Smoke and Mirrors: The next instalment of the riveting Marnie Walker series

by Leo McNeir

  On Exodos the curtains were open at the portholes, so she stepped onto the tiny stern deck and banged on the door. Donovan was barefoot, wearing black jeans and black T-shirt. After a moment’s hesitation, he invited her in.

  “Oh.” Danny stopped when she passed the bathroom and stepped into the sleeping cabin, where the bed was made up with white sheets and a pale grey duvet.

  Donovan turned to look back at her. “What is it?”

  “Your boat’s, I don’t know, different. Not like Sally Ann or Thyrsis.”

  “More functional-looking?”

  “I suppose so.”

  They went on through a narrow doorway. The interior was dim with only the portholes and a ‘pigeon loft’ admitting daylight, an effect enhanced by the grey walls and ceiling and grey carpet tiles on the floor. The galley had grey-painted units, with black-lacquered shelving in a style that was continued further forward in the open-plan layout. Even the dinette had grey tweed upholstery.

  “Functional,” Danny muttered.

  Donovan indicated the seating unit, and Danny sat down. He took his place opposite her. She looked at the shelves where old Leica cameras were displayed, saw photographs of silver racing cars from days gone by, attached to the side of the shelving. Further on she saw bookshelves, many of the titles in German. She smiled to herself.

  “A U-boat,” she murmured.

  “Say again.”

  “Anne says your boat reminds her of a U-boat, a submarine. I see what she means.”

  “I tend to think of Exodos as a travelling machine.”

  Danny grinned. “Anne also said it was a stealth narrowboat.”

  Donovan nodded.

  Danny cast her mind back. “The first time I saw it, it was at night. I’d come out to fetch something from Sally Ann and I heard a boat but couldn’t see it.”

  “I like travelling at night.”

  “Why? You miss all the scenery.”

  “The scenery’s still there. It just looks different in the darkness. Did you come for a particular reason?”

  Danny was wrong-footed by the sudden change of direction. “No, I just, well, I wondered whether you were up and had had breakfast.”

  “I am and I have.”

  “Whether you were all right.”

  “That, too.”

  “Whether you wanted to see the excavations.”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Shall we go together, or have you things to do first?”

  Donovan stood up. Danny noticed that he placed his left foot carefully, as if testing it.

  “You okay?”

  “Fine.” He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “It’s fine.”

  “Great. Then let’s go and see the dig.” As an afterthought she added, “We might be on TV tonight.”

  “They film the dig at night?”

  Danny turned to go. “No. Apparently, they’re using some stuff they filmed yesterday with us in it.”

  Donovan reached forward and caught Danny’s wrist. “Us? What do you mean, us?”

  “It’s for some sort of trailer.”

  “You must be mistaken. No-one was filming where we were.”

  “You don’t understand, Donovan. They’ve got these little black cameras dotted about. They’re virtually invisible. They film everything that goes on.”

  “And you’re sure we’re in it?”

  “It’s a possibility. Why? It’s no big deal, is it?”

  Donovan let go of Danny’s wrist, his thoughts elsewhere.

  *

  Movement in the courtyard caught Marnie’s eye and she looked up to see Rob Cardew walking quickly towards the door to the office barn. At the last moment he stopped, reached into his back pocket and took out a mobile. For some time he paced up and down outside, listening and talking. Marnie returned to her work.

  “He’s always on that phone,” Anne observed from across the room. “He’s quite dynamic really, in a laid-back kind of way.”

  “Mm …”

  “He seems to be worried now, though.”

  Marnie looked up again. “You’re right. I wonder if having Timeline here creates problems with the university’s dig.”

  “Yeah, I wondered about that, although –”

  Rob ended his conversation and knocked on the door before entering. He gave them the usual owlish smile.

  “Sorry, don’t want to interrupt your work, just want to say hallo and see if everything’s all right.”

  “All is well, thanks, Rob.”

  “Good. Not being too disturbed by all the comings and goings?”

  “No, we’re used to having helicopters and TV stars about the place. It’s normal for us here at the centre of the universe.”

  “Just as I thought.” He grinned.

  “How are things going with you, Rob?”

  “Oh, modified rapture, really.”

  “Timeline getting in your way?”

  “Yes and no. They have a tendency to poach our students at inconvenient moments, but they do share their findings, which can be useful.”

  “In what way? Have they found anything?”

  “They’re surveying all the excavation areas and analysing the results. They’ve hinted they’ve already found material, so I’m waiting to hear from them.”

  “What about your wife’s analysis of the remains in Sarah’s grave?”

  His cheerful expression faded. “Not so good. Rosemary was just on the phone. The remains have been removed from her lab.”

  Marnie sat up. “Who by?”

  Rob shrugged. “Apparently, some sort of officials.”

  “Apparently? What does that mean?”

  “The director called her in this morning and told her the remains had been taken away last night for further examination. He couldn’t be more specific, but these people had arrived with all the appropriate paperwork and that was that.”

  “How did Rosemary feel about it?”

