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

a keen runner. Perhaps they just met while running, and the young Russian offered to show Alan around his home city. One thing that bothers us is what brought Alan to Moscow in the first place. This photograph from the poolside of a hotel in Dubai is from the end of March. If Alan and his colleagues were on leave in March, how did he get more shore leave in early May?”

“The submarine needed repairs,” said Bob, “there was a collision with a trawler. Everyone got stuck at Faslane. Because Alan had opted to leave, his commanding officer didn’t want him hanging around waiting for the next voyage. It was uncertain when that might be. They could have forced Alan to stay until his twelve months’ notice was up, but rather than have a Weapon Engineer Officer on a tour of duty who didn’t want to be there, they cut him loose early.”

“Did Alan have a change of duties after returning to Faslane from Dubai?” asked Blessing.

“They weren’t best pleased with having invested so much time and money in training him to find that he wanted to throw it away,” said Bob. “They found him a desk job.”

“Alan wasn’t happy, Bob,” said Elizabeth. “What’s the point of life, if you’re not happy?”

“Why didn’t you mention this earlier, Mr Duncan?” asked Blessing.

“Bob was ashamed,” said Elizabeth. “For years we’d been so proud of Alan serving his country with distinction. Then within two years, Alan changed. He wasn’t the happy-go-lucky person he’d once been. When he finally came home, we could tell that a great weight had lifted. Whatever had troubled him was in the past. Alan settled into his job at the factory, found a girlfriend, and although Bob never understood why Alan quit when he did, he accepted things had improved. Then someone murdered Alan, and the doubts came crashing back. What caused that black period in his life? How did he recover from it? Did someone from his past kill him, and why?”

“As soon as you started looking into the murder again, I knew that something dreadful would come out,” said Bob. “If he was meeting with the Russians, it can only mean one thing.”

“One of my colleagues made a good point about these photographs,” said Blessing. “We can only see the events that Alan posted to you. His crewmates will have others from the same time, or dates in between. You mustn’t jump to conclusions, Mr Duncan. We’ll talk to Taff, Smudger, and Lofty next week. Maybe, we’ll get the opportunity to talk to Yuri Kovalev, or at least discover who he is and where he works.”

Blessing knew that she needed to return to the office to update Gus, but she was concerned for Bob and Elizabeth Duncan. They had done nothing wrong. They didn’t deserve this. If there was more to get uncovered from their son’s past, then it must come out. Gus wanted to find Alan’s killer, and no matter what other secrets he had to dig up in finding that killer, he would keep digging.

“I’m sorry if going over these photographs again has upset you,” she said. “I’ll get back to the office. Please remember, none of this is your fault.”

“We know, Blessing,” said Elizabeth. “Bob and I will get through it together, somehow. We must.”

Bob Duncan saw Blessing to the door. When she reached her car, she turned back to wave, but Bob had gone back indoors already. Blessing sat for a while to gather her thoughts. Could Alan Duncan have sold secrets to the Russians? Was that where that eight and a half thousand pounds came into the case? Blessing didn’t know the sums that might change hands for details of a submarine’s weapon systems, but surely it had to be worth more than that?

Her phone rang. It was Dave Smith calling.

“Hi, Dave,” she said. “You got my message then?”

“Things have been hectic,”

“Are you free this weekend?”

“I’m sorry, Blessing,”

“You don’t want to see me again, is that it?”

“It’s been fun, but I’m not ready to settle down yet. I’m off to Jersey for a week’s holiday with a few mates next weekend.”

“Oh, okay,” said Blessing. “Well, have a great time. You’ve got my number. I’m sorry too, Dave. I like you a lot. Bye.”

Blessing started the car and drove back to the Old Police Station office.

Blessing told herself that she could wait until she reached the farm and the safety of her bedroom before she allowed herself to cry.

Gus and the others were winding down towards the end of another busy week. Vera Butler had called to confirm that their visit to Faslane had received a green light. Luke had finalised the details of the ferry journeys and the stopover in Liverpool.

Blessing exited the lift. Gus wasn’t in his usual seat.

Neil nodded towards the restroom.

“Gus is getting a coffee, Blessing,” he said. “You missed all the fun. The case took another corkscrew twist.”

“Another one? I thought I was going to give him a surprise. What now?”

Gus opened the restroom door and returned with his drink.

“What news from Corsham, Blessing?” he asked.

“Bob Duncan gave me a part-explanation of how Alan ended up in Moscow, guv,” she replied. “His submarine needed repairs, and as Alan was serving out his notice, his superiors kept him on a desk job at Faslane rather than send him to sea. I’ve got names for everyone except one person on the Happy Valley photo. Taff, Smudger, and Andy were there with Alan, but a shorter, fatter man joined them in that one photo. They didn’t know his name, I’m afraid. We must rely on one of the other crewmates to identify him.”

“Did you show them the photo of Kovalev?” asked Gus.

“Yes, guv,” said Blessing. “I don’t think Bob had seen the Moscow photos before, only Elizabeth when she