Buried Secrets Read online

  “I’m sorry to have to tell you, Miss Mills,” said Sam Hulbert, “but we found the body of a man in the field off Ham Lane at eight thirteen this evening.”

  “It can’t be Alan. There must be a mistake.”

  Clare Townsend described the clothing Alan was wearing when Maddy watched him leave the house earlier.

  Maddy burst into tears.

  “How could it have happened? He was as fit as a fiddle. Was it a heart attack?”

  “We need to wait for the autopsy, Miss,” said Sam Hulbert.

  “Was it a hit and run? Boy racers often use the lanes during the summer months.”

  “The body bore no significant physical injuries, Miss.”

  “How long have you known one another?” asked Clare Townsend.

  “Four years,” said Maddy. “We met at a party. Alan came along with my best friend’s husband. That’s Wayne and Anna Phillips. They live in Chippenham. Wayne and Alan go cycling together every weekend.”

  “What did your partner do before you met him, do you know?” asked Sam.

  “He joined the Royal Navy straight from school. When he’d seen enough of the world, he came home.”

  “Biddestone was his family home?” asked Clare.

  “No, his parents live in Corsham. His father works at the same factory as Alan.”

  “Perhaps we could have those contact details, Miss. You’re certain Alan wasn’t depressed or had money concerns?”

  “I don’t know why you keep asking me that. Alan’s the last person to feel depressed. He’s quiet and conscientious. Nothing ever fazes him.”

  Maddy jotted the addresses and phone numbers on a scrap of paper and handed them to the female police officer.

  “What happens now?” Maddy asked. “Can I see him?”

  “Someone will be in touch in the morning about making an identification, Miss. We found Alan’s mobile phone next to the body. There’s no doubt, I’m afraid. You shouldn’t be alone tonight. Do you want to call someone?”

  “I can’t call his parents,” said Maddy, “This will crucify them. Alan’s an only child.”

  “They need to know tonight,” said Sam Hulbert. “We’ll drive to Corsham from here.”

  “What about your friend?” asked Clare.

  “Anna has a six-month-old baby. I can’t ask her to leave him to keep me company. I promised I’d call back once I’d found where Alan was hiding. We thought he might have gone to the pub.”

  “You rang your friends earlier?” asked Clare.

  “At half-past nine. I wondered whether Wayne knew where Alan was planning to run tonight.”

  “Did he?” asked Sam.

  “Not a clue. Wayne offered to drive over to help me search. He reminded me of the phone. I hadn’t thought to call Alan’s mobile before. Alan always carried it with him when he went for his run.”

  “Was a pub somewhere he visited often? Which one was his local?” asked Sam.

  “He didn’t have a local. He rarely went into a pub without me. He was quiet. Alan was a friendly person but preferred small groups. He didn’t enjoy going into crowded bars much.”

  “Will you be okay if we leave you now, Miss Mills?” asked Clare.

  “I won’t sleep, but it’s only right that you tell Bob and Elizabeth tonight. If only we knew what happened.”

  “We’ll know more by tomorrow, Miss,” said Sam. “We’re sorry for your loss.”

  Maddy saw the two police officers to the door and locked it behind them.

  “What do you reckon, Sam?” asked Clare.

  “My first thought was suicide, Clare,” replied Sam Hulbert. “Now, I’m not so sure.”

  “You were right about one thing, Sam,” said Clare Townsend. “We’ll know more tomorrow.”

  CHAPTER 2

  Monday, 30th July 2018

  Gus studied the heads of the team as they put the finishing touches to yet another case. What a start to a week. There was little in the email he’d received from Gareth Francis that surprised him. For days Gus had prayed he was wrong. He hadn’t even shared his thoughts with Suzie.

  That a mother could be a party to the cold-blooded murder of her daughter was something he couldn’t comprehend. Even after a lifetime of investigating crime, Gus felt sure he must have misinterpreted the evidence. Yet, last night on the banks of the canal, he’d come face-to-face with pure evil.

  Debbie Read had shown no sign of regret, no protestation of innocence. Her partner-in-crime, Rod Maidment, had looked in her direction just once. That was enough for Gus to understand what lay ahead for the detectives at Gablecross. The couple’s defence would be a wall of silence.

