Chapter 4

There was something that Marilyn could do while she was at her computer. It would be doubling up Ians’ work, but she called up Ancestor and entered Geoff Hunter and his known year of birth. She tracked through the family tree, finding that he had five brothers. One, who would be the right age as the man that Rose had seen, was called Henry Hunter.

She also looked for ways that magnesium would create a flash bright enough to damage sight. She found that the finer that the magnesium was divided, the brighter the light. There was a mention about pyrotechnics. She picked up her phone and called the armed response office, asking for the Inspector that she had spoken to, only a week before.

“Inspector, It’s DI Houseman. With that headless body case that we have, we have a suspect who had lost most of his sight while experimenting with magnesium, and other substances. Can you shed some light on that, excuse the pun.”

“That sounds like the guy was trying to make a flash bang. Like the small grenades that we have to toss inside a room to make those inside deaf and blind, giving enough time to disarm them. There are some, on the market, that produce a light strong enough to knock out all cameras within sight of the flash. They’re only available to approved security and military groups. They’re messy and can permanently blind anyone looking directly at them. A homemade flash would be enough to damage sight. Was the guy involved with security cameras?”

“He was. I think that he may have been in a planning phase of a robbery which didn’t happen. Thank you for that.”

“No problem. Are you nearer to catching your killer?”

“Still some work to do, but, along the way, we may have solved a cold case for Leeds.”

She put her phone down and sat to think. She had an idea of what the target had been, but it was almost too impossible to contemplate. She went out into the main office and went up to John Richards’ desk, the most junior member.

“John, are you doing anything that can’t be put off until the morning?”

“No, ma-am.”

“Right, it’s time that you and I go back and talk to Bernard Tapper. Tidy up and be ready to leave.”

“Yes, ma-am.”

She went over to Ginger.

“I’m taking John to talk to Tapper. I think that I may have something to shock him into co-operating. It’s time that John experienced genuine policing.”

“Right, ma-am.”

John was quiet on the way to Tappers’ house. Marilyn glanced over to him.

“It’s all right to pass the time of day, John. I may be your boss but I’m not an ogre.”

“Thank you, ma-am. It’s just that I haven’t had a lot of experience with talking normally with superior officers.”

“I can tell you that the more superior they get, the more they call you by your surname. When we were in Leeds for that meeting, a Chief Super called me Houseman the whole time. There was a WPC taking notes who never told us her given name. We are going to see Bernard Tapper. With him, bright lights won’t work, so were going to be his friends and see if he’ll feel good enough to unload his guilt. We may even allow him to stay where he is, for the moment.”

“Damn, I brought my handcuffs.”

“That’s the way. Loosen up and listen. You may be the first to handle another one of those rocks.”

Marilyn knocked on the door and waited. It was eventually opened by Tapper.

“Bernard, it’s Marilyn Houseman back again. This time I’ve got John Richards with me. I thought that he needed to bask in a bit of sunlight. I’ve brought your key back. Can we come in? John boils a mean kettle.”

“All right. Did you find anything in the lockup?”

“We did, but more about that later.”

“Come in. The kettle’s on the stove, lad. Mines a strong tea.”

“I’ll skip, this time. John, make one for yourself. Bernard has the best Yorkshire brand.”

Bernard sat at the kitchen table, Marilyn sat opposite and put the key on the table.

“The lockup was pretty dirty. Ginger and I needed showers as soon as we clocked off. Your friend, Alf, never bothered to tidy up.”

“He only used it to store his old bike.”

“And the pizza delivery bag, Bernard. Don’t forget the bag. It was a very important part of your shared history.”

“What are you talking about, shared history. The only thing we shared was Esme.”

“Let me tell you a little story, Bernard, while the tea cools. Back in 2019, you and your three schoolmates plan a jewel robbery in Leeds. I have to hand it to you, it was well planned, so much so that nobody knew it had happened until you were all well away. You went in, eight months before, to install an outside camera. While you were there, the owner trusted you enough to go off and get some shopping. While he was away, you took an impression of the key to the rear door, and also gave his system a software patch, with an instruction to turn every camera off at ten in the morning, and then wipe the memory of the patch.”

