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‘Which often ht hundred actually did know’
‘Yeah, right, but I think it was tighter than that Maybe twenty? None of whom talked, beyond these walls, as it were So it’s still confidential, still pretty secret’
‘What’s it to do with?’
‘Specifically, the killer’s MO and common to all three murders So if it doesn’t relate to yours, I’ve wasted a call, except it’s always good to speak to you’
‘Right Tell’
‘We need to talk on the secure line though I know it’s ten years ago for us but it’s current for you’
‘I’ll call you back’
Three minutes later, both on the safe line, Nathan said, ‘Our led his victims with electrical flex That’s public What isn’t is that he set them in a chair, either before or after he killed them – that’s never been completely settled – in front of a -tableon the inside of a wardrobe door So they were confronting their own dead bodies, if you get led And that never came out, not ever, not at the trial or in the press’
Sis several You said "the trial" – so what happened?’
‘Right Big scandal He was acquitted – on a technical, and a witness being confused and going back on her state it all up’
‘Who was he?’
‘Local to the town Man of thirty-two, self-employed builder called Alan Keyes And he walked’
‘Where did he walk to? I’m amazed he lived to tell the tale’
‘They didn’t even let him out onto the steps of the court He was spirited away, for his own protection No one knohere, but he one anywhere No idea about that, I’erprints and so on?’
‘Yup First thing Monday ’
‘Try harder’
‘You want ht now, for reasons on’t go into, involving a total fuck-up But I’ll give it a go’
‘Good ht at the end of a black tunnel One thing – do you know if there have been similar cases in any other part of the country, between your ot no one I can set on to it, we’re flat out at the moment with terrorist stuff I hate terrorist stuff’
‘Coet any of that here How’s the family?’
‘Great Josh is in year two, Luke’s in nursery, Adao back to work part-time next year If we don’t have nuirl’
‘Yes, and you knoould happen’
‘Too right I do All right, guv, I’ll go and grovel to the forensics’ duty officer’
‘I owe you’
‘Nah, you’re all right But I’ll have a pint off you next time we meet’
Simon looked at his desk for a hts and left, feeling more cheerful than he had for days, partly because any time he spoke to Nathan Coates he was cheered, but ht to hio hoiven him, and early bed with a Patrick O’Brian novel – he had never been able to get into theain
He started the car The windscreen was already iced over, and while he waited for it to clear, he thought he s were awry between Judith and his father, and though he wasn’t interested in cross-questioning, he was concerned Having had a rocky start with his own feelings about his father’s re to happen in Richard’s life for years He dialled to ask if he could drop in for a drink, but the nuo If it wasn’t convenient, he’d leave again, no proble into cafés and bars, huddled together, hoods up, scarves wrapped round their faces against the bitter wind
The traffic lights at the corner of the town square went red as he approached thelanced left
He was not immediately sure of what he saw but then he was quite certain and his heart lurched
She was standing alone in a doorway She had a small backpack at her feet, a navy-blue parka with a hood pulled up No scarf No gloves Jeans Wellington boots The street light caught the side of her face, which was anxious, pinched and unhappy
Simon pulled the car to the kerb and jumped out and as she saw hiet out of the doorway and run
‘Hannah, what in God’s na here? Where’s Muirl, it’s OK It’s all OK now Get in the car You’re frozen, you’re shaking Hey’
He sat holding her as tightly as he could, feeling her thin body shake and shake, and her sobs , her tears da to hiently, pulled the seat belt round her and held her hand
‘Hanny, listen I’ home I don’t want you to talk, you don’t have to tell et war, her face paper-white She was beyond talking
‘Hi Me Listen, it’s all right I’ve got her’
‘What are you talking about? Got who? Where are you?’
‘On the way to you now Hannah I’ve got Hannah’
‘What do youover’
‘Hannah’s here in the car, with ht Ten minutes?’
‘Simon’
But he had clicked off and accelerated fast out of the town
Forty
‘I WANT TO leave here, and when I do, I never want to hear the naain’
‘Karen, listen, sweetheartI understand where you’re co straight Course you’re not And who’d blame you? I don’t Bloody hell, of course I don’t’