THE GUILTY ONES a gripping crime thriller filled with stunning twists

by Joy Ellis

  ‘There might be. I’d certainly appreciate it. I just need to fathom out where to start.’

  ‘Just say. Meanwhile, I’ll speak to the children, as I said. Luckily they are talking about Sarah quite openly, which is good.’

  ‘And James is slowly becoming more aware that he has to pull his weight. Though I have no idea how he would cope if you weren’t here.’

  ‘Well, it was good for me. I was fed up mooching around, but I couldn’t muster the energy to look for a new job. I think I was bordering on depression to be honest. Your mother’s call was just what I needed to get me back into gear again.’

  Jackman pushed his chair back. ‘Well, as things are on a more even keel here today, I think I’ll go into work for a few hours. I’ll come back this evening to check on you all. Is that alright with you?’

  ‘Fine. I need to get a schedule together for Ryan and Miles’s after school activities and check what shopping we will need — oh, and settle in and unpack. It was all a bit of a rush.’

  ‘Thanks again, Ella. It’s good to have you here. You’re a real lifesaver.’ Suddenly his phone rang. ‘Sorry, I need to take this. It’s Marie.’

  He listened while the tension swept through him.

  ‘Can you get over here, sir? We’ve had a development.’ Marie spoke fast. ‘Robbie picked up an attention-drawn from DCI Cameron Walker in Beech Lacey. He’s driving over now. I think you need to hear what he has to say.’

  Jackman was already on his feet. ‘On my way, Marie.’

  CHAPTER TEN

  DCI Cameron Walker and Jackman arrived at the same time. Jackman knew Cameron’s reputation. He was a likeable detective and a fount of local knowledge. He was tall and solidly built, but a terrier when he got his teeth into a case. Not a man to be underestimated.

  ‘Jackman! Nice to see you.’ Cameron held out his hand. ‘Sorry to hear about what happened.’

  Jackman gripped the outstretched hand. ‘Not exactly the best time of my life.’

  They pushed through the front doors and Jackman led the way upstairs to the CID office. Marie already had three steaming beakers of coffee ready on her desk.

  ‘We’ll use my office.’ Jackman picked up a beaker and turned to go.

  ‘Can I bring Robbie in on this, sir?’ asked Marie. ‘Only he made the connection first.’

  ‘Of course. Just tell him to bring another chair.’

  Cameron Walker looked around the book-lined office in envy. ‘This is nice!’ He took in the leather-topped desk, the captain’s chair and the bookshelves. ‘Very nice indeed. How come I only get a glass-windowed cupboard with chipboard furniture?’

  ‘Because you didn’t trail around auctions, car boots and house clearance sales, then smuggle it all in here in the dead of night,’ said Marie. ‘Our boss is really a squirrel.’

  Jackman grinned. ‘So what have you got for us, Cameron?’

  ‘Bottom line, a case almost identical to yours, only our lovely contented partner and mother jumped off the roof of a London department store.’

  Jackman exhaled loudly. ‘Phew! A local woman?’

  ‘From Beech Holby, a few miles from Beech Lacey, where I live. And from what Marie told me over the phone, the scenario is pretty well a carbon copy.’

  Jackman sipped his coffee and stared into it in silence. He wondered why two local women would kill themselves in London.

  ‘The good news is that we’re a bit further ahead with the investigation than you. Our death happened two weeks ago, and the woman did leave us some clues to work on.’

  ‘What was her name?’ Jackman asked.

  ‘Forester. Suri Forester.’

  ‘What a coincidence. My brother told me earlier that Sarah’s maiden name was Woodman. A forester is a woodsman, isn’t he?’’

  ‘Even odder,’ Robbie interjected, ‘Suri comes from the Hebrew for princess and is the Yiddish version of Sarah. A friend of mine copied the name from a couple of celebrities who called their baby Suri.’

  Jackman supressed a shiver.

  ‘The story gets darker,’ Cameron said in a low voice. ‘That is not her real name, and I suspect Sarah Woodman wasn’t your sister-in-law’s real name either. Both changed their names because of something that happened to them years ago, something that neither of them ever talked about.’

  ‘Witness Protection Programme,’ whispered Marie.

