Horton swore and with his head throbbing he increased his speed. The helicopter hovered a moment then swiftly turned and disappeared over the sea and into the night.
Breathless, Horton reached the cliff top where he thought Janice had gone over. Was she dead, smashed to pieces on the rocks below?
The rain suddenly stopped and the moon appeared from out of the scudding clouds. Buffeted by the icy wind, Horton peered over the cliff edge. Cupping his hands around his mouth he called her name and strained his ears listening for her cry. Nothing. She must have gone. But no, there was a faint call.
'Janice!' he roared again
Another feeble cry in response. It was coming from his right. He edged along the cliff cautiously; he wasn't certain how solid the earth was beneath him, and he didn't want to go over.
Then he saw her. She was lying on a narrow ledge with her hands grasping a small tree trunk whose roots had already lifted from the soil, her legs and feet were dangling perilously over the edge. Horton scoured the cliff face. Could he get down?
'I'll get help.' But it was a long way back to the house.
She screamed as the trunk gave way a little. The earth crashed down below her and splashed into the sea. Shit, one more like that and she'd go. He had no time to lose. If he could just get down to the narrow ledge above her and grab hold of her.
It was stupid to try and he knew it. Every instinct was warning him against it, but when had he ever listened to them?
Gingerly, he edged his way down, his feet seeking a foothold. Every now and then he sent earth tumbling down to the rocks below. The sea seemed to be licking its lips in anticipation of receiving them. He could see flecks of white spray crashing on to the rocks. Slowly, he eased his way towards her, talking gently, urging her to hold on. He could see her pale terrified face. His breathing was laboured; his head was pounding, his body screaming with tension. At last he was on a ledge above her.
'I can't hold on much longer,' she cried fearfully.
'I'm nearly there.'
The tree trunk shifted again and she screamed. He could see that she had only one hand holding on to it now the other was swinging over the edge of the cliff, dangling like her body. There was only one tree root left and when that went… Horton stretched out a hand but knew it was pointless. He was still too far away from her.
'Hear my confession,' she cried. 'I overheard Seb talking to Rowley on the telephone saying that Tom was back in Portsmouth and wanting to confess that Warwick had never died, but a man called Croxton had. All those years and I thought Warwick dead. His supposed death killed our mother. He killed her. He made her suffer terribly. She died of a broken heart.'
The tree trunk gave again. The earth sprayed down and made her cough. Her face was etched with pain and hatred as she continued. 'After I saw Warwick at the marina I got a copy of Seb's mobile phone bills and called his numbers until on Monday I recognized Warwick's voice. I told him Seb was going to tell you everything and that I would kill Seb in exchange for money and the chance to start a new life. I told him I was sick of being a drudge. Warwick agreed and told me where to come. I knew he would try to kill me, which is why I brought the poison with me.'
Her pale face was contorted with the pain of holding on.
'I'll get closer,' Horton cried urgently.
'No. Don't risk your life. I didn't intend you to come here. I wanted them to pay for what they did to Mum. I've seen justice done. I'll be with her now.'
The trunk snapped like the sound of a hundred cannons roaring in his ears. Janice screamed. Horton reached out. It was useless. He snatched his head away not wanting to see her body bounce against the cliff and smash on to the rocks below. His heart ached, his head throbbed and his ears rang with Janice Hassingham's last words and the sound of her screams long after they died.
Twenty-Three
He wasn't sure how long he lay on the narrow ledge, feeling numb. Maybe he would have stayed there for ever if it hadn't been for the sound of a helicopter and a powerful white light beaming out of the sky like something out of Close Encounters.
Someone was calling his name and the beam of light fell on him. Minutes later he found himself at the top of the cliff, thanking his rescuers. There seemed to be an awful lot of people and a great deal of activity, including the setting down of the police helicopter. A bulky figure in a big camel overcoat climbed out.
'Strange time of night to go rock climbing, Inspector,' Uckfield yelled, drawing level with him. 'What happened? Who's the man in the field?'
'Warwick Hassingham.' He saw Uckfield's surprise. As they fell into step back to the house, Horton explained what had happened, leaving out all reference to his mother. Those who had known about Jennifer's part in the robbery and the marine incident were dead; everyone that was except Trevor, and how much did he know? More than the confession he'd heard tonight from Warwick?
Three police cars were parked outside the house and Horton watched the SOCO van pull into the driveway. He rubbed a hand across his eyes. The investigation into the deaths of Brundall, the Gilmores, Sherbourne and Anne Schofield was over, but the one into Warwick Hassingham and his past was only just beginning. And there was that missing persons file on his mother, which miraculously still nestled in his pocket against his chest.
He said, 'Janice Hassingham poisoned her brother and Rowland Gilmore?'
'Dr Clayton called me after she spoke to you,' Uckfield interrupted. 'She said that the poisonous parts of a pufferfish — the liver, ovaries and roe — had probably been put in a sandwich.' Horton recalled the fish tank in Sebastian Gilmore's office and Cantelli saying something about some funny looking buggers in it. 'Apparently this poison is almost impossible to detect and paralysis can set in within ten minutes or can be delayed for up to four hours; after that death within one to two hours.'
Did that mean that Hassingham was still alive, wondered Horton, seeing the coastguard helicopter sweep overhead. It was probably transporting Hassingham to the hospital. If he were alive, then it wouldn't be for long.
'Gilmore's paralysis took longer to take effect than Warwick's,' Horton said. 'I watched Warwick eat the sandwiches she made. Within fifteen minutes he couldn't speak.' Janice had saved his life.
Uckfield said, 'Next time you fancy going off like Indiana Jones, bloody well let me know.'
'Worried the helicopter's blown your budget for the month,' Horton said sarcastically.
'Yes, and you can damn well pay for it.'
Horton managed a smile.
Uckfield said, 'We found Selina Gilmore. She's staying with a friend. Do you think she knows about the diamond smuggling?'
'I wouldn't mind betting so.'
'I'll bring her in for questioning. Do you want to come back with us on the chopper?'
'No. I'll go by boat. I've got the Harley.'
'Are you fit enough to ride it?'
'Of course I am.'
'Then you're fit enough to come into work in the morning and make out your report.'
'No. Not tomorrow.' He saw Uckfield eye him curiously. There would be no spending the day with Emma, not now, but there would be in the future and soon. He was determined. And now that the threat to his life was lifted there was no reason for Catherine to prevent him.
'I'm going sailing,' Horton said firmly. He needed to get the stench of Warwick Hassingham out of his nostrils, and the taste of death from his mouth. And battling with the elements would totally occupy his mind on the day he should have been spending with Emma. 'I'll do it Christmas Day.'
Uckfield looked about to say something then changed his mind. Horton watched him stride back towards the house. He turned and made his way to the Harley. His head was reeling with thoughts, only this time they weren't of Emma but of his mother. Why did she disappear on her birthday? Did she leave him to go with a lover? Did she simply not want the responsibility of bringing up a child? Mrs Cobden, his ex neighbour, had said that Jennifer was happy. That was hardly the mood of a mother walkin
g out on her child. Would he go in search of her?
He pulled on his helmet. This case had lifted the lid on his past and had let fly all kinds of thoughts, emotions and memories. And painful as these were he knew there was only one answer to that question. He throttled back the bike and headed for the ferry and home.
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The Suffocating Sea dah-3 Page 26