Saving Tara Goodwin (Mystery Book 1) (31 page)

Driving away, she knew she’d started an unstoppable chain of events and Tomlinson would probably go crazy, but when he finally calmed down he would almost certainly go along with her and get Dmitri out of the UK.

But the real problem, was she didn’t know how much influence Felicity still had with her old department, or how vindictive that bitch would be from now on.

Angela awoke early to the morning sun, and stretching out lazily in the deep bed, reached across but her hand fell on crumpled sheets, and with a sigh, stared up to the ceiling.

She listened to the slumbering cottage, but when no sound could be heard, she slipped out of bed, and looking through the leaded-light window, saw him.

Frank sipped the dark coffee as he sat quietly by the stream, and hearing the kitchen door open, looked up through the tangle of the wild garden and saw Angela step out into the sunshine, and with a wave, walked down to him.

‘I might have guessed you’d be here, but why did you get up, we could have made love, unless you didn’t want to.’

He came out of his thoughts, ‘Oh, it isn’t that. I just needed to think.’

She gazed at him quizzically, ‘Why? Is something bothering you?’

He frowned, ‘Well to be honest, I think I’m getting stuck with this investigation.’

‘Really? I don’t see why, you’ve done wonders so far, and we must be getting close.’

‘To the man, yes, but the file copy could be anywhere by now, and our masters won’t be pleased with that.’

She looked away, ‘That’s true. And now the file has been copied, it’s quite possible they’ll want the entire peripheral area completely sanitised.’

He stared sharply to her, ‘That’s a bit hard.’

She looked down into the stream, ‘But it has to be that way, surely you understand that?’

‘Well actually, I don’t. All I see is innocent people getting hurt.’

‘Yes, and for some it’s unfortunate, but in this particular case, it can’t be helped.’

‘And why not?’

‘It’s a Pale 1 file, remember, and it doesn’t get any worse than that.’

‘If you say so.’

Angela pursed her lips, ‘Yes. I’m afraid I do.’

3
0

Ted was awake long before the alarm went off, and as he thought of Frank’s update of the game, realised that what he knew of looking after a young lady could be written on a postage stamp, and on top of that she was in bad trouble and had to be kept safe.

No pressure then.

Having washed and dressed he went through to the guestroom, made up the bed and dusted off the furniture, then opening the window, let the fresh air blow through.

He smiled. That’s just what Maggie would have done.

In the garden he picked some late flowers, and arranging them in Maggie’s favourite vase, took them up to the guestroom and stood quietly for a moment.

It hadn’t seen a guest in many a long year, let alone a young woman he’d never met.

Fixing a tray of toast and coffee, he carried it down to the old bench by the pond, and as he ate he thought back through the years, but couldn’t remember Frank ever mentioning a young woman called Tara, so maybe she’d got mixed up in the game and he wanted to help her, it was possible, he’d broken the rules before.

So considering Frank wasn’t the kind of man for dramatics, it meant that asking for an exit route through the safe house, implied that this young lady could be going to Mrs P at Moon Shadow, and nobody ever ran to Mrs P unless there was no other way out.

Looking at his watch he saw the time was creeping round to seven o’clock and there was a lot to do before he met Sammy in the old rail yard.

It was going to be quite a day, and this might be his last time for fun on the wild side.

Back in the cottage, he slid open the wood panelling beside the chimney breast, and lifting out the heavy oil-skinned package, stripped and cleaned Bertha, and taking the garage keys, set off up the lane, and as he strode along past the rows of peaceful cottages he couldn’t help wondering what this coming day would bring.

As the official car carried Frank away, Angela had GYM SLIP fixed in her mind, but that would have to wait its turn. Picking up the red phone, she called her office in Oxford, but was surprised when Samantha answered.

‘Hello? Bursary admin, records office, can I help you.’

Angela smiled, ‘Hello Sam, this is Angela, and you’re rather formal today.’

‘Oh, it’s you, ma’am. Sorry, I’m not used to being in the office.’

‘No, you’re not. So why are you there, we’re not short staffed I hope.’

‘No, not at all. I just dropped in for a chat, and to thank the girls for their presents.’

‘Oh yes, of course, it’s your anniversary, and did you have a nice time, romantic?’

There was a short silence, ‘I guess it was okay, except Tim had lots of calls to make, but thanks for the flowers, they’re lovely.’

‘You’re welcome, but actually, I’m glad I’ve caught you, and this is quite a coincidence, because you are the reason for my call.’

‘I am?’

