Lost Innocence

by M A Comley

  Jack punched the postcode into the satnav while Sally started the car. The garage where Warren Ryland worked was a fifteen-minute drive away. They parked and entered the large opening to the garage. Three men, all wearing oil-stained overalls, looked their way when they entered.

  “Hi, I’m DI Sally Parker, and this is my partner, DS Jack Blackman. Is one of you gents Warren Ryland?”

  Two of the men glanced in the direction of a tall thin man with sandy hair and a goatee beard to match.

  “That’s me. Have I done something wrong? ”

  Sally smiled to try to ease the man’s anxiety. “Not as far as we know. Would it be convenient for us to have a brief chat?”

  He grabbed an oily rag from off the engine of the car he was tending to and wiped his hands. “About anything in particular?”

  Sally scanned the area. “Is there somewhere more private where we can chat?”

  “There is, but it’s a shit tip. I don’t have any secrets from these guys.”

  “Very well. It’s concerning your brother, Jeff.”

  The colour drained from his face. “What about him?” Warren shuffled his feet then leaned back on the motor he’d been working on.

  “Have you spoken to your parents recently?”

  “Not for a few days. Why?”

  Sally thought that strange, considering the other brothers were aware of what had been found. “I see. Well, yesterday a discovery was made at the house next door to where your family used to live.”

  His eyes widened, and his chest expanded and deflated rapidly. “What type of discovery?”

  “The owners of the property unearthed a skeleton. It’s too early for us to determine who the skeleton belongs to, but the pathologist has given us a few clues to go on. The main one being that the victim was between the ages of eleven and thirteen.”

  Warren shook his head, and tears filled his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.

  “Hey, man, you okay? You look as though you’re gonna puke any second.”

  No sooner had one of his colleagues mentioned being sick than Warren turned his head to the side and vomited on the floor beside him.

  Sally faced Jack and rolled her eyes.

  One of the other men rushed to the back of the garage and returned with a sack of sand. He poured some over the vomit and placed a hand on Warren’s shoulder. “Are you all right, mate?”

  Warren scrubbed a hand across his face. “I don’t know. I need to sit down.”

  Sally peered over her shoulder. “Why don’t we talk outside? You can get some fresh air while you sit on the brick wall out there.”

  Sally walked ahead, and Jack remained behind to accompany the man outside. Once they were seated, she asked, “Are you all right, Warren? ”

  “I don’t know. Do my parents know?”

  “Yes. We visited them yesterday. Your brother Thomas also came to the house, and we’ve just come from your other brother’s place of work. I’m surprised no one has told you. Any idea why they should want to keep this news from you?”

  “I don’t know. Other than they might have thought it would affect me the way it has. Is it him? Jeff?”

  “We don’t want to make any assumptions at this stage. However, it is looking likely to be the case. I’m sorry this has come as a shock to you. Were you close?”

  “Close? He was my brother—of course we were close.”

  “I apologise. That was insensitive of me. Are you up to discussing what happened around the time your brother went missing?”

  “What? That was thirty-odd years ago, and you expect me to remember that far back?”

  “Not every detail of course, but anything you can tell us will help with our enquiries.”

  “I’m not sure I can. I blocked a lot out at the time and still do, if I’m honest. Jeff going missing hit me harder than the rest of the family. He was always with me, you see…”

  “And he wasn’t that day?”

  “Yes. I mean no. Oh heck, I can’t remember. My mind plays tricks on me because of the grief I felt at the time. Everything is a muddle, and I can’t figure out what’s the truth and what I want to believe is true. Does that even make sense? To my ears, it sounds confusing, but hey, welcome to my world. My life has been non-stop confusion since the day he went missing. My God, could this really be him? After all these years of not knowing what happened to him. Where was he found?”

  “Do you remember your neighbour called May?”

  “Yes, a sweet lady who cared for us occasionally. What about her?”

  “The remains were found under a shed that was erected in her garden.”

  The colour drained from his face. “What? Are you telling me that you suspect May of killing whoever the remains belong to?”

  “It’s hard to discount the evidence we’ve uncovered. Unless some other reason comes our way, then yes, we suspect May might have been behind this. ”

  He shook his head in disbelief. “Never, not dear May. You can’t honestly believe she would be capable of doing such a dreadful crime. She loved us, especially Jeff. She had a soft spot for him because he was the youngest.”

  “Then perhaps you can tell us who you think could have been responsible for this, Warren?”

  He shrugged and stared at her. “How should I know? This is the first I’ve heard of a damn body, and I’m expected to summon up a name for you?” He clicked his fingers together and added, “Just like that?”

  “Forgive me. I’m asking too much of you. Please, will you do me a favour and try to think back? It could prove vital.” His tanned face contorted with pain, and his brow wrinkled as he thought.

  There was a silence between them for a few minutes. Sally noticed Jack getting impatient and shot him a warning glance.

  Finally, Warren shook his head and slapped his hands on his thighs. “I’ve thought and nothing, nothing is coming to mind. I can’t summon up something that is no longer there, Inspector. You’re going to have to take my word on that. Grief messes with people’s heads. I’m sure you’re aware of that, right?”

