BURIED ON THE FENS a gripping crime thriller full of twists

by Joy Ellis

  There was no laughter, no chat, and no one attempted to make light of the situation. Sylvia Caulfield handed round drinks, and then they sat in silence, waiting.

  Sylvia strode to and fro before them, her long purple skirt swirling round her ankles. ‘The situation is this. Two of us are dead. I include Louise because she is Maria’s daughter.’

  The women shook their heads and murmured.

  ‘I spoke with DI Nikki Galena today. I am certain she knows about Madeline. I have called this meeting to ask you all a question. Is your need to keep your sexuality secret more important than saving your life? We appear to be in great danger, and so are our loved ones. It is not being over-dramatic to say that the decision we make tonight will be a matter of life or death.’

  ‘Isn’t there any other way?’ This was a teacher at the local sixth form college. ‘Our head is really homophobic, and I love my job . . .’ She tailed off.

  ‘If my husband finds out that I have a woman lover, it will kill him.’ Carla Hunt, the manager of a local import company, looked horrified.

  Zena Paris asked if they were going to involve the whole of the Briar Patch Club, or restrict the vote to a select few.

  Sylvia did not hesitate. ‘I would strongly advise opening it to the whole group. After all, we all face the same threat.’

  ‘I need time to consider,’ Greenborough lawyer Celia Kenington said above the murmuring voices. ‘A decision to speak out could destroy the careers of many of us, and our position in society. Families might be broken apart. This has to be very carefully thought out.’

  Sammy ran a hand through her short crop of greying hair. ‘If we involve the other members we would be a considerable force if we were to decide to try and track the killer ourselves.’

  Sylvia moved among them topping up glasses. ‘Time is not on our side. We cannot afford to procrastinate. If you are in agreement, I’m going to suggest that tonight we vote on whether to put this to the whole club or keep it to ourselves. Then we can think about the main decision at home. May I just say that Maria Lawson will naturally not be with us for the foreseeable future. I spoke with her today and she sent thanks to you all for your flowers and messages of sympathy. Now, if we are ready? A show of hands please . . .’

  * * *

  The women drove away, back to their other, more public, lives. Many wondered if they had done the right thing by voting to involve the whole club.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Nikki drove home to Cloud Fen. She saw the dark silhouette of Joseph’s Knot Cottage appear on the horizon and felt a terrible sadness. She had not wanted to speak to him the way she had, but right now there were more important things than Joseph’s ex-wife and her bloody dramas.

  Joseph was not yet home and the place was in darkness, something she rarely saw. Outside work they were nearly always together. More often than not they ate together, and sometimes sat long into the evening, talking about cases or just chatting comfortably.

  She pulled into the driveway of Cloud Cottage Farm, parked her car and sat in the evening quiet. She had believed that when Tamsin and Niall got married, things would be even better for her and Joseph. It had been a wonderful few months, seeing the two youngsters preparing for the wedding and buying their very first home. Then Laura had turned up and put an end to everything.

  When it had become too difficult for her, Nikki had taken a two-week holiday with her mother, Eve. Nikki never took holidays.

  The break had been wonderful. She and her mother had really got to know each other and they became much closer. She would not have swapped that time for anything, but she kept wishing. Wishing that Joseph were there with her. Wished he was by her side when she walked on the beaches and ambled through the olive groves.

  She had gone away to try to make sense of things. It hadn’t worked.

  Nikki threw open the car door and stepped out into the cold, dark night. She stared up into the sky, and listened to the sounds of the marsh whispering away around her. She felt unbearably lonely.

  She opened the door and the warmth and comfort embraced her like welcoming arms. She belonged here on Cloud Fen, in this very farmhouse. But did Joseph, too, belong? For the first time, she really wasn’t sure.

  She took off her coat and hung it up. Her phone rang, shattering the hush.

  ‘Nikki Galena.’

  ‘Ma’am, please forgive me for phoning, but Cat said she thought you would want to know what I’ve found out.’

  ‘Ben?’ Nikki walked through to the kitchen and switched on the lights. ‘Is it about Millicent?’ Still holding the phone, she took a bottle of wine from the fridge.

  ‘Yes. I think I’ve had a breakthrough.’