Bernard was very still.

“On the day of the robbery, one of you went in the back door, after ten, and threatened the two girls in the shop. The rest of you came in after, bound and gagged the girls, locked the front door and pulled the blinds down. Then you took your time stripping the display cases. One of the girls would have known the safe combination, so one of you, probably George Hanson, threatened to cut them both if they didn’t give it up.”

He was now sagging, with tears running down his cheeks.

“When you had got everything you could, along comes Alfred on that bike, with a pizza bag on his back. He was loaded up with around three million pounds worth of diamonds, and off he goes, looking so innocent. After that, you left, one at a time, and blended in with the shoppers, going to cars left a few streets away. George was the last one out, wasn’t he? It must have been a shock to find out that he had slit the throats of the two girls, just because he could.”

Bernard was sobbing.

“He – he was always unpredictable. That had never been part of the plan. You have it all as if you’d been there on the day. It had been a great success, but, from that day on, we were all bound by the stigma of those murders.”

“Is that why Alfred volunteered to drive the getaway car in that failed smash and grab? That one had none of the care that your job had. Were the other lads younger brothers. Henry Hunter, for example. Did Geoff Hunter tell Alfred that he had to do it or else be exposed for the Leeds job?”

“He told Alf that it was a matter of life or death. George had already killed the girls, so he couldn’t hang twice.”

“The time that you lost your sight. That was another job in the planning, wasn’t it? I have to hand it to you; it would have made you famous if you’d pulled it off. My, the local boys who took the Crown Jewels.”

He put his head in his arms and took noisy breaths. John was looking at Marilyn with amazement.

“Let me guess, Bernard. You were developing the ultimate flash bang. The finer the magnesium, the brighter the flash. I’ve been told that they can be so intense, they can fry the lens of any camera within sight, as well as the sight of any guard who is near. That would have been quite a feat. All you needed to do was to get some plastic explosive and blow open the cases. That would have made a mess of the Minster. I went to see the display, wondering if they were fakes, until I saw them. March 2024, a great bit of kudos for York, and a good PR job for the monarchy.”

“You seem to know it all, missus. Not much more to tell. What now, a ride in a police car that’s now waiting outside?”

“Not quite, Bernard. What I want is for you to come to Leeds with us, all nice and friendly, and make a full and clear statement in front of the lead investigator of the robbery. But not today. Today, I want you to tell me who it is that’s after those lumps of uncut diamond you each had, as a keepsake, and to remind you of your bondage. We found Alfreds’ in your lockup, and the shop owner has given a full statement of his own illegal activities.”

“I told Bill Wolf and Henry Hunter that I’d hocked it, years ago, to pay for my hospital work after the flash. They didn’t believe me and looked through the house. It’s in the lockup. If you look up, there’s a double flouro in there, totally useless as there’s no power. The bag has been on the top of that since I moved here.”

Marilyn nodded to John, who picked up the key and left the house. The two sat, quietly, until Tapper took a deep breath.

“Feel better, Bernard?”

“Yes, thanks, It’s all been eating at me since that day I opened the paper and saw what we’d done. What’s going to happen, now?”

“I’m sure that the prosecution will ask for leniency if you tell all, naming names, and dating dates. You’re already living in your own prison. The only problem will be to take you somewhere that you like, where you will be looked after, and where we can keep you safe from the Hunter, Wolf and Hanson extended families. Do you know why the lads wanted the diamonds?”

“Not sure, but I did hear things about Mafia links, and they needed backing to enter that club. Their brothers and their friends made an absolute cock-up of their attempt to get some readies. Alf was a tower of strength during that time, not rocking the boat. Didn’t do him any good, as the younger brothers took that as a sign of weakness.”

