Cold Justice (Willis/Carter #4)(117)

‘That was Dad’s book, not mine.’

Pascoe pushed a photo across to Towan.

‘This is you and the murdered boy, we got it from his bedroom. It was on his wall.’

Towan stared open-mouthed at the photo.

‘Nothing to say, Towan?’asked Carter.

‘We went round to his house,’ said Pascoe. ‘His mother is beside herself, she said he was a lovely lad. He was a bit of a loner, not many friends. Bit wayward, bit impressionable.’

‘He would have looked up to you, then?’ added Carter.

‘I didn’t kill him. I was called out on fucking Christmas Eve and the old guy, Jeremy, had had a bit of trouble with this lad. Christ, I should never have got involved. It was none of my business.’ Towan threw the photo back across the desk.

‘But then you’d have had nothing to blackmail him with, would you? All the phone calls from the farm, from the hotel. Is that what they were all about? You will never change, Towan.’

‘All I did was help Jeremy. He called me out when he couldn’t resuscitate the boy.’

‘Why didn’t you call for an ambulance when you got there, or call the police?’

He shrugged. ‘The boy was dead, what was the point?’

‘What did Jeremy say happened?’

‘The way he described it was that this lad didn’t fully understand what he was letting himself in for. I don’t really know. I thought it was all agreed between them. I got there and the lad had choked on something too big to swallow, you get what I’m saying? He was dead a while. There was nothing I could do. I helped Jeremy cut him up and we buried him out on the common.’

‘Why blackmail him now?’

‘Covering my options. I took a few photos at the time; I kept the boy’s shorts as insurance, just in case I needed it. I didn’t think he’d top himself.’

Carter shook his head, suddenly exhausted by it all.

‘Interview terminated at ten twenty p.m. on Saturday 8 February 2014. Detective Sergeant Pascoe will now transport the prisoner to the police station in Penhaligon for further questioning. Towan Stokes, you are being charged with the illegal disposal of a dead body. For a start.’ Carter stood and left the room.

Ten minutes later, Pascoe brought Towan out in cuffs. An officer was waiting to escort him away.

Carter ignored Towan’s ranting as he kicked his way out of the station.

He sat at his desk and rang Jeanie.

‘How is Eb?’

‘She will lose a kidney. They say she was lucky, the car seat and the helmet saved her,’ said Jeanie. ‘I’m going to spend the night here.’

‘Okay, ring me if there’s any developments.’

‘Will do.’

Carter locked up the station and Pascoe went up to see how Cam Simmons was doing before driving back to Penhaligon.

At half eleven Jeanie was sitting in the waiting area outside the intensive care ward, when she heard the whoosh of the door and the clip of expensive shoes on linoleum. She looked up to see Carter walking towards her.

He handed her a deli bag from the supermarket.

‘Muffin, but you’re limited for choice round here, so just look grateful, okay?’

She took the bag from him with a smile.

‘So, where am I sleeping?’ asked Carter. ‘I gave up having a drink with Sandford to be here.’

Jeanie pointed to the row of seats opposite.





Epilogue


A week later

‘Where are Lauren and Toby Forbes-Wright now?’ asked Chief Inspector Bowie.

Carter and Jeanie were standing in his office in Fletcher House. It was Saturday morning.

‘They are back here now, sir: Samuel was discharged from hospital after twenty-four hours,’ answered Jeanie.

‘He’s a very lucky lad, and so are we,’ Bowie said. ‘The local police can take over now. Sorry to hear about Raymonds.’

‘Yeah, we had enough to charge him several times over. He would never have seen the light of day. I’m pretty sure he killed his own son, in the end. He’d lost control over everything.’

‘It would have been one hell of a case,’ said Bowie. ‘Imagine heading that?’

‘I’d have loved to do it,’ said Carter.

‘You were robbed.’ Bowie smiled.

‘What about the historical cases against Jeremy Forbes-Wright, sir?’ asked Jeanie.

‘Out of our hands now. That’s a vast investigation of its own and they will take it on under Operation Elmtree. Anyway, I think we should have a celebration. Archway Tavern tonight?’ said Bowie.

‘I’m heading back to Cornwall this morning, sir,’ said Jeanie. ‘I thought I could see Eb and make a weekend of it.’

‘My plan too,’ said Carter. ‘We’re bringing the kids and we’re renting a house down there. Cabrina needs a break after the burglary.’

‘Are you all staying in the one place?’ asked Bowie, unable to hide his amusement.

‘No, we are next door, though. Should be fine. First time for everything.’ Carter smiled, embarrassed.

‘Have a great time and please give Eb my regards. How’s she doing?’

‘Very good, sir,’ answered Jeanie. ‘She’s starting to get fidgety. She wants to get out of there.’