Silent Graves

by Sally Rigby

  Tears welled in Whitney’s eyes, but she blinked them away. This wasn’t her pain to deal with.

  ‘I’m very sorry for your loss. If you do need to speak to me, phone any time, you’ve got my number. I’ll do my best to keep you up to date with the investigation.’

  ‘Thank you very much. We appreciate all you’re doing.’

  Whitney ended the call and drew in some calming breaths before picking up the phone again. This time to contact Gwen Bailey, Anita’s mother.

  The woman answered almost immediately.

  ‘It’s Detective Chief Inspector Walker here.’

  ‘Hello. Do you have news for me?’

  Whitney relaxed her shoulders as she needed to come across as calm.

  ‘Yes. I’m phoning to let you know that we’ve analysed the DNA sample you provided, and formally identified Anita as being one of the bodies we found at Oak Tree Farm. As yet, we don’t know the cause of her death. I’m very sorry for your loss.’

  ‘Thank you for letting me know,’ the woman said, her voice matter-of-fact and clinical. ‘You said that we could have the funeral after the autopsy, is that still the case?’

  ‘Yes, it is. Someone from the coroner’s office will contact you and let you know when that will be.’

  ‘Okay. Thank you.’

  Gwen Bailey ended the call, leaving Whitney staring at the phone. The two interactions with the parents couldn’t have been more different. In her experience, reactions to bad news could vary, but she’d never been dismissed quite so quickly before. Surely the woman must have been disturbed to find out that her daughter had been dead for so long.

  She left her office and went into the incident room. ‘I’ve had confirmation that the remains found belong to Anita Bailey and Jayne Kennedy and I’ve just let the families know. Ellie, where are we on the files from the previous investigation?’

  ‘They came through a while ago and I’ve been going through them, guv.’

  ‘Any comments so far?’

  ‘I don’t want to say anything bad but … there’s not much in there, the files are thin.’

  ‘Remember, all those years ago things were very different, they didn’t have computers to write up reports, it was done either by hand or typewriter,’ Whitney said, not wanting to excuse the previous investigation but things weren’t the same as they were now. ‘Is there anything else you’d like to add?’

  ‘There was some information recorded that should have been investigated but wasn’t. Or if it was, they’d forgotten to write it up. A girl from St Paul’s, the school the victims attended, told officers she saw Jayne and Anita speaking to a man outside the school gates at lunchtime on the day they went missing.’

  ‘Do we have a name for this man?’

  ‘No, we don’t.’ Ellie shook her head.

  ‘A description?’

  ‘Yes, she said he was wearing jeans and jumper, was of medium height with long, straight, brown hair to his shoulders. He had some distinguishing tattoos, one on his neck of an eagle and letters on his fingers. She wasn’t sure what they spelt.’

  ‘And this wasn’t followed up?’ Whitney said, tilting her head to one side.

  ‘Not according to the files. Unless they did but forgot to write it up, as I’ve already said,’ Ellie replied.

  ‘Do you have the name of this girl?’

  ‘Yes, Kathleen Fisher.’

  ‘We need to track down both her and the man she saw with our victims.’

  Whitney was astounded at the incompetence of the officers investigating the previous case. It was basic stuff they’d messed up.

  ‘Yes, guv.’

  ‘Was there anything else of note in the records?’

  ‘The girls went missing during school hours. They weren’t at their last lesson and nobody saw them after afternoon break on Wednesday, 7 May.’

  ‘Finally, we’re getting somewhere. Top priority is finding Kathleen Fisher. Obviously, she’s now older and may have a different surname.’

  ‘Yes, guv. I’m on to it,’ Ellie said.

  ‘I’ll help,’ Brian said.

  Ellie glanced at Whitney and she gave a tiny nod.

  ‘I’d rather you came with me to reinterview Anthony Gibson,’ Whitney said.

  ‘I’ll grab my jacket,’ Brian said, heading over to the coat stand, taking it from the hanger and shrugging it on.

  As they headed out to the car park, he turned to her.

  ‘Is there an issue with me helping Ellie? I noticed a look between the two of you.’

