‘Last time we met you said that you had no contact with Bethan and Gwen outside of school. I now have a witness who claims the girls visited your house.’
An image of Bethan and Gwen standing at his front door flashed across his mind. Dressed like hookers, the pair of them, smiling and giggling. ‘I did not have any contact with the girls outside of school, your witness must be mistaken, or maybe they called at my house when I was out.’
‘Oh, I think they went to your house and you let them in. Were you having a relationship with Bethan Hopkins?’
‘No, and I won’t stand for these allegations.’ Giles flexed his fingers.
‘It wasn’t an allegation, it was a question.’
Meadows’ eyes bored into him. It felt as though he could see into his mind. The room felt airless and all of a sudden it appeared to shrink, the walls closed in around him.
‘Would it be fair to say that you’re friendly with your students?’
‘I am the headmaster. It’s not my job to be friendly.’
‘So you don’t give an encouraging pat on the shoulder or put a friendly arm around a student.’
‘No. Look, I think I have answered all your questions. I have worked at the school for over thirty years and in all that time I have never had a complaint made against me. I will not have you tarnishing my reputation.’ Giles stood up; his legs felt weak and he didn’t know how much longer he could hold on to his bladder. I have to get out of here, I should never have come alone.
Meadows stood. ‘The DNA sample?’
‘If you want me to come in again then I would appreciate you giving me some time to consult with my solicitor.’
‘We’ll be in touch.’
Giles rushed to the bathroom and relieved himself. He washed his hands and peered into the mirror. His reflection showed a pale face with a sheen of perspiration. I look guilty. He splashed some water on his face and patted it dry with a paper towel before leaving the station. He sat for a moment in his car. Pain rippled across his chest and his breath caught in his throat. This has to be Gwen again. She must have told the police that she came to my house. He put his hand to his chest and rubbed, but the pain didn’t ease. I shouldn’t have stayed here. I could have got a job in another school. He started the engine and drove towards home. I can’t face going in today. I should have just given the DNA sample, they obviously think this is about Bethan …
He felt his breathing return to normal and the grip on his chest loosen.
They still don’t know, and if I can find a way to keep Gwen quiet there’s no chance they will find out.
Chapter Twenty-two
Gwen packed a rucksack with a large bottle of water and a drinking bowl for Blue. She left a note to say she had gone up the mountain, just in case something went wrong, then left the house. It was a humid day, she hated days like this. It was OK to feel hot when the sun was shining, but days like this left the air clinging to her skin. She was wearing shorts and a vest, a rarity as she always felt conscious of the thick scars that ran down her arm and leg. I really don’t care who sees me, let them stare.
She held her head high as she walked up the hill towards the mountain. Meadows had phoned to tell her they had questioned Epworth again but as they had no evidence, they couldn’t hold him and he refused to give a DNA sample. Unless the witness came forward again or she had another flashback there wasn’t a lot the police could do. It was the phone call that drove her towards the mountain. I have to remember, otherwise the case will close again and I will never know what happened that day.
At the cattle grid she paused and took a sip of water before filling Blue’s bowl. She watched him lap it up then repacked the bag before stepping onto the mountainside.
‘Right, Sam left me here.’ Blue turned his head to look at her before plodding on.
There was a gentle breeze and Gwen welcomed the cool air blowing on her face and lifting her hair. She walked past the farmland which was marked out by dry stone walls. A few sheep took umbrage to Blue but other than the odd bleat all was silent.
