The Secrets of the Shadows (The Annie Graham series - Book 2) (21 page)

‘Do you need me to bring anything with me?’

‘Just yourself, Tom has a complete shopping frenzy and empties the shelves of the supermarket. I think he drives them mad to be honest but it keeps him out of trouble.’

Annie felt a little overwhelmed by the thought of it, she couldn’t remember the last time she had done something or been invited anywhere on her own. As if Lily was reading her mind she whispered, ‘And don’t worry about getting all dressed up, clothes don’t make the person. You could be dressed from head to toe in Chanel and be a total bitch, or you could be wearing Primark and sparkle like a diamond. Trust me I know, just be yourself and don’t worry that anyone is better than you. We are all the same only each of us has a different purpose in life, some work hard for their money and others are handed it on a plate.’

They began walking in the direction of the boat club and Lily continued to chatter away. ‘If we get the chance to have a good old natter on Friday night I’ll tell you my secrets and how I ended up marrying Tom. I know how it looks because he’s much older than me but it’s not like that at all, I would love Tom if he lived in a two-man tent at the top of Coniston Old Man. Don’t get me wrong, I hate camping but I love him so much it wouldn’t matter where we lived.’

Annie found herself grinning; Lily was funny and nice and they chatted about anything and everything until they reached Tom’s boat. ‘Please come and have a drink and you can let Tom bore you for a bit while I hide my shopping.’ Annie followed her up the ladder and onto the boat.

Tom was below deck and smiled when he saw them both. ‘To what do I owe this pleasure?’

Lily patted his arm. ‘Annie was on her way down here, she told me that she couldn’t wait to see your boat again.’ With a wicked grin Lily ran down the steps to the galley below leaving her with Tom.

‘Did Lily invite you to our do on Friday?’

‘Yes she did, thank you. I’m looking forward to it.’

‘Good, I’m glad about that. It will give you a chance to get to know a few people.’ He lowered his voice, ‘I think Lily has her heart set on matchmaking you with my son, so don’t be offended. Just tell her to mind her own business if she drives you mad.’

Lily appeared with another jug filled with juice and fruit. ‘Non-alcoholic Pimm’s.’

Annie couldn’t be offended by Lily, she was too nice and it was very sweet of her to try and get her fixed up but she was off all men, well almost all men. She finished her drink and said goodbye, there was a shoplifter at one of the jewellers who had been detained so she made her way back up the hill towards the shop. She walked in and was surprised to see a little old lady sitting on a chair with a glass of water in one hand and a security guard standing beside her. She looked at the guard. ‘What happened?’

‘Mrs Fitz was looking at the watches, she felt a bit faint and asked for a glass of water and then put one of the watches into her handbag when the shop assistant went to get her a drink.’

‘Where’s the watch now?’

The elderly woman began to sniff into her handkerchief, then rooted around in her bag and pulled out a white watch which had a crystal-studded face and strap. ‘I don’t know what I was thinking, I was looking for a gift for my granddaughter and knew that she would love it. Then I started to feel a bit faint, the lovely girl went to get my drink and I must have put it into my bag. I’m so embarrassed, I’ve never done anything like this before – I swear. My Albert will be furious.’

Annie patted her shoulder, she felt sorry for her. ‘It’s okay Mrs Fitz, what’s your full name and date of birth? Let’s see if we can sort this out, you wait here while I speak to the manager.’

‘Margaret Alma Fitz, 12
^th
October 1931.’

Annie went through into the back office to speak to the manager who didn’t look a day over twenty five and had red, flushed cheeks.

‘It’s company policy to prosecute all shoplifters, but I feel terrible.’

Annie nodded in agreement. ‘Well technically she didn’t leave the shop, let me do some checks on her to make sure she isn’t a master criminal.’ Annie passed the details over the radio for a PNC check; if she came back no trace she would do her best to make sure the manager let her off with a stiff warning. After a minute her radio burst into life. ‘No trace on those details.’ Annie let out a sigh of relief and turned to face the manager. ‘She isn’t on any of our systems and she’s getting on a bit, it looks as if it was a mistake. Would you be willing to not press charges?’

The man bit his bottom lip then sighed. ‘Yes I would, I’d never sleep again if she got marched from here in handcuffs. I can’t talk to her though, can you take her outside and talk to her. Just tell her not to come back in and I’ll smooth it over with the staff.’

