Cold Revenge (Willis/Carter #6)(66)
‘Even though she counted you as a good friend, you never discussed what had happened to you in the bungalow?’ asked Carter.
Yvonne started rolling another cigarette from the dust at the bottom of the tobacco pouch. ‘No, we never did. I’ve never been violent in my life. I’ve self-harmed, but, no matter how off my face I’ve got, I’ve never hit anyone. I didn’t kill him, and I don’t think it was him that did all that to me.’
‘What happened back at the farm afterwards?’
‘It settled down, we never heard a word about Tony, no one came looking for him and we spent more and more time at the bungalow, or Millie did anyway. I made excuses, but it was always a threat they held over me and Millie. I mean, Cathy didn’t seem to be the same as us, she was Douglas’s favourite. She wasn’t the same type of girl as us. She had it easy in life – she chose to rebel. Millie was from a hard-working, single-parent family. I was out of the care system but Cathy stuck her nose and her head in the air and she wasn’t like us. Thinking about it now, she was just like Jimmy Douglas.’
‘Pack up just a few things for you and Bonny,’ said Carter. ‘Whatever else you need, we’ll provide.’
‘I need to get my methadone.’
‘We’ll send someone to get that for you,’ said Carter. ‘We’ll take you to a secure place and I want you to put this down in a statement.’
Once outside, Carter looked at his watch. ‘Let’s go see Hawthorn Farm.’
Yvonne stood in her sitting room and listened to the sirens wail from outside, with a feeling of fear that she hadn’t had for years. She had an overwhelming urge to ring the people who had mattered most to her in all the world, at one time; the people she had chained herself to.
Chapter 34
‘Tucker is moving into a flat, did you know?’ asked Carter as they walked across the street to the car.
‘Zoe told me. I’m surprised, I thought he loved living in Devon?’
‘He’s keeping his flat there, renting it out. I guess he realises he was never going to make inspector.’
‘I didn’t know he even wanted to?’
‘No, nor did I, if I’m honest. I thought he’d bumble on into retirement instead of which he’s turning into a man who makes video sets for a living and is moving about all over the place.’
Willis was looking at the ground as she walked, nodding. Carter stopped her gently, touching her arm.
‘It’s nothing serious with Zoe, you know that, don’t you? It’s you he loves.’
‘It’s not love. It’s never been love. It was friendship and a bit more, but never love.’
‘Whoa! Rein it in, Tonto, I don’t mean to push any buttons.’
‘How can it be love if it doesn’t last?’
‘Because things need upkeep. Tucker said to me you never told him your feelings about anything. You never said what made you happy, what made you sad? Christ, Eb, why do you make it so difficult for yourself? I tell you what I’m going to do, I’m going to write a manual for prospective dates: “What is Ebony Willis really like?” By the time you ever get to the point of deciding someone is for you it’ll be too late to have kids.’
‘I don’t want kids.’
‘We all say that, and then bingo! You’ll be waddling around talking about how you can’t stop peeing every few minutes and how uncomfortable you’re getting.’
‘Never.’
‘Not never, Eb, for Christ’s sake. Come on, give me a hug.’
‘No, I don’t want one.’
‘Not for you, you silly bugger, I need one.’
Ebony reluctantly gave way and allowed him to hug her briefly before shrugging him off.
‘Okay, Eb, Tucker is hanging about today, you going to meet him?’
‘Maybe. I just have had other things on my mind.’
‘Eb, as weird as it sounds to you, everyone who’s married or in a relationship in this department has to manage the two sides in their life. You have to make time for a life outside the force. Tucker is a good guy.’
‘Christ, you’ll be offering a dowry next.’ She smiled, embarrassed. ‘I’ve been in touch with him, we’re cool.’
‘Good, because I was seriously thinking of upping my offer from one goat to three.’
‘Way too rash.’ She grinned as they got into the car.
Forty minutes later they were close to their destination. ‘It’s near now,’ said Willis, who had the map over her lap. ‘Straight ahead for a mile then we take a right onto the private farm lane.’
‘There’s the sign for Hawthorn Farm,’ said Carter. ‘It says it’s a glamping site and a farm shop.’ He indicated, ready to turn off the main road to Chesham.
‘Yes, I saw the website,’ said Willis. ‘The bungalow is still there, it’s a holiday let now. This is all Hawthorn farmland, all the way from the main road.’
They passed fields on either side of the lane and woodland areas, before coming level with the bungalow on the right. It had been given the name Rose Cottage but it hadn’t really grown into its pretty title; it was still a basic agricultural bungalow but now it was painted pink and the gravel driveway had plant pots on it.