‘Have you found something, Mike?’
In answer Mike holds out something in a plastic evidence bag. Bradley sees a glint of orange.
‘What is it?’
‘It’s a badge,’ says Mike. ‘A child’s badge.’
Bradley looks closer and sees a grinning pumpkin head.
‘Where did you find it?’
‘About fifty metres away,’ says Mike. ‘It could be nothing but could be linked to the scene. It’s possible that a bird picked it up and then dropped it again. Gulls are attracted to shiny objects.’
‘It’s a Hallowe’en badge, isn’t it?’ says Bradley.
‘Jack O’Lantern,’ says Mike.
The name sparks a memory. DCI Nelson talking about Ivor March. Apparently he’d been part of a gang who’d called themselves the Lantern Men. Bradley gets out his phone and a few googles takes him from Jack O’Lantern to will-o’-the-wisps to lantern men.
Satan mockingly tossed him a burning coal which he put in a pumpkin to light his way as he endlessly wandered the earth looking for a resting place . . .
He dials Tanya’s number. ‘Ma’am, I think we’ve got something.’
*
‘It could be nothing,’ says Nelson. But it’s obvious from his expression that he doesn’t think so.
They are all crowded into the briefing room. Judy’s team, Tanya’s team and the sundry experts who make up the investigation: crime-scene investigators, civilian analysts, data specialists.
Tanya takes her time describing the find, enjoying the fact that everyone is looking at her and a few people are taking notes. But she gives full credit to DC Linwood and the search team. She’s not a monster, whatever Judy thinks.
‘Let’s not get too excited,’ says Nelson, looking angrier than ever, which for him counts as excited. ‘Someone could just have dropped it.’
‘It’s May,’ says Tanya, trying, not entirely successfully, for a neutral tone. ‘Why would anyone be wearing a Hallowe’en badge in May?’
Nelson doesn’t answer, which Tanya takes as acceptance of her point. She turns to Mike Halloran.
‘Mike, can you tell us where the badge was found?’
Mike speaks from his seat. ‘It was in the long grass about fifty metres away from the place where Heidi’s body was found. It’s possible, though, that it was left at the scene and picked up by a bird. Gulls, like magpies, are attracted to shiny objects. The bird would have soon realised that the badge was inedible and dropped it. It’s hard to see, otherwise, why it ended up so far from the path.’
‘And you’re pretty sure that Heidi wasn’t killed at the scene?’ says Nelson, speaking across Tanya in what she considers to be a rather impolite way.
‘Yes,’ says Mike, ‘the ground wasn’t disturbed and her body was lying on the grass as if it had been placed there. No soil or grass on her shoes.’
‘So someone transported Heidi and her bike to the middle of the marshes and left them there?’ says Nelson.
‘That’s what it looks like,’ says Tanya. She goes back to her notes. ‘Death was by manual strangulation. The pathologist thought she had been grabbed from behind. The fingermarks were indicative of this. No sexual assault and her clothes weren’t disturbed.’
‘Heidi wasn’t wearing her helmet,’ says Nelson. ‘I remember that her hair was loose.’
‘She was wearing it when she was spotted on the bike in Lynn earlier,’ says Tanya. ‘The killer must have taken it, along with her mobile phone.’
‘That could suggest that the killer is attracted to women with long blonde hair,’ says Judy. ‘He may have arranged her hair deliberately. I’ve seen the pictures. It was fanned out on the grass, almost like a photo shoot.’
‘March killed women with long, blonde hair,’ says someone.
‘Except Sofia Novak,’ says Nelson. ‘If the third body at the pub is hers.’
‘Even so,’ says Judy. ‘There are definite similarities, the victim’s physiology, the marshland setting. And then there’s the badge. That’s a clear reference to the lantern men.’
‘It’s possible,’ says Nelson, stressing the word. ‘Lighted pumpkins are sometimes linked to the legend of the lantern men.’
‘And Jenny wrote a story called “The Lantern Men”,’ says Judy.