It was raining that day, I put on Sam’s coat. She tried to force the memory but nothing would come. Uncle David had told me he was my father. I was angry. She felt the tension in her body, then the images flooded her mind …
How could they? Sneaking around behind Dad’s back. Poor Dad, I bet they were screwing when he lay in the hospital bed dying. Angry tears dripped down her face and mixed with the rain. She hadn’t wanted to cry in front of Sam but now she was alone she didn’t care. The rain became heavier, driving into her body and soaking her hair so that it clung to her head. I’m not going home, I’ll hide up here all night, let them worry. That’ll teach them. She pushed on against the wind. Sam’s coat was holding off some of the rain but the thin material didn’t offer any warmth. Anger was bubbling beneath her skin. Her mother had been crying when she walked out of the house, begging her to listen. Filthy slag! And Uncle David, how could he do that to his own brother? No amount of screaming or shouting could drive away the pain she felt gnawing at her stomach. I’m never going home. I’ll stay with Beth, or I could if she wasn’t pissing about. What’s she playing at? She’s supposed to be my friend, she should be here with me and if she wasn’t with Sam last night where was she. Well she can go and fuck herself, they all can.
Gwen quickened her pace, the anger and the cold making her body tremble. She didn’t know where she was going, she knew she could reach the shack from this direction and that would give her some shelter from the rain but the idea of being there alone there brought more tears to her eyes. When she saw the barn she glanced back at the road, it was only just visible. I could hide out in there for a while, if I get scared in the dark I can get back to the road. There might even be some hay to lie on.
She hurried to the barn and stepped through the entrance. A small white dog appeared and jumped up on her legs, its tail wagging furiously. As she bent down to stroke its head she became aware of a low, guttural moaning. Curiosity overrode her fear and she stepped further into the barn. The sight that met her eyes made her gasp in shock and stumble backwards. A boy was kneeling on a bale of hay, naked from the waist down. His hands gripped the side of the bale as he was thrust forward, his teeth gritted.
Behind the boy Giles Epworth stood, trousers around his ankles, thrusting into the boy as he gripped him at the hips. His eyes were closed and he emitted a moan as his face glowed with ecstasy.
The boy squealed when he saw Gwen and Epworth’s eyes snapped open. The three of them were momentarily paralysed, then Epworth pulled away from the boy. Gwen caught a glimpse of his erection before she turned and bolted from the barn. She ran towards the entrance of the quarry, the grass slipping beneath her feet as she pounded the ground. She could here Epworth’s shouts as he chased her. She turned briefly, then lost her footing. She fell forward and put out her hands to break the fall and yelped as she felt her left wrist absorb the impact with a crack.
‘Gwen, come back!’ Epworth was breathing heavily as he gained on her.
Gwen scrambled to her feet, ignoring the pain.
‘Come back here, you little bitch!’
She ran into the copse of tree, then through the gate that led onto the path, she knew Epworth was close. Her chest hurt as she drew in lungfuls of damp air. The pain from her wrist shot up her arm and her hand stung from the fall. Terror beat a rhythm through her body as she scanned the area for somewhere to hide. He’ll kill me if he catches me. I can’t run anymore, it’s too far to get back to the village. Her legs felt heavy and weak as she jumped off the path and scrambled down the bank. It wasn’t too steep at this end of the path but she still had to be careful; if she went down too far she would fall into the stream below. She crouched behind a tree and tried to hold her breath.
‘Gwen! Gwen, where are you? I just want to talk to you.’ Epworth had entered the quarry and was walking along the path.
Gwen pressed her body to the ground, she could smell the damp ea
rth and feel the roots of the tree pressing into her skin. He walked past, calling out her name, she didn’t dare move in case he came back …
A wet tongue lapped at the tears on her face. Gwen came back to the present, she had sunk to the floor and wrapped her hands around her knees. Blue nudged her hand and she moved it onto his body. The thick white fur running through her fingers calmed her breathing. She let her eyes travel around the barn. So that’s what happened here, and I broke my wrist. The memory of the pain still lingered. Epworth must have come back, it’s him, and I went back to school where he could watch me every day. A shiver ran through her body. Ariana and Alex, he could get at them any time, I have to tell Winter.
She took her mobile phone from her bag and fumbled with the button. When she managed to get through to the police station she was told that DI Meadows was out, and she ended the call without leaving a message. She tried his mobile but it went straight to voicemail. An eerie feeling crept over her body. Epworth could be lurking outside, waiting for me on the mountain. Stop it, he is in school, he’s not following you, there is no one out there.
