Hell Bent on Corruption

CHAPTER 2. 9. Since the stabbing in the Mosque the Muslim community were living in fear of their lives, many of them thought it was a racial killing or as Jack had said, a family killing. The following day Jim was shocked at he stared at the front page of his paper,” Kettle Publishing the well known Publishing Company was stunned by the death of its owner and managing director Mr Jeremy Kettle”, as Jim read on it became clear Jeremy had been found by one of the maids in room 307 of the Marlborough hotel, it went on to say he had a heart attack and that he was on his own at the time. The question the press were asking was what was he doing on his own in a hotel bedroom?. Jim managed a wry smile as he put his paper down and said, “on his bloody own?, all I can say is she must have made a hasty exit when she found out he was dead I am sure Polly has figured out his heart never gave up and that it was his fantasy that killed him?”. As he sat contemplating Jim thought the least he could do was to ring Polly and offer his condolences. Picking up his phone he tapped out her number, only to be confronted with Polly put the Kettle on. The sadness in her voice made it clear she at least loved the guy even though he was a womaniser.” Sorry to hear of your husbands death, he will, I am sure be sadly missed?”, Jim said as Polly replied,” Thank you so much Jim perhaps you would like to attend his funeral next Thursday, 3pm St Mathews in Croydon?”Jim thought for a second before replying,” be glad to Polly and thanks!”, as he replaced his phone he knew this was not the time to ask if Jeremy was on his own, and how he had died. The desk clerk at the Marlborough Hotel always seemed to be on duty, or so it seemed as Jim approached him,” Don’t you ever take time off?” he said as the guy looked up and replied,”Ah if it aint Mr Jimmy Bent himself, what can I do for you and how much are you prepared to pay?, have you heard about that poor Mr Jones i.e. Kettle in room 307,poor man had a heart attack they say?” he said with a sly grin on his face.” Yes and his real name was infact Jeremy Kettle, as you well no?”, Jim replied.” Justin is my name Mr Bent”, he said holding out a limp hand,” And Jim is my name o/k?”.”Kettle Smettle its all the same to me luvvy, as I said before see no evil if you get me Jim”, Justin said as Jim replied,” Listen Justin the women that went up to room 307 the night I was in, what did she really look like, and no jokes please?, the twenty pound note seemed to make Justin shaky as he replied,” Well Jim as you no, or may not no I don’t look at women all that much, guys are my thing you see?”. It became clear that Justin was infact batting for the opposing team.”O/k”, Justin said, she was no chicken that was for sure, about forty five I would say, with long slender legs, the way you men like them, she had on a blonde wig I certainly knew that, the cops asked me all these questions only they didn’t pay for the answers Jim, All I can say is she made a hasty exit before the maid went up?”,” Why did the maid go up anyway?” Jim enquired as Justin replied,” Between you me and the bed sheets I think the maid was one of those who liked a threesome if you get my drift, place is like a knocking shop Jim!” Jim thanked Justin for his help and left the Marlborough. On the drive back to his office he contemplated if it was Polly in a wig and had she killed her old guy?, or could she have been the maid in disguise.?. 10. The Murder in the Mosque was beginning to drag on, Tony Ray and his trusty Sergeant Rik were getting impatient as to who had killed Ali Ben Daktra and indeed why?. After exhaustive questioning of every market trader and the whole Indian community they had come up with nothing, infact it was seeming everyone had closed ranks, that is until Jim Bent came to the rescue and put his feelers out. Ali, it seems was killed by the young wife he had deserted, she had stolen the knife from a market trader called Jarif Rabin, he had a stall that sold Indian memorabilia such as rings, knives and many other trinkets. The reason, it would seem she stabbed Ali was he had found another women and turned his back on her and his child. Although Jim found this out he knew he was going to have a problem proving it. Hindra Daktra was still only very young when she found out Ali was having an affair with an English lady, although she never loved him Hindra was bitter because he neglected their son, vengeance was her reason for stabbing him, but as she explained through an interpriter,”I never meant to kill him?”