‘OK. Well he won’t have gone far, and I do know exactly where he’ll be on Thursday, if that’s any help.’
‘Second-sight, is it?’
‘Hardly. He told me. His son’s competing at Ambleside Sports, in the wrestling. I got the impression that John Winder wouldn’t miss that for the world.’
‘Thanks. I’ll keep looking meantime. And I’ll tell you one thing, Andy. We’ve come to rely too much on all this technology to find people. When someone drops off the grid now you can see the look on the young coppers’ faces. They’re clueless.’
‘I agree, but at least we’ve still got the dogs, if we need them. At least they’re analogue.’
‘And how. Did you hear that one of them bit poor old Reg on the arse yesterday?’
‘Really. I’m surprised he was off his bloody chair long enough.’
Jane laughed, and Hall was glad to hear it.
‘And before you ask, Andy, I’m fine.’
‘Good. And one thing, could I ask a favour?’
‘Go on, seeing as it’s you.’
‘Matt Somes’ next of kin. Do we know where they are now?’
‘Why are you interested in Somes all of a sudden? Don’t tell me you’re exploring the possibility of an ectoplasm attack on Foster? Because the way things are, I might even be interested.’
‘I’m not. Not really, anyway. Just something that John Tyson said, that’s all. It’s probably nothing.’
‘OK. Leave it with me and I’ll get back to you. Or rather one of the dynamic duo will.’
‘Like that, is it?’
‘For as long as they’re on attachment here they’re going to stay where I can see them, at all times. I tell you, love, you just can’t get the staff these days.’
‘Tell me about it’ said Hall, and he listened to her laughter on the line.
Hall was half way back to Kendal when Jane called back. Matt Somes’ widow and son still lived in Troutbeck. He wasn’t surprised. He envied people that sense of belonging, and he thought about his own children as he drove back the way that he’d just come. What would his daughters do after university? Would they return to the Lakes? He couldn’t see how they could. And what of his unborn child? He knew that it was foolish to try to think ahead that far, although that didn’t stop him. And when he did he saw himself, half-dozing in a wing-backed chair, while his still teenaged child talked of summer balls and exams. He hoped that he’d be able to be a good father again. If he lived that long, of course. Not for the first time he started to think about his own selfishness, and about all those years of putting the job first. But those days were almost over. Help bring this case to a conclusion, for Jane’s sake, and that would be it. For this part of his life, at least.
He was driving up the narrow lane into the village now, and for now he just needed to concentrate on that. Everything was so verdant, the trees and bushes bent down by summer’s leaf, but that made for deep shadows and blind bends in the road.
Hall knocked on the Somes’ cottage door, and got no reply. There was no record of Trish Somes having a job, but it was a lovely afternoon. Perhaps she had gone for a long walk. Hall was just about to return to his car when an elderly man opened the front door adjacent to the one that Hall had been knocking at. Hall braced himself for a long and suspicious back-and-forth.
‘Looking for Trish?’
‘I am, yes.’
‘Pub’ said the man, and closed the door again.
‘Thanks’ said Hall, to the old, dark oak.
He got back in his car and drove to the Mortal Man. There were a few people sitting in the beer garden, and Hall didn’t blame them. He wasn’t sure that he’d ever been in to a pub during the working day, except on Police business, but he could see the appeal, in a way. Time doesn’t know if it’s being wasted or not, he thought, pushing open the door. He asked for Trish Somes at the bar, and the woman behind the counter asked to see his Warrant Card. Hall showed her, and she pointed to a corner of the bar.
‘She could do with the company, I expect.’
‘What’s she drinking?’
‘Whatever you’re buying.’
‘Give me a clue, if you would.’
‘Scotch then, with a mixer. Doesn’t matter which. And a mineral water for you, I suppose?’
‘Lime and soda, thanks.’
Hall carried the drinks over, introduced himself, and asked if he could sit down.