  ‘Not exactly an issue. Ellie is streets ahead of the rest of us when it comes to technology, and it’s her remit in the team. She’s trained in using the self-service kiosk and is our go-to person for any research we need, especially if it’s tricky. If you want to work on that side of things, then I’d rather you asked her if she needs help, instead of using your rank to muscle in.’

  ‘That wasn’t what I’d intended.’

  ‘Good. I’m glad we’ve got that out of the way.’

  They drove to the farm in relative silence and she kept taking peeps at him out of the corner of her eye. He was focused on the road ahead. Had she upset him by what she’d said about Ellie? Perhaps he wasn’t used to the relaxed team atmosphere she cultivated.

  When they reached the turning for the shortcut, he glanced at her. ‘This way?’ he said.

  ‘It’s quickest.’

  ‘And don’t forget bumpiest and dirtiest. It took me ages to clean my car after our last visit.’ He scowled.

  ‘The journey will take another ten minutes if we stick to this road. I’ll leave it to you.’ It was the least she could do seeing as she wasn’t the one having to wash the car.

  ‘Thanks.’ He turned off his indicator and continued ahead.

  When they arrived at the farm, he parked outside the front on the gravel.

  ‘Don’t forget—’

  ‘No need. I’ve got it,’ he said arching an eyebrow.

  ‘Good.’ She allowed herself a smile in his direction.

  ‘Inspector.’ She turned, her hand poised to knock on the front door. Anthony Gibson was heading towards them from the garage.

  She didn’t correct him regarding her title.

  ‘Good morning.’

  ‘Are you here to tell me I can resume with the work?’

  ‘Sorry, no. We’ve identified the bodies found and would like to talk to you about it.’

  ‘I can spare you five minutes as I’m due in the city for a meeting with the bank in an hour.’ He stepped to the side of her and opened the front door. ‘Come on through to the kitchen.’

  She refrained from commenting but did catch sight of Brian suppressing a grin. He was learning fast. They would be interviewing Gibson for as long as it took. And if that meant he was late for his meeting, then so be it.

  She assumed they wouldn’t be offered a coffee this time and she was right, as once they arrived in the kitchen he gestured for them to sit at the table and he followed suit.

  ‘Mr Gibson, have you heard the names Jayne Kennedy and Anita Bailey.’

  ‘No.’ He shook his head.

  ‘They are the sixteen-year-old girls who were buried on your land. It happened in May 1980. Were you living at the farm then?’

  ‘Yes, I was only fourteen.’

  ‘Who else lived here at that time?’

  ‘Only my parents. My older sister was away at university in Durham.’

  ‘What school did you go to?’ She doubted it was the one the girls attended but wanted to make sure.

  ‘Oakford School.’

  A private school ten miles out of Lenchester. So no connection.

  ‘I’d like you to think back to that time. Someone managed to dig a big hole and bury two bodies. How would that be possible without anyone seeing?’

  ‘If it was done during the night we wouldn’t have known as the farmhouse is quite a distance from where the bodies were left and there were trees and hedges in the way.’
<
br />   ‘What about if a car drew up? Would you have heard it, even if you didn’t see the headlights?’

  ‘It wasn’t unusual for cars to come and go because of staff and their families living in the cottages, so even if we did hear a noise it wouldn’t alert us to anything untoward going on.’

  ‘We’d like a list of all the farm workers from around that time, can you get that for us?’

  ‘I would have to ask my father.’

  ‘Can we speak to him now?’

  ‘He’s on his way to Norwich to visit his sister, with my wife.’

  ‘When will he be back?’

  ‘I’m collecting him at the weekend. I’ll phone this evening and ask him. We had a farm manager called Ted who lived in one of the cottages. He died about ten years ago. He was only sixty.’

  ‘Do you know where his family are?’

  ‘He was single.’

  Damn.

  ‘When you speak to your father please mention the girls’ names and see if they mean anything to him.’

  ‘Will do.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘I really need to get changed for my meeting. Is there anything else I can help you with?’

