Cold as Ice (Willis/Carter #2)(71)

‘Steve must earn good money as a manager?’

‘Not bad but we have a lot of debts; we struggle to pay them.’

‘Debts? From what?’

‘Credit cards mainly – a few loans. Steve got in trouble with them. We owe sixty thousand pounds still. It cost us our house. I thought Steve was paying the mortgage but he wasn’t. I don’t even know what he was doing with all the money. He says he can’t remember, that the debts just mounted and he used one card to pay off another. I had a beauty salon until it all happened. I had the garage converted into a treatment room. It was so beautiful: candles, potted palms, lovely and relaxing. I had hoped to expand – get a proper premises. I lost my studio and my clients when it all blew up and we had to sell the house and move in here. So now I work in Simmons full-time.’

‘I’m sorry, Tracy. Life sucks sometimes.’

‘It’s not too bad. I’m grateful for the job and you never know what’s around the corner, do you?’ As she said the words Tracy realized how ridiculous they sounded. She turned away, turned on the tap and began washing the sink.

‘You’re right, and sometimes things just force you into decisions. Life could turn around for you. You could still have a baby. You’re young enough,’ said Jeanie.’

‘Maybe we’ll think about having a child in a few years if the money situation improves. I have big regrets. I wish I’d kept Danielle. I was just a kid and I thought the Fosters were lovely: I thought they were much better than me; they’d do a better job than I could. What did I know about babies? I was just fifteen. But it sounds like she had a horrible childhood. I could have given her better than that. I realize that now.’

‘Tracy, when Danielle talked to you about Gerald Foster, do you remember her making any actual allegations against him?’

‘She said she and him didn’t get on. She said he kicked her out when she got pregnant. She continued to see Marion Foster. I’m not sure if Gerald knew that or approved.’

‘Nothing improper though?’

She looked at Jeanie. ‘Improper? You think he assaulted her?’

‘We don’t know anything at the moment, Tracy. We have to look at this from as many angles as we can.’ Jeanie went across to the table in the lounge and picked up the bag containing the puppets. ‘I think that it’s best to keep Jackson here for now.’





Chapter 32


Carter walked down the corridor to Bowie’s office. Bowie looked ready to leave.

Carter popped his head inside the door.

‘You off?’

‘Yeah, but not for ten minutes. Come in, Dan.’ Carter closed the door behind him. ‘Sit down and tell me how it’s going with the undercover operation.’

‘It was test day today, so she’s had a lot to cope with, getting her legend right, juggling a lot of balls in the air at once but she’ll be okay. She’s home now so I’m off the hook for the evening. I need to go home and get some rest.’

‘Fancy a drink?’

Carter shook his head and laughed. ‘I’m too tired.’

‘Yeah, we both know that’s a lie. You’re under the thumb.’

‘Maybe. But I have to give my relationship with Cabrina my best shot. What I don’t need is complications.’

‘If you change your mind text me.’

‘I have to go.’ Carter stood, took his buzzing phone from his pocket and looked at the message on the screen. ‘I would say I hear my conscience screaming in my ear but it’s actually Robbo – just got a message he wants to see me. Have fun.’

Robbo was on his own in his office when Carter walked in. Pam and the other two researchers had gone home.

He looked up as Carter entered.

‘I was double-checking the timeline of events. I thought it looked familiar – check out his address.’ He showed Carter a piece of paper. ‘Remember the man who was there when the boys discovered Emily Styles’ body?’

Carter looked at it and squinted for a few seconds as he thought about it.

‘You’re kidding me?’

Carter parked up outside Gerald Foster’s house and watched for a few minutes from the street. The place looked unlived-in; it was dark but Foster’s van was in the driveway. It was just gone ten. He rang Robbo again.

‘Any news of the hit-and-run driver who killed Niall Manson?’

‘None.’

‘I’m tempted to get a forensic team over here to check out Foster’s van.’

‘Discreet for now,’ answered Robbo. ‘If he is Hawk the main thing is to get Danielle back. We scare him off we could blow it. He hasn’t done anything wrong that we can book him for.’

‘He’s connected to two parts of this inquiry.’

‘Could just be coincidence.’

‘There’s no such thing as coincidence. I’m sure I learnt that from you!’

Carter walked up the drive and as he did so he took a good look at Foster’s van as best he could in the light from the streetlights. Even in this light he could see it had been recently repaired – there was fresh paint and a new bumper. Carter took out his phone and photographed the repair work. The flash lit up the night. Foster appeared from around the side of the house.