Patrick Brown lived near Midsomer Malham, moved there from Causton after he retired. Patrick greeted Barnaby warmly and let him in. He asked if Barnaby wanted anything to drink but he passed up the offer and sat down in an armchair. Patrick sat down on the sofa and asked why Barnaby was here.
"Well Patrick, I take it you have heard by now that we have found the body of a detective sergeant"
"Yes, I did hear. Terrible news, any idea on who did this?"
"It appears that sergeant Scott had discovered a corrupt police officer. We are trying to find out who that person is. We found what we believe are initials, PB. Only two people have the initials PB and that is you and PC Peter Butler" Barnaby explained.
Patrick furrowed his brow and exhaled "In all honest truth, Tom, when I worked with Peter, he didn't seem like the greatest cop around. He frequently wouldn't answer his radio when he should have. He was always very interested in the drug cases, overly enthusiastic and eager to get stuck into those cases"
Barnaby nodded, the cogs in his head turning and connecting the dots "There were some images on Scott's laptop of what looks like a PC receiving or delivering a package. From what you've said, it could be drug related. Butler is still on the force, isn't he?"
"I believe so, surprisingly. Still a PC based in Causton but I haven't seen him for a while now."
Before Barnaby could answer, his phone rang. "Excuse me, Patrick." He got up and walked out to the hall way "Yes Jones?... I see…Well I'll meet you there." Barnaby walked back into the living room and told Patrick that he had to go, looks like Peter was their man. Patrick wished him luck and Barnaby hurried off to meet Jones.
Jones had compared the images to the 3 men's profiles and the closest one was Peter. He looked the same height and build to the man in the pictures. Peter wasn't working that day so Ben found his address and told Barnaby to head there. Ben arrived there with one other squad car with 2 PC's. Barnaby wasn't there yet but Ben proceeded to knock on the door. There was no answer but there was a car in the driveway. Ben knocked again, louder this time. Barnaby pulled up alongside Ben's car. Ben turned around to greet him. Barnaby no knocked on the door as hard as he could. They heard a noise from inside indicating someone was home. Ben tried the door and it was unlocked, he shouted hello into the house. He pushed the door wide open and he and Barnaby stepped in. The place was a mess. They walked cautiously further into the house and soon enough came across a ladder that led to an attic space. Barnaby motioned for Ben to head up. Ben complied and he poked his head into the attic which was filled him cannabis plants and heaters. He called down to Barnaby and told him what was up there. Ben scanned the room and in the far corner he could spot a head, a body crouching down.
"He's up here" Ben yelled and scrambled up the ladder.
Barnaby motioned for the PC's to get up there too. Peter emerged from behind the plants with one hand behind his back. Ben noticed this and motioned for the PC's to stop.
"Whatever you have behind your back, drop it, now" Ben commanded sternly.
Peter chuckled "You finally got me then. After all these years you found his body and figured it all out. Proves how useless you all are. Thinking Dan had gone back to London, didn't even bother checking that he had" Peter burst out laughing. Barnaby was now in the attic too.
"So, Scott found you out?" Barnaby asked.
Peter stop laughing and replied "Yeah the bastard did. Back then I was a bit new to the whole operation and made a mistake of having the meet up point be behind the shop where a copper lived. He saw what happened and followed my movements for a couple of weeks. He didn't know that one of my associates had spotted him. He had to be delt with" Peter revealed what he had behind his back; it was a hammer. "This is the same hammer I used to bash his skull in. Not easy but managed it. He caught on where our meet up points were. One night as he was waiting and watching, I snuck up behind him and wham!" Peter swung the hammer "Had some help dumping him and he managed to stay there for 3 years before you lot found him" he grinned.
"Put the hammer down, Peter. There is no way of getting out of this now" Barnaby said.
Peter dropped the hammer "I'll never rat out my associates though. Never" He spat as the PC's cuffed him and took him away.
Everyone made their way out of the house and Peter was taken away to the station. Barnaby stood by his car, feeling the breeze on his face.
"You alright, sir?" Ben asked
"We got justice, Ben. Won't bring back Scott but we carry on and hopefully bust these drug dealers that helped Peter" Barnaby sighed and got into his car. Ben did the same and they both drove back to the station.
As Barnaby drove back, he recalled the times he spent with Dan. He was proud of him "Your efforts won't be in vain, we will find the people responsible and get closure for you, Dan" He whispered to himself, a small part of him hoping Dan had heard him too.
