CAPTIVE ON THE FENS a gripping crime thriller full of twists

by Joy Ellis

  A lone 4x4 was a commonplace sight on the Fens. Farmers used them, land workers used them, waterway maintenance operatives used them, the world and his wife used them. Nikki eased forward, carefully judging the speed of the approaching vehicle and the exact position of the turn-off for the quay.

  For the first time, a frisson of fear tingled and skittered along her shoulder blades. She had a plan. It was a good one — if it worked. She would have one chance.

  With a muttered prayer to Joseph’s God, she jammed her foot down. The oncoming car slowed very slightly. A tad nervous, maybe?

  So he should be.

  Nikki gripped the wheel tightly and sped past the Lexus. At just the right moment, she gave the steering wheel a wrench, then corrected it again immediately. The rear of the heavy Land Rover slewed across the road. With a crash and a scream of tearing metal, it impacted with the back end of the Lexus. Nikki controlled her skid and brought the vehicle to a halt.

  As she released her seat belt she could see the black car spin like a top, and nosedive down into the steep irrigation ditch that ran along the side of the lane.

  ‘Hole in one!’ she yelped, and opened the door. ‘Got you, you bastard!’

  She ran over to the ditch and saw the driver struggling to get out of the crashed car. He had got his window down and she heard him call for help.

  ‘Climb out of the window. I’ll help you!’ Nikki slithered into the cold water of the ditch.

  ‘Can’t. I think my ankle’s broken.’

  ‘Have you turned the engine off?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Okay, then sit tight. This car is going nowhere. Help will be here shortly.’ Well, it will if any of my colleagues have managed to find the road to Salter’s Quay.

  All she wanted to know was what state Freddie Carver was in.

  The words, “We think he’s armed!” drifted into her head.

  She looked through the back window at a crumpled heap of a man, jammed fast against the far door and unable to right himself.

  She would have laughed if he hadn’t been pointing a handgun directly at her.

  ‘It’s not loaded!’ the driver called from the front of the car. ‘He keeps it hidden in the back for emergencies, but I took the ammunition out before he got in.’

  Nikki watched the fat man pull the trigger, over and over and over. And then he threw the gun at her and let rip a string of obscenities.

  Nikki gave an exaggerated sigh. ‘Oh dear, what a greeting! Now it’s my turn. Where shall I start? Ah yes . . . Frederick Carver, I am arresting you on suspicion of the kidnapping and blackmail of Police Constable Graham Hildred. You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.’

  Nikki had never been happier to repeat the words. The sound of approaching blues and twos made her feel even better.

  ‘Thank you for disarming his gun,’ she said to the driver. ‘I will make sure it is recorded that your actions probably saved my life.’

  ‘Lucky really, because he was supposed to stick with the first car.’ He gave her a grin, and then winced. ‘Something must have spooked him because he ditched it and I was called for a switch.’

  Something or someone, thought Nikki, thinking of the mole in the station. ‘Well, thanks anyway.’

  ‘You’re welcome, lady. I’ve had enough of this man. Just lock him up and melt the bleeding key.’ He grinned again. ‘Where did you learn to drive like that?’

  ‘Sorry? Don’t know what you mean. That was an accident, wasn’t it?’

  ‘Oh yeah! Happens all the time on these lanes. Just our bad luck, I guess.’

  * * *

  Nikki made sure that Carver had been removed from the ditch and was wearing handcuffs, and that his driver was being cared for prior to the ambulance arriving. Then she drove back across the Fens to where she had left Joseph and Yvonne. She had managed to get Control to phone the Chandlers’ cottage, so at least they would not be worrying about her.

  As she climbed out of the damaged Land Rover, they were waiting for her.

  ‘I don’t know whether to hug you or give you a right telling off,’ grumbled Joseph.

  ‘Both seem appropriate,’ added Yvonne. ‘But I’d go for the hug. Our boss has actually taken out the Fat Man, single-handed!’

  ‘That’s why I’d go for the telling off.’ Joseph glowered at Nikki. ‘There was no need to go off alone like that. We were right here with you.’

  Nikki tried to look contrite, but it was tough when you felt so elated. ‘I’m sorry, really I am. The fact is I had no idea what had happened or where he was until I was half a mile away. Then I didn’t have the time to get back here and collect you. It would have been too late to catch him.’

