Dead End

by Dead End (retail) (epub)

  Her mobile phone rang. It was Zac. She shut her eyes, knowing that she couldn’t avoid the truth any longer. But it wasn’t a barrage of questions about his grandfather this time.

  It was about Linda.

  Chapter 55

  ‘Zac, I’m sorry, I’ve had a drink. Can you come to mine?’ she asked. He sounded frantic. So much for not dealing with emotional teenagers, she thought ironically. However, given the choice between Josie and Zac, Zac won hands down. She gave him her address and resigned herself to the fact that her bed would have to wait.

  He was at her door in under ten minutes. The Land Rovers had been processed, and it felt strange seeing one of them sitting outside her own house. She was merry from the champagne, and the flight over the lakes and fells. Zac’s face was pained, and he came in babbling about Linda. Kelly stood back and let him pass.

  ‘Zac, you look terrible, can I get you a drink? Perhaps a beer?’

  He looked at her strangely. ‘Kelly, haven’t you listened to me? Linda has gone, and she wouldn’t do that. Brian hasn’t seen her either. She’s gone, and it’s my fault.’

  ‘I have been listening, Zac. Of course I have. Look, Linda is a mature adult and might not want to be found. People go missing all the time. She’s had a lot on, like you all have. People find themselves all over the place emotionally after trauma. I’m getting us a beer.’ She closed the front door and went into the kitchen. He followed her.

  ‘No, you’re wrong, she wouldn’t do this,’ he said again.

  Kelly opened two bottles of beer. She handed him one, and he took it, draining it in one gulp.

  ‘Better?’ she asked.

  ‘Kind of,’ he said.

  She got another from the fridge and handed it to him, dropping the empty in the recycling bin. She opened the terrace doors. It was pitch black, but the air wasn’t too cold. She went to the box she kept at the side of the decking for evenings just like this, and gave him a blanket. He took it, but still paced about. He was making Kelly dizzy. She sat down on a lounger.

  ‘Tell me what happened,’ she said. She wrapped her own blanket around her and cosied into it. The boy needed listening to, that was all. He had no one else, she figured. And it was buying her time before she had to tell him what she’d found – if she decided that was what she was going to do. But she could let him find out another way. That was even more brutal, and he’d never speak to her again if he found out like that. She had to tell him.

  He took a sip of his second beer, and Kelly could tell that the alcohol was settling him. He sat down heavily and put the blanket across his knees. She studied him. He looked worse than the day she’d first met him. He was the product of a damaged family – that much she knew – and she’d seen plenty. Her own was far from perfect, and she still hadn’t processed what her mother had told her. It was pushed firmly to the back of her mind; she hadn’t even decided if she would tell Johnny just yet.

  ‘I know she wouldn’t do it, Kelly, just disappear without a word; she promised me she was coming back. She …’ He looked away.

  Kelly thought about the safe. She’d hoped to show him a suicide note, or at least an apology. Selfish old bastard. She wanted to hold him, but she knew that wasn’t what he needed; and he could – at his age – take it the wrong way. The boy was handsome just like his father, beautiful even, with his chiselled chin, strong nose and floppy hair. His skin was golden and smooth, and Kelly marvelled at how the young could be so insouciant about their power. She felt old.

  ‘You’re busy.’ It was a statement rather than a question and she realised that her mind had wandered. ‘You found that girl?’

  ‘Yes.’ Freya hadn’t been much older than Zac.

  ‘What happened to her?’

  ‘Beyond being murdered, I can’t really tell you any more.’

  He nodded. He understood.

  ‘Have you looked in the safe yet?’ he asked.

  ‘It’s been opened, yes. I’m afraid it was full of old photos and letters, and not much else, though we did find your Grandfather’s war medals and I thought you might like them?’

  Zac nodded and took something out of his pocket. ‘I found some letters too,’ he said. ‘They were in a box in Grandpa’s wardrobe.’ He blushed, clearly ashamed of sneaking around his own home.

  Kelly’s heart sank. He must already know. But she needed to be sure first. She took the envelope he handed her and read the contents.

