The Two Towns (The Lakeland Murders) (10 page)

‘Christ, who was that then? Benny Hill?’

They were walking close to the edge of the scar now, and the sun was breaking through the clouds, just for a few seconds at a time. Jane had a look over the edge. The drop didn’t look huge, but it still looked plenty far enough. The sun illuminated little patches of the woods, like a searchlight sweeping the land.

‘I see what you mean about the views. Is that the Lyth valley, right in front of us? Where the damsons come from?’

‘Yes, that’s right. There won’t be many offcomers who know that.’

‘It’s where we found the missing boy. That’s the only reason I know.’

‘What was he doing there?’

‘It’s a long story.’

‘We can make it a long walk.’

‘Not that long, I’m afraid. I need to get into work in an hour or two, so you tell me what you wanted to chat about. It’s the death of Ann Clark, I take it?’

‘Yes. I just wanted to know a bit more, that’s all.’

‘Very wise. In your position I would, too. Well, fire away.’

The two women had settled into a steady rhythm, although Jane stopped completely when a big black dog came bounding up to her.

‘Not an animal lover?’ asked Sarah, when the animal was called away. Jane frowned at the owner, who waved cheerfully back.

‘You’re the second person to ask me that this week. I do quite like animals, but I don’t have the time for one, that’s all.’

They walked on in silence for a minute or two, and Jane was just framing a suitably leading question when Sarah spoke again.

‘Phil says it was kids who blocked up the flue of that fire.’

‘It’s a possibility, certainly.’

‘But you’re not certain?’

‘We would have made an arrest if we were.’

‘So there’s not enough evidence for a prosecution, is that it?’

‘Yes. Up to a point, anyway. But for what it’s worth my own view is that none of the children we interviewed were responsible.’

‘Why’s that?’

‘Several reasons. First, the stuff they’d done before had mainly been really trivial. Turning the little pointer signs on the site round, that sort of thing.’

‘Perhaps they didn’t understand the risks, and how serious what they did was.’

‘That’s possible, certainly. But they didn’t confess to anything that required the use of a tool of any kind, yet a screwdriver was used to remove the grilles from the flues of the mobile homes that were attacked.’

‘Really, I didn’t know that. So you think it was Phil? Is that it?’

Jane tried to gauge Sarah’s tone of voice. It didn’t sound remotely defensive, let alone hostile.

‘Phil is still a person of interest, certainly, but I wouldn’t go any further than that. There is no physical evidence or witness statement to support any prosecution. Not of him, not of anyone. Unless you know different, of course.’

‘No. Phil hardly ever talks about it. Never, really. But if the kids didn’t do it, and Phil didn’t, then who did?’

‘That’s a good question, but just because we haven’t identified other suspects that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Another teenager perhaps? Someone acting alone, and for reasons we don’t know perhaps. There are lots of possibilities.’

And then Sarah asked the first of the questions that Jane had been waiting for.

‘But what do you think, Jane? Did Phil kill his wife? She was well insured, you know.’

‘I do know that, but that doesn’t mean anything in itself, does it? They were both in insurance, after all. It’s only natural, I’d say. But I’ve said all I can about what we think, and about what I think come to that. What’s more important is what you think, Sarah.’

‘And this conversation is off the record?’

‘So long as you don’t have any actual evidence that Phil is guilty then yes, it is. If we’re just talking about feelings and concerns then it’s all just between us. I will make a record of this meeting, but we certainly couldn’t take any meaningful action afterwards unless you are in possession of new evidence. Are you?’

‘No, nothing like that. But I admit I’ve been thinking about it, pretty much the whole time this last day or two. Even when I’m with him, to tell you the truth. Maybe it was you coming round, or perhaps that was just a catalyst. I don’t know, really.’

‘But he’s never given you any indication that it was him? Not even a hint?’

‘No. The absolute opposite in fact. He says that he calls you for an update on the case every month, without fail.’

‘He does, that’s true.’

‘Good. So that’s something, isn’t it?’ Sarah turned to look at Jane, who tried to look encouraging. But it didn’t seem to be working.

’What? You’re not convinced?’