  Joseph looked at her dented and scraped vehicle. ‘That looks expensive.’

  ‘Worth every penny! And I must say my new car was perfect for it. I don’t think it would have worked in a lighter, less well-built model.’

  ‘Bit of luck you weren’t driving a police vehicle, you’d be well popular.’

  ‘I’d still have done it.’

  ‘Me too.’ Joseph gave in and hugged her. ‘Well done! Now if we can only find Dina Jarvis, it will be just about perfect, won’t it?’

  ‘What did Keel tell you while I was away?’

  ‘Let’s get back to the station, and we’ll fill you in there.’ He gave her a big grin. ‘I just can’t wait to see that evil bastard sitting in a cell! I’m thinking of taking photographs and emailing them to every copper in the country.’

  ‘I’m not sure that would be a good move for your career prospects, although I do understand the sentiment,’ Nikki said.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Nikki had never before seen such celebrations at Greenborough police station. It was as if a war had ended. Superintendent Greg Woodhall had even conveyed congratulations from the Met, which had to be a first. But Nikki’s delight at having Carver finally banged up was overshadowed by a feeling of unease. This was mainly to do with Dina Jarvis, but also with the fact that no one had heard anything of Fabian. Venables was confirmed to be on his way to the Netherlands, but Fabian had dropped off the radar, and that meant that Jessie Nightingale could not share in the festivities.

  ‘Ben is travelling over from Derby.’ Cat was elated at the arrest and hadn’t been able to wait to tell him. ‘He is really impressed with you, ma’am.’

  ‘Well, after all the work he did on the Fern case, he of all people deserves to see Carver in a cell. He’s a good copper — Ben.’

  ‘Actually I’m not sure he wants to stay in the job, ma’am.’ Cat shook her head. ‘He’s disillusioned with things in his area. He reckons the guys and gals are a good bunch but the way things are going, well, he can’t see a future in policing.’

  ‘That’s sad. He’s the kind of policeman the force cannot afford to lose.’

  ‘Would you talk to him, ma’am? He respects you. I’m sure he’d listen.’

  ‘Yes, Cat. I will, if you think it would help.’

  ‘If you can’t change his mind, then no one can. Thank you.’

  ‘No problem. Now, much as I regret being a party pooper, could we have a catch-up regarding what Keel Chandler had to say? Cat, gather up the others and come to my office. We all need to talk.’

  * * *

  ‘I’m worried on two counts.’ Nikki sat at her desk, looking nothing like a person who had just apprehended the county’s most wanted.

  Joseph watched her carefully. He knew that when she said she was worried, she meant it.

  ‘The men Carver would have chosen to go after Jessie and Graham would be Mr Fabian and Mr Venables. Venables has been seen boarding a plane to Schiphol Airport, so we know that, for a while at least, he is of no concern to us, but Fabian is a different matter entirely. We do not know his whereabouts, and he is a very dangerous man indeed.’

  �
�Will he still want to complete whatever Carver had in mind, knowing that Freddie’s plans have been scuppered?’ asked Dave. ‘Especially if Carver isn’t around to pay him.’

  ‘I should think that if Carver activated Fabian, the money would have changed hands immediately,’ Joseph said. ‘Fabian is lethal. Carver would believe that if he paid that man to do a job, it would be done, no question.’

  ‘I agree.’ Nikki lowered her voice. ‘By the way, I have just been speaking to Greg Woodhall, and Carver has to be moved to another station, out of the area. We cannot risk him being held here if we’ve been infiltrated by one of his men. Right now he is being watched by a small team of designated trusted officers, but even so we cannot risk anything getting in, or being smuggled out for him. So, Cat, maybe Ben Radley will have to travel a bit further unless he gets here soon.’

  Cat just nodded. Joseph secretly thought that maybe the aim of Ben’s trip was more to visit a certain detective than a prisoner.

  ‘Joseph, give Mickey a bell and ask him about Fabian. Any news would be gratefully received.’

  Joseph stood up and went to his office.

  ‘Mickey? Sergeant Joe here.’