  ‘Your grandmother loved you very much. That must make you feel better,’ she said.

  He nodded.

  She changed the subject and admonished herself for being a coward.

  ‘Is there anywhere that Linda might have gone? You said you’ve spoken to Brian?’

  ‘Yes, we’ve already thought of everywhere, and he’s checked all the places we know,’ he said.

  ‘Have you got Brian’s number? I’d like to talk to him,’ she said.

  Linda had never left the Lakes. According to Zac, she’d been shopping to Kendal once and hated it. Zac got out his phone and read out Brian’s mobile number.

  ‘Tell me exactly when you realised that she’d gone for more than shopping, Zac,’ Kelly said.

  He told her about the argument and of his rash decision to order Linda and Brian away from Wasdale Hall. He mentioned the smoking kettle, and that Linda had left her bike. Wasdale was flanked on all sides by hills, lakes and sheep. Zac was growing drowsy from the drink, and he unwrapped the blanket and put it round himself. He looked exhausted.

  ‘Zac, do you have any friends that you could call to come and stay with you? Just for distraction, I mean. It’s no good you pacing up and down waiting for news,’ Kelly said.

  ‘I’ll be all right, I prefer my own company.’

  She supposed that he was used to it. She remembered her own childhood, and how busy she’d been with friends, and she wondered if Zac had any at all. The company of his grandfather had made him mature in many ways, but in others he was terribly innocent. She wondered what it must have been like, growing up in Wasdale Hall, all those rooms and gardens to play in but without a companion. She couldn’t help thinking that they could all have made it work for him. Trinity was a spineless coward, as well as, judging by the toxicology report, a junkie.

  ‘How long will I have to wait?’ Zac asked.

  ‘If you’ve reported her missing, the police response will be the same as mine. It might save time and energy if we try all the options ourselves. In the eyes of the law, she’s an adult. Look, in the morning, we can check her house out and get a contact list of her friends from Brian.’ Kelly was convinced that Linda was somewhere close by, sharing her regrets. The woman had lived here all her life; she must have a confidante, someone she shared gossip with, someone to give all that trout to that Zac caught and they couldn’t eat.

  ‘Zac, it’s late, I’m knackered. You’re welcome to stay here. The spare bed is made up, and you look like you need some decent sleep. I’m not sure I want you going back to Wasdale on your own.’

  He began to speak, and she held up her hand. ‘I know you’re used to it, you’ve told me a thousand times, but sometimes it’s nice to have company.’

  He drained his beer. ‘Do you mind?’

  ‘Of course not. I’m away early tomorrow, so make yourself at home and leave when you’re ready – and please try to relax. Linda will be fine.’

  She got up and went to the kitchen to throw away her bottle. She peered round the door; Zac hadn’t moved.

  ‘Come on,’ she said. He stood up and folded his blanket. The action touched her, and she wished he had a mother at home, instead of a secretive old ice maiden.

  She showed him the spare room but didn’t linger too long. She went to her own room and fell into bed as soon as she had her clothes off. Within minutes she was asleep.

  Chapter 56

  As Kelly pulled away from her house in the morning in a cab, Johnny was walking along the road. He had come to apologise, but he stopped short of Ke
lly’s driveway. A Land Rover sat in it, and something made him turn around and retrace his steps. Kelly could do what she wanted; she had before. But it hurt like hell.

  He went back home.

  * * *

  After picking up her car from the Penrith and Lakes Hospital, Kelly made her way to Wasdale Hall. It was still early, and she was sure that she’d find Linda there, tidying up the mess, ignorant of the drama that had unfolded last night.

  The door was open, as always, and she made her way to the kitchen. The dogs fussed around her, and she opened cupboards looking for food for them. She found some and spooned it into two bowls; they ate hungrily. The house was quiet, and the kettle still lay in the sink, broken and burned. She opened the back door and went outside. As she stepped out, Brian almost knocked her over. He helped her steady herself. The man was rock solid.

  ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t know anyone was here,’ he said. Kelly shook his hand off her arm.

  ‘I’m looking for Linda, Brian.’

  ‘So was I.’

  ‘Really? I thought you’d know where she was?’