John came back in, somewhat dustier, but with a grin and the bag in his hand. He put it on the table, with a thump. Bernard flinched.

“Get that out of here, lad. They call them things blood diamonds. That one has its full share of blood on it.”

Marilyn stood.

“I’ll come back and pick you up in the morning, Bernard. John and I will take you to Leeds, to the Central Police Station. I’ll push for you to get protection, in return for your co-operation. If you call the others, tonight, you know that we’ll find your body in the morning. This new mob of louts don’t take prisoners. The pain may take away your guilt, but it may be more pain than you’ve ever experienced.”

Out at the car, she took the stone and gave John the keys.

“Take us to Tadcaster, off the main road. I’ll give Keith a call to meet us there.”

She pulled a recorder from her bag and turned it off.

“He’ll be wanting to listen to this, tonight, with something strong to help him sleep.”

As John drove her along the Tadcaster Road, and past the racecourse, she rang Keith.

“DCI Russell.”

“Keith, it’s Marilyn. I have a couple of things for you. I think that you’ll want them tonight. We’re just about to get on the A64 at Askham. Can you meet us at the High Street pub in Tadcaster. Get that nice WPC of yours to drive you, as there’s something for you to listen to on your way back to Leeds. Oh! Before you dash off, I’ll be bringing Bernard Tapper to Leeds in the morning, should he last the night. He’ll need witness protection when we leave him with you.”

“See you there, Marilyn.”

As she sat, with her phone in her lap, John looked over at her.

“Should he last the night?”

“We’ve left him with a choice, John. The man is in a hell of his own making. If he’s alive when we go to get him, he’ll tell it all, warts and all. If he tops himself, then he’ll be in a better place, but we still have his testimony on record. If he does top himself, then the others won’t realise that he’s told us everything. We still have the two Anderson murders to get an arrest made. We now have the two names, it’s just getting witnesses to recognise the car, and get their DNA to test against the crime scenes.”

“This isn’t what they teach in the college.”

“Welcome to real life, John, and the desperate acts we have to do to get it right, while still showing empathy. Policing isn’t about throwing your weight around. It’s getting to know your opponent and to think like them. We’re expected to catch the crooks of the world, without touching the normal people, going about their daily life. If you upset them, then it all gets very difficult.”

When they arrived at Tadcaster, they parked a few doors short of the pub. Across the road was a marked police car. They got out and went to the pub. Keith was there, with WPC Nottage.

“We’ve only been here a minute or two. My driver, here, is very good. Having blues and twos helped.”

“Keith, I’d like you to meet DC John Richards. John, this is DCI Keith Russell, from Leeds. Keith and I will go and sit down while you try to get the given name of WPC Nottage. I’ll have a dry white.”

Keith led her to a table.

“Now, Marilyn. What do you have?”

“Firstly, Keith, we have this.”

She pulled out the bag with the stone in it and put it on the table. He peered into the bag and whistled.

“Two fifths of the blood diamonds in one day. That’s brilliant work!”

“That one was Tappers. It was above our heads in his lockup where we found the other one. It was sat on the top of a double flouro. Now, I have this recording, taken this afternoon. I’ve gone out on a limb with Tapper. If he’s there when we go to pick him up in the morning, he’ll sing like the proverbial canary. When you listen to the recording, you’ll understand why I’ve taken this road. I would say that he was bawling his eyes out before we left, his tear ducts still work, even if he can hardly see a hand in front of his face. The reason for that is on the recording as well. In my wildest dreams, I’ve never imagined something so momentous.”

“I’ll look forward to listening on the way back. Here’s our drinks. Thank you John.”

“We’ll just sit at this other table, ma-am. Pam has my drink.”

Keith and Marilyn took sips of their drinks.

“What do you have left to do, Marilyn, now that you’ve solved my case?”

