‘Since Wolfe was sentenced, Brenda has been petitioning him to admit where Zoe’s remains are,’ Latimer says. ‘It will make no difference to him, he can’t be given a worse sentence than a whole life tariff, and it will bring some much-needed closure to Brenda and her family.’
‘It’s probably worth adding that the area around Cheddar Gorge has been searched as much as we possibly can,’ says Pete. ‘We believe she’s somewhere in the cave system, as the other women were, but there are miles of underground tunnels and caverns in that part of Somerset and Wolfe knew them as well as anyone. We have all the climbing and caving clubs on alert for anything unusual but, barring a lucky accident, we cannot hope to find her unless Wolfe gives us a clue.’
‘I understand that.’ Maggie turns her startling blue eyes to Pete. ‘But I am neither caver nor climber, so what does it have to do with me?’
‘Brenda has had a letter from Hamish Wolfe,’ Latimer tells her.
‘Join the club.’ Maggie’s expression is still friendly. ‘I’ve had four.’
‘We have a copy here.’ Latimer straightens the A4 sheet in front of him. ‘Shall I read it?’
He waits for a response from Maggie that doesn’t come.
‘Dear Mrs Sykes.’ Latimer gives up waiting. ‘I liked your daughter. As you may know, she was referred to me for investigation into some cervical cysts that turned out to be harmless. I talked to her at some length about her health. There were a number of issues she was happy to discuss, others she was more reticent about. You might question my discussing her medical history, even with you, and strictly I should not, but I somehow doubt I can ever be in worse trouble with the GMC.
‘I am far from certain that I can help you find her remains, but I promise to do my best, if you can persuade Maggie Rose to visit me here at Parkhurst Prison. She need only visit once, but she must come with an open mind and a willingness to listen. Yours sincerely, Hamish Wolfe.’
‘May I see it?’ Maggie’s hand has stretched out across the table.
Latimer gives her a few seconds to look it over. ‘Obviously, finding Zoe is our top priority and if Wolfe is willing to cooperate, then we have to give this due consideration. But another issue for us is that this note could constitute the first sign that Wolfe is changing his plea. In effect, admitting his guilt.’
‘He isn’t.’ Maggie’s eyes haven’t left the note.
‘Excuse me?’
‘He isn’t admitting his guilt. “I am far from certain that I can help you find her remains, but I promise to do my best”. That could mean nothing other than he’ll look at a map and suggest a few caves you might search based on his previous caving experience.’
‘Even so, we have to try.’
‘Maybe. But I don’t.’
There is a sharp intake of breath from Brenda and a nervous sideways glance from the FLO.
‘I understand that—’
Maggie isn’t cutting Latimer any slack. ‘Hamish Wolfe has no intention of cooperating with you. He can’t without admitting his guilt, and that he’ll never do. He’ll never throw away the chance of getting his whole life tariff overturned one day and he certainly won’t do anything to jeopardize the appeal that I know he will be planning.’
‘Miss Rose, can I ask you something?’ Brenda Sykes’s Somerset burr takes them all by surprise.
‘Of course.’ Her face says something other than her words. Maggie does not want to engage with Brenda Sykes if she can help it. She wants to wrap this up and get out of here.
‘Do you have any children?’
Maggie’s lips press closer together for a second before she speaks. ‘I’m not a mother.’
‘Then you can’t know what it’s like, when something happens to your child.’
Zoe was twenty-four years old, hardly a child, but no one points it out. Brenda is talking to Latimer now. ‘What about you? Any kids of your own?’
Latimer’s eyes fall to the tabletop. ‘There is a small child in my life,’ he says. ‘A four-year-old girl. She’s becoming very important to me, so yes, I—’
‘I have a daughter.’ Pete hadn’t intended it to come out quite that loud. ‘A four-year-old. If anyone’s interested.’
‘Go on, Brenda,’ the FLO says. ‘You have something to say. You should say it.’
‘I knew something had happened, that Friday night when she didn’t come home.’
‘I’m sure it must have been a very dreadful time.’ Latimer speaks the placating words, but Brenda ignores him, her attention fixed on Maggie.
‘I spent all night imagining what was happening to my baby. I pictured her crying out for her mum, because they all do, when they’re frightened or in pain, they still want their mums, and I couldn’t do nothing. I couldn’t help her.’
She stops to take a breath, to receive another pat on the hand from the FLO.
‘I still hear her. Every night. I wake up and I can hear her screaming. And now, I’m not sure I can face another Christmas without her.’
Maggie’s body language indicates how close she is to getting up and walking out. ‘I’m very sorry for what you’re going through, Brenda, but I can’t help you.’