  Cameron Walker nodded. ‘We thought that too, but it’s not easy to prove. Everything is so hidden. It’s like groping around in the dark.’

  Jackman recalled his brother saying how scared Sarah had been when he told her Jackman was a copper. She must have wondered what would happen if he started to dig into her past! It was the answer to so many questions.

  ‘My team are tracking her history and I’m reliably told they could have some answers by later today,’ Cameron said.

  ‘Are you happy to work in tandem with us on this, Cameron? Share whatever we get?’

  ‘Absolutely.’

  ‘I’m happy for you to lead,’ Jackman offered.

  ‘Let’s be a double act, shall we?’ suggested Cameron. ‘There’s a good fifteen miles between here and Beech Lacey, it’s not just two minutes round the corner. You run this end, I’ll keep on with our investigation and we’ll keep in constant contact.’

  ‘Yes, that’s good. What if we each arrange a liaison officer to collate everything that comes in and share it straight across?’

  Cameron nodded. ‘Fine. I’ve got a lad who is happier on a computer than anywhere. He can do that standing on his head.’

  ‘And how about Rosie McElderry for this end, sir?’ Marie added. ‘It would be right up her street.’

  ‘Perfect.’ Jackman smiled. A very satisfactory arrangement, and it still left Robbie, Max and Charlie on the ground.

  ‘Sir?’ Marie looked at him. ‘I haven’t told DCI Walker about our other death yet. The murder or suicide on the river path.’

  ‘Ah, yes. We have no idea how, but this might just be connected. Marie, would you do the honours?’

  Marie recounted the story of their John Doe, adding, ‘But as yet, no one has come forward to identify him, or even report a man of his description as missing.’

  ‘Could be a connection, I suppose,’ mused Cameron. ‘It’s a bit too much of a coincidence otherwise, isn’t it? Two killers with the same rather weird modus operandi? It’s unlikely.’

  ‘I agree,’ said Jackman. ‘We’ll keep working on that one and let you know whatever we find out.’

  Cameron stood up. ‘I’d better get back. Thanks for the coffee — though I have to say it’s no better than ours.’ He pulled a face. ‘Since we exist on the stuff, you’d think they’d provide something drinkable.’

  Jackman smiled and held out his hand. ‘We really appreciate your help, DCI Walker.’

  ‘Ditto, and it’s just Cam. Less of a mouthful. Bye, Marie and Robbie, nice to meet you both.’

  The door closed behind him, and Robbie said, ‘What a nice guy! Not like some DCIs I could mention.’

  ‘He’s really laidback, but he’s a damned good policeman. No one on his team ever asks for a transfer, that’s for sure,’ said Jackman.

  ‘Bit like you, sir.’ Marie grinned at him.

  After Robbie had left, Marie said, ‘Do you think Sarah was a witness to something, sir?’

  ‘It ticks the boxes, doesn’t it? You tell no one, not family, not friends, you start again — new name, new life. It’s the biggest secret you ever have to keep, for it could cost you or those closest to you their lives.’

  ‘It’s not talked about much, is it? Not even in our own circles.’

  ‘I can understand that. Although there are lots of false theories about it — like the huge sums of money that are paid out to the witnesses on the programme, which is not true at all.’

  ‘A friend of mine looked into joining the witness protection unit, but it meant giving up all work on criminal investigations. She would’ve been working so
lely on protecting and hiding vulnerable witnesses. She started the training but decided it wasn’t for her. She reckoned they expected the witnesses to go through a really heart-wrenching process, ruining their lives all for the sake of justice and putting some scumbag behind bars.’ Marie paused. ‘So do we think that’s what this is all about? Someone discovered her new identity, and that of another local woman, and threatened them?’

  Jackman frowned. ‘We have to go back to the beginning now. Find out who the girls were and what crime they witnessed. Then we might be able to get a handle on who was terrorising them.’

  ‘And keep trying to identify our dead pseudo-vagrant.’

  ‘Him too. That’s a pretty full workload, Marie. But now Ella is staying at my brother’s house and the boys are back at school, I will be on duty again as from tomorrow, okay?’

  ‘Music to my ears, sir.’

  * * *

  Dale and Liam pulled on their jackets. Kenny watched them hurry out.