  Nikki switched her phone to loudspeaker and went to get a glass. ‘Fire away.’

  ‘Christchurch police in New Zealand traced Millicent’s employment records and found that she was married and then divorced, and moved down to Dunedin. They gave me her address and I rang Dunedin police. They went round, and a neighbour told them she was away for three weeks visiting her father in England.’

  ‘Bingo! Well done, Ben! So it was her that old Fred tidied up for.’ She poured her wine. ‘So why didn’t she turn up?’

  ‘That I don’t know, but I do know that she now goes by the name of Ellen Macdonald. She kept her married name after the divorce and ditched Millicent in favour of her mother’s name, Ellen.’

  ‘Well, you’ve been busy. Well done!’ She smiled to herself. If Ben was trying to make a good impression, he was certainly going about it the right way!

  ‘I checked the flight passenger lists from New Zealand, and she definitely checked her luggage in. Now I know her name, I’ll get onto immigration here in the morning. More than that I can’t say, but it’s a start, isn’t it?’

  ‘It certainly is! And tell Cat to stop prompting you. I can hear her in the background. I’m delighted with what you’ve achieved today. Goodnight, you two, and see you bright and early, okay?’

  She ended the call. Where was Millicent — or should she say Ellen? It would appear that she had left home, boarded a plane, and vanished. Nikki took a long sip of wine and sat down. This did not bode well.

  * * *

  Joseph sat opposite Laura in the lounge of her hotel. He had refused point blank to go up to her room.

  ‘The thing is, Joe, there’s nothing left for me in Scotland. I’m going to sell up and make a clean break from my old life with Gavin.’

  Alarm bells began to clang in Joseph’s head. Where exactly was she planning this new start?

  ‘What do you think?’

  Joseph nodded slowly. ‘It’s a good thing to put him behind you, but what about all the friends you made in Scotland?’

  ‘We didn’t have that many friends. I was working away such a lot that when I was at home, we would spend time together, just the two of us.’ She pouted. ‘There’s not really anyone I would miss much.’

  ‘And your work? Surely you’ll be able to get back to that soon? You are very good at what you do. There will be offers from other companies.’

  ‘Then I will be travelling again, but I need a base.’

  The alarm bells reached a crescendo.

  ‘And I’d love to be closer to Tam . . . Like you are.’

  Joseph sipped his juice and said nothing.

  ‘And if I were somewhere local, Tam or you could keep an eye on my house when I was away working, couldn’t you?’

  Joseph stared at her over his glass. She was still a beautiful woman, but there was little left of the girl he had fallen in love with all those years ago. She had changed beyond all recognition. He suddenly realised that he actually didn’t like her very much. ‘To be brutally frank, Laura, I don’t think that’s a very good idea.’

  Her eyes narrowed for a moment, and then she smiled coldly. ‘Now why doesn’t that surprise me?’

  ‘I work long hours, Laura, and I love what I do. I did not choose to live near Tamsin, she chose to live near me.’
He returned her icy stare. ‘Tamsin is not here to run around after me. I’m here only if she ever needs me, to help her.’

  ‘Oh, and we mustn’t forget your “perfect” little life with DI Nikki Galena, must we?’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Although I’d never thought of you as a celibate. Platonic. Huh.’

  Joseph took another sip of his drink and then calmly said, ‘I have no interest in how you conduct your life, Laura, so I suggest you keep your nasty comments about mine to yourself.’

  Laura’s eyes widened. ‘Oh, Joe! I’m so sorry.’ She gave an exaggerated sigh. ‘I don’t know what comes over me these days. I think I’m just so hurt over Gavin that everything I do or say comes out wrong. Forgive me?’

  Joseph was beginning to see what Nikki had meant.

  ‘How can you be so wrong about someone, Joe? Gavin was the sweetest guy. He looked after everything while I was away, and he made me feel like a million dollars when we were together. Even the few friends we did have thought he was wonderful. How did he manage to fool everyone? All he really wanted was my money and a great lifestyle.’

  Joseph put down his drink and sat up abruptly. How does someone manage to fool everyone? The words echoed in his head. Fool everyone . . .