This is news to Tanya. She wants to bring the conversation back to Heidi. After all, they know who killed Jenny McGuire. Now they have to find out who murdered Heidi Lucas. For her family’s sake, she tells herself.
‘We need to talk to everyone who was at that barbecue,’ she says. ‘That’s the link between Heidi and Ivor March. Judy,’ she turns graciously to her colleague, ‘maybe you should talk to Bob Carr and Leonard Jenkins, as you know them.’
‘What about Chantal?’ says Judy. She doesn’t look delighted to be given an assignment by Tanya. ‘She hates us both.’
‘You talk to Chantal,’ says Tanya. ‘I’ll take Crissy and the gardener bloke. Someone must know something.’
*
Ruth is staring at her computer screen, on which two rather annoying emails are displayed. The first is from the tenants of her cottage saying that for ‘personal reasons’, they will have to leave immediately, three months before their lease is up. The second is a group message from Shona containing a picture of Phil in his hospital bed giving the thumbs up sign.
Ruth sighs. The rental thing is a pain because it means that she’ll have to get new tenants and it’s difficult finding anyone interested in a rather shabby cottage on the edge of a lonely marsh. The second email just makes her feel guilty. She should have rung Shona. She should have visited Phil. She decides that she can rectify the first omission.
‘Hi, Shona. Is this a good time?’
‘Yes, fine,’ says Shona, sounding really pleased to hear from her, which makes Ruth feel even worse. ‘I’m at the gym.’
‘Really?’ Guilt is now pouring off Ruth, or maybe it’s just a hot flush. She used to be a member of a gym and used it ten times in ten years, which amounts to almost five hundred pounds a swim. Since moving to Cambridge, she hasn’t bothered to join another. Her only exercise is walking and the occasional swims with Kate.
‘I was just wondering how Phil was.’
‘Really good,’ says Shona, panting in a rather off-putting way. ‘He’s on the normal ward now and he might even come home at the weekend. In a way this heart attack has been a wake-up call. Phil’s determined to take things easier, not to work so hard, to eat more healthily and to take more exercise. We’re going to go on a yoga retreat together.’
‘Sounds great.’ It’s news to Ruth that Phil has ever worked too hard but she’s pleased that he’s on the road to recovery.
‘Give him my best,’ she says. ‘Give him my love’ would be overdoing it. ‘I’ll try to pop in and see him one day this week.’
‘Please do,’ says Shona. ‘He’s getting so bored. I think that’s a good sign, don’t you?’
‘Definitely. Shona?’
‘Yes.’ More panting.
‘Do you know where Phil kept his notes on the excavations at Ivor March’s girlfriend’s house? Were they on the laptop that got stolen?’
‘Yes, I’m afraid they were,’ says Shona. ‘Why?’
‘I just wanted to check something. I’ve read Phil’s report. I just wondered if there was anything else in his notes.’
‘I suppose they might have been stored to the Cloud. Shall I check?’
‘If you’ve got a moment that would be great,’ says Ruth. ‘I’d better let you get on with your exercise now.’
‘OK,’ says Shona. ‘Ciao.’ Ruth can hear her feet pounding on the treadmill.
*
‘Judy,’ says Nelson. ‘Can I have a word?’
He can tell Judy is angry with him. Her face is expressionless but he doesn’t have t
wo older sisters for nothing. Judy follows him into his office and sits down, carefully crossing her legs and her arms.
‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Larry Hanson,’ he says. ‘When Ruth told me about him, I just rushed straight over.’
Judy’s reaction tells him two things. One, he has clearly never apologised to her before. Two, she hasn’t forgotten something he told her two years ago about his feelings for Ruth.
‘That’s OK,’ she says. ‘Do you really think that there’s a link between the Grey Walls lot and Heidi?’
‘It’s possible. Look at the people who were there. Ivor, Bob, Leonard, Ailsa, Chantal and Crissy.’
‘God, what a cast list.’
‘Yeah. The party from hell. See what you can get from Bob and Leonard.’
