‘We just can’t give him anything, you know? We have to nail this prick, for Angela’s sake,’ Imogen said.
She knew that Adrian meant what he was saying at the time he said it, but all of that could go out of the window the moment they saw Corrigan with his wife.
Imogen felt the burden of having Adrian with her – in this particular case, he wasn’t so much a partner to her as another variable she had to make sure didn’t go to shit. Maybe Matt Walsh was right when he said she was ready for more responsibility. Maybe she was letting Adrian hold her back. She felt disloyal even thinking it.
‘I should tell you that Walsh knows about us,’ Imogen said.
‘You told him?’
‘No. He asked me about it on the way back from Shropshire. I couldn‘t lie when he asked me directly.’
‘Is he going tell the DCI?’
‘He says not.’
‘Do you believe him?’ Adrian asked.
‘Well, he hasn’t said anything so far. Plus, he reckons she already knows. He said it’s kind of obvious.’
‘What does he think we should do?’
‘Nothing, by the sounds of it. If we tell the DCI, then she has to act on it. He thinks that’s why she is ignoring it.’
‘So why did he mention it?’
‘Because …’ Imogen paused and took a deep breath. ‘Maybe it’s messing up our ability to do our jobs properly.’
‘He means me, though, doesn’t he? Not you. Not perfect Imogen.’
‘That’s not fair,’ Imogen said, hurt by his words. Where did that come from?
‘Maybe that’s what he wants. He wants you to either drop me as a partner or as a boyfriend so that he can swoop in and save the day; be your shoulder to cry on under the guise of protecting your career.’
‘Are you taking the piss right now? What are you talking about?’
Imogen was taken aback. It was unlike him to be jealous. She might be angry with him if she didn’t suddenly remember the fact that she had checked the call history on his phone without his permission.
‘Sounds to me like Matt wants to spend some quality time with you.’
‘So, he can’t just think I am a good police officer? He must fancy me because I don’t hold any value in any other capacity, is that what you’re saying?’
‘I didn’t say that.’
‘For what it’s worth, he made a good argument for why we shouldn’t work together anymore. For a start, we’d be talking about the case right now instead of our own bullshit.’
‘I’ll follow your lead, Imogen. Whatever you think is best.’
‘So, it’s all on me? Wonderful.’
‘Seems like no one talks to me about these things anyway,’ Adrian said. ‘You’re the adult in this relationship, judging by the way everyone is always talking to you about what we should be doing.’
As irritating as Adrian’s petulant behaviour was, at least this was a conversation.
‘That’s not fair.’
‘So, let’s talk about the case, then. Who does that body belong to?’
Imogen blew out her cheeks in exasperation before speaking again.
‘We have reason to believe it’s someone Angela knows, so we can assume she’s connected to her in some way. A friend, maybe.’
‘Do we know if Gary had any luck gaining information about previous contacts they may have had in Shropshire?’ Adrian asked.
‘Call him and find out.’
Adrian pulled out his phone and called Gary, putting him on speakerphone.
‘Where are you guys?’ Gary said.
‘On our way to the Corrigan construction site. We think Angela Corrigan has gone there to speak to her husband about the body under the greenhouse. Any news on that?’
‘Nothing yet; they are still getting it out, as far as I know. Officer Hasan called in to update us about fifteen minutes ago. The paramedics didn’t manage to save Jimmy Chilton, I’m afraid. After Adrian left the scene, they got him out and put him in the ambulance, but he died before they even got to the hospital.’
‘We didn’t think there was much hope they would be able to,’ Adrian said.
‘What about the identity of the body under the greenhouse? Have you got any ideas about who it may be?’ Imogen said.
‘None, but I did find something strange,’ Gary said.
‘Go on,’ Imogen said.
‘Well, I was looking for any trace of family for Angela Corrigan and I was looking at her wedding certificate. I can’t quite work it out.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘According to this, she married Reece when she was sixteen years old.’
