by Joy Ellis
Skye felt a black cloud descending over her. ‘And this other Daniel could do terrible things, couldn’t he?’ She felt Mark’s arm go around her.
‘He could, I can’t deny it, but let’s not go there yet. I’m certain that Daniel is not responsible for anything more than believing a lie, and scaring the life out of himself — and all of us.’
‘God, I hope you’re right, Professor, I really do.’ Skye leaned back against Mark, and burst into tears.
* * *
Daniel saw a hazy figure close beside him, and instinctively drew away. A searing pain tore through his left arm and he cried out.
‘Hey, back with us at last. We’d almost given up on you.’
Daniel squinted, trying to make some sense of the shadowy form kneeling next to him.
‘Thought you were a goner, mate.’
‘Where am I?’ Daniel heard himself speak and almost laughed. He hadn’t thought people really said that. ‘Sorry, but who are . . . ?’
‘The bloke that saved your life, I guess.’ The voice was young, with a hint of a city accent. ‘The only thing that I’m not sure about is whether you’re going to love me or hate me for it.’
Daniel struggled to sit up, then noticed the dressing on his arm. It was bulky but already stained with seeping blood. ‘What the hell happened to me?’ There was panic in his voice.
‘Whoa! Cool it! And keep that arm elevated. It’s taken ages to get the bleeding under control. You need to go to hospital, but considering the situation, we thought we’d give you the chance to decide for yourself.’
The boy — Daniel was sure it was a boy — gave a little laugh.
‘If you survived, that is.’
Daniel lay back. ‘Survived what?’ He looked around. The place was in shadow, there was a pervasive smell of damp, and in the background he heard a gentle trickle of running water. ‘And where are we?’
‘Close to the river. One of the big houses along the bank has this old boathouse. It’s never used, so we come here sometimes.’
‘We?’
‘Ellie and me. She’s my friend.’
Daniel looked round, but saw no one else. ‘Tell me what happened. Please.’ He stared at his arm, ‘And what the hell I’ve done to myself.’
‘You’ve slashed your arm, just above the wrist. Ellie and I found you. As the whole town is crawling with police, and you clearly picked a bad day to try to kill yourself, we thought . . .’
‘Kill myself?’
The boy stared at him through the gloom. ‘Oh shit. Don’t tell me it was some kind of bizarre accident?’
Daniel’s head was spinning. He didn’t know. All he did know was that his arm hurt like hell. He croaked, ‘Please just tell me.’
The boy passed him a small bottle of water and he drank from it gratefully.
‘You were on the path along the riverbank, beneath the iron bridge. Ellie and I heard you cry out, and we found you clutching your arm. It was horrible — blood was spurting everywhere. Then there was a splash, so we reckoned you’d thrown the knife, or whatever you’d used to hurt yourself, into the water. Then you gave a groan and went down like a sack of spuds.’
‘But . . . . ?’ He pointed to the stained dressing.
‘Sorry. You’ll find a twenty pound note missing from your wallet. This bloke I know has got a bad leg. He gets medical stuff from a clinic, and he’ll sell it if you pay him enough.’ He shrugged. ‘I reckoned you could afford it.’
‘And you stopped the bleeding? How?’
‘I haven’t always been on the streets, you know.’
Daniel’s head began to ache. What on earth had he done this time?
‘Look, I’m sorry if we’ve cocked up, mate.’ The boy shook his head. ‘We just thought that all the questions at the hospital . . . and then they’d call the rozzers . . . well, we didn’t think you’d want all that.’
‘It’s not your fault. God, you’ve saved my life! I’m not going to blame you for anything. And you were right. I really don’t need any questions from the police right now.’ He looked at the boy. ‘What’s your name?’
‘Tez.’
‘Where’s Ellie?’
‘She comes and goes,’ he said. ‘She’ll be back sometime.’ He paused, a hint of sadness in his voice. ‘Or maybe she won’t. She didn’t like all the blood.’
‘How did you get me here?’
‘It’s only a few yards, and you’d come round enough for me to help you walk. Ellie went and saw about the bandages, and I did what I could to stop you bleeding to death.’
