Brock And Kolla - 09 - Spider Trap by Barry Maitland

could find.’
    Brock said, ‘Weren’t you supposed to be taking your girls somewhere today, Bren?’
    ‘Tobogganing.We did a bit this morning, then I got the call about the second body. It’s okay.’
    ‘Well, go back to them now. I’d better see if I can arrange a press conference here for noon tomorrow. Meanwhile, you can put your feet up.You too, Kathy.’
    Bren offered Kathy a lift to the tube station, and along the way she told him about the raid on Teddy Vexx and his interview. Bren swore softly.‘There’s got to be some forensic evidence to put Vexx in the building with the girls, surely?’
    ‘That’s what we’re banking on now,’ she said. Suddenly she felt overwhelmingly tired. Bren’s car was warm, and there was an indefinable smell of something she associated with childhood.What was it? Some kind of soap? Shampoo? With a sigh she closed her eyes and allowed herself to imagine, for just one self-indulgent moment,that she was a little girl again,like one of Bren’s,in a warm safe world free of guns, drugs, oral rapists and Mr Teddy Vexx.
    She woke with a start and saw a familiar row of shops rush past the window.‘Hang on,’ she said.‘This is Finchley.’
    ‘You were out for the count,’ Bren said. ‘Couldn’t very well turf you out in the snow.You’ll be home soon.’
‘You didn’t need to do that.’ ‘You looked all-in.’ ‘Christ, Bren, I’m not one of your little girls.’ He smiled. ‘No, but we all need a ride home from time to
time, Kathy. Even you.’ He pulled into the forecourt of her block.‘See you tomorrow.’ ‘Yeah, thanks. Give the girls my love. Tell them they’re lucky
to have such a nice dad.’ Bren waved her away, embarrassed, and put the car into gear.

    Everyone at the station seemed fraught,Brock thought.He desperately wanted to soak in a bath with a big glass of whisky, but there were things to do first. Keith Savage was at his desk, and he didn’t need to say anything for Brock to see that it had gone badly.‘No luck?’ he asked.
    ‘Forensics haven’t come up with anything. I had to let him go.’ Savage cupped his hands to his face and rubbed. ‘Maybe the bastard’s telling the truth.’
    ‘I don’t think so. He murdered those girls, all right.’
    ‘Maybe.You think I pushed for the raids too soon?’
    Brock shrugged.‘Wouldn’t have made any difference.It could have been a brilliant success.’
    ‘But it wasn’t. I let our glamour Member of Parliament push me into it.We should have staked out Vexx and found out everything about him before we moved.’
    ‘There’s still plenty we can do—his associates, phone records, financial dealings . . .’
    ‘Yeah, but you know, I think I was right the first time. I think the girls were killed because of something that happened back in Harlesden. Vexx may have lent a hand, some local muscle. And you
    know what? I think he knew we were coming for him last night.’
    ‘You think so?’
    ‘Sure of it. I think he and his poncy lawyer put on a performance for us. They had it all worked out between them beforehand.’
    ‘Any idea how?’
    ‘This place ...’Savage spread his hands.‘No security.Anyway, what’s this I hear about another old corpse on the railway land?’
    Brock told him about the discovery of the second body. Savage eased back in his chair and said,‘McCulloch told me you were interested in that, but I don’t understand why. I mean, Mr Teddy Vexx would have been in nappies when those bodies were buried, yes?’
    ‘Probably. I’m just curious. Anyway, I thought it would be better if we handled it ourselves rather than have another crew tripping over us.’
    Savage studied him thoughtfully.‘McCulloch also told me you were in CID here some time ago. These wouldn’t be skeletons in your closet, would they?’
    Brock gave him an enigmatic smile.‘You never know.I thought I’d arrange a press conference on the site at noon tomorrow.’
    ‘To be honest, I’m not interested. Last