Overend – A Year In Crime
Chapter Nine
Friday April 5th 2002
It was four days after Big Cyril was robbed and he was still in hospital and was still unable to give a statement.
He had regained consciousness though which was an improvement but he was still to poorly to speak to the police.
His wife however was at last well enough to give a statement.
So DCI Overend and DI Adamson were again on there way to Millmoor to the home of Big Cyril Curtis the bookie.
When they entered the house they found Mrs. Curtis sitting in a large armchair.
Emily Curtis was in her late sixties and with the strain of the weeks events etched in her face she looked ten years older.
Sitting in the room with Mrs. Curtis was another lady also in her sixties and she rose as the two officers entered.
“I’ll make some drinks.” She said in Emily’s direction.
“Thank you….” Bill said invitingly.
“Faulkner, Louise Faulkner.” She said. “Neighbor. I’ll leave you to it.”
Bill nodded to Tom and he nodded back and followed Mrs. Faulkner into the kitchen.
“I’m Detective Chief Inspector Overend and the other officer is Inspector Adamson.” Bill said. “I’m sorry to have to impose upon you Mrs. Curtis but…”
“Nonsense Chief Inspector please sit.” She said smiling weakly. “I know I look frail and pathetic but I’m not really.”
Just then Tom Adamson and Mrs. Faulkner returned with the refreshments.
Mrs. Faulkner smiled at Emily and said. “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.”
“Thank you dear.” Emily answered.
“She’s been very sweet.” She said as the kitchen door closed.
Now Tom had returned with his notebook in hand they could proceed.
“Ok now Mrs. Curtis in your own time can you tell me what happened?” Overend asked.
“It was about nine o’clock give or take a few minutes.”
She said frowning. “And there was a knock at the door.”
“Cyril was dozing in his chair.” She looked over at the empty chair. “So I gave him a poke and he came to.”
She paused briefly.
“Cyril got up and checked the CCTV. And he said it was a Pizza delivery come to the wrong address again.”
“Does that happen often?” Bill asked.
“Often enough we think it’s a boy down the road who thinks its funny.”
Bill nodded.
“So Cyril went to open the front door.” She hesitated.
“And the next thing I heard shouting in the hall and then someone grabbed me from behind.”
“They pulled me back into the chair and one of them told me to shut up.”
She paled slightly and then continued.
“Or they would hurt Cyril.”
“How many people were behind you?” Tom asked.
“Two I think, certainly more than one.”
“Ok Mrs. Curtis what happened next?” Encouraged Bill.
“Then Cyril came backwards through the door and the Pizza man came in behind him with a shot gun pointing at him, a short one.” She made a gesture like a fisherman would use to describe his catch.
“A sawn off?” Bill offered.
“Yes that’s it.”
“What was Pizza man wearing?” Asked Tom.
“Black motor bike stuff, Boots, leather suit thing and a crash helmet.”
“He had the front thing up.” She motioned in front of her face.
“The visor?” Bill asked.
“Yes the visor was up but he had something over his face all I could see were his scowly eyes.”
“Did he speak?” Tom asked this time.
“No he just scowled and pointed the gun.”
“What happened next Mrs. Curtis?” Asked the DCI.
“Then I was tied in the chair and gagged and a hood was put over my head.” She shrank back into her chair.
“And then someone behind me shouted at Cyril.”
She seemed to shrink some more as she relived the ordeal.
“Can you remember what he said exactly.” Bill asked gently.
She stiffened her posture and nodded.
“If you do what we say she won’t be harmed. You try anything and I’ll kill you both.”
“And then I could hear there was a bit of a commotion I think they must have shoved Cyril down the hall and out of the door.” Her voice cracked a little and then she continued. “The Pizza man was left behind to watch me.”
“Your sure it was the Pizza man?” Enquired Tom.
“Oh Yes he had those big clumpy boots with the buckles on, I could look down and see the floor under the hood.”
“Did you notice anything else?” Bill asked.
“Yes when they took Cyril I heard one of them say a name it was Gary, Harry or Barry and then there was an angry exchange, although I could only here muttering by that time as they were in the hall.”
“And did you notice anything else about the Pizza man?” Bill asked.
“No.” She replied. “Apart from the fact he was a smoker. He kept going out the back for a smoke.”
“Did you notice when he left?” Enquired Tom.
“No not really I did hear one of those funny telephone tones, which I thought must be his mobile, but he never spoke.” She thought for a moment. “I suppose it could have been one of those awful text message things.”
“Then he went out back, for another smoke I assumed, and he never came back.”
“Any idea about the time?” Asked Tom.
“Not exactly but it wasn’t long after that I heard the hall clock strike two o’clock.”
“And then I sat here until the police arrived.”
“Why did they have to hurt Cyril, Chief Inspector?” She began to cry. “They got what they wanted.”
Emily Curtis finally broke down and let everything out.
Bill knelt in front of her and took her hand she responded by throwing herself against him and sobbing uncontrollably on his shoulder.
Tom went to the kitchen to fetch Laura Faulkner.
By the time Tom had returned with Mrs. Faulkner, Bill had managed to console her and she had calmed down considerably and was apologizing profusely for the disgraceful exhibition she had made of herself.
“Nonsense, Emily, its not easy having to relive such an awful ordeal especially with Cyril still in hospital.”
Bill noticed the others enter.
“Here’s Mrs. Faulkner I think perhaps a little rest maybe in order.” Bill motioned Mrs. Faulkner to come. “I think we have over tired you.”
Bill and Tom excused themselves and Mrs. Faulkner took Emily Curtis to her room to rest.
