The Calling of the Grave

Chapter 7

Spring came and went. Summer moved into autumn, then winter. Christmas approached. Alice had another birthday, started ballet classes and caught chicken pox. Kara was promoted and given a small wage rise. To celebrate we spent the money in advance on a new car, a Volvo estate. Something nice and safe for the two of them. I flew to the Balkans to work on a mass grave and came down with flu in the freezing conditions. Life went on.

And the abortive search for Jerome Monk's missing victims receded further into the past.

I'd expected there to be more hue and cry over his failed escape attempt, but Simms managed to keep the story out of the press. The operation continued afterwards, but the heart had been taken out of it. Simms brought in technicians with geophysical equipment, hoping that the ground's electrical resistivity and magnetic field might reveal a human body. But they were desperation measures, not designed for rugged peat moorland, and everyone knew it. After a few more days the search was quietly called off.

Wherever Lindsey and Zoe Bennett were buried, they were going to stay there.

I wasn't sorry to leave. It hadn't been a good experience, and I'd missed my family. The only thing I regretted was that I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to Sophie. She went before I did, still berating herself over what had happened. I hoped she'd get over it. Incidents like that had a habit of following you around, particularly if the SIO was looking for someone to blame. But Simms had another scapegoat in mind.

I only spoke to Terry once before I left. It was on my last morning, when I was just loading my bags into the car outside the Trencherman's Arms. I slammed the boot as his garish yellow Mitsubishi pulled in alongside.

'Getting off?' he said as he climbed out.

'It's a long drive. You look rough. Everything all right?'

Terry seemed tired. The grazed bump on his head had started to scab over, making it appear worse than before. He ground the heels of his hands into his already reddened eyes.

'Peachy.'

'How did it go with Simms?'

'Simms?' He looked startled, as though for a second he didn't know what I was talking about. 'He's not about to put me up for a commendation, that's for sure.'

'He's blaming you?'

'Of course he is. You don't think he's going to take any flak himself, do you?'

'But he's SIO. It was his responsibility.'

'Simms will hang me out to dry if it takes some heat off him. And you think there aren't people here who aren't dying to see the new boy from the Met taken down a peg or two?'

He was right. I wondered if I should mention how I'd overheard Roper reporting back to Simms. But it was only a suspicion, and Terry had enough to contend with already.

'Is there anything I can do?'

He gave a bleak laugh. 'Only if you can wind back the clock.'

I'd never seen Terry like this. 'It's that bad?'

He made an unconvincing effort to shrug it off. 'Nah. I didn't get much sleep, that's all. Is Sophie around?'

'She left last night.'

'Last night? Why the hell didn't I know about it?'

'I didn't see her go either. I don't think she wanted to hang around. She feels pretty bad about what happened.'

'Yeah, she's not the only one.'

'It wasn't her fault. In her position I'd have probably done the same.'

Terry looked at me: there was no friendliness in it. Suddenly it felt like I hardly knew him. 'How come you're standing up for her all of a sudden?'

'I'm only saying-'

'I know what you're saying. The whole operation's gone pearshaped and my neck's on the block, but you're more concerned with looking out for Sophie bloody Keller. But then I noticed the two of you were getting pretty friendly.'

'What's that supposed to mean?'

'It means-' He stopped himself. 'Forget it. Look, I've got to go. Say hello to Kara.'

He went back to his car, slamming the door and accelerating away so quickly that gravel sprayed over my legs. I stood there for a while, torn between anger and bewilderment.

But I didn't worry about it for long. There was too much else going on in my own life to dwell on Terry, and the events on Dartmoor were soon put behind me. Alice seemed to be growing up more every time I turned my back, and Kara and I began talking about giving her a brother or sister. Professionally, I was busier than ever. The search might not have been a success, but my own role in it hadn't hurt my profile. I found myself in demand with more police forces, and if I occasionally wondered at my anticipation when the phone rang with news of another mutilated or decomposing body… Well, I told myself that was understandable. This was what I did for a living. I had to stay detached, and who wouldn't be pleased that their career was going well?

Then came the mass grave in Bosnia. I went as part of an international team charged with exhuming and, where possible, identifying the victims. It was a gruelling, month-long trip, three days of which I spent feverish in bed from flu. I came back half a stone lighter and chastened by our capacity for inhumanity on such an industrial scale. I'd never been so glad to be home, and at first I put Kara's quietness down to giving me space to adjust. It was only when I'd read Alice a bedtime story on my first night back, as we sat with a bottle of wine after dinner, that I realized it was more than that.

