“Thanks.” He downed half of it straight away, then grinned at her. “That’s better, just what I needed.”
“Happy to help.” She smiled back at him and he stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her and hugged her. “Thank you, Linda, for everything. I have so much to be grateful to you for and you just keep on adding things!”
She hugged him, holding him tightly for a few moments, then drew back.
“Go on with you! I was doing my job and doing my duty as a detective’s wife! Now, do you think your mum is awake yet? Would you like to see while I make her a drink? What does she like?”
“Coffee. I’ll go and see. I need to use the bathroom anyway.”
Twenty minutes later Harry reappeared with his mother. Linda looked up and smiled.
“Hello, Mrs Thompson, or may I call you Netta? We have met before, I’m Harry’s physiotherapist but my husband is DI Cooke.”
“Oh, yes. I was confused when I woke up but Harry’s explained what happened. Thank you for having us, Mrs Cooke.”
“Linda, please. I’ve made coffee, would you like a cup?”
“Yes, please.”
“We’ll have breakfast and then we must talk.”
After breakfast, during which time they made small talk, Linda said, “Now that you’ve eaten, I have something to tell you. I wanted to make sure you’d eaten, because you are going to be taken to the hospital. Last night, George was found. However, I’m afraid he’s very ill. He’s been shot.”
“Shot?” Netta’s face blanched. “How? Where?”
Linda related to them the happenings of the previous night. Netta stood up.
“I must go to him.”
Linda put her hand on Netta’s shoulder. “You are going to be escorted there, I cannot let you go on your own, my husband would kill me! I have to let them know you’re ready.”
Half an hour later, Linda saw them off in a car with PC Symonds and WPC Griffin.
She switched on the television, needing to have a short time of relaxation to unwind before she tackled the rest of her day. A picture of a burnt-out house and a fireman talking to the reporter burst onto the screen.
“We have found evidence that this fire was set deliberately. The two occupants wouldn’t have stood a chance against such a furious blaze, even if they survived the smoke inhalation. My investigators will be examining the building thoroughly.”
“Thank you, Fire Chief Evans. The police have sent a statement to us: ‘This fire is the latest in a series of worrying events following the disappearance of the family’s young daughter, Rowan Thompson yesterday morning. Late last night, Mr Thompson was found shot in a country lane and another woman, unrelated to the family has also gone missing. It is not known if the assassination of this family and the woman’s disappearance are connected. The police are doing everything possible to get to the bottom of this worrying series of events. This is Ben Warren for West Mercia News.”
Yet again, Linda’s heart went out to Harry and his parents. As if dealing with a kidnapped daughter and a seriously ill husband wasn’t enough, they had now lost everything. Thank the Lord that she and Dan had got them out in time.
**********
In a seemingly deserted building about an hour or so away from Hereford, someone else watched the news with satisfaction. Everything had gone beautifully, his men had done well. Now, it was time for the next step in his plans.
Chapter 32
“So, Mr Townsend, tell me about your wife. Everything you know about her. How long have you known her?”
“We met at Catering College in Hereford, oh, eleven years ago. We have been married ten years.”
“That’s quite a long time. So, you married soon after you met?”
“Well, about a year, after we’d finished the course – we were in the same year. We found jobs in different establishments in Hereford. As soon as I met her I knew I wanted to marry her. She wasn’t quite so sure, because of the age gap, she’s quite a bit older than me, you know. But I persuaded her.”
“What do you know of her life before then?”
“Well, she told me she had no relatives as far as she knew. She said she had lived in London and her mother died so she couldn’t afford to stay, so she moved away. She worked as a waitress to earn money so she could finally go to catering college.”
“She didn’t tell you where in London she lived? Or what her mother’s name was?”
“She once told me her mother’s name was Jane. She has a picture of her somewhere.”
“Father?”
“Apparently he hopped it when he found out Jane was pregnant. Her mother brought her up alone.”
