Cold Justice (Willis/Carter #4)(101)

‘Not me, this was Dad and Raymonds’ business.’

‘But you brought new blood into it, didn’t you? You were making yourself into an important business partner for them?’ said Carter.

‘I was going to be part of it from now on, yes. We were talking about opening another guest house if we couldn’t buy Kellis House.’

Willis opened the ledger out at the back pages and turned them round for Towan to see the lists of names.

‘Recognize any of these names?’

He peered forwards and shook his head.

‘You see, next to the names are ages and ‘‘F’’ for female, ‘‘M’’ for male, you get the picture?’

‘I don’t have any idea who they are but, I told you, I’m new to the business.’

‘Your dad gave them a number and he marked them with a code of dots. Helpfully for us, he wasn’t much of a spy and he slips up now and again and, well, to be honest, it’s pretty easy to work out it refers to sexual services these children delivered,’ Willis said, bluffing. But it was clear Towan had never got his hands on the ledger before – he didn’t know what system his father had applied.

Towan had taken to staring from beneath his fringe at Willis. His eyes flickered incessantly as his brain was churning, trying to concoct something believable.

‘A couple of these names are crossed out. Why is that?’ asked Willis.

‘I have no idea. I told you, these names have nothing to do with me.’

‘You’re a liar, Towan. We are in the process of contacting all of these kids, all of the people on this list,’ Willis said.

‘Your father worked as a pimp for Jeremy Forbes-Wright and now you’re taking over the job?’ suggested Carter.

‘A pimp? Don’t make me laugh. It’s a private arrangement. Yes, he was asked to find girls sometimes. He just passed it over to an escort agency in Penhaligon. Talk to them, not me. My dad was a simple farmer – he did what he was asked to.’

‘Don’t sell him short – he wasn’t simple. He knew how to work the system. He knew how to provide a good service for a refined man of taste like Jeremy Forbes-Wright and his friends.’

Towan looked away in irritation; he rubbed at the side of his neck and then pulled his shirt collar to cover a scratch there.

‘Who do you think murdered your father?’ asked Carter.

‘It could have been any one of a number of people.’

‘What about Mawgan?’

‘What about her?’

‘People in London have this idea about country folk, you know, Towan. We think that all sisters are introduced to the world of sexual relationships either by their fathers or by their brothers. How did that work out for you?’

Towan jumped across the desk just as Carter knew he would, and he and Willis restrained him, turned his head to the side and pressed his face into the desk.

‘Sore point, huh?’ Carter said. Willis waited for Towan to calm down then she put him back in his seat.

‘You’re an angry person, aren’t you, Towan? It’s in your nature,’ said Carter. ‘I can see why you’re angry – it must be really hard living in a place like Penhal that seems to have so much injustice going on.’ Towan was still fuming. ‘I’d be angry if I lived here. I’d be mad,’ said Carter. ‘There seem to be a fair few of you that are a bit of both. But why do you stay here, Towan?’

‘There’s not a lot of opportunity out there for an ex-con.’

‘But there is here?’

‘Yeah, there’s the farm.’

‘You can see yourself as a farmer, can you?’

‘Well, it’s not too bad. There are other opportunities here.’

‘Like what?’

‘Things can come along, like I told you, the guest house, opportunities can open up. They look after their own here.’

‘No, not unless you’re one of Raymonds’ golden boys they don’t. Is that what you are?’

‘Me and Raymonds get on all right.’

‘What, the ex-con and the Sheriff? You have to be kidding me, Towan – surely you’re not that stupid? You really think Raymonds is going to want someone like you on his team? He’s using you the way he uses everyone, like he used your father.’

Towan didn’t answer. He was thinking things through, he was rocking on the chair, tapping his finger on the desk.

‘You know Raymonds is keeping all of you hanging on for some prize or other. Marky, Jago, even Cam Simmons, all waiting with bated breath to hear what the Sheriff has in store for them. You all need to man up, you know, Towan – get some balls. It’s never going to happen for you.’ Towan looked away. He crossed his arms in front of his chest. ‘You know what I think? Raymonds is working towards stitching you up for things here in Penhal,’ said Carter. ‘After all, you’re an obvious candidate.’ Towan tried to look as if Carter didn’t know what he was talking about. ‘Take the night Kensa got raped in Kellis House. You do know that everyone is saying it was you?’

‘It wasn’t.’

‘They say you came up to the house; you followed the kids after you spiked their drinks. You followed them with the express purpose of teaching Ella and Kensa a lesson.’