Cold Revenge (Willis/Carter #6)(75)

A frown flashed across her forehead and then was gone. ‘There’s no bond, and I find the whole sensational use of the word “disciple” faintly ridiculous. The press invented it, Douglas never said it.’

‘Douglas still calls you his disciples,’ said Willis.

Cathy looked at her and smiled. ‘Does he? How strange. I have a working relationship with Stephen and I have seen Gavin a few times over the years,’ she replied. ‘It’s hardly a bond with my fellow disciples.’

‘Did you see much of Millie as well?’ asked Willis.

Dwyer shook her head. ‘No, I didn’t stay in touch with her. I had no idea how low she had sunk. I would have tried to help, if I’d have known.’

‘Didn’t Gavin or Stephen tell you?’

‘They didn’t mention it. Why would they?’

‘Because they saw her sometimes, they both said they gave her money.’

‘Well, I didn’t.’

‘What about Yvonne? Do you ever see her?’ Willis continued her questioning.

‘Absolutely not.’

‘We have names now for some of the people we have unearthed at Lambs Farm.’ Willis stood up and went around the table to show her the photos of them. ‘Simone Levin and Tony Poulson. Do you know these people?’

‘No, I don’t. I’ve never seen them before today.’

There was a pause as Willis grabbed a chair and brought it to sit at right angles to Cathy Dwyer, so close their knees were almost touching. Cathy Dwyer looked uncomfortably at Willis.

‘Thing is, Cathy, we know that’s not true. This man is Tony. You remember, Glasgow accent? Hitchhiker? There on the first barbecue of the season at the bungalow?’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about and I want a lawyer if you’re going to accuse me of something so ridiculous.’

Willis sat back in her chair. Carter took out more photos from the envelope and pushed one across of the plastic chest from the grave. Willis picked it up and held it in front of Cathy Dwyer.

‘Drugs were very much part of the time in the bungalow, weren’t they? Douglas was the supplier for all the locals, there’s no denying that, it was common knowledge. You all helped sell them, didn’t you? Was this one of your stashes?’

‘Sorry, this all means nothing to me.’

‘Do you remember Ash?’

‘I vaguely remember he was a boy at the farm.’

‘Another disciple. In fact he was the last disciple; he got his tattoo the same day as you, after a night of significant suffering. But it wasn’t your suffering and it wasn’t any of the disciples’, it was Tony’s.’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. I thought this was a meeting to talk about my safety?’

‘It is, but first we have to have an idea who, from those days, might be back now looking for revenge? Someone wanted us to discover the bodies at Lambs Farm; they led us there. Someone murdered Millie Stephens and Nicola Stone and wrote the name “Heather” on the wall above Nicola’s body. They must have been there, with you, with the others, at that time?’

‘So many people came and went there. It could be anybody. Well, let me clarify, any lunatic. If this is all about Heather then I really can’t help. I don’t know what happened to her. She was a sweet girl with problems at home.’

‘We have your original statement here, from the time Heather went missing. Do you want me to read it?’ Willis opened her file.

‘If you want to, but it’s a long time ago.’

‘I can summarise,’ said Willis. ‘No comment. That’s all you said, all the way through. It was your answer to every question.’

‘That’s because I knew nothing then and I still know nothing about Heather’s disappearance.’

‘Nicola Stone and Millie were killed,’ said Carter. ‘Whatever information they had may have passed on to this killer. Who knows what people say in their dying moments when they are under stress?’

‘You’re barking up the wrong tree. I didn’t know then, and I don’t know now. The killer won’t be coming for me because I am innocent. All I did was get a stupid tattoo, which I had removed that first year, and I got stoned a lot and slept with dubious-looking people. I also happened to be in the same place as a schoolgirl who went missing.’

‘Not just Heather. Rachel McKinney was held for five days, Darren Slater, a young lad from a farm in Essex, was last seen getting into Douglas’s van. There is still so much to answer for,’ said Willis. ‘Your name is connected with Tony Poulson’s. We believe you were there in the bungalow when he died.’

‘I wasn’t.’

Carter started to pack up the file. Willis stood and came back around the desk.

‘The press will find out who you are soon,’ said Carter.

‘Thanks for the heads-up.’ Cathy glared at Carter. ‘Any other pearls of wisdom? Can I go now? I have a lunch engagement and some more businessmen to entertain. Right now, I am more concerned about not being killed financially than anything else.’





Chapter 38


It was 3.50 p.m. and Willis was twenty minutes into her second interview with Jimmy Douglas. He sat, resting his forearms on the table in front of him. Officer Kowalski stood outside the door. They were in an interview room as she had requested. She reminded him that he was still under caution.