Restless Dead (Harry Grimm Book 5) by David Gatward (english reading book TXT) 📗

can see that,’ James said. ‘I’m just so sure that I saw her, you know? But then she’s everywhere, even now, she’s here in this room with us! I’m sure of it!’

Liz shivered and decided it was best to not think too hard as to why.

‘If you could give me their numbers,’ Liz said.

‘No need,’ James replied. ‘Ruthy will be back soon, I’m sure, and as I said, she lives next door in the little cottage. Anthony is up in his room with one of his headaches, poor lad. Patricia is here with her husband, Dan, but I think they’re avoiding me right now because of this, what I think I saw. They’ve come over, you know, to stay for a while. Which is very kind, don’t you think? Oh, I’ve told you that already, haven’t I? Everyone is just so worried, which I do understand, but it’s not necessary, it really isn’t. Shall I go and get them now?’

James, Liz knew now, had a habit of rambling on a bit, though she wondered if it was mainly a coping mechanism.

‘That would be very helpful,’ Liz said. ‘Then what we’ll do after is we’ll knock on a few doors. There aren’t exactly many properties out this way and someone might have seen something, you never know. We’ll also check your security, have a look around the house to make sure everything’s okay here. We’ll also give you the number for the Hawes office, so if you see anything else, you can contact us directly and immediately.’

‘Actually, I’ve got that somewhere,’ James said. ‘I was just in a bit of a panic and Patricia had to call for me and I forgot to give it to her.’

Just then, the door to the study opened. Liz and Jen turned to find themselves facing a pale-faced woman with long hair dark with tired eyes and car keys in her hand. Liz did a double-take.

‘Forgot to give who what?’ the woman asked. ‘And why are the police here? Dad? What’s happened? Is Anthony alright? What’s going on?’

Liz looked at the woman, then at the numerous photos on the walls of James’ study, remembering what he had said about the family similarity, but seeing it in the flesh was striking to the point of being uncanny.

‘It’s nothing, Ruthy,’ James said, approaching the woman. ‘Don’t go getting yourself all worked up.’

Liz approached the new arrival. ‘I’m PCSO Coates. You’re Ruth, yes? Your father called us over. He believes he saw someone outside the house.’

‘What did you see, Dad?’ the woman asked, pushing past Liz. ‘You know this isn’t right, don’t you? It can’t be what you think it is! It just can’t be!’

‘A woman,’ Jen said. ‘He saw a woman, outside the house.’

At this, the new arrival turned to gaze out through the window. She raised a hand and pointed.

‘Under that tree?’ she asked, her voice heavy and sad. ‘That one just over there on the right, yes? I’m right, aren’t I?’

‘How did you know?’ Liz asked.

The woman turned back around, looked at her dad with sadness in her eyes. ‘Because,’ she said, ‘it was Mum’s favourite place, wasn’t it, Dad?’

And at this, Liz heard the faintest of cries, and she turned to see James holding his head in his hands, and sobbing.

Chapter Fourteen

Jim was pleased to be doing something, anything at all actually, that might have a chance of snaring the people who had taken his dad’s sheep. It was a week to the day now and what they had was, in the simplest of terms, bugger all. Back home, his dad was trying to put a brave face on it, had been sorting out insurance and the rest, but it wasn’t just the money that was the issue. It was so much more than that. Those animals weren’t just pound signs and never had been because that wasn’t what farming was about. If it was, the world would be full of rich farmers and everyone would want to be one. It wasn’t and they didn’t.

Farming, as Jim knew all too well himself, was in the blood. It was a compunction, a passion, something primitive, deep inside you which was impossible to escape. And to be able to do it in a place like Wensleydale? There really was nothing better. Which, in many ways, made his decision to be a PCSO all the stranger, didn’t it? But he’d wanted to at least try something else, and being a PCSO meant that he was useful, didn’t it? Which, in many ways, made what had happened sting even more, because he hadn’t been able to prevent what had happened on his own property.

‘So, what’s the plan?’ Jadyn asked, as Gordy and Harry led the way, with Jim and Jadyn just a step or two behind. They had just passed the ropemakers and were now heading up the hill towards the auction mart, which was a few minutes away yet.

‘There’s no plan, as such,’ Gordy said.

Harry said, ‘Probably best if we keep that to ourselves though, eh? Wouldn’t want to come off as unprofessional.’

Jim laughed as Gordy continued, ignoring Harry’s interruption. ‘We want you two to be very visible. We’ve got details of the flock, and Jim, you’re well known up at the mart anyway, so you’ve a better chance than any of us of finding out if anyone’s seen or heard anything. And folk will be asking after your dad, no doubt, so go with that, see what happens.’

‘And he’s doing okay, is he?’ Harry asked.

‘He is,’ Jim said. ‘He’s good at keeping busy, and just out of range of Mum.’

Jadyn said, ‘But haven’t we done all this already? We’ve all been out and around the farms since it happened. So, what are we hoping we’ll find here?’

‘Just keep your eyes open,’ Harry said. ‘Yes, we’ve been out, and that’s good, but that doesn’t mean we’re done, now, does it? Not in the slightest, actually. Seeing us up at the mart, well that’ll certainly reassure people