‘No, leave it,’ said Henley. ‘Whoever this Elliot is he must have transferred to a London court. I’ll ask Pellacia to speak to whoever is responsible for the court staff at the Ministry of Justice.’
‘We’ve got a viable list,’ said Copeland, turning away from her screen. ‘Ezra found nineteen defendant cases in the material that Kaiden Longley sent him. Fox-Carnell, Ashcroft and Hall were on that list. Nine cases have been adjourned to next year for trial and three have changed their plea to guilty and have been remanded in custody pending sentence. Three of the remaining four are currently in the middle of trials. Bartholomew Gardner, Mason and Paige Jones and Catlin Ferguson. The fourth, Primrose Welch, her trial is due to start on Monday.’
‘Bartholomew Gardner,’ said Pellacia. ‘I’ve heard of him. Owns a chain of discount sport shops.’
‘On trial for human trafficking at Southwark,’ said Ramouter. ‘I’ve just come off the phone with the list office. The time estimate for the trial is nine weeks and they’re only on week four.’
‘And the others?’ asked Henley.
‘The jury are out deliberating on Ferguson’s case at Wood Green Crown Court. She’s on trial for a Section 18 on her sister. Acid attack.’
‘She’s looking at a possible fifteen-year stretch if convicted,’ said Copeland. ‘That leaves the Jones trial at Woolwich. The jury is out deliberating.’
‘Mason and Paige Jones have been in the news,’ said Ramouter. ‘Husband and wife own a wellness company in Shoreditch. A couple of women allege they were drugged and sexually assaulted on their manifesting yoga retreats.’
‘Any one of those are targets for our vigilantes,’ said Copeland.
‘But it all depends on the verdict,’ said Pellacia. ‘We can’t just sit here waiting for them to make a decision before we act.’
Henley stood up and paced the room. She felt as though she was a beginner in a chess match against a grandmaster. Every move she wanted to make had already been anticipated by her opponent.
‘Henley,’ Pellacia called. ‘What do you want to do?’
Henley turned around and faced the remainder of her team. ‘Let’s get the public involved,’ she said. ‘British Transport Police, City of London and our people are already on the lookout for Kaiden Longley but let’s release his image and the composite image of the man known as Don.’
‘What about the sketch that Gareth Humphreys drew?’ asked Copeland. ‘I don’t mean to be funny, it’s good, but that woman could be anybody. A fantasy of his imagination.’
‘It could be, but Eastwood showed it to Karim Messenger, and he said that the woman was Mika,’ said Henley. ‘I know it’s not an official composite sketch but right now, with multiple potential victims at risk we can’t be wasting any more time.’
‘I’ll get onto the press office and also chase up the MOJ with the court staff transfer request. Where are Stanford and Eastwood now?’ asked Pellacia.
‘They were at Cambridge services an hour ago,’ said Henley. ‘They should be here by four, give or take.’
‘Hopefully we’ll have some answers by then.’
46
‘I’ve had a chat with a couple of the boys in CID about our new recruit,’ Stanford said. He handed Henley her vodka and tonic. They both turned to their left where Copeland was talking animatedly to Ramouter and Ezra on the other end of the table. The early arrival of Stanford and Eastwood, from Manchester, had also meant the promise of welcome drinks at their local being granted.
‘Have you been gossiping again?’ Henley jested back to Stanford.
‘You may call it gossiping, but I call it reasonable enquiries.’
‘What are we talking about?’ Eastwood asked as she ripped open a packet of crisps.
‘The woman who you’re not a fan of,’ said Stanford.
Eastwood tutted. ‘She grates me.’
‘You’re not the only one,’ Stanford whispered. ‘Apparently, her guvnor has been looking for a way to get rid of her months. She’s undermined him more than once and was reprimanded in court for her overzealousness when arresting a suspect.’
‘I should be surprised, but I’m not,’ said Henley as Copeland broke out into laughter at whatever Ezra had just told her.
‘The guy I spoke to—’
‘You weren’t speaking to my ex, Terry, by any chance?’ asked Eastwood. ‘You know what he’s like. He has a very strange relationship with the truth.’
Despite the seriousness of the conversation, Henley couldn’tstop herself from laughing. ‘That’s an understatement. So, was it Terry?’ she asked.
