“I’ve seen these little critters in the wild, the desert rat. Once had one, and of course called it Monty, until it produced a litter of pups, so probably had two somewhere!”
“Thought you were only back on Friday?” By now Joanne had forgotten about her lunch.
“Slight change of plan so thought I’d come and see my companion, Lilith, sooner and let you know I’ll still need her to remain here until Monday. I’ll pay for the full board period, of course. Wouldn’t have it any other way. Just need to get things ready at home.”
“I love the fact that she’s your companion and not your pet. Why Lilith, should I know?”
He dug into his pocket and withdrew a wallet. Inside the clear plastic side was a postcard of a painting. “A few years back I went to The Grand National, bloody evil horse race. I was staying in Southport as that’s easy travelling distance. It was busy and I could only get a B&B but I called at the museum and gallery, The Atkinson. Facing the entrance was this painting, it was huge – can’t remember who painted it, probably on the back. It was the constrictor that attracted me.”
Jo looked at the image of the beautiful naked girl, red flowing hair to her waist, her milky white skin entwined by the snake. She chuckled. “Most men wouldn’t see the snake. Didn’t think you were the horse racing type.”
“I like a flutter every now and again and Aintree is anyone’s race.” He put the postcard back in his pocket.
“I get many people in here who feel the same about cats and dogs but few who feel that way about other animals and especially reptiles. You give me a warm feeling. As I said when you left her, I wouldn’t be confident handling her now she’s the size she is. Four-foot constrictors are my limit and she’s getting to be a little too big. You can see she’s cared for.” She smiled and led him through to the back room and the largest glass tank. “I’ll leave you two together, my lunch will be getting cold. Just shout up when you’re leaving and I’ll see you Monday. I’d rather keep her a week than a fortnight as my gran used to say. She has a good appetite.”
He reached into the tank and allowed the snake to slowly wrap around his arm. “I’ve missed you, Lilith.”
***
The briefing room was full and the files had been distributed. The fuss made when Cyril entered had caused a delay but April quickly managed to restore calm and make a start.
“Firstly, we have results from Peterson’s car, DNA checks for all the deceased and also the Bostocks. We have others too but as yet they haven’t been linked. Of course, the Bostocks, if they are brothers, will probably only have a fifty percent match owing to genetic recombination.”
“Army records?” asked an officer who was leaning near the whiteboards.
“Biometrics are relatively new, DC Chatterjee. DNA samples only taken from 1992, so our lad missed it by miles. However, we do have bodily fluid samples that match and no prizes for guessing whether front or back seats, but when I say Bostock and Bostock and Bostock and Peterson, we get an interesting picture. According to Shakti’s interview, Mrs B never used the vehicle. The DNA is of a sibling and not that of Ted. And Chatterjee, if you’re unfamiliar with genetic recombination or familial DNA you need to refresh your knowledge.”
The young officer smiled nervously and acknowledged the advice.
“She admitted having sex with Peterson but not within the last five years and I don’t believe it was a regular thing, more spur of the moment. If I may suggest, lust. However, the samples taken were not that old according to the lab results.”
It was Cyril’s turn to speak. “So, what do we have and what do we still need? Open minds everyone. Let’s try to focus and get a direction. When we confront Mrs Bostock she only needs to know we have a sample from a Bostock, we’ll let her work herself out of that.”
“We have four white males, three now dead. One, Trevor Bostock is missing, his history is on file but his whereabouts unknown. A man who was seen at the farm and subsequently identified in footage taken at the Bedale hunt in 2016 but that has to be confirmed,” came the response from April without hesitation.
Chapter Eighteen
Karl had waited until the time Penny had suggested before calling. As usual, he knew Leonard would be in bed; she had given him his usual sleeping tablet. Having him up in the night had always been a worry, especially if she had experienced difficult and long days with him. People in the early years had suggested respite and carers but she was young and proud and only now did she realise that she might also have been foolish. She had agreed to the small fish tank and two fish as a gift for Leonard’s birthday, as Karl had assured her there was little he could do to harm them providing the freshwater aquarium was set up properly, they fed the fish correctly and followed simple rules.
“I’ll set the tank up now and I’ll pop round every month. We’ll change some of the water together and monitor his level of interest and care. If this works, we can think of getting a gerbil. Tomorrow morning, if you keep him out of this room, I’ll collect you both and take you to the pet shop. Jo, the owner, you’ll like her, Penny, will show us some of the animals there. We can then return to show him his presents. As I’ve suggested, there’s one I want him to see.”
Karl put the small tank on a metal stand. He had bought it second-hand along with the aquarium and Jo had sold him the fish; he had bought six Bettas, the easiest fish to own. He had also bought a ship wreck and a diver to put into the tank, as well as greenery. Adding the light made the difference, giving the tank and the room a lovely green glow. Bubbles from the filter added to the nautical impression.
“He’ll love that, Karl. Thank you so much. I’m looking forward to meeting Jo. It’s so good to get out and make new friends.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “You’ve been so kind to us both. You’ve given me a purpose again.”