  ‘Do you remember whether there was anything significant happening on the site around the time the girls were buried?’

  ‘I don’t recall there being anything in May of that year, but I was little more than a boy. If it was September, we used to hold an annual fayre, and in July the circus came to town, but they’re the only events that I can remember.’

  ‘Before we leave, I do have one more question. You told us that the development was a backstop and that, financially, you were secure. Are you sure that’s the case? According to our records you’ve remortgaged the farm.’

  His body tensed. ‘It’s not something I’m proud of and my father doesn’t know. Once the development is completed we’ll be back on an even footing. Farming isn’t what it used to be.’

  ‘A word of advice. Don’t lie to the police, because it won’t turn out well,’ she said.

  ‘It has nothing to do with all this, so it shouldn’t matter.’

  ‘That’s for us to decide. Call the station after you’ve spoken to your father. Ask for me, or DS Chapman. We’ll see ourselves out.’

  They left and returned to Brian’s car.

  ‘You had him rattled, guv.’

  ‘That wasn’t my intention, but he shouldn’t have lied. What did you make of him?’

  ‘He was only fourteen at the time the girls were buried and didn’t go to their school. I don’t believe he knew anything about it. When you mentioned their names there was no recognition in his eyes.’

  ‘I’m inclined to agree. We’ll wait to hear back from him regarding his father.’

  They drove back to the station and once they were in the incident room she headed over to Ellie.

  ‘How are you getting on?’

  ‘I’ve found Kathleen Fisher. Her name is now Henderson, and she lives with her husband, Dean, in Kettering, Northamptonshire. She has two grown-up children.’

  ‘That’s only forty minutes away. Thank goodness she hasn’t moved to the other side of the world. Attention everyone. Ellie has tracked down Kathleen Fisher, now called Henderson. She lives in Kettering.’ Whitney walked over to the board and wrote the name on there. ‘I’m going to call Dr Cavendish and we’ll go out to visit her.’

  ‘Don’t you want me to come with you?’ Brian asked.

  ‘No, not this time. I’m going to take George as I’d like to get her opinion on the woman. Now we know who she is, I want a thorough search done on her as she may have been involved. I also want an investigation into the school. Find names and locations of all the pupils in the missing girls’ year. That should keep you busy. Brian, you can sort out who’s doing what.’

  Normally, she’d do it herself but as she’d refused to take him with her and, bearing in mind what George had said, she wanted to give him something to do so he felt more involved.

  ‘Yes, guv,’ he said.

  She returned to her office and gave George a call.

  ‘Where are you?’ she said as soon as George answered.

  ‘I’m at work. Where else?’

  ‘Can you get away? We’ve found a witness who saw the two missing girls speaking to a man outside the school the day they disappeared. I’d like you with me when I pay her a visit.’

  ‘What about Brian, shouldn’t you be taking him?’

  ‘Don’t you start. I’ve already turned down his request to come with me as I want you there. The woman lives in Kettering with her husband.’

  ‘Fine. I take it you want me to drive?’

  Whitney laughed. ‘Guilty as charged. So, will you come?’

  ‘Of course. I’ll pick you up in half an hour. There’s something I’d like to show you.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘You will see soon enough,’ the psychologist said as she ended the call.

  Since when did George act all mysterious?

  Chapter 11

  Adrenaline coursed through George’s veins as she opened the door to her new quartzite grey Porsche Cayenne Turbo. She’d only picked it up from the garage late yesterday afternoon and the excitement hadn’t yet abated. The new car smell from the black leather interior enveloped her. There was nothing like it. Whitney called it her guilty pleasure, but that wasn’t how she viewed it. There was nothing guilty about her love of cars and when she’d driven over to Ross’s the previous night, she’d enjoyed putting the Porsche through its paces on the long stretches of straight road where she could put her foot down.

  She hadn’t mentioned to Whitney that she’d bought it. The officer had no interest in cars and couldn’t understand why George did. It was an extravagance, which she wouldn’t appreciate.

  When she arrived at the station, she pulled into the visitors’ car park and headed to the reception.