‘That’s grim. How old was he?’
‘Forty-four.’
‘Wow. So, they got married just before they moved down to Exeter?’
‘Looks like it.’
‘Her father’s name will be on the certificate, won’t it?’ Imogen said.
‘Yep. His name was Joseph Purcell. I checked and both he and his wife died in 2006 within a few months of each other, two years before the marriage took place.’
‘She really didn’t have anyone looking out for her, did she?’ Imogen muttered.
‘I’ll keep digging but that’s as far as I have got right now.’
‘Thanks, Gary,’ Adrian said, hanging up the phone.
They drove into the brand-new as-yet-unopened business park and pulled up as close to the construction site as they could. Angela Corrigan’s white Lexus was parked on-site. Reece Corrigan’s Range Rover was also there, the boot open. But there was no sign of either of them.
Imogen took a deep breath before speaking, her hands quivering from either upset or anger, she couldn’t tell which.
‘I don’t know what is with you lately, Adrian, but you’d better shape the fuck up.’
‘I’m sorry … I didn’t—’
‘You ready?’ Imogen said, getting out of the car and slamming the door before he had a chance to answer.
Chapter Seventy-Seven
The business park wasn’t due to open for another eighteen months at least and so the area was completely deserted. There were unfinished buildings and empty plots dotted throughout.
Adrian felt a rising panic as they approached a half-finished building, wondering where Reece Corrigan would be, wondering who else was here.
This was due to be the new site of Corrigan Construction, a flagship building. Adrian had so many thoughts fighting for attention. What if they were here? But also, knowing that Corrigan knew, what if he said something? Adrian knew he should be focused on the case, but it seemed impossible. He shouldn’t even be here. He should never have come back to work.
He looked up at the building. The top two floors were incomplete; some of the floor-to-ceiling windows were missing. He looked across the front of the building at the rooms, but he couldn’t see where the Corrigans might be.
‘Are you OK?’ Imogen said, ‘You look a little pale.’
‘Let’s just concentrate on what we’re here for,’ he said.
‘Sorry I asked.’
‘We’ll cover more ground if we split up,’ Adrian said, hoping to be able to confront Corrigan on his own, unsure what he might do when he saw him.
Adrian couldn’t have Imogen find out about what happened to him that way and if Corrigan really thought he was going down, there was no telling what he might reveal.
‘I don’t think that’s a good idea.’
‘I don’t need a babysitter, Grey.’
‘We both know what this man is capable of. I would rather not run into him on my own,’ Imogen said.
He hadn’t even considered that this might be difficult for Imogen; he was so consumed with himself and what happened that there was barely any room to think about anything else. He couldn’t let himself get lost in his self-pity again. This wasn’t fair. What he was doing wasn’t fair. Was he willing to put Imogen in danger just to keep his secret? No, no, he wasn’t. He was relieved to find a line
he wouldn’t cross; it made things easier somehow.
‘I’m sorry. Of course we’ll stay together. Any idea where they might be? This place is huge.’
They stood in the unfinished lobby of the four-storey building. The lobby was central and the east wing of the site seemed to be the most complete. The other side was still under construction.
‘Does the lift work?’ Imogen said, pressing the button.
The panel lit up and the arrow signalled the lift was returning from the fourth floor. That must have been where they went.
The doors opened and they got inside. Adrian wasn’t a fan of lifts at the best of times; it was definitely worse in a half-finished building. He didn’t know what the doors were going to reveal when they opened. The lift groaned as it climbed.
Adrian looked over at Imogen, who was staring at the panel and watching the numbers creep up. He had created a chasm between them by pushing her away. Reaching over, he took her fingers in his hand. She turned towards him, surprised.
Adrian didn’t know what was going to happen in the next few minutes, but he knew that this might be the last opportunity he would have to kiss her like this, without her knowing what had happened. Even if she was annoyed at him now, it was better than pity, which was inevitable if she discovered the truth – he wasn’t sure he could handle that.