‘Yes indeed, and as you may know, I’m monitoring an operation from the cottage, and to be honest it’s turning out to be far more complicated than I realised and I’m going to need some help, someone I can trust, and although there might be a strong diplomatic content, it would also mean quite considerable promotion. So would you be interested?’

Sam hesitated, but only for a moment, ‘Yes ma’am, I am. I’m very interested indeed.’

‘Excellent. So collect your diplomatic bag and come straight over to the cottage, and if you pass me over to Louise I’ll have you officially transferred to my private staff.’

‘Thank you, ma’am. And is there anything else?’

‘I don’t think so, except I might need you for diplomatic tonight.’

‘Okay. So will the diplomatic be male or female?’

‘I’m not sure, it’s open ended at the moment, so it might be best to allow for both.’

Samantha thought back to the saucy gossip she’d heard from the other diplomatic ladies, and if the stories were true, this might be her turn to sleep with the boss.

‘Yes ma’am. I do understand.’

Evelyn had found the tavern to be welcoming and comfortable, and such a huge relief to be away from Thornley and the troubles, but now, in the cold light of this new morning her thoughts became crowded again with the recent events, and if Lewis was true to his word, and she really was to be Head of Thornley, her life would change forever and her duty from now on would be to Cardinal.

Sat in the dining room over breakfast, she thought Tara was distant and unsure.

‘Tara. Do you remember what you have to do?’

Looking up from the plate, her eyes seemed vacant, her thoughts woolly.

‘I think so, I’m to wait here and be collected at lunchtime by a man called Ted Willis.’

‘That’s right, and don’t forget, you’re not to leave the tavern under any circumstances.’

A tinge of nervousness came to Tara’s voice, ‘I know, but it’s scary.’

‘Oh, I wouldn’t worry, you’ll be quite safe.’

‘Will I? But what’s going to happen to me?’

‘I don’t know, but Mr Lewis seems quite sure about everything.’

Later, when Evelyn checked out at reception, Tara felt as if she were being cast adrift and left alone in the world with only strangers as her unknown future.

Driving away, Evelyn looked back and saw a tiny diminutive figure standing quietly in the massive stone porch, her eyes misty, her soft pink lips pressed tightly together.

When Monty awoke in the early hours, he thought the clinic to be a depressing place, so having washed and dressed he called for the official car.

Having arrived unexpectedly at the lodge, the night sergeant had not been pleased when Monty made himself at home in the gatehouse.

There was only an hour to go before he handed over to Sergeant Jenkins, and instead of a quiet wind down to the shift, he had this dangerous old man in his office watching his every move.

‘Sergeant, if it’s no trouble, I’d like to see yesterday’s register.’

Sergeant Lawrence looked up from his paperwork, ‘The register, sir?’

‘Yes please, all the movements through the main gate.’

Standing up, the sergeant took the clipboard from a hook and handed it over.

‘This covers everything up to midnight.’

Running his finger down the list, Monty carefully checked every log and entry.

‘Sergeant, it says here that there were three fatal accidents yesterday.’

‘Yes sir, that’s correct. Mr Dudley, Mr Anderton and CI Hillsdown.’

He frowned at the name of Dudley, ‘I see, and who arranged their collection?’

‘It was your colleague, sir, Mr Lewis.’

Monty inwardly groaned.

This was just what he’d been afraid of, the penalty for letting Lewis come into close contact with perverts, but why Mr Dudley, he was totally innocent of that kind of thing.

‘And who collected the bodies?’

‘Well your colleague arranged it through the NSA system, but then it all got changed.’

‘Changed? So are you saying it didn’t happen that way?’

‘No sir. The day sergeant received different instructions, so the NSA vehicle was sent back and your people made the collection on Mrs A’s instructions.’

Monty stared away through thoughtful eyes.

Angela had obviously decided to draw a line in the sand, and now, in effect, those three people could now be classified as disappeared, and with no bodies there was no autopsy, no evidence and no crime. It was the legacy of presidium power, and Mrs A had it all.

Sergeant Jenkins barged into the office, but came to an abrupt halt when he saw Monty quietly sitting there, and glancing to Sergeant Lawrence, saw him turn and look away before handing over as quickly as he could, and then the phone rang, but he waved it away and walked over to the door.

‘It’s all yours, Jenno, I’ve had enough. So have a nice day.’

Sergeant Jenkins scowled
, ‘Thanks a lot, and fuck you too.’

Snatching up the phone, Sergeant Jenkins barked angrily into the receiver.