‘Wise decision, the publicity wouldn’t help, she looks like everyone’s favourite nana.’

They went back in and Annie bent down to talk to Margaret on her level. ‘Good news Margaret, the manager thinks that you made a mistake and is happy for me not to take this any further as long as you don’t come back in. Do you understand?’

The woman dabbed at her eyes and patted Annie’s hand. ‘Thank you so much, I’m sorry to have caused you any trouble dear.’

Annie straightened up and offered her hand to Margaret. ‘Come on Margaret, let’s take a walk in the fresh air and let these nice people get on.’ She helped her up and walked her outside. As she reached the door she turned and smiled at the manager, ‘Thanks.’

‘Do you need a lift home?’ she asked Margaret. ‘I can get one of my colleagues to come and take you.’

‘Oh gosh no thank you, I’ve caused you quite enough trouble for today. I will be fine; I’ll go and get the bus. I’m so grateful to you, I don’t know what my family would have said if they found out.’

Annie squeezed her shoulder. ‘You do have good taste though Margaret, that watch was lovely.’ They both laughed and Margaret turned to shuffle off towards the bus stop.

Annie turned the other way and began to walk up the steep hill towards the station; she needed to see if Will had emailed her that picture. Her stomach let out a loud rumble, it was almost two and she was starving. The station was empty when she walked in and the smell of burnt toast still lingered in the corridor. She shut the door and made her way to the office. It was dark inside, very little light came through the window because of the large trees and shrubs planted directly outside it. She didn’t bother to turn the lights on, instead she sat down at a computer to log on and check her emails. There was one from Will with an attachment which she opened and she felt her stomach drop to her feet to see a grainy black and white photo of Laura with this mystery man. It was probably the last photo of Laura alive and it gave her a cold shiver. A door banged somewhere in the building, Annie turned her head and caught a shadow flit past the open office door. ‘Hello?’ There was no answer and her skin began to prickle, someone had shut that door. She pressed the print icon and then stood up to go and investigate. She checked every single room but the building was empty. Unsettled, she walked back into the office to collect the picture from the printer, picked up her hat and went straight out of the door that she had not long come through. Her heart was racing and she had no idea why. Within five minutes she was back at the presybtery and once again she was greeted by Father John, who this time actually looked like a priest in black chinos with a pale blue shirt, dog collar and a large gilt crucifix around his neck.

‘Perfect timing, I’ve just got back myself and I’m starving. Absolving people of their sins doesn’t half give you an appetite.’

Annie laughed. ‘If I’m honest, so am I.’

‘Good we’ll eat first and then talk shop if that’s okay with you, at my age I have to eat regularly or I’ll pass out.’ He opened the door and she followed him once more into the cool hallway, relieved to be out of the sun for a while. He unclipped the starched white band from his collar, then pulled the heavy cross over his head, placing it on a silver platter on the sideboard. Then he undid the top three buttons of his shirt and sighed. ‘That’s better, I can breathe now. Your turn, I’ve practically undressed myself in front of you. Get that stab vest or whatever you call it off and let your body breathe.’

Annie did as she was told, first unclipping her heavy-duty belt and then unzipping the vest.

‘Tell me Officer, do you always strip on a first date?’

Annie felt her cheeks begin to burn but he laughed so loudly it echoed around the hall, ‘Sorry; sometimes my sense of humour is not entirely appropriate for a priest.’

Annie began to laugh and followed him into the kitchen where an invisible housekeeper had cleared away the mugs and plate from earlier. She took a seat and watched as he went over to the fridge and began pulling plates and bowls out. Soon he had put plates, cutlery and napkins on the table. He added a huge dish of salad, plate of homemade quiche and an assortment of mixed sandwiches. It looked delicious and Annie had to check her chin to make sure she wasn’t drooling.

‘Help yourself my dear; I have to say one thing for Simon’s housekeeper, she knows the way to a man’s heart. I think the reason he may have had his heart attack is because she is killing him with kindness, but what a way to go.’

Annie totally agreed with him, she loved her food as her less than perfect figure showed but she was beginning to feel comfortable with it. Will would tell her how much he loved her just the way she was and it had done wonders for her confidence. ‘Thank you John, this is wonderful and it’s very kind of you.’