  ‘No, I don’t. Where’s Zac?’ he asked.

  ‘I’ve no idea,’ she lied. ‘Maybe he’s out looking for her. What’s your theory?’

  Brian looked away.

  ‘I know all about the family, Brian. There was a lot in that safe.’

  ‘I don’t know what you mean,’ he said.

  ‘Oh come on, stop with the lying, for God’s sake! Aren’t you tired of it? I know everything. What I don’t know is who Linda has gone to warn, and I was hoping that somewhere in that heart of yours you’d like to share it with me.’

  ‘I swear I don’t know where she is,’ he said.

  ‘But you know where she might have gone? Can’t you give that boy a break? He’s desperate to know the truth; that’s all he wants. But it takes courage, doesn’t it, Brian? And you and Linda have none.’

  ‘Don’t you dare,’ he said, and took a step closer to her. She stood tall.

  ‘Would you hit a woman, Brian? Maybe you got rid of Linda yourself? Is she at the bottom of Ullswater too?’ She wasn’t scared of him, though she knew she ought to be. If Brian Walker cleaned things up for the earl, maybe he’d got rid of a few things besides a safe over the years.

  Brian clenched his fists. A flash of mania passed over his eyes and he blinked; it had only been a fraction of a second, but Kelly had seen it, and it made the hairs on her arms stand up. They were at an impasse until he spoke.

  ‘Can I make you a cup of tea?’ he asked. His bearing had transformed since that one blink, and the question threw her.

  ‘The kettle’s broken,’ she said.

  ‘There’s another.’ He went inside, and she followed warily.

  ‘So what was in the safe?’ he asked.

  ‘I thought you’d know,’ she said. He was familiar with the kitchen space and moved about it easily. Linda didn’t mind, but Kelly suspected that the earl had. ‘I’ll need your fingerprints, as a member of the household, to compare with those inside the safe. It’s routine, nothing to worry about.’ Her tone was casual.

  He kept his back to her as he made tea. Kelly watched him.

  ‘Why don’t you sit down,’ he said.

  ‘Do you always come and go as you please, Brian?’ she asked, ignoring his invitation.

  ‘Only outside, Detective. I come in here when Linda makes me a brew. Lately, I’ve been making my own. No one seems to mind,’ he said.

  ‘But Zac did. He asked you both to leave him alone.’

  ‘Ah, he apologised for all that. He’s a young lad who’s had a shock. Of course he says things he doesn’t mean.’ Brian’s back was still turned.

  ‘What’s your theory on who killed the earl?’ she asked. ‘You must have one. You knew him for forty years.’

  Brian remained silent, and Kelly didn’t know if he was thinking about her question or simply ignoring her.

  ‘It was his time, Detective. Old people get tired of this world,’ he said.

  ‘Don’t you think it strange that he was able to achieve it physically, though?’ she asked. She wanted to goad him. The earl might have asked Brian to get rid of the safe, and he might also have asked for help with other things, such as tying tight knots.

  Brian turned around and looked at her. He walked towards the table and put a cup of tea in front of her, along with a bowl of sugar.

  ‘Ah, don’t go getting all fanciful now, Detective. The earl went fishing all his life; he was a strong old fella and never lost his muscle all the time I knew him. It was only recently that he stopped swimming in the lake every morning,’ he added. Kelly made a point to herself to confirm this with Zac. ‘If you ask me, I think he was lonely. You know. He wanted a woman. He was never the same after his wife left him.’

  ‘They were never married,’ Kelly corrected him.

  ‘Might as well have been.’

  They held each other’s gaze. Kelly knew he was holding out on her, she just knew it. For whatever reason, Brian Walker was staying tight-lipped, and he was proving a tough nut to crack.

  ‘I know that Oliver Fitzgerald was Zac’s father,’ she said. Brian flinched. He blinked and swallowed; as he brought his cup up to his lips, his hand shook slightly.

  ‘I wouldn’t know anything about that,’ he said.

  ‘Bullshit, Brian,’ she said. He sipped his tea. ‘You don’t seem overly concerned about Linda,’ she pushed him. ‘Did the threesome at home not add up to domestic bliss? Were you jealous that the earl had bedded her?’

