a little shaken by his actions against the officer.
“Look, I’m sorry. I just lost it. I’m sorry.” Monarch pleaded.
The officer was helped to his feet and took his handkerchief from his pocket and put it over the wound.
“You know Steven, it’s actions like these which tell me you are more than capable of hurting anyone – even your wife. Now let’s get you in the cell.”
Monarch was bundled into the cell and for the next twenty minutes he yelled obscenities at the police, the system and even Theresa May. Eventually he stopped shouting and one of the officers checked he was alright.
“He’s lying down.”
“Good. Now go and get that cut seen to and let’s tidy up this mess.”
The constable went through to the rest room, got the First Aid Kit and attended to the cut.
He came out after ten minutes just as Monarch’s solicitor arrived and introduced him to the sergeant.
“Warren Pierce sergeant, representing Steven Monarch.”
“He is in the cells, Sir. Let me get one of my colleagues to bring him into the interview room. We may have to restrain him because of his earlier outbursts resulting in one of my officers being head butted,” The solicitor didn’t say anything but looked up to the ceiling and sighed.
“Follow this officer Sir and Mr. Monarch will be brought to you.”
“Can I have a copy of the charge sheet sergeant?”
“Certainly Sir.”
The solicitor looked at the sheet and then at the sergeant before folding the paper, collecting his case and followed the officer into an interview room.
A few minutes later loud voices could be heard coming from the floor below and getting louder as Warren Pierce’s client was brought up from the cells.
The Officer opened the door and let Monarch inside holding onto the hand-cuffs which restrained Monarch who was tugging and shouting at the police constable holding onto him.
“Now sit down Mr. Monarch and be quiet. This is your solicitor. I will be just outside. Any problems and you’ll be back in that cell. Understand?”
“Thank you officer.” Said Warren Pierce who took out some papers from his case and stared directly at Steven Monarch who had settled in the chair.
“Do you have a cigarette?” Monarch asked.
“Sorry, don’t smoke.” came the reply.
“I didn’t fucking ask if you fucking smoked. I asked if you had a fucking cigarette!”
Monarch leaned forward to be just inches away from Warren’s face. The solicitor didn’t move, he just stared at Monarch whose original gusto was fading when confronted by his solicitor who was clearly untouched by Monarch’s attempt to intimidate him.
Gradually, Monarch moved back in his seat, sniffed loudly and rubbed his nose on his shoulder.
“So, you know why you are here then Mr. Monarch?” Warren finally broke the silence.
Once again, Monarch moved forward in his chair. “This fucking lot are trying to frame me for this murder.”
“Which murder Mr. Monarch?”
“Eh?” A surprised Monarch replied.
“I said, which murder are the police supposedly framing you for?”
“My ex-wife Paula. They are saying I killed her. I didn’t kill her. I haven’t even seen her. The bitch!”
“Let me get this straight Mr. Monarch. You came out of prison and moved into the home you and your wife lived in before you went to prison and you say you haven’t seen her?”
“Yeah, that’s right. I knew she was shacked up with this bloke and I let her know if he was in MY house when I came out I would kill ‘em both!”
Warren was a little shaken by this but recovered his composure.
“So, when you came home Mrs. Monarch and this man had already left?”
“Yes, fucked off. Don’t know where and to be truthful, I don’t fucking care!”
Warren made some notes and turned back to Monarch.
“Do you know who she was living with whilst you were in prison?”
“Yes, Charlie Potts; used to be my best fuckin’ mate and as soon as I get sent down he moved in. Bastard!”
“So for more than ten years he and your wife were living together?” “Are you a bit slow?” Monarch asked sarcastically. “That’s what I said. Charlie Potts fuckin’ my ex whilst I was stuck in prison for something I never did!”
“What do you mean, something you never did?”
“I was stitched up for them four other killin’s even though I had a cast iron alibi for all of ‘em. The fuckin’ police fitted me up for ‘em and the jury believed ‘em. Lyin’ bastards. They knew I hadn’t done those other women. I admitted to the one I did and the one I almost did but, those other four. NOT me; but still I got sent down for ‘em. I think it was my briefs fault and that barrister who was clearly not interested and gave up too quick.” Monarch was sitting quietly in his chair and speaking slowly and in a ‘matter of fact manner’.
Warren made more notes and then turned his attention to the charge sheet.
“Mr. Monarch, what did you tell the police earlier?”
“You mean here or at my home?”
“Well, let’s start at your home.”
“I was lying on the couch watching TV when four armed men dressed in black burst into the room shouting at me. I held up my arms and one of ‘em grabbed me and forced me to the floor. Another had his gun inches from my face and they were all shouting.”