‘It’s not that exactly’ said Jane. ‘But I just don’t think it means much at all, either way. Because if I’d killed someone I was close to and wasn’t nicked for it then I’d want to look keen on finding the killer, and exactly the same goes if I hadn’t. You see what I mean?’

‘I suppose you’re right. So what would you do, in my situation?’

That was the second question that Jane had expected.

‘I’m not sure I can help all that much there either, to tell you the truth. I can’t know what you know, and feel what you feel. But if I had any doubts, any doubts at all, then I suppose I’d proceed with caution. And he’s looking to proceed, is he?’

‘He’s asked me to move in, yes.’

‘And are you going to?’

‘I don’t know. But I feel if I hold off then he’ll take that as a sign.’

‘Of what? A lack of commitment, or that you actually suspect him of murdering his wife?’

‘One or the other, or possibly both. I honestly don’t know.’

‘Well, don’t look at me for any advice in that department. I’m on my own, and have been for a few years now.’

‘But you’re happy?’

‘Compared to what? I suppose I always have doubts about blokes too, Sarah. Maybe that’s just a natural reaction for all of us. Or maybe it’s because of my job. It’s fair to say that you don’t usually see people at their best, when you do what I do. So I don’t think I’m qualified to give any advice at all really.’

They walked on, until they reached a head-high dry stone wall wall-end where Sarah stopped. ‘Shall we head back?’

‘If there’s nothing else that you wanted to ask me then yes, let’s go back.’

They turned, and started to walk back towards the car park. Open views were of the big Lakeland fells were ahead of them now, and for the first time since she’d arrived Jane was excited about getting to know the area. It was astonishingly beautiful, from horizon to horizon. It wasn’t long before Sarah spoke again.

‘So Phil was out for a walk? When it happened, I mean.’

‘Yes. That’s right. He was picked up on CCTV at the caravan park entrance on the way in and out, just like he said.’ Jane wondered if there was anything that she could ask Sarah now that might produce any real evidence, but she couldn’t think of a single question. ‘You can call me, anytime’ she said. ‘If there’s anything you want to discuss.’

‘Thanks. I will. One other thing, Jane. In cases where a husband has killed and got away with it….’

‘Does he do it again?’

‘Exactly.’

‘I’d have to look it up to be sure, but in situations where the victim and killer were both socially isolated, maybe physically isolated too, then it’s probably common enough. Patterns of offending behaviour do tend to repeat when they go unpunished, especially if they’re combined with compulsions. But where the first victim was well known to others, with strong social and family connections, then it’s much less likely to happen again I think. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, but even without physical evidence I suspect that a court would probably convict someone who had the misfortune to lose two partners in suspicious circumstances. But if that’s really what you’re thinking about, Sarah, then…’

‘No, I didn’t say that. I was just asking, that’s all. There’s nothing more to it than curiosity, honestly. Phil’s not a killer. I’d know if he was, wouldn’t I?’

Jane turned to look at Sarah, but her face was turned towards the mountains.

Friday, 11th November

Ian Mann stood, head bowed, next to his desk, and the room fell silent around him. Andy Hall looked up from his desk when he noticed the hush outside, and thought how Remembrance Day was better observed now than it had been in the eighties and nineties. He approved, but he would have preferred that it didn’t need to be.

Afterwards he called the team into his office for their weekly catch-up. He tried to make it sound as if the constant stream of new targets - couched in that peculiar dialect of public sector management speak - actually made some kind of sense, and somehow related to real policing priorities on the ground. He didn’t convince Mann, Dixon or even Jane, but they all appreciated him making the effort. But things started to make much more sense, as they usually did, when they moved on to the current caseload.

Hall already knew that Ray Dixon had good news, but he had no intention of stealing any of his thunder.

‘So that warrant was executed this morning, Ray?’

‘It was, boss. A sum of cash, to the tune of £595.50, was recovered from the premises, and items stolen from two addresses in Kendal were located in the cold water tank at the address. Billy Bartlett has been charged, and in his statement he grassed up his old man good and proper. Looks like we’ll get him for handling stolen goods at the very least.’

‘Is the mum at home?’