  ‘What are they up to now?’ Yvette’s voice came from behind him, startling him.

  He gave her a rueful smile. ‘God alone knows. Best not to ask.’

  Yvette sank down on the stairs and rubbed at her aching shoulders. ‘I’ve just been handing out leaflets again, over to the north of Saltern High Street this time, but I know they’ll just end up in the gutter or the litter bins.’

  ‘Mum appreciates what you are doing. Just hang on to that thought. You’re doing it for her.’

  ‘You’re a sweet man, Kenny.’

  ‘Rubbish! But I do understand how you feel, Yvie. We’ve been fighting for so long, and no one gives a damn about an old case, do they? It’s history now, and we’re just another sad family who can’t let go, can’t face the truth that one of their own was a murderer.’

  ‘You don’t believe that, do you?’

  Kenny yawned. ‘That Brendan killed that girl? Of course not! If there was a sweet man in our family, it was Brendan, not me. Naughty, it’s true, and a bit of a lad, but kill a teenager? No way. Not in a million years. But I do believe that the rest of the world just wants us to fade away.’

  Yvette stood up. ‘Want some tea?’

  ‘Susie’s just making Mum a cup. Let’s join them, shall we? But not a word of this in front of Mum, okay?’

  ‘As if. Susie and I have agreed we’ll make all the right noises, don’t worry about that.’

  ‘It’s not me you have to worry about, Yvie, it’s Dale and Liam.’

  ‘Oh I know that, Kenny. I know that all too well.’

  Kenny painted a smile onto his tired face and followed her into the kitchen. It was strange, but as the two women succumbed to exhaustion and dejection, the more fervently Dale and Liam pursued the crusade. If he had to hear the word “retribution” one more time, Kenny thought he would scream.

  * * *

  Around four in the afternoon, Marie took a call from Rory Wilkinson.

  ‘I’m ringing to talk to you about men’s underwear.’

  Marie heard a stifled giggle and smiled. ‘Wonderful! My favourite topic of conversation.’

  ‘Good. Well, your vagrant-that-clearly-is-nothing-of-the-kind was, in my opinion, quite a well-off man, and here’s where the underwear comes in. He had on charity shop clothes, but obviously drew the line at crappy undergarments. His boxers alone would have cost him over thirty pounds, and his T-shirt was Dolce & Gabbana and no copy I assure you. It retails at over £200.’

  ‘For a bloody T-shirt!’ Marie exclaimed. ‘You’re kidding me!’

  ‘My dear Sergeant, there are young men roaming the streets of our capital city, who frankly look like dossers, in ripped jeans that cost nearly a thousand pounds a pair. You want designer fashion wear, you pay for it.’

  ‘I think I’ll stick to the High Street, thanks, Rory.’

  ‘Good decision. Now, back to your mystery man. Max was right about the classy haircut. Generally he was in very good shape, well nourished, with expensive dental work.’ He took a breath. ‘And that could be how we identify him. He had some specialist implants — and guess what! We now have implant recognition software, radiographic recognition of dental implants, and assessment of batch numbers. Whoopee!’

  ‘You are a genius.’

  ‘Don’t state the obvious, please. Of course I’m a genius. But when I said we, I was talking about forensics in general. I don’t actually have the software here, but I know a woman who does. I shall grovel and creep — much as you do when you need something from me — and hopefully I’ll have some answers by tomorrow.’

  ‘I can live with that, Rory, and meanwhile our image of the man will be going out on the local news tonight. I can’t believe that no one is missing him.’

  ‘And why dress as a tramp and get yourself killed? I’m not joking when I say look for this man in the higher income bracket. He was no hand-to-mouth labourer or benefits cheat. He had money, no question. Intriguing, isn’t it?’

  ‘Baffling.’

  ‘Well, I must bid you farewell, dear lady. I need to go and polish up my sycophantic skills in order to obtain information on those implants for you. Ta-ta for now.’

  Shaking her head, Marie replaced the receiver. Conversations with Rory were rarely dull. She wondered if she should relay what she knew to Jackman, who had left to visit his nephews, but she decided it could wait until she had something more definite.

  ‘Sarge? While you were on the phone, Orac tried to get hold of you. She wondered if you could go down to her underworld kingdom before you leave.’ Charlie grinned at her. ‘I’d be happy to come with you . . .’

