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The Outcast Dead(17)

By:Elly Griffiths


What were the exact words of the Facebook message? asks Whitcliffe.

Well never be parted again.

That fits, says Madge. Bob will have convinced himself that David would only be truly his if he was dead.

If thats what he was thinking, why didnt he kill himself too? asks Nelson. That would be more logical.

Madge smiles pityingly. Were not talking about logic here DCI Nelson, were talking about psychosis.

But Nelson knows that theres usually logic, even if its of a warped nature, in every crime. That bothers him. But the fact remains that Bob lied about his whereabouts. Thats never a good sign. His phone rings.

Nelson.

Boss, its Clough. Bobs done a runner. Scarpered just before we got here. His girlfriends having hysterics.

Running away. Thats not a good sign either.



Ruth drives home, tired but still on a high. She has delivered several pieces direct to camera and Dani said that she had a certain presence which, according to Aslan the researcher, was the highest possible praise. Corinna, baulked of horrific chilling drama, stormed off in a huff, and Frank said on camera that he thought Mother Hook may have been innocent. It had all been very exciting. Phil was inclined to be sulky at first about Ruths sudden rise to prominence but he had cheered up when he was filmed talking about the latest DNA technology. Even Shona had managed to get in on the act, standing in the trench in a very unacademic-looking leather mini skirt.

But now shes exhausted. She picks Kate up from Sandras and starts the last weary leg of the journey. She goes cross-country, past picturesque villages too remote to be on the tourist trail. The sun is low over the flat fields, and as she gets nearer the coast she sees the seagulls circling, their feathers turning pink as they head towards the sea. She is fed up with driving, though, and is it her imagination or has the car developed a new and sinister rattle? She hopes that it wasnt the result of the collision. Frank has said that he will pay for any repairs but she dreads having to go to the garage and face the whole whats the problem darling? do you know where the engine is? farce. She doesnt know anything about cars but she doesnt think thats because shes a woman. Max, for example, once spent two months putting unleaded in a diesel car.

She thinks about Max now as she takes the turning for New Road. He loved the Saltmarsh, and archaeology  –  and her, as it turned out. He had even wanted them to have a baby together, a sibling for Kate. But Ruth had ended the relationship last year. When it came down to it, it just wasnt enough, sharing interests, enjoying the same things. Her mother had been horrified. This was the second time that Ruth had ended a relationship with a personable man for the most frivolous of reasons. I just wasnt in love with him, Mum, Ruth said apologetically. Love! her mum had responded. Whats love got to do with it? Hed have been a lovely stepfather for little Katie. Youre so selfish sometimes, Ruth.

Is she selfish, she wonders. She certainly has her life the way she wants it  –  a job she loves, a daughter she adores, a companion animal to share her home  –  and she knows that she would find it hard to compromise this existence for any man. Even in her fantasies of Nelson leaving Michelle (which do occur, despite herself), they never progress beyond the first ecstatic love-making. She never thinks about Nelson actually living in the tiny cottage, hogging the bathroom, leaving his giant policemans boots on the stairs, wanting to watch the football instead of Prehistoric Autopsy. They would kill each other in a week.

The marshlands lie all around her now, the sacred nomans land that leads to the sea. Looking at the display on the dashboard, Ruth realises that its June twenty-second. The summer solstice was yesterday. At this time of year its not unusual to see the flickering lights of bonfires at night, or the hand-held torches of another group of alternative thinkers as they trek over the sands in search of the henge circle. Ruth always thinks of will-o-the-wisps, the spirits of dead children some say, eyes in the darkness. But last night there was nothing. Maybe its because Cathbad is no longer here to lead the ritual, scattering libations and wielding the burning brand. Cathbad is far away, perhaps celebrating the solstice with fellow Lancashire druids on top of Pendle Hill. Ruth feels sad. She is also uncomfortably aware that in two days time there will be a significant anniversary of her own. She will be forty-three.
 
 

 

The little house is close now and, as ever, Ruths spirits lift at the sight of her blue gate, the trees beyond it bent flat by the winds. She releases Kate from her baby seat and her daughter, in tearing spirits after a refreshing nap, runs into the house in search of Flint.

Flinty! Flinty!