“I hope you don’t mind my saying this, but remember you’re an attractive woman and you’ve worked wonders with that boy of yours. Many people would have thrown in the towel by now and placed him in a home of some kind.”
Penny found herself welling up and had to turn away. “If you hadn’t been so kind,” she whispered as she wiped her eyes, “there would only be the two of us for his birthday. I’ve made a cake and promised candles. Maybe later we could all walk to yours and let your friends make a fuss of him and he can see your animal friends.”
Karl put his hand on hers. “It will be a pleasure. I’ll see you at eight tomorrow.”
***
Quinn and Shakti pulled into the farmyard and as if on cue the barking started, however, on this occasion there was only one dog.
“Unusual, usually two or none.”
Mrs Bostock came from the farmhouse. She was wiping her wet hands on her apron as the few chickens ran towards her, thinking there might be food. They were quickly disappointed and slowly went back to their scratching. “What now? Found the man who called?” Her voice carried across the yard. It was obvious her husband was out.
“Just need a private word. We can do it at the station or in the car or …” Quinn pointed to the house.
“More questions! I’ll put the kettle on. Ted won’t be home until one. Out at the Farmers’ Market."
Once inside, Quinn sat down, stirred his tea and left the questioning to Shakti.
Mrs Bostock fussed getting biscuits and removing her apron but they both let her settle. They needed her to be calm but they required answers.
“During our conversation you mentioned that you and Peterson, well how shall we say with DC Quinn here present, were good friends?”
“I’ve told you and even though he looks but a lad, if he’s a copper, he’s seen it and been there. We had sex.” There was a pause. “You said in confidence!”
“You said it, Mrs Bostock. How did Peterson come to get a job here in the first place?”
“That’s some years back, as you very well know. He came recommended by Trevor, Ted’s brother. Brought a letter, a kind of testimonial. Ted put him on a mon
th’s trial and after that rented him the cottage and gave him full-time employment.”
“Was there any trouble workwise?”
“We’ve always maintained he was hard-working. He’d do anything. Ted was right, he was frightened of nothing, including hard work. With Trevor not on the farm he was a godsend. At that time, we were trying for kids and if they’d come along, we’d have needed more help. As it was, we were okay.”
“So how are you managing now?” Quinn asked.
“We’ve cut back on the land we farm. Rent out acreage and that helps. We’ll sort out Peterson’s and rent that when it’s appropriate to do so. We’ll get by, always have and hopefully always will.”
“This question might seem strange as we’ve already had this conversation. The Forensics on Peterson’s car indicate your bodily fluid was found on the rear seat. My notes suggest …”
“I know what I told you. Once or twice we’d go for a drive and end up … you know. Bloody silly, two middle-aged folk romping in the back seat. Made us both laugh; cheered us up.”
“Your husband never suspected?”
“No, we were careful. Mind on one occasion someone banged on the roof and shouted something, but we thought it was kids.”
“What’s strange, Mrs Bostock, is that there’s also a sample of body fluid of someone, let’s say with the name Bostock. We are talking semen DNA.”
She wrapped her hands more tightly round her mug and her expression quickly changed.
“Ted? In the car? Who with?”
“So not with you?”
“Don’t be bloody silly. Christmas! He could hardly manage me in bed let alone some floozy in the back of a bloody car.” She picked up the mug and drank but then realised what she had said and blushed.
Quinn and Shakti let the silence linger longer than usual. “So, if it couldn’t have been Ted and it’s a match to the Bostock family, what about Trevor, Mrs Bostock?”
Her face flushed a deeper red.
***
Cyril sat at his desk. There was a large board spread out before him, containing images of all the items linked to the case. The carpet thread and the captive bolt gun, the .22 rifle, the photographs, the butcher’s glove and knife. Strangely enough he added a photograph of the car. He circled each item before drawing lines linking each if there was a connection, then listed all the names. It was methodical. He realised that his team had been staring at the evidence for a couple of weeks and he now had the opportunity to consider it with fresh eyes; he was aware of that advantage. Reading the notes taken from the interviews he added his own single word annotations, aides-memoire. Finch, Holgate the paramedic, John Gornall the original finder of Peterson’s car, Tony Calderbank the community bobby and the farmer Gill Cunningham, Ted and Belinda Bostock. He incorporated details from the history of those murdered, again, just single words. He steepled his fingers briefly and drew on his electronic cigarette. A curl of minty vapour hung momentarily before disappearing. He added Trevor and underlined the word twice before writing Survivor! Methuselah or Murderer?
***
Belinda Bostock hung her head then nodded. “Forgive me but I feel so ashamed. With Ted not being … you know and finding I didn’t have a problem I just thought if I could get pregnant it would solve everything and the farm would be handed down another generation. I knew he had a reputation with women in town, he’d have anything in a skirt, but he was kind.”
“Did you tell him the reason?”
She shook her head. “Why would I do that?”
“Why the car? Surely there are more comfortable places.”
“If anyone saw the car it would immediately be linked to Peterson but we did it before that too, before Peterson arrived here, just before Trevor left. I’m a weak woman, surely you believe that. He was kind, called me Lilith and I thought it beautiful. He never forgot that, always called me by that name.”
