Cold Revenge (Willis/Carter #6)(80)
Willis realised she was holding her breath as his voice softened and his eyes sparkled like sunshine on the deep ocean when the cloud clears and turns everything blue. He had the look of a smiling Buddha that hides a rattlesnake behind his back.
Chapter 39
Carter was in a meeting with Bowie.
‘The killer led us to five graves at Lambs Farm, three of which contain human remains. So far we have exhumed the bodies of Simone Levin and Tony Poulson; the other grave is being exhumed now. There was also a plastic chest recovered from the site.’
‘Okay. So, what we are sure about is that the person killing now was involved in both these deaths back then?’
‘The killer knew about them; he led us to them but we don’t know how much they were involved beyond knowing where they were buried. We did find a reference to one of the disciples though, the sixteen-year-old called Ash, in one of the graves. I’m not convinced he would have thrown that in himself. Douglas was pretty smart at the time. We know Douglas took in young, impressionable people and took them under his wing. They went to the farms with him and they lived in his house, but we don’t know how much more they were involved. He was all about control. He could have planted evidence with just this in mind.’
‘What actual connection is there to Douglas in those graves?’
‘None at the moment.’
‘Dan, that’s where I’m coming unstuck when I have to go back and justify all this to those above me. They’re questioning what this investigation is really about? I know the country would not forgive us if we uncover grave after grave and don’t have evidence to charge anyone. Those bodies can wait there until someone somewhere comes up with enough evidence for us to start new proceedings and launch new investigations into the deaths. Maybe this investigation will lead to that, and I really hope so, but at the moment, I’m not able to give you authority to carry on with any more LiDAR searches without absolute proof this will lead to a conviction of the person who killed Nicola Stone and Millie Stephens.’
‘Okay, got you, I’ll keep working on it.’
‘We need to find the person who is out there killing right now first, then we can go after Douglas. When we get cold hard facts and find some people who haven’t been completely fucked up by what happened to them in the bungalow to come forward with absolute proof that puts Douglas in the frame for murdering someone, then we’ll request funding and open a new inquiry against him.’
‘Okay, I understand.’
‘We know he’s really smart. We know he uses people. We could have a hundred bodies dug up and still have no link to Douglas that we can be sure will hold up in court, because, you can bet anything, if it’s not watertight, he will get off. This person wants us to make this all about Heather Phillips, but it ain’t happening, Dan. This is not about her. Right here, right now, this is about someone killing people who should have been safe. Yes, Nicola Stone probably blabbed and caused a breach of security but she’d done her time and she was entitled to live out the rest of her life without being killed in her own home. Forget Heather, we’re not playing by this killer’s rules. Forget Heather and find him.’
‘Yeah, I understand.’ Carter was squirming in his seat. But he had to stay and listen as long as the boss wanted to talk.
‘Leave the investigation into Heather Phillips to her team and the other victims from Lambs Farm to their missing persons teams around the UK. Of course, if you find her, the directive from the top will change overnight, and we’ll be heroes.’ He smiled.
‘Yeah . . . absolutely.’ Carter smiled ruefully. ‘Chris Maxwell, the profiler, is going to be mortified that we have to pull the plug. He and Willis have compiled a shortlist of farms that we were going to examine next. Maxwell believes Heather will be on one of those farms; he is certain.’
‘Well,’ Bowie said with a sigh, ‘I have to toe the line. Stop looking all over the countryside, concentrate on what you’ve already found. We know Douglas didn’t kill Nicola Stone or Millie Stephens, concentrate on finding out who did and hold a press conference tomorrow so we can make it clear what we’re doing. Let’s shut the press down from all their questions abut Douglas and his disciples. Keep questions afterwards to a minimum. Do not start entering into conversations with journalists. The term witch hunt is being bandied around.’
‘Okay, I’ve got it.’
At just gone eight, Carter caught Willis coming in as he left Bowie’s office.
‘How was it?’ She didn’t reply straight away so Carter jumped in with, ‘Come on, I need a coffee, and you must be desperate for a break.’
Tina was in the kitchen when they got there. They took their drinks across to a table so they could speak privately.
‘He knows about my mother,’ said Willis as they sat down.
‘Shit! How?’
‘I suppose it is easy enough to research,’ answered Willis, ‘but I’m pretty sure he’s a little too friendly with his guard. He was pretty pleased with himself when I talked to him on the way out. I’ll raise my concerns with the governor. Douglas has always been good at wrapping people around his finger.’
‘Did he say anything about Tony Poulson or Darren Slater?’
‘Nothing, but he’s worried.’