by Jay Gill
The upstairs landing had four doors. She shone the torch left and right and over her head. Every door was open, and she peered inside each one. Nothing of note.
Overhead in the hallway was a loft hatch. She went back downstairs to get one of the dining chairs. She placed the chair just below the hatch, stood on it and pulled down the ladder. Torch in hand she climbed the ladder and shone its light around the empty loft.
After about an hour of fruitless looking, Emma sat at the table in the dining room with Lyle’s note in her hand.
GU851PH52, or 25HP158UG.
What if Vince was wrong? Perhaps it wasn’t an address. Did it mean something else? Why was she allowing herself to be led by Lyle? Was Lyle getting her to chase her tail, just for the fun of it?
No.
There had to be something here that she’d missed. It was too much of a coincidence that this property was empty, and the owner was paying the rent without looking for a new tenant. Cotton had no doubt that if she looked hard enough, she would find that Lyle, or one of Lyle’s companies, owned the property she was sitting in. Why had Lyle sent her here?
Emma got up and moved slowly around the house. She stood in the kitchen doorway and shone light on a mouse making its way along the worktop before disappearing down behind the sink. She needed to check on top, behind, and beneath every cupboard, drawer and door. There was something here Lyle wanted her to find.
An unexpected breakthrough came on her second search of the upstairs. Emma noticed that two of the bedrooms had very small walk-in wardrobes. Just big enough to stand in.
For some reason, the one in the master bedroom had a lower ceiling, which also appeared to be separated into two parts. Emma pushed on it and could feel some movement on one side. Pressing at the edge, she heard a latch click then felt it release. One half of the ceiling opened. She lowered the panel, revealing a hidden space that she guessed was some sort of security space. Perhaps the previous owners had put their valuables and important documents in there in case of burglary.
Shining the torch up into the space, Emma could see something inside. Adrenaline pumping, she dragged out the items – papers and a handbag. After running her hand around the hidden area to check there was nothing more, she took the items downstairs and put them on the dining table.
She spread out the papers and could see they were cuttings of newspaper articles. This is it, she thought, her heart pounding. Lyle had wanted her to find this. The articles were reports of the murder of Hardy’s wife, Helena.
Apprehensively, she turned her attention to the handbag. She realised that it had likely belonged to Helena.
Deep breath.
Emma opened the handbag and started taking out its contents, placing them one by one on the table. A small hairbrush, a couple of pens, a mobile phone, children’s hairbands, plasters, tissues, a shopping list and a coin purse.
She unzipped the coin purse, and the first thing she saw was a photograph of Hardy and his family. It was unmistakable. They all looked so young and happy. Helena had been beautiful.
She couldn’t tell where the photo had been taken, but it looked like a family farm park. In the background were small goats looking through a fence. Alice and Faith were holding ice creams. Emma suddenly felt like she was intruding on memories that belonged to Hardy. She wanted to feel jubilant, but she felt only sadness.
She looked at the newspaper articles again. Circled in black pen was the name Tony Horn. Horn was the man who’d killed Helena and was serving a life sentence. Kelly Lyle was leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for Emma to follow, and despite wanting to resist, Emma knew she had no choice but to follow them. For the time being at least.
Her inspection of the property complete, she closed and locked the front door behind her. She drove round to Majestic Lettings and did as she said she would, pushing the keys back through the letterbox door. Mr Bobby Singh was very likely upstairs getting his children ready for school.
The air felt fresh and cold on her lungs. It was nearly 7 a.m., and the roads were filling up. It had been raining, and the streets glistened in the morning light.
Emma needed to find a hotel to crash out and steal a few hours’ sleep. Things were moving fast, and later that day she had two appointments booked, one of which was with Detective Rayner. Rayner was the nearest thing Hardy had had to a partner during his time at New Scotland Yard. Emma knew they were close, like brothers. If anyone could tell her more about what had happened to Helena, then it was him. She’d found it impossible to ask Hardy, so if she wanted answers, his best friend Rayner was the one to ask.