He leaned towards her and placed his lips on hers, trying not to let his emotions overrun him. Adrian savoured the moment and forgot everything. He wouldn’t let his anxieties put her at risk anymore. He had been selfish. Pulling away, he looked into her eyes for what felt like the last time. The doors opened and the cold air hit them immediately.
‘What was that for?’ Imogen said as she stepped out of the lift.
‘I just wanted you to know, in case you didn’t already, that I love you. I hope you believe me when I say that.’
‘I do believe you.’
‘I’m really sorry if I have been difficult lately. I’m going to try to be better. I don’t know why you have put up with me. I really don’t deserve you.’
‘I won’t argue with you there. Let’s get this bastard and then we can talk about how you’re going to make it up to me.’
She smiled, the first time in a while, he noted. He really had messed everything up.
There was a dim glow at the end of the soon-to-be hallway; it was low, casting a stripe of light across the floor. Adrian supposed it was a torch. They walked towards it. As they got closer, they could hear talking, raised and fast, an argument.
Adrian turned to Imogen and whispered, ‘They don’t know we are here. Let me go and talk to them and you call this in. I think we might need back-up.’
He could see her weighing up what he was suggesting in her mind before nodding in agreement. She pulled out her phone and stayed where she was. Adrian moved forwards, terrified of what he might see when he walked into that room.
Chapter Seventy-Eight
Hiding behind the wall to the left of the entrance, Adrian listened to the conversation between Reece Corrigan and his wife. She was distraught and her words didn’t make any sense. Adrian wanted to make sure they were the only people here before entering the room.
He couldn’t hear anyone else, so he pushed himself away from the wall and stepped inside. The first thing he saw was a missing window: the whole side of the room facing out over the car park was exposed, yet to have the glass installed. The second thing he saw was the gun.
‘Angela, put the gun down,’ Adrian said as he approached, palms face out in the air, so she would know he wasn’t trying to hide anything from her.
As he moved forwards, he was wary of the gaping hole in the side of the room. He hated heights.
‘Just let me kill him. You can’t stop him; this is the only way to stop him. Why do you care if he dies?’ she said.
Her hands were shaking and he could see that the safety was off.
‘I really don’t care if he dies, but this isn’t about him, it’s about you. I think he’s taken enough from you. You shouldn’t go to prison for him. He’s not worth it.’
‘Just pull the trigger, Angela. You know it’s the only way to get away from me,’ Reece hissed.
‘Shut up, Corrigan,’ Adrian said.
‘She won’t hurt me; she’s got nothing without me and she knows it,’ Corrigan said.
Adrian could hear the tension in his voice this time.
‘Stand back, DS Miles,’ Angela shouted as Adrian got closer. ‘I’ll pull the trigger. I know how to use a gun … my daddy taught me,’ she sneered.
‘You deserve to have a life. If you pull that trigger, you’ll go to prison for a long time,’ Adrian said softly. ‘That’s what he wants: to own you for ever.’
‘Anything is better than this half-life I am living. I would be doing the world a favour.’
‘We can take care of him now. We found a body. That’s physical evidence.’
‘He twists things. You don’t know what he’s like.’
‘He knows exactly what I’m like,’ Corrigan said with a smile.
Was that an admission of complicity in Adrian’s assault? As much as Adrian wanted him to confess to what he had done, this wasn’t the time or the place for it. He studied Corrigan’s face for a moment. The smirk on it erased any final doubts he had about who was behind the attack in the van.
At the same time, Adrian realised that there was no way he wasn’t going to investigate who attacked him. He had kept the physical evidence, he already had a list of Corrigan’s staff, possible suspects in his attack, safely stashed in his home. As much as he thought he was ignoring it, he wasn’t. His training and instinct had already started looking for clues that he was behind his sexual assault. At some point, he would have to finish the job.
