Chapter 50
FIFTY
Cain was bored and wished he’d driven here in his own vehicle; they were wasting time.
Too much time, and he still didn’t know what Morgan was up to.
As he climbed inside the van, his phone began to ring, and he saw her name flash across the screen.
Not daring to move an inch in case he lost the signal again he answered.
‘About time, where the hell are you?’
‘I can’t believe you told Ben I wasn’t with you.’
‘I was worried, where did you go dashing off to on your own?’
‘I went to check out the abandoned caves, not far from the old summer camp.’
‘Who with, are you crazy?’
‘Don’t you start, I’ve already been told off by Ben.
I went with a guy who used to volunteer for Mountain Rescue, it was a dud.
The mispers aren’t there but I did find a silver charm bracelet inside of them which definitely didn’t belong there.
Wendy is sending it off to the lab as we speak. Where are you?’
‘Stuck in Buttermere with the team from hell. Remind me never to complain about you lot again.’
‘Hahaha, good. Look, I think we missed something, it’s being playing on my mind all morning.
I think either Amos was hiding something or maybe Joyce was, but they are literally the only people out on that fell, they must know something.
I want to go back and speak to them again, but I think Ben is about to ground me.
Could you maybe come with me and cover for me if he asks what we’re doing? ’
‘You are going against the boss’s orders?’
‘What’s new? Come get me?’
‘I can’t, I shared the van here and they’re all still faffing around. Honestly, I’ve never known anyone take so long to do house-to-house enquiries. It’s not like it’s a city; they’re milking it because it’s an easy way to fill the rest of their shift in.’
‘How many vans are there?’
‘Two and a car the PCSOs arrived in an hour ago.’
‘I bet Tina and Sam will give you the keys if you ask nicely.’
Cain laughed. ‘I bet they would and I think you’re right, the woman from the pub I spoke to told me to look closer to home.
We should go speak with Amos again and while you’re waiting for me to come rescue you from the tower you’re locked inside of, can you search for a Gerald Grant on our systems?
He was a bit of a weirdo, always hanging around where the wild swimmers were getting changed.
He’s left the area apparently, but I don’t recognise the name at all. Have you heard of him?’
‘No, I can’t say I have. I’ll check him. You go steal a car.’
Cain laughed and hung up. Getting out of the van, he headed towards the two PCSOs who were chatting to a couple of local residents.
‘Morning, ladies, how are you both this fine day?’
Tina rolled her eyes at Sam. ‘What do you need, Cain?’
‘What makes you think I need something, T?’
She crossed her arms, and Sam laughed. ‘She’s psychic, didn’t you know?’
He shook his head and stared at her. ‘Are you really? Can you speak with dead people?’
Sam cupped a hand over her mouth. ‘Oh, no. I was joking, I’m sorry, Cain, that was really thoughtless.’
He grinned at her. ‘So was I, and actually I was wondering if you’d let me take your car. I need to get back to the station, but I don’t want the boss to know that I’ve gone. Where is he anyway?’
Tina pointed to the church. ‘Boring the vicar to death inside of there, but at least he’s leaving us alone while he’s doing it.’
She unhooked a set of car keys from her radio antenna and passed them to him. ‘You better leave fast before he catches you. We will plead ignorance until it’s time to leave and head back, then we’ll remember we lent you our car.’
Cain took the keys, leaned forward and pecked first Tina and then Sam on the cheek. ‘Coffees are on me next time we’re on shift together. Thank you, I owe you.’
They both laughed, and he jogged over to the car before Marc came back out of the church and stopped him from leaving. He had stuff to do, and he wasn’t getting anywhere wandering around this village, as beautiful as it was.