Chapter Forty-Three
Sienna poured Lyle and herself a glass of Chardonnay then joined her on the balcony. She handed Lyle her glass and they stood together and took in the view.
“This really is a beautiful spot,” said Lyle. “Perhaps, in another life, you and I could stay here forever.” She put her arm around Sienna and moved close.
The rich red evening sun was low in the sky, and most people had left the beach. Dog walkers and those wishing to enjoy an evening stroll peppered the water’s edge. Only a few families remained, to be replaced by groups of teenagers preparing to party into the small hours. Seagulls patrolled the sand for leftovers, occasionally breaking into squawking fights at the discovery of a partially eaten sandwich or discarded chips.
“If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?” asked Sienna.
Lyle laughed with affection at the child-like question.
“I’ve been to most European countries, and they’re all special in their own way. I’d love to take you to Paris, of course, Venice, Barcelona and Prague. There’s also the United States and Canada once we’ve visited the cities of Europe. And Asia, well, that’s out of this world.”
“I’ve always thought Australia would be a great place to explore and lose yourself. Thailand too.”
“That sounds like an excellent idea, somewhere like that you can go unnoticed for a very long time. I have some wonderful memories of my time travelling. For a long time, I was a very different person.”
Sienna took a large drink of wine. “She must have meant a lot to you. The woman who broke your heart, I mean.”
“Yes, she did. She was the first person I trusted who didn’t then go on to disappoint me. She never let me down, ever.”
“I don’t understand.”
“She didn’t leave me, if that’s what you’re thinking. She was taken from me. Murdered. I wasn’t there to protect her. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It should have been me that died.”
“I’m sorry. You mustn’t blame yourself,” said Sienna.
Lyle looked at Sienna in a way she didn’t understand. Sienna added, “Did they catch the person who did it?”
“Eventually. I know exactly where he is. At some point, I’m going to pay him a visit.”
“You’re braver than me, that’s for sure. I don’t think I could do that. In fact, I know I couldn’t do it. Confront a killer, I mean. No matter how much I might want to.”
“You might surprise yourself,” said Lyle. “We are all capable of much more than we realise. It’s often just a case of setting your mind to it. You seem to have a way of getting what you want.” She nudged Sienna, and they laughed.
Lyle watched Sienna go inside to fetch the bottle of wine. She watched as Sienna returned with the wine, set it on the balcony table, and put her hair up in a bun.
Sienna could feel Lyle’s eyes on her; she liked it. She topped up their glasses. “It must be painful to know she’s gone and he’s still…” She let the sentence trail off. “It makes you think that prison just isn’t enough.”
“There are times I’ve wished I could get hold of him. I’d hand out my own form of justice. I’d be sure he’d truly pay for what he’s done. I can think of a million ways to make him suffer. After I’d finished with him, he’d think hell was summer camp.”
Sienna shuddered at the icy way Lyle spoke. She smiled un
certainly. “I know what you mean,” she said.
Chapter Forty-Four
Emma Cotton was taken to the office of prison governor Lloyd Trent.
Governor Trent didn’t look up from signing documents as he said, “Come in, Detective Inspector, come in. I’ll be with you in a moment. Officer Farley, please stay with us. This won’t take long.”
“Yes, sir,” said Farley. He closed the door and remained standing behind Emma.
Emma took in her surroundings. There were trophies for soccer and rugby in a glass cabinet as well as photos lining the wall of Governor Trent shaking hands with politicians and celebrities. There were also a considerable number of photos of him holding fish. Emma didn’t know much about fishing, but she could see that one fish, in particular, was huge; she thought it might be a marlin.
On the wall behind Governor Trent was a photo of the Queen, and above that a quarter-size Union Jack flag. Emma’s eyes returned to the governor, who was now watching her. He took the wire-rimmed reading glasses off his long, thin nose and put them down on his desk. He was a gaunt-looking man who, beneath his shirt and tie, appeared to be nothing but skin and bone. Emma thought about the huge marlin and considered the strength and determination it would have taken to haul it in.