  Blessing Umeh was first to finish her contribution to the Freeman Files. She looked up to see Gus looking towards the whiteboards.

  “Would you like me to remove the Read case material, guv?” she asked.

  Gus nodded.

  Blessing could tell their boss was still reeling from the events of last night. After Gus spoke to them from the nature reserve, she had waited for Luke Sherman to call Mary Bennett. Lucy’s grandmother had been going upstairs to bed. Luke told her to stay where she was; they would bring Lucy to Penhill to spend the night. Mary asked why, but Luke had told her not to worry, he would explain when they arrived.

  Blessing had then got out of the car and rung the bell of Debbie Read’s home in Gorse Hill. She rang and knocked without reply. Lucy didn’t come to the door until Blessing had called to her through the letter-box.

  Lucy had watched her mother leave. When she heard Blessing’s voice, she answered the door. Lucy was confused. What had happened? Had her Mum had an accident? Did someone knock her off her bicycle? Blessing said it was nothing like that, which calmed the young girl, and Blessing told Lucy to gather her things, and they would explain once they reached her grandmother’s house.

  Luke had done the talking when they reached Penhill. Mary Bennett sat with her arms around her granddaughter. Blessing wasn’t sure how much Mary took in of what Luke said. At that stage, and in front of Lucy, Luke couldn’t give her the full story.

  Mary asked whether this was because they had left her granddaughter alone in the house.

  “Since Stacey died,” said Lucy, “Mum has slipped out of the house on her bicycle for an hour most Sunday evenings. I had to go to bed early when I was younger. Tonight, she just said she wouldn’t be long, and she’d see me in the morning.”

  “Where do you think she went?” asked Mary.

  “She never told me,” said Lucy.

  “Perhaps it’s something she started doing before Stacey died,” said Luke.

  “There was nothing to stop her if the girls were sleeping here, or at Vanessa’s place,” said Mary. “Whoever it was she was meeting. I told you; it was nobody else’s business.”

  Luke told Mary that Lucy needed to stay with her because Debbie was helping them with their enquiries relating to Stacey’s death. That halted the old lady in her tracks.

  “You can’t mean…” said Mary.

  “Did you bring everything you needed, Lucy?” Blessing had asked.

  Lucy had nodded towards the bag she had brought with her.

  “Why don’t you show me your bedroom, Lucy? DS Sherman tells me you’ve got a choice of a bunk bed. I’m an only child, so I was never lucky enough to find out what it’s like.”

  Blessing had gone upstairs with the young girl.

  “This will be the first time I’ve slept here since Stacey died,” said Lucy. “I can’t sleep on the top bunk. It wouldn’t feel right. What’s going to happen tomorrow?”

  “You’ll stay here until everything gets sorted, Lucy,” said Blessing. “Try not to worry.”

  “Will I see you again?” asked Lucy, who sat on the bottom bunk.

  “I can’t say,” said Blessing. “Another police officer might call on you and your grandmother. My part, in this case, is done.”

  Lucy jumped up and ran into Blessing’s arms. The young detective felt the ho
t tears through her blouse.

  “Thank you,” said Lucy. “You’ve always been nice to me.”

  “Try to get to sleep,” said Blessing, feeling embarrassed. “Look after your grandmother. She’ll need you.”

  Blessing left Lucy in the bedroom and returned downstairs. Luke was waiting in the hallway.

  “All good?” he asked.

  “If only,” said Blessing. “Let’s go home.”

  Luke had told her he’d answered as many of Mary’s questions as he was able.

  “Do you think Debbie and this Maidment character had been meeting on Sundays for a while?” asked Blessing.

  “From what we heard from the stakeout in the nature reserve, it was drugs,” said Luke. “We had to deal with Lucy and Mary, so who knows?”

  “Gus Freeman will know,” laughed Blessing. “I only hope he’ll let us in on the secret in the morning.”

  Luke had driven to Worton to drop Blessing at the Ferris’s farm and then headed home to Warminster. The alarm clock had woken him and his partner, Nicky, at half-past seven this morning. Luke hoped next weekend, Gus wouldn’t find an urgent task that needed their attention. He and Nicky could benefit from a spot of free time.