  “I am. Okay, why don’t I leave you a card? If anything from around that time jolts your memory, you can get in touch with me.”

  “Very well. Did you ask the same question to the others? My parents and my brothers?”

  “Yes. They can’t seem to recall anything except searching for your brother every day at different times of the day. Do you remember doing that?”

  His eyes glazed over when he contemplated her question. “Sort of. Like I said before, everything is such a blur. My whole life has been a blur, if you must know. It’s only in the past few years that I’ve resigned myself to not seeing him again.” He held up his hands to show off his tan. “I’ve just returned from my first ever holiday abroad.”

  “Where did you go?” Sally asked, envious that he’d been away.

  “Turkey. A lot of my friends kept insisting what a beautiful country it is and urged me to go there. A group of them persuaded me to tag along. It was okay, I suppose. Not sure I’d go again. I’m not really one for socialising that much. All they seemed to want to do was spend every night in the bar and every day on the beach sleeping it off. I’m the type who likes to explore new places I visit, not sit in the same place all the time getting hammered.”

  Sally smiled. “I totally get where you’re coming from. I think I’d feel the same way as you. Glad you finally plucked up the courage to go abroad. Try not to let what I’ve told you today upset you. There’s no point letting it affect you until it has been confirmed.”

  “I understand. When will we be told?”

  “A forensic anthropologist is working on the skull now. That might take a couple of weeks to complete. I’ll ring your parents the second I hear back from the pathologist. It was nice to meet you, Warren. Should you remember anything significant in the meantime, please ring me, day or night.”

  The three of them stood and parted ways.

  As he and Sally c
limbed into the car, Jack let out a large sigh. “It must have been awful for them all, Warren in particular, if he was the one in charge of Jeff. I can’t imagine the guilt that man has carried on his shoulders all these years.”

  “I was just thinking the same, Jack. We never know what these people go through. It’s hard to judge as everyone deals with their grief on a different level.”

  “So, what next?”

  “We’ll nip and see Thomas. To be honest with you, I’m not expecting him to impart any further information than what he told us yesterday, but it would be wrong for us not to drop by and see him. Perhaps something has popped into his mind since he saw us.”

  “Is that a pig flying past?”

  Sally jabbed him in the leg. “Cynic. Let’s take a wander over there and see.”

  Jack nodded and punched in the postcode for the bank where Thomas Ryland worked. As luck would have it, he was free when they arrived.

  He welcomed them into his office and pounced right away. “What news do you have for me, Inspector?”

  “Sorry to disappoint you, but we don’t have any news as such just yet. We’re still waiting on the specialists to carry out their roles in the investigation. We were in the area, visiting your brothers, and thought we’d drop in to see you.”

  “Any specific reason?” he asked, his tone abrupt.

  “Not really. We’re keen to see if anything has come to mind from when your brother went missing. ”

  “Nothing other than what we discussed yesterday. Are you telling me that your investigation is reliant on what my family and I can recall?”

  “No, that’s not it. It was a lot to take in yesterday. It’s been thirty-three years since your brother was reported missing. I just wondered if something had come to mind overnight, after a bit of the shock wore off.”

  “Well, it hasn’t. We’re still no further forward. You told us you found a body that might or might not be my brother’s. There’s nothing more to say on the matter, surely, is there?”

  Sally was rarely lost for words, except when she came up against someone with Thomas’s attitude. She’d seen the same type of look and heard the same tone in the years she had been married to Darryl. She knew when to take a step back. Rising from her chair, she extended her hand across the table. “Thank you for your time. We’ll be in touch soon.”

  She left the room with Jack close on her heel. As she stormed across the car park, Jack grabbed her arm.

  “Hey, slow down. Don’t let him get to you, Sally. You’re always safe with me around. I’d never let another man lay a hand on you again.”

  She smiled at her partner, grateful for his chivalrous nature. “I know. That means a lot to me, Jack. Let’s get back to the station.”

  Chapter 9

  After spending an evening with Simon, going over the Ryland case, she felt relieved when he told her the results of the reconstruction were expected by the end of the week.

  Sally passed on this snippet of good news to the team as soon as she entered the incident room the following morning. The team gathered around for their morning briefing.

  “Let’s start with the Ryland case first. Jack and I managed to speak to all three brothers yesterday, but sadly, none of them could really shed any light on the events of what happened the day their brother went missing. They were, however, surprised by the fact that a body was discovered in May’s garden. None of them had a bad word to say about the old lady. What I did pick up was that while Thomas and Shaun had got on with their lives, Warren, who was the closest in age to Jeff, has truly struggled since the lad disappeared. He was relatively quiet and, I suppose, guarded about what he had to say on the matter. I didn’t push things with him. If the need arises, then Jack and I will revisit him in the near future.”

  The team listened and nodded at the appropriate times, and Joanna was the only one who took down notes.

  “So, we move on today to question the neighbours. Joanna, do you have a list for me?”

  Joanna reached behind her and placed a sheet of paper on the desk between them. “Three names—that’s all I’ve managed to find still living in the same area, boss.”