'OK, are you going to tell me what's wrong?' I asked.

She'd been staring into space for several minutes. It wasn't like her to be so withdrawn, especially when we hadn't seen each other for weeks. 'Hmm? Oh, sorry, I was miles away.'

'I know. What is it?'

'Nothing. Really, I'm just a bit preoccupied.' She smiled, trying to brush it off. 'Come on, let's get the dishes cleared away.'

'Kara…'

She set down the plates with a sigh. 'Promise me you won't do anything.'

'Why, what's happened?'

'Terry Connors called round a few nights ago.'

I hadn't seen or spoken to him since Dartmoor. 'Terry? What for?'

'He said he was in London and thought he'd drop round to see you, but… Well, I got the impression he already knew you were away.'

I felt something cold spread through me. 'Go on.'

'There was just something… off about him coming round like that. I could smell he'd been drinking, but why didn't he phone first to make sure you were in? I made him a coffee but he made me feel… uncomfortable.'

'How do you mean, uncomfortable?'

Kara's face had flushed. 'Do I have to spell it out?'

I realized I was gripping the edge of the table. I made myself let go. 'What did he do?'

'He didn't do anything. It was just the way he acted. I told him he should leave but… Well, he asked if I was sure that's what I wanted. He said… he said I didn't know what you got up to while you were away.' She picked up her wine glass, then put it down again without drinking from it. 'Alice woke up then and shouted downstairs asking if you were back. I was actually relieved. It seemed to shake him up, and he left.'

My vision was starred as though I'd stood up too quickly, even though I hadn't moved. 'Why didn't you tell me?'

'You were knee deep in a grave in eastern Europe. What good would that have done? Besides, nothing actually happened.'

'Jesus! He just came here and…'

'David, calm down.'

'Calm down?' I pushed my seat back, unable to keep still any longer. 'What he said about me… It isn't true.'

Kara stood up and came over. She touched my face. 'I know that. Terry just thinks everyone's like him.'

'How do you mean?'

'You must know what he's like. The affairs?'

'Affairs?' I repeated stupidly.

She gave me a quizzical smile. 'Seriously? You didn't realize? I don't know why Deborah's stayed with him as long as she has. She told me she gave up hoping he'd be faithful years ago; now she just wants him to be discreet. I got the impression that's why Terry had to transfer out of London. He was having an affair with someone he worked with, and it turned messy.'

That was news to me. But it explained the tension the last time the four of us had gone out. Even I hadn't been able to miss that.

'Why didn't you say anything before?' I asked, putting my arms around her.

'Because it was none of our business, and I didn't want to make things awkward. Not when you had to work with him.'

Not any more. Kara leaned back to look at my face.

'Promise me you won't do anything stupid.'

'Like what?'

'Like anything. Just let it go. Please? He's not worth wasting time on.' She slid her hands around my lower back. 'And I really don't want to spend any more of your first night back talking about Terry Connors.'

Neither did I. So we didn't.

But I couldn't forget about it altogether. Terry had gone to my home intending to seduce my wife. If that wasn't bad enough, he'd tried to make her believe I'd been unfaithful to her. Just thinking about it made me light-headed with anger, but I told myself not to do anything for a few days, to give myself a chance to cool down.

I lasted until the following afternoon.

I was easing myself back into work after the Balkans trip and had arranged to finish early anyway. The plan was for me to collect Alice from school, but my fury at Terry had been festering overnight. I stewed over it for a few hours before phoning Kara at the hospital.

'Sorry about this, but can you pick Alice up later?'

'I suppose so. Why, has something come up?'

I was already regretting calling her. Kara's hours were part time and flexible, and she often switched to help out colleagues. But this was our daughter, and I'd only just got back from a trip. I should be focusing on what was important, not charging off to confront someone like Terry Connors.

'Look, it doesn't matter. Forget it.'

'No, it's OK. I was only staying for a staff meeting anyway, so I'm glad of the excuse. 'A wariness entered her voice. 'Why, what's happened?'

'Nothing. Let's keep things-'

I was about to say 'as they were', but there was a commotion in the background down the line. I heard raised voices and the banging of heavy doors.

'Sorry, I'm needed,' she said in a rush. 'I'll collect Alice, you can explain why later. Bye.'