“Hmm. Now, do you mind if we search amongst her things? It might give us some clues.”
Alex waved his hand. “Yes. Do whatever it takes. I have a really bad feeling about this. There has to be something in Steph’s life that she hasn’t told me. Why didn’t she? Surely she could trust me?”
“I have no answer for that, Mr Townsend, I’m afraid. Maybe she had something happen in her life that has made it difficult for her to trust. Has she been acting normally lately? Anything you noticed?”
“Well, there was that incident on Christmas day, although she said she was ill.”
“What happened?”
“We went to Sutton Court to sing Christmas Carols like we do every year. Suddenly, she turned white and said she needed to go home. Not like her, she’s almost rudely healthy.”
“And was she ill?”
“No, I don’t think so. But she wasn’t right. I can’t quite explain what I mean but I noticed she definitely wasn’t herself and she didn’t want to go out. She would curl herself up on the sofa and just – lie there. I’ve never known her do that. She often sat next to me and we’d cuddle, but she took to curling herself up in the foetal position and stay like that for ages.”
“Was she still doing that until last night?”
“No, it stopped a few nights later. She became herself again. I thought it was a bit odd but I was so glad to see her back to normal I didn’t comment. I just thought that perhaps she had been feeling a bit unwell then felt okay again.”
“I think that’s all for now. May we have a look around?”
“Yes of course, I’ll show you where to go.”
The three detectives worked swiftly and thoroughly but neatly. Julie Coombs was looking through a set of drawers in the bedroom. She’d found a wooden jewellery box, which she’d opened.
“Look at this, sir.”
She help up a piece of paper, the note George had sent to Stephanie in January. “Hmm, it says here that if she was willing to meet him in the evening, to go to the nursery in the morning and have a meet-up with Lucy.”
“Yes, I remember that. She suddenly said she was going to call Lucy and see if she could have a coffee with her and later she went and met Lucy. The next day, she was herself again.”
“That must have been when Kenny Baxter saw them in his lane. Obviously, he must have told her something that set her mind at rest and so she stopped worrying.”
“But why is the note signed ‘J’?” Alex asked.
“Maybe Stephanie knew George by another name,” said Dan, frowning. This case was getting more puzzling by the minute!
Alex clicked his fingers. “Yes! When we went to Sutton Court on Christmas Day, that must have been when she first saw him. It was shock she had – she was shocked to see him!”
“Then they met to talk a few nights later and she was happy again. Yes, that makes a lot of sense.”
“I think she got another note last night! She saw me coming and shoved something in her pocket. I also saw her make a phone call, although she didn’t notice me looking.”
“Hmm. I’m getting the idea that George was used as bait. This Luke fellow, whoever he is, is behind this, I’m sure. He must have some hold over George, perhaps the daughter. It’s obvious Stephanie trusted George, that’s why she was happy again after she met him. What
ever secret they share, they must have agreed to keep quiet so she knew she was okay. Because she trusted George, she would have agreed to slip out to meet him if she thought he had something important to tell her. Then, they shot George and snatched her.”
Alex paced the room. “But why? What has she kept secret from me? And why come after her now, after all these years?”
“I’m afraid we don’t have the answers to those questions as yet, Mr Townsend, but rest assured I will do everything in my power to find out.”
**********
“Sir, we’ve had a reply from Scotland Yard.”
Jennings was waiting for Dan as he and the others arrived at the police headquarters. He handed a handful of papers to Dan.
“The man is Lucian Avery. He is well-known to the police in London sir. He owns a private casino and is suspected to have fingers in all sorts, from protection to prostitution and drugs. But as yet they have not found any proof to put him away.”
“Hmm, so Harry’s observation was pretty accurate when he said the man reminded him of a mafia boss. Interesting. Julie, will you find us some food please, while I read these papers? Grant, contact Johnson and Tanner and see if they have anything. Get an investigation team out to that car fire, out on the Canon Pyon Road. And Jennings, see what you can find out about George Thompson and Stephanie Townsend.
