The Echo of Crows, page 20
‘Think you’ve got enough, boss?’ Vaynor’s voice on the intercom.
‘Well, one thing that helps is an update I’ve just got on the search. They’ve found Rohypnol tablets in the caravan.’
Karen thumped the desk and the intercom emitted a long, hissy YES!, just as Karen heard the buzzer from the solicitor to repeat escort duties.
Back in their seats, Bliss went through the drill for restarting the tape.
Mr Khan spoke first. ‘My client might be willing to admit that she indulged, in a limited way, in the supply of drugs to support herself. She has no knowledge as to the identities of those supplying the drugs or the names of those who passed them on. She was, in effect, a self-employed delivery driver who was given a fee for carrying the drugs and returning the money.’
‘So, Lynda, you did it with a good, honest heart for a bit of pin money?’ Bliss asked. ‘You couldn’t get a job delivering pizzas?’ No reply.
‘Why did you need money when Eddy Davies, your one-time boyfriend, was giving you £5,000 a month?’ Bliss noticed a fleeting show of surprise or alarm on Khan’s face. Seemed to be news to him. Bit of a shock to Steen, too, based on her stunned expression.
‘The way I see it, Lynda, Eddy didn’t need or want to get involved in the drugs business, especially after his windfall, so I doubt he was your backer. He owe you?’
Lynda Steen shifted in her chair and asked for a cup of coffee. One appeared, courtesy of one of the listen-in trio next door.
‘Judging from Eddy’s banking activities,’ Karen said, ‘a suspicious person might conclude he was being blackmailed. Is that what the money was, Lynda? Money to feed you, the leech?’
Lynda took a few gulps of coffee in quick succession, followed by another ‘No comment’.
‘Must have been hard to take when he dumped you. You must have hoped – expected, even – to marry your multimillionaire boyfriend and enjoy partying happily ever after. Instead, he shatters that dream like gunshot through a mid-air clay and turns to the lovely Autumn. Seems he wanted a younger woman, more upmarket, sophisticated and, I have to say, prettier than you.’
Bliss and Khan both shot to their feet as Steen flung the rest of the coffee at Karen. Khan pulled his client back in her chair while Bliss reached for a handful of tissues. Steen was sounding off with a string of expletives, heedless of Khan’s pleas for calm.
‘It’s only warm,’ Karen said, mopping her face, hair and jumper and quickly recovering from the shock. ‘That’s another entry on the charge-sheet… assaulting a police officer.’
Steen screamed, ‘You don’t know a thing, you ugly bitch. Darren would have seen sense. He didn’t love Miss Crowface. It was GUILT.’
Khan appealed for her to be calm and take time to consider but Steen was having none of it.
‘Shut your effing face.’ She spat the words out, wildly close to his face. Then she turned again to Karen while Bliss put his feet in a running position under the desk, ready to forestall another attack.
‘Did you get that, bitch? It was guilt. GUILT! GUILT! GUILT!’ Steen was incandescent. ‘He killed her parents, hear that, and I didn’t snitch on him.’ Steen had become hysterical now, screaming out sentences with tears in her eyes. ‘It was an accident. He was driving too fast on a bend. We were both thrown onto the bank as the fire started. Then the explosion. It was bad luck for the Wise couple.’ Steen paused then thumped the desk, making it shudder. ‘Eddy was trying to make it up to their daughter. He had no need and I told him so. She had a telly career. She’d get rich.’
Steen leaned back in her chair, head back, and gazed at the ceiling, like a volcano gathering energy for a repeat eruption.
‘Did he tell you he’d left her a couple of million in his will?’ Bliss said quietly. Steen leaned forward, furious.
‘Guess not,’ said Bliss. ‘He didn’t leave you anything and now you’ve lost the monthly allowance.’
‘He was going to stop it anyway,’ she screeched. ‘The stupid bastard lost his mind; thought he could marry her and then confess about the accident. He was mad. Imagined he could set her up as a documentary maker with a big-budget independent company of her own. Bloody day-dreamer.’
‘So he worked out he wouldn’t need to buy your silence for much longer,’ Bliss said, ‘and if you told us, he knew you’d be implicating yourself and likely be charged with causing death and drugs supply along with him. Bit of a bind that, Lynda. You must have hated the pair of them.’
