Chapter 5
FIVE
Having called Joan to let her know what had happened, Harry drove Matt home.
The doctor in Hawes had given him the once over, said he needed rest, and should take it easy for a couple of days.
He also wanted to check him again the following day, and instructed that, should he start to feel rough in any way, he was to call immediately.
‘We’ve only got one vehicle,’ Matt said, as they left the surgery, heading back towards Bainbridge. ‘No idea what I’m going to do now.’
Harry had already thought of that and sent a message to Mike. He showed Matt the reply.
‘He’s lending me a car?’
‘I asked if he had any ideas about what we could do, and that was his response. So, yes, he’s lending you a car.’
Matt fell silent, clearly taken aback by Mike’s kindness.
The road to Bainbridge took them back past the crash site. Ahead, Harry saw Matt’s vehicle being winched onto the back of Mike’s recovery truck. He slowed down, opened his window.
‘All good?’ he asked, pulling up beside Mike.
Mike leaned in.
‘Now then, Matt. Interesting approach to parking, like. How the hell did it happen?’
‘That’s what we’re still trying to figure out,’ said Harry.
Matt thanked Mike for the loan of the vehicle. Mike waved it off.
‘No bother,’ he said. ‘It’s at the garage, so I can bring it over with Ben tomorrow, if that’s okay?’
‘Amazing, Mike, thank you,’ said Matt.
Harry called over to Jen, just to check everything was okay, then with a nod to Mike, continued onwards.
‘This four-by-four, then,’ Harry said.
‘Big black thing it was, that’s all I can tell you,’ said Matt.
‘But I don’t see how we’ve not found it smashed into a wall or in a ditch or something further on,’ said Harry. ‘If it did that to you, it must be almost a write-off itself.’
‘The sound of it, Harry,’ said Matt, who was staring out the window. ‘Near deafened me. It slammed into the back of me, next thing I know, the world’s gone topsy turvy, then I’m on my side, sliding and spinning. Got quite dizzy, actually.’
‘You didn’t get a numberplate or anything?’
‘Too busy being crashed into,’ said Matt.
Arriving at Matt’s bungalow in Bainbridge, Joan met them at the door. Harry followed them both inside. The bungalow was well suited to Joan’s wheelchair, and she zipped down the hallway to take a left into the lounge.
‘I’ll not stay,’ Harry said. ‘Just wanted to make sure he got home, Joan. You okay?’
‘Thanks for bringing him,’ Joan said. ‘And yes, I’m fine. How are the plans going for the big day? Matt’s very excited.’ She then gestured for Harry to lean in close, and she whispered, ‘He’s written a speech. Just thought you should know.’
Harry smiled, said nothing, looked at Matt, who was now slumped on the sofa.
‘Thanks, Harry,’ Matt said, then glanced at Joan. ‘Mike’s lending us a car. Ours is a write off, but we’ll no doubt have to wait a while for the insurance to pay out for a replacement.’
‘If you need anything, just let me know,’ Harry said. ‘And Matt, if you remember anything else about what happened ...’
Matt nodded.
‘I’ll tell you, don’t worry.’
Harry let himself out, happy to leave Joan and Matt to themselves.
Once back in the Rav, he pulled out his phone.
‘Ethan, it’s Harry.’
‘How’s Matt?’ Ethan asked.
‘Back home and surprisingly unscathed.’
‘Lucky.’
‘Very.’
‘Any idea what happened?’
‘That’s why I’m calling. The vehicle that hit Matt, we know it was a black four-by-four. Must’ve been a big one, too, to do what it did.’
‘You think someone must’ve seen it.’
‘I can’t see how it’s managed to get further up dale without anyone spotting,’ said Harry. ‘The front of it must be a mess. If we can get an idea of where it was heading, that would be something. Maybe then, we can check various routes, see if there’s any possibility of cameras catching it.’
‘I’ll see what I can do,’ Ethan said.
Harry went to hang up, then remembered something from the list stuck to the wall back home.
‘Ethan, one more thing ... You’re into photography, right? Don’t suppose you’ve ever done weddings have you?’
‘I did a mate’s,’ Ethan said. ‘Saved them a whack of cash.’ He paused, then said, ‘Are you asking me what I think you’re asking me?’
