Authors: Max China
Chapter 149
Eilise struck the intruder with such force it opened up a gash in the back of his head, which bled profusely. When they checked the blood against the national database, the DNA wasn't a match for that previously left by the Gasman. Tanner immediately thought there was a copycat on the loose. He thought about Kennedy. It was a significant piece of evidence, but not conclusive. He still might have a copycat on his hands. When Kennedy dropped off the face of the earth, and with everything else that was stacked against him, it seemed his guilt was assured. Yet something niggled at Tanner; he'd never really believed it was Kennedy enough to take it further. He didn't report the case to his superiors.
Half an hour later, a contact of his in the Forensic Science service called him.
"We've got a match for that sample. It's a match for DNA recovered from a rape, which took place in
Cornwall in 1991. It's quite incredible really as we've only just reviewed that particular evidence using the new technology—"
"Have you got a name?"
"No, it's unidentified."
"I've got to go. Ping me an email with the details you do have."
Tanner was in a contemplative mood; he pondered on how Kennedy's fate had been hastened and sealed by wrong assumptions and bad decisions. If he hadn't allowed the blind desire for Theresa and the resentment of Kennedy to get in the way, he might have handled things differently. Although he knew self recrimination would make no difference, he couldn't shake its heavy mantle from his shoulders.
The computer chimed its electronic delivery tone, announcing the arrival of a new message. He opened it. The contents proved Kennedy was no rapist, but raised disturbing questions.
First things first . . .
He picked up the phone and dialled.
"Mrs Solomons, there's been an important development regarding the blood sample we analysed from your house . . . I think it's best if we talk about this face to face."
"Is it that serious? Look, I'm not leaving Tina," she said firmly. "Can you come here?"
"I don't want to worry you unnecessarily, but it's best I see you. Are you there for an hour or so?"
Tanner arrived within the hour, and she let him in. Tina stood protectively by her side. "Mrs Solomons," he glanced at Tina. "We need to speak in private."
"Call me Jackie," she turned Tina to face the stairs. "Wait upstairs for me; this will only take a minute."
"What's going on, John?"
"I think you'd better sit down," he said, steering her towards the couch. "You won't believe this, but the DNA we took from your house. It's a match with the sample taken from you, from when you were raped sixteen years ago."
A stunned silence reigned for a complete minute while Jackie struggled to comprehend.
"But that must mean…" Tears welled, and she wiped them away on her sleeve. "John, I need to get my daughter back from social services. Will you help me?"
"As soon as I get back, I'll have someone call you. Are you sure you'll be okay, just you and your daughter … she seems a bit young."
"We'll be fine; I just need a moment alone."
He let himself out and strolled to the car.
So, Kennedy was no rapist.
After the suicide verdict, Kennedy's funeral took place on a wild, wet and windy day. Over a hundred people packed into the tiny church for the service. Tanner welcomed the invitation by Rose and John Kennedy to deliver a eulogy on behalf of his friends and colleagues.
"Not many people knew John Kennedy like I did…"
He spoke of him warmly. His eyes settled on Kennedy's parents, Rose in a wheelchair, and John senior as always, by her side. He thought they'd diminished in physical stature, seemed to have shrunk since the last time he saw them. Their wet eyes shone with pride, as Tanner listed their son's many achievements.
"…and he was a great friend, and I wish he could have confided his troubles in someone, but that was the sort of man he was, fiercely private … he wouldn't have wanted to burden anybody else with his problems," he looked up, eyes focused on an infinity beyond the roof of the church. "John, heaven will be a safer place now you're there, and knowing you, it won't be long before you start going after the top job…" Faces lit with smiles through the tears. "Rest in peace my friend."
Theresa dabbed at her eyes with a tissue.
Miller didn't venture far inside, preferring to observe the proceedings from behind everyone else.
The discovery of
Melissa Lake's diaries in a hollowed out section of Boyle's bathroom door had exonerated Kennedy of all suspicion over the Gasman attacks. The detailed chronicles that she'd kept as
her
life insurance proved to be the salvation of Kennedy's reputation.
After the burial, Tanner caught up with Miller in the car park and confided in him.
"I can't tell you how bad Theresa and I felt suspecting Kennedy was behind a lot of the things that were going on."
"Such a shame for his parents…" Theresa lamented.
"It wasn't all bad," Miller told them. "It led to the arrest and conviction of Danny Lynch and the key members if his gang." He folded down his fingers as he continued. "What happened to Kennedy led directly to the rescue of Stella Bird, and the release of her long lost sister. It brought about the reunion of the missing girl, Eilise Staples, and her real mother. And one other thing…" Miller paused.
Some things have to happen, before other things can happen.
Was she behind all this?
He wondered just how far she would have had to stretch her self-imposed 'cameraman' limits to engineer all those things.
Tanner interrupted his thoughts. "I'm still waiting for the report on how you found Boyles flat…" he winked, "and let's not forget, we solved a lot of old cases out of it too. Even if Boyle
is
still out there."
Miller nodded, "Yes that's true. Something I have to say to you though Tanner. I know you think Kennedy was the Vigilante killer."
"Who told you that?"
"I just know," he said shrugging his shoulders. "It wasn't him, it was Boyle again. He knew Kennedy would likely struggle with an alibi, so it was another way of keeping the poor guy under pressure… The thing is - and I know it's a bit controversial, but it's just us talking here - in those cases, Boyle actually did some good."