  ‘Please could you let DCI Walker know that Dr Cavendish is here to see her,’ she said to the receptionist.

  After a few minutes Whitney walked out of the lift and headed towards her. She was wrapped up in a thick navy coat, knitted pink hat and matching scarf.

  ‘Hi, George. I really must see about getting you an identification tag,’ Whitney said, as they went out of the front entrance. ‘Where have you parked?’

  ‘In the visitors’ car park.’

  They walked around the side of the building and into the car park, which was half full.

  ‘Where’s your car?’ Whitney asked, looking around and frowning.

  ‘I’ve bought myself a new one, it’s over there, out of the way.’ George pointed to the far corner where she’d parked separate from the others as she didn’t want to risk it getting damaged.

  Whitney turned to her. ‘So that’s what you wanted to show me. I couldn’t work it out. What have you got, a Ferrari? And if I’m right, don’t say it’s red as that would be so stereotypical of a fast car. I might even refuse to get into it.’

  ‘No, it’s not a Ferrari. It’s also not red. You’ll see shortly.’

  They reached the car, and Whitney walked around it, her mouth open. ‘You’ve got to be kidding me. You’ve bought yourself a Porsche. Bloody hell. Aren’t they like hundreds of thousands of pounds?’

  ‘I’ve had my eye on it for a long time. I collected it yesterday. And no, it didn’t cost that much.’ She wasn’t going to admit the exact amount she’d paid because Whitney wouldn’t understand why she’d spent so much.

  ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

  ‘Because it was only recently I finally made up my mind to buy it. It’s not something I thought you’d have been interested in.’

  She wasn’t one for discussing her thought processes with anyone. She was perfectly able to make up her own mind without consulting with others. Ross had asked a similar question, as she hadn’t discussed it with him either. She didn’t require their input when making a decision.

  ‘But … a Porsche. That must have cost you an arm
and a leg. And some.’

  ‘I traded my Land Rover in.’

  She wasn’t going to tell Whitney that money was no object. She’d had an inheritance from her grandmother many years ago, which had enabled her to buy her Victorian terraced house outright and had still left her plenty of money in the bank. She also had her university salary for day-to-day expenses. She was very comfortably off but knew that Whitney wasn’t, and she didn’t want to rub her nose in it.

  ‘What did Ross say?’

  ‘I drove over to show him last night. He liked it.’

  That was an understatement. The whoops of joy Ross had made, and the way he’d run around the car like a child with a new toy, was extremely amusing. Although, when he’d asked why she hadn’t consulted him at all on the purchase, she didn’t give him an answer. He didn’t push her for one, either. She appreciated that.

  ‘Will you let him drive it?’

  ‘Maybe in the future. He’s not insured yet.’

  She’d always been territorial over her cars. When she’d lived with Stephen, she wouldn’t let him drive her car, despite him constantly asking her if he could. He’d thought he could wear her down with his nagging, but he didn’t. She’d dug her heels in and wouldn’t be swayed. Ross hadn’t asked outright, but from his reaction to the car and his questions she suspected he would like to have the opportunity to take the wheel.

  ‘You should insure him in case something happens, and he needs to drive it at short notice.’

  Whitney had made a valid point. It wasn’t something she’d considered because Ross had his own vehicle. But if they were in hers … perhaps she would insure him. Not just yet, though.

  ‘I will give it some thought, for now I want to enjoy it myself.’ She opened the door and got in.

  ‘I’m going to enjoy it, too,’ Whitney said as she slid into the passenger seat and ran her hand over it. ‘Feel the leather, it’s so soft. I might not be a petrolhead, like you, but even I can appreciate this luxury.’ She gave a contented sigh.

  ‘It’s a hybrid, so I’m doing my bit for the environment,’ she said, fastening her seat belt.

  ‘I’d expect nothing else.’ Whitney flashed a grin in her direction.

  She left the car park and pulled out into oncoming traffic. After a few minutes they reached the dual carriageway and she could put her foot down. The traffic wasn’t heavy, so she didn’t have to stop and start.