“I have to arrest my own murderers. We now have two names. They’ll be living in your area, so I’ll need some co-operation from Central. I believe that the shooter is one of the Hunter or Wolf brothers. Information about that is also on the recording, so you may have to let your Chief Super have a listen to it. What isn’t on the recording is that the shooter was seen leaving the first crime scene and putting a fishing rod bag in the back of a red Astra, before getting in and being driven away. A red car was seen, parked at the second crime scene, so some surveillance may be needed to find that car, and the driver. They want to get into the big leagues and may have more weapons at their disposal.”

“Just collect your information for the rest of the week. I’ll organise my team to follow this up on the ground.”

“Thank you, Keith. I’d better get young John home again. Hopefully, I’ll see you again in the morning. I’ll give you a call when we’re on our way.”

They all stood and went out to their cars, Keith carrying the bag with the stone. Marilyn held her hand out for her keys and John got into the passenger seat. She went up to the tee junction and made a U-turn, heading back towards York. She drove them to the station, let John out by his car, and then went home to run a hot bath. It had been a big day.

When Anton came home, she told him that she wanted to eat in the pub. He knew that this, along with the scent of a bath bomb, meant that she had a day that she didn’t want to talk about.

The next morning, she picked up Tim, as usual. On the way, she told him what she would be doing.

“If Tapper is ready, John and I will take him into Leeds. We may be there the whole day. I’ll ring if I need any information that we haven’t given to them yet. They will be taking over the physical surveillance, seeing that our suspects live in Leeds, but we’ll get to make the arrests and bring them back to York. We have some brownie points with them, after this week, so expect a friendly reception if you need to call them. I think that I gave John a bit of a shock, yesterday. I’ll give you the whole story before the end of the week.”

They went up to the office. Marilyn checked her emails. There was one from Keith, sent at around the time she was in the bath. It just said, ‘Wow and double wow!’ She grabbed John and then went to collect Tapper. He opened the door to them.

“Good morning, Bernard. You look a bit more spick and span this morning.”

“That’s because I feel as if this may shed the weight of my guilt. I’ve been up since five, had a bath and packed a bag. I doubt that I’ll be coming back, so I’ve packed everything I want to keep. If John will put my bag in your car, I’m ready for whatever comes my way.”

He sat in the back seat of the car, his dark glasses making him look like a celebrity. John had his keys and went through the house to make sure that all the windows were shut, the power turned off, and locked the front door before getting in the car. Marilyn drove to Leeds, thankful that it had all turned out for the best. She got John to ring and let them know that they were coming. As they approached the police station, her phone rang, and John answered it.

“Special directions, ma-am. They want us to head for some doors that will take us into a courtyard. DCI Russell will meet us there.”

He listened and reported where they were. He directed Marilyn and they went through a gateway which was immediately closed by a couple of uniformed police. Marilyn parked by a door and Keith came out to help her out the car, his sergeant going to the back door.

“DCI Russell. I formally hand over custody of one Bernard Tapper. He has come, willingly, and should be treated with respect. His case is in the back, and John has the keys to his house.”

“DI Houseman, I take responsibility of your witness. Now, let’s all go in. I played that remarkable interview to my boss this morning, and he’s pulling out all the stops to make your visit a good one. When you said that part of it was unimaginable, none of us expected to hear about that plan to take the Crown Jewels. Our tactical Super was in the room, and he thinks that it may have worked, as long as the attackers were prepared to kill, which they have already shown that they are.”

They all went in. The sergeant taking Tapper into an interview room where an experienced officer was waiting to take him though his story, with several others sitting behind the one-way glass to observe. Keith led Marilyn and John to the meeting room, where Pam Nottage was getting the cups out. Marilyn took note that she smiled at John and was wearing some better make-up this morning.

It was a less formal meeting than the last time they were here. Given names were the norm, even with the other officers that joined them. The others were part of Keiths’ team and had been going through the information that the team in York had been sending. There was also the commander of the uniform branch who would have to be on hand when the arrests were made.