“Right away, Sir.”
It took Dan a good half an hour to read all the information sent to him from London. DC Coombs came back with sandwiches and sausage rolls and Grant brought more coffee for them.
“This makes very interesting reading,” said Dan. “Lucian Avery inherited the casino from his father, who died suddenly of an aneurism. There is a sister living in America who never comes here. The father, George Avery, married a woman called Christine Malloy, nee Thompson, a widow, who had a three year old son, George James. Avery senior adopted the boy and everyone called him Jimmy so as not to confuse him with his step-father. Lucian Avery was seventeen when his father married Mrs Malloy.”
“Jimmy?” said JulieCoombs. “Could that be the ‘J’ on the note? Apologies for interrupting, Sir.”
“That’s okay. Yes, it looks like George Thompson is George James Malloy/Avery. He and Lucian are indeed step-brothers.”
“It says Avery had a mistress who had a daughter called Sarah. The mistress died in suspicious circumstances and Avery married the girl, who was only just sixteen.”
“Rather indecent,” remarked Grant. “Why on earth would she do that?”
“Well, from the sort of character he is, she may not have had a choice.”
Julie Collins shivered. “Horrible.”
“Yes. It also says that Sarah Avery committed suicide by driving her car, a gift from her husband, over the edge of a cliff.”
“Oh goodness, poor woman. She must have had a terrible life to do that.”
“Yes, but it also says her body was never found. The car was discovered smashed on rocks in the sea below the cliff but it was assumed her body had been thrown clear and washed away by the tide.”
“Jimmy Avery used to work for his brother. He wasn’t thought to be involved with any of the illegal stuff but worked in the casino and kept the books. He left his brother’s employ not long after the wife’s suicide and seemed to disappear too.”
“Until he turns up here after his son’s accident.” commented Grant. Dan nodded.
At that moment, Jennings came back. “I’ve looked into those two people you gave me and George Thompson is indeed Jimmy Avery. He changed his name to his mother’s maiden name and moved around the country. He met and married Annette Smith, who had a small son called Harry and eventually settled in Manchester. They have a thirteen year old daughter, Rowena. I think you know most of that anyway, Sir.”
“I did, thank you, at least, we guessed most of it, having read about Lucian Avery. I didn’t know Harry isn’t George’s natural son though. You can’t tell, you can see he loves the lad.”
“Yes, Sir. About Stephanie Townsend, maiden name Miller. I couldn’t find much about her. She seemed to just turn up fourteen years ago. I couldn’t find anyone of that name that would fit her and I couldn’t find any relatives. She lived for a short time in Bristol and then came to Hereford to the Catering College. She married Alexander Townsend ten years ago in Hereford registry office.”
“Hmm. Are you thinking what I’m thinking, Grant, Coombs?”
“Yes,” answered Grant. “Stephanie Townsend is Sarah Avery.”
Chapter 33
When Stephanie awoke from her drug-induced sleep, she opened her eyes and knew immediately that she’d been dropped into hell. In her sightline was an immaculate set of black clothes sitting on a chair close by. Her eyes travelled up to the face and felt another tremor of fear as she looked at the features she had not seen for fifteen years. Strangely, he didn’t look much different although obviously slightly older.
“Ah, my dear, you are awake. So nice of you to drop in to see me,” the smooth voice she had come to hate and hoped never to hear again, dripped into her brain like ice-cold needles. She said not a word; her throat had closed up, rendering her speechless.
“I hope you like your accommodation.” His hand waved towards her bed and around the room. “It was the best I could do at such short notice. He leaned towards her and her eyes opened wider in fear, her heart thumping painfully in her chest. His hand stroked her hair. She lay still, resisting the temptation to pull away.
“Your beautiful black tresses, I missed them so, they were wonderful to run my fingers through, like caressing silken threads.” His fingers fastened around her hair, holding her in a vice-like grip. Unable to stop it, she gasped as he twisted her head so she had to look straight into his eyes and his face came close to hers.