Hell be hiding under my bed by now, thinks Ruth. She dumps her bag on the sofa and wonders if she can be bothered to cook any supper. Does cheese on toast count as bad mothering? Kate is banging on the back door. She thinks that Flint might be in the garden. Ruth unlocks the door and lets Kate wander out. Its a safe space, the house is one of a terrace so the only way out is back through the house. Besides the whole garden is just twelve feet long and contains only uncut grass and a gnarled apple tree. Ruth puts three slices of toast under the grill, one for Kate and two for her. After a seconds thought, she adds another piece. She can hear the seagulls calling from the Saltmarsh and the faint hum of the electric grill. Nothing else. She goes to the back door. A breeze is blowing through the long grass and a single magpie sits in the apple tree. There is no sign of Kate.

Ruths heart turns to ice. How can Kate have disappeared? She has only been in the garden two minutes. She must have come back into the house when Ruths back was turned. But as Ruth runs upstairs she hears, like an answer-phone message from the past, Delilahs voice: I only left her for a few minutes. She was playing in the garden. Oh, dear God and all the pagan spirits, dont let anything happen to Kate. She isnt upstairs. Ruth thunders back through the house in search of her phone. Shell call the police. Nelson. Hell come immediately. He loves Kate as much as she does. Hell find her. Hasnt he promised that hell always look after her?

Its a few moments before she realises that theres a man in her kitchen. Hes holding Kate in his arms and the room is full of smoke.

Hallo, he says. Im Bob Donaldson. Im afraid the toasts burnt.





CHAPTER 15


At first Ruth doesnt register the name. Bob? Bob Donaldson? But even as her mind struggles, her body acts quickly. She grabs Kate from the stranger and holds her tightly. Kate wriggles. Down, she says, down. The man watches with an indulgent smile.

Liz Donaldsons husband, he says helpfully.

Liz Donaldson. The woman accused of murdering her son. Delilahs friend. Cathbads cause of the day. Why on earth is her husband in Ruths house? She puts Kate down but keeps hold of her hand.

How did you get in? she asks.

I hid in your shed, says Bob, as if this is totally reasonable. I climbed through from the neighbours garden. The house seemed to be empty. Ruths neighbours only use their house for occasional weekends. Not for the first time, Ruth curses them for their careless townie ways. But why is this man, who is smiling at her so pleasantly, climbing through gardens and hiding in sheds? Suddenly Ruth feels very alone in the little house on the edge of the marshes. She wants to ring Nelson. She wants it so badly that shes surprised that her phone doesnt start dialling spontaneously. But her phone is in her bag on the sofa. She starts to back away.

The thing is, Bob is following her. The police are after me.

Really? croaks Ruth.

They think I killed David. Maddie rang me and warned me that they were after me. Lovely girl, Maddie. Theyve got some stupid Facebook message that apparently proves that I was at the house that day.

Were you at the house that day? Ruth echoes rather wildly. She has reached the sofa now and tries, unobtrusively, to reach for her organiser bag. This means letting go of Kates hand. Set free, the child bounces away happily.

Stay here Kate, calls Ruth. She doesnt want her daughter out of her sight.

What a lovely little girl, says Bob. I always wanted a daughter but I had three sons. Theyre all dead now.

Im sorry, says Ruth. Her hand is frantically sweeping the sofa. Where is the damn bag?

How could they think I killed David? Bobs voice is rising. I loved him. Youll tell him, wont you Ruth?

Tell who? She is openly searching now. Keys, purse, a tampon, they all come flying out of the various pockets, but her phone is nowhere to be seen.

DCI Nelson. Maddie says that youre very close to him. I want you to tell him that Im innocent.

Why does everyone think Ive got influence with Nelson, thinks Ruth. And Maddie seems to have inherited her father Cathbads talent for interfering. Why cant they all leave her alone?

Bob comes closer. He puts his hand on Ruths arm. She can see the sweat on his face, his eyes are glittering behind his glasses. Should she scream? Who would hear?

But they both jump when Kate speaks loudly and clearly. Dada? She has found Ruths phone and is clearly having an important conversation.



Shes so clever, says Nelson for what feels like the hundredth time. She actually rang me herself.

It was pure luck, says Ruth. She just pressed random buttons. She doesnt like to admit that Nelsons number, as one of her favourites, automatically appears on screen when the phone is activated. Nelson, hearing his daughters voice and a strange man in the background, had jumped in his car and driven straight round to New Road. He had been rewarded by the sight of his prime suspect sitting on the sofa telling Ruth his life story. Kate had still been playing with the phone (she was having a long conversation with Flint).