FIRE ON THE FENS a gripping crime thriller filled with stunning twists

by Joy Ellis

  ‘As far as I know, Ronnie had no dark secrets. He was just a young man who wanted a simple life. It was so much against his parents’ wishes that he lost them forever.’

  ‘Forever?’ asked Nikki.

  ‘They died in a coach accident a few years ago. They were going on a cruise and the bus that was ferrying them to the port crashed.’

  ‘And how did Ronnie take that?’ she asked.

  ‘He didn’t say as much, but I think he’d always hoped for a reconciliation at some point. He was very low for a while, and losing touch with his sister didn’t help. I don’t think they ever met up again. Then Ronnie found out that she’d arranged their parents’ funeral without telling him, so . . .’ Leon sighed.

  ‘Nice woman!’ Joseph said.

  Leon shrugged. ‘It happens.’

  ‘Wasn’t there a will?’ said Nikki. ‘Didn’t they leave him anything? After all, he was their son.’

  ‘He never mentioned any money. And he didn’t change the way he lived, so I can’t think there was anything for Ronnie.’ He shook his head. ‘So sad.’

  ‘You’ve been a great help, thank you.’ Nikki was glad to get up from the uncomfortable chair.

  ‘How did he die, Inspector? Quickly, I hope,’ Leon asked.

  Nikki hesitated. ‘There’s no easy way to say this, Leon. You’ll see it in the papers anyway. He burned to death. In his caravan.’

  The curate’s face turned quite grey. ‘Oh, my Lord! That poor man!’

  On their way out, down the nave, Joseph asked the curate how he had met Ronnie. ‘Was he religious?’

  Leon laughed, a little sadly. ‘Ronnie was an atheist. I met him through some migrants. They had nowhere to live so Ronnie spoke to the Fairweather brothers and got them a van in Mud Town. It wasn’t the Ritz, but it was warm and dry and relatively clean. He didn’t believe in God, officers, but he was a good man, and very kind.’

  Nikki suddenly remembered Niall’s problem. ‘Forgive me for asking this. It’s a completely different issue, but have you heard of a religious cult that calls itself the New Order Luciferians?’

  Leon’s hand flew to the crucifix at his neck. ‘I can assure you they’re definitely not a religious group!’ His voice trembled with anger. ‘But you’ll have to talk to the Reverend Taylor about that. He knows more than I do.’

  The young curate suddenly became distant, even cold. Nikki and Joseph thanked him and left.

  ‘You certainly rattled him by mentioning those satanists, didn’t you?’ said Joseph, unlocking the car.

  ‘Understandable, I suppose.’ Nikki opened the passenger door. ‘Bit like telling an Arsenal supporter you fancy Chelsea’s chances.’

  ‘Mmm, I think not. He got upset and then he clammed up. Maybe we should talk to Reverend what’s his name?’

  ‘Taylor. Yes, I think we should, but not now. We have the death of a quiet man to investigate.’

  CHAPTER FIVE

  By the end of the day, they had built up a pretty solid picture of the late Ronnie Tyrrell, and it left them all at a loss as to why this unremarkable man had been murdered in such a violent manner.

  Ben tossed his pen onto his desk. ‘There’s nothing here. Nothing at all. We’ve confirmed everything the curate told you, including the deaths of the parents, and the insensitive sister.’

  ‘Who, by the way,’ added Cat, ‘is at present in the Philippines doing climate change studies with the Department of Earth Sciences from Durham University. So it’s unlikely she nipped back to cremate her beloved brother.’

  ‘None of the workers at Mud Town have a word to say against him. The guy who saw a stranger leaving just before the fire took hold is devastated that he didn’t take more notice. His description is hazy, to say the least,’ Dave Harris chipped in. ‘Male. Dark padded jacket, jeans and dark hair. He’s not even too sure about the hair colour.’

  Dave, who had been part of the team for years, had retired. Then, to Nikki’s delight, he had come back as a civilian interviewing officer. His local knowledge and contacts were invaluable. He had spent some time up at Mud Town, chatting to the shocked residents.

  ‘I spoke to a man named Alexis, who’d been there longer than anyone. I asked him if anyone on the site had a grudge against Ronnie, and he laughed at me. He said Ronnie didn’t have an enemy in the world.’

  ‘He had one alright,’ grumbled Cat. ‘A particularly nasty bastard.’

