Chapter 58 Carter
CARTER
I know I’m in trouble, again, but I can’t believe DCI Bird made me wait outside. Harrison is dangerous. I’m certain of that now. She shouldn’t be alone with him.
But she’s the boss.
From Spyglass, I can see the whole village down below.
Blackmoor National Park is shrouded in darkness on one side, and a moon-stained Cornish coast on the other.
The view from up here stretches all the way to Blackwater Bay, and it’s beautiful.
I can see a blanket of fog on the horizon, rolling in from the Atlantic as it often does.
I can even see the bonfire on the beach, the final act of the Hope Falls Day of the Dead parade.
I’ve missed the festival this year but I’m just glad today is almost over.
I can see my house from up here too, and I wish I was there instead of here.
I long to be at home and in the warmth right now, with Jane and Steren.
It’s a simple life, but it’s a good one.
And my daughter is a miracle. I still can’t believe we made a tiny, precious, perfect human, or that she’s really ours.
I love her so much it honestly hurts sometimes.
I can’t wait to see who she’s going to be, and I’d do anything to keep her safe.
Anything.
It’s quiet up here. Almost completely silent except for the sound of the sea in the distance.
It’s like a soothing lullaby, and despite the adrenaline rush just now I am very tired.
I haven’t really slept since DCI Bird showed up—and I’ll be glad when this is all over and life can return to my version of normal.
I look down at The Smuggler’s Inn, my old family home in the middle of the village.
There is something very odd about the lights being off and the pub being in darkness on festival night, and there is still no reply from Maddy, so I take my phone out to try her again.
It’s even later than I thought—almost midnight—and I see that I’ve missed a call from Jane.
It’s too late to call back now, I don’t want to wake the baby, and I kick myself for putting the phone on silent earlier.
Nothing matters more than family. There is a message, as well as a missed call, but it’s not from my wife.
Or my sister. It’s from my old pal at HQ, the one I got in contact with earlier to find out if DCI Bird could really suspend me.
His reply isn’t relevant anymore—given I’m not suspended—but something about the start of the message catches my eye and I open it.
CARTER! LONG TIME NO SPEAK! DCI OLIVIA BIRD CAN’T SUSPEND YOU.
SHE DOESN’T WORK FOR THE POLICE ANYMORE. TOOK EARLY RETIREMENT FROM HER JOB IN LONDON A FEW MONTHS AGO. HQ ARE STILL LOOKING FOR A DETECTIVE TO WORK IN YOUR PATCH, NO ONE EXCEPT YOU HAS EVEN APPLIED. NOBODY WANTS THE JOB! YOU OK MATE?
I stare at the screen and read the message again.
Then I turn to stare at the house behind me.
I am definitely not okay.