‘You did a good job, Tez. Thank you.’
‘The hospital would have done a better one.’
‘If you hadn’t found me, no hospital in the world could have done a good job. I’d have bled to death.’ A tiny part of the old Daniel sparked to life. Tez’s story could have the makings of a gritty and emotional article. Already he saw the youth as a sort of urban Robin Hood, a street crusader. He eased himself up, careful not to move his arm too much. ‘You’re not like the other street kids.’
‘You’re right there, mate.’ He gave a little laugh. ‘For one thing, I don’t do drugs.’
‘So why the streets?’
‘Let’s not get into that, alright?’ Tez stood up. ‘Right now, you need to tell me what you want to do. I’ll help you, but I don’t have all day. If I don’t get to the spot where I kip, some other bastard’ll nick it. It’s the warmest place in town so it took a bit of fighting for.’
‘You’ve done enough, and I’m really grateful.’
Daniel had no idea what he was going to do. It was the middle of the afternoon and his clothes were covered in blood. He couldn’t walk anywhere like this. And then there was the overriding question. Why was he in this state? Why was he bleeding like a stuck pig? Had he injured himself? Or had someone else done this to him? The last thing he remembered was Skye holding him and the cat, tightly, in a safe and warm cocoon. How much time had passed since then?
As he considered all this, he felt an odd sort of calm. Yes, his mind was in turmoil, but in a frightened, almost normal kind of way. He was sick to his stomach, but he felt that anyone who found themselves in such a strange situation would be nauseous. Until now, he had been disturbed, even he was able to see that. Years ago he had written an article on self-harm, and he remembered something a teenager who cut herself had said: It’s the only time when I’m in control. It silences the inner scream, and afterwards, for a while, I feel good.
He was right-handed, and it was his left arm that had been cut. Maybe that’s what he’d done? Or maybe not. How could he tell? Daniel sighed. Enough was enough. His life had spiralled out of control, and right now the only place he could think of going was to Guy Preston’s house. He must beg Preston to get him to a place of safety.
A place of safety. It sounded so good. Somewhere away from harm —from harming others. And if he was really lucky, he might find some answers.
He touched his pocket. His phone was still there, and also his wallet. Tez was certainly not your average street kid. He eased the wallet out and flipped it open, one-handed. Laying it on his legs, he removed five notes and held them out to Tez. ‘It’s nowhere near enough, and I dare say if anyone else had found me, this would be up someone’s nose by now. Take it, please.’
Tez didn’t reach for it. ‘There’s a hundred quid there, isn’t there?’
Daniel nodded.
‘No thanks. Give me a twenty and I’ll take it. More than that could mean trouble for me out here.’
To the twenty pound note, Daniel added his business card. ‘If I can help you in any way, I will. And if I ever get myself sorted out, I’ll come and find you, Tez. You shouldn’t be here.’
Tez tucked the money away. ‘Hasn’t it dawned on you that some of us are here because it’s infinitely better than where we came from?’
Dan tilted his head to one side. ‘But it doesn’t have to be better than where you could go, does it?’
&nbs
p; Tez gave a little humourless laugh. ‘Dreams, mate. It doesn’t do to have dreams. Day to day, that’s how we cope.’ He moved closer. ‘We need to get moving. Think you can stand?’
‘I can stand, but I’m not sure where the hell I’m going to go.’ He looked down at his bloodstained shirt. ‘Will you sell me your hoodie?’
‘You can have it. The Sally Army will sort me out something to replace it.’
Dan took another note from his wallet. ‘Go to a charity shop and buy something warm. And this is purely a transaction, not charity, if that’s what’s worrying you.’
‘It’s not that. I’ve seen kids stuck with a knife for less. It doesn’t do to carry money on the streets.’
‘Then spend it. A coat and a meal for you and Ellie should take care of that.’ He thrust the note at Tez, who reluctantly took it and peeled off his jacket.
‘One last favour?’
