Separated at Death (The Lakeland Murders) (35 page)

‘I thought you’d want to know Andy, but the Chief is delighted. Delighted. A confession, a possible conviction for an unsolved murder out in the wild west, and some nice associated conspiracy convictions. All in all that’s a very satisfactory return on our investment.’

‘Thanks, sir.’

‘You look exhausted. Get yourself home, and I don’t want you back in here tomorrow. The CPS is happy that we’ve got him, and that he’ll go guilty at trial, and all the rest can wait.’

‘It’s the funeral tomorrow, I mean this morning, at noon.’

‘I didn’t know that funerals could be held on Sundays.’

‘Nor did I sir. Special circumstances. Apparently the flu that’s going around has carried off so many old folks this week that they’ve had to put an extra shift on at the Crem.’

‘I see, well don’t come in here after. And make sure your team gets off as well. I hate to think how many hours they’ve done during this investigation. We’re paid to do it, they’re not.’

‘I don’t think it’s just the money that brings them to work sir.’

Hall almost sounded irritable, but Robinson let it pass.

‘Come on, off home with you now’ he said. And, as usual, Hall followed orders, pausing only to tell Ian Mann and Jane Francis to get home too, and that he’d see them both at the funeral.

Sunday, 20th December

Hall was so tired that in the morning he couldn’t remember driving home, and he slept until after nine. His last dream was swirling and confused, but he remembered seeing human hearts beating on a filigree web of silver. He tried, but he couldn’t remember any of the context, just that one image.

He took a long shower, and was surprised to see his wife sitting in the kitchen when he went down. She’d been waiting to talk to him.

‘I’m moving out today. I’ve got some stuff in the car, and will come back for the rest later. Is that OK?’

‘Yes, whatever you want.’

‘I’m surprised you’re up so late. Is the case over?’

‘As good as. The funeral is this morning, and I’m not going in to work first.’

Carol wasn’t surprised that he wasn’t more forthcoming. She didn’t expect him to trust her, and she didn’t much mind that he didn’t.

‘That’s good, you must be delighted.’

Hall didn’t look delighted. He looked exhausted.

‘So you’re happy if I get a separation agreement drawn up?’ she asked. ‘You have custody of the girls, I have unlimited access, and we split our assets, including your pension, fifty-fifty.’

Over half a lifetime together, and it boiled down to arithmetic. Andy Hall didn’t need any lessons in the unknowability of others, but it still shocked him. He could still remember standing in the delivery room, holding his first daughter, and feeling a tsunami of love for his new family. He did his best to banish the image. It would do him no good.

‘How are the girls?’ he asked. ‘I really haven’t seen much of them since all this kicked off.’

‘A bit quiet. I heard from one of the mums that they haven’t said anything about us splitting up at school, neither of them.’

Hall nodded. He wasn’t surprised. Hadn’t John Hamilton said much the same about his kids? Hall started clearing away the breakfast things.

‘Would you help me put a couple of heavy boxes in the car? I’ve rented a little place in town, just for now. I’ll email you the address later.’

Hall carried the last boxes to his wife’s car, and re-arranged the load to get it all in. He didn’t hug her, but stood back as she climbed in and drove off. She didn’t wave. He just stood there until the car was out of sight and felt the pain build. He knew that it was something that he’d just have to get used to.

Back in the house he had to search for his black tie, but eventually he found it. He switched on his Blackberry, checked his email and sat in the sitting room. He found himself thinking about where everything in it had come from. It was like a physical record of a marriage. Each item told a story of a time, a place, a feeling.

He sat for a long time, remembering. Odd moments were like vivid snapshots in his head, but he found himself wondering where all the other moments had gone, the ones that might help explain to him why his wife had chosen another life. If he could only see those too. To his surprise he found himself sobbing, the sound harsh, loud and brief. He went upstairs, washed his face and put on the tie. Crying hadn’t made him feel remotely better, so he decided to do what his daughters had done and keep it all inside. Maybe just for now, maybe for always.

Hall hadn’t been to a funeral in years, and he was glad to see Ian Mann parking as he arrived at the Crematorium.

‘Morning boss. I’m glad we caught him before the funeral. It would have stuck in my craw if he’d been here today, giving it the big boo-hoo no doubt, and us knowing he’d done it, but not being able to do the bastard.’

‘Yes, I know what you mean. By the way, did you get Ryan back to his place last night?’

‘No, actually he stayed with my dad at his house.’

‘Your dad?’ Hall was surprised.

‘Yes. I wasn’t sure that it would be safe to send him straight back home, so he’s staying at my dad’s, just for a couple of days like.’

‘And your dad is OK with that?’

‘Don’t worry about him. He’s used to lads like Ryan. After all, he did bring me up.’

‘I wouldn’t have thought Ryan Wilson and you have all that much in common.’

‘I wouldn’t be so sure. If he’d had a better start, a bit of structure at home, I think he’d have been fine.’ Mann paused. ‘While we were in that cottage he asked me about the Marines actually, he seemed genuinely interested.’

‘Really? He’d probably nick the regimental silver’ laughed Hall.

‘Maybe. Maybe not. I’ve got a mate who works in the recruitment office for the local regiment, so I’ve fixed up a chat for Ryan, and put in a good word.’

‘Blimey, that is a turn-up’ said Hall, trying not to look surprised. But for once even his poker face let him down.

They left the cars and walked towards the Crematorium. One of the things that the two men had in common was that they hated to be late, even for funerals, so the people from the previous service were just coming out, some stopping to look at the flowers.

