by M A Comley
“It’s a difficult one, granted. But looking at things from her perspective, I’d want to know as soon as there was any kind of news, wouldn’t you?”
Jack hitched up his shoulders and dropped them again. “I guess so. Maybe you should ring your old man first, see how things are progressing there before we jump in with both feet.”
Sally widened her eyes. “My old man? Are you referring to my delectable fiancé, by any chance?”
Jack seemed suitably embarrassed by her question. “Sorry, slip of the tongue.”
“I’ll let you off this time. What about May Childs, Joanna? Anything show up there? I know the lady is sadly now dead, but does she have any living relatives we can possibly call and see?”
“I’m still checking on that side of things, boss. I should have something for you later on today. All my focus so far has been on tracing the Ryland family.”
“No problem. I expect too much of you at times. What about the Ryland family? What else do we know about them?”
“It would appear that Jeff was one of four boys. Warren, Shaun and Thomas are still alive today, and all live relatively close to their mother.”
“Is there a father on the scene?”
“Yes, sorry for omitting to tell you that. William Ryland is in his seventies, still married to Janet and living at the same address. I’ve written it down for you.” Joanna passed Sally a slip of paper with the couple’s Suffolk address written on it.
“Excellent news. I’ll just ring ‘my old man’ and see if he can add anything before we set off.”
Jack cringed before he grinned at her. “Sounds like a good idea.”
Sally walked back into her office, and it was then that she noticed her mobile was still on silent from when she’d entered the prison. Punching in her password, she found a dozen missed messages. She listened to them one by one. They were all from Simon. With each message, his tone became more and more anxious. “Shit. Why didn’t I check sooner?” She dialled his number using the landline. “Hey, it’s me. ”
“Oh my, thank God! Where are you?”
“Sorry. I’m back at the station. I’ve only just realised my phone was on silent and I missed all your messages. Simon, there was no need for you to be quite so worried.”
“I’m sorry. It shows I care if nothing else. How did your visit go?”
“I’ll put it this way…it was an experience. I’ll tell you all about it later, if that’s all right?”
“Okay. I suppose the main thing is that you’re out of there and back in familiar territory.”
“I am. The reason I’m calling, apart from to put your mind at ease, is to see if you’re any further forward to identifying the victim?”
“Your girl—Joanna, is it? She sent me over the boy’s photo. I’ve asked the anthropology pathologist to get started on the skull. He’s doing it as a favour to me, and he should have something for me in a few days. My expert opinion in the meantime remains the same. We’re dealing with a victim between the ages of eleven and thirteen. Therefore, in all probability, it could be Jeff Ryland. There again, it might not.”
“Okay. We’ve managed to track down his parents, and Jack and I are going over there now.”
“Crikey, you can’t tell them just yet, Sal.”
“Grant me with more sense than that, Simon. They have a right to know that a body has been found in the house next door to where they lived.”
“I suppose you’re right. Sorry for doubting your way of thinking.”
“It’s fine. We had the same doubts ourselves as a team. I need to visit them before the reporters get wind of what’s going on and start camping on their doorstep, making a nuisance of themselves.”
“I’m with you and wholeheartedly agree with the choice you have made.”
She laughed. “Thanks for reinforcing that I’m right about this. Look, I have to go, and, Simon…”
“Yes, Sally?”
“Don’t worry about me ever doing my day-to-day job, not around here. Nothing truly bad happens in Norfolk compared to the rest of the country.”
“Really? I’ll bear that in mind in the future when I’m cutting up the victims who come through here. Jeff Ryland being a prime example. ”
“Ouch! Smart-arse. Maybe I should have said that a little clearer. What I meant to say is that the police in this area have it easier than, say, someone working in London, such as my mate, Lorne. That reminds me, I must touch base with her soon.”
“Maybe you could invite her and Tony to the wedding.”
“Hey, she’s going to be at the top of my list anyway. No fears about that.”
“Good. I like them both.”
Sally chuckled. “Glad you approve of my friends. It always helps to keep a relationship on the right track.”
“I better go before I put my foot in it any more. Glad you’re safe. I’ll cook us a nice meal tonight.”
“What? To celebrate me being safe?”
Simon tutted and hung up.
When Sally walked back into the incident room, DCI Green was scrutinising what was written on the whiteboard. Sally looked over at Jack and rolled her eyes. Forcing a smile on her face, she approached her senior officer and asked, “Hello, sir, to what do we owe the pleasure?”
“Hello, Inspector. I dropped by your office and heard you were in conversation with someone so decided to wait out here for you until you’d finished. Is this the new case?”
“One of them. We’ve decided to work one of the old cold cases sitting in my office at the same time.”
He turned to face her and raised an eyebrow. “Won’t that be stretching your team a little?”
“They’re a skilled bunch, sir. We can always defer the investigation on one case if things get a little hectic on the other. You know me—I’m not one to let the grass grow under my feet.”
“Indeed. If that’s how you want to pursue things, who am I to question you at this stage?”
“Thank you, sir. The team are capable of going over two cases at the same time. We’ve done it in the past with great success.”