Tanner shook his head. "I can't say I disagree with the sentiment, but I can still see Kennedy doing it. Anyway, the official line is that those killings remain unsolved."
Miller ran his fingertip over the scar on his chin, thoughtfully, and raised his eyebrows at Tanner.
"What are you looking at me like that for?"
"You didn't ask me what the other thing was."
"Come on, Miller, don't beat around the bush."
"A little bird tells me you two are getting married."
"How did you know that? We haven't told anyone yet"
Miller touched his nose and winked.
He smiled as he walked off.
Sometimes, Sister, surely the wildlife cameraman should be allowed a little fun.
He didn't attend the wake afterwards, preferring instead to go for a long walk in the rain. Along the treeline, out of his line of sight, someone walked with him.
In court months later, Eilise gave evidence against her foster parents. Eileen received a reprimand in the strongest possible terms for her failure to act. Frank Staples was gaoled for seven years. The day of the sentencing would be the last time she ever saw them.
Jackie started a process she could have never foreseen a few months earlier; she applied to adopt the daughter she'd given up for adoption sixteen years before.
We'll hire a private tutor to finish off your education. On Saturdays, you'll come and work in one of my agencies.
Eilise already felt she belonged more with her than she did with the Staples' family. Closing her eyes, she shut the memories out. She had a new life now, with her real mother, and a half-sister to get to know.
Eilise made a solemn vow. She would never touch drugs again.
Chapter 150
They arrived in the weak yellow sunshine of early morning from opposite directions and within minutes met as arranged, at a fashionable pavement café near
Kew Gardens.
Carla caught sight of him first. "Hey, Miller!" she called.
He turned at the sound of her voice. Her hair was longer than he remembered, but still short and spiky enough to bounce with every movement of her head.
"Miller, how are you?" She held out an elegant hand and raised both eyebrows, greeting him. A smile started in her eyes and spread quickly over her face, the friendliness and warmth genuine.
He'd forgotten how long her fingers were; he took her fingertips and folded them over his, so the back of her hand faced upward. Returning her smile, he bent and kissed it. "I'm very well and you?"
"Careful, Miller, I might start to think you're a gentleman and you know what that means?"
Miller cocked his head to one side. "No, but I'm sure you're going to tell me."
"You'll have to start treating me like a Lady," she said.
"I don't think I'd have too much trouble with that." Her fingers slowly slid away from his.
"It's good to see you again. It seems like forever ago…"
"I know what you mean. I've been run ragged. Are you hungry?"
"I'm Hank Marvin."
He queried her with a raised eyebrow.
"Starvin'," she said, laughing. "Surely you've heard that expression before?"
"Nope, never heard that one before . . ." He pulled a chair out for her and moved around the table to sit opposite. "Are you sure you're okay with sitting outside?"
"When I can see the sun it always makes me feel warm, even if I'm not." She zipped her bomber jacket right up into the collar. "I'm fine, really I am."
"Remember that story you told me about, on the train, about the lake with all the bodies in?"
"Yes, I do. It's not something I'll ever forget." He laid his menu back on the table. "What about it?"
He turned to signal a waiter, who approached. They ordered breakfast.
Half-barrels planted with shrubs surrounded by brightly coloured flowers, helped screen them from the bustling pavement. Birds hopped between unoccupied tables beneath a green and white awning. What she was about to tell him was to be her next big article; she held back until the waiter was out of earshot.
"I've been digging and delving since we last met. There were a couple of things you got me into, and since I stalled on the vigilante story . . ."
"You stalled on it?" He couldn't hide his surprise.
She explained, "I needed more than what I had. I can't just do half a piece . . . Anyway, getting back to Devil's Pond, in amongst the bodies they recovered was an Australian student. The police had identified him as the caver who went missing a couple of weeks before his girlfriend vanished." Breakfast arrived, interrupting her. She stopped to butter some toast and then resumed speaking. "Well guess what?" Pleased with herself, a lop-sided grin etched a line into her cheek.
"They found her in the lake with him," Miller echoed her smile.
"How do you do that?" She shook her head, bemused. "Anyway, that's right. She was in there, too. She was the key to identifying not only him, but a missing German woman as well."
Miller began writing in a notebook he'd taken from his pocket.
"She was wearing an amulet, a five poisons charm. It was on a chain around her waist; her name inscribed around the edge in Chinese – the killer must have missed it – no other jewellery was recovered from any of the other bodies. As you can imagine, there wasn't much left of the boyfriend by the time they pulled him out. They had to use dental records . . ." Carla watched as Miller finished the last of his food and lifted the teapot ready to pour.
"You know, I think I'd prefer coffee."
He tried to get the waiter's attention. She laid a hand on his forearm; it felt cool against his skin. "It's okay; since it's already here, I'll stick with the tea."
Miller glanced at her hand; she drew it away softly. Her touch sent a pleasant tingle up his arm. For a split second, their eyes met.
"You're really quite shy, aren't you?" she said. Miller's tiny smile seemed to confirm it. "Where were we? Oh yes, there was her and the boyfriend and another girl, all dating from around the same time. The other boiler-suited bodies had been in there significantly longer. Weighted down with rocks, the legs and arms of the suits were wrapped around them and tied up in knots. Except for Lei Liang - that was her name - she had only the legs of the suit tied around her, which seems odd."
"The whole thing is odd!" Miller laughed.