‘Hello? And what’s your frigging problem?’

Watching in quiet amusement, Monty saw Sergeant Jenkins’ angry expression suddenly become a mask of pained embarrassment.

‘Oh. Sorry ma’am. I didn’t know it was you.’

Yanking the phone away from the noise in his ear, he flicked a glance to Monty.

‘Yes ma’am. Indeed. Sorry. No ma’am. Well I suppose I must be a fucking arsehole if you say so, but I’ve only just come on duty, so let me check.’

Flipping through the papers on his desk, he stopped and ran his finger down.

‘Did you say, Miss Goodwin, ma’am? Well actually, she left site yesterday evening,’ he turned the page, ‘but she hasn’t come back yet.’

He looked up, but avoided Monty’s eyes, ‘No ma’am, she didn’t leave alone, she left with Mrs Carthwaite and she hasn’t come back either.’

As the sergeant replaced the phone, Monty began to wonder if Frank had managed to get one step ahead of Angela, and if he has, this had all the makings of a bad day.

Suddenly, the door swung open and the guard looked in from the veranda.

‘Sarge. Mrs Carthwaite’s back, she drove through a couple of minutes ago.’

‘Well thank god for that, and was Miss Goodwin with her?’

‘No sarge, she was on her own.’

The guard looked across to Monty, ‘And your colleague has just arrived, sir.’

He nodded, and shuffling out, closed the door, but he stood quietly on the veranda and waited until he heard the sergeant talking on the phone.

‘Hello ma’am, it’s Sergeant Jenkins. I thought you’d like to know that Mrs Carthwaite has just come back, but Miss Goodwin wasn’t with her.’

Monty walked down to the car, and as he got in, Frank saw the look on his face.

‘What’s wrong?’

He glanced over to the duty driver, ‘Not now, old man.’

Driving along the avenue they saw a maintenance crew working beside the old fallen tree, but Monty just shrugged his shoulders.

It was too late to bug it now, they wouldn’t be using it again.

Arriving at the Manor, they saw Evelyn walking round from the car park, and asking her to wait in reception, Frank carried Monty halfway up the long steps.

‘That was Mrs Carthwaite, Dudley’s career freak secretary, and now he’s gone she’s agreed to join Cardinal because I’ve recommended her for the top job.’

‘I see. So you’ve been rather busy, one way and another.’

Frank noticed the disapproving tone in his voice.

‘Now look, Frank, I have no problem at all with Anderton or Hillsdown because they were just vile perverts, but why on earth poor old Dudley?’

‘Hang on, Monty, don’t jump to conclusions, his death was nothing to do with me.’

‘Really? So who was responsible?’

‘The other two. Hillsdown arranged it and Anderton hanged him with a curtain rope, and all under the instructions of someone called Glenndenning.’

‘I see. Well that would certainly explain it, and wasn’t Glenndenning mentioned in Angela’s file, an advisor to some government department?’

‘That’s right, and I reckon he’s the one we want.’

Bringing him up to date, Frank explained everything that happened yesterday, and when he’d finished, he asked his question again, ‘So what was wrong at the lodge?’

‘Well the duty sergeant has just told Angela that Miss Goodwin left with Mrs Carthwaite yesterday evening, but this morning only Mrs Carthwaite returned.

‘That’s right. I got Tara out before everything went pear-shaped.’

‘I was hoping you would, she’s quite special. So what route did you choose?’

‘The safe house, and later we can send her on to Mrs P at Moon Shadow.’

‘Good, but can we trust Mrs Carthwaite?’

‘Yeah, she’s hooked. So did you find anything interesting in old Thornley’s book?’

‘I certainly did, and that poor man had quite a life, but the building of this wonderful old house turned out to be all for nothing in the end, his wife and baby died in childbirth and he committed suicide, so just the three of them lay out there in the churchyard.’

‘Did you say, just the three of them are buried out there?’

‘That’s right, he had no other family, but why do you ask?’

‘Well I’ve been to that churchyard, it’s over there in Cardinal’s buffer zone, and I counted over fifty graves, and when Angela found me there, she went totally ballistic.’

The two men stared at each other as it all sank in, but it was Monty who said it first.

‘Dear god. So that place must be Cardinal’s disappearing ground.’

From that moment on, they knew there wasn’t a moment to lose.

‘Right then, Monty, so what are your plans for today.’

‘Well this question of secrets has been the underlying problem since we started, but I couldn’t understand why, and to solve it, makes for a very dangerous game indeed.’