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Nothing moved. Ki
‘Where was Ki
Sharon pointed to one of the out buildings. ‘In there. Derek said the owners started a conversion, ran out of money, then they sold up and moved on.’
‘So he knew something about this place. Did he know the owners?’
She shrugged. ‘Maybe Rupert did. Rupert knew everyone. He might have mentioned it. They talked a lot about lost villages, the death of communities, that sort of political stuff. Round here Rupert was all het up about drainage or something.’
‘You mean way back when?’
She shook her head. ‘No, something about the water table. There was a report or some such a couple of years ago. I didn’t take much notice. Sorry.’
Fine nodded, he vaguely recalled it. There was some big debate about the extensions of the Peatlands trails and draining of what was left of the fenland. Worries too that peat extraction would lead to the flooding of farmland. Fine was familiar with the anxieties.
He watched as the armed commander pushed the door, then gestured the other officers forward. ‘Armed police,’ he shouted. ‘We’re coming in.’
Minutes later and he emerged again, gestured that Fine could come inside.
‘Long gone,’ he said. ‘We’ll secure the scene and get SOCO in first thing.’
‘Not tonight?’ Sharon asked
He grimaced. ‘SOCO are civilians. Hard to get them out after hours unless it’s an emergency. I don’t think this qualifies.’
‘Not like CSI then.’
‘No, not like CSI. Get back in the car. I’ve arranged a stay at a safe house for you tonight. Tomorrow I’ll take you to see Da
It was late by the time Fine got to Fallowfields but everyone was still up.
‘We’ll be leaving in the morning,’ Alec told him. ‘Going home, I think. You’ve enough to do without protecting us.’
Fine nodded. The chair in which he sat was comfortable and he could easily drop off to sleep. ‘At least Da
‘When will Reid be fit to talk?’
‘Morning, we hope. I’ve got someone with him all night. Not much more we can do. I just thought I’d bring you up to speed.’
‘Appreciate it,’ Alec said.
‘Oh, and there’s one more thing. The laptop and the books. I think we can safely consider them evidence now. I should take them away.’
‘Welcome,’ Alec said. ‘Patrick, will you do the honours?’
Fine bagged the books and laptop. ‘I’ll get these checked in tonight, then I’m off to my bed.’
‘Sounds good to me,’ Alec agreed. ‘Reid should be able to give you the info on Ki
‘I hope you’re right,’ Fine said. ‘I really do.’
Thirty-Five
Da
He missed his mother.
He didn’t regret hanging up on her the night before. She deserved his punishment, Da
He wanted her home, or wanted them both to be somewhere else or … something. Da
He made some tea, taking the last of the milk and ate dry cereal, wondered if there was any money in the house. If so, he could at least get some shopping done. His dad didn’t seem to have thought about that in a while and had been impatient when Da
He found a five-pound note and some pound coins in the biscuit jar, a place his mother regularly kept a spare bit of cash for emergencies, and another ten in his dad’s best jacket. Da
He didn’t want to stay here any more.
Da
He wanted his dad to come back or his mum to call.
‘Fat chance,’ he muttered and turned his back on the offending telephone.
His mobile did ring though a few moments later. He grabbed it, read the name on the display. Patrick.
‘Yeah?’ He sounded too eager, Da
Fine had called, Patrick told him. He’d asked if Da
‘I’ll be there,’ Da
He pulled on his shoes and slammed the farmhouse door, only wondering later, as he set off across the field at a steady run, if his father had his keys.
Ki
Ki
Da
There was only one place the second figure could have come from, wasn’t there? It all clicked into place. Da
Ki
He packed his belongings back into his pack, undecided if to take it or to leave it in the barn. In the end he hoisted it on to his shoulder and started down the ladder back into the body of the barn. His gun felt heavy in the pocket of his coat and he felt hot, the day already warm, but it was a reassuring weight and the easiest way to carry it. Ki
Checking for signs that the father might have returned, but finding none, Ki
Ki