Cold Justice (Willis/Carter #4)(95)

‘Okay,’ he answered as he cleaned up the counter. ‘It’s busy now with the police arriving.’

‘Any problems?’

‘No, I don’t think so, Mr Raymonds.’

‘No, quite right too. Remember, every day you draw a line under the last and you start as if it were all new.’ Cam nodded. ‘You have a great future ahead of you. Have they been in here to ask about other things apart from Stokes?’

‘Yes. They came in and asked some stuff.’

‘Don’t tell them anything that happened in the past. Talk about the trip to London, okay, but don’t trouble going back into the mists of fucking time. They’re just nosy – prying. They don’t need to know any of it.’

‘Any of what?’

‘I’m saying to you – tell them the truth. Tell them something they can confirm and then that’s enough. Do you understand?’

‘Yes. I’m very grateful for everything you’ve done for me.’

Raymonds looked around as if to make sure no one had snuck in while they’d been talking. ‘What I’m saying is – loose tongues cost lives and all that – you want all this to continue?’ He opened his arms out in a theatrical gesture as he turned on his heels.

‘Yes, of course.’

‘Well, believe me, laddie, it needs some clever footwork from you. I know these detective types – all smiles and sweetness but they just want to trick you into relaxing and spilling out your guts. And . . . let me tell you now . . . your guts will be all over this café floor.’ He smiled. ‘Hypothetically, of course. Did they talk to you about the beach party in 2000?’

‘Yes.’

‘You told them nothing happened at the house? It was just a bit of tomfoolery. Kensa never got in trouble from one of our lads. It was all that Toby’s doing. Is that what you said?’

‘More or less.’

‘Oh . . . did they ask about Ella?’

‘Yes. I said she ran away.’

‘Yes, she did. She was seen hitchhiking up the road the next day.’

‘It’s odd she’s never contacted,’ Cam said.

Raymonds eyed him suspiciously as if, just for a second, he thought he might be toying with him. ‘Oh well, some things in life you have to learn to accept. You have to try and view them positively. You inherited your old man’s money. He was a nasty piece of work, I know, and I also know what happened to him; we both do. I was glad I could help at the time.’ Cam nodded. ‘Don’t think I didn’t try and help you when you were young ’uns, all of you, because I did. But it was hard to prove.’

‘Stokes was just as bad. Mawgan suffered the most.’

‘Yes, and even though Martin was my cousin I would have done him for abuse if I had thought there was a chance. I want you to believe that.’

Cam was staring into Raymonds’ eyes for the first time in his life. It made Raymonds uncomfortable.

‘Well, that’s all I want to say for now. You . . .’ He smiled as he poked Cam in the chest. Cam stayed where he was, unflinching. ‘Do as you’re fucking told and keep your mouth shut.’ Cam didn’t answer, he stood where he was, watching as Raymonds left the café and walked back across the street. Cam smiled to himself.

Raymonds walked back past the dress shop and stooped in the doorway. He filled it with his arms resting against the doorframe.

‘Mary-Jane?’

‘Yes? Did you want to talk to me?’

‘I want to ask you what’s going on with Jago.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Jago has a hell of an opportunity in this place but he seems hell-bent on destroying this village. He’s dragging my Marky down again, just like in the old days. I tell you, it has to stop, otherwise I’ll have to be strict and say Jago will have to leave, for good this time.’

‘No, he hasn’t done anything wrong.’

‘Where do you think he gets his money from? Haven’t you heard him sniffing all the time? He’s sticking stuff up that stuck-up nose of his. He’s making my gullible Marky into a bigger fool than he already is. Marky was doing well before Jago came back. I even signed over the Surfshack to him. He was full of plans for the future but now all he does is go surfing.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous, that’s not Jago’s fault.’

‘He’s always been the smart one, your Jago. He’s always had the upper hand when it comes to intellectual capabilities, but my Marky is a trier. Eileen is breaking her heart with worry over him.’

‘He’s just not used to the way things are here any more.’

‘No, that’s for sure. You better remind him how we all depend on one another. We’re a game of dominoes – one falls, we all fall.’

‘Tell that to Kensa – she’s getting madder every day. She’s out of control. She needs reining in. I don’t know why you haven’t done more to stop her from behaving like an animal, having sex in the car park, wearing provocative clothes.’

He scratched his eyebrow. There was a small scar that ran through it, split it almost. It was the only imperfection on his smooth, stretched skin like crispy roast chicken: always evenly golden-browned. The scar had never healed completely and when the heat came to his face it made it itch. He took a step back to look out of the window and then he started to walk towards the back of the shop.