‘Enough to get rid of them,’ Karen said, looking at Bliss, then Steen.
Khan put his hands in the air in a gesture of resignation.
Steen writhed in her chair and then put her elbows on the table, head in hands.
‘Did you mean to kill him, Lynda? The fact you gave Autumn Wise a dose of Rohypnol before you shot him suggests premeditation,’ Bliss said. ‘My guess is you did that and then hid till all but Casey had left, then bang. Then you sneaked back, put the second gun in Miss Wise’s lap, and walked out and back home while Casey was looking for Eddy and then getting help.’
‘Neat,’ Karen said. ‘And we found Rohypnol in your caravan.’ Khan rolled his eyes.
Steen lifted her head with an air of defeat.
‘I went to see him in the afternoon,’ she said, voice much quieter now. ‘Tried to tell him we needed each other but he wouldn’t listen. Then he had the gall to say he’d fallen for her and he was going to propose. I was seething. That’s when I put a plan together. I gave him one last chance that night in the field but he just told me to get out and stay out. That’s when I grabbed his gun.’
She ran fingers through her hair, repeatedly and roughly. ‘I just wanted things back to where they were before SHE was around. The plan didn’t go too well, though, did it?’
Bliss shrugged. ‘Don’t be hard on yourself. You did try the arm’s-length approach with Miss Wise.’ He opened the little box and pushed it forward. Steen scoffed. ‘Ha! From the gallows site.’
‘You recognize it, then?’ Bliss said.
‘I just wanted her out of the way,’ Steen said. ‘Just dabbled a bit with curses, hoping she’d be scared off… fly off like one of her damned crows. There was a time when Eddy shot them. How ironic is that?’
‘’Tis a bit,’ Karen said. ‘Did you get Eddy to load the guns, by the way?’
‘What do you think? I’m done.’
‘Time for a break,’ Khan said, looking at his blingy wristwatch.
‘Yeh,’ Bliss said. ‘We can leave any follow-ups till tomorrow. Ample evidence to get CPS to nod through charges tonight and get a remand in the morning.’
*
When the room had cleared and while Vaynor and the DS were compiling the charge sheet, Bliss rang Len Davies, to break the news before it was released to the media.
‘Never did like her,’ he said, stoically. It was the farmer’s way: good years, bad years, the cruelties of disease outbreaks and the vagaries of weather, you had to take whatever came at you. Then plough on.
‘I’ll ring Miss Wise and tell her about the money. Must have been his way of trying to make amends and, God knows, he had a lot to make amends for. Ironic, ain’t it. If he’d been banged up for years over the accident, he’d never have won the lottery and gone on to do some good. And he did. Gave a lot of his friends a leg-up in farming and he’d only just started. Mabbe I could set up a fund with some of his money, in the Wises’ memory. What d’you think?’
‘Nice thought, Len. Perhaps wait a while, though. You’ve got a funeral to deal with and there’s no reason for any of this to come out till the trial, and maybe not even then. I’ll ring the people looking after Autumn and let them decide when’s best to break it to her. She’ll need some good news after that and then you could have a chat about the legacy and the memorial. I’ll be sure to ring and let you know when. How’s that?’
‘It’s making best of a bad job,’ Len said, voice breaking, ‘and I’m glad of it, for Eddy’s sake and all. I thank you.’ He ended the call.
Bliss sat, thinking how easy Steen’s confession had made things. It would save calling witnesses and eased the situation for Eddy’s family. He knew that Eddy’s photo at the wheel was key. He’d noticed the date and time recorded. He’d worked out the journey from Brum in the make of car pictured, the same car still standing burnt and rusted in the police pound. But, in the end, he hadn’t needed to put his accusations to Steen. She’d hanged herself.
*
Vaynor, Dowell and the rest of the case team were waiting in the CID room when Bliss entered. A window-rattling cheer went up and every seat was vacated for a high-fives pile-up in the space in front of the boss’s office.
Bliss emerged from the scrum, all smiles.