‘What happened?’ Angela directed her question at both of them before turning to Adrian, ‘Did he do something to you? I told you he could get to you,’ Angela Corrigan looked between her husband and Adrian, a new panic in her voice.
This is what Adrian dreaded; she didn’t feel safe with him anymore. Angela had a vantage point that others didn’t have and so maybe she could see those microscopic involuntary facial movements that others wouldn’t notice. Maybe Adrian was giving the game away. He was glad Imogen wasn’t here for this. If the truth got out about what had happened to him then no one would feel safe with him again.
‘Who does the body at the house in Oswestry belong to?’ Adrian said, steering the conversation away from himself.
‘No one important,’ Reece said.
No sooner had he said the words than the gun went off.
Reece Corrigan fell backwards onto the ground. He clutched at his arm and smiled through gritted teeth. Adrian thought he heard a chuckle as he made a move to help Reece.
‘Stay back, Detective Miles,’ Angela said before turning the gun on Adrian. ‘Let him bleed.’
Imogen rushed into the room a moment after the gun had fired, her face panicked. She saw Angela with the gun pointed at Adrian and then she looked down and saw Reece Corrigan lying on the floor, blood oozing from between the fingers that clutched his arm. A bullet had grazed his shoulder.
‘Angela, what are you doing? We’ve almost got him,’ Imogen said softly.
‘Who did we find at the house in Oswestry, Angela?’ Adrian said.
‘He said she left, that she found out about me and went away,’ Angela said, her eyes filling as she stared ahead, her eyes not connecting with anything but a memory.
‘Who found out about you?’ Adrian asked.
‘Because I made her leave, he told me that I had to look after him, that he was the only person left who loved me,’ she said, turning to Corrigan. ‘You told me the greenhouse was a gift. You’re sick!’
‘No one else would have taken you in, Angela, you know that. You have nothing to offer.’
‘Just stop talking,’ Adrian snapped at Reece.
‘Angela, I’m going to call an ambulance for him. He’s bleeding,’
Imogen said.
‘No,’ Angela shouted, turning the gun and pointing it at Imogen. ‘Don’t call an ambulance. If you touch your phone, I’ll shoot you. Throw it on the floor.’
Having a gun pointed at him was not a situation Adrian ever liked to be in. This wasn’t the first time and even though it wasn’t a regular occurrence, it happened more times than any police officer would like. Seeing a gun pointed at Imogen filled Adrian with a much more amplified sense of fear. He couldn’t let anything happen to her.
Imogen pulled her phone from her pocket and threw it on the floor.
‘Angela, you don’t want to do this,’ Adrian said, taking a small step forwards.
Maybe he could get to her before she did anything stupid.
‘Stay where you are, Detective Miles.’
‘Where did you get the gun?’ Adrian asked.
‘It was in his car, that’s where he keeps it. He had it the night Simon and I tried to leave; he threatened us with it. The night I watched him beat Simon half to death on the floor of his bedroom. Simon begged him to stop, but he just wouldn’t.’
‘I thought you didn’t remember?’ Imogen said.
‘I didn’t, not at first. I saw the gun at Simon’s place when they threw Simon and me in the back of the white van. He told them to kill us and dump us. It’s all coming back to me now,’ Angela said, turning to Corrigan. ‘How could you? He was your friend. I bet you are so disappointed that I didn’t die, too!’
Adrian heard the words ‘white van’ and felt a shockwave go through him. This couldn’t be a coincidence. It must be the same men.
‘He was trying to take you away from me and I won’t allow that, Angela. You’re mine. If I can’t have you, no one can!’
‘You didn’t have to kill him. We weren’t having an affair. I would have stayed with you, if you just let him go.’
‘I don’t believe you. I bet he had his filthy hands all over you. I couldn’t have that. You belong to me,’ Corrigan snapped.
Adrian edged forwards again, but Angela didn’t see him. She kept the gun on Imogen.
‘Could you identify the men who took you? Did you know them?’ Adrian asked.
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