‘If it doesn’t take too long,’
‘Just go to the address I’ll give you. If we are close to the iron bridge it’s only a five minute walk. Could you tell me if there are any police watching the place?’
Tez looked closely at him. ‘Are you the reason that Saltern is infested with the Old Bill right now?’
‘I suspect I might be, but I’m not sticking around to find out.’ He gave Tez his address in Riverside Crescent, and as the boy loped off, Dan slipped his good arm into the sleeve of the hoodie, draped the other side over his shoulder and zipped it up. It wasn’t perfect, but it covered most of the bloodstains.
If there was no one watching his house, he’d go there, check his wound to see just how serious it was, clean up, get some fresh clothes and then re-evaluate his situation. He still considered Guy Preston to be his best bet, but he desperately wanted to let Skye know that he was safe. Well, more or less safe, but she mustn’t see him like this. Whatever he did, he would have to clean himself up first.
He leaned back against the boathouse wall. His mind was clear. His only worry was how long would it stay that way.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Kevin Stoner sat in an empty office and waited for the inspector. The room was at the top of the stairs that led down to the custody suite. Through the slightly open door, Kevin could hear his ex-crewmate down below, howling fit to kill. His threats and obscenities resounded throughout the station.
‘Ex-crewmate.’ The words had the most exquisite ring to them. Kevin didn’t care that he was in line for the grilling of his life. He knew precisely what he was going to say, and he prayed that it would clear him of any involvement in Zane Prewett’s crimes. What was coming could go two ways. He would either be thrown to the wolves, or his previous good conduct record would save him. Either way, it would mean an end to his association with Prewett.
The door opened and the chief inspector strode into the room with his sergeant. Kevin jumped up and stood to attention as Sergeant John Cadman closed the door behind them.
‘What the blazes is going on, Stoner? Did you know about any of this? Because if you did, then whoever your father is, bishop or not, I’m going to hang you out to dry!’
Kevin took a deep breath, and clasping his hands tightly together behind his back, said, ‘Sir, I admit that I suspected that PC Prewett was conducting himself improperly, but when I challenged him I was subjected to serious threats to both myself and my family.’
Inspector Jim Gilbert slumped into his chair and expelled air loudly. ‘Oh great! Just what we need. Explain, Stoner. Every single damned detail.’
Kevin nodded. ‘Of course, sir, but before I do, there is something that you really should know, and I need to ask for your help.’ He hesitated, then added, ‘It’s a very delicate matter.’
The inspector flashed a worried glance at the sergeant and narrowed his eyes. ‘I’m hardly going to say yes until I know what the devil you’re talking about, am I? Not that I consider you to be in any position to be asking for favours.’
Kevin, still bolt upright even though he wanted to roll up into a tiny ball, told the two policemen about the photographs that Zane had had taken of him in flagrante delicto. He worded it carefully, exactly as he had rehearsed, and finished with a humble apology. ‘I would never do anything to bring shame on the Fenland Constabulary, sir. This was a private, intimate moment and Prewett paid someone to spy on me with a surveillance camera. I am both humiliated and deeply distressed by this, sir. Should those photographs fall into the hands of the media, you know the furore they would cause, and not just to me, my family, and the police force, but to the other person in the pictures as well.’
The inspector’s eyes narrowed to tiny slits. ‘Do we happen to know said “other person,” Stoner?’
‘Yes, sir,’ said Kevin slowly and clearly. ‘He’s the son of a senior officer.’
Inspector Gilbert gritted his teeth and let out a string of expletives. Then he turned to John Cadman and said, ‘Sergeant, I want you to take one trusted officer and go immediately to Prewett’s home and retrieve those photographs. I also want cameras, his computer hard drive and any other external hard drives, memory sticks or removable storage devices, anything that can store pictures. Bring them to me here. Do it now, before any other team conducts a full search of Prewett’s property.’
The sergeant gave a curt nod and made for the door. ‘On my way, sir.’
‘Oh, and John, when you get back, get someone we trust to check that he hasn’t stored those pictures online. If he has we will need to gain access via the company who provides the service.’ He grunted, ‘Frankly, I doubt Prewett was savvy enough to encrypt them and upload them to a dark web host site, but you never know. We’ll just have to hope he’s not that bright.’