“At the end of the day, Inspector, you’re all judged on your successes—and your failures, too, I might add. We all are.”
“I’m fully aware of that, sir, and always have that at the back of my mind during every investigation,” Sally said, feeling a tad guilty for the white lie she had just told him.
DCI Green grunted and walked towards the door. “Keep me updated on both cases as you progress, Inspector. Carry on, team. ”
Sally waited until he had left the room before she saluted him and shook her head. The team were wise enough to remain quiet.
“Are you ready, Jack? We should make a move. We’ll grab some lunch on the way.”
“Aww… I was hoping we could grab some fish and chips along the seafront once we got there. I know a nice place in that area. Donna and I used to frequent the beach often in our younger days.”
“I’ll stick with a sandwich, thanks. I wouldn’t be able to move this afternoon if I scoffed fish and chips at lunchtime.”
“Spoilsport,” he mumbled, collecting his jacket from the back of his chair.
“Everyone know what they’re doing? Any questions before we go?”
The room fell silent and the three remaining team members got on with their work. Not for the first time, Sally appreciated what a fabulous team she had around her. Everyone was always on the same page and eager to find a solution together. She couldn’t remember the last time any of them had fallen out, if ever. She was proud to have them all serving under her, even Jack, who had a slight rebellious streak running through him, which usually reared its head when they were in the car alone. He was a typical ex-serviceman now and again when the orders were flying around. Nine times out of ten, he was a great partner she would hate to lose.
They stopped off at the baker’s in the next town, and Sally ate her sandwich while she drove on the open road while Jack ate his in relative comfort. Around an h
our and a quarter later, Sally drew the car to a halt outside a small terraced house on a clean, quiet estate.
She took a deep breath before exiting the car. “Let’s do this. Leave the talking to me.”
“Don’t I always?” Jack replied, standing behind her at the front door to the house.
Sally tutted and rang the doorbell.
Within minutes, a woman wearing an apron opened the door. Frowning, she asked, “Hello, can I help?”
Sally extracted her warrant card and flipped it open for the woman to see. “Hello, Mrs. Ryland. I’m DI Sally Parker, and this is my partner, DS Jack Blackman.”
Her hand shook as she placed it against her cheek. “No! You’re not here to tell me…after all these years… Is he alive?”
Chapter 6
Before Sally had a chance to answer, the woman’s legs gave way beneath her and she passed out. Both she and Jack rushed at her, but neither of them was quick enough to prevent her from hitting her head against the wall during the fall. Blood trickled from the graze almost immediately.
“Damn. Help me get her inside, Jack. Hello, is there anybody at home?” Sally called out.
There was no response.
Together, they managed to lift the slim woman and took her into the first room they came to, which happened to be the lounge. Jack placed her on the sofa while Sally ran into the kitchen and searched the cupboards for a glass.
“What the hell is going on here? Who are you? And what are you doing in my bloody house?”
Sally almost dropped the glass she was holding, startled by the sound of the man’s voice behind her. She withdrew her warrant card from her pocket again. “I’m sorry. I’m a police officer, sir. Are you Mr. Ryland?”
“Yes. Police officer? Who? What are you doing?”
“DI Sally Parker of the Norfolk Constabulary, sir. I’m sorry for the intrusion. Your wife has passed out. I was fetching her a glass of water.”
“Janet? Where is she? Is she all right?”
“My partner is sitting with her. She’s in the lounge.”
“What did you say to her to make her pass out? Have you found him?”
“Sorry, I only introduced myself. Not sure I did anything wrong other than that.”
He ran a hand through his light-grey hair and leaned against the worktop. “It’s been a living hell all these years, not knowing whether Jeff was dead or alive. I know we have three other sons, and caring for them was tough at times, but we dug deep and got through it. Of course, all this has been worse for Janet to take. It’s always worse on the mothers, right?”
“Sometimes it is, sir. Although every member of the family suffers at the same time. Some cope better than others.”
“My wife has never worked. She always said it was her job to be at home, looking after the boys, caring for their needs. That’s why it hit her like a speeding train. Knocked the stuffing out of her for years. It was almost a decade before she was anywhere near like her old self. She’s always been convinced that she failed Jeff. I’ve told her countless times over the years not to think that way, but it’s impossible for her not to. Back then, like it is today, I suppose, it was hard keeping an eye on your kids twenty-four-seven.” He shook his head then uttered, “You didn’t answer my question. Have you found him?”
A lump formed in Sally’s throat when hope rose in the man’s eyes. “Why don’t we see how your wife is first before I explain?”
“I have a confession to make,” he whispered.
Sally’s ears immediately pricked up. “Go on, sir,” she said, her pulse racing.
“I have the onset of dementia. I’m not sure I’m going to be much support to my wife if I get too upset in there. Is it possible for one of my sons to be here?”
Sally smiled at the man, her sympathy for his condition mixed with the relief that he wasn’t about to confess to his son’s murder. “Of course. Do you want me to call him?”
“No. I can just about manage that, Inspector. I’m sorry if it’s an inconvenience.”
“It’s not. Please don’t think that way. I’ll leave you to it and take this in to your wife.” She held up the glass of water and left the room. From the hallway, she heard him talking on the phone.