‘Is that for me?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then aye, you can sit down. I thought you’d be here before this, to tell the truth. The law, like. But I’m bloody invisible now, aren’t I?’
‘Well, I’m here now. So you know what I wanted to ask you about?’
‘Aye, Frankie Foster. You want to know if I blew his fucking head off. They had to sluice him out of there, I hear.’
‘Did you kill him?’ Hall’s tone was as calm as ever, as if he was asking if she had enough ice in her drink.
‘No, but I’m not sorry he’s dead. Ruined my fucking life, did that little shit. He got what he deserved. It’s what they do to rats, isn’t it? Fucking shoot them.’
Hall very much doubted that Trish Somes could hold a gun steady enough to shoot it, but he knew better than to make assumptions.
‘So who do you think might have done it?’
‘Take your pick, mate. But whoever it is, I’ll drink their health in your booze. Cheers, and all that. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer bloke, and that’s a fact, that is.’
‘Times have been tough since your husband died?’
Trish Somes put her glass down carefully before she laughed.
‘No, it’s been one fucking holiday. No money, and the lad to bring up on my own.’
‘He was named after his dad?’
‘Aye. No, after his grand-dad. Followed in the family footsteps too, he has.’
‘He’s a shepherd, young Matt?’
‘Aye, that’s right. Works the high ground up towards Ullswater.’
‘Very nice.’
‘If you’re a fucking tourist then aye, I dare say it is. Otherwise it’s just nothing but poor grazing and bad weather.’
‘Is he working today?’
‘Aye. What time is it?’
‘Just before four.’
‘Then he’ll be here in a bit, to take me home, like. He’s a good lad.’
‘I’m sure he is.’
Hall’s tone was as neutral as always, but Trish Somes still heard something in it that she didn’t like.
‘What’s that supposed to mean? I know he was in trouble when he was younger, but that’s all over now. You just check on your bloody computer.’
‘I’m sorry,’ said Hall, ‘I didn’t mean anything by it. He was obviously troubled, when he was younger. I can understand that.’
‘Your dad died in prison then, did he? Killed himself, like?’
‘No. I just meant…’
‘Don’t bother. What would you know about any of it? I bet you don’t even know one end of a ewe from the other.’
Hall smiled. ‘That’s true. But I don’t arrest sheep. They’d probably all please guilty, and demand the death penalty.’
Trish Somes looked at him sharply. She seemed almost sober for a moment.
‘Why’s that?’
‘Don’t they say that sheep are always looking for somewhere to die? That it’s their sole aim in life. An old farmer told me that once, anyway.’
‘He wasn’t far wrong. And who can blame them? Bloody stuck here, like the rest of us. I can never understand why people come here on holiday, stupid bastards. They want to try and live here. So are you getting another one in, or are you just going to fuck off now?’
Hall stood up. He wasn’t sure how serious Trish Somes was being, but she was right, he did have no idea. Even after all these years the people that he dealt with in the course of his work seemed almost exactly as foreign and unknowable as they had on the day that he’d arrived in Cumbri
a. Perhaps that distance made him a better detective, although he was far from certain of that.
Jane led the final case conference of the day, and she could feel the absence of energy in the room. The air was warm and moist, and the office smelt of stale sandwiches and over-ripe bananas, forgotten in someone desk drawer. She did her best, but it did no good. And she wasn’t surprised, not really. Because the team wasn’t stupid, and they all knew that the case was coming apart at the seams. She’d obviously been over-ruled by Hall, and as a result they’d been spread too thin and the day had only amounted to one almighty cock-up after another. But what really concerned her was the lack of focus, the fact that now everyone was confused about their investigative priorities. And the most worrying aspect of all was that she wasn’t certain either. When she’d come to work that morning she’d been convinced that Jez Taylor was their man, but as she wearily packed her laptop into her bag she wasn’t anything like so certain. And the jury was well and truly out as to whether she should blame Andy Hall for that, or thank him.
