‘You still owe Viktor a tenner for winning though,’ says Ron.
‘Among my many debts,’ says Jack Mason with a bow. ‘Among my many debts.’
55
Elizabeth is wide awake and thinking.
Viktor had rolled back late this evening, full of news and whisky. Ron was elsewhere, which is becoming an increasingly regular occurrence. A quick council of war had convened at Ibrahim’s. Joyce and Alan had joined them, both excited to be out late.
The case had blown wide open.
So Bethany Waites hadn’t been in the car at all. She had been buried somewhere else by her killer, as an insurance policy. Buried with evidence linking both Heather Garbutt and Jack Mason to her murder.
It was a neat trick. No one was looking for the body; it was assumed that it had been swept out to sea many years ago. But if Jack or Heather ever felt inclined to help the police with their enquiries, the killer would just have to remind them that their future was in his hands. Or her hands. Keep quiet about my involvement, or face the consequences. But there would be a flaw somewhere. A fatal mistake.
As Elizabeth had walked home, she had felt a plan forming. Her eyes had also been alert for the Viking. It would be rather bad timing to be killed now, just when things were getting interesting.
They would get nothing further out of Jack Mason, Elizabeth was sure of that. Viktor’s work with Jack was done. So there were two options left open.
Take another look at the financial documents, knowing there was a partner involved. They had the name ‘Carron Whitehead’ of course, but nothing else to connect her to the murder. Then there was the name Robert Brown Msc. But were there others? Viktor would be back on the case tomorrow morning. He has yet to make much progress.
The second option, just as difficult, but at least something Elizabeth could help with, was to find the grave that Jack Mason has spoken about. The general consensus is that it could be anywhere. But Elizabeth rarely lives her life by the general consensus.
A question that had been troubling her for a while has risen to the surface again. Why had Jack Mason bought Heather Garbutt’s house? The proceeds had gone straight to the government in lieu of the laundered money, so he hadn’t been buying Heather’s silence. He hadn’t lived in it, hadn’t rented it out, hadn’t renovated it and hadn’t sold it at a profit.
So it seemed that Jack Mason must have bought the house simply to stop anyone else from living there. From living there and, let’s say, re-laying the patio or deciding on a whim to dig a pond or two? Elizabeth wonders if it wouldn’t be fruitful to have a little dig in Heather Garbutt’s garden? Bogdan will have a spade to hand somewhere.
But how do you just dig up someone’s garden without permission? Jack Mason certainly won’t be inviting them onto the property if the body is there.
As Elizabeth lies in bed, Stephen’s hand interlaced with hers, she thinks of someone who might be able to help.
And now she really thinks about it, the same person might be able to help with her other problem too. Stopping the Viking. Stephen wakes and takes her in his arms. He says he is off to see his friend Kuldesh tomorrow, will probably take the car if she isn’t using it? Elizabeth agrees that sounds lovely and strokes his hair until he falls asleep again.
56
‘They must have gossiped on the way back?’ Donna says. Her head is in Bogdan’s lap. He wants to watch the International Biathlon on Eurosport, because someone he went to school with is in it. Biathlon is skiing followed by rifle shooting. She is getting into it.
‘They swore me not to tell,’ says Bogdan. He then gestures at the television. ‘Jerzy is having a nightmare here.’
‘But you can tell me,’ says Donna.
‘No police,’ says Bogdan.