Tara (84 page)

'You mean you aren't going to do anything?'

'What is there to do?' He shrugged his shoulders. 'Dig up a piece of police bungling, for what? It won't bring Father Glynn back, or your grandmother. MacDonald, or Joe Spikes, he's as dead as a joint of mutton and he admitted the crimes to you. If we announce all this the only people to be punished are you and your mother.'

Intense relief, happiness and gratitude surged through her.

'Are you sure? It doesn't seem right,' she whispered, hanging her head a little.

'It would seem a great deal worse to me if you got hurt after your bravery in coming forward.' Morris shook his head.

'But the tattoo thing keeps bugging at me,' she said softly. 'It's the one thing I still don't understand.'

'Well, that's quite a pretty story.' Morris smiled. 'I discovered all the men your father led through that jungle in Malaya had one. They had been through hell together and, when they finally made it to safety, all six of them had the same tattoo, the bluebird of happiness, I suppose. The man who died in the car was one of them. Like your father, he'd turned to crime when he couldn't find the right niche in civilian life. You'll be glad to know the other four kept to the straight and narrow, all family men.'

'So Joe got all those other tattoos done to conceal it?'

Morris nodded. 'I guess so. But I prefer to think he felt bad about his friend dying in that car. You see, he must have been in it too and jumped clear. His hands had been burned, and his right leg and side. That's probably how he got that fearsome scar, too, because he fell on rocks, and why we couldn't get a complete finger print. We'll never know what he went through after that accident, he must have holed up somewhere, gone through hell having such terrible injuries. I suppose that's why he lost his hair, too.'

'So you aren't going to do anything?' Tara could feel a smile starting in her toes and creeping up her body.

"The matter's closed.' He smiled back at her, then lifted his tea to his lips and took a sip. 'The man Wainwright knew no-one but Bergman, his motive for getting involved in the job was purely spite against Harry and we've marked his card. Joe and Duke are both dead, the other men awaiting trial. In my opinion, matters are pretty well settled.'

'I almost wish I'd never admitted the truth to Mum,' Tara said with a sigh.

'I think you'd have found the knowledge becoming like a wedge between you,' Morris said understand-ingly. 'As it is you've laid the ghosts once and for all.' He drank the rest of his tea and put his cup on the table. 'I'll be off now, Tara. I wish you luck and happiness.'

Tara took his outstretched hand and gripped it with both of hers.

'Thank you so much.'

'I'll tell you one thing,' the policeman smiled a little uncertainly. 'MacDonald's biggest punishment was not seeing you as you are now. I'd be so proud if you were my daughter!'

'So that's it? It's over?' Harry's bright blue eyes danced with delight.

'Buried for good.' Tara smiled. 'Case closed.'

Harry reached out to hug her, closing his eyes and rocking her in his arms.

'I'll just have to tell you my good news now then,' he said, dropping little kisses on to her nose and cheeks.

'What good news?'

'I've sold the club, or at least granted a five-year lease on it.' He grinned. 'Most of the staff, including Needles and Tony, are staying on with the new owner. I've got a fat little nest egg to modernise the farm. In a few years' time we'll sell the freehold of the club for a packet and meanwhile I've got a nice little regular sum coming in from the rent. What could be sweeter?'

'Being carried off to bed by you, with a bottle of chilled Champagne to celebrate?' Tara raised one eyebrow.

One moment she was standing, the next he had her up in his arms and was walking with her towards the door.

'I haven't got any Champagne right now.' He laughed as he made towards the stairs with her. 'But I don't need asking twice to carry you off to bed!'