Jack was leaning against the wooden mantelpiece in the lounge. “Everything all right? Only you’ve been a while.”
Sally pushed the door to behind her. “He was trying to get me to tell him what I know, then he dealt a hammer blow.”
Jack’s eyes widened, then he lowered his voice and asked, “He hasn’t admitted to doing it, has he?”
“That was my first thought, too. He explained that he has dementia, and he wanted to make me aware because he’s not sure if he’s going to be all right to care for his wife well enough during our visit. He’s calling one of his sons now to come over and be with them.”
“Phew, that’s a relief. Oops…that sounded insensitive to his condition. I’m glad he didn’t confess to anything, for her sake,” Jack said, motioning towards Mrs. Ryland.
“My sentiments exactly.”
The lounge door squeaked a little as it opened. William Ryland entered the room, his gaze immediately drawn to his unconscious wife lying on the sofa.
“Everything all right, Mr. Ryland?”
“Yes, Thomas will be here in a few minutes. He works down the high street.”
“That’s great news. What does Thomas do for a living, sir?”
“He’s a bank manager. It’s only a small branch, but he has a lot of responsibility, all the same. Sometimes he has to deal with more than a manager does running one of the huge branches in the main cities.”
“I can imagine. Is Thomas your eldest son?” Sally asked the question more to see if the man’s memory was up to remembering the more important things in life. Though aware there were different stages to the disease, she was unsure how dementia affected people. Fortunately, she had never had to deal with it first-hand.
“Yes, he’s the oldest. Don’t expect me to remember what age he is, though, and that has nothing to do with my illness. I’ve always had trouble remembering the ages right from when they were born. Jeff was the youngest, the baby of the family, which is why it probably hit my wife so hard.” He crossed the room and smoothed his hand over her head. “Come on, love, wake up. This isn’t like you. I need you to be by my side, you know that.” He turned to face Sally and Jack. “I’m lost without her. She’s such an understanding, sweet soul. We’ve been through hell since the lad went missing.”
“I can imagine. I’m sure she’ll come round in a moment or two, sir. What about your other sons? Are they local, too?”
“Yes, we’re all relatively close still. After all that’s happened, I think it brought us closer together.”
“And what do they do for a living?”
“Shaun, the middle lad, he’s an accountant, and Warren is a mechanic. He wasn’t very academic at school. He used to be, right up until the time Jeff went missing. His disappearance hit the lad hard. I’d say he’s not recovered even today. Whereas Shaun and Thomas have got on with their lives. They’re both married and have children of their own now. Of course, they watch those kids like a hawk. Refusing to let them out of their sight after what happened with their brother.”
Sally smiled. “I think I’d feel the same way if I were in their shoes.”
“Dad! Where are you?” a voice sounded from the kitchen.
“In here, Thomas. In the lounge, son.”
A tall, slim man in his fifties who was a younger version of his father appeared in the doorway. His gaze drifted around the room and finally ended up on his mother. He rushed over to the sofa and knelt on the floor beside his father. “What happened?”
“She passed out, son. She’ll come round in a moment or two.”
“Why did she pass out?” he asked, his tone accusatory when he turned to face Sally and Jack.
“Hi, I’m DI Sally Parker, and this is my partner, DS Jack Blackman. I promise you we d
idn’t get any further than introducing ourselves before your mother passed out.”
“I see. She’s had an awful lot of heartache to contend with over the years.”
“I can imagine.”
His mother groaned a little as she started to come around.
“Oh, thank heavens. Welcome back, darling. How are you feeling?” her husband asked, offering his wife the glass of water.
She tried to accept the glass, but her coordination was off, and she missed it. Thomas helped to lift her head and took the glass from his father.
After sipping the water, Mrs. Ryland said, “Oh my, I’m not sure what came over me. My head hurts.”
“Hello, Mrs. Ryland. Do you remember us arriving?” Sally walked towards the woman, keeping a little distance behind her son, not wishing to overcrowd anyone.
The woman frowned deeply. “Yes, it’s all coming back now. Help me to sit up, will you, Thomas?”
Her son placed the glass on the nearby table and helped his mother to sit up. Her feet slipped to the floor, and she stretched her neck. “Why are you here? Does this have anything to do with my son, Jeff?”
“If I can give you a little background information on who we are, it might help. We’ve recently set up a cold case team in Norfolk. ”
“So you’re going over old ground? Is that it?” Thomas asked, rising to his feet once he’d settled his mother into position.
“Not really. The case came to my attention, and I know how dreadful it is for families to suffer when there are so many loose ends. I just wanted to reach out to you if only to inform you that you’re on our radar, and if something should present itself, then we will be only too happy to reinvestigate your son’s case.” She could feel Jack’s gaze on the back of her head. She was aware she was speaking gobbledegook. She just hoped the family didn’t pick up on that.
“None of this makes any sense,” Thomas said.
“I’m sorry. It is what it is. Would you mind telling me if your son has made contact with you over the years in any way? Perhaps you’ve received a phone call where someone was on the other end and didn’t speak?”
