Cold Justice (Willis/Carter #4)(110)

‘Where is Mawgan?’ asked Cam.

Kensa looked sheepish. ‘ I wasn’t going to hurt her. I was angry. I’m sorry. She didn’t need to run away from me.’ Kensa lifted the gun and aimed it at Cam.

‘You’re not going to shoot me, Kensa. I’ll come with you, but put the gun down.’

‘I need it. I’m not leaving it.’

Back in the house, Sandford searched the rooms as he phoned Carter.

‘There’s a man’s body, I think it’s Marky, he’s been murdered. His body is in with the pigs. I’ve found evidence that a toddler-sized child was being kept here on the farm. I would say he was here, right up to a few hours ago.’

‘Are Mawgan or Towan in the house?’ asked Carter.

‘No,’ replied Sandford. ‘There’s no sign of anyone here. But it looks like someone’s taken some items out of the gun safe – it’s been left open.’

‘Can you see what’s missing?’ asked Carter.

‘A shotgun, for sure.’

‘Eb,’ Carter said as he hung up. ‘Get hold of Pascoe and tell him he needs to get Leonard and the forensic team over to Stokes’ farm. Tell him what’s happened. And, get him to put out an alert for Mawgan and Kensa. Tell him we are keeping Raymonds in custody.’

After calling Pascoe, Willis phoned Lauren; there was no reply, and she left a message: ‘Lauren, Kensa’s gone missing. She may be headed your way. Lock all doors and stay inside.’

Another call came from Pascoe.

‘We’re following the sighting of a yellow Fiat. It’s been seen heading towards Penhal. We think it was hidden in a barn with farm machinery on the outskirts of Penhaligon.’

Carter grabbed his keys as Willis got to her feet.

‘Let’s go. We want to be ready.’

‘What about Raymonds?’

‘He can wait. Lock the door.’

Mawgan stood outside Cam’s cottage watching the yellow Fiat coming over the cliff road towards her. She thought about running, but then she saw Cam at the wheel. Kensa got out brandishing the shotgun and called to Mawgan to come over. Mawgan walked towards them. All the time she kept her eye on Kensa. When she had left her that morning she was sure there wasn’t a sane thought left in Kensa’s head. She’d threatened to skin Mawgan alive as she chased her round the house. Now, when she looked at Kensa, she saw she was beyond help or hope, but Mawgan had to try.

‘Walk towards the mine,’ Kensa said as she waved the shotgun at them.

‘Is my son there?’ asked Lauren, shouting so her voice could be heard above the sea pounding the cliff face below.

Kensa didn’t answer as she marched them down towards the mine. They stood on the side of the derelict building and the wind died right down as they sheltered outside the old ruins.

‘Kensa, stop all this now, before it’s too late.’

Kensa shook her head as she turned to look out to sea; the sun’s rays were creeping through the storm clouds. She put up a hand to shelter her eyes from the glare.

‘You’ve lied to me.’

‘No, Kensa. I’d never lie to you. We’ve shared so much, you and me.’

‘Did you know she had my son?’ Lauren asked. Mawgan nodded.

Cam shook his head and groaned, ‘Why would you do such a thing?’

‘I didn’t know until we were home. Then she gave him to me to help look after and I panicked. I didn’t know what to do with him. I moved him around the place. I promise I looked after him, kept him warm. I kept thinking I would tell the police that day but I didn’t know what would happen to us. Then my dad found him and threatened to tell Raymonds. He said he would say that Cam was involved, and that would mean the end of Cam getting his restaurant. It would mean the end of all our dreams. I couldn’t let him do that. I hit him over the head with the spade till he was dead and I stuck him on the spike. I didn’t care at that moment. I hated him so much for all the things he did to us. I went to get the boy, to give him back, but Kensa had already taken him. I’m so sorry.’ Cam was staring at Mawgan with a look of disbelief and devastation. ‘Oh my God, my poor little boy.’ Lauren looked at Kensa. ‘How could you do that to a little boy? Why did you take him?’ said Lauren. ‘You had no right.’

‘You want to talk about rights?’ Kensa snapped. ‘Where are mine? I want what I’ve lost. I never had a childhood. They took it from me. The only good thing that ever happened to me was Toby. I wanted that baby so badly, but they wouldn’t even let me have that. Where are my rights?’ She shook her head and said remorsefully, ‘I’m sorry. I’ve been feeding him. I’ve been finding clothes for him to wear. But now Misty’s gone . . . I can’t do it. I don’t want to see him any more. I didn’t want to hurt him, but he’s crying all the time. I’m sorry.’ She started to cry. ‘I’m so sorry.’

‘Please don’t say you hurt my son?’

The police helicopter hovered above them.

‘We have a sighting by the old mine at Garra. I can see Kensa, she has a gun, possibly a shotgun. She appears to be holding Lauren, Cam Simmons and Mawgan Stokes. Armed response teams are on their way.’ Pascoe radioed back to Carter and Willis. ‘It’s too windy for us to set down close. We’ll drop behind the headland and meet you up there.’