. Hindra was distraught when she realised she had killed Ali, her struggle to learn English had hindered her in many ways, Depression had set in and the feeling of being alone in a strange country had forced her to attempt to take her own life many times, failing each time.” Jim!”, Kamil said as he picked up the phone,” better get hold of that mate of yours in the Met Jimbo, Hindra Daktra is in the London Hospital and her son is in care, apparently she tried to cut her wrists”, Kamil said as he continued,” They found her in a pool of blood screaming out in Indian that she never meant to kill Ali, anyway Jimbo make sure your mate takes an interpreter along with him”.” Thanks Kamil”, Jim replied,” I owe you one mate”,” Forget it Jim, just make sure you don’t forget your old school pal”Kamil said before placing the phone down “Tony!”, Jim said as he rang his friend,”Hindra Daktra is in the London Hospital, her English aint that good and my informant says she tried to cut her wrists, so far all they got out of her in Indian is I never meant to kill him”.”O/k Jim and thanks, I will get young Rik to go over to the Hospital to see if he can get any sense out of her”, Tony replied,” I hate these type of murders Jim its always hard when they cannot speak our lingo, by the way mate have you ever heard of a guy called D.I. Jack Duggan?”. Jim thought for a second before replying,”Nope never heard of him why?”.” Well” Tony said”, D.I. Jack Duggan is my replacement, and he and Rik are to team up together”. Jim replied.”O/k mate but you are sure going to be a hard act to follow?”.”Yeh that’s as may be mate but it had to happen one day”, Tony said replacing the phone down. Jeremy Kettles Funeral was a sombre affair, many of his friends from the world of publishing were present, and I had to admit Polly was looking radiant and a lot younger than her forty-five years. The fiasco began when a D.I. I had only just heard of arrived on the scene, along with an order to perform an autopsy before burial could continue. His name as I was to find out at a later date was, D.I. Jack Duggan . 11. “Are they allowed to do that Jim?”, Polly sounded sad as she took Jims arm.” Well yes but only if they feel Jeremy died under suspicious circumstances”, Jim said as he felt Polly begin to shake.” I think I need a stiff drink Jim?”, Polly said as they returned to her house, a house that was surrounded by members of the local press. Questions were being fired at Polly from all directions as Jim said to Polly,” Leave this to me I have connections in the Met, I will find out if we can get rid of this lot”. Jim felt more and more that Polly was very uneasy, visibly shaken by the event she said to Jim,” But Jeremy died of a heart attack so why all the mystery?, and why indeed the need for an autopsy?”. The smell of her perfume and the neat Whiskey was playing hell with Jims head as Polly poured out another Scotch and said,” I suppose you think I am a bit of a drunkard Jim?”. Jim began to wonder why infact he was the only guest to come back to the house as he replied,” No of course not Polly you have more than a reason to have a drink today”, he said as Polly took his hand and said,” Come please take a seat Jim?”. As Jim sat down Polly said;” Now we can get down to some serious drinking?”.”Er, I think!”, Jim said as he tried to stand up,” Maybe I better get a cab and come back for my car tomorrow”.” How about one more for the road Jim?”, Polly enquired as Jim answered. “No thanks Polly I had better be on my way?”. Polly replied,” I don’t think you had better go in that state Jim, I no I will make you a nice cup of black coffee, perhaps that will sober you up a bit?”. As Polly left the room Jim felt himself dozing off,”Jesus!”He said,” How many bloody Whisky’s did I have?”. Some time later Jim awoke to find his shoes had been removed and he was still on the sofa, it was now dark outside so he guessed he must have slept for a while,”Christ!”He said wiping the sleep from his eyes,” How long have I been asleep?”, Polly replied,” almost three hours Jim”. As Polly came into view Jim noticed she was wearing a nightdress and nothing else.” Well sorry for passing out Polly but I really must go”, Jim said as he tied up his shoelaces.” you seem to be sweating a lot Jim, is it hot in here or is something else making you sweat?”, Polly said as Jim stood up. The cold night air hit Jim full in the face as he wound down the window of his car,” Boy that was a lucky escape!”, He said as the air hit his face,” Remember Jim, she is a client and you made a rule never to get involved with a client”, he said as he turned the ignition key. Chapter 3. 12. Chapter 3. 12. Up until then Jim had no reason to suspect foul play, although the police were not happy with the heart attack theory” Yes he did have a heart attack”, Jack Duggan said “but was it before or after the pillow was placed over his head?”. The evening Jeremy suffered his heart attack a high class prostitute called Mary Jones (or that’s the name she used), was on her way to the Marlborough Hotel to meet one of her regulars ie Jeremy Kettle. Her long blonde hair hung low over her slender figure and this made her an instant hit, she had been on the game since she was sixteen and at twenty-six she was a very rich girl. As Mary approached the doors of the Marlborough Polly stepped out of the shadows, she had seen the photos Jim had given her and she had vengeance on her mind.” Excuse me!”, Polly said as a startled Mary turned to face her.” I think I no why you are here and I wonder if you will allow me to buy you a drink before you go about your business?”. Mary stopped in her tracks and replied,” Look lady I aint no lesbian if that’s what you are after, the club down the road is full of them?”