  ‘What is it with you guys? You are all obsessed with that woman!’

  Charlie laughed. ‘Maybe.’

  ‘Well, sorry, but I can cope alone, thanks.’ Marie looked at the clock. She’d better go now. Time was getting on.

  Down in the basement, she really did feel as if she had wandered into a dark and creepy parallel universe. The area was quiet. That, and the dim lighting in the corridors made her want to walk on tiptoe and speak in a whisper.

  Orac beckoned from her lair. ‘First, I should tell you that I haven’t yet tracked down whoever sent Sarah’s emails, though I’m edging closer. Have you made any inroads into her secret life?’

  Marie took a seat in front of a bank of flickering screens. ‘Some. We suspect that her name is an alias.’

  ‘Oh, it is.’ Orac flashed those disconcerting eyes at her. ‘Until she was sixteen, the lady’s name was Heather Miller.’

  Marie’s mouth dropped open. ‘How on earth . . . ?’

  ‘I might not have tracked her stalker yet, but I have made considerable progress with the woman herself. I carried out some checks on the name Sarah Jackman, and discovered from her marriage lines that she was apparently born Sarah Woodman. I then found an anomaly in the electoral roll and a couple of other databases, and a question came up regarding her National Insurance number. I went through a few of the more official channels, and came up with a change of name.’

  ‘Wow! Impressive!’

  ‘It’s what they pay me for.’ Orac gave her a half smile. ‘Although they don’t pay me nearly enough!’ She turned to face Marie. ‘I’m not sure how your DI Jackman will take this, but his sister-in-law is not the person he believed her to be.’

  Marie nodded. ‘He knows that already. He just wants answers, no matter what. He thought she might possibly be in the witness protection programme.’

  Orac drew in a deep breath. ‘I don’t think that’s actually the case.’

  Marie frowned. ‘What else could it be?’

  ‘She disappeared voluntarily, off her own bat, as it were.’

  ‘At sixteen?’

  ‘Yep. Sixteen, almost seventeen.’

  ‘I don’t get it.’ Marie felt totally confused.

  ‘I need to do some more work. I’m going to stay on tonight until I get to the bottom of it, but it is my belief that she and another girl witnessed something dreadful, or at the very least
saw someone leaving the scene of a crime.’

  ‘Another girl! Of course! Another girl died in similar circumstances a couple of weeks ago. Her name was Suri Forester and she lived in Beech Holby.’

  ‘Ah! That makes my life easier, and it confirms my suspicions. I just need concrete proof. I think, by the morning I will be able to tell you precisely what occurred over twenty years ago to change the girl’s life.’

  Marie returned to the bustle of the CID room, knowing she wouldn’t sleep that night. She felt like a kid on Christmas Eve, unable to wait for the morning to come. Except, what she’d unwrap would probably not be very nice.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Jackman decided that unless there was some reason to withhold information he would keep his family — James in particular, but also Ella Jarvis — up to date with how the investigation was proceeding. Naturally he wouldn’t pass on anything sensitive, but he felt they deserved to know why Sarah had acted as she did, if only to dispel any guilt they might be feeling concerning her death.

  And so, as night fell, he found himself back at Rainham Lodge. When she was a SOCO, Ella had signed the Official Secrets Act, so he felt he could talk to her openly. After the children had gone to bed, they sat together with two large glasses of wine, and discussed the possibility of someone having driven Sarah to kill herself.

  Ella thought about it and nodded slowly. ‘She was always cagey about her past. I thought it must have been a case of sexual abuse, which would explain the never-mentioned parents.’ She sipped her wine and settled herself into the sofa cushions. ‘I had it in my head that her father had been the cause of the trouble, which is why I never tried to pry. Now I wonder if she almost encouraged my suspicions, so as to cover up the real reason for her secretiveness. It’s quite hurtful to have been lied to for years, but I guess that confirms just how serious she considered the threat to her safety to be. She dared not open up to anyone.’

  ‘Undoubtedly.’ Jackman told her they believed her real name was Heather Miller. ‘I swear it wasn’t in her nature to hurt or lie. And her love for the children and James was undeniable.’