Their Lost Daughters (DI Jackman & DS Evans #2)(52)
As he walked back along the tunnel he could hear Rory’s voice. ‘Oh no! Not like that, dear heart! Please! Think egg-shells and butterfly wings, not bloody great sides of beef!’
Jackman smiled to himself. He was mighty glad that Rory Wilkinson was heading up this forensics operation. If there were answers waiting in that chamber of horrors, Rory Wilkinson would unearth them.
*
On his return to Saltern-le-Fen, Marie met him in the front office. ‘Gary’s brought Benedict Broome in as instructed. But there was something of a problem, I’m afraid.’
‘Why, what happened?’
‘Oh, it’s nothing to do with Broome himself, sir. It was his housekeeper, a woman called Elizabeth Sewell. She collapsed and she’s now being checked out in A&E. It happened when she saw the uniforms marching up the garden path. Benedict told Gary that she’s of a “nervous disposition.” He said she’s a patient at the psychiatric out-patients department at Saltern General. We decided to get her thoroughly checked out, just to be on the safe side, especially as we’ll most likely be wanting to interview her.’ Marie sniffed. ‘And don’t worry, we have two officers with her until we can bring her in and neither will ask her about the case, so the clock won’t start ticking until she’s released from hospital care.’
Rory’s question sprung to Jackman’s mind. “Are you sure it’s a man?”
‘And Micah Lee?’
‘He’s safe at Harlan Marsh.’
Jackman checked his watch. They would be able to detain Broome and Lee without charge for thirty-six hours, twenty-four on his authority, and then a further twelve on that of the super. From what they had found at Windrush, he had no qualms at all about arresting them, but he needed to find evidence to tie them to the crime. And given the amount of forensic work involved, they hadn’t a hope in hell of getting answers before the time limitations expired. Every second counted, but they needed a bucket-load of luck too.
‘Can I have a quiet word before the debriefing, sir?’
‘Of course. We’ll use my office.’
Marie followed him in, closed the door and sat down.
Jackman leaned back in his chair. ‘Fire away.’
‘When you went back underground with Rory, I walked out over the marsh for a while, trying to clear my head. I hadn’t gone more than a couple of hundred yards when I heard whispering. In the shadows of evening and after seeing what we’d just seen, it was seriously weird.’
Jackman looked at her. ‘The ghosts of Hobs End Marsh?’
‘No, it was you.’
‘Me?’ Jackman exclaimed.
‘It took a while to realise that you and Rory Wilkinson were right beneath my feet in the tunnel to the Children’s Ward. There must be air ducts or shafts or something, but they distort the sound and it’s really strange! Now I know why the marsh has such a reputation, and why Gary’s sister heard voices but he didn’t. It would depend where you were standing.’
‘So she was hearing real people underground! Gary will be pleased to hear that.’
‘And we should be too, because it could answer the question of the singing.’
He nodded slowly as the frightening picture became clear. ‘The killer actually sang as he walked the tunnels to the Children’s Ward?’
‘Well, we know he’s been coming here for years, and smugglers before him, so that might explain the superstitions.’
‘The lights on the marsh at night could be connected too. If there are shafts coming up from the tunnel, and we already know that he ran power from the barn down to the subterranean room, maybe there were points of light up on the surface sometimes? If the shafts can conduct sound, why not light?’ Jackman grinned at her. ‘Well done, Detective! You’ve just scuppered the Ghostly Legend of Hobs End Marsh!’
‘And I feel very good about it. All this talk of creepy goings-on was freaking me out. I like facts.’
‘Okay, well our next job is entirely about facts. It’s time for the debriefing. Is everyone here?’
‘Yes, sir. They are all in the murder room waiting for you.’
‘Right, I’ll be there as soon as I’ve reported to Superintendent Crooke. And after the debrief we can interview Broome.’ Jackman felt a slight thrill pass through him. ‘And, Marie? Great work.’
*
Ruth Crooke looked even more haggard than last time Jackman had seen her. ‘Was it as bad as they tell me?’
‘Probably, ma’am. Maybe worse. I don’t know what they said.’
‘Whatever, I’m sorry you had to be the one to walk in on such a terrible thing, Jackman.’
He shrugged. ‘Better me than a family man with young girls of his own.’
‘And you have Broome and his caretaker in custody?’
‘Yes, I’ll be interviewing them as soon as I’ve debriefed the team. Do you want to be present for that, ma’am?’
‘No, you go ahead. I’ve got the assistant chief constable hanging around my neck, and then there’s the media to sort out.’
Jackman gasped. ‘Surely we’re not going public this soon? Hell, I really need a bit of space before the frenzy begins.’
She gave him a tired half-smile. ‘Cool down, Detective. I’ll hold it off for as long as I possibly can. I just need to be ready to jump in before someone leaks it. You know I can’t keep the lid on something of this magnitude for long. We’ve got half the Fenland Constabulary out on Hobbs End Marsh, and whereas it’s hardly a bustling metropolis, people do notice. They talk, and they ask questions, and if we don’t give them something to satisfy them, they put two and two together and come up with bloody five.’