  “Upset, annoyed, let down. She’s taken it as a personal vote of no confidence.”

  “Was she making any progress?”

  “To be honest, not much. It’s very galling having nothing to show for all her efforts.”

  “Visitor,” Marnie murmured and looked meaningfully towards the courtyard.

  Suzi Fraser-Jones strode briskly past the windows and came in through the half-open door.

  “Hi. I just came to see if all was okay. I hope we’re not getting in the way too much.” She looked at Rob and smiled.

  “Great minds,” he said, the friendly smile back in place.

  “We all realise how much of a nuisance it can be, Marnie, having us on the doorstep.” Suzi looked at her watch.

  “I have to admit we do have quite a bit of work on our hands just now. In fact, I was thinking that we might take a spot of leave.”

  “Go away?” Suzi looked concerned. “When?”

  “Over the next few days. Does that matter, from your point of view, I mean?”

  “We want to include you in the filming. People don’t usually go away when we’re around.”

  “I was thinking that we’d take a short break as it’s not easy to keep focused on what we’re doing. We’ll probably not get another chance to take time off this summer. Then, when you’re not here, we’ll be able to get on.”

  “Without being interrupted all the time.” Suzi completed the sentence for her. “Yes, I can understand that. How long would you be away?”

  “Just a few days, a short trip on the boat.”

  Suzi’s mobile began chirping. With an apologetic smile, she gave a fleeting wave and went out, hurrying off on her next mission.

  Marnie looked at Rob. “Where were we? Oh, yes, Rosemary’s missing remains.”

  The office phone began ringing. Anne grabbed it.

  “Walker and Co, good morning … One moment, please. I’ll see if she’s free.”

  Anne pressed the Hold button. “Celia wants to talk about progress.”

  Rob grin
ned and left.

  *

  Donovan stopped when he reached the HQ barn. Inside, two students were keying data into a laptop, while one of the older archaeologists was examining finds with another student. Danny looked on as Donovan scanned the area.

  “Tell me about these cameras, Danny.” He spoke quietly. “Where are they? How many? Are they static?”

  “No idea.”

  Donovan indicated the group in the barn. “Will they know?”

  Danny shrugged. “Dunno. They’re Timeline’s cameras.”

  Donovan advanced slowly, looking up at the eaves of the barn. He saw the camera at the same time as Danny and stared at it.

  “Flexible mounting,” he murmured. “Aerial, remote control.”

  He turned and walked into the HQ barn. “Hi, good morning.”

  Everyone looked at him.

  “D’you know where the producer is, or whoever operates the surveillance cameras?”

  The older man answered. “It depends. I believe they run all the time. There’s a van – the OB they call it – and when it’s here they can guide the cameras, focus them, turn them and so on.”

  “Is it here now?”

  “Haven’t seen it. It was here all day yesterday, parked by the bottom of the field track.”

  “Thanks.”

  Danny trailed Donovan round the garage barn, puzzled by his interest in the cameras. She figured it was a man thing. Technical stuff. He stopped when they were clear of the buildings. There were no vans in sight. Across the field slope small groups of archaeologists were attending to their pits and trenches in the gathering heat. At the furthest point a different group was clustered round a pit.

  “What are they doing?” Danny asked.

  “That’s a film crew.” Donovan turned. “I want to see if I can find those other cameras.”

  “Okay. I’ll go round to the office, see if I can do anything useful.”

  They went their separate ways. Danny rounded the corner of the office barn as Anne came out.

  “Hiya. I was coming to look for you. You okay for the drink run, Danny?”

  “Yeah.

  “Seen Donovan yet?”

  “He’s up and about, gone looking for the surveillance cameras.”

  “Why?”

  “Not sure. He seems bothered about them. I told him what that bloke said about us being on TV and it seemed to worry him.”

  Anne reflected for a few seconds. “How’s his foot today?”

  “Slight limp, says it’s all right. He’s not bad-looking, is he? So are you two an item, then?”

  “An item?”

  “That’s why he’s here, isn’t it? It’s not just on account of his boat.”

  “Who knows? With Donovan you’re never quite sure what’s going on.”

  *

  That afternoon Marnie stopped on her way to the HQ barn to check the vehicles parked beside the end of the field track. She was looking for Rob Cardew, wanting to finish off their earlier conversation.

  Her wish was granted. He crossed her path, heading towards a car that had just arrived. From a small hatchback Rosemary Goodchild climbed out and immediately began a heated conversation with her husband, prodding the air with a cigarette to emphasise a point. Marnie was on the point of turning away when Rosemary spotted her and waved.

  Marnie sensed an atmosphere and looked for an opportunity to leave them to talk. Rosemary, on the other hand, was in no hurry for Marnie to go and suggested they look at the excavations together. She stubbed her cigarette out in the car’s ashtray and they began walking. Marnie had a deal of sympathy for the team working in the heat on the exposed slope. A cry made her turn, and Danny came up with Donovan following on behind.

  Introductions were made. Rosemary looked at Donovan.

  “I haven’t seen you before, have I? Are you with Timeline?”

  “I’m just a friend passing through.”