“What happened next?”
“A man in a grey suit started to read my rights and told me I was being arrested for killing Paula.”
“Do you remember what you said and did.”
“To be honest, I lost it and started to shout and lash out but it’s only ‘cos these blokes rushed toward me with guns. Honest, they scared me shitless. Anyway, I said I hadn’t seen Paula since I got out but they just kept on reading my rights and making the charges.”
“Were you harmed.”
“No, oh but the neighbours all seen me led away so this is never going away, is it?”
Warren made more notes, then asked Steven Monarch some straight questions.
“Mr. Monarch, did you murder your wife.”
“No. I haven’t even seen her.”
“Did you head butt an officer earlier?”
Steven thought for a moment before answering.
“Yes, when they brought me in and wanted to put me in the cell, I did lose my temper.”
“So you did head butt the police officer?”
“Yes, and I’m sorry. I said I was sorry at the time but they just ignored me and forced me into the cell.”
“OK, now I’m staying here with you until the detective in charge comes in and questions you. My advice, tell the truth and if you are innocent I promise you I will do all I can to get you out of here. Deal?”
Steven Monarch nodded and sat back in his seat.
“Thanks.” he finally said.
CHAPTER 10
In another part of the building David Cunningham was going through his notes before interviewing Steven Monarch. He had already discussed the upcoming meet with DS Wicker and the two of them agreed everything points to Monarch being guilty of this murder. DS Wicker was still awaiting his DC Steven Warrington who was checking on the general sequence of events including the results of the door-to-door questioning carried out by uniformed constables after Monarch was led away.
DC Warrington joined his superiors in a side room to review what they have.
“OK Steve, what were the results of the house-to-house?”
“Well, no one saw Paula Monarch at the property today or, in fact since Steven Monarch came out of prison. One said she had gone away with this new man in her life she had introduced as Charlie Potts. Evidently, this Potts fellah had lived in the house with Paula these last thirteen years or so – according to a couple of the neighbours.”
“But no sign of Paula Monarch following her husbands release?”
“No Sir; in fact one neighbour actually said he was trying to meet with Paula and thought her disappearance was ‘unusual’.”
“Unusual how?” asked DS Wicker.
“Evidently Paula Monarch and her new fellah’ were becoming part of the community and everyone – apart from one I could find – liked this Charlie Potts and he was always invited to other people home for drinks and BBQ.”
“So Paula Monarch told no one she was leaving?”
“No-one we talked too knew she was leaving.” DC Warrington replied.
“Right then, let’s go and talk to Mr. Monarch.” DI David Cummings announced and Peter Wicker followed him out of the side room and down to the interview room where Steven Monarch and his solicitor awaited their arrival.
Both men walked into the interview room and found Warren Pierce and Steven Monarch sitting in front of a small table. The room was dark brown, there was only a door but no windows, and there was a large mirror on the wall to their right. A uniformed officer stood in the corner and acknowledge the two CID officers as they headed toward the small table. Pulling out a chair DI Cummings introduced himself and DS Wicker and both men sat down opposite Monarch and his brief.
DI Cummings reached across to the tape machine, inserted a new tape and announced his presence, as did DS Wicker.
“Right,” started DI Cummings, “Mr. Monarch I believe the Duty Sergeant advised you of the charges against you and I assume you have discussed these with your solicitor. What is your answer to these charges?”
“My client denies any involvement in the killing of his ex-wife – not guilty,” Warren Pierce answered.
“I see, so do you have any idea who might have wanted to kill your wife Mr. Monarch – other than you that is?”
Warren Pierce stood up. “If you don’t conduct this interview on the basis my client is willing to cooperate, I will stop this now and press for bail.”
“Sit down Mr. Pierce,” DI Cummings said extending his right arm and moving his hand up and down. “Sit down.” he repeated. Warren Pierce slowly returned to his seat.
“There is no question of bail for your client and if he doesn’t cooperate we will ensure the judge at his trial is made aware of this. Now, I will ask again, do you have any idea who might have killed your wife Mr. Monarch?”
Steven Monarch slowly raised his head and looked directly at DI Cummings. “Other than the bastard she was shacked up with no. I don’t know who would want to murder Paula.”
“What do you know about him?”
“Charlie Potts? Yeah, I know a lot about him – or at least I thought I did before he jumped into bed with Paula as soon as I was sent down.”
“So, tell me what you know.”
Steven Monarch spent the next ten minutes talking about Charlie Potts although, if the number of times he called him a ‘fucking dirty bastard’ were taken out it could have only taken him five.
“OK Mr. Monarch. Where were you between midnight last night and ten am this morning?” DS Wicker asked.