Hall was surprised when Jane arrived home at just before seven, and he had to accelerate his cooking. It didn’t seem to make much difference to the flavour, as far as he could tell. Jane didn’t talk about work as they ate, and Hall followed her lead. He’d made a fruit salad for dessert, and he poured two very small glasses of wine to go with it.
‘Did you track down Mrs. Somes? I didn’t see a file note.’
‘No, sorry, I haven’t had time. Yes, I found her.’
‘And?’
‘And she’s bitter and angry. Addicted, too.’
‘Smack?’
‘Booze. Probably just as bad, though. She’s my age, almost to the day, and she looked even older.’
‘Stop fishing for compliments, Andy.’
‘I’m not. I’m just saying that I can’t see her being our killer. I’m not saying that she wouldn’t have, in the heat of the moment, but to steal a weapon and then hang on to it for ages before using it? No, I don’t see it. You know what people like her are like, when they offend.’
‘It seemed like a good idea at the time, you mean?’
‘Exactly. She’s not stupid, but I can’t see her thinking much further ahead than the next drink.’
‘Well that makes two of us, then. Is there any of that wine left?’
‘You don’t mean that.’
‘You’re right, I don’t. Just testing. But would you have poured me one, if I’d insisted?’
‘I wouldn’t have stopped you from pouring a glass for yourself.’
She laughed.
‘That’s so typical of you. I bet you’d thought that through already, hadn’t you? That very scenario.’
‘You overestimate me.’
‘I expect I do. So you’re saying that Trish Somes is of no interest? Did you check her alibi?’
‘No, I didn’t even ask.’
‘Christ, Andy. Thirty years of playing it by the book and now you come over all Columbo. I’m not sure that this is really the right time, love.’
‘I agree. But I was alone, remember. Even so, having looked at his record I wouldn’t mind a word with the son.’
‘I agree. I did have a quick look at him before I left. A juvenile record for violence, he works alone in the right area, and no doubt is handy with a firearm. What’s not to fancy? So yes, he’s worth a chat. Although, I have to say, if we introduce yet another suspect the Acting ACC will go into meltdown.’
Hall shrugged and sipped his wine. It was gone in half a gulp. The investigative budget seemed so much less of an issue to him, now that he wasn’t responsible for it.
‘I thought I might ask Ian to come with me in the morning, if you can spare him. When I go to see young Matt Somes.’
‘You think things might get rough?’
‘Why does everyone assume that I need protecting?’
‘I saw you trying to move that chest of draws at the weekend, Andy.’
‘It was heavy, I told you.’
‘You did. All right, I’ll drop Ian an email and ask him to pick you up in the morning. Satisfied?’
‘Thanks. But there was something else, connected to the Pearson death.’
‘Hold on, love. That’s going no-crime, Andy, as sure as eggs.’
‘But it hasn’t yet, has it? And I expect you saw Keith’s report, from when he and Ian were following Taylor.’
‘He met some Council bloke. So what?’
‘We think that he’s the one who’s been feeding info to Taylor, who in turn has been getting Tiffany Moore to do the robberies.’
‘Evidence?’
‘Plenty. Keith checked, and the bloke had accessed the files of all the victims. So it all fits, doesn’t it? Taylor lends money or something to Tiffany, or more likely the mum, and then threatens her, bullies her or whatever, until she does the jobs for him.’
Jane was smiling as he spoke, so Hall decided to push his luck.
‘I want to have this bloke, Eric Graham he’s called, brought in. He’s got no previous, so he’ll tell us everything he knows, no matter how scared he is of Taylor.’
‘Absolutely not. No way. Christ on a bike, Andy. Taylor is still my prime suspect, even if you have managed to muddy the waters so comprehensively, and I’m not having him alerted to our surveillance because you start leaning on this Graham character. What’s to stop him warning Taylor off? Ian was the only one of our officers who managed to do his bloody job properly, and I’ve got a full team on the bloke now.’
‘You’ve stood down the surveillance on Winder and Tyson?’