  ‘Still waters run deep, Detective. Don’t presume to know what I’m thinking,’ he said.

  Kelly thought the room felt cold, and she shivered. Her cell phone buzzed and she jumped, spilling her tea.

  ‘Shit.’

  Brian’s face never changed. He got a towel and began to wipe up the mess. Kelly looked at her phone. It was a text from Rob. They’d had a tip-off on Jack Sentry.

  ‘Thank you for the tea,’ she said. Brian nodded, never taking his eyes off her. ‘I’ll make sure the missing person case is started and I’ll keep you updated.’

  ‘You do that,’ was all he said, still sipping from his cup.

  Kelly walked out of the back door and headed to her car. She could hardly breathe. As she pulled away, she could see in the rear-view mirror that Brian was standing at one of the grand front windows, watching her leave.

  * * *

  On her way to Eden House, Kelly mulled over the rest of Rob’s text. The incident desk had taken a call from a colleague of Cheryl Gregory at the Sunnyside Guest House who claimed that Cheryl was acting strangely, and that rumour had it she was keeping a man in her room – a man who no one ever saw. The caller was a waitress called Demi Turner.

  As she got onto the A592, her nerves calmed down a touch and she breathed deeply. Rob had included the number for the guest house in his text, and Kelly dialled it on speakerphone. A man answered, and she asked if Demi was on shift. She was told that the girl was serving breakfast; she asked for her to come to the phone. The man tutted. Kelly waited.

  ‘Hello?’ said a bright voice.

  ‘Demi Turner?’ Kelly asked.

  ‘Yes,’ said the young woman. Kelly had known she’d be young; they all were, these piece workers who slaved away in the Lakes, season after season, for pitiful wages.

  ‘I’m returning your call from Penrith police station.’ Kelly played down her role.

  ‘Oh yes.’ Demi sounded excited. Perhaps she had an axe to grind and it would be a red herring, but Kelly would decide that for herself.

  ‘Do you want to tell me about your concern, Demi?’

  ‘Well, there was an appeal for any information about Jack Sentry,’ Demi said.

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘Well, Cheryl – that’s the girl across the hall – she’s been acting weird, you know? She’s been seeing Jack on and off for ages, and I saw them together a few months ago, I thought he was a creep, and I asked her what
she was doing with him.’

  Kelly listened patiently.

  ‘She’s definitely got someone in her room. I’ve heard them, there’s more than one voice, and she won’t let anyone in. I used to go round for a chat, but she won’t let me any more.’

  ‘And you think she’s got Jack Sentry in there? But you haven’t seen him?’ Kelly asked.

  ‘No, but … well, there’s definitely someone there,’ Demi said.

  ‘All right, Demi, thank you.’ Kelly hung up. She remembered her interview with Cheryl Gregory, and how frightened of Sentry she’d appeared. It was unlikely that she’d allow him back into her life. But she could have been pretending.

  She tapped the steering wheel, deciding what to do with the new information. They had the DNA evidence, they had Sentry absconding, they had his history, and they had a tip-off. She rang her boss at HQ. It was a long shot, but if she could convince him that she needed just one ARV, then she had a chance of catching Sentry. If she failed, she would look like an idiot, but she was willing to risk that. If it was Sentry in Cheryl’s room, he’d be scared and possibly dangerous. If it wasn’t him, then they could all go home again.

  She could hear the DCI sucking air over his teeth and she rolled her eyes.

  One ARV was authorised, and only one. Kelly held onto the steering wheel and willed the traffic to move faster.

  Chapter 57

  Johnny hung around at the end of the road. He’d probably walked the length of it ten times, waiting for the owner of the Land Rover to leave. Finally, at 10.30, the door opened and he pretended to talk on his phone. A boy walked out of Kelly’s house. Jesus! thought Johnny. Surely not. The lad looked barely eighteen. He watched as the boy got into the vehicle and drove away.

  He called Kelly. She was busy arranging a raid.

  ‘Johnny, I’m a bit busy right now,’ she said.