Cold Revenge (Willis/Carter #6)(86)

As the journalists finished settling into their spots, Carter stood ready to speak.

‘We have concluded the digging out at Lambs Farm, and we have uncovered the remains of three people: Simone Levin, Tony Poulson and, this morning, Darren Slater. Those unexplained deaths, along with the murders of Millie Stephens and Nicola Stone, are presenting us with a huge challenge which we are meeting, but please be patient, this was never going to be easy.’ He took a drink of water and glanced down at Willis. She had notes in front of her that Janice had made into bullet-points for Carter, in case he got lost. She pointed a finger to the next paragraph for him.

‘With reference to the murder of Nicola Stone,’ he said, ‘the Independent Police Complaints Commission are going to be investigating the circumstances around any leaking of information about her whereabouts. We are appealing for anyone who knew Millie, known locally as Felicity, and anyone who has information about the day, the nineteenth of September, when she was last seen, to come forward. We don’t believe Millie would have gone into Lee Valley Park with someone she didn’t know. We also don’t believe that Nicola Stone would have opened the door to someone she didn’t know or trust in some way. Therefore, we believe the deaths might have direct links to the past and to the women’s time with Jimmy Douglas when he rented the bungalow at Hawthorn Farm.’ A hush descended on the room. ‘Jimmy Douglas has had links to these people; we know that, but not their deaths, necessarily. The investigations into these deaths are ongoing and involves the co-operation of several forces across the country and relevant teams who have been dealing with the individual missing persons investigations.’

‘Is Douglas going to get away with it again?’ asked someone from the back of the room as the questions started coming. ‘Darren Slater was seen getting into his van,’ the man continued. ‘Wasn’t Douglas questioned about his disappearance by the police?’

‘Yes, I believe so,’ answered Carter. ‘He was questioned but no evidence or DNA linking him to Darren was found at the time.’

‘At the time, yes, but what about now? Can you re-test?’ asked another journalist.

‘Unfortunately the van that Douglas owned was sold off at auction when the case was closed. As I said, we need all the public’s help on this we can get. We are in the early stages of this new investigation but we are confident it will lead to the conviction of whoever is responsible for these murders.’

‘What about Yvonne Coombes? Where is she, do you know?’

‘I cannot comment on that at present.’

‘Is someone picking off the disciples? Is this some kind of revenge because they never told the truth back in 2000?’

‘Perhaps . . .’ Carter stopped and almost glanced Bowie’s way, but caught himself before he did. ‘Some of the disciples still refuse to tell the truth about what happened to Heather Phillips or any of the others who disappeared after having some connection to Jimmy Douglas. The chain of silence that binds some of Douglas’s disciples still exists. If they told the truth, we would be further ahead than we are.’ There was a commotion in the room.

‘Are you saying you believe Cathy Dwyer, Stephen Perry and Gavin Heathcote are still covering for Douglas?’ a journalist asked from the back. Janice walked forwards along the edge of the room with the intent of bringing the conference to an end.

‘That’s right,’ answered Carter, ‘we need the public to come forward now. We want people to tell the truth about the parties they went to at Douglas’s bungalow on Hawthorn Farm. After sixteen years we finally need people to stand up and tell the truth.’ Janice hovered at the edge of the stage but one glance from Willis told her to stay there.

The camera flashes went berserk.

‘Do you think that Jimmy Douglas’s release from prison next year will be reconsidered?’

‘Let’s say, it’s in the balance.’ Carter ended the conference. Bowie stormed out ahead of him and waited in the corridor. When Carter caught up with him he took him out of earshot.

‘What the fuck were you thinking? Why didn’t you clear this with me before you shot your mouth off in front of the world’s press? It’s me that has to calm the commissioner down. For fuck’s sake, Dan! You’d better be absolutely sure of everything you said in there because I am now just as culpable as you. They are going to haul me over the coals for this. I’m no stranger to getting my arse scorched but this had better be worth it.’

‘We think it is. Yvonne Coombes has gone missing. She may have been killed, she may just be alive. Perhaps they have plans to keep her from testifying or even make her take the fall. Perry and Dwyer are putting together some new deal and I saw them with the Marbella Mafia. This could lead straight back to Douglas. This could be all about clearing a path for Douglas when he gets out. I want to put pressure on them, force them out in the open. I want to make them feel vulnerable.’





Chapter 42


Cathy Dwyer finished watching the press conference live on the TV and stood on the balcony of her apartment, resting her elbows on the tops of the green-tinted Perspex panels.

‘What the fuck is going on?’ she breathed into the phone as she dragged on her cigarette and turned her face from the biting wind. ‘Did you see the news?’

‘I saw it. What can they do?’ Perry answered. ‘The police are bluffing. Douglas will make it right. But we need to stop talking with one another.’