Why hadn’t she even considered that possibility?
Niall stopped at a low headstone. Grace focused on what was written there.
Jonathan Christopher Templeton
Born 2 May 1956
Died 11 October 2004
Beloved son of George and Dorothy, and
brother to Josephine
Rest in peace
Grace felt her whole body sag. She had been so sure that finding Jonny would lead to answers. She pictured Adam – unwittingly searching for a father who had passed away years before. She looked at Niall. ‘Do you know what happened?’
‘I’ve had a talk with his sister. He was in an accident in Australia. A car crash. Apparently his mam and dad have been dead for years, and the sister stayed behind in Ockton to get married when the rest of them went overseas. He had no other family, so her husband flew over and collected his ashes, brought him back to be buried here.’
‘Did you tell her about Adam?’
‘No, I asked a few questions, like, said her brother’s name had come up in an investigation and I wanted to rule him out. She was ever so curious, as you’d imagine, but I haven’t said any more for now. If you want to meet her then I’m sure something can be worked out. But that’s up to you – and her, of course.’ He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. ‘Looks like he’d done well for himself,’ he said, handing it to her.
It was a photocopy of an Australian newspaper article, under the headline LOCAL PROFESSOR IN FATAL CRASH, featuring a headshot of a balding middle-aged man, gazing to the right of the camera lens and smiling. Grace studied the picture, trying to take in the fact that this was Adam’s father, searching for something in his features that would link them; but Adam had looked much more like his mother.
‘You can keep hold of that,’ Niall said.
‘Thanks,’ Grace replied, folding the sheet and putting it into her pocket before the snow ruined it. She looked at the gravestone again.
‘Are you all right?’
‘I’m wondering whether Adam knew about this.’
‘If he found out, that day in the library, do you think it could have affected his state of mind?’ Niall asked gently.
Grace shook her head. ‘I would have seen it that evening, I’m sure of it …’ Unless he found out the day he disappeared, while she was out shopping. If he had discovered anything in the library, he could have made some follow-up enquiries that afternoon. Was that what his note was about? Had his emotions overtaken him once he’d written it?
Why didn’t you tell me what you were doing, Adam?
She bit her lip to stem her distress.
Niall patted her shoulder. ‘I’m sorry, Grace. Come down to the station tomorrow, eh, and tell them what you’ve found over Christmas. Take it from there.’
‘I don’t think I can,’ she admitted. ‘I’ve had a bit of a change of heart about living in the cottage. I’m planning to leave later today.’
‘Well, give Barton a call instead, then.’
Niall obviously wasn’t convinced that she’d found anything worth investigating, or he wouldn’t be so accepting of her going. He was just being kind, she realised, helping her tie up loose ends for her own peace of mind. There was no point being here – hanging on to an empty hope. Everyone else was focused on other things. Life had moved on.
They traipsed back over the grass. Niall walked beside her, and didn’t say another word until they were next to Grace’s car.
He held her door open for her as she climbed in. As he did so, he looked up at the snow-laden sky. ‘Best get going, if you’re planning to,’ he said, the warning clear within his words. ‘It can be pretty dangerous driving on the moors with snow around – and it’ll be dark within the hour.’
It was barely three o’clock by the time Grace got back onto the main road, but Niall was right – already the daylight was beginning to fade. As she headed out of town she was slowed down by the drifting snow. She drove as quickly as she dared, trying not to be reckless.