Cold Justice (Willis/Carter #4)(84)
‘For now, this is the best we have. The only leads we have end here. So now we make a plan for phase two. House to house, calling in people for interviews, DNA testing every adult in this village.’
‘Local people will want to focus on Martin Stokes’ murder. I thought Leonard was going to be here at this meeting?’ asked Pascoe.
‘No, I decided we needed to stay on track. While it’s understandable that people are wanting us to concentrate on his murder, Stokes and Raymonds have had a chokehold on this village for too long. I’m not that flippin’ interested who killed Stokes unless it gets me one step closer to finding Samuel,’ answered Carter.
Pascoe faltered for a few seconds and then continued:
‘We’ve had a confirmation of clothes bought that would be the right size for Samuel, bought by Kensa Cooper last week from a shop in Penhaligon. The woman remembers that Kensa had been in her shop a few times in the past. She thought she’d bought baby clothes before. This was the first time she’d seen her buy for a toddler.’
‘Did she know anything about Kensa?’
‘She always recognizes her because she seems off her head most of the time. I have some more background on the locals for you. Cam Simmons’ father used to own the farm alongside the Stokes place. Mrs Simmons died in 1989 of cancer. Les Simmons was a quiet character, there was talk of brutality against his wife and kids. He died in a farming accident, fell into the container of chicken shit when Cam was in his late teens. There was just him and his father by that time and it was briefly investigated as the body showed signs of bruising on the skull and back, but farming accidents are very hard to disprove. Cam’s sister Ella went missing in summer 2000 when she was sixteen. Presumed runaway; she’s never been located.’
‘Cam went on to inherit it all?’
‘Yes, his father must have felt pretty sure Ella wasn’t coming back. He named him sole heir. Martin Stokes bought up most of the land from Cam, who kept just an acre and the cottage out by the mine in Garra. Cam went away. He’s only been back a little while. He applied for a licence to extend the café upwards.’
‘I’m surprised he got it.’
‘It seems Raymonds recommended it be granted. I guess he’s honoured if Raymonds likes him.’
‘Raymonds doesn’t like anyone. Did you find Mawgan’s car yet?’
‘Not a sign. Can I just say something?’ Pascoe asked.
‘Shoot.’
‘People are going to want immediate action when it comes to Martin Stokes. For all his faults he was well liked here. He was seen as an important person. I know you have your priorities but… ’
Carter held up his hand to speak.
‘Stokes means nothing. He was a corrupt, nasty paedophile who, when this is all over, everyone will rush to forget. They won’t want to fucking know. Raymonds is not looking too clean either. There’s been some serious police corruption going on here, and I don’t know how far it extends. I don’t know who to trust, but I’m hoping I can trust you. Since we came down to this quaint little picturesque village in idyllic Cornwall, all I’ve seen is the ugly side of human nature. These people honestly believe they’re above the law. If Raymonds says it’s okay, then it’s beyond prosecution, it’s morally sound. Well, I want these people to wake up and smell the fucking manure! I find that boy dead, I’m going to do my damnedest to hold each one of them responsible, and I expect full cooperation from you.’
There was a silence in the room as Robbo’s face remained motionless on the screen. Willis stared at Carter’s profile, gauging how angry he was from one to ten. This was a nine. Pascoe, still standing, opened his eyes wide, and looked about to do a haka dance in Carter’s face, but instead he gave a sharp nod and grunted.
‘Understood. You have my full support.’
‘Robbo? Continue.’ Carter breathed again and tried to calm down.
‘There were several calls to JFW from the Stokes farm number in the days before he died,’ said Robbo, ‘also a lot of missed calls from the Penhal Hotel – that’s where you’re staying, isn’t it Carter?’
‘Yeah, it’s the heart of this village. It’s the only place to drink in the evening, and there’s a public phone there. Signal in a lot of Cornwall is really bad. I’ll talk to the manager about it when I get back. What time were the calls?’
‘Between twelve noon and twelve midnight.’
‘How is it going with Toby?’ asked Willis. ‘Jeanie seems to be more nurse than liaison officer.’
‘Yes, he’s falling apart, apparently,’ answered Robbo. ‘Not sure he can tell us any more of any use.’
‘He has to come down to Cornwall,’ Carter said, ‘he might trigger a reaction down here. He might force someone’s hand.’
‘Okay, I’ll pass the message on, but I think that’s the last place he wants to be. A public appeal is going out in Cornwall,’ said Robbo. ‘Bowie asks if you’re sure it’s the right move.’
‘I’m sure. I’ll work with these hundred officers for this next twenty-four, and make tactical searches of areas of interest before we swamp the place with officers. Everything has to be in place.’
‘Pascoe, you head the Stokes murder enquiry, call in witnesses and then I want the emphasis in the questioning to be shifted to Samuel’s disappearance and don’t allow lawyers present. Don’t keep anyone in custody and make the interviews all informal,’ Carter instructed. ‘Any problem with that?’