“Detective Inspector Cotton, I spoke to your new superior this morning.” A thin, wet smile spread across the governor’s face. He’d immediately put her on the back foot.
“I was curious to know why, you, Detective Inspector Cotton, were interested in seeing one of my prisoners. Unfortunately, and surprisingly, your superior couldn’t shed much light on it. It would seem the head doesn’t know what the tail is doing. Wouldn’t you say?”
The governor waited for an explanation.
Emma tried to remain courteous. “My hope is Tony Horn can clear up a few questions that have arisen during a current investigation. Naturally, I can’t elaborate due to it being an ongoing investigation.”
“Can’t say or won’t say? What do you think, Officer Farley? Do you think the inspector here thinks we were born yesterday?”
“I wouldn’t like to say, sir.” Farley kept his eyes forward and remained expressionless.
“Officer Farley is far too polite for his own good, Inspector Cotton. I, on the other hand, have learned to question everyone and everything while understanding that the nature of most people is never, ever to tell you the whole truth.
“Take your Mr Tony Horn, for example. Tony Horn gets hardly any visitors and has no idea that he’s a compulsive liar; he’s just lied for so long it’s become a natural response to any question.
“On rare occasions, his girlfriend Tina visits. It’s rare because she’s usually either high or busy turning tricks in some godforsaken squat to pay for her drug habit.
“Tony Horn does not make friends easily. He can’t help himself. You could say, he has a way of rubbing people up the wrong way.”
The governor looked Emma up and down. His smile widened to reveal large teeth. He said, “Perhaps, Inspector Cotton, he’ll rub you up the wrong way too. He’s a nasty little man. It might be prudent for me to be there while you interview him.”
Emma turned to see that Officer Farley was looking down at the floor.
“I think I’ll be fine. I’d just as soon speak to Tony Horn privately and be on my way. I don’t wish to inconvenience you further. I can see you’re a busy man.”
Governor Trent stroked his earlobe and tilted his head thoughtfully. “This morning, I read through your list of questions. I can see you gave them some thought. I appreciate that. They all appear acceptable.”
Emma knew the sorts of questions the governor would agree to and didn’t want any delay getting to see Horn, so she had kept them mundane.
Governor Trent looked at the papers on his desk again. He waved Emma away with his hand.
“If you don’t need my assistance, you’re welcome to go. Just remember, these prisoners are starved of attractive women. You’d be advised to button that blouse right up to that delicate little chinny-chin-chin of yours. Between walls confining over five hundred frustrated men, a glimpse of lacy bosom can cause all kinds of havoc. I know you wouldn’t want that, Inspector Cotton. Officer Farley will take over from here. Goodbye, Detective.”
Chapter Forty-Five
Emma followed Officer Farley through gate after gate. Buzzers sounded, keys rattled, and doors crashed shut.
“I’ll be with you at all times,” said Officer Farley. “He has his funny ways – the governor, I mean. Don’t mind him. I’ve met quite a few in top jobs, and he’s far from the worst. I sometimes think to get to the top you need to behave a bit differently from the rest of us.”
Officer Farley nodded at a colleague who handed Emma some forms to sign. Farley said, “I’ve served in the armed forces, worked in business and now the prison service. They have their differences, but they also have their similarities. I don’t need to tell you that the behaviour of those with power can seem alien to those without it, just as choices made by a powerless man can seem strange to others. Human nature, I guess.”
He looked at Emma’s chest and said, “I’m sorry if he embarrassed you, but the governor was right to mention the top button. You and I know there was nothing to see, but the point he was making was that things we take for granted on the outside can be blown out of all proportion in here.”
Tony Horn was slouched in a chair daydreaming when Emma and Farley walked into the room. On seeing Emma, he sat up straight and briefly smiled before leaning forward with his arms on the table.