  ‘Good to hear you, Joe. Give our warmest wishes to Inspector Nik, won’t you? Even Raymond is well impressed. Tell her, from the whole Leonard family, nice one!’

  ‘Does news travel at the speed of light around the Carborough?’

  ‘It does when you listen to a police radio. Er, forget I said that. How can I help?’

  ‘Fabian.’

  ‘Gone to ground. And Raymond says he has something planned, or he would have joined the rush to leave.’

  ‘If you hear anything, anything at all, can you ring me?’

  ‘If I do, he’s all yours, Joe, and you’re welcome to him. Just don’t get within touching distance of him. Be careful, Joe, won’t you?’

  ‘And you, kiddo. Just keep away from those really bad men, okay?’

  Mickey laughed. ‘I do — other than my uncle. See you!’

  Back in Nikki’s office, Joseph had little to offer. ‘As we suspected, Fabian is still around and evidently planning something.’

  ‘Blast it! Well, there’s little we can do other than make sure every available officer on the streets is keeping their eyes peeled.’

  ‘The Leonards will keep us informed too. He’s the kind of man that even they don’t want contaminating their manor.’

  ‘So, on to Dina Jarvis.’ She looked at Joseph. ‘How is Dominic?’

  ‘No change, but he’s still holding on.’

  ‘I’d like to be able to give him some good news, wouldn’t you?’

  Joseph nodded. He knew that Nikki had always been certain that even though Hannah had been in a vegetative state, she could hear and understand what was being said to her. ‘Yes, I’d like to tell him that we’d found her.’

  ‘We can do nothing until Fabian shows his ugly face, so we concentrate on Dina, okay?’

  They all murmured their agreement.

  ‘Yvonne? Joseph? Tell us about your afternoon with Keel Chandler.’

  ‘He has a butterfly brain,’ said Yvonne. ‘It jumps from one thing to another, that’s why his notebook is so jumbled.’

  Joseph joined in. ‘What we did ascertain was that he certainly did see Gibson and Dina together on several occasions, hence the drawing of the Audi.’

  ‘But because of the way he doesn’t make connections, that didn’t mean that the Audi was ever anywhere near Ruddick’s Farm.’ Yvonne leafed through her pocket book. ‘It seems that he was writing about at least three different occurrences that all involved Dina, but at different times and possibly with different people, not just Gibson Ash.’

  ‘And the potato shed at Ruddick’s Farm is one of those occurrences?’ asked Nikki.

  Yvonne nodded at Joseph.

  ‘Yes, for sure,’ he continued. ‘We think that whatever happened to Dina either started or ended in something that happened there. And Keel witnessed some or all of it, but—’

  ‘He has blocked it out,’ Yvonne finished for him. ‘He tried to tell us, but whether it was because of his grandmother’s presence, or maybe because he just can’t face it, Keel couldn’t tell us what he saw.’

  ‘Couldn’t or wouldn’t?’ asked Cat.

  ‘Absolutely couldn’t,’ Joseph confirmed. ‘He really struggled. We were wondering whether, if we got him away from the cottage and into a neutral situation, perhaps he might be able to remember.’

  ‘I thought,’ said Yvonne, ‘That he might like a guided tour of a working police station? I think it would delight his kaleidoscope mind.’

  ‘Then if he turns out to be the abductor, we could just keep him here.’ Cat grinned.

  ‘If he turns out to be that, I’ll buy you all Danish pastries for a year,’ Joseph returned.

  ‘And now, you lot, back to the potato shed,’ Nikki said quietly. ‘I find it very disconcerting that it was the place where we discovered Lilli’s body. We have a confirmed connection now between Lilli and Freddie Carver’s men, so we have to consider that the use of that shed was deliberate, not random. Which means that Carver’s men could have taken Dina there, does it not?’

  Joseph’s thoughts had followed a very similar track. ‘We think that as some of Carver’s men are local or have been based here for a while, they could have got talking to the Ruddick boys.’

  ‘And in conversation over a pint in the Leather Bottle, a pub they all frequent, one of them might have mentioned that they have a nice new selection shed at the farm,’ Yvonne joined in. ‘Meaning that the old one was out of use.’

  ‘And Ruddick’s Farm is about as isolated as you can get.’