‘I will.’
‘What do you think about Leonard Jenkins? There’s a link with Heidi through the cycling club.’
‘I’m keeping an open mind,’ says Judy, ‘but I can’t see it. I mean, he’s a teacher. I know . . .’ She sees that Nelson is about to speak. ‘Never assume and all that. But I can’t see why Leonard would kill Heidi. I mean, he can’t have been obsessed with her. He’s gay, for one thing.’
‘He was married to Ailsa though. Sometimes these things are complicated.’
‘I know. There could be a work link as well. Heidi was a teacher. Nicola Ferris too.’
‘That’s a possibility,’ says Nelson. Judy is silent for a minute and he knows that she is thinking. He also thinks he knows what she’s going to say next and he wishes that he could stop her.
‘Boss? What if Ivor March is innocent?’
‘You’re kidding.’ Nelson tries for bluster. ‘Has Cathbad got to you at last?’
Judy colours. ‘No, of course not. He just had a feeling, a presentiment, when we excavated Nicola and Jenny. But this last death has made me think. Whatever you say, Heidi’s murder does look like the others. And there’s the badge too. The link to the lantern men legend. And now Crissy’s talking about some mysterious fourth man. Is it possible that someone else has been responsible for the killings all along?’
‘No,’ says Nelson. ‘Ivor March killed Stacy, Jill, Nicola and Jenny. Sofia Novak too.’
‘But how can you be sure?’
‘Look, Judy,’ Nelson tries for an understanding tone. ‘This case has put a lot of strain on you—’
‘Don’t try that one on me,’ says Judy, sounding rather less than respectful to a senior officer. ‘I’m not cracking up. I’m just keeping an open mind, the way you’ve always taught me. Four women are killed, maybe five. A man is put in jail. Then another woman is killed in the same way. You’re the one who says that you don’t believe in coincidence.’
‘It’s not a coincidence,’ says Nelson. ‘That’s what worries me.’
‘You mean it might be a copycat?’
‘It worries me how many people know about the lantern men thing,’ says Nelson. ‘Jenny McGuire even wrote a story about it. John Robertson tells those stories to everyone who comes to Grey Walls. It wouldn’t be difficult for someone to stage this killing so that it looks like one of March’s.’
‘But why?’ says Judy. She no longer sounds resentful, she just sounds as if she wants to know.
‘So that we’d think that he was innocent,’ says Nelson.
‘Who would do that?’ says Judy. But Nelson can think of several names. He’s pretty sure that Judy can too.
*
When Ruth gets home, she finds that she has another athletic visitor. Laura’s bike is propped against the garden wall and Laura herself is on the sofa with Kate watching a Nickelodeon series about a teenage girl who inexplicably runs a Hollywood studio.
‘Laura’s here,’ says Kate.
It’s unnecessary information but Ruth is always glad to see the sisters together. For years they were unaware of each other’s existence and the revelation was painful in the extreme, but the upshot is that Kate has gained two adored older siblings. Laura, in particular, is very fond of Kate and often takes her out for thrilling jaunts to sacred places like Topshop or the Silver Shoes Bowling Alley.
‘I saw your bike outside,’ says Ruth. ‘Don’t say you cycled all the way from Lynn?’
‘No,’ says Laura, ‘but I’d love to do it one day. It’s a lovely ride along the Long Causeway. I left my car at the station and cycled over here. It’s the only way to get around in Cambridge.’
‘You’re right there,’ says Ruth. ‘I live in dread of running over a cyclist one day.’
‘You call them rude names,’ says Kate primly.
‘Only sometimes,’ says Ruth. ‘Do you want anything, Laura? Tea? Cold drink? Can you stay for supper?’
‘Frank’s making me some tea,’ says Laura. ‘And I can’t stay to supper, I’m afraid. I just popped in to see Kate and to give you this.’
She hands Ruth a flyer with the word ‘Sportive’ printed in large green letters.
