The Steven Price Mysteries: The Price One Paid

By Joseph Pye and Linda Pye

A personal incident arises that means Steven Price is called back
into the life he left behind years before. So begins the first
chapter of the new life that beckons for Steven, his family and
friends and the mysteries that await him.
All names and events in this book are entirely fictious although
place names are real.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Jul 26, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465302663

Joseph Pye

Joseph and Linda have now written five books and this is the last in the series entitled “The Steven Price Mysteries”. They have just started on the next novel concerning Steven Price but this time with a new partner and location. This last book has been a while coming as they have had a busy two years running a pub in Cornwall and then moving into a new home, also in Cornwall. Joseph is the originator of the stories and the main writer and Linda portrays the female side of the characters. Joseph has had the ideas in his head for many years after listening to tales from his grand father who was a detective back in the era around the second world war and just afterwards. His brother-in-law was also a detective, before immigrating to Australia in the 1970’s.

Book preview

Prologue

At the age of 8, a young boy named Steven Price, had a dream of becoming a detective like his Grandfather, who had been in the Metropolitan Police and based at Fenchurch Street until his retirement. He would always tell him of his adventures catching the crooks.

It was about that time that he took up Karate at a local club because he said, If I am to catch the crooks I will have to be better than them.

By the age of 15 he was a junior black belt, and then went on to be an adult black belt at the age of 17. It was also about this time that he joined the police force, and attended Hendon police college.

He left there in 1968 whereupon he was posted to the Met in London. There he served his time as a uniformed officer at the Marylebone police station and over the years he worked his way up to be a detective, as he had planned all along.

He was transferred to Hertfordshire and joined the team in Hertford. It was there that he met and later married Sally Green, a young girl he’d been dating for a couple of years and who lived in Hoddesdon. Once they were married they moved into a police cottage in Rye Road, Hoddesdon. It was a cottage of the 1940’s with a long front garden that sloped up to the main road, with a garage at the rear that led onto the back road.

It was now the Spring of 1976, the weather was bad, cold wet and miserable.

Chapter 1

It was the morning of the 20th April, Sally had been busy in the kitchen, preparing Steve’s breakfast of a couple of eggs on toast with a coffee in his favourite mug that bore the name of his favourite football team, Manchester United.

The kitchen was quaint with soft lemon coloured walls adorned by a couple of pictures of dogs. A wall calendar also of dogs hung on the wall by the door and a wall clock ticked endlessly above the steam iron that was mounted on the wall. There were an array of wall and floor cabinets, with teak panelled doors and a marble melamine work surface with a curved edge. In one corner stood an electric cooker with an overhead grill, still hot from the toast Sally had just prepared for Steve.

Steve, freshly showered and shaved entered the kitchen scratching his uncombed light brown hair, his nice clean white shirt open to reveal his manly chest. He was wearing dark grey trousers that were a part of his usual suit that he was be renowned for. The radio was softly playing and tuned into radio 1 and Tony Blackburn doing his usual morning banter.

What are you up to today babe? Steve asked after the usual good morning darlings’.

Lesley asked me out to lunch in that new restaurant that’s just opened in the town centre, she explained as she put Steve’s breakfast in front of him. I’m supposed to meet her and Grace outside the Bell pub at around midday, she said as she gave him his coffee. What about you Steve? She added.

The usual stuff, he commented as he bit into a piece of toast that he had just dipped into the yoke of his egg.

You’re not still working on that murder case in Wormley?

Somebody has to, he smiled cockily, Whereabouts is this new restaurant you mentioned?

Apparently Lesley said it was just passed the library. she said sipping at her coffee. By the way, she started, do you want me to look for a wedding present for your brother?

Christ, is it that time already, I thought it was months away? he sighed, When is it now?

August time, he was hoping to get it around the time of his birthday, she explained, so . . . do you want me to look for something?

I’m sure you’ll do us proud, he jibed.

Just then the phone rang from the hall, where the cream coloured phone was pride of place on a side desk with a red padded material chair. Steve left the room to answer the phone call, and returned later to tell Sally he had to go. He told her there had been an incident in Harlow.

You have a good day with your friends, he politely said as he did up his shirt and quickly put on his navy tie, hopefully I will see you tonight, he expressed as he slipped on his suit jacket, you can tell me what you thought of that restaurant, as he combed his hair using the hallway mirror that hung at the end wall.

He arrived at the scene of the crime that had taken place in the west side of Harlow park. He was able to find a parking place in the grounds by the parks restaurant that overlooked the local overhead railway station. Early morning commuters headed into London, oblivious to the events that were unfolding in the park.