  ‘Laura, look I’m sorry but I have to go. I have an important call to make.’ He stood up. ‘I’d think very carefully before you start checking estate agents’ windows, okay? I don’t think there is as much here for you as you may imagine.’

  Joseph walked away. There was something rather satisfying about seeing Laura’s mouth hang open like that.

  * * *

  Nikki was growing impatient. How many more times would the phone ring? She had fielded one call after another. Her mother had rung with the disappointing news that her art club friend had withdrawn her invite to the Briar Patch. “Temporarily, of course, dear, but we need to sort out a few problems at the club first.” Nikki was actually rather relieved. Eve, however, told her daughter that she’d been looking forward to a “bit of excitement.”

  Then her cousin Denise had phoned. She hoped Nikki hadn’t forgotten about going around one evening. Now it was ringing again.

  With a grunt, she answered it.

  ‘Nikki, it’s me, Joseph.’

  Nikki’s stomach muscles tensed. ‘Hi.’

  ‘Can I call round?’

  ‘Now?’

  ‘I’m in town, but yes, I’m coming straight home. Fifteen minutes?’

  ‘Sure.’ She thought he sounded oddly excited.

  ‘Have you eaten yet?’ he asked.

  ‘I haven’t had time. The phone hasn’t stopped all evening.’

  ‘Then I’ll grab something quick from Mario’s. See you soon.’

  Nikki sat staring at the receiver. He had sounded like the old Joseph. Nikki told herself not to get too hopeful. Laura still lurked in the wings.

  Half an hour later, Joseph set down a bulging carrier bag on her kitchen table. ‘Mario boxed up your favourite, the leek and potato frittata. I’ve got a new recipe that he wants to try out, some sort of baked rigatoni.’

  Nikki took the plates from the cupboard. She noticed that her hand shook slightly.

  Joseph dished up the food and accepted a glass of wine. Then he sank down onto a chair and gave a loud sigh. ‘Oh, God! What an absolute idiot I’ve been!’

  ‘Wasn’t me that said that.’ She grinned at him. ‘Although the thought did cross my mind.’

  ‘Well, I’m back on track now, truly. And I’m not taking time off.’

  Nikki gave a broad smile. ‘Thank heavens! I wasn’t sure how I was going to cope without you.’

  ‘I gather we are back on the Prospero investigation full-time?’

  ‘Officially, although I’m keeping Cat and a bit of part-time help on the Gordon Hammond case.’

  ‘That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.’ Joseph dug his fork into the pasta. ‘What if Gordon Hammond was completely innocent? What if the whole village was wrong about him and he had done nothing at all?’

  ‘And Cyril Roberts was right?’

  Joseph nodded. ‘Yes. So why would he take the flak for something so terrible, and not protest his innocence?’

  ‘Because he was protecting someone?’ Nikki frowned.

  ‘Exactly. I think he knew whoever was killing the animals and abusing the kids, and was protecting him.’

  ‘But he only had one friend that we know of, and that was Cyril.’

  Joseph looked at her. ‘Maybe we don’t know enough about the men of Quintin Eaudyke, or maybe it was Cyril. After all, his wife did leave him, and his daughter has very little to do with him. And he lives on the outskirts of the village . . .’

  ‘Like a pariah,’ murmured Nikki. ‘But he seems like such a lovely old man.’

  ‘People are not always what they seem.’ Joseph drank some wine, and stared into the glass. ‘And his defence of Gordon makes the whole thing ring true.’

  Nikki mused. ‘How tall would you say Cyril is?’

  ‘About five foot eight? He’s certainly not tall for a man.’

  ‘So he could have killed Gordon.’

  ‘And Avril?’

  Nikki shook her head. ‘I’m coming around to the idea that Avril is still alive. Cat is working on that now for me. Somehow, that poor kid was subjected to some awful things, either from her father or her father’s best friend. I’m certain she was either a victim, or an unwilling witness to unspeakable abuse.’

  ‘So she ran?’

  ‘She ran. My question is, did she get out in time, or is she as damaged as her fellow victims?’

  Joseph sat back. ‘I dread to think.’

  They sat on in comfortable silence. Nikki wanted to ask what had happened to Laura, but kept her curiosity to herself. Joseph would tell her when he was ready. Instead, she told him about the death of George Ackroyd, her talk with Sally Gilmore, and Ben’s progress with tracing the missing girl, Millicent, now Ellen.