‘It’s a bike race,’ explains Laura. ‘This Saturday, along the coast. Titchwell, Wells, Stiffkey, Blakeney, the Saltmarsh. I was wondering if you might like to come and cheer me on. My first race. Twenty-five miles. I’m very nervous.’
Frank comes into the room with two mugs of tea. He gives one to Laura and hands the other to Ruth.
‘What do you think, honey?’ he says. ‘Might be fun.’
‘Please can we go?’ says Kate. She’s not bothered about bikes, she would plead for anything if it meant spending time with Laura. But Ruth has already decided that they will go. She decided the moment that Laura mentioned the Saltmarsh.
Chapter 23
This time Judy and Tony meet Leonard before school and their welcome is markedly less warm.
‘This is bordering on harassment,’ says Leonard. They are in his office in the art department and he is very much in teacher mode, packing blue notebooks that look like reports into his bag.
‘It’s just a few questions,’ says Judy, sitting down to show that, nevertheless, the questions are serious. ‘I wanted to ask you about Lynn Wheels.’
‘What?’ A very teachery eyebrow raise.
‘Are you a member of a cycling club called Lynn Wheels?’
‘Yes, I am,’ says Leonard and his eye flickers towards the cycling helmet on his desk.
‘How often do you go there?’ she asks.
‘Most weeks. It’s a nice way to relax after work.’
Judy can’t see what’s so relaxing about cycling for miles but she always envies people who have hobbies. She really ought to get one.
‘Heidi Lucas, the woman who was murdered last week, was also a member of the club. Did you know her?’
Judy pushes a picture of Heidi across the desk. Leonard picks it up and examines it, squinting behind his black-framed glasses.
‘I think I recognise her,’ he says. ‘I don’t really know the younger members.’
‘Heidi was a teacher at Byways Comprehensive. That’s quite near here. Did you ever meet her at a training course or something like that?’
‘What did she teach?’
‘PE.’
‘I’m unlikely to have met her then.’ There’s a slight sneer in his voice and Judy remembers the way other teachers always seem to look down on the sports staff, perhaps because they wear their tracksuits all day long.
She gets out the photograph of the barbecue and the bonfire.
‘Do you remember this evening?’ she says. ‘July the fourth last year.’
Leonard adjusts his glasses as if this will help him answer the question. Judy waits.
‘Is that Heidi Lucas in the front of the picture?’ she says at last.
‘I think so. Yes.’
‘Several people say that you brought Heidi to the barbecue. That she was your guest.’
‘I . . . I may have don
e.’
‘You may have done?’
Another silence. ‘She was very pretty,’ says Tony.
Leonard turns on him. ‘What are you trying to imply? That I was interested in Heidi? Is that how you think it was?’
‘Why don’t you tell us how it was?’ says Judy.
Leonard takes off his glasses and rubs them. ‘I liked Heidi,’ he says at last. ‘She was interesting and intelligent. I thought that she’d like the group.’
‘The group? You told us that you weren’t in touch with Ivor March.’
‘I said I hadn’t been in touch since he was convicted of murdering those girls.’
That might be true but Judy had the distinct impression, from their earlier interview, that Leonard hadn’t seen Ivor for years. She will have to check her notes.
‘What about Jenny? Did you know her too?’
‘I only met her that once. She was one of Ivor’s students. Seemed a nice woman. I was very shocked when she . . . when she disappeared.’
‘She was murdered,’ says Judy. ‘Her body has been found.’ It’s in today’s papers including a piece in the Chronicle by Maddie entitled, ‘The lost girls of the marshes’.
‘Heidi was murdered too,’ she continues. ‘Two of the women in that picture are dead. You can see why we’re interested in your Independence Day party.’
Leonard rubs his eyes. ‘I can’t believe that anyone in the group would . . .’ He stops.
‘What where you doing on Thursday night?’ asks Judy.
‘I was at home with my husband.’
‘What time did you get home?’
‘About six. I was invigilating a GCSE art exam so it was a bit later than usual.’
‘Did you go out again after that?’
The Lantern Men Page 18