‘Thanks, everybody. Every one of you helped, from poring over media posts, to interviewing and searches. We’re a good team. I think, though, special mention should go to Karen, who – for those who weren’t there at the showdown – did a magnificent job of gerrin’ a confession out of our suspect. She got under her skin deeper than a scabies infection. And took a headful of coffee for her efforts. Let’s hear it for our DS with the sticky hair and smudged mascara.’ Another cheer went up and Karen responded with an embarrassed smile and a wave.
Just then, the door opened and in walked DCI Annie Howe. ‘Am I missing out on a celebration?’
‘Just finishing, ma’am,’ Bliss said, surprised. ‘Er… yeh, you lot go to the pub and I’ll meet you there soon, when I’ve brought the chief up to speed. Here, Darth, get the first round on me.’ He handed his debit card to Vaynor. ‘You can tap for up to a hundred quid.’
Annie followed Bliss into his office, leaving behind a quiet, empty CID room.
‘That’s a good way to clear the joint,’ Annie said, as Bliss grabbed her for a long, lingering kiss. He broke off suddenly, quizzical. ‘You’re not here to hand your notice in, are you?’
‘No,’ she said, emphatically.
‘Does that mean No for now, or No for the foreseeable?’ Bliss held her and his breath, waiting for an answer.
‘It means I don’t want to go and let Them win,’ Annie said. ‘I don’t want to carry on hiding things and always watching my back. My dad’s gone. His reputation, good and bad, is his, nothing to do with me. I want my own life and not a secret side to it, either.’
Bliss looked serious. ‘You mean us, you and me?’
‘Perhaps I do.’ Annie held his shadowed chin and kissed him lightly.
‘You mean we can come out as a couple, do coupley things, in and out of the office?’
‘What have we got to fear that we can’t battle through,’ she said, ‘if you’re up for it?’
‘Oh, I am, I am,’ he said. ‘You’re a turn-on, like you didn’t know that already. Tell you what, let’s go home now.’
Annie pulled away. ‘We can’t. You promised to join the celebration. You have to be there.’
‘No,’ he said. ‘We, we have to be there. If we’re going to front up, why not start at the pub with the team.’
Annie smiled and turned. ‘I’ll lead the way, then,’ she said.
Bliss followed. ‘I love your back, ma’am, and every other bit of you.’
39
Making up
NOVEMBER THE THIRD dawned with white clouds and some pinkish streaks in the sky over Ledwardine.
Over breakfast, Jane and Autumn were discussing arrangements for getting to the church while Merrily wondered if she should relay the news she’d heard on the radio: a woman due to appear in court this morning.
Jane decided to ask Eirion if he would chauffeur all three of them to Clodock and went to her room with the phone.
‘Guess they’ll be chatting for quite a while,’ Merrily said, starting to do the washing-up. ‘All part of breaking up and making up.’ She turned to Autumn, who was standing ready with a tea towel. ‘Speaking of which, making up… at least we don’t have to spend the morning putting on slap and getting a blow-dry like weddings demand these days.’
Autumn smiled. ‘No, it was so much truer and simpler in early medieval times.’
‘Changing the subject, I have to tell you that you don’t have to worry any more about police enquiries. A woman has been charged and she’ll be remanded in custody, no doubt. You won’t need to be involved for, oh, months, I expect. The trial will be ages off and, if she pleads guilty, you won’t even have to give evidence, far as I know.’
‘It’s Lynda Steen, isn’t it?’ Autumn looked unsurprised. ‘She wasn’t named early on but I guess so. We’ll get to know the story behind it, eventually. Meanwhile, I want you to put it out of your mind and try to enjoy today. We’ll be trying to make a bit of history and turning our backs on a nasty episode, so, think positive. Better times ahead, eh?’
‘I’ll try. In fact, I just need to put the finishing touches to your outfit. Won’t take long. Don’t want to leave any threads hanging, though that would probably be more authentic.’
‘Right,’ Merrily said. ‘I’ll do a bit of work on the Sunday sermon and then pop over to the church before we have to get ready.’
*
Merrily sat alone in a pew, taking in the stone-walled serenity. She reflected on the speed of recent events, remembering that her first encounter with Autumn Wise was only three days ago. How lives had been changed in just seventy-two hours. And here she was, on the verge of a pretend wedding. Not even officially engaged to Lol. Not that it mattered; maybe unofficial was good enough.
