Their Lost Daughters (DI Jackman & DS Evans #2)(94)

Jackman swallowed hard and felt his cheeks grow hot. ‘But there was hard evidence! Forensic evidence. Photographs, witnesses.’

‘Nothing that would hold up in court. And some of the things that you mentioned don’t seem to exist anymore.’ Ruth seemed to deflate as he watched. ‘He is a powerful man, and a dangerous one, Rowan. As I said, the outcome is the best that we could hope for, and I suggest you leave well alone.’

Jackman thought about how devastated Marie would be at the news. He quietly said, ‘So some other poor innocents in a different area get the benefit of his filthy attentions?’

‘Maybe not.’ The super smiled like the Mona Lisa. ‘He’s not the only one with friends in high — and low — places.’ The smile broadened. ‘I have taken it upon myself to put a few influential people in the know, so to speak. If you check the Police Gazette, I would be expecting to see news of an early retirement in the next few weeks. It’s not the result you would have liked, Rowan, I know. And it’s far from what he deserves, but at least it will remove him from a position of influence on the force. It’s the most I can achieve without opening Pandora’s Box.’

Jackman relaxed his grip on the door handle. He knew how things worked. ‘Thank you, ma’am.’

‘My pleasure, believe me.’

*

Marie listened to what Jackman had to say, then gave him a resigned smile. ‘I should have known that whatever I did it wouldn’t be enough. Not with a snake like that.’

‘If Ruth Crooke is true to her word, and I believe she will be, that man will not be able to glance out of a window without spotting someone from Vice looking back at him.’

‘I hope he burns in hell.’

‘Ditto,’ said Jackman, picking up his phone. ‘Gary? Yes . . . yes . . . Right! Excellent, we’ll see you in ten.’

He stood up. ‘Asher has regained consciousness and he wants to see us.’

They ran down to the yard, and in less than ten minutes were looking down at the sleeping form of Asher Leyton.

‘The doctors say he is very lucky,’ Gary whispered. ‘The damage was not as severe as first thought, and since he woke up all he has done is ask about his sister.’

‘Which one? Elizabeth or Fleur?’ asked Marie.

‘Kenya. He says that she is his baby sister.’

They sat at the bedside, waiting for Asher to wake up.

Jackman grinned at Gary. ‘We’ve been told that Harlan Marsh Police Station has hung out the bunting and is planning a massive party now that Cade has gone. But I was rather hoping that you might like to stay on here in Saltern-le-Fen?’

Gary broke into a smile. ‘Really?’

‘There is a place for you in our team, if you’d like it?’

Before Gary could answer, Asher moaned and opened his eyes.

‘She is safe, Asher,’ Jackman said softly. ‘Kenya is being cared for, and she’s perfectly safe now.’

Tears fell from the young man’s eyes. ‘That’s good, that’s good.’

‘She says you saved her. Is that right?’

Asher gave an almost imperceptible nod.

‘From Toby?’

‘He found her playing on a beach. He brought her back to Windrush, but I saw him.’ Asher swallowed loudly.

‘So you took her and hid her away?’

‘My sister Fleur died, and I missed her so much. I was only a baby but I remembered her and I always loved her. She had such a terrible life. I thought that the same was going to happen to Kenya, and I couldn’t let that happen, could I?’

Tears flooded down his cheeks. One of the nurses bustled in, declaring that her patient should rest.

Jackman stood up. ‘We’ve heard enough.’

‘I’m so tired,’ yawned Marie.

‘I’m exhausted,’ Gary added.

‘Is it any wonder?’ Jackman shook his head. ‘Who in their right mind would choose to do this job?’

‘We would!’ said Marie and Gary in unison.

Jackman just nodded.





EPILOGUE

Jackman and Marie walked across the marsh at Roman Creek. Apart from the wind rustling the reeds and the cries of the seabirds, all was quiet. No one sang beneath the ground, and no one ever would again. The tunnel had been sealed, closed up forever by experts using a very large amount of hardcore, best-quality cement.

‘I cannot believe that a year has gone by, can you?’ Marie pushed a hand through her thick chestnut, windblown hair.

‘I don’t know about that. All I know is that I’m still wading through the sodding paperwork.’ Jackman looked back to where the brooding old Victorian Gothic house called Windrush had once looked out over the marsh towards the Wash.

Jackman leant back against an old weather-worn cattle trough and gazed out to where the horizon met the sky. ‘Speaking about reports, Ruth Crooke heard from CID at Harlan Marsh just before we came out. One of their crews had a shout to a small fire in a deserted old public house on the edge of the marsh. When they broke in, guess what they found?’

‘Go on, surprise me.’

Jackman smiled. ‘Let me just say that the beer cellar had been used for other purposes.’ He gave a little nod of satisfaction. ‘The last missing link, I believe. It completely ties in with Toni Clarkson’s description of the place she and Emily were abducted from. Forensics will confirm, but it’s almost certainly the missing drinking club venue.’