‘I thought she was a bit spaced out some days,’ Julia remarked. ‘Good grief. Is there anything you don’t know?’
‘I don’t think there’s much I can add to all of that,’ the police officer said. ‘But you didn’t hear any of it from me. I’ve only called you here to see if you can identify any of these goods.’
Ryan and Julia looked along the line of things, stopping to pick up one or two items they recognised.
‘The trouble is,’ she said, ‘they all look alike. Ours could be any one of the DVD players. No sign of my laptop. I’d like to have got that back.’
‘Wasn’t that CD player ours? I remember that scratch along the side.’ Ryan fingered the mark, remembering his father had yelled at him for making it in the first place.
‘Oh yes. You’re right. And one of those televisions could be ours but I don’t know which one. It’s pretty hopeless, isn’t it? One thing I would have liked to find was some of my mother’s things. She had some bits of costume jewellery she kept down here. Nothing worth money but things she used to say were summer seaside things.’
‘Can’t help there, I’m afraid. Nothing like that here. I expect the girls shared things like that if they didn’t get decent money for them. Well now, I can let you take the items you can positively identify and if nobody else recognises some of the other items, you can take another look.’
‘Thank you. What happens now about the charges, I mean?’
‘Wayne and Daryl have been retained in custody. The others will go on trial when the C.P.S. is ready.
‘What’s that?’ Rich asked.
‘Crown Prosecution Service. They weigh up the evidence and work out whether a case can be brought.’
‘You said you had more information about the fire?’ Julia said.
‘A can of diesel fuel was found at Wayne’s house. A similar type to that used to start the fire at the cottage. It’s hard evidence and links him directly to that particular crime. He also used it to burn his trainers. The soles were destroyed but they were quite distinctive apart from that. The charges might also include attempted murder for the fire but he has a whole range of other charges to face. Right, well, we’ll be in touch. You’ll get a letter asking you to attend court. Do we have your current address on record?’
‘We’re renting a caravan. Will that count?’
He nodded and took down details, asking to be updated should they move. They went back to the pub in Trengillyn and their belated meal.
‘Do you think they’ll charge Dad?’ Ryan asked. ‘Or Bryce?’
‘I don’t know. Aren’t they accessories or something? No doubt they’ll have some tame lawyer who’ll find a way of getting them off any charges.’ Julia was as cynical as ever about her father.
‘Be embarrassing if we were actually called to give evidence at the same time, if he is charged.’
‘What do you two intend to do with your lives now?’ Rick asked. ‘I gather neither of you has an income or a job. I’ve got to go to Plymouth in a few weeks to start my new job and anyway, I need to look for somewhere to live. I’m hoping you’ll come with me Julia? And Ryan too, if you want to live with us.’
‘Thanks Rick,’ Ryan said gratefully. ‘I’d be happiest if I could stay with you for a while at least. I don’t want to be in the way, of course. I mean … well, I gather you two are now an item?’
‘Are we?’ he asked.
‘Oh yes, I think so. You did propose in a mad moment and I said yes. You’re a bonzer bloke for an Aussie surfer,’ she laughed.
‘Thought I’d better check in case it was just your emotions saying “yes”.’
‘Here’s to us and our future,’ Julia raised her glass.
‘A future without Dad telling us what to do all the time.’
‘And a future without any easy money. You know, in a strange way, I sort of look forward to it. Cheers.’
They spent the rest of the evening making plans. Ryan and Julia revelled in the fact that their plans were their own, without taking account of anyone else.
‘You know, for the first time in my life, I can face the future without the threat of criticism hanging over me.’ Ryan was already looking more relaxed. ‘If I really am gay, I can get on with meeting like-minded people without someone telling me I’m a wimp or worse.’
‘That’s great. Really great. And if you’re not, what does it matter?’
‘I was thinking, and you can say no if you don’t like the idea,’ Rick said, ‘but I have to find somewhere to live. How would it be if we all chipped in to buy one large place? It might even be a bit of a wreck that we can fix up. I’ll have to get a mortgage but you guys should have some money from the cottage.’
‘I’d love that,’ Ryan said. ‘I can do a lot of the work. Once it’s how we want it, I was thinking of starting some sort of computer design work to combine with my interest in art.’
‘I shall be working of course but I can do my bit at weekends.’
‘I want to do what I can to contest these dreadful plans that want to turn Cornwall into something it isn’t. But I’ll obviously have to earn money eventually, as well. I’ll think of something.’
‘There are so many plans to be made. Let’s make this the start of our own new year. This one has been pretty dreadful so far.’
Ryan still looked a little fragile and was going to need extra support for some time.
‘Actually, this could be the start of the best year of my life so far,’ Rick announced. ‘I’ve finally got the girl of my dreams in my sights. I’ve at last got a proper grown up job and we’re all buying a house together. How’s all that for starters?’
‘You’re right. Sounds good to me,’ Julia smiled. ‘The guilty will be dealt with. Dad can get on with whatever life he thinks is the right one for him and as for the rest of them, they’ll have me to contend with. If Dad gets caught up in the mess, it’s too bad. Cheers, everyone.’
‘One thing left to decide,’ Rick suggested. ‘Do we get married on a Cornish beach or an Aussie one?’
‘Cornish,’ Ryan and Julia said together.
They may have found me guilty and they may have threatened me with a long prison sentence but they mustn’t think they’ve got away with it.
One day, I’ll go back and show them who is really the one they have to fight with .
As for Lucy, well she’ll just have to learn to cope without the little helpers I was feeding her. Serves her right after dobbing me in. Where’s her loyalty? I’d probably have sent for her in Spain … eventually.
As for those bastards that employed me, I’ll just have to get back at them somehow. Three of them … Gerard Renton, Jeremy Williamson, and Bryce Davies, they’ll get what’s coming to them.
They might have got away without a jail sentence this time. You don’t do this to me. None of this was my fault. Stupid, stupid people who get in my way.
Some advantages of this prison. Dinner time again. Not bad food either. Regular and some good mates to be found.
One of them is being released soon. I’ll make sure he knows exactly wher
e he needs to go for me.
Watch out, you lot. You’re not safe …
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Published by Accent Press Ltd 2014
ISBN 9781783753901
Copyright © Chrissie Loveday 2014
The right of Chrissie Loveday to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
The story contained within this book is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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