  “I guess it’s a start. Jack and I will visit them all this morning.” She swivelled sideways towards Jordan. “How did your day pan out, Jordan?”

  “It was tough, boss. I’ll need another day to go over things and put them in some kind of order, if that’s all right?”

  Sally smiled and nodded. “Take all the time you need, within reason. I’m just glad we’re working the case and that some of these families will hopefully get some closure from this. Let me know how you get on at the end of the day, if you would. I want to revisit Abbott in prison again in the next few days, if only to keep the pressure on him.”

  “Really? You’re going to put yourself through that again?” Jack asked, tilting his head in surprise.

  “I’m not about to let a deviant prick like that rattle my cage, Jack. I’m desperate to know where he’s buried Katrina Hathaway, for her mother’s sake.”

  “I get that. But the shit wants something in return. I wouldn’t be happy dealing with the git on his terms. I’m surprised you’re willing to buckle under the pressure.”

  “Not sure I’d class my intentions as ‘buckling under the pressure’, but I do feel the necessity to partially play along with him if it means we get the results we’re after. Let’s hold fire on what we feel is right or wrong for now until Jordan gives us the full facts on the cases he’s looking into. Deal?”

  Jack crossed his bulging arms and shrugged. “It’s your call. I was only voicing my opinion.”

  “And I appreciate you doing that. Right, anything that we haven’t covered yet?”

  The team shook their heads.

  “Okay, let’s crack on then. Stuart, why don’t you work alongside Jordan for the day? You’ve finished the reports you were writing yesterday, yes?”

  “I have. I can do that, boss.”

  “That’s sorted then. Are you ready to head off, Jack?”

  “Ready as I’ll ever be, I suppose.”

  “What’s taking them so long?” Jack queried when they arrived back at the crime scene, which was still cordoned off.

  “I should imagine SOCO are stripping all the walls et cetera in the house. I didn’t think to ask Simon if his team had finished that part of their examination. I’ll give him a ring now.”

  Jack left the car and went into the garden to see if there were any technicians on site while she placed the call to Simon. “Hi, it’s me. Jack and I are back at the crime scene. You didn’t tell me your guys hadn’t finished yet.”

  “Sorry, I presumed you’d know that. These things take time. You want us to do a thorough job, right?”

  “Of course. I’m just surprised that they’re still here. Have they uncovered anything else at this point?”

  “Not yet. They’ve started at the top of the house and are working their way down.”

  “Crap, are you saying they’re ripping the place apart, Simon?”

  “I’m telling you that we’re doing what’s necessary and what we always do when a body is found in someone’s back garden.”

  “Shit! The poor homeowners.”

  “What you should be concerned about is the skeleton we found and not the homeowners, Sally,” Simon said.

  She was taken aback by his sharp tone. “I know that, Simon. I’m doing my best here. It isn’t easy when the case is thirty-odd years old. I’ll see you later.” She ended the call and cringed for hanging up on him. She had never done that before and knew she would be wrapped up in guilt for days. Sally exited the car and went in search of her partner.

  “Jack, where are you?” she called from the back door.

  “I’m up here.”

  Sally wound her way through the small rooms, and he came out of one of the bedrooms just as she began her ascent up the stairs. “You really don’t want to come up here, boss.”

  “What? Why? They haven’
t found another body, have they?”

  “No. It’s a bloody mess, though.”

  “Shit!” Despite his warning, Sally forged ahead. Stopping outside the first bedroom, she gasped. “Damn. What the heck? Is this mess really necessary, guys?” she asked the two technicians dressed in white paper suits. They looked as if they’d been used in a disaster zone, judging by the amount of dust and mud splattered on them.

  One of the technicians removed the bulky mask he was wearing to answer her. “It’s a necessary evil, Inspector.”

  “Surely you have equipment you can use rather than tearing all the walls apart, for goodness’ sake.”

  “We do, and we’ve found a few bones in the walls. That’s why we’ve gone the extra mile on this one.”

  “What? I’ve just rung the pathologist—he didn’t tell me you’d uncovered anything along those lines. ”

  “As it happened, the bones belonged to a few animals rather than another human.”

  “Oh heck. Well, that’s good then,” she replied sarcastically.

  Jack sniggered.

  Her temper flaring, Sally glared at him. “Glad you find all this amusing. I can tell you that I find it appalling.”

  “I’m not amused by what they found, just by your reactions. What did you expect them to find? Nothing?”

  “Er…if you must know, Jack, yes! That would’ve been good.” She turned back to the technician. “Do you think these animal bones are from the same era?”

  “It’s hard to judge. We’ve sent a few samples back to the lab for the guys to examine while we continue ripping this place apart.”

  Sally shook her head. She was trying not to put herself in the homeowners’ shoes, but it was becoming increasingly impossible. She would be devastated if something similar ever happened to a house she owned.

  “Come on, Jack. I need to get out of here.” She marched back down the stairs and out into the garden, where she drew in a large breath of fresh air.

  “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine. Overwhelmed by the complexity of the case, I suppose. Why would someone bury animals in the walls of a house?”