Steve stepped gracefully out of his dark blue Ford Escort and put on his fawn coloured camel that he removed from off his back seat, as it was cold. A damp mist drifted about as the hazy sun tried in vain to break through. A young uniformed officer was there to greet him, once he had shown him his badge.

What do we have? Steve enquired as he was led along a path to a wild life place that was there for children to enjoy.

Two people have been shot . . . sir, replied the young officer.

Who’s there d’ya know? Steve asked as he rubbed his cold hands to keep warm.

Steve spotted a young woman in a red knee length coat walking her little Westie dog, who was wearing a chequered dogs coat, at the bottom of the hill.

You’d better make sure she doesn’t come this way lad . . . go on, see to it, Steve ordered the young officer to tend to his job.

Yes sir, was all the lad could muster as he headed for the young woman.

Steve found the scene of the crime, where a tent covered the two bodies. They had been tied up and shot with a shotgun at very close range So it’s you Jack? He commented casually. A team of four pathologists’ were busy working on the two bodies.

So they sent you Steve? the question came from a six foot, middle aged man in a navy blue suit, with grey receding hair and wearing a grey mackintosh.

Yeh somebody has to do it, don’t they, Steve remarked sarcastically, as he knelt down to look at the bodies. wow they made a mess of them. didn’t they? he expressed without any feelings, Do we know them? he enquired.

The girl is Janet Dobson, a known drug addict, he explained as he stood over Steve, and the lad is Christopher O’Donnell, Jack replied, he was suspected of being a dealer, but we couldn’t prove anything.

I guess he couldn’t have been a very good one . . . could he? Steve smiled as he found his feet. I wonder who he rubbed up the wrong way. He remarked coolly".

Well if he was, he certainly isn’t now, Jack retorted.

Do we have an address? Steve asked openly, as he rubbed his hands together. Just then the sun broke through the mist.

Yes! Jack replied, They lived together in ground floor flat in Katherine’s Way, he explained as the two men left the scene of the crime, so the experts could gather the evidence needed. We have a woman who claims it was about five o’clock this morning, when she heard noises outside, he went on, apparently when they looked, there was a white twelve seater van with several men inside. Two of them went into the house of those two and dragged them out. They reckoned there was about five but they couldn’t be sure.

Did they manage to get the registration number? Steve pressed.

No, they said it was too dark, and they were gone in a flash screeching tyre and all.

They stopped for a break as Jack lit up a cigarette, and he put up with Steve’s jibes about how it would stunt his growth. I’m wondering if it has anything to do with the death of Ian Carter. Steve said curiously.

The Wormley murder, Jack quizzed, wasn’t he another drug dealer? He carried on, and didn’t they leave his girlfriend trembling in the bathroom.

That’s right, Steve returned informatively. It’s funny, she mentioned there were five men involved and they drove a large white van too, he expressed, only a month ago a Billy Winston was shot in Brewery road in Hoddesdon.

You don’t think some bodies out there getting rid of all the dealers in this area? Jack said, as he took a drag on his tailor made cigarette.

It could be a turf war and we are trapped in the bloody middle. Steve replied cagily.

We go years without a single incident then something like this happens and we have a drugs war on our hands.

Sods law isn’t it, Steve cracked, fancy a coffee? he muttered as they headed back to the car park, where the restaurant was just opening.

What do we know about Billy Winston? Jack enquired.

He was wanted in connection to a spate of armed robberies, in and around North London and it is alleged that he worked with a gang from Waltham Cross, he explained, as they sat in the restaurant sipping at their coffee’s at an elegantly decorated table set with condiments etc. on a fresh white tablecloth.

I know they do a nice sausage roll in here.

I’ll have an egg on toast, Steve ordered from a young girl whose shoulder length blonde hair was tied up in a ponytail. On her nose were perched a delicate pair of pink framed glasses.

An hour passed and they were heading for the home of the two dead victims in Steve’s car. They were met by a team of people from the forensic squad in their usual white overalls.

They found an opened cigarette packet that was nearly full with one just coming out, others were scattered on the floor in front of a gas fire where a fireplace had once stood.

A full glass ashtray sat perched on the edge of a low oval, oak type, coffee table along with a couple of magazines and a glass of red wine. They also found a clear plastic bag containing a small piece of dope that stood before a floral three piece suite.

Looking around the room they spotted some albums that had been scattered around the floor. A record player sat on an old fashioned dark wooden cabinet. On the walls were the separate speakers that were attached to the deck. The dingy striped wallpaper was beginning to peel off the walls.

What d’ya make of it Steve? Jack asked, as he picked up one of the albums laying on the floor, it was ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ by Pink Floyd.

My guess is, Steve opened casually, looking around the room, They knew the men in question, he nodded wisely then went on to add, One of them offered them a cigarette, but they weren’t here for a chat or to be friendly . . . the door wasn’t smashed so that would mean they happily let them in.

