Cold Justice (Willis/Carter #4)(116)

Carter unlocked the door and switched on the light.

Raymonds was hanging. His face was pressed against the light bulb. His bulging eyes were half closed as they stared at the door. His legs dangled in mid-air. His neck was broken.

‘You bastard,’ Carter muttered under his breath.

He walked across to the desk. Raymonds had taken off his shoes and placed them neatly on the floor. Carter picked them up; their soles were caked in mud.

Towan stared down at the table in front of him.

‘Would you like a glass of water?’ Carter asked. Towan nodded.

Pascoe stood to go and get him one. They heard the sound of officers talking as they carried Raymonds’ body away. Pascoe looked at Carter expectantly.

‘You go, if you feel you should,’ Carter said as Pascoe brought Towan’s water, and then left the room.

Towan grinned at Carter.

‘I saw the body bag. Don’t tell me Raymonds has topped himself right here in this station? Now, that’s got to be the best thing I’ve heard in a long time. Why did he do it? Didn’t think he was the type,’ said Towan. ‘He’s always been such a hard-nosed, self-righteous bastard. Never had him down as a quitter.’

Carter sat back in his chair and looked across at Towan.

‘He couldn’t bear to lose control of his empire. He was scared of the consequences. Prison wouldn’t have been fun either, would it? You know what that’s like, don’t you?’

‘Yeah, he would have been beaten to a pulp in a week. He had a good run for his money. It was fun while it lasted, like.’

‘I thought you got on with Raymonds. Why did you trash his car?’

‘Just pissed me off.’

‘So you and Raymonds fell out, why was that?’

Towan shrugged. ‘He made some promises to me that he didn’t intend to keep.’

‘Like?’

‘Future plans. Getting a stake in the village. He promised me a lot, if I worked with him, we’d be partners.’

‘For what? What did he get in return?’

‘I have the contacts in Penhaligon. I have a younger, fresher eye for things.’

‘He said jump and you asked how high. Wasn’t that it?’

Towan turned away and tapped his foot irritably on the floor.

‘We discovered a baby’s body that we know was Kensa’s. We also now know that the father was Marky. Does it surprise you to know it was probably Marky who raped her?’

‘Makes sense. Raymonds wouldn’t have felt the need to protect anyone else. I told you it wasn’t me. When I left that house Ella was okay; she was talking about leaving but that was it. I was angry with her, yes. I left and went home.’

Who was there when you left?’

‘Jago and Marky.’

‘No one else?’

‘Toby was unconscious, asleep upstairs. There was no one else until Raymonds and Jeremy Forbes-Wright turned up.’

‘How do you know they came?’

‘Because I didn’t make it home. I fell asleep on the common and I woke up with the noise of someone opening the doors and coming out on the veranda. When I looked, it was Raymonds and Jeremy Forbes-Wright. I scarpered. Afterwards, Raymonds told me never to speak about that night. That Toby had as good as admitted he’d attacked Kensa. I knew he was being set up. I thought it was just so Raymonds could profit from Forbes-Wright. Raymonds always needed a hold over everyone.’

‘So, you’re a survivor against the odds here, Towan. You inherit the farm. How does that feel?’

Towan sat back in the chair and grinned.

‘Feels fucking marvellous. I’ve got some great ideas for it. I was thinking a stud farm if I didn’t make it into a hotel. Look, Inspector, if you ever think of relocating, we could have a good thing going here. Let me buy you a drink when we leave here. I’ll see you up at the hotel bar.’

Carter stared at Towan. He felt faintly amused that Towan seriously thought he was looking at walking out of there this time. Pascoe came back in and sat down. Carter read Towan his rights. Pascoe switched on the tape machine.

‘If this is about Raymonds’ car, I’ll pay for it. It’s no use to him no more. I should have a lawyer here if you’re charging me.’

‘We tried, we couldn’t get one for you. No one wants to come out.’

‘What is this about? You know I had nothing to do with Dad’s death. You can’t do me for anything, other than Raymonds’ car.’

‘We dug up a body on the common in the back of Kellis House,’ said Carter.

‘A boy from Penhaligon,’ said Pascoe, looking at his notes. ‘Peter Adams, dark hair, white-skinned, five foot. Thirteen years of age.’

‘Don’t know what you’re talking about,’ said Towan. ‘I don’t know anyone like that.’

‘Except the planks you used to line Peter’s grave match the ones you used to build the shelves in your farm store at Stokes’ farm.’

‘Really? Sounds like flimsy evidence to me.’

‘Well, there’s also the fact that he was a boy on your list of contacts for pimping. The famous ledger that you and Raymonds were going to use to build yourself a depraved empire with. Or rather, Raymonds was going to reap the benefits and you were going to do all the dirty work.’