She broke the connection before I could say anything. I lowered the phone, feeling shallow. I made up my mind to call her back later and say I'd pick up Alice after all. I left it half an hour but when I tried her line it was engaged. And already I was starting to think about Terry again, letting a head of anger build up against him. There didn't seem much point in bothering Kara when she was obviously busy, and by now she'd probably made arrangements anyway.

Instead I phoned Terry.

I wasn't even sure he'd answer if he saw the call was from me. But he did. His voice sounded as cocksure and breezy as ever. 'David! How're you doing?'

'I want to see you.'

His hesitation was only slight. 'Look, I'd love to meet up, but things are a bit hectic right now. I'll give you a call when-'

'Would you rather I wait for you at your house?'

I'd no intention of involving his family, but I wasn't going to let him brush me off. This time the pause was longer.

'Something you want to say?'

There was, but I wanted to do it in person. 'I can be in Exeter in a few hours. Name a place.'

'I can save you the trip. I'm still in London. I'll even buy you a pint.' His tone was condescending. 'It'll be just like old times.'

I willed myself not to lose my temper as I went to meet him. He'd suggested a pub in Soho, and when I walked in I saw why. It was obviously a police watering hole: most of the clientele had the indefinable swagger of off-duty officers. The place was decorated for Christmas, the same faded streamers and baubles they'd obviously been dusting off for years. Terry was at the bar, laughing with a group of men. He excused himself when I went in. The usual smile was on his face, but his eyes were watchful.

'Want a drink?'

'No thanks.'

'Please yourself.' Glass in hand, he propped himself comfortably against a table. 'So. Where's the fire?'

'Stay away from Kara.'

'What are you talking about?'

'You know what I'm talking about. I don't want you at my home again.'

He was still smiling, but a flush spread up from his neck. 'Whoa, hang on a minute. I don't know what she's said but I didn't know you were away-'

'Yes, you did. The mass grave was all over the news; it didn't take a genius to work out I'd be over there. That's why you didn't phone first, because then you wouldn't have an excuse to go round.'

'Look-'

'You even tried to make her think I'd been seeing somebody else. Why the hell would you do that?'

I thought something that could have been either guilt or regret showed in his eyes, but it was gone so quickly I might have imagined it.

He hitched a shoulder in a shrug. 'Why not?'

'And that's it?'

'What do you want me to say? Kara's a good-looker. You should be flattered.'

His grin was mocking. Easy. Don't let him bait you. This was comfortable territory for him. If I lost control he could wipe the floor with me and still have a pub full of friendly witnesses to vouch that I'd started it. I didn't know what I'd done to him, but I no longer cared. And realizing that I also realized something else.

'Things not going so well, Terry?'

His eyes narrowed. 'What are you talking about?'

'That's why you're here, isn't it?' I nodded around the pub. 'Recapturing the glory days. Your reputation must have taken a knock after what happened with Monk.'

The smile had gone. His expression was ugly. 'I'm doing fine. Just having a few days off.'

But his eyes gave the lie to that. There had always been something reckless about Terry; that was part of his charm. Now I saw there was something self-destructive as well. He relied on luck and momentum to carry him through: both had let him down and he was lashing out in frustration.

I just happened to be a convenient target.

There was no point in staying any longer. Kara had been right: confronting him had accomplished nothing. As I walked out, I heard him saying something to the group at the bar. Their raucous laughter followed me through the door, then it had swung shut behind me and I was back in the street.

I went straight home. It was too late for me to collect Alice, and I half expected them to be home before me. They weren't, so I began preparing dinner. I was already regretting going to see Terry, berating myself for making Kara do the school run. I resolved to make it up to them both. I'd take them somewhere that weekend, perhaps the zoo for Alice, and then find a babysitter so Kara and I could go out by ourselves in the evening.

I was so busy planning it that it was a while before I realized how late they were. I called Kara's mobile but there was no answer. Her voicemail didn't cut in, which was unusual. But I didn't have time to worry about it before the doorbell rang.

'If this is somebody cold-calling…' I muttered, drying my hands as I went to answer it.

But it wasn't. Two police officers stood outside. They'd come to tell me that a businessman drunk from an expense-account lunch had lost control of his BMW and hit Kara and Alice's car. It had shunted it in front of a container lorry that had crushed the new Volvo's frame like balsa. My wife and daughter had died at the scene.

And as quickly as that my old life ended.