‘My pleasure Annie, never believe what you hear about priests. We’re not all a bad bunch; I suppose it’s a bit like police officers. Some of them are total…’

‘Pricks.’

He grinned and nodded in agreement. ‘You took the words right out of my mouth. But some of them are wonderful, just like you. I bet you are brilliant at what you do and I get the impression that you actually care about people as a whole.’

‘I do try, although sometimes it’s very hard. I like to treat everyone the same regardless of their past or upbringing.’

‘And that my dear is a very rare quality, far too many people are so consumed in themselves they rarely have time for anyone else but you are different. I knew that straight away.’

They ate the rest of their lunch in silence until John stood up and went to the fridge again. ‘Would you like a cold drink?’

‘Yes please.’ He passed her a can of ice cold cola and put one down next to his plate. Annie was full; she had eaten some of everything and a large plate of salad. She normally hated eating in front of strangers but there was something about John that made her feel as if she’d known him a lot longer than four hours. ‘That was lovely, I’m so stuffed I don’t think my body armour will fasten.’

He shook his head, ‘I’m quite sure it will. Now what have you come to show me?’ He pushed his plate to one side and pulled a pair of gold-rimmed oval reading glasses from his shirt pocket. Annie stood and pulled the folded up piece of paper from the deep pockets of her combat trousers then passed it to him. ‘Sorry it’s not very good quality but it’s the best that we have. We believe the woman was killed not long after she left the pub with the man but no-one has a clue who he is. It’s a total mystery.’

John bent his head and lifted the picture nearer so he could study it, Annie watched as the colour drained from his face and she felt a prickle of excitement, he knew who the man was – bloody brilliant. Will would be well chuffed. John held it a bit further away then brought it up close again. He whispered, ‘I know that man, in fact I know him very well. It’s my nephew.’

Annie felt the excitement disappear as fast as it had come. ‘Really? I mean are you sure, it’s not a very good quality picture.’

John nodded his head, ‘It’s Ryan, he came to visit last week. He got a job which starts next week at the local gas terminal so he’s looking after my house while I’m up here. Have you not tried knocking at St Mary’s presbytery? He should be there.’

Annie assumed that whoever had been tasked with the house-to-house enquires would have knocked. ‘They will have, he can’t have been in when they tried.’ John pulled a phone from his trouser pocket and rang his nephew, it rang out. It didn’t even go to voicemail, just kept on ringing. He ended the call and tried again, still no reply. Then he tried his house phone which rang and rang. He looked at Annie. ‘I’ll try his mum, my sister. Hello Maureen, I can’t get hold of Ryan, has he phoned you in the last couple of days? No, oh okay, it’s not important I just need him to do me a favour; I’ll send him a text. Bye.’

She noticed that his hand was trembling. ‘Something is wrong, he phones his mum almost every other day without fail and she hasn’t heard from him for three days. I need to go back to Barrow now.’

Annie nodded, ‘Let me ring my colleague down there who asked me to come and speak to you. Then I’ll go get a police car and we’ll blue light it all the way.’ She stood up and dashed into the hall to put her gear back on. She rang Will, who answered on the first ring, ‘I know who the man is, it’s the priest’s nephew Ryan Trelmain and he’s living at St Mary’s presbytery. No-one has heard from him for three days.’

‘Right, thanks Annie. I’ll get a task force team and we will go and search the house. Thank you so much.’

‘I’m bringing Father John through, he thinks something has happened to Ryan and wants to see if he’s okay.’

‘Shit, what if this Ryan is our man? It might totally mess things up.’

‘I know but if I don’t bring him he’s going to come down himself anyway. At least if I bring him I can keep an eye on him. Oh and Will go easy on John, he’s a really nice guy.’ She ended the call and turned to see John standing in the doorway and felt a wave of embarrassment. ‘I’m really sorry John but you do understand how serious this is, we have to cover every eventuality.’

‘Yes I do and I understand that you need to do your jobs, I’m just a little overwhelmed to think my nephew could be involved in any of this. He’s always been such a good boy, this will kill my sister – she dotes on him.’

‘Well let’s hope it’s all a huge mistake. It doesn’t mean that he’s involved. You wait here and I’ll go and get a car.’