‘Yes. That’s when the victims were moved, and my grandfather told my father everything. My dad wanted to go to the police, but his father wouldn’t hear of it.’
‘So, your father continued to babysit the bodies after your grandfather died?’
She nodded.
‘You and Billy?…’
‘Found out all this a month ago when Bart came to tell us he would be adding bodies to the grave. He threatened us that if we breathed a word to anyone the next bodies would be ours.’
‘So, you authorised the training dig and directed the team?’ Kim asked.
‘I wanted someone to find the bodies, and that way none of us had actually said anything. Bart went mental on the day they found something but I told him I’d authorised it before his visit and couldn’t change it. He went for me, and Billy smacked him down, threatened him with the police.’
The younger Cowley had shown more backbone than she’d given him credit for.
‘So Bart shot Billy to shut him up?’
Fiona nodded. ‘And to frighten us into silence,’ she added.
‘And you went to the Preece house to talk to Dale?’ Kim asked.
‘Yes, when my father was arrested I went to plead with him to tell the truth and at least limit the damage to my family. I never even got to see him. Bart hauled me into the transit and got one of his guys to follow in my car.’
‘Did you really think Dale would help?’ Kim asked.
Kim was under no illusion about that final shot. Although he had saved her life that had not been his motivation. Dale knew what life in prison would have been for his brother. He would have died a hundred different ways.
He had killed him because he loved him.
Fiona shrugged. ‘There was no one else I could speak to. The grandfather was a cold, unfeeling bastard, and Mallory Preece has been psychologically battered into submission.’
Mallory Preece now had the unenviable task of burying both her father and her youngest son. Her remaining son would be spending the next fifteen to twenty years inside.
Kim marvelled at the strength of feeling between the brothers, despite the constant rivalry instilled in them. Robson Preece had destroyed many things but he hadn’t destroyed that.
‘You know that your father and brother are being questioned right now?’ Kim asked, gently. No matter how much they had suffered as a family, others had suffered more. In trying to protect themselves they had risked the lives of many more innocent people.
‘I guessed so and it won’t be long until they come here, will it?’
Kim shook her head. ‘Just tell them the truth like you told me. It’s your only defence.’
Kim stood and offered her hand. However misguided Fiona Cowley had been, she had tried her best.
The woman returned her handshake and smiled her goodbye.
Kim turned and left the ward, satisfied that some of the questions in her head had been answered.
But not the ones that mattered.
ONE HUNDRED TWELVE
Kim saw the familiar figure standing at the entrance to the police station.
‘You lost?’ she asked.
Travis smiled. ‘I didn’t get a chance to speak to you last night.’
She nodded.
Dale Preece had walked out of the building right into three armed officers alerted by the sound of the first shot. He had offered no resistance and had made a full confession to Dawson.
‘Everybody okay?’
Again she nodded. ‘Thanks to you and your team. Without them we’d never have found her. Please thank them all for me.’
It was Gibbs who had offered invaluable insight into the location. It was Lynda who had put together the link to the abductions. Penn’s database had identified the first victim, Jacob James, and given them a starting point. He had already identified possible names for the other two victims. Victim three possibly being a nineteen-year-old Jewish girl from Walsall.
‘I already thanked them on your behalf,’ he said.
He moved from one foot to the other.
‘We could have had this conversation over the phone,’ she said.
‘That’s not why I’m here and you know it. What I have to say deserves to be said in person. You are entitled to see the shame on my face.’
‘Tom, don’t—’
‘Shut up, Kim,’ he said, holding up his hand. ‘What I did in that locker room was not only out of order, it was completely without excuse. You were trying to help me but I couldn’t see that at the time. You should have reported me and you didn’t. I still have a career and the means to take care of my wife.’
‘Please, stop…’
‘Kim, I’m sorry for what I did,’ he said, earnestly. ‘It’s important to me that you know that.’
‘I know it, Tom,’ she said, and meant it.
She tipped her head. ‘So, did you transfer because I got DI first?’
He smiled and shook his head. ‘No, you deserved it but I wasn’t going to tell you that.’ He sobered again. ‘I transferred because I couldn’t bear to look at you after what I’d done.’
She shook her head. So much time. Surely they could have worked it out.
He coughed self-consciously. ‘Okay, that’s me done. Time to debrief my team properly.’
‘On a Saturday?’ she asked, when that was exactly what she was going to do.
‘Yeah, it’s not so bad now and again. Keeps them on their toes, and Carole is with Melissa for a couple of hours.’
Kim nodded as he stepped towards his car.
‘Tom, about you and Carole. Melissa would never know.’
‘Yeah, but I would,’ he said, opening the door.
Kim understood and realised that Carole was right. He really was a good guy.
‘See you around, Tom,’ she said, as he got into the car.
‘And I’ll look forward to our next battle over a crime scene, Detective Inspector,’ he said before closing the door.
Jack looked at her strangely as she entered the building, and she knew why.
For once, she had a smile on her face.
ONE HUNDRED THIRTEEN
Kim’s smile had disappeared by the time she’d reached the squad room.
Her team waited for her. Silently.
Bryant tried to catch her eye.
Dawson coughed.
Stacey stared at the keyboard.
‘Bowl, Stace,’ she said, walking straight through.
Stacey followed her in and closed the door.
‘Boss, I’m sorry—’
‘Sit down,’ she instructed. ‘You need to be prepared for what’s about to happen.’
Stacey looked petrified.
‘I’ve had the heads-up from Frost that this whole story is gonna break later today, and everyone is going to be after you. Do interviews, don’t do interviews. That’s your call.’
Stacey looked sickened, and shook her head vehemently.
‘But expect backlash from Mrs Reynolds. You took away her innocent son and gave her back a racist in the name of truth. She is not going to thank you for that.’
At least his mother had the knowledge that her son had felt remorse for almost killing Henryk Kowalski. There had been some remnant of a conscience in the young man.
‘But I…’