She could feel her body trembling as she stepped outside of the barn and looked around. No one is here, I’m safe. The kids will be OK, he won’t do anything to them in school. She checked her watch. They’ll be home soon. She hurried back to the road and walked briskly back into the village where she felt her fear ebb away. Back inside the house she kept busy until she heard Ariana and Alex come through the front door, she tried to relax her body. Should I say something to them? They ambled into the kitchen and started the daily raid of the cupboards.
‘Good day at school?’ Gwen forced a smile and hoped her voice didn’t give away the anxiety she felt.
‘It was OK apart from netball. We had to run around on the court for an hour while Mrs James sat on her fat arse and barked orders. It’s too bloody hot to play netball.’ Ariana plonked herself down on the nearest chair and gulped down a glass of squash. ‘Then when I’m all sweaty I have to change back into my uniform for the rest of the day, it’s disgusting. I don’t see why we have to be made to look like skanky hoes for the rest of the day, we should have least have time for a shower.’
If Gwen hadn’t been so preoccupied she would have laughed. ‘I hated sport when I was in school, that sort of torture should be banned.’
‘Well at least you got to go outside,’ Alex complained. ‘I’ve been stuck in study lessons all day. Even had to give up my lunch break, Epworth called me into his office.’
Gwen felt a chill run through her body. ‘What did he want?’
‘Talk about my expected grades in the exams. He says I’m slipping in maths so has organised after school tutorials to get me through my exams.’
‘Like fuck you’re staying after school with that pervert.’
‘Mum!’ Ariana’s eyes were wide with shock at Gwen’s outburst, it was a rarity that her mother used bad language. ‘Why are you calling Mr Epworth a pervert?’
‘I don’t like him, he gives me the creeps. I don’t want you or your brother anywhere near him.’
Alex was laughing. ‘Does that mean I don’t have to do extra study?’
‘I haven’t got a problem with you doing extra study, just not after school. I can help you with maths. What else did Epworth say?’
‘Just asked how you are and how the investigation is going.’
‘What did you say?’
‘Nothing, I said you were OK. What’s all this about?’
‘Detective Meadows doesn’t want us talking to anyone about the case.’ She turned her back and started chopping vegetables, not wanting Ariana and Alex to see her distress. There’s nothing wrong with Alex’s grades, what game is Epworth playing? He wants me to know that he can get to my children anytime he wants. A shiver ran down her back. I have to speak to Meadows before the end of the day.
Gwen was in the kitchen when Matt came through the door. He opened the fridge, fished out a can of lager, and took it through to the sitting room. Gwen followed and watched as he plonked himself down on the sofa and picked up the remote control. Irritation prickled her skin. I don’t know what I ever saw in him and he’s been in such a foul mood for the past week. I should tell him about Epworth, but any mention of the investigation sets him off, I can’t be bothered with another row.
‘I thought I would go swimming after dinner. I haven’t been for weeks.’
Matt looked away from the television. ‘I think that’s a good idea, get back to some sort of normality around here. I’ll move my car, it’s blocking you in.’
‘Thanks.’ He’s obviously found a new bit of stuff, no other reason he’d be helpful.
She packed her swimming bag and after they had eaten and she had cleared the dishes, she left the house. In the car she placed another call to the station but was told that DI Meadows wouldn’t be back in until the morning. I can’t wait until then. He said he had moved into his mother’s old house, that’s Bryn Bach farm.
She started the engine and turned right onto the main road, at the mini roundabout she took the turning on to Turnpike Road. There was a sharp S-bend in the road and she applied the brakes to take the corner. They felt spongy, so she took her foot off the pedal and pressed down again before turning the wheel. The road straightened out and into a steep decline, she applied the brakes again to slow the car but they had no effect on the speed. She pumped at the pedal, her hands gripping the steering wheel in panic as the car increased speed.
