Cold Justice (Willis/Carter #4)(97)

‘Jeremy Forbes-Wright loved staying there,’ said Eileen.

‘Did you know him well?’ asked Carter.

‘I knew him a long time . . . but I don’t think I ever knew him well,’ answered Eileen.

‘It must be quite lonely here for you in the evenings,’ suggested Carter.

She shrugged. ‘I don’t think of it like that.’

‘Mr Raymonds is just as busy now as when he was a serving police officer, by the look of it.’

‘He’s been having affairs for years. That keeps him busy.’

‘Oh?’ Carter was stunned.

Willis stopped her work. Oh shit, she thought, now he’s going to ask her how she feels about that.

‘And how do you feel about that?’

The door opened and some keys slammed down on the side table in the hallway.

‘Carter?’ Raymonds stood in the kitchen doorway. Carter stayed where he was. Raymonds looked around. He took the screwdriver set from Willis. ‘You’ve no right to come into my house when I’m not here.’

‘They helped me with the cupboard.’

‘I told you I’d fix it when I got home.’

‘It fell off onto my leg. It was dangerous.’

Raymonds held up his hand for his wife to stop talking. He was breathing heavily with anger but kept a fixed smile on his face. Carter stood, slowly pushing the chair back.

‘We won’t keep you long. We need DNA samples,’ said Carter.

‘DNA? What for?’

‘Because everyone has to and you’re no exception.’

‘This is intolerable that you come into my home distressing my wife when you can see she’s ill.’

Willis opened her forensic kit and got out her DNA tester.

‘Ready?’ she asked. He nodded but he was fuming.

‘Mrs Raymonds, you’ll need to give a sample too.’

‘Why does my wife need to?’

‘Because there are only so many people living in this village and everyone gets a turn at the DNA.’

‘No, my wife is ill. This is ridiculous.’

‘You find this a bit much, do you, Mr Raymonds?’ Carter asked as Willis finished taking the tests. ‘Yet, you have the stomach for helping a fifteen-year-old give birth without medical help in a caravan in February?’

‘She was cared for – I looked after her,’ said Eileen. ‘I promise you I got to her as soon as I knew.’ Eileen looked from one detective to the other. ‘The baby was too small, so premature, it could never have survived. We didn’t have time to get her an ambulance.’

‘Oh, I see, Cam’s had his little say, the ungrateful bugger.’ Raymonds raised his eyes and shook his head slowly. ‘Now, unless you have proof on that I’d watch what you’re saying.’

‘I think you’re a big fat liar, Raymonds. And I’m only beginning to touch the surface here. I think you’re missing the end of the rape story. You’re covering for someone. That person would have to mean a lot to you. What was Marky doing that night?’

‘Marky?’ Eileen said, shocked. ‘My Marky involved in that night? It can’t be. That Jago is more like it – Marky’s so sensitive inside, he wouldn’t hurt anyone. He may have had trouble with drugs in the past, but that’s all behind him.’

‘Be quiet, Eileen, you’ve said enough. They have nothing on Marky, because there is nothing.’

‘We are beginning to find out lots of things about you, Raymonds. You had quite some business arrangement going with the late Jeremy Forbes-Wright. Who was the main pimp, you or Stokes? Stokes abused his own kids and you never stopped him. Plus there’s the case of the missing teenage girl Ella Simmons, the case that you investigated and, surprisingly, it was never resolved. I’m going to make it my personal business to find Ella.’

Raymonds did not take his eyes off Carter. The two men squared up to one another and Willis kept her eye on Raymonds. She was wondering if she would be able to take him down if he made a lunge for Carter.

Eileen pushed back her chair and stood awkwardly. Raymonds went to assist her but she pushed him off.

‘Why am I not surprised at all of this? You smell like that woman. I can smell her perfume a mile off.’ He tried to help her again. ‘Don’t. Don’t . . . I’ve had enough. I want to make a statement about the night you delivered Kensa Cooper’s baby and other things.’

‘Don’t do this now, Eileen, it’s not just me involved in this, is it?’

‘No. I’m done with talking. I want to be free of it. That girl deserves help.’

‘Mrs Raymonds, would you like me to take you down to the station to make a statement?’ asked Willis.

‘Yes, I would.’ She stepped out towards the hall and went to reach a coat down from the peg.

‘Think what you’re doing, Eileen. Marky needs our support. Don’t betray him.’

She glanced back at Raymonds and then turned to Willis and shook her head.

‘No . . . I’m sorry, I can’t.’

‘Would you prefer me to take your statement here?’ asked Willis.

She shook her head. ‘No. I have nothing to say. I’ve changed my mind.’