Quinn jotted down the word thinking he probably called all his girls by that sobriquet. Romantic for a farm boy! Changing the direction of the interview felt right now they had achieved what they had come for. “One last thing, Mrs Bostock. We cannot get the name of the man you identified in the photographs. We’re still looking. Can you think of anything else? Did he give you anything, did he touch any …” He did not finish, she was already shaking her head. “When Trevor came back, did he know the car keys were left in the barn?”
“I might have told him but I couldn’t hold my hand on a Bible and swear to it.”
“So, for your liaisons, who drove?”
“I did.”
In more ways than one, thought Shakti.
***
Cyril was holding the small bronze statue, Liberty, when Quinn and April approached. As he waved them in April went to the easel in front of his desk. They immediately recognised the key names and words alongside the images written on the large board.
“Bit of a conundrum, sir.”
“Mr and Mrs Bostock. What did they have to say?” He placed the bronze carefully back on the desk and swivelled his chair to face them.
It was Quinn who spoke first. “Mrs only. Her husband was at the Farmers’ Market but that’s what we hoped. The chat was rather personal and delicate as it was covering her infidelity with Peterson and now, we discover, with Trevor Bostock too. She had the most original reason for that.” He explained and April pulled up a chair. It was the word Lilith that caught her attention and she raised a finger before going to the computer.
She added her password and typed in Chronicles of Jerahmeel Section 23 and she read out loud. “Adam slept alone and the first Eve – that is, Lilith – found him and, being charmed with his beauty, went to lay by his side and these were begotten from her: ghosts, male demons and female demons in thousands and myriads, and whomever they lighted upon they injured and killed outright, until Methuselah appeared and besought the mercy of God.” She looked at her colleagues. “I remember reading about this many years ago. However, what’s rather strange is what you’ve written here on the board.” She pointed to the words Methuselah or Murderer next to Trevor’s name.
Cyril felt a cold shiver run from his neck and down his spine. “That came to me this morning purely because it means long-lived and had nothing to do with ...” He looked at April. Her firm Christian faith and dedication to teaching at Sunday school, linked with her all-encompassing knowledge of religion, had proved invaluable in the past and today was no exception.
“Something else I remember. Lilith was the demon of the dark and winds and as well as being a seductress and killer of men, she was considered the killer of new born children by depriving them of oxygen, of blowing away their breath.” She moved away from the computer and added the name Lilith to the board.
There was silence.
It was Quinn who spoke first. “Does that mean Trevor Bostock is a hero and not a villain?”
“It means neither, it means we keep an open mind and build on what we know and not on what we think we know,” Cyril replied.
Chapter Nineteen
Karl’s alarm was set for six but he had been awake since the early light had penetrated the curtains. There would be no traffic noise for another hour or so. He was concerned, and, in some ways, he felt a strange sense of guilt. He wondered whether taking Leonard to his home to see his pets was the right thing to do but then a contradictory thought moved in and in his mind’s eye he saw Penny; vulnerable and trapped by her loyalty to her son. He wondered what life would have been like if he had been born without his disability, if he had received all the oxygen he had needed.
He swung his legs out of the bed and stretched. Whatever he had started he needed to finish, for the sake of his pride and for Penny. Sometimes he wondered why life was so complicated. He had been overwhelmed by life’s complications in the past, which was one reason he had needed the fresh start in a different place with new faces; now he was getting even further out of his depth.
Fortunately, the day was warm and the mild b
reeze uplifting. The early morning stroll to St Mary’s Walk was pleasant. Leonard was waiting at the door and waved as Karl approached. The excitement in his eyes was palpable. His coat was on, which was a surprise considering the weather, and he wore his hat; a type of comfort blanket to hide his face from elements of the world with which he could not cope. Karl had always seen him arrive in a hat and coat so he should not have been at all surprised.
“Happy birthday, Leonard. How excited we all are to be going to see some special friends on this your special day.”
Penny was just behind him, moving him onto the path. “I need to lock the door, love. Go and stand with Karl.” She turned and pulled the kind of face that implied, thank goodness you’ve arrived!
They put Leonard in the middle. It seemed incongruous, his being the tallest of the three, but it was safe as Penny knew they would meet children on the way. They held a hand each and Karl made small talk about their route. It would take them fifteen minutes to arrive at Jo’s.
Jo had been up since the shipping forecast. The routine was always the same but she never tired of it. She chatted away to the various creatures in her care. She had boxed and wrapped a small gift for her guest and placed it on the counter. She knew a great deal about him and had to admit to feeling a little nervous about how he would cope with so many creatures in such a small space. Her concern was really for them. Karl had given her every assurance he would be able to control his behaviour and they would play it by ear. The slightest sign of distress on either side would determine the next move.
***
Owen received the call as he was starting the car. He turned off the engine and listened. The Border Force had intercepted a white chiller van in Hull as it waited to cross to Zeebrugge. Three men, two Romanians and a Bulgarian were found to be holding the carcasses of thirty-two sheep without export or import papers. There was every chance that some of those had come from Ramsgill. He made a call.
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