Ahead she could see the old stone bridge that crossed the river, after that she knew the road veered sharply to the right. I can’t make that turn at this speed, I don’t even think I can make it over the bridge, I’ll hit head on into anyone coming the other way or hit the wall.
Adrenalin forced her options rapidly through her mind. I’ll have to go off before the bridge. She was running out of road, she could see two old men standing on the bridge looking into the river. Please don’t let me hit them. She hit the horn as she pulled hard on the steering wheel. As the front end of the car veered off the road the back end swung around and hit the stone wall. Metal crunched and she felt herself thrown sideways as the car spun. She continued to grip the wheel but had no control over the car. Time seemed to slow as the car hit the bank and the front end dipped forward. The car plunged towards the river as the airbag exploded and her head hit the back of the chair. I’m going to land in the river, Beth! So much blood. Reality faded as she lost consciousness.
Chapter Twenty-three
The radio played in the background and a half drunk cup of coffee sat on the table in Meadows sitting room. He was sat in an armchair with a book held in his hand. He had been reading the same page over for the past twenty minutes and even though his eyes scanned over the words they didn’t register. His thoughts were on Gwen and the case, he had worked solidly for the past three weeks and this was his first day off, but he couldn’t relax. He had asked Edris to keep him informed of any developments then spent the day stripping the wallpaper from the bedrooms. Every now and then he checked his phone to make sure he hadn’t missed any calls. The mindless task had given him space to think. There was something about the case that he felt he was missing, over and over he turned the facts but nothing stood out. He sighed and lay the book on his lap. I wish the phone would ring, I can’t stand this waiting for something to happen. A knock at the door bought a welcome distraction, he ambled to the front door brushing off specks of paper that clung to his jeans. Edris stood on the door step, his hands in his pockets and a smile on his face.
‘Sorry to bother you on your day off.’
‘No worries, come in.’
Edris followed him inside and stood looking around the sitting room.
‘I haven’t got around to redecorating yet. I’ve just made a start upstairs. To be honest DIY isn’t my thing.’
‘Well I’m sure it’s going to look great when you’ve finished. I came around to tell you that Gwen had been involved in a car accident.’
Meadows felt his stomach clench. ‘Is she OK?’
‘I don’t know all the details. Dyfan came up to see you, he thought you would want to know. Apparently she drove the car into the river at Bryn Melyn Bridge. There were no other cars involved. I came straight here.’
‘Give me a sec to get changed and we’ll go there and see what we can find out.’ In the bedroom Meadows tried to calm the anxiety that crawled at his skin. Please let her be alright. He stripped off and after a quick wash put on a clean shirt and pair of trousers.
‘OK, I’m ready, I’ll drive,’ he called as he hurried down the stairs.
When they arrived at the crash scene there was a group of spectators on the bridge, watching the car being pulled from the river. Meadows parked the car and approached the uniformed officer who stood watching over the proceedings.
‘What happened?’
‘The vehicle belongs to a Mrs Gwen Thomas. Looks like she lost control of the car. A couple of witnesses that were standing on the bridge at the time say that she was speeding down the hill. She sounded her horn before the car went off the road.’
‘Is she badly injured?’
‘She was conscious when she left in the ambulance. Badly shaken so I thought it best to wait until she’s seen a doctor before questioning her. Do you mind me asking why CID are interested in a traffic accident?’
‘She’s part of an ongoing investigation.’
‘Oh yeah, I thought I recognised the name. She’s one of the quarry girls.’
‘Yes, she is. I want this car checked out to see if it’s been tampered with.’
‘I’ll get on to it.’ The officer walked towards the tow truck and Meadows watched him give instructions to the driver.
‘You don’t think it was an accident, do you?’ Edris asked.
‘No, why would she be speeding down the hill? She’s probably driven this road hundreds of times and would know you can’t take the bridge at speed. If she sounded her horn before she went off the road she was obviously in trouble and was worried about the people on the bridge.’
The Silent Quarry Page 16
