Cold as Ice (Willis/Carter #2)(21)

Trevor shook his head sadly; his eyes were distant. ‘It’s an ancient Norse saying about the sea. We lost our son, Emily’s younger brother, when she was ten. He drowned off the beach in Cornwall. They were playing at the water’s edge. The next minute there was just Emily and he was gone. It was a calm day. He was only up to his knees. We will never know how it happened. They told us the current took him.’ Trevor shook his head again, his eyes misted as he still tried to understand what had happened. He looked up at them. ‘It looked so calm on the surface; we never knew there was a rip tide. Emily never got over it. She never went near the sea again. She was not the same girl afterwards. None of us were. You never get over something like that. Makes you feel like nothing you have is for ever.’

Elaine held the tea towel against her face, smothering her cries.

Ebony looked at Carter and he nodded; his eyes went to Jeanie and then flicked towards the door.

Jeanie stepped forward to hug Elaine Styles.

‘I think the best thing is if you come with me now and we go and see if it’s Emily.’

Mr Styles looked up and nodded. He looked at his wife.

She nodded.

‘Will you lock up? Elaine asked him.

The couple sat in the back of Carter’s car with Jeanie. Ebony looked across at Carter, who was driving. In the year she had worked with him she was still learning about his character. Things affected him that she didn’t think would. He was feeling it today. He kept his eyes on the road. He was saying the bare minimum. It was a Sunday morning. Shoppers were beginning to feel the Christmas lure. The sun had come out to start melting the snow. The car was silent until Trevor Styles asked:

‘Where did you find her?’

Carter looked in the mirror as he answered.

‘She was found in King’s Cross, Mr Styles, in the Regent’s Canal.’

‘Did she drown?’

‘No. We think she was strangled.’

Elaine turned her head away and sobbed quietly.

Ebony waited outside the mortuary with Mrs Styles whilst Carter and Jeanie took Mr Styles into the viewing room.

‘I think it’s better that we stand here, Trevor.’ Jeanie led him to stand before a large window in the viewing room. They looked onto the body, laid out beneath a shroud. Only her face was showing. Mark had done a good job on her. They stood behind the glass.

‘Yes.’ He nodded. ‘It’s my daughter.’

Carter felt Mr Styles sway next to him. He turned to look at his reaction.

‘Her face looks so strange.’

Carter nodded. ‘The water.’ Trevor Styles was staring at Carter as if at any moment he might make a run for it. ‘But are you sure it’s her, Mr Styles?’

Trevor Styles’ face had lost all colour. ‘Yes.’ Words caught in his throat in a mixture of anguish and catarrh. ‘I’m sure. It’s my daughter Emily.’

Carter placed his hand on Mr Styles’ shoulder.

‘I’m sorry for your loss.’

Trevor Styles bowed his head and nodded. Carter led him back out to the reception area where he hugged his wife as she cried openly. His eyes stayed on Carter.

‘Will you find whoever did this?’

Carter nodded. ‘I give you my word.’ He waited until Mrs Styles drew back from her husband. ‘Is it okay if we take you home and ask you some questions? We will try to keep it as brief as possible,’ he asked.

Elaine was about to object but Trevor Styles answered.

‘Yes. The sooner we find out who did this and bring them to justice the sooner my wife and I can rebuild our lives – and there’s Sky to think of. Life has to go on now. We have to make the best of it for Sky.’

Back at their home Jeanie went into the kitchen and helped Elaine make tea for them all. Willis and Carter went into the lounge with Trevor.

Ebony watched him as he went to stand and look out of the window; outside the sky had clouded and the daylight was fast slipping away. It was three in the afternoon but already streetlamps were coming on.

Trevor stood in silence in the dark room, looking into the space beyond the net curtains. People passed as they walked home. The lights of cars lit up his face as they passed. Ebony was a good waiter and watcher. Life had taught her to be an observer. Life had taught her to wait for emotions and not to drag them out of people – they had a habit of coming out whether it was a good time or not. But then life had given her a bipolar mother who had ultimately killed someone. In between, Ebony had watched the kettle stay at boiling point her whole life. She saw no reason in agitating water that was already boiling, even if you couldn’t see it. It could still explode in your face.

Carter was always in a hurry. Always wanting to fill the silence. He looked over at Willis, wanting Ebony to be the first to break the silence, but she didn’t.

‘Once again.’ said Carter. ‘I am sorry for your loss, Mr Styles.’

Trevor Styles turned from the window and nodded his thanks. Styles looked across at Ebony.

‘Mr Styles,’ began Carter, ‘I’m going to get a few questions out of the way, if you don’t mind? I apologize if they sound offensive or cause distress but you will understand I’m only doing what I have to so that we can find who did this to Emily.’

‘I understand. Ask whatever you need to. I’ll answer if I can.’