How d’ya make that out? he asked as he replaced the album back where he had found it.

Simple! Steve jibed, he’s a drug dealer Yeh?

Go on, I’m all ears.

Well a drug dealer doesn’t open the door to anybody unless he knows them, so therefore they knew the men in question . . . that’s how.

Steve walked cagily around the flat pondering the situation. What we have here is a gang of men out there who are familiar to all the known drug dealers he said, gently rubbing his chin, and they are destroying those who pose a threat to them.

What you are saying is, these people are somehow aware that a task force is getting close to nicking them, he expressed knowingly, then added, so by killing those responsible for their demise would secure their safety, Jack reported, but that’s impossible unless they have somebody in the force who’s telling them.

No . . . I think they are afraid that someone in their camp is grassing them up, but they don’t know who it is. But the stupid idiots can’t see in front of their noses.

So the question we should be asking is who is in the limelight for this sort of action Jack quizzed.

So who is in charge of the task force? Steve questioned.

D.I. Lawrence.

In that case lets get out of here, there’s nothing of any interest in this place,

D.I. Jack Gould ordered the uniformed officers to interview everybody in the street, he believed somebody might talk. However he had his reservations as this area was a run down part of Harlow.

Steve was met by an uniformed officer who confronted him, telling him he was urgently needed back at Hoddesdon nick.

I wonder what the bloody hell’s happened now, Steve said, Do you need a lift back to your car, Jack?

No its alright I’ll get one of the boys to run me back.

Chapter 2

The journey back to Hoddsdon for Steve was the usual shuffle of one traffic hold up after another.

He found a parking place in the car park of Broxbourne Civic Hall, with its low level bushes that were meant to hide the place from view, A cool sun shone high in a clearcolbult blue sky,m and early mist had risen.

Leaving his car, he placed his camel coat neatly on the back seat in case the weather was to changen he pondered over the possible reasons for being summoned to this particular police station.

Pushing open one of the double doors on the opposite side of the building he was met by the uniformed female receptionist. With shoulder length curly brown hair, and bright brown eyes.

Can I help you sir? She said in a posh voice.

I’ve been summoned here Karen He replied seeing her police badge pinned to her shirt, and after he flashed his badge.

Then you’d better go through, she said as she lent down to press the button allowing the door to open.

Steve gave her one of his usual cheeky, sexy smiles with a blown kiss to boot, however she just smiled, nodded her head side to side, in amusement.

Once through the door he found himself in a long corridor with rooms on either side, with pale green coloured bare walls.

Through a small glass window set into the varnished teak wooden door, he saw a young man was in the room on one side of a wooden table. There was an ashtray and a cup of some drink and the man happily puffed on a cigarette as he was being asked questions by a couple of plain clothed officers.

D.I. Price? Was a voice of a male who had come from behind him.

Yes! He said turning to find himself standing before a tall slim man in a white shirt and a pair of navy trousers. He had short well groomed fair hair and a pair of gold coloured half rimmed glasses. He was standing in a doorway that led to a set of stairs. What’s all this in aid of sir? He asked curiously.

All in good time D.I. Price. He replied as he led him up the stairs to the upper floor, and into a well decorated office, upon the door was the name of Detective superintendant David Buchman. The room was modern to look at with the odd landscaped picture on the walls. A large portrait of the Queen hung on the wall behind his extra large desk which was out of date in the modern room. There was the usual gap in the middle for legs to fit comfortable in, and a half drunk coffee and a small plate with a custard cream on his left. The usual clean green baized blotter lay in front of him, also on the table was a telephone and intercom system.

Take a seat Steve. He said casually as he sat down in the comfortable Victorian wooden chair with ornate arms.

Thanks Dave, Steve returned, finding the chair at the side of the room, where he removed it and put it on the opposite side of the table, What’s the reason for this visit? Steve asked with a puzzled look.

Your wife is Sally. Yes, he asked authoritively.

Yeah well what about her? Steve looked at him with some trepidation, What has happened . . . tell me?

He bent down behind his deak where he lifted a black shoulder bag and placed it carefully on his desk in front of Steve, Do you recognize it Steve?

Yes! He said softly, slowly picking the bag up, he sniffed it as if he could smell her perfume on it. What the hell has happened to me Sally? he snapped.

She was out with a friend . . .

Lesley! Steve interrupted, They were going to have a meal at the new restaurant in the town centre and they were meeting their other friend Grace at the Bell pub", Steve mumbled.

Yes Lesley, David exclaimed, getting up to walk around the desk, You were right Steve; the two women had reached the car park of the Bell pub as planned, when they were abducted by a gang of five men . . .