. Polly interrupted her by saying,” No its not that, I just want a word, five minutes is all I ask and I will pay you for your time of course”. Mary replied rather sternly,”O/k lady but no funny business you hear?”. As the two women headed towards the hotel bar one could clearly see they were both from opposite sides of the fence, one from a family with money, the other brought up on the streets of London, unlike Polly Mary was a working girl whilst Polly was infact a lady of leisure. Jim had heard a lot about D.I. Jack Duggan, the guy who was to replace Tony Ray, he had indeed met him a few times, and although his approach to work was entirely different from Tonys, Jim had to agree he was probably the best guy to take over from Tony. Jack had left the S.A.S. after fighting in many conflicts, a Major of all things, his rise to fame as cop was fast because of his clean up rate, rumour had it that Jack was a hard man who expected loyalty and hard work from his men, a man who had rules to be obeyed. Jack was known fondly as Yorkie,a by his friends, stood almost six feet tall, Jim found out later why he was called Yorkie, infact Jack came from Harrogate in Yorkshire, hence the name Yorkie,a Yorkshire man who had no time for loosers.Although still only thirty two Jack had spent almost ten years as an officer in the S.A.S.,in such places as Borneo and the Falklands, he married his wife Mary whilst in the army and they had two children, a boy of ten called Daniel and a girl of eight also called Mary after her mother. Jack had spent some time on the streets of Harrogate before arriving in London, and his reputation followed him. The big decision came when Jack was offered the job in London, a decision he felt might tear his family apart. Mary, a Yorkshire lass did not want to leave her roots or indeed her parents, so after much talk and feeling as guilty as ever Jack decided to head for the bright lights of London and commute up the motorway each week, living in digs was not what he wanted but he felt it was a challenge he had to face. Tony had advised him if he needed help to contact his old pal Jim Bent,” He knows London like the back of your hand and knows the criminal world like nobody else, give him a buzz if you need any kind of help Jack”, Tony said as Jack began to think of Mary and the kids. “Gin and Tonic?”, Polly said as Mary replied,” Vodka on the Rocks please?”.” My name is Polly, er Polly Kettle, you might have heard of Kettle Publications the book people?”, Polly began, “Maybe you have never heard of the Kettle empire, but I am sure you have heard of Mr Jones and his special room number 307?”.Mary almost choked on her drink as she realised the guy she had been entertaining was indeed the owner of Kettle Publishing, and his wife was sitting opposite her.” Jeremy has been lying to me about working late and I want to give him one big surprise, I want him to think I am indeed you”, Polly began,” I have purchased a Blonde wig and hope he will not recognise me, I will of course pay you for loss of earnings, shall we say fifty pounds Mary?, what say you Mary?, just for one evening and you get to keep your punter”, Polly said. Mary swallowed her drink and replied,” I don’t care who pays me 13. darling, I have another punter waiting so Polly please be my guest, er fifty I believe you said?”. Mary left through the back entrance of the hotel whilst Polly headed for the powder room to change her appearance.”Mr Jones arrived about ten minutes ago”, Justin the desk clerk said as the blonde with the long slender legs approached the desk.” Thanks darling”, Polly said as she made her way towards the lift and room 307“Jim?, Jack Duggan said as Jim picked up the phone,”The Autopsy on that Publishing guy er Kettle, revealed he had infact been suffocated, something was placed over his mouth, Doc thinks it might be a pillow since traces of Duck Feathers were found around his mouth and blonde hairs were also found in the bathroom, at first it looked like a heart attack and indeed his heart did give out but it was through suffocation we found out a prostitute with blonde hair went up to his room, desk clerk said he found it strange cos she never bunged him his usual kickback, and he says he never saw her leave?”.” Jack?”, Jim said,” I aint to sure but I get the feeling that desk clerk is hiding something, plus Mrs kettle aint exactly the grieving widow?”.” I don’t expect to fill Tony’s boots straight away Jim but with your help maybe we can get to the bottom of this case, Tony is still working on that Murder in the Mosque I believe?”, Jack said as Jim replied,” I think maybe I might be able to get more out of Polly and that desk clerk guy, in the meantime leave it to me and I will give you a bell”. During the questioning of Hindra Daktra and through an interpreter she swore she never meant to kill her husband, she was incensed by his ignorance of the existence of his child, plus when she asked him for money he ignored her plea. She was only too aware that Ali went to the Mosque each morning, and on the fateful day she covered her head so as to look like a man. Prior to that she had a blazing argument with Ali and he had pushed her down on the pavement. Armed with the knife she had stolen she pleaded with him for more money and food for their child, but once again he refused. As he knelt to pray Hindra pushed the knife into his back and shouted out in Indian,” vengeance is mine!”