Emma dragged a chair out from under the desk and sat opposite him. Farley took a second chair beside her.
“Now Horn, remember our chat earlier?” said Farley.
Horn nodded. “Yes, I do,” he said keenly. “I remember every word. Yes, I do.”
Farley continued, “This is Detective Inspector Emma Cotton. She’s going to ask you some questions. I want you to answer her truthfully and thoroughly. You remember how I told you that this conversation is utterly confidential? Just the three of us, right?”
“Y-y-y-yep, yes I do,” said Horn.
Horn moved like a little bird. His head was tilting and bobbing from side to side as he tried to evaluate the situation. His gaze moved from Cotton to Officer Farley and back again, then down at the papers on the table in front of Cotton, his beak-like mouth opening and shutting the whole time. He was finding it hard to sit still.
“Can we remove his handcuffs?” said Cotton.
“That is not something I am permitted to do. Governor’s orders. It’s for your own safety.”
“I see,” said Emma. She looked at Farley in a way that suggested she and Horn needed some space.
Farley looked at Horn, who was picking at a fingernail, then at Emma. He got to his feet and moved to the corner of the room and sat down.
Emma smiled at Horn and tried to put him at ease. “Tony – do you mind if I call you Tony? As Officer Farley has explained, I’m here to ask a few questions. Is that okay?”
“What sort of questions? I do like questions. I’d like to know what sort they are before I say yes. I will say yes, but I’d like to know first.”
Emma looked at his arm; the forearm was covered in scars.
Horn followed her glance. “I have a destructive addictive personality. I used to cut myself. Not anymore. The doctors say I was born this way. I think they’re right. I’ve been addicted to lots of things. Right now, I’m trying really hard to stop. It’s not easy. I find I can be addicted to anything. Drugs, of course, plus gambling, smoking, sex, alcohol, harming myself, harming others, masturbation, exercise, religion, even mundane things like reading. I once stayed awake a whole week just reading. I read book after book after book without sleeping or eating.”
He leaned forward and said conspiratorially, “The doctor here is very kind; she’s given me some medication that helps me control it. She’s nice. Pretty, like you.”
Emma smiled and said, �
��Tony, I’d like to ask you about Helena Hardy. And what happened.”
Horn blew out his cheeks, then loudly forced air out through his lips. He put his head down on the table and looked up sideways at Cotton.
“I regret hurting her. I was in a nasty place at the time with my addictions. If I could go back and change anything, it would be that. And I don’t just mean because I ended up here. I mean because I was weak. I’m stronger now. I was doing heroin at the time; nothing else mattered except my next fix. I was really low; I wasn’t thinking straight. I never did anything like that before. I used to break into houses and steal stuff. I did that, but I never hurt nobody. Not that I know of. I think I’d remember if I did.”
Emma tried to appear sympathetic. “What was different this time? Why did you kill Helena Hardy?”
Horn’s eyes flicked over at Officer Farley again. “Like I said, I was on drugs. All sorts. Mainly smack, but I was drinking too.”
“I need you to help me understand what happened that day. Why did you decide to snatch a purse in the street, when you’d been breaking into houses all the years before that? Why the change in behaviour? I’ve seen your record. Up until the day you killed Mrs Hardy, you had no record of violence.”
Horn scoffed and rolled his eyes. “You make it sound like I was able to make rational choices. I was a junkie. Why does anyone do anything? I don’t know. Perhaps I just wanted a change from doing break-ins. I was desperate for my next high. I saw an opportunity. End of…”
Horn was trembling now and looking anywhere but at her. Emma could feel he was holding back.
“You were a long way from the squat you were reported to have been staying in. Can you explain that? What were you doing on the same street as Helena Hardy?”
“I moved around a lot. I never liked to be in the same place too long.”
Emma turned and looked at Officer Farley. “Would it be possible to get a couple of cups of water, one for Tony and one for myself, please?”