  Luke observed Blessing as she removed the street maps and crime scene photos. They had driven into the Old Police Station office separately this morning but arrived within seconds of one another. As they rode up in the lift, they had wondered what had happened at the nature reserve after they switched off their comms devices.

  Luke completed his contribution to the Read case's digital files and glanced through what Gus and the others had added. He realised that they now had every piece of the jigsaw. The evidence the team had gathered should allow the Gablecross detective team to construct a winning case for the Crown Prosecution Service.

  “I can see a frown forming, Luke,” said Gus.

  “How did Debbie Read get in touch with Rod Maidment, guv?” Luke asked. “the number she gave us wasn’t valid.”

  “Jake Chalmers found a number listed as RJNM Engineering in her contacts,” said Gus. “That number never got deleted whatever state of their relationship. The numbers that Debbie and Vanessa had in their phones were for old pay-as-you-go phones Maidment used. To have several burner phones at once isn’t unusual for crooks like Maidment. He had to be careful not to get them mixed up, of course.”

  “How much did Vanessa know about her sister and Maidment?” asked Luke.

  “Based on what Gareth Francis has learned so far, not a lot,” said Gus. “If Vanessa had known Maidment was Lucy’s father, would she have allowed herself to get picked up at that nightclub by him?”

  “With what we know of the family history now, guv, I wouldn’t put it past her,” said Blessing.

  “Vanessa didn’t know about her sister and Maidment,” said Gus. “I’m also convinced Debbie didn’t know that lover boy went straight to her sister when they split in October 2013. Gareth will seek to uncover the truth behind that split. Perhaps Debbie wanted a larger percentage of the profits that had come from the drug side-line they set up in December 2012.”

  “Why didn’t anyone realise James Neville and Rod Maidment were the same people, guv?” asked Neil Davis.

  “Let me ask you this, Neil,” said Gus. “How many people knew both men?”

  “Karen Lock and her school friends knew Neville,” said Neil, “but that was years ago. Karen hadn’t seen him in person for years. His threats came through the post, or by phone. When he approached his son, Ryan, he probably introduced himself as James Neville, but Ryan wouldn’t have known how much his appearance had changed.”

  “Maidment had lost weight,” said Gus, “and the full beard covered a scar by his lip that Karen mentioned. She told us he had no tattoos or piercings in 2001. They were a later addition. The hardcore sleeve was the most recent. That was a firm favourite in 2013.”

  “How come you know so much about tattoos, guv,” asked Blessing.

  “I don’t,” said Gus, “but after I met Kassie Trotter at London Road, I thought I’d try to understand what they meant, and why on earth anyone wanted to submit themselves to hours of torture. I’m still working on that.”

  “Debbie Read never met the James Neville persona, Neil,” said Luke. “He used a variety of names for his relationships. It might seem odd that he stuck to Rod Maidment for the two sisters, but if he was ever going to bump into someone who would know him under another name, that was it.”

  “Pat Read and Rod Maidment worked on different shifts at Honda,” said Luke. “Even though Pat Read knew that someone else fathered Lucy, he wasn’t interested in finding out their name.”

  “Almost there, aren’t they, Alex?” said Gus.

  “Stacey Read was the only person to know a man with two names,” said Alex. “She saw Maidment at her aunt’s house one weekend, and then on over one occasion when he spoke to Ryan Lock. Ryan referred to him as his Dad, and when they met up, Stacey pumped Ryan for more information. Stacey had worked out that Ryan and Lucy had the same father, someone who called himself James Neville. Why did Auntie Vanessa call him Rod Maidment? Stacey was far too young to remember Maidment if he’d been with her mother when she was a toddler. When he reappeared years later, both Stacey and Lucy spent so much time away from home that it’s not surprising Stacey didn’t know the guy was seeing her mother. Debbie made sure the girls never learned of her affairs. Lucy didn’t mention other men in any of the interviews.”

  “No wonder it came as a terrible shock that night when her mother cycled along the footpath,” said Lydia.

  “I think that’s it,” said Gus. “Can you collate everything for me to take to London Road, please, Alex? I’ll ring them in a moment to get an audience with the ACC.”