‘Of course I have. And why would you care, anyway? You’re chucking Matt Somes’ name into the ring now.’
‘Hardly. Just having a word, that’s all. So that’s a definite no on Graham, is it?’
Hall smiled hopefully, but unadvisedly.
‘What? You’re going to go over my head if I keep say no, is that it?’
‘No, no, of course not. OK, understood.’
They sat in silence for a few minutes. Then Jane got up and started collecting up the plates.
‘I’ll do it. You’ve had a long day,’ said Hall.
‘And who’s fault is that?’ She bashed cutlery and crockery in her haste to get the job done.
‘If you’re sure. I thought I might pop out for a stroll. Clear my head a bit.’
Jane looked up at him. They usually went for a walk together after supper.
‘You look tired,’ said Hall, by way of explanation.
‘Bugger off then.’
‘I won’t be long.’
Hall walked down from their estate and into the town centre. It was busy, and that was something he liked to see. He pretended that he didn’t have any particular destination in mind, but he did, and when he reached the new flats down by the river he stopped and reached for his phone.
‘Keith? It’s Andy Hall. Can you spare me ten minutes? I’m outside, so right now would be good if you’re free.’
The two men walked along the riverside path, and Hall told Iredale what Jane had said.
‘I’m sorry, but in Jane’s position I’d have done the same’ said Hall, when he’d finished.
‘But Taylor had sod all to do with Frankie Foster’s death, sir. We both know that.’
‘I don’t. He had a motive, didn’t he? And what about those shotgun cartridges?’
‘Planted by the killer.’
‘That’s a possibility, certainly. But who would want to do that?’
‘Loads of people. Me, for a start. I’d love to see Taylor off the streets for a long time. The bloke’s a cancer, isn’t he?’
‘I wouldn’t argue with that, and for what it’s worth I agree with you that it’s undoubtedly Taylor who’s getting Tiffany to commit these offences. But we just have to leave it alone, for now at least.’
‘And what if someone else dies?’
‘You think that Tiffany killed Mrs. Pearson? Pushed her down the stairs?’
‘No, I don’t. But something like that could happen again, that’s all I’m saying. There’s a risk, that’s all.’
‘I hear you, Keith, I really do. But that’s it, I’m afraid. I just wanted to tell you in person.’
‘I appreciate you taking the time, sir, but it’s just bloody typical of the job, is this. You try to make a difference and you get the bloody rug pulled out from under you. It’s not worth it, and that’s a fact.’
They walked on in silence. It was dusk now, Hall’s least favourite time of day, even in summer.
‘It doesn’t matter anyway, sir’ said Keith, eventually. ‘I’m jacking the job in. Taking a job out at Sellafield.’
Hall didn’t seem surprised. But then, in Iredale’s experience, he never did.
‘I heard they were recruiting. Good money too, I hear.’
‘Aye, and regular hours. You could set your bloody atomic clock by them, they say.’
‘I can certainly see the attraction.’
‘Ian can’t.’
Hall smiled.
‘I’m not surprised. Good DCs are hard to find, and you’ve got a really promising future ahead of you, if you stay. Tell you what, how’s this for an offer? If we get Taylor nicked for organising these robberies, would you reconsider?’
‘Aye, sir. I would. But it’s not going to happen now, is it? The DI was very clear, by the sounds of it.’
‘She was, Keith, she was. But things might change, mightn’t they?’
‘I don’t see how.’
Hall stopped, and looked straight at Iredale. ‘You can’t? Well, I’d better be going, anyway. I hadn’t noticed the time. I can cut through this way, if that’s all right.’
‘Aye, sir, that’s fine. You get off, and thanks for taking the trouble. Goodnight, then.’
Iredale stood and watched Hall walk away. He was thinking about why Hall had bothered to seek him out, and he didn’t have to think for long.
‘You clever, sneaky old bastard’ he said, but not until Hall had almost disappeared from sight.
Mortal Men (The Lakeland Murders Book 7) Page 21