Steven Monarch thought about the question before answering.
“Is this when she was killed?” Monarch asked.
“Just answer the question.”
“Midnight and ten am?” Monarch repeated.
“Well, I was at home.” he replied.
“Can anyone verify this Mr. Monarch.” DS Wicker asked.
“Yeah, all of you lot can verify this,” Monarch answered and lifted his leg onto the corner of the table, pulled up his trouser leg to reveal an electronic tag attached to his ankle.
“I can’t leave my house between the hours of ten pm and ten am, if I do, you lot will be round in a flash and I’ll end up back in the nick.” Monarch lowered his leg from the table, looked at his solicitor and smiled.
This clearly threw DI Cummings and DS Wicker who shuffled their papers and DI Cummings turned to the machine. “DI Cummings and DS Wicker are leaving the room.”
They both rose from their chairs and walked to the exit.
“I need a piss.” shouted Monarch.
DI Cummings nodded to the uniformed officer indicating he should escort Monarch to the toilet as he and DS Wicker left.
Once they were both back in DI Cummings office he threw his papers on his desk and turned to Peter Wicker.
“How come you didn’t check this Peter. We were made to look like fools in there and I can’t see how we can move on from this.”
“Excuse me Sir, but this investigation was run by you, not me and it is you who dictated what direction people like me were sent to. We all knew Monarch was tagged and you should have instructed your staff to check on this. I’m not accepting responsibility for this.” “Get out!” shouted DI Cummings.
Peter stared at him for a moment before collecting his papers and walking out of the office slamming the door as he exited. His fellow officers were alerted by the noise of the door slamming and looked up momentarily before getting back to what they were doing.
DI Cummings sat at his desk running over the events of the last twenty minutes thinking he wished he still smoked. He cleared his head and called his boss Chief Inspector Frank Adams then asked his secretary if he could come and see him.
“Just one moment please DI Cummings.” the secretary asked.
David Cummings listened to the piped music and was jolted back by the secretary coming back on the line.
“If you can come now he can spare ten minutes.”
“Thanks, I’m on my way.”
On the two-minute walk he went over in his head what he wanted to say to his boss because he had decided he wasn’t taking the fall for this basic oversight and the only other person involved was DS Wicker, so he was the one to blame.
“Go straight in DI Cummings, he is waiting for you.” the secretary instructed.
He nodded and walked up to the door, knocked, waited a couple of seconds and walked through the door.
Chief Inspector Frank Adams was sitting behind his enormous desk looking at some papers laid out in front of him. He lifted his eyes and pointed to the chair in front of his desk. DI Cummings sat down and waited for his boss to finish his paperwork.
“David, what can I do for you?” Frank Adams put down his pen, removed his glasses and look straight at his DI who was obviously concerned about something to request this short meeting.
“Er, it’s about Steven Monarch Sir and him being charged for the murder of his wife Paula.”
“Go on, I know a little about the case from your DS Wicker.”
This threw DI Cummings, he had no idea his DS had discussed this with his boss without telling him.
“Well Sir, it’s actually about DS Wicker and his failings in this case.” Frank Adams sat up straight in his chair and folded his arms in front of his chest.
“What failings?”
“It turns out no-one checked with the Tag Team what Steven Monarch’s movements were at the time he was supposed to have murdered his wife.”
“No-one checked?” Frank Adams repeated.
“Yes, that’s right, no one checked so, when DS Wicker and I interviewed Steven Monarch about the murder he simply stated he could not have been involved in the murder, otherwise the Tag Team would have re-arrested him for breaking the curfew conditions imposed on him by the Court who allowed him out early.”
“I see, and you think if someone had checked with the Tag Team before your interview your approach might have been, - well, different.”
“Exactly Sir. Because now, we have told Monarch and his brief the timings of the murder and he has the perfect alibi.”
“And you blame who for this?” Frank Adams asked.
At his moment David Cummings realised he could make a fundamental mistake and blame his troops for something which was really his responsibility. His original plan to throw DS Wicker to the wolves needed to be amended – and quickly.
“Of course Sir, this is down to me. I should have instructed someone to check on this and this is a big failing on my part.” David Cummings took a deep breath as the last word left his lips.
“As you know David, this is your responsibility and I am pleased you recognise the chain of command and where the buck stops in cases like this. To be honest, I thought you were going to try to deflect responsibility to someone else and I was prepared to be very critical of you should you have adopted this position. Now however, we have a problem. Is there anyone else in the frame for this?” “Honestly Sir, other than the person we are pursuing for the other two murders there is no one else, though it is early in the investigation.”
