Frozen Grave (Willis/Carter #3)(81)

‘Normally, it works like clockwork. As long as you do the same things at the same time every day then you can keep control of it. Nothing can be left to chance.’

‘It doesn’t feel . . . difficult? You don’t feel like you’re being a bastard?’

‘I’m giving the women a part of me. I’m giving them what they want. I don’t go into it thinking that it won’t work out. All of the women have meant something to me.’

‘But you just can’t finish it, or what?’

‘I don’t want to finish it.’

‘Do you have any idea who could have written the letter?’

‘I think it must be one of the five that I see almost every week. Some of the women on the list I call in at for lunch, for the afternoon; they just wouldn’t have a chance to look at my phone. It has to be a woman who I spend the night with. Is someone trying to frame me for the murders?’

‘Perhaps.’

‘I didn’t do it.’

‘I don’t think they’re seriously thinking that you were anywhere near, but they obviously suspect you of having organized them. It’s about the money. It’s all about the women giving you money and ending up dead. I want you to go home and stay home. No more going around the country visiting women.’

‘I have work to do. I won’t give in to this bullshit. The women’s deaths have nothing to do with me. It’s up to the police to prove it.’

‘Well, believe me, they are going to try. These were completely innocent victims in all this, John. I won’t lie – you don’t come out of this smelling so good.’

‘I don’t know what you’re implying. I’ve done nothing wrong.’

‘Technically, maybe not. Morally? That’s a different question. I think most people would consider it wrong to go round the country using women as you go. You told me yourself that some of them are single parents, one of them has been with you for five years. I mean – I like the odd fling, but all these women, really? And the money that they’ve parted with – in good faith?’

‘Absolutely in good faith and I resent the implication that they’ve been conned out of money. They knew what they were getting into.’

‘Yeah, that’s the bit that I can see Detective Inspector Carter is not buying. The women must have been promised something in exchange for the money. What they obviously got is nothing. Added to that, two have ended up dead.’





Chapter 44


Carter and Willis returned to the Dark Side after the interview was over. Carter was bristling.

‘What did you think? Was he telling the truth?’ They talked as they walked back down the corridor and caught the lift back up to the third floor.

‘No, guv. He was as shifty as it’s possible to be. He is arrogant enough to think he can get away with anything. You could see his mind churning, trying to decide what to admit to and what not to. It’s a good job we didn’t tell him we had the letter before the interview.’

‘Yeah. The letter was a surprise and a half. We are going to get some flak for that. Petron will lodge a complaint. He’s a difficult lawyer to work with. He knows how we think; he likes to try and be a step ahead.’

‘Do you think we should make it a priority to find out who sent it, guv? If Ellerman is a killer then he’ll go after them. Harding could be at risk.’

‘Warn her to be vigilant. But I think he’d have to be very sure first and we know it’s not Harding. Plus, she hasn’t invested any money in his company.’

‘Do we know it wasn’t Harding who wrote the letter, guv?’

He looked at her and shook his head incredulously. ‘Willis – you have to start trusting someone. You can’t live your whole life thinking that everyone is a liar. What happened when you went back to see your mum?’

‘I have my dad’s name and his picture. I know a bit about him but not a lot.’

‘Enough to trace him though, I expect.’

‘Maybe.’

‘What, you haven’t started yet?’

‘No. I’m thinking about it. Plus, it’s a busy time here at work.’

‘It’s always a busy time. And you know – you should think about taking that holiday. Make it to the Caribbean and go and find him.’

‘He may be over here.’

‘Exactly. Start looking.’

‘I’m not sure I want to feed my mother the hope that she’s looking for.’

‘She has a plan?’

‘Oh, yes, and she must be getting careless because she told me it. She thinks that if she wanted, if she really wanted it, then she could get out of there. My father is just to feed her ego. Give her hope, as she calls it. She hopes to use him, the same way as she uses everyone. It’s still all about her. She shows no remorse for anything she’s done.’

They walked into Robbo’s office.

‘Robbo? I got your message; what’s up?’

‘Has Harding had a reply from the message she sent the Dogger?’

‘No, not yet.’

‘We checked the messages she’s exchanged over the last year. The ones where the words “I’ll be waiting” were used is basically the Dogger and one other. We’re still tracing that one other. By the way – Toffee’s friends and protégés? We found Spike – dead in a doorway. Martine was seen at the railway station but she’s not been seen again. Mason still hasn’t been seen since his encounter with Willis in the garage. And Lolly, we know, is dead.’