  They all stared at the photograph of the burnt-out remains of the caravan on the whiteboard. It was sobering to think that a life could be extinguished, reduced to a charred nightmare, in minutes.

  ‘Could it have been a case of mistaken identity?’ asked Ben.

  Nikki shook her head. ‘He sat and talked to Ronnie, and even drank with him before he killed him. I just can’t see that.’

  ‘Ronnie has to have a secret somewhere in his sad life,’ Joseph said. ‘No matter what everyone says about him being such an innocent. This screams revenge. But revenge for what?’

  ‘We need to dig deeper. Make some more calls, talk to more people, go back further, and,’ Nikki looked to Cat and Ben, ‘find out where he was in those two missing years.’ She stretched. ‘But that’s for tomorrow. Home now. We’ll pick it up again in the morning.’

  The team were busy pulling on jackets and heading off when Nikki heard her office phone ringing. She caught Rory just before he hung up.

  ‘Nothing of huge importance yet, Nikki. Only I was fascinated by that whisky bottle. It escaped serious damage because the metal strut of the bed protected it. There was still a little residue inside.’ He paused. ‘Apart from being an unusual brand of whisky, it had traces of a sedative. Mild, but nevertheless it would have slowed his reflexes and made him drowsy.’

  ‘So, he was deliberately incapacitated?’

  ‘Looks that way, doesn’t it? So I doubt our killer actually drank any himself. Maybe he just pretended to. Anyway, I’ll put this in my report, but I thought I’d give you that little nugget of information straight away.’

  ‘What was the brand of whisky, Rory?’

  ‘It’s called Glenfarclas, and at around fifty quid a bottle, I’d bite someone’s hand off for a glass of the stuff! Divine!’

  She could hear Rory kiss his fingertips. ‘Where would you buy it?’

  ‘Definitely a whisky specialist. Online would be my first port of call. Want me to check it out for you? David loves his malt whisky, so he might even know the suppliers.’

  ‘Please. We have precious few leads, so that could be a great help.’

  ‘Now, regarding the wedding . . .’

  ‘Oh, count us in! Can’t wait.’

  ‘Just one little thing . . .’

  Nikki wondered what was coming next, and made herself ready.

  ‘Since we’re holding it in a Second World War air base, we thought it would be such fun if the guests all dressed in thirties and forties’ wartime outfits.’

  ‘Bloody hell, Rory! Can you see me in fancy dress?’

  A low chuckle rumbled down the phone. ‘I thought maybe you’d like to be a land girl. Or maybe a factory worker? Bright red lipstick, an overall and hair all shooshed up in a red and white spotty scarf. Lovely!’

  ‘I hate to waste that gold-leaf, deckle-edged invitation, but really. Land Army? For goodness sake, Rory!’

  ‘Air-raid warden?’

  ‘Go away, Wilkinson. Go back to your cadavers and tell them your bright ideas.’

  ‘I already have. Consensus of opinion was a resounding, “go for it!” Night night, fair lady!’

  Nikki stared at the humming receiver and shook her head. No way.

  ‘What’s that look for?’ Joseph stood in her doorway, head to one side.

  ‘Rory Wilkinson! You’ll never believe this, but he wants all his wedding guests, and that includes us, to wear Second World War outfits!’

  ‘Really? Well, what a great idea! I think I’ll go as a fighter pilot. I fancy that. Very smart!’

  ‘
Joseph?’ Nikki looked at him in horror. ‘You are joking, aren’t you?’

  He looked at her innocently. ‘No. Hey, you could be a—’

  ‘I’ve just been told, thank you. A Land Army girl. Or maybe a munitions factory worker. Wonderful!’

  ‘I was thinking more of one of those gorgeous army drivers.’ He grinned broadly. ‘I love a woman in uniform.’

  ‘Go take a hike, Easter! I’m not dressing up!’ She stopped. ‘Oh, damn! I was supposed to go to mother’s this afternoon! With all this happening, I completely forgot.’

  ‘Ring her now. Ask her if she fancies a takeaway. We can pick one up and go straight there.’

  Nikki made the call. ‘She’d love one. She especially fancies Chinese, if that’s okay?’

  ‘Excellent. Shall we leave your car here and go in mine for once?’

  ‘Why not? I’ll get my coat.’

