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‘She’s pretty far gone, poor thing,’ says Tanya. ‘She thought I was Emily at first.’
Not another one of his officers resembling Emily Pickering, thinks Nelson. In Tanya’s case, he can’t see the likeness.
‘She said her husband liked to take photographs,’ says Tanya.
‘Well, that’s not necessarily a crime,’ says Nelson.
‘I know,’ says Tanya. ‘It was just something about the way she said it. I asked if he took naked photos of Emily but she didn’t answer.’
Trust Tanya to go there, thinks Nelson. He asks if Arabella said anything about Emily.
‘Yes,’ says Tanya. And Nelson can tell that this is what she has been waiting for. ‘I showed her the photo, the one taken in the café, and she said, “They put her behind the wall.”’
Nelson feels his skin prickling.
‘They put her behind the wall,’ repeats Bradley. ‘That must mean that Peter Webster killed her. And his wife knew all about it. We’ll never get a conviction now.’ He sounds deflated.
‘Not necessarily,’ says Nelson. ‘Arabella used the word “they”. I still think Leo Ballard might have been involved. I went to see him this morning and guess who was there, paying a cosy morning visit? Tom and Amber Westbourne.’
‘I suppose they’re here for the funeral,’ says Tanya. ‘But why go to see Ballard?’
‘My thoughts exactly,’ says Nelson. ‘Tom said it was “for support” but he didn’t say who was doing the supporting. I still think Ballard is hiding something.’
‘He could have killed Emily with Gaia Webster,’ says Tanya. ‘They could have been the “they” that Arabella mentioned. She said something about not liking Gaia’s previous boyfriend, said he was bad for her. I asked if she meant Leo Ballard but she didn’t answer. It was very frustrating.’
‘Did Ballard say anything about Michael Malone?’ asks Lucy. Nelson is pleased that the new recruit hasn’t forgotten their other case but he can’t help hearing Jo’s words.This disappearance, does it strike you as suspicious?They need to find Cathbad, for more reasons than one.
‘Ballard claimed not to have seen Cathbad for years,’ says Nelson. ‘I told him that a colleague of Ruth’s saw them together at a party only a few years ago. Apparently, Ballard said something about Cathbad knowing where the bodies were buried. Could have been nothing but, then again, it could have been something. I asked Ballard where he was on Friday lunchtime. He said he was at home. I went to see his cleaning lady, Jenna Hopkins, and she said the same. She said Ballard made her a coffee and then went into his study. But I think it would have been possible for him to sneak out.’
‘When Brad and I interviewed him,’ says Tanya, ‘Leo Ballard said that he never let the cleaner in his study. Remember, Brad?’
‘That’s right. He wouldn’t let his wife in either.’
‘Jenna said the same to me. Ballard’s wife was out that day. I think he could have driven off, abducted Cathbad, and driven back again.’
‘Is that what you think happened?’ says Tanya, frowning.
‘It’s hard to imagine why he’d do it,’ says Nelson. ‘But something’s happened to Cathbad. I went to Ballard’s holiday cottage in Old Hunstanton. It looked deserted but I think we need to get some search warrants. I’m starting to get worried.’
He looks at the clock. Three p.m. And he hears Cathbad’s voice.There’s not much time left.
Ruth enjoys collecting Kate from school. In the morning, the pupils approach the gates in ones and twos, heads down, seemingly weighed down by books and the pressure of study. But, at three thirty, they stream down the hill in a glorious blue tide, bags flying out behind them. An opportunistic ice cream van is parked nearby and Ruth watches the teenagers become children again as they jostle for 99s. When Kate appears with Isla and another girl, they are all holding ice cream cones.
‘Can we give Isla a lift home, Mum?’ says Kate. ‘And Megan too? She’s on the way.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ says Ruth. ‘I’ve got to go somewhere for work first.’
‘Are you digging up bones?’ asks Isla, who is more interested in Ruth’s work than Kate is.
‘I’m afraid not,’ says Ruth. ‘Probably just looking at soil.’
‘Still cool, though,’ says Isla, before waving to Kate and slouching away. Megan waves too and performs a little dance which makes Kate giggle.
‘Megan seems nice,’ says Ruth, as Kate gets in the car.
‘Mmm,’ says Kate, who is already on her phone. The ice cream is dripping but Ruth doesn’t mention this. She puts the car into gear and they set out towards Grime’s Graves.
Jamie Stirland had seemed pleased to hear from Ruth. ‘Of course, come any time. I’m here until six.’
