Their Lost Daughters (DI Jackman & DS Evans #2)(24)

Marie took down the boy’s name and number.

‘We’ll see if he recalls anything that might help us. Now, can you tell me if you’ve ever heard about an illegal, underage drinking club? One that regularly changes its venue?’

The vicar leaned forward. ‘Whoa there! My lads wouldn’t go near that sort of place.’

‘I’m sure they wouldn’t,’ Marie said. ‘But they might have heard rumours about it, mightn’t they?’

The vicar sat back again. ‘I suppose so. Boys?’

Ethan shook his head. ‘I’ve never heard of it, but I’d guess Toni Clarkson could help you. She was always on about some place where you could get legless for free. Not my kind of scene.’ He bit his lip. ‘And, if you must know, that was one reason why we broke up.’

‘Good thing she dumped you. Cheap tart,’ muttered Nicholas. But Jackman had seen his expression. Nicholas knew more about the drinking club than he was letting on.

‘And you, Nicholas? Anything filtered your way?’

‘Nah.’ He shifted slightly in his seat. ‘Dunno what you’re on about.’

Jackman did not believe him, and he knew Marie didn’t either, but neither of them commented. It would be better to get the boy on his own. ‘And finally, Reverend Barley, would you know who holds a key for the old chapel out on the Fen Road?’

Jackman glanced quickly at the two boys. Ethan maintained an indifferent expression, but Nicholas gave a small start that he hastened to cover up.

‘Well, I do actually. Why do you ask?’ The vicar looked bemused.

‘We are checking all deserted and unsafe buildings,’ said Jackman. ‘Because of the missing girl. Could we please trouble you to either unlock it for us, or let us have the key temporarily?’

‘Of course. I’ll get it for you now.’ He eased himself up, and the sofa squeaked again, probably with relief.

He came back and handed Jackman a metal keyring with a tattered card label attached to it. ‘I wouldn’t like to say how long it is since the door was opened, DI Jackman. I think it must have been last autumn when we had all those high winds. The bell tower collapsed and we checked inside for other damage. Since then it’s remained shut up.’

Jackman wasn’t so sure about that. He nodded and took the keys.

The vicar glanced at the mantle clock. ‘I’d come with you, but I have an appointment with one of my parishioners in fifteen minutes.’

‘No problem, sir. We’ll bring them straight back.’ Marie looked around and smiled. ‘Maybe one of your lads would like to come down there with us?’

‘No way.’ Nicholas rose from his couch with unprecedented speed and headed for the door. ‘Stuff to do.’

Ethan placed a hand behind one ear. ‘Oh yeah. I can hear the plaintive cry of an abandoned PlayStation.’

‘Get stuffed!’

‘I’ll go with you.’ Ethan didn’t sound exactly enthusiastic, but he had volunteered.

‘Good boy,’ said the vicar. ‘Do you have children, DI Jackman?’

‘No, although my brother has boys and, when I can, I spend time with them.’

The vicar shook his head. ‘Well, they are a blessing and a curse. I somehow suspect that Nicholas will not be following in his brother and sister’s footsteps to university.’

‘I doubt he’ll even make it to the Job Centre,’ added Ethan grimly.

The reverend sighed. ‘We mustn’t give up on him, son. Maybe he’ll surprise us all one day.’

By the look of his younger son, the only surprise Reverend Barley was likely to get would be an unpleasant one.

As Jackman drove back towards the chapel he glanced in the rear view mirror at Ethan. He was not the kind of boy he had expected, considering Neil and Ellen Clarkson’s rather scathing opinion of him. Above all, even disregarding their age difference, Jackman could not picture him with the belligerent, lippy young Toni.

‘So what are you studying?’ Jackman asked, smiling into the mirror.

‘Politics and International Relations. I’m doing a degree at Nottingham.’

‘Are you going to specialise?’

‘I’m planning on doing Globalisation in my third year.’

‘Interesting. Did I hear your father mention that your sister is also at uni?’

Ethan’s narrow face broke into a smile. ‘Oh yes. Daybreak is the brains of the family.’

‘Daybreak?’ Marie queried.

‘Her name’s Dawn, but she hates it. She calls herself, Danni. Daybreak’s my version of her real name. She’s at Oxford studying Theology. Dad is over the moon. If it weren’t for Nick, he’d really believe he’d been thrice blessed.’

‘You do know that your brother knows about this drinking club?’ said Marie casually.

‘What? Nick? You’re kidding!’ Ethan laughed. ‘Nick would need satnav to find his own belly button. He’s thick as sh—, as two short planks. He’d never be clever enough to keep quiet about something like that.’

‘I wouldn’t be so sure,’ said Marie. ‘He reacted when we mentioned it. He almost slid down the back of the couch.’

‘I can’t believe that.’

Jackman gave a shrug. ‘We’ll see, shall we? Forgive me for saying this, but what on earth did you see in Toni Clarkson? You two seem poles apart.’