In a white van, Steve interrupted yet again, So you’re saying some bastards have taken my Sally and Lesley? he went on to ask, What are you doing about it?

We are on to it, he explained, Lesley was found on the side of the Epping road, he went on to add, She’d been thrown from the moving van and she is in a coma, we have to wait to see if she wakes up.

What do we know about this Lesley, I know she was a friend of my Sally’s? Steve quizzed, Does she have a record?

No! He remarked calmly finding a seat on the corner of his desk, the only thing she is noted for as far as I can see, she was having an affair behind her husbands back a year ago, He said knowingly, it caused a bit of a stir with her hubby when he found out . . . other than that nothing . . . why do you ask?

I am investigating a spate of murders, one at five o’clock, that was where I was when you called me, he went on to add, same m.o. as this. A white van with five men involved, he explained openly, then added, we had to deal with a young couple that were tied up and had their heads blown off with a shotgun, he said softly, his feelings were edging in the direction of his Sally, thinking ‘was her fate going to be the same as the couple he had dealt with that morning’, Do you think they got my Sally mixed up with somebody else . . . Grace maybe?

Grace you reckon, as far as I know we have nothing on her, she was the one who witnessed the incident and reported it to us and gave us the bag that had been dropped, He expressed knowingly, we do know she moved down from Norfolk seven years ago with her husband and their three children. Her husband works in an engineering firm in Pindar Road and Grace is a part time cleaner. That’s all we have, he went on to add, D’ya fancy a coffee?

Stuff the coffee, He expressed angrily, and What are you doing about looking for my wife? he pressed eagerly, do you have anything on their children, could they be involved?

We are doing all we can but we need to build up a picture of the events, can we have two coffee’s in here please Barbara, he ordered having pressed the button on his intercom, that sat on his desk beside his telephone, They are too young, he explained, the oldest is only fourteen, the youngest is just nine.

What do we know about the five men, did anybody witness the event? Steve inquired for his own sake in this matter.

Grace said she heard one of the other men speak to his colleague saying, ‘hurry up Paul and get the bitches in’ she also took down the registration number of the van.

And! Steve expressed eagerly.

It turns out it was stolen about a couple of months ago from a firm in Leeds, Dave explained.

Brilliant! Steve snapped, We’ll be lucky to find it in one piece, he expressed, the question is, where they would be going if they were on the Epping Road?

Steve! Dave opened calmly as he returned to the comfortable chair, lent back and crossed his arms, at this moment in time, I think you should go home and take some time off, you know the rules about it being personal, he ordered then added, and let us do our job.

You forget I’m a copper, he said bitterly, and added, this is my case . . . you hear . . . I have four murders on my plate and I dion’t want it to be number five with my Sally.

I am fully aware of that Steve, Dave replied carefully, that is why I contacted your office, he continued as he lent forward placing his clasped hands on his desk, and your boss was in agreement with me. The office door opened after a gentle knock, a five foot six inch tall woman in a police uniform, with blonde hair done up in a bun, appeared. She wore soft pink lipstick that graced her young, fresh looking face. She politely placed the two mugs of coffee onto the desk and left with a smile, Dave said thank you as she left the room,. He then added, So you see Steve you know it is only right, you should go home and leave it to us to find her. I’m sure it won’t take long as we have the registration number of the van.

You don’t understand, Steve said tearfully, every minute that goes by with those five bastards brings them nearer to killing her, he spoke angrily, just as they have done so in the past, he then added, and just as they did this morning, or have you forgotten them already?

No Steve we haven’t forgotten them, Dave expressed with a business like attitude and, you can still file your report to yout office in due course,

What about this task force, Steve quizzed.

You are refering to D.I. Lawrence, Dave returned demonstrating his knowledge of the events unfolding, The officer in question is in the building and he wants to talk to you, he said with a smile, Barbara! he ordered as he pressed his intercom yet again, Can you inform D.I. Lawrence thet D.I. Price is in my office.

Yes sir! She replied politely.

I think you and he should take a little walk he said as he took a sip from his coffee, then added, and have a little chat with him, I’m sure he might be able to inform you of his progress in this case, as he is aware of your involvement in it, especially now they have your wife, he went on to add, if you must know Steve we have the helicopters up scouring the roads heading east, if that white van is out there we’ll find it.

Yeah sure, Steve challenged, but will you find Sally. That’s the real question? he went on to add, You don’t know if they would abandon the van and change vehicles somewhere out there.

Just then the intercom buzzed and Barbara said, D.I. Lawrence is outside sir.

Send him in then please Barbara, he returned politely.

The door opened as a six foot, heavily built officer in a beige suit and wearing a brown tie walked into the room. He had a face that looked as if it