  “On it, guv,” said Alex.

  “Another case done and dusted, guv,” said Neil.

  “Gone but not forgotten, Neil,” said Gus.

  He picked up the phone and called London Road.

  Vera Butler answered.

  “Kenneth Truelove’s PA speaking. How may I help you?”

  “It’s Gus here, Vera, I was hoping to deliver him our good news in person. Is Kenneth polishing the new crown on his insignia this morning?”

  “I don’t think the PCC has confirmed his appointment yet, Gus,” said Vera, “although, I can tell it’s imminent. Have you been stirring things again?”

  “I don’t know what you mean, Vera,” said Gus. “I’m a mere consultant, how could I possibly influence matters of such significance?”

  “Mmm, Geoff Mercer is like a dog with two tails this morning. For the past month, he’s kept everyone at arm’s length. Kassie and I worried because Geoff wasn’t eating as he usually does, no matter what she brought in to tempt him.”

  Gus laughed.

  “You don’t need to worry on that score. Geoff ate extremely well at our expense on Saturday afternoon. Has he mentioned his new home in the country yet?”

  “Not yet,” said Vera. “In which part of the country is it? The Midlands, or closer to home?”

  “That was what concerned me until Saturday afternoon, Vera,” said Gus. “Christine wants to stay local and downsize, a great relief. Geoff told us they’re moving to Clench Common. He’s staying at London Road until they hand him his DCM.”

  “I heard nothing about a medal,” said Vera.

  “No, a DCM,” said Gus. “Don’t Come Monday.”

  “You are awful,” said Vera. “I don’t know where you get them. Anyway, I wasn’t far wrong, was I? You’re moving the pieces around the board, with a nudge here, and comment there. Did you convince Geoff to stay?”

  “No, I can honestly say that was Christine. Geoff told us he had no intention of accepting the offer from West Mercia. It wouldn’t surprise me if the PCC only had to walk along the corridor from Kenneth Truelove’s office to find the next Assistant Chief Constable to fill the vacancy.”

  “That’s what you’ve wanted ever since you returned to
duty, Gus Freeman.”

  “It’s for the best, Vera,” said Gus. “I’m sure someone else would have realised it was the most sensible option in time.”

  “Kenneth has just returned from the Hub,” said Vera. “I can hear him chatting to someone on the stairs. Ah, it’s Geraldine Packenham. They must have gone there together. Let’s hope he’s found another centre of operations at London Road for her to knock into shape. If she suggests one more penny-pinching, time-saving initiative, I’ll tell her to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine.”

  “Bite your tongue, Vera,” said Gus. “Ms Packenham’s a new broom. Give her a few weeks, and things will become calmer. I suppose I could give her a nudge, or pass a comment, to warn her you and Kassie are a protected species.”

  “As a mere consultant?” laughed Vera.

  “Exactly,” said Gus. “Geoff told me on Saturday afternoon that the CRT was not part of her remit. Has Kenneth escaped her clutches yet?”

  “He’s alone in his office. I’ll buzz him, and you can fix your appointment. Maybe we’ll see you later today?”

  “I hope so. Did Kassie bake more of the bara brith yesterday?”

  “Rock cakes, I think, Gus. By the way, Kassie has hot gossip about Rhys Evans.”

  “In that case, I’ll be there later without fail,” said Gus.

  “I’m putting you through now. Bye,” said Vera.

  “Freeman?” asked the Acting Chief Constable.

  “The new crown on your shoulder hasn’t affected your memory, sir,” said Gus. “We wrapped up the Read case last night with the help of Gablecross. I can deliver the files to you whenever you’re free.”

  “Excellent news, Freeman,” said ACC Truelove, “I have a sneaky feeling that you know this already, but Mercer isn’t abandoning ship, he’s remaining here at London Road. I misread the signs. Better not tell the PCC that, of course. The only thing I will do is drop another heavy hint Mercer is the right man to sit in this chair. My wife is waiting, needle poised, to attach the new insignia.”

  “What time, sir?” asked Gus.

  “No specific time yet, Freeman. Ah, you mean for our meeting. Well, get in that rust bucket of yours and get here as soon as possible. I can’t sit around waiting all day. I’m a busy man.”