Gareth licked his dry, cracked lips and swallowed again. ‘That was self-defence, and I pleaded not guilty. I’m allowed to defend myself. The law says so.’
‘We’re not here to debate what the law says,’ said Eastwood. ‘Tell us about Iron Shadow. How you met. Who the members were or are.’
‘You should really talk to Karim,’ Gareth said. ‘He’s the one who got me involved.’
‘We’re not talking to Karim. We’re talking to you.’
‘What do I get for it? Co-operating with you lot I mean,’ Gareth said as the corners of his mouth turned upwards in a smile. ‘I’m not a grass, but for the right price.’
Stanford straightened up and leaned forward on the table, the space between him and Gareth growing tight and claustrophobic. ‘I’m tired, fed up and hungry. I didn’t spend nearly five hours on the motorway to play games with the likes of you. Do you understand?’
‘Understood.’
‘Good. Now tell us about the group,’ Eastwood said, clicking her pen.
‘It started with Karim,’ Gareth said quickly. ‘His little sister was abused by her teacher. He got away with it and Karim didn’t take it well. One night, we were in the pub talking about it and inhe walked, that dirty paedo who abused Karim’s sister. He was in the pub with his missus, acting like … I don’t know, he was God’s gift. His missus left and he stayed until closing and we followed him. That’s all I’m going to say about that. You can fill in the gaps. Anyway, I don’t know, it like triggered something and it … it was a rush.’
‘Are you saying you started the group?’ asked Eastwood.
Gareth shook his head. ‘No, Karim found them, or they found him on Facebook, I think. The next thing I know, he’s dragging me along to a meeting.’
‘Who was in this meeting?’
‘I wouldn’t even call it a meeting. I was expecting a massive thing, but there was only one person at first. Called herself Mika. She said that her and her partner wanted to expand beyond chasing perverts with a phone through the park.’
‘What did she mean by that?’
‘I had no idea to start with,’ said Gareth, the chair creaking under his weight as he leaned back. ‘And then she explained how the courts were getting it wrong. How people like that teacher were getting away with murder because the jury weren’t always equipped to make the right decision. And she had a point, right? Look what happened with my niece.’
Eastwood and Stanford both remained quiet. Their gaze fixed on Gareth.
‘Anyway, after that first meeting. Karim started getting information on targets. And it was good information. Full name, home address, bail address, information about their cases, emails and, sometimes, phone numbers.’
‘And what would you do with that information?’ asked Eastwood.
‘Use your imagination,’ said Gareth. ‘Think about what you would want to do if someone hurt – and I mean really hurt – your wife, boyfriend, your kid, your dad. Bloody hell, even your dog. Whatever you’re thinking about, it was probably done.’
‘All this information you got about the … victims,’ Stanford said carefully. ‘Where did it come from?’
‘I’d always wondered the same thing, because the info Karim and I got, it was like a little dossier. Sometimes we got copies of witness statements so we could get a real feel for what our victims went through.’
‘You mentioned that this Mika had a partner. Did you ever meet him or her?’
‘No, but I know his name. Elliot. Karim met him. I got the impression that neither of them liked to get their hands dirty. She never came out with us. Just gave us our orders.’
‘But you met this Mika?’
‘A couple of times. She wasn’t what I expected at all. She looked like she should be decorating the church on a Sunday, do you know what I mean?’
‘If we got a sketch artist—’
‘I got an A-level in art and I’m a graphic designer by trade. I could draw her myself,’ Gareth said proudly. ‘Give me your pen and a sheet of paper and I’ll draw her for you now.’
‘You’ve just appeared in court for violently assaulting a prisoner and you want me to give you a pen that you could use as a weapon?’ Eastwood was incredulous.
‘You have my word that I will not shank you,’ Gareth said, making the sign of the cross.
Eastwood looked across at Stanford who gave a slight shrug.