  * * *

  Eve Anderson was in good form. ‘I knew something serious had come up when you didn’t ring me, and you’d be in touch when you could. The fern garden isn’t going anywhere.’

  They sat around the kitchen table with their meal.

  Nikki loved her mother’s new home. The converted chapel had been beautifully designed and crafted by her mother’s old friend Jenny, who had sadly fallen victim to a ruthless murderer the previous year. Eve had inherited the house and was endeavouring to make it every bit as special as her dear friend had intended.

  ‘We had an arsonist once, when I was stationed in Buckinghamshire,’ Eve said. ‘Turned out to be one of the fire crew.’

  Nikki raised her eyebrows. ‘That’s unbelievable.’

  ‘Apparently not,’ said Eve. ‘There’ve been a lot of cases over the years. Men who want to be seen as a hero, start the fire, then wade in to put it out. They’re usually desperate for praise or recognition.’

  Joseph smiled. ‘Who needs a psychologist when we have Eve?’

  ‘Cheeky! It was just such a shock when we heard it was one of our own RAF firefighters, the guys that are supposed to protect us. We were all fascinated to know why.’

  ‘And your man? What was his problem?’ Nikki asked.

  ‘He’d been constantly overlooked for promotion, his wife had left him, and he couldn’t take the rejection.’

  ‘So in the end, he lost everything.’ Nikki shook her head. ‘I’m assuming he was prosecuted?’

  ‘Oh yes, he was. It was a sad case, although thank God he never hurt anyone.’

  ‘But he could have! It would have only taken a strong breeze, or the wind to change, or for the flames to find something inflammable that he didn’t know about. It doesn’t bear thinking about.’ A glance at her mother told Nikki it was time to change the subject. Eve herself had been trapped on a burning ship when she was an RAF officer. She never talked about it.

  ‘So, is the fern garden nearly done?’ Nikki asked.

  ‘Getting there. I’ve ordered a garden seat to go at the back, with a trellis arch over it. Years ago, I saw a Victorian one in some stately home, and these modern reproductions are lovely. It will be somewhere to sit and have a cuppa in between weeding and hoeing.’

  ‘You are enjoying this, aren’t you, Eve?’ Joseph smiled at her.

  ‘It was Jenny’s brainchild, her project. I want it to be perfect, in her memory.’ She drew in a long breath. ‘I still expect to see her walking through the lounge, or sitting by the fire. I miss her terribly.’ She sat up straighter. ‘And that brings me to another subject. I’m glad you’ve both come here tonight, because I want to run something past you.’

  Nikki laid her fork down. ‘This sounds serious.’

  ‘You remember Wendy Avery, one of my other friends?’

  ‘Of course!’ Nikki said. ‘One of Charlie’s Angels, as I recall.’

  ‘Well, she had a water tank burst in her home a few days ago, and now she’s got all the workmen organised, she’s coming to stay while they sort out the mess.’

  Joseph nodded. ‘Excellent idea. I liked Wendy, a no-nonsense kind of woman.’

  ‘Indeed. But the thing is, I’m thinking of asking her if she’d like to move in here permanently. There’s plenty of room. In fact, although the old place is a dream home, it’s far too big for one batty old woman.’ She looked at Nikki. ‘Of course, when something happens to one or both of us, it’ll come to you as part of your inheritance—’

  ‘Mum! Don’t even go there! This is your home. You do as you wish with it. Whatever makes you happy, and for what it’s worth, I think it’d be fantastic if Wendy came here.’

  Eve exhaled. ‘What a relief! I’ve been wondering if I was doing the right thing.’

  ‘Great idea,’ added Joseph. ‘And it’ll be a relief for Nikki, knowing you’re not alone out here.’

  It was true. Monks Lantern was an attractive property, lying well back off the road in a small village. Nikki had been a copper for far too long not to know that it was a prime target for burglars. Having Wendy here would make a big difference. ‘Do you think she’ll agree?’

  ‘Her husband died years ago and she’s rattling around in her house just like me. And we’ve always got on well. Plus she loves this place. Let’s just say I think she’ll give it serious consideration.’

  ‘Then I hope that she says yes.’ Nikki started to clear the plates, then paused and looked at her mother knowingly. ‘Er . . . is the fact that you are both alone in big houses the only reason for this radical decision?’