Did she really buy into Huw’s rationale? Would they be doing the past and the present a favour? Make things better? Did they have divine guidance? She’d just have to pray and have faith. Love was the foundation and the continuum from Creation to now. Clydawg and Meleri and Lol and Merrily were just two separate points on that line but now to be reinforced by a common thread.
Merrily’s reverie was suddenly ended.
‘Mum, Mum!’ Jane’s voice echoing from the back of the church. ‘You need to come and get ready. I’ve made sandwiches so there’s just time to have a quick bite and then get changed. Eirion’s coming at two o’clock. Come on!’
40
Vows
LATE AFTERNOON SUN struggled to brighten St Clydawg’s Church when Gomer and Lol arrived at the gate. Gomer had parked his Land Rover next to Huw’s, pleased at how wedding-polished he’d made them look with a home jet-wash and waxing.
‘You looks all adither, Lol, like you was getting married.’ Gomer stood aside. ‘Is it the woollen frock givin’ you hives?’
‘Think so,’ Lol said, taking the opportunity to swivel the neckline and scratch his irritated skin.
‘Truth be told, I don’t feel easy in a suit but this get-up you got me ain’t as bad as I thought.’ He leaned closer to Lol to share a confidence. ‘Mind you, I took the precaution of putting a pair of long johns on, so I’m toasty without the itch. Wish I’d warned you to do the same.’
‘I don’t possess a pair,’ Lol said, trying hard not to laugh. ‘Don’t need them in my job. But I should have put a vest on at least.’
They started to walk up the path.
‘Oh, well,’ Gomer chatted, ‘don’t expect we’ll be ’ere long. Vicar said it would just be vows by the church door, like they did in them days when weddings didn’t take two years to plan and cost a blinkin’ fortune. And for what? Divorce in no time, more than likely.’
Lol scratched and sighed. ‘Yeah, you’re right. More about a big show. Who needs all that?’
Gomer stopped. ‘All the same,’ he said solemnly, ‘I am honoured to be invited to play best man. You could have had one of your famous music mates. Thought them days of me being asked were long over.’
‘You’re the best man I know, Gomer, and those days are not over. Wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t get another invitation pretty soon.’
As they neared the church, Huw Owen emerged in full vestments, followed by Siân Callaghan-Clark and a smiling Sophie, from the Cathedral office.
‘Good afternoon, gentlemen,’ the Archdeacon said, with the others nodding. ‘You look very appropriately attired. I must ensure that we get lots of photos for, well, the most unusual of wedding albums.’
‘I’ve got a camera as well as my phone so we’re well equipped,’ Sophie said.
Hearing a car arrive, they all turned to see Eirion parking as near as he could for the convenience of his three passengers.
Jane and Autumn swivelled out of the back seat and stood by the car, straightening their long dresses, crudely made out of some sort of dark, coarse fabric.
Then, chivalrously, Eirion helped Merrily out of the front seat. She was wearing something finer: a greenish gown with long sleeves and a black cloak draped across her shoulders. As for Eirion, Lol and Gomer stared and then looked at each other.
‘Is that the vicar’s funeral cloak?’ Gomer whispered. ‘Bit tight and short on him, boy, but hey, he’s tried.’
Lol whispered back. ‘Think they’ve tried to kit him out. He phoned last night, panicking he couldn’t find anything. All he could think of was slashed denim jeans or a bin bag, not too shiny.’
The bridal party made its way slowly up the tidy path to be greeted by the small gathering. The Archdeacon reached out and hugged Merrily. ‘May I say, you make a lovely, medieval bride. We shouldn’t be disturbed. I’ve squared it with the locals and we won’t be treading on any clerical toes so, go to it!’
She mustered everyone to the church doorway, looking out on a favourably dry, windless afternoon. Huw asked Lol and Merrily to stand before him at the door, thanking everyone for coming on this, St Clydawg’s Day.
In the spirit of that, he said, and in this sacred stone monument, built to commemorate the saint, he asked for divine peace and justice to enfold Clodock and its locality. He also led prayers for the souls of Clydawg and Meleri and for the forthcoming ceremony to honour their memory.
