Frozen Grave (Willis/Carter #3)(69)

‘No. Neither do I.’

‘You risked your own career to help him, even though it didn’t work out?’

He nodded. ‘I did it willingly. It held me back, of course, let’s be honest. I was labelled as a trouble-maker, a maverick – definitely not a team player. I was posted out as a woody to the other end of Hertfordshire for a few years and I had to fight to work my way back. It’s worth it. You have to be in the system to change it. You know, Eb, my dad taught me the ethics of hard work and doing right by people. He has respect for folks. He listens to people in his cab and he knows about humanity. He taught me some invaluable lessons. But maybe the biggest lesson I learnt was not one he ever meant to teach me – never settle for less than you set your dreams on. Never let life grind you down, there’s no such thing as bad luck – even when you’re dealt a shit hand, come back smiling. That’s what Scott did in the end – he just has to practise the smile a bit more.’

‘I’m not sure he should have stayed in the police force,’ said Willis. ‘He’s never going to get promoted.’

Carter glanced over at her. ‘Is that all it’s about for you, Eb?’

‘No, of course it’s not, but my career is massive to me and I expect that in someone . . . in someone . . . I think is worthy of more.’

‘Someone you fancy? Say it!’ he teased. ‘Say that you might like to have his babies.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous.’ They finished their coffee and Carter began driving.

‘What’s ridiculous?’ He laughed as they drove past the petrol station and rejoined the motorway. ‘Cabrina said it would happen one day and so did Jeanie. I didn’t believe it until I saw you with Scott – perfect match.’ He glanced over and smiled as he accelerated into the fast lane.

‘No, we’re not,’ she said indignantly.

‘In what way aren’t you?’

‘In every way – I will never leave the Met. I know where I belong and it’s not in Devon and he doesn’t belong anywhere else.’

‘One of those long-distance relationships then,’ Carter teased.

‘No, because in the end, one of us would have to give up something really important and it would have to be me because he’s never coming back to London and he’s never making it higher than a DS.’

‘For someone who’s adamant she doesn’t fancy Scott, you’ve really thought this through.’

She didn’t answer; she looked out of the window and watched the scenery change. Carter rang Robbo.

‘Can you also run a check on all the owners of Aston Martins in the UK, Robbo? One was seen regularly outside Gillian Forth’s house,’ Carter said.

‘Okay, will get on it. Did she definitely die in the fire? She wasn’t killed first?’

‘No. She had no chance of escape. She was in an attic room when the fire started. It went straight from the front door up the stairs – chimney effect. She fried, basically.’

Carter came off the phone to Robbo.

‘Eb – ring Ellerman for me. I want to talk to him.’

He could hear rock music in the background as Ellerman answered the call.

Jump . . . Jump for your love . . .

‘Mr Ellerman? Detective Inspector Carter here.’

‘Yes?’

The music disappeared.

‘Sorry if this is a difficult time to call. You seem to be always working away somewhere.’

‘What can I help you with, Inspector?’

‘Have you heard of the name Gillian Forth?’

‘Who? Sorry?’

‘Gillian Forth?’

‘No . . . I don’t think so. Should I?’

‘You might have seen something about her on the news. She lived in Exeter. She was killed in an arson attack on her home a week last Tuesday.’

‘No, I didn’t see it, sorry. How awful.’

‘She worked for a company called Dreamcars – you’re one of its clients.’

‘Oh, really? Never heard of them. I can’t help you then, sorry. I have no idea who she was.’

‘You sound distracted.’

‘I’m driving, that’s all.’

‘Hands-free phone?’

‘Yes. Of course.’

‘You seem strangely connected to the death of two women. I need to know where you were on that Tuesday evening.’

‘I was with a friend.’

‘I need the friend’s address and I need to talk to her or him to confirm it . . . and, Mr Ellerman . . . just to let you know – we will be applying for Gillian Forth’s phone records and we will be analysing all her computer data. If I find that your name crops up, I’m going to request your phone records and I am going to go through your life with a fine-tooth comb.’ Carter hung up. ‘Slippery fuck – that’s what he’s been called and that’s what he is.

‘I need to write up my report on today, guv,’ Willis said as they drove past the road to Fletcher House.

‘Yeah, but it’s ten o’clock and I want to make sure we get in early tomorrow for a meeting at eight.’

‘I’ll be there, no problem.’

‘I know, but I need you to come in two hours before that. We’ll check things through then and write up today.’