  Cat frowned. ‘You don’t think the Ruddick brothers could have been involved with Carver?’

  Nikki shook her head. ‘Very doubtful. They are not criminals. Not one of them has a record. They are hardworking farm boys, maybe not too bright, but nevertheless, Carver would scare the pants off them.’

  Joseph felt a tiny niggle of concern. He wasn’t sure why, but he didn’t like the thought of that potato selection shed being connected in some way to Dina Jarvis. He picked up a small file of papers from the table in front of him. ‘I photocopied Keel’s artwork.’ He handed them all a copy of one particular page. Ruddick’s Barn and Keel’s “night creatures.”

  Yvonne stared at the picture. ‘This bothered me at first. But now I believe it is simpler than we thought. Those creatures do not represent Gibson Ash or the bad thing that happened to her, they are just the people that took Dina to the barn. The three figures are most likely Carver’s men. Whatever Keel saw them do, it traumatised him so badly that he no longer knows what he saw.’

  Nikki groaned. ‘After two years of constant use, until recently anyway, it would be useless to search a filthy shed for trace elements or DNA.’

  ‘But would it?’ asked Cat. ‘Forensics has moved on in the last few years.’

  ‘But not in the Fens, Cat, and add to that the fact that our budgets have been slashed to ribbons. And as I don’t have buddies in CSI to jump in and help us, we’re stuffed as far as hi-tech equipment is concerned.’

  ‘You have Professor Wilkinson.’

  ‘I love him to bits, but he’s not a miracle worker. He has budgets too.’

  Joseph saw where Cat was going and nodded excitedly. ‘He also has friends in the Fenland University, who have lots of gizmos and huge enthusiasm. I have even heard that they have their own body farm, somewhere discreet and very hush-hush. Forensics studies are big over there.’

  Nikki looked miffed. ‘Why don’t I know about this?’

  Dave chuckled. ‘Probably because you never read memos that have nothing to do with the cases you are working on.’

  ‘Fair cop, Harris. You think it’s worth asking him?’

  ‘Definitely.’

  Yvonne was staring at the photocopied diary, apparently in a world of her own.

  ‘Hello? Where have you gone?’ Ni
all asked her. He turned to the others. ‘I’ve seen this look before, folks. It could be something momentous.’

  ‘Or it could be wind,’ suggested Cat, and smirked.

  ‘It could be nothing,’ said Yvonne dreamily, ‘but I need to get it off my chest, or it will drive me mad.’

  Nikki leaned forward. ‘We’re all ears.’

  ‘Two things. Niall, you saw Dina in a clinch with a man. You have now met Gibson Ash. Was it him?’

  Niall sucked on his bottom lip and shut his eyes tightly. ‘I hardly looked, but . . .’ His eyes opened wide. ‘No, I don’t think it was Ash. The man she was with had sandy-coloured hair. Gibson Ash is dark. And what I saw was no chaste kiss, judging by where his hands were going. Hers too for that matter, that’s why I looked away.’

  Yvonne took a breath. ‘Second: how many Ruddick boys are there?’

  ‘Three,’ answered Nikki immediately.

  Yvonne stretched out her finger and hovered over the three night creatures in the picture. ‘Three men. It was their father’s barn. They might not be criminals, but did they take the gregarious Dina there to party? What colour hair do they have?’

  ‘Two are light brown, one is sandy-coloured. Ryan Ruddick has sandy hair.’

  * * *

  Eve Anderson was in the kitchen, enjoying having company and someone to cook for.

  Jessie was perched on a stool, watching her. ‘I’m always impressed by confident cooks.’ She tilted her head to one side as Eve deftly cut fresh ginger into wafer thin strips. ‘I’m a kind of “Give it a try, but don’t expect too much” sort of chef. I’m always disappointed in how my dishes turn out. They never look like the pictures in the recipe book.’

  ‘My grandmother was a cook in a big manor house in Hampshire. I grew up watching her make marvellous concoctions from practically nothing. She said it came from trying to produce nourishing meals in wartime. Whatever, her love of cooking was certainly passed down to her grandchild.’

  ‘It looks amazing. The ginger smells wonderful, doesn’t it?’

  Eve nodded. ‘Does Graham cook?’