‘Gerald Grant, and not that I’m aware of. He was odd, but I don’t think he was dangerous. He’d run away if anyone challenged him. One of the lads from the farm had a go at him and he left not long after that, moved away, but I have no idea where to.’
Cain didn’t think a peeping Tom who was probably on the sex offenders list was going to be responsible for the brutal murders and kidnapping of two women, but he’d check him out all the same because a lead was a lead. The name wasn’t familiar, though, and he’d already reviewed the sex offender’s list yesterday after Ben tasked him with it at the briefing. Sometimes they started off with offences like that and moved on to much bigger things, but as far as he knew these murders weren’t sexually motivated. There had been no indication they were, and forensics hadn’t confirmed it either. They were downright violent, although what did the killer want with the two women that they were searching for?
He finished his coffee. ‘You don’t think anyone around here is keeping the two women hostages?’
She laughed. ‘Not in this village, you can’t even have an argument with your partner without everyone knowing about it, and that’s inside the privacy of your own home. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but it would be risky. Maybe somewhere more rural, one of the farms or cottages out on the fells would be more suitable than anywhere in the village. Have you checked the buildings that are still standing on Amos’s property?’
‘Yes, several times, and Mountain Rescue have been out searching too.’
She shrugged. ‘Then I can’t help you, I’m sorry and I wish that I could. I wouldn’t wish having to go through my daughter missing like that, it’s just horrible for the families. The not knowing would kill me.’
Cain nodded. ‘Me too, we just want to bring them home.’ He stood up. ‘Thank you for the coffee, Deana, it was amazing.’
‘You’re welcome. I like you, you’re not like other coppers.’
He laughed. ‘Ah, well, aren’t you glad I knocked on your door because my boss who is out there parading around like a peacock in mating season would have annoyed the hell out of you. Dome a favour, if he comes here, make sure you charge him for anything he has.’
Cain took ten pounds out of his wallet and placed it on the bar.
She picked it up and pushed it back into his hand. ‘Your money is no good here, like I said, you’re a good guy. You’re doing a tough job, and if I managed to make your morning a little better with a cup of coffee, that’s the least I can do. How will I know which one is your boss?’
‘He’s the only guy wearing a suit with a high-vis jacket on and looks like a dick.’
Deana snorted with laughter. ‘Got you, take care, Cain, I really hope you find those women soon.’
He smiled at her. ‘Me too.’
Then he walked out into the wintry sunlight and inhaled deeply. The warmth felt good on his face, the air smelled wonderful and he was ready to put an end to this and find those women.
FORTY-FIVE
The entrance to the cave was almost completely blocked by rocks and landfall. Ernie was standing next to Morgan with his hands in his pockets. There was a gap that was big enough to squeeze through but only if she could contort herself the right way.
‘What do you think?’ he asked her.
She shrugged. ‘I don’t know, it looks kind of hard to get through that. How would you drag somebody through if they were unconscious or fighting back? It’s not big enough.’
‘I don’t know, but do you want to check it out in case they did manage it or if they went in there to hide by themselves and got hurt?’
She nodded. ‘Be stupid not to after coming all this way. Is it safe?’ She was thinking about the guy over a hundred years ago who had gone in there on a hike and ended up being crushed to death.
He shrugged. ‘I think so, it doesn’t look like there’s been any landfall for a very long time, and it doesn’t look any different from the last time I was here a couple of years ago. I don’t think I can get through that gap though, Morgan. If you go in, you’re going to have to go in alone. My back is pretty knackered; I just about made it down here without it giving out and it’s the mainreason I had to give up volunteering for Mountain Rescue. If I try and squeeze through that I’m not going to be able to make the ascent back up to the top. I might not even make it back out of the cave.’
Morgan stared into the blackness that seeped out of the gap and closed her eyes. Every horror film she’d watched that had a cave in it filled her mind.The Descenthad been terrifying with those cave-dwelling creatures, and she really didn’t want to go in there alone, but she had no choice. She opened her eyes. ‘I’m okay, I can do it. You wait here and if I get stuck or anything happens, can you ring nine nine nine and tell them our exact location.’
He nodded. ‘I’m not being funny, Morgan, but you better not get stuck or hurt yourself. I really like your aunt Ettie and I don’t think she’d ever forgive me if that happened, so maybe just take a quick look inside and then straight back out. Don’t go exploring in there, because for one thing, you don’t have a hardhat, ropes or the right equipment to do that. You are literally going to squeeze through the gap and shine your torch around then straight back out.’
She smiled at him. ‘You sound like my boss, Ben. That’s exactly what he would say.’
‘Good, then perhaps you might listen to me. I have it on good authority that you struggle to sometimes do what’s best for you and always put others first. Which is very honourable, but sometimes in situations like this it’s always your own safety first and then you get the help you need to do the job properly, if you get what I’m saying.’
‘Yes, squeeze through, have a look and get the hell out. If those two women are in there, I will tell them help is on the way and then get the help. I got you, Ernie.’
‘Good, because I don’t want to be hexed by Ettie. I know you are her most precious thing and if she knew I was about to letyou do this alone she would hex me for sure. This is between us; don’t tell her I let you go in alone.’
‘I promise, I won’t get you in trouble, Ernie. I appreciate you bringing me here. Why did you say yes when you’re in pain with your back? I could have found someone else eventually.’
He paused. ‘Because Ettie asked and I didn’t want to let her down. I also didn’t want to let you down, or those women. It’s the right thing to do. I can go home take two paracetamol and put a heat pad on my back, but those girls may be running out of time, and I wouldn’t want to live with that on my conscience. Just be careful for both of our sakes.’ He winked at her, and she grinned at him.
