Buried Secrets: The Freeman Files Series: Book 11 by Ted Tayler (highly recommended books txt) 📗

him from giving the case his full attention. He’d always found a way to park any personal problems during his marriage. They had been few, thank goodness, and he couldn’t recall an occasion when he felt his performance fell short of his self-imposed high standards.

“Sorry, guv,” said Luke. “We’re struggling with this case. I don’t think this morning was a complete waste. We have to stick to the methods that you insisted the team should adopt from the beginning. The only way we’ll succeed is through solid and meticulous detective work. If it means going over the same ground, checking and re-checking witness statements, then so be it. When we left High Ridge Farm this morning, you said that Alan Duncan’s secret was well hidden. He did that for a reason, and the holiday snaps might hold the key. All the photographs, not just the one of the mystery man who scared Bunny Campbell-Drake to death.”

“Thanks, Luke,” said Gus. “We’ll catch a break in the end. If only we knew why that particular photograph went missing.”

“The one from Happy Valley with five guys in Hawaiian shirts, guv?” asked Neil.

“It had to mean something,” said Gus.

Gus didn’t believe the others agreed. He recognised Luke had his back, but Alex, Neil, and Lydia thought the case was floating towards the rocks. He would drive home, talk with Suzie, and return to the office in the morning with a clear view of how to get this case solved.

As he turned into the gateway of the bungalow, Gus saw they had company. The Reverend’s bicycle was leaning against the fence on the right-hand side of the driveway. Gus parked alongside Suzie’s Golf and got out of the car. He heard voices in the back garden.

“Hello, Reverend,” he said as he turned the corner, “what a pleasant surprise.”

“We’re enjoying a cool lemonade,” said Suzie, “shall I fetch you a glass?”

“I’ll get it,” said Gus, “you two carry on chatting.”

“Oh, we’ve only just started,” said Clemency. “Suzie passed me on her way home. I’d visited a couple of sick parishioners and needed having my spirits lifted. Suzie waited in the gateway for me and then invited me in to cool off.”

Gus fetched a glass from the kitchen and poured a measure of lemonade.

“I think a Chardonnay would have hit the spot after the day I’ve had,” he groaned.

“A tough day?” asked Clemency.

“Several of my team members aren’t convinced we’re taking the right approach on the case which we’re working on. I’ve told them before that the original detective team would have solved it if it were easy. Here, if certain people had told the truth, the whole truth, from the beginning, then it’s true, we wouldn’t have needed to take this second look.”

“People don’t tell the whole truth for a variety of reasons,” said Suzie.

“It’s not as simple as them having something to hide, d’you mean?” asked the Reverend.

“It’s always that they have something to hide,” said Gus. “No matter how they dress it up and justify what they left out. There’s no excuse.”

“I didn’t expect you to see everything as being so black and white, Gus,” said Clemency.

“Perhaps we should change our topic of conversation,” said Gus. “How did Brett fare on his first day at the clinic?”

“Have you spoken to Bert?” asked Clemency. “The old rogue probably suggested I was monopolising his grandson’s spare time.”

“Bert mentioned a trip to the cinema,” said Gus.

“We watched ‘Life of the Party’, where a middle-aged mother returns to college,” said Clemency. “It was a comedy. As for his work at the clinic, it’s fair to say it was busier and more varied than expected.”

“Will you and Brett be around at the weekend?” asked Suzie.

“I don’t see why not,” said Clemency. “Are you two free?”

“I have no plans to work this weekend whether or not the case is falling apart,” said Gus.

The Reverend finished her lemonade and got to her feet.

“I’d better get on my bike, as they say. I’m keeping you two love-birds from your evening meal. It’s time to cycle to the rectory and pray for those poor souls I visited this afternoon. They won’t be with us much longer, I fear. Still, neither of them will see eighty again. They’ve had a good life.”

Gus and Suzie followed Clemency to the driveway and watched her cycle through the gateway and along the lane.

“How are you?” asked Gus.

“No change,” said Suzie. “Still weighing the pros and cons.”

“Sit yourself back on the patio,” said Gus. “I’ll get dinner and bring it out when it’s ready.”

“That case must be getting to you,” said Suzie. “You were a tad brusque with the Reverend. Everything isn’t black and white in your world, is it?”

“Of course not, darling,” said Gus. “Luke made a valid point today when he suggested that solid, old-fashioned police work would uncover the evidence we need to find our killer. From the day the ACC handed me the murder file for Alan Duncan, I’ve had this awful feeling that there’s more behind it than meets the eye. Tomorrow, we could find a clue that will have the same effect as dropping a heavy pebble in the middle of a pond. The ripples will go on for ages.”

Gus went inside and started cooking from scratch. A takeaway wouldn’t cut the mustard tonight, and Suzie didn’t need a crowd of people around her while she made her deliberations. His role was to support her and avoid putting his size ten feet in his mouth. Least said, soonest mended.

 

Friday, 3rd August 2018

Gus and Suzie left the bungalow together at half-past eight. As she opened her car door, she turned back.

“I love you, you know,” she said. “It helped last night, just the two of us. I think I’d like to do the same tonight.