‘Yes.’ said Harry.
‘Happy to.’
Conversation over, Harry set off back to Hawes.
With Ethan looking into the whereabouts of the vehicle that had crashed into Matt, and now with the photography sorted for the marriage celebration as well, Harry felt more in control.
The accident had spooked him a little. Matt wasn’t one to get himself into scrapes, and the fact he’d come out of this one pretty much untouched, was a huge relief.
Passing where the collision had taken place, Harry was impressed by how quickly it had been cleaned up. There was sawdust on the road, covering up leaked oil or fuel, possibly both. The warning signs and bollards had been left in place.
Once back in Hawes, Harry made his way to the office for the second time that day, and was pleased this time to not be almost knocked over by someone leaving.
Ethan was on the phone. Dave was at the coffee machine.
He turned on hearing Harry enter, and met him halfway across the floor with a mug as Smudge headed over to drop herself down beneath the radiator.
‘Here you go,’ he said.
Harry took the mug.
‘Much appreciated. Liz around?’
‘Left a few minutes ago,’ said Dave.
‘Something important?’
‘Yes,’ said Ethan, and Harry turned round to see the young detective inspector looking up at him, his phone call now over. ‘Report came in of an abandoned vehicle. Liz has nipped off on the motorbike for a look.’
‘Why the urgency.’
‘The description,’ said Ethan. ‘Matches the one you gave me for the vehicle that slammed into Matt.’
‘Where?’
‘Top of Beggarman’s Lane.’
Harry looked at Dave.
‘Don’t suppose there’s a travel mug in any of the cupboards, is there?’
Dave had a quick rummage and returned with something covered in pink flowers.
‘Who’s is that?’
‘No idea,’ said Dave, took the mug off Harry, quickly washed out the travel mug, then poured in the coffee. ‘Here you go.’
Harry took the mug.
‘I’ll leave Smudge here,’ he said, making his way back over to the door. ‘Ethan? You’re with me.’
Beggarman’s Lane snaked its way out the back of Gayle, beneath the gaze of Wether Fell.
Having meandered through fields and a couple of farms, it then rose steeply up the side of a small, narrow valley, topped by Dodd Fell.
The road always felt very exposed, Harry thought.
He’d seen cyclists descending it at speeds he wasn’t even sure bikes were capable of.
At the top of the lane, and having passed the entrance to Cam High Road on the left, which was the old Roman Road that led all the way along to Bainbridge, Harry spotted Liz just ahead on the right.
He pulled over, parked up, and Liz came to meet him as he and Ethan climbed out of the Rav.
She’d parked her motorbike further along and a good distance away from a large, black four-by-four.
‘And this is why I don’t believe in coincidences,’ Harry said, as Liz came to stand in front of him. ‘What’ve we got?’
Liz glanced back at the vehicle before answering.
‘Think you’d best come see for yourself,’ she said.
Frowning, Harry followed Liz, Ethan alongside. As they drew closer to the vehicle, Harry came to a dead stop.
‘Liz, there are people inside. What the hell are they doing? Giving themselves up? Why didn’t you say?’
‘You need to see this, Harry,’ Liz replied, and kept on walking.
Harry followed on, slower now. Whoever they were, they weren’t moving, and that was deeply worrying.
He’d seen gang hits before, dealt with them, investigated them, arrested those responsible.
This couldn’t be that, could it? Why would anyone crash into Matt, then end up dead in the same vehicle?
And how had they been killed anyway? There were no bullet holes that he could see, the windows were all intact, no blood ...
Rounding the front of the vehicle, Harry stared in amazement, and not at the damage to the front, either, mainly because there was very little, thanks to a huge, steel bull bar bolted in place.
It was a rusting thing, formed of welded sections of scaffolding, Harry guessed.
It covered the grill, and wrapped itself around the headlights, stretching to the front wheel arches on either side.
‘Well, that’s not legal, is it?’ said Ethan.
Harry didn’t answer. His eyes were on the occupants.
‘They’re ...’ he began, but his voice caught in his throat.
‘Dummy’s, Harry,’ Liz finished for him, and pointed to the one behind the steering wheel. ‘And I think that one’s meant to be you.’