Cadman hurried off and Inspector Gilbert looked suddenly weary, as if the life had gone out of him. He shook his head. ‘Sit down, Kevin. You mentioned a threat to your family. I’m guessing that you are not just talking about those photographs being sent to your father?’
‘No, sir. Although Zane was going to Dad first.’ Kevin sat with his back still straight. He didn’t dare to relax a single muscle until this was over. ‘I have a young niece, sir. My brother’s girl. Her name is Sophie and she’s only nine years old. Zane threatened to hurt her, and from the things he said, I believed he really intended to harm her if I said anything.’ He hung his head. ‘I was terrified. And as I had no actual proof of any of his illegal activities, I couldn’t say anything, and I also couldn’t risk anything happening to my brother’s girl.’ Kevin looked up at his commanding officer. ‘I’m sorry, sir. I’ve let everyone down. Even DI Jackman noticed something was wrong and warned me to get away from Prewett. I wanted to tell him everything, but I kept thinking of the things Zane said he would do to Sophie. ‘Life-changing things’ were the exact words he used.’
‘And do you swear that you had no involvement with any of his deals with Drew Wilson, or any other criminal for that matter?’
‘I swear, sir.’
The inspector leaned back in his chair and folded his hands in his lap. ‘I accept that, Kevin. Prior to teaming you up with Prewett — and ironically the reason for that was to try to make him step up and toe the line — you had an unblemished record. There will be an investigation, of course, and you will be required to answer a lot of questions, but I’m hopeful that your future career will not be tarnished.’
Kevin swallowed. ‘Thank you, sir.’ He hesitated, desperately wanting to ask about the photos.
‘And I suggest you forget that those pictures were ever taken. We have enough problems right now with a triple killer loose in Saltern, so we damn well can’t afford any further scandal. By the end of the day, all trace of them will have disappeared, and I very much doubt that Prewett will mention them, considering that he was using them to blackmail a fellow officer.’ He gave a snort of disgust. ‘Hell, we knew he was a troublemaker, but none of us suspected he was bent.’ Kevin saw contrition in his face. ‘I’m sorry that you were ever crewed with Prewett. It was done with the best
of intentions, but it put you in an impossible situation. I apologise.’
This was better than Kevin had dared to hope. ‘There’s nothing to apologise for, sir. I should have had the courage to come to you long before this, so it’s entirely my fault.’
The inspector stared at him. ‘Does your father know about your sexuality?’
Kevin swallowed noisily. ‘No, sir. He would be devastated.’
‘I beg to differ.’ Gilbert gave him a sad smile. ‘He might not have chosen that particular path for you, but I suggest that you credit him with a little more understanding. He could be aware of it already, but waiting for you to take him into your confidence.’ The inspector gave him a look that was almost fatherly. ‘I also suggest that you tell him very soon. No one can blackmail you for something everyone knows about. And this is the twenty-first century, Kevin. People are more liberal than twenty years ago.’
Kevin nodded. ‘I will, sir. I’ve had enough of secrets.’
‘I have to suspend you, you do realise that?’
‘Absolutely, sir, and I’ll do whatever is expected of me.’ Kevin stood up, removed his warrant card from his pocket and placed it on the inspector’s desk. ‘Is that all, sir?’
‘For now. Get yourself home, come out to your father, and remember what I said about those photos. Not a word to a soul. Forget them. They never existed.’
Tears were creeping into his eyes as he left the room. Even if he got away with this — and it was by no means certain that he would — Zane Prewett had damaged him. He would never forget those damned photographs as long as he lived.
* * *
Reluctantly, Jackman took the lift down to the basement. He was still trying to work through his irrational fear of Orac. Okay, perhaps fear was not the right word, but he certainly found their meetings disturbing. Marie seemed quite at ease with her, and from the amount of info that Orac had produced, she and Marie seemed to have struck up a pretty good working relationship.
It had to be the eyes. Or was it her extraordinary self-confidence?