“Sally has been a naughty girl, hasn’t she, Stephanie?” He spat her new name. His grip forced her head to and fro. “Hasn’t she?” He moved her head around and around. “Hasn’t she? Speak to me! Say, ‘Yes Lucian’!”
In pain, she couldn’t help the tears. She managed “Y-yes, Lu-cian.”
He flung her down, letting go of her hair. She lay still, tears still trickling down her face onto the pillow. But she couldn’t close her eyes, dare not close her eyes, aware how helpless she was, still tied up. He got up and paced the room.
“I thought you were dead, Sal! All these years, I thought you were dead. I grieved for you.”
When he reached her bed again, he stopped to peer at her.
“Do you believe I grieved for you, do you?”
She made a movement that could have been a nod.
“I loved you, Sally.”
He resumed his walking. “Yes, I loved you, Sally. But you deceived me and you know what happens to people who deceive me, don’t you, Sally?
Her heart, that had started to calm down, started up harder. She did indeed know what happened to people who crossed Lucian.
“Hm, yes. You and Jimmy deceived me. He helped you, didn’t he?”.
He was beside her again. His hand shot out, the slap on her face ringing loud in the room. She gave an involuntary scream and couldn’t even hold her hand to her cheek because her hands were bound. She didn’t want to get Jimmy into trouble, so she did nothing, said nothing.
“No matter. He’s been dealt with. Quick and clean, he got off lightly. His family too, at least his wife and son.”
“No!” She gasped.
“Ah, she speaks at last! I thought that might do the trick! I met them, you know. Very nice wife and the son, Harry was it? Great boy. Shame really, especially as he’s done so much hard work to get over that accident of his. I wonder if he knows yet that his dad is dead? Oh silly me! Of course he will know, they are all together in heaven. Dear, dear, such a shame the house caught fire.”
“Fire? You killed that poor boy and his mother in a fire? How could you do that to innocent people? They had nothing to do with what Jimmy and I did!”
“They didn’t, did the
y? But my lad, he does so like fires! And why should I stop him having a bit of fun? But at least they are together again, if not here on earth. I’m quite kind really, when you think of it.
”“Hum, that’ll be the day. Kind is not a word anyone associates with you, Lucian.”
Lucian laughed delightedly.
“I see my Sally is coming back! That’s more like you, girl! I can see I’m going to have more fun with you. I always did enjoy our little spats.”
“Gentlemen, I’d like you to meet my wife, Sarah. Lovely, isn’t she?”
“Looks a bit of a mess really, Luke,” said one of them. Lucian laughed again.
“Yes Jake, you’re right. We haven’t been treating her right, have we? Let’s see what we can do about that. Go on then.”
Stephanie prayed that she would die quickly. However, all that happened was, the heavies cut her loose and helped her to sit up. A woman came in and set food on the table.
Lucian waved his hand at the food. “You need refreshment, my dear. Help yourself. There is a bathroom through there. The boys will escort you. You’ll find everything you need, then come back and eat. I’ll visit you again later and we’ll have a proper talk.”
Stephanie held back the sigh of relief at the sight of his back, then she felt a finger in her back, propelling her towards the door. She went willingly, knowing she needed the facilities of the bathroom.
After tidying herself up, she returned to her cell, watched over by Jake and his friend. Once inside, the door was shut and locked behind her. She decided she may as well eat, since there wasn’t much else she could do and who knew what she might have to face; she would need all the strength she could muster and it wouldn’t help if she was faint for lack of food. Stephanie was indeed becoming Sally again; she was under no illusions – she knew she would probably soon be fighting for her life.
**********
When Netta and Harry arrived and gowned up, they found George looking dreadful with all sorts of lines around him, monitoring everything and dripping blood into him. Netta’s hands rose to her mouth, Harry put his arm around her and she turned and rested her head on his forehead.
Fear Has Long Fingers Page 16