  ‘How do you feel about an evening round at my cousin’s place?’

  Joseph’s eyes lit up. ‘Denise and Rosemary? Great! Will there be food? Den is a fantastic cook.’

  Nikki smiled. ‘Praise indeed! If she knows you are coming, she’ll kill the fatted calf.’

  ‘Then don’t tell Tamsin, she’ll have a fit. When are we invited?’

  ‘Tomorrow. And I have an ulterior motive. Rosemary is one of the founder members of the Briar Patch Club . . .’ Nikki raised an eyebrow.

  ‘Ah, sneaky!’

  ‘She’ll have to be interviewed anyway, so we’ll do it gently, over a glass of wine.’

  ‘I’m with you on that.’

  Nikki picked up her phone and called Denise.

  ‘Sorted! Seven o’clock okay?’

  Joseph nodded. He looked at Nikki. ‘This feels so good. I feel as though I’d been possessed by some alien that drained all my spirit and energy. Now . . .’

  ‘Welcome home, Joseph.’ Nikki raised her glass. ‘And stay this time. Yes?’

  ‘Oh yes.’

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Nikki hung her jacket on the fancy bamboo coat stand that had miraculously appeared overnight.

  ‘We have split the interviews with DI Gill Mercer and we will share anything of interest.’ She passed out the list of women’s names. ‘We’ll work in pairs. Joseph will come with me, Dave with Ben. Cat will stay on the other case for the time being.’ She looked at Ben. ‘Before you start, tie up what you have on Millicent, and then pitch in with Dave, okay? Yvonne? You stay with Dave until Ben’s free, then maybe you’d like to spend a bit of unofficial time with Cat?’

  ‘No problem, ma’am.’ Yvonne smiled. ‘I like unofficial time.’

  ‘You look a bit worried, Ben. Problem?’ Nikki said.

  Ben looked downhearted. ‘I just get the feeling I’m going to hit a blank with Ellen/Millicent.’

  ‘Bad feeling about her?’

  ‘Very bad feeling, ma’am.’

  ‘If it makes you feel any bett
er, I feel the same. Just do what you can.’ She glanced at the clock. ‘Back here at lunchtime and we’ll see what we have. Go to it.’

  * * *

  Cat got off to a good start. Within the hour she had located an old neighbour of Gladys Hammond’s sister. The old lady confirmed that Gladys never had visitors.

  Apparently, Gladys’s sister had a very nice home in quite a posh residential area. When Avril had gone missing, she allowed Gladys to have the annexe. The front door to the annexe was right opposite the neighbour’s window, and the old girl reckoned that she never saw a single visitor. Cat looked at her notes.

  The aunt was very friendly with the neighbour but when Gladys Hammond arrived, the neighbour wasn’t encouraged to visit anymore. She said that her sister’s nerves were shot, what with the child disappearing and her husband taking to drink like that, so she needed peace and quiet. She never saw anyone visit, other than the police from time to time, and Gladys never went outside her front door, not even to shop.

  Cat closed her notebook. She had asked the neighbour if she knew why Gladys lived in the annexe rather than sharing the house with her sister. The old lady thought they spent the day together, but Gladys preferred to sleep in the ground-floor granny flat. She had taken to sleepwalking and was frightened of sleeping upstairs. So, if Gladys never left the house, then she couldn’t have helped her daughter run away.

  Cat sat back and contemplated her mammoth workload. She decided to start with another visit to Quintin Eaudyke. She needed to know the truth about Avril Hammond and Delia Roberts’s friendship. Either Doctor or Mrs Draper might be able to provide it.

  ‘Got a minute, Cat?’

  The uniformed sergeant who had attended George Ackroyd’s death was standing in the doorway.

  ‘Sure, come in, Sarge.’

  ‘Mmm, I remember this place from the old days. Well, you look comfortable enough.’ Sergeant Keene glanced at the wall clock. ‘Isn’t that th—’

  ‘Shut up, Sarge, or I might be forced to lie to you.’

  ‘Never understood why the men’s room needed a clock in the first place.’