‘Aye, so the kid probably won’t get taken into care. The way the officer from the vulnerable persons unit tells it maybe the kid actually did the break-ins just to get the dad put away. He seemed keen as mustard to talk about it all, anyhow. How his dad lined up the jobs, and told him exactly what to do.’

‘Well done, Ray’ said Hall, ‘that’s an excellent result. What you’ve achieved here is an object lesson in offence data aggregation and analysis, as I believe we’re supposed to call it now.’

‘Can I have a pay rise then, boss?’

‘Excellent try, Ray. Are you rostered on again this weekend?’

‘No, I’m not.’

‘Then take the whole weekend off. How’s that?’ Mann and Jane laughed. ‘And of course all three of you were instrumental in bringing our MISPER to a speedy and successful conclusion. I think we all know that it could have gone a very different way. But it didn’t, and that’s the main thing. I’ve taken a bit of grief from the Super because we’ve brought no charges, but Pete Graham will be inside soon enough, won’t he? So that brings us to the last item on the agenda. Jane, how are you settling in? Any comments to share, or questions to raise?’

‘Not really, boss. I’ve got nowhere with the Clark file, I’m afraid to say.’

Dixon smiled across at Mann, who looked away immediately.

‘Don’t worry about it. So you got nothing out of the new girlfriend, I take it?’

‘Beyond a vague sense of unease, no, I didn’t.’

‘And we’re sure that she is new? Clark didn’t know her before his wife died?’

‘No, he didn’t. I checked. She was only transferred from the Carlisle branch a month after Ann’s death, and there’s no evidence to suggest that she and Phil knew each other before that.’

‘All right. Well done. Just write it up, and I’ll sign the job off. Back in the filing cabinet for another year, I suppose.’

‘Will do.’

‘All right, that’s it. Have a great weekend. And don’t do anything that I wouldn’t do.’

‘That leaves us all a pretty wide field though, doesn’t it, boss?’

‘Are you suggesting that I lead a boring, humdrum existence, Ray?’

‘Of course not, Andy. But I expect you’ll be back down the garden centre again, won’t you? You never know, they might even have some new stock in, like. That’ll get the old pulse racing, I bet.’

Jane had finished her write-up on the Clark case, and she looked at her watch. It was almost shift-change time, and within the next couple of minutes Dixon, Mann and Hall all said ‘good night’ on their way out. So she booted down her computer and made for the door. There was no-one left in the office for her to say goodbye to.

But Andy Hall didn’t go straight home. Instead he drove to Johnny Graham’s school, and parked outside. It wasn’t the school that his own kids went to, although his oldest had thought about moving there for the sixth form. He was just about to get out of the car, and go and find the head-teacher, when he saw Johnny, in amongst a group of eight or ten lads, all walking slowly along the pavement towards the town. They’d pass Hall’s car in a minute or two, even at their dead-slow speed, and he watched them all, laughing and joking. Then he focussed on Johnny, and watched him until he passed the car. The kid saw him at the last moment, and waved, shyly, as he passed. Hall smiled and waved back. And he knew, almost for certain, that the kid was completely fine. But being almost certain was never enough for Hall, so he got out of the car, locked the doors, and walked towards the school.

Jane Francis didn’t go straight home either. She drove to the supermarket, and did a proper shop. The one she’d been meaning to do all week. She was still in the vegetable aisle when she heard her name, and turned to see Sarah Walker. Like Jane she was pushing a small trolley.

‘We can’t go on meeting like this’ said Jane, smiling.

‘I know. Folk will talk.’

‘It’s strange. Walking round here, it’s as if I’ve never moved. This place is just like the one at home. Until I hear someone speak that is, and then I notice that the accent is different.’

‘You’re not homesick already, are you?’

‘Manchester was never home. Not really. It was just where I worked, you know. Maybe Kendal will become home, eventually.’

‘There are worse places to live.’

‘I’m sure you’re right. And how about you? Have you got a busy weekend planned?’

‘I’m not sure. I doubt it. I told Phil that I’m not moving in with him.’

‘Oh. I see. How did he take it?’

‘Not very well, if I’m honest. Your name came up, as it happens.’

‘He blames me? I’m sorry if that’s the case.’