‘Some trades are recession proof’ said Mann.

‘Ours too’ said Hall, ‘I just wish our resources were holding up as well as business. Still, I’ll leave the Super to worry about that, and I’ll just carry on being a humble working copper.’

‘Not really that humble, Andy’ said Mann.

Hall tried not to smile, and failed.

‘I assume Robinson is coming?’ asked Mann.

‘Perfect opportunity to show off his best uniform.’

‘I bet he wouldn’t have been near-nor-by today if we hadn’t charged Simon Hamilton. He’d have been back at the station polishing his crime statistics.’

The other funeral party was splitting up into smaller groups. The undertakers’ car engines were running, throwing clouds of condensation out behind them. It had started to drizzle lightly.

Hall’s phone buzzed, and he reached into his pocket to turn it off. But before he did he had a look at the text he’d received. It was from Jane, saying that she was feeling poorly, and wouldn’t be coming. Hall couldn’t blame her one bit, but he felt very slightly disappointed all the same.

As the funeral cars pulled away the Hamilton’s cars arrived. Hall and Mann stood together and watched John and Amanda Hamilton get out of their car, and walk towards the door with their other daughter.

Hall and Mann followed at a respectful distance, and sat at the back of the chapel. Robinson arrived a few minutes later, and joined them. The chapel was filling up, and many of the teenagers were wearing their school uniforms. Hall found this almost unbearable, and made him think about his own daughters.

When the coffin passed them Hall tried not to look, and the brief service passed by in a blur. The Police officers waited until everyone had left, and then filed out. John Hamilton shook each of their hands, then took Hall aside.

‘Thank you for coming. You didn’t have to. We’re grateful that you found out what happened to Amy.’

‘We got lucky.’ Hall regretted using the word as soon as he said it. ‘How are you all? How is your mother?’

Hamilton shook his head. ‘She’s in a shocking state. To try to come to terms with the fact that her own son killed her grand-daughter, well it’s not really possible, is it?’

‘So what are you going to do?’

‘Carry on with work, try to do the best for Lucy, the usual. I’m not sure that there’s anything else I can do that won’t make things worse. It’s funny, but you go through life thinking that you can influence things, control them, and then something happens that proves that you can’t control anything that matters. It’s just about trying to make the best of everything for your family, isn’t it?’

Hall nodded.

‘Are you able to come back to the house? You are very welcome you know.’

‘I think my boss is going to look in. But I have to get back to the station. Work, you know.’

Hall didn’t feel embarrassed about his lie. He knew that he couldn’t face the family, and he was never all that comfortable in social situations anyway, even in infinitely happier circumstances.

‘There was one thing I wanted to ask you actually’ said Hall, ‘would you mind? I know this isn’t really the time or the place.’

‘That’s OK, we have a minute or two.’ John Hamilton nodded in the direction of the stragglers, still coming out of the chapel and looking at the huge piles of flowers for Amy. ‘What is it?’

‘I just wanted to ask something, off the record. If you’d known about your brother’s involvement with the drugs trade, and the fact that he was trying to blackmail your ex-wife, would you have come to us about it? If not, what would you have done?’

‘I’m not sure. I’d have to think about it. But I certainly wouldn’t have gone to the Police, not until all other avenues were exhausted. I’d have done my best to get Simon out of whatever trouble he was in.’

Hall nodded. He wasn’t surprised, and knowing for sure didn’t make him feel any better. He doubted that it would help John Hamilton much to know why he’d asked either, so he didn’t tell him. Hall shook hands with Hamilton, offered his condolences once again, and met Mann back by their cars.

‘Drink, boss?’

‘No thanks Ian. Let’s organise a proper session for everyone next week, they deserve it. I’m going to go home and put the Christmas tree up finally. The kids are too big to bother with that sort of thing now.’

‘Isn’t that one of your wife’s duties?’ laughed Mann. ‘That’s woman’s work, surely.’

‘You’ll go far in the twenty-first century police force Ian. They love that kind of attitude now. Actually, Carol has moved out. She went this morning.’

Mann was surprised. Nothing in Hall’s manner had given him the slightest indication. ‘I’m really sorry to hear that mate. Is she taking the kids?’

‘Thankfully not. They’re staying with me.’

‘That’s great. Is this something you want to keep between us, or is it best to get it out there? Let the ladies know that Mr Andy Hall is back on the market.’

Hall desperately wanted to say that he didn’t want anyone to know, and that his wife might change her mind. But he knew that she wouldn’t.

‘Hardly on the market, on the scrap-heap more like. But it’s not a secret, people will have to know eventually anyway.’

‘And are you sure that I can’t tempt you to that drink? Pie and a pint somewhere might be just the job.’

‘No, honestly, I need to get back home. Like I said, let’s do something next week.’

The two men shook hands, as if coming to an agreement on something, and got into their cars. Both had backed into their parking spaces, and they watched as the funeral cars pulled away. As the first car drove past Hall saw Hamilton looking towards him, but if he noticed Hall he didn’t show it. Hall couldn’t be sure, but he thought he could see the tears running down his face. But it might just have been rain on the window.

Hall sat for a minute with the engine running, and looked for a CD. When he found it he slid it in to the player and listened as Ian Dury started to sin
g
Sweet Gene Vincen
t
. Hall turned it up when the rock ‘n roll piano came in, and drove to the place where, every year, he bought the family Christmas tree. And, just like every year, he drove home with the top sticking out of the side window and needles falling into the rear footwells. He made a promise to himself that this year he’d clean the carpets before Easter.