  “We’re thinking of going for a trip,” Marnie added. “A few days’ break. It’s our only chance of a holiday this summer and while all this is going on …”

  “I can imagine. You can’t get any work done. I wish I was coming with you.” Rosemary’s tone was weary and dejected.

  “Don’t you find it all exciting?” Danny asked. “The TV people, the helicopter, the bustle of it all?”

  Rob explained to Danny. “Rosemary’s had some problems in the lab.”

  “What kind of problems?”

  “My work has been interrupted.”

  “In what way?”

  Marnie spoke before Rosemary could reply. “I’m not sure Rosemary’s able to talk about it.”

  “You mean it’s confidential?”

  Rosemary looked at Rob before speaking. “I’ve been working on the remains found in the grave. They’ve been removed for analysis at another lab.”

  Danny looked puzzled. “That’s confidential?”

  “It’s annoying. They came last night after I’d left and took them without any reference to me.”

  Donovan, who had been standing in the background until then, stepped forward to face Rosemary.

  “Who came and took the remains?” he said.

  “They didn’t say, but they acted as if they owned the place.”

  “Someone must have authorised the removal, surely?” Donovan said.

  “My director saw them. He stayed on after me, for once. Usually I’m the last to leave.”

  “What about your notes, reports, findings, all that sort of stuff?”

  “I was just asking Rosemary about that,” Rob said.

  Rosemary frowned. “They insisted on taking all the files.”

  Donovan was incredulous. “They took everything?”

  “Yes. They just turned up without warning and took the remains, all the dossiers, computer disks, the lot.”

  There were a few moments of silence.

  “No they didn’t.”

  All eyes turned towards Donovan.

  “What do you mean?” Rosemary said.

  “They didn’t turn up without warning. They must have arranged to see your director beforehand, made an appointment for a time when you wouldn’t be around to object.”

  Rosemary put a hand to her mouth. “Of course. It was odd, the director being there at that time. I’d not thought of it before, but since you mention it …”

  “Presumably,” Marnie began, “there’s nothing you could’ve done about it, is there? You couldn’t have stopped them.”

  “I could’ve made a formal protest.”

  “On what grounds?” Rob said quietly. “It was a government-funded contract. The remains were theirs, technically speaking.”

  “That isn’t the point,” Donovan said.

  Rob looked at him. “What is?”

  “If a formal complaint was made and an enquiry subsequently took place, the complaint would be made known. With no protest there’d be less likelihood of an enquiry and no record of any conflict that might arouse suspicion or comment.”

  “They just wanted everything brushed quietly under the carpet,” Rosemary added.

  “Exactly,” said Donovan.

  “And I suppose I’ll never find out why.”

  “That’s easy, and you’ll know the answer better than anyone else.”

  Everyone looked baffled.

  “What do you mean?” Rob asked.

  “It’s obvious. The remains pointed to someone who wanted the truth about them to be kept hidden.” Donovan looked at Rosemary. “You knew more about them than anyone, so you must know who could be compromised by the facts about them being made public.”

  “But I don’t know who might want the details kept private.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  “I think I’d know if …” She looked thoughtful.

  “What is it?” Rob said.

  “Well, if they had official authority to have the remains taken away, presumably it’s the government – or some part of it – that wants them kept sec
ret.”

  “What part of the government could it be?” Rob asked.

  “That isn’t the right question.” Donovan interjected.

  “No? I’d have thought it –”

  “No. The question is, what did the remains reveal?”

  All eyes turned towards Rosemary.

  “They were those of a man; not old but not in his first youth; remains largely skeletal with some skin tissue; medium height and build; seemed to have been fit and healthy; showed signs of a violent death; possibly by strangulation; buried about fifty or sixty years ago; distinguishing marks difficult because of decomposition, but part of what appeared to be a tattoo; no clothing but perhaps a shroud of some sort. That’s about it.”

  “No. There’s more, much more.” Donovan’s tone was firm.

  “I don’t know what you –”

  “You were in intimate contact with him for days.”

  “Intimate contact with a set of bones,” Rosemary protested.

  Donovan shook his head. “You must have formed an impression of who he was, at least what kind of person, how he lived and died. Was his general fitness due to hard manual labour? Did his bones reveal he was heavily muscled? What did his skull tell you about him?”

  Marnie laughed. “You sound like Sherlock Holmes, Donovan.”

  “Sorry. I get carried away.”

  “What do you do?” Rob asked. “We don’t know anything about you.”

  “I’m taking a gap year before university.”

  “And you’re a friend of Marnie’s.”

  “He’s Anne’s –” Danny began. A sharp look from Anne stopped her in mid flight.

  Marnie continued. “Donovan was involved with us in the trouble we had with the far right last summer. His photographs were used in the papers. They made a tremendous impact at the time.”

  “Photographs?” Rosemary murmured.

  “Yes. He –”

  “Photographs,” Rosemary repeated. “My God.”

  “You’ve kept some photographs?” Rob took her arm. “You said they’d taken all the files, everything.”

  “They did, but –”