Chapter Twenty-Six #2
They spent the next few minutes studying the satellite view of a sprawling old farmhouse in the midst of mountainous countryside, with several outbuildings around the main property, probably barns, maybe stables; it was hard to tell, as the closer they zoomed in, the more blurred the images became.
‘What’s that there?’ Connor asked, pointing to a sandy splodge of terrain fifty yards or so from the main house. ‘Could be a building site?’
‘Looks like it,’ Cristy agreed. ‘Are those cottages or animal pens next to it? Anyway, the river running through the heart of the valley is clearly the Wye, and those woods just beyond the barns …’ She switched to street-view and dragged the image in a semi-circle until it showed a small, tight copse.
‘We could head there,’ she suggested. ‘It’s right next to the house and would give us some cover … ’
‘Hang on – we’re looking at mid-summer images,’ Jacks cautioned. ‘There’s no guarantee those trees are in leaf right now.’
‘They’re mostly Scots pine,’ she said, ‘so they’ll be fine. And that enormous one between the house and barn is a yew, so definitely a friend.’ She sat back and looked at the others. ‘Of course, much could have changed since these shots were taken, but at least this gives us the start of a plan.’
Connor checked the time. ‘We have less than an hour before this week’s drop,’ he warned them, ‘so let’s go back to the trial and Nicole’s collapse in court when she realized she was going down for a crime she’s always claimed she didn’t commit – until suddenly she confesses, all these years later, and yet she still can’t or won’t say where the bodies are.
We can use that last bit, can’t we? It’s not suggesting any doubt about the confession, just that there are still questions to be asked. ’
Cristy was already shaking her head. ‘Maybe end it with “until she suddenly confessed,”’ she said. ‘That way it’s clean and gives no rise to ambiguity just in case anyone from the prison service is listening. I’m also thinking of Meier – and, of course, Nicole herself.’
Later, after the drop and usual drinks, Cristy was at home, already in pyjamas and curled up on the sofa, thinking so hard about David that when her phone rang, she actually expected it to be him.
It was Jodi, Connor’s wife, who she’d said good night to outside the office less than an hour ago.
Pushing past the crush of disappointment, she clicked on with an affectionate, ‘Hi. Everything OK?’
‘Sure, we’re good, thanks. Another great episode, and Con’s keeping me abreast of what’s coming down the line, so you must be pleased with the way things are going?’
‘Absolutely, but I know you’re not ringing about that, so what’s really going on?’
‘Well, I was hoping you might tell me. Con says you haven’t been yourself lately, and I could see tonight that you were … Are you upset about something?’
‘I’m fine,’ Cristy insisted, doing her best to sound it. ‘Just a lot on my mind – nothing for you guys to worry about.’
‘But we do. You know how much you mean to us, and if something’s bothering you …’
‘Honestly, I’m good. It’s just … Well, David and I …’ In a rush of emotional frustration she suddenly blurted, ‘I think we’re splitting up.’
‘What?’ Jodi cried in disbelief.
‘… But it’s OK. I’m dealing with it, and having a new series underway is definitely helping.’
‘I can come over,’ Jodi told her. ‘If I leave now, I’ll be there in less than twenty—’
‘No, please don’t. I mean, thanks for the offer, I really appreciate it, but I’ve got a killer headache, and I was about to turn my phone off to try and get some sleep.’
Jodi was silent, and picking up on her confusion, Cristy felt tears sting her eyes.
‘I should go now,’ she said. ‘Thanks for caring, but really, everything’s OK. Tell Con I’ll meet him at ten in the morning to drive over to Wales.’
She rang off, feeling wretched for cutting Jodi short, for missing David so much, for feeling so helpless and pathetic … She sat staring at her phone, wondering if she should ring Jodi back or send a message asking her to come after all.
Maybe she should call David.
No, she couldn’t do that. She truly didn’t want to speak to anyone tonight – apart from him, of course, but only if things were OK between them, and they clearly weren’t or he’d have rung her.
As for leaning on Jodi, she had absolutely no right to do that when Kinsley’s offer was still on the table.
She started as a WhatsApp message arrived, and seeing it was from Honey, she clicked on.
I’m with Nicole. She wants to speak to you. Are you able to take the call now?
After immediately messaging back to say yes, Cristy poured herself a drink and set her phone to record, just in case.
By the time Nicole connected, sounding tired and anguished, Connor hadn’t joined the group chat, so guessing he’d turned his phone off for the night, Cristy went ahead on her own.
NICOLE: ‘Hi, Cristy, I just heard the latest podcast. It was horrible, being reminded of the trial.’
CRISTY: ‘I’m sorry, I thought you realized we were going to—’
NICOLE: ‘It’s OK. I’m just saying, it brought it all back and made me feel … No one’s ever going to believe I didn’t do it, are they?’
Cristy waited, sensing – hoping – there was more to come, because it was difficult to give reassurance when Nicole was probably right.
NICOLE: ‘You didn’t mention Claude tonight.’
CRISTY: ‘He wasn’t a part of the trial.’
NICOLE: ‘No, that’s right. He wasn’t. Honey says you know where he is?’
CRISTY: ‘I think we do. Yes.’
NICOLE: ‘If you see him … Will you ask him … Tell him I need to see him.’
CRISTY: ‘Of course.’
NICOLE: ‘Thanks.’
Cristy started to speak again, but the line had already gone dead.
She half-expected Honey to ring back, but she didn’t, so Cristy replayed the call and ended up deciding not to send it to Connor tonight.
If he happened to pick up, he’d only want to discuss it, and really, there was nothing to be said that couldn’t wait until morning.
Besides, Cristy didn’t feel in a good enough place to deal with much else today.