  Eve bit her lip. ‘You’re an astute woman, Nikki Galena! I hadn’t intended to mention any other reason.’ She sat back in her chair and stared at Nikki. ‘Since that last business, I don’t know, somehow I’ve just felt on edge. I’ve never felt like it before. For the first time I’ve found myself checking the shadows, looking hard at strangers.’

  Joseph placed a hand on her arm. ‘For heaven’s sake, Eve, it’s hardly surprising, is it? You and your friends’ lives were all threatened, and hell, you were kidnapped! But it is all over. You and your amazing team put an end to it, forever.’

  ‘But did we? I can’t help thinking that the few of us that are left are still vulnerable.’

  ‘I’m sure that’s not the case. You had assurances from people in very high places, as I recall.’

  ‘Oh, I know. I’m probably just being paranoid. Perhaps it takes time to get back on an even keel after something terrible happens. I’ve thrown myself into everything I possibly can in Beech Lacey, and I love this village.’ She laughed. ‘Maybe I’m just getting old. Whatever, it would be nice to have someone here of an evening.’

  ‘Then let’s hope Wendy feels the same. When is she arriving?’

  ‘Tomorrow morning. She only lives just outside Greenborough, so as soon as she’s set her workmen to task, she’ll be driving over.’

  ‘Then ask her straight away, Mum. Don’t beat about the bush. And tell us what she says, won’t you?’ Hearing her mother express feelings of insecurity was something new, and Nikki didn’t like it.

  ‘Eve?’ Joseph said. ‘If anything bothers you, you have our mobile numbers, and you have Cameron Walker’s as well. He only lives five minutes away. You ring us, day or night, understand?’

  ‘Oh, now I’ve worried you! I’m becoming a dotty old lady, let’s leave it at that. Forget my ramblings. You two have enough to worry about if you have a fire-setter in the area. Catch him, Nikki. Believe me, there is nothing more terrifying than fire. I should know.’

  On the drive back across the darkened Fens, Nikki anxiously scanned the horizon. Somewhere out there was their fire-setter. When and where would he strike again?

  CHAPTER SIX

  The following morning, PC Yvonne Collins strode down Ferry Street and stopped outside an imposing Georgian house. She missed Niall, her old crewmate, but was delighted that he’d made sergeant. Now she was solo again, and it felt strange. In a year, she’d be retiring. She’d spent all her working life in the force, and wondered what she would do. She lived alone with her rescu
e dog, Hobo, and there were days when the prospect of not turning out for work each day was daunting.

  Yvonne had a good neighbour, a retired schoolteacher called Ray. He looked after Hobo while she was on shift. She knew that retirement hadn’t suited Ray at all, he’d gone from healthy and active to quite ill.

  Yvonne set aside her thoughts, and recalled the reason for her visit to Ferry Street.

  Satanists? In Greenborough? What crap! About as likely as Yvonne herself performing in a pole-dancing club! This town had its problems, like any other, but in the main the people here were decent. The thought of a satanic church in Greenborough was laughable. According to Niall, DS Easter suspected it was a front for something else, and she thought that was probably true. Now she was about to get inside and take a look around. She didn’t expect to see horned demons lurking in the cupboards, but over the years she’d learned that keeping your eyes open often revealed small clues that later proved vital. Yvonne was good at spotting those, often things that didn’t make sense at first glance.

  She was carrying a folder containing a series of mugshots of local youths who’d fallen foul of the law. She was here today ostensibly to try and identify some of the gang who’d threatened the “satanists.” It was her excuse for getting inside the Black House and asking some questions.

  The door was opened by a tall, willowy woman of around thirty. She had long brown hair caught back in a ponytail, revealing an angular, rather distinctive face.

  Yvonne smiled and produced her warrant card. ‘There was a disturbance here the other evening, and we are anxious to find the young men behind it. Could I come in?’

  The woman stood back and held the door open. ‘My husband told me about it, Officer, although thankfully I wasn’t here at the time. I hate violence.’

  ‘And you are?’

  ‘Corinne Black. My husband is Giles Black. He was with the group that were attacked.’

  ‘Is he here, Mrs Black? I really do need to speak to him.’

  ‘No, I’m sorry, he’s in a business meeting in Lincoln today, but his brother Tom is here, he was also in the group at the time. Perhaps he can help you.’ She led Yvonne into a spacious lounge and asked her to take a seat while she went to find Tom.