Over the course of the morning, Marilyn and John brought the others up to speed with the information that they had, and the Leeds team laid out the situation with the suspects, their families, and their operations, as far as they knew. Pictures of all the younger brothers was being collected, and all traffic cameras in their area were being monitored for the red Astra. Keith reported that the knife had been located and taken to Thirsk along with the blood samples and an urgent request to process. During that morning, John became able to discuss things easily with superior officers. He and Pam, being the only constables in the room, kept notes and everyone supplied with drinks.

About half past eleven, the door opened and a man with an obvious air of authority came in.

“Good morning, everyone. My name is Colonel Carruthers, and I was asked to come and sit in on a very interesting interview this morning. Part of my job is as a local liaison with Special Branch and other services. I have to say that what I’ve heard today has shaken me. The audacity of that jewellery robbery, and the way that it was carried out will be something added to the training courses in future. The plan for raiding the Minster was pure bravado, but could have worked, or made a hell of a mess and a nightmare in the media.”

He looked around the room.

“There will be recognition of such fine work, but that will come through normal channels when this other double murder is finalised. I know that you still have a way to go with that one. Thank you for all your work. I have to go and report to my own superiors now.”

He left as he had come, with precision and authority. The room was silent for a moment. Keith laughed.

“Now that is a man with more responsibility than most of us can handle. Those circles that he inhabits are way over my pay grade. I think that we’re all on the same page now, so how about us letting our visitors have lunch and let them head back to York.”

On the way back to York, Marilyn was thinking about the morning. She had known that having a witness willing to tell all about the diamond robbery would create a swell of interest but hadn’t expected the tidal wave that the plan to take the Crown Jewels had created. She thought back to her own visit to the Minster.

“I’m going to tell you something, John. This is between the two of us and is a word of advice.”

“Understood, ma-am.”

“When I told you that we should put ourselves in the mind of the crooks, it was good advice. However, you can start to see angles that a normal person would miss. I was just thinking about my own visit to see the Crown Jewels in 2024. I’ve just realised that I know the entry and exit ways they would have used, and the probable number that would have died. If Tapper had succeeded in producing the mega flash bang, the only sign that the robbery was taking place would be when the cameras went down. If they had timed it in with sabotage on the electrical substation for the area, the response would have been too late to stop them.”

“You’re telling me that there’s an obverse side to that coin, aren’t you. I’ll lock that in my mind. That would be a scary thing to know.”

“You’re right. It’s a side of things that security experts use when they look at events. No wonder there was one of them watching the interview with Tapper. I expect that our Bernard will be in a safe house and no good for our further investigation. At least we now have the likely name of our double murderer, and the reason for them. What I still don’t get was the brutality.”

“Could be the game training of the teens, over the last ten, or fifteen, years. They grow up eliminating their foes in gruesome ways every day. To them, it’s how you do it to be certain that there’s no regeneration of an enemy.”

“You’re probably right. When is your date with Pam Nottage?”

He laughed.

“Nothing gets past you, boss. We’re having dinner at Popina’s and then there’s a picture she wants to see at the Hyde Park. They’re having a Monroe revival and showing ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’. I believe that it has an interesting song or two.”

“I’m getting to like that girl more. She has a wicked sense of humour.”

Back in the office, she played the team a copy of the interview that she had been given. The rest of the team were amazed. Ginger was the first to ask the question.

“What now, for us, ma-am.”

“We’re back on our original case. We now have the two names that are our possible gunman and his driver. We still need to find firm links to them and our victims. Yes, I realise that they were probably looking for the blood diamond, but we can’t arrest them if we don’t have the solid evidence. We have the rest of the week for that research. There are things we still don’t know, and we need to concentrate on those as priority. They may not seem relevant at the moment but will provide more dots for us to connect until we see the whole picture. Keith Russell and his team in Leeds will be tidying up their case, and also compiling a file on the three families. I believe that the families had been acknowledged as career criminals, but not as important as they now seem to be. Leeds will lift their game with surveillance and intelligence gathering. The likelihood that they may now have an armoury of weapons has put them on another level.”

Marianne Gregory © 2026