.” Although she never meant to kill him, kill him she did, and I reckon she is going to learn English pretty quick where she is going Rik?”Tony said as Rik replied,”Ah women spurned etc boss!”.” I feel a little sorry for the women”, Tony said,” After all in a strange country and unable to speak the lingo, plus no money to buy her or the kid food, it aint easy Rik?”.”Yeh guv but when in Rome as they say, and regardless of colour or creed the law is the law”, Rik replied. Tony told Rik to give Jim a ring and tell him Hindra had come clean over the murder and Jim immediately phoned Kamil to tell him.”Kamil!”Jim said,” Don’t let this get around but Hindra has owned up to killing Ali”. Kamil stopped Jim in his tracks as he replied,” She didn’t actually kill him Jim!”.” What the hell are you saying Kamil”, Jim replied.” Nothing mate forget what I said”, Kamil answered.” Look mate if you no anything now is the time to tell me?”, Jim replied.”O/k Jimbo you win”Kamil said,” a Witness (no names mentioned), saw the argument out side the Mosque and after Ali went straight in, she is covering up for her brother Jamil Rahood”.”Brother! What bloody brother?”, Jim replied as Kamil continued, “Jamil went in and knelt behind Ali he infact owed Ali a lot of money and hated the guy for leaving his sister in the lurch, by the candlelight the witness saw a glint of steel as the knife went in, he left by the back door, believe me Jim Hindra is innocent, she is covering up for her brother because he is an illegal”.” But who is this witness you mentioned Kamil”, Jim said as Kamil replied,” I promised this person not to reveal their name Jim!”.” Will you put all that in writing if I contact my mate at the yard?”, Jim said as the phone went dead,”Kamil did you hear me!”, Jim said as Kamil answered,” Jim I fear for my life that Jamil is one mean bastard and he has many friends, if they knew I was even talking to you they would fix me and my family for good”.”O/k Kamil I understand 14. your situation, meanwhile I have to tell my mate to let Hindra go free, your name will not be mentioned I promise”, Jim said as Kamil replied,” Thanks Jim sorry I cannot be of more help”. Jim Jim sat for awhile contemplating on Hindra and her statement, a statement through an interpreter?, after making some enquires Jim found out the interpreter was called Kafi Rahood and he was infact Jamils brother, nobody realised at the time he was saying things to save his brothers skin, infact did Hindra really say she killed Ali and that she was sorry?, or was Kafi saying just what he wanted the cops to hear?.Jamil was quickly arrested and charged with Murder and perverting the course of justice, Kafi was a very shrewd man he jumped bail and fled to India, Jamil meanwhile confessed to killing Ali and Hindra was freed to continue her life with her child, Jamil was given a life sentence. Tony, was of course overjoyed with Jims help in solving his last case in London, and as the two men sat enjoying a pint he said,” But this informant Jim?, who was he, I mean the guy who told you it was Jamil?”.Jim swallowed his drink and replied,” That’s for me to no Tony, just be happy it all came together!”. Justin, the desk clerk at the Marlborough hotel seemed to be always on duty as Jim entered the foyer.” Shame about that poor man in room 307 Mr Bent?”, he said as Jim Replied, “You mean Mr Kettle, or as you knew him Mr Jones?”. Justin answered,” I was always on a big tip every time he, well you get my meaning I think?”. Jim slid another ten pound note across the desk and said,” So what’s it going to cost me to find out who the girl was in room 307?”.Justin grabbed the tenner greedily and replied” How on earth would I no?, all I no is she was wearing a wig”. Jim leaned over the desk and said,” Are you sure another tenner wont improve your eyesight Justin?”. Justin replied,” for another tenner I could see through walls ducky, she left quickly and this time she never had her wig on, a bit old she was for a tart”. Jim produced the photo he had secreted during his time at Polly’s and said,” is this the women?”, Justin looked hard at the photo before replying,” Yes that’s her alright”, Jim thanked him for his help before slipping him the other tenner and left. As Jim approached the Kettle residence in Croydon he knew it was Polly in the hotel the night of the murder, but proving it was not going to be that easy.” Please come in!”, she said as Jim pressed the button on the intercom. As Jim entered the sitting room he told Polly how Jeremy had died and she replied,” But Jim they said he had a heart attack?”As she sat down Jim noticed she had on a skin-tight dress that was very short, she was infact a women who knew how to take care of herself despite her age.” They say he was smothered with a pillow, possibly by the girl or women that did a runner before the maid arrived”, Jim said as Polly replied,” What girl was this Jim?”. Jim was beginning to think she should have an Oscar for this performance as Polly offered him a drink.” No thanks “, he said as she poured herself a large Gin and Tonic. As she returned with her drink she made a point of sitting opposite him crossing her long legs as she sat down. It was whilst Jim was pre-occupied with her legs he failed to notice she had changed her hair to a light brown colour, maybe it was not a wig she had on that night, maybe she did have blonde hair?, he thought as she said, “Like the change of image Jim?”,” Yes it suits you, er you don’t happen to own a blonde wig do you?” Jim said,” Why do you want to borrow one?”, Polly replied with a smile on her face,” Now why on earth would I want a blonde wig Jim, I have my hair done every week at Richards in the Strand, and yes up until yesterday I was blonde so why would I want a wig?”.” Listen Polly don’t get offended by my next question please, but where were you on the evening Jeremy was found dead?”, Jim asked.”Since I have only just become a widower I find that question a little offensive but nevertheless I will give you an answer, I had a bath and went to bed early, as usual on my own”, Polly said as Jim replied,” I think the women who went up to his room holds the clue to his death, and the clerk says it was a blonde”. Polly, for the first time looked uneasy as she replied,” 15. Surely Jim you don’t suspect me of killing my own husband, I realise I had more reason than most, but actually kill him?, I cannot believe you would ask such a question, and at a time like this Jim?”The tears began to run down her face as she stopped talking, but were they just crocodile tears?. Jim felt uneasy as he stood up to leave, the smell of her perfume drifted past his nose as he said,” well Polly thanks for your time and of course your honesty”, Polly took his arm and said,” No problem Jim, perhaps when things settle we can meet up for a drink?”, Polly made a point of brushing up against him as he made for the door,” Or you could come around one evening for a drink and not talk about the murder, a social visit perhaps?”, she said as she closed the door. As he got in his car Jim noticed another car pull on to the driveway, but it was not the car that shook him, it was the person driving it?, Justin the desk clerk from the Marlborough Hotel climbed out of the driving seat and made his way towards the front door just as Polly opened it.” I thought that guy was Gay”, Jim said to himself as he sat watching the house,” Surely not him and Polly?”, he said almost unable to believe it.” Jesus Christ!”, Jim exclaimed,” Justin is a bloody transvestite, of course Polly went to bed early, Justin was the girl in the blonde wig, when Jeremy realised he was not a women Justin did what he was paid for, he put the bloody pillow over his face and suffocated him, they worked it together” he said as he sat contemplating.” Justin took his lunch break and transformed himself into the blonde tart, then returned to his desk afterwards, plus he had easy access to the spare keys of the room, my guess is he aint here for s*x, but for his payment for a job well done”, he said as he drove away. “Tony!” Jim shouted as his pal Tony Ray walked into the Nags Head, a local watering hole frequented by cops.” Over here mate”, Jim said as Tony sat down,” Got you a large Scotch mate, reckon you might need it after what I am about to tell you?”. “Christ mate”, Tony said as he thanked Jim for the drink,” I cannot wait to get to Essex, the workload is getting out of hand, by the way thanks for your help on that stabbing, poor cow that Hindra, try as she may to tell us she never meant to kill Ali, her thought she was saying she had infact killed him?, shame that bastard Kafijumped bail but at least we got Jamil thanks to you Jim?”,” No not thanks to me mate, thanks to my informant, Jim Replied.”Er went to see that Mrs Kettle at her home in Croydon, she said she never owned a blonde wig, and guess what?”, Jim said,” the night her old man got killed she went to bed early, I also went to see that desk clerk at the Marlborough, the gay guy Justin, but it never dawned on me until as I was leaving the Kettle house and a car pulled onto the driveway, and who should be driving it?, none other than our friendly desk clerk Justin, my guess is Justin is a transvestite and during his lunch hour he put on his blonde wig and other gear before making his way up to room 307,where of course Jeremy was waiting for his girl to turn up. I reckon Jeremy got the shock of his life when he found out it was Justin in drag, they had a big argument in which Jeremy called Justin many names, and Justin had only one thing on his mind as he argued with Jeremy and that was to do what he was paid to do but of course that’s only my opinion and pure speculation “, Jim said as Tony replied,” Leave Justin to me mate, you concentrate on Mrs Kettle, and Jim try and keep those trousers zipped up, meanwhile have you met D.I.Jack Duggan yet?”.” Yes